2009 model year · NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports · Updated September 2026
2009 · All trims · All engines
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According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2009 Honda Pilot has 17 documented known issues. None of the listed issues is rated critical; this is not a complete reliability assessment. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $20 to $2,300. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
TIRES
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain 2021 Pilot vehicles equipped with Continental CrossContact LX Sport 245/50R20 102 H tires with DOT serial number A376 D3K9 2920 and mold numbers S-421920 and S-421921. The tires may have been cured for a time beyond the specification limits.
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According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2009 Honda Pilot has 17 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: 5-Speed Automatic Torque Converter Lockup Shudder, Front Brake Rotor Warping and Brake Judder Under Moderate Braking, Power Steering Pump and O-Ring Air Ingestion Causing Whine, Foamy Fluid, and Hard Steering. None are rated critical, but regular maintenance is recommended.
The 2009 Honda Pilot has 17 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. None of the matching records is rated critical; this is not a complete reliability assessment. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Honda Pilot issues range from $0 to $2,300, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Second-generation Pilots with the 5-speed automatic develop a torque-converter lockup-clutch shudder felt as a brief vibration or 'rumble-strip' shake, typically during light acceleration around 25 mph or while cruising at 55-65 mph when the converter clutch partially engages/sli… Repairs typically run $150-$1,500. Severity: medium.
Brake pulsation from front rotor thickness variation is one of the most commonly reported Pilot complaints across both generations. Owners describe steering wheel shake and pedal pulsation during highway-speed braking, often recurring after inexpensive pad-and-rotor jobs if hub r… Repairs typically run $300-$900. Severity: medium.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
+ 14 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
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A very common Honda V6-era issue is power steering pump noise caused by suction-side air intrusion, often from a hardened inlet O-ring or aging pump seals. Owners report a cold-start groan or whining noise, visible bubbles in the reservoir, intermittent heavy steering, and fluid… Repairs typically run $20-$700. Severity: medium.
On the J35 V6, the rubber valve cover gaskets and the integrated spark plug tube seals harden and shrink with age and heat, allowing oil to weep onto the hot exhaust manifolds (burning-oil smell) and, more seriously, to pool down inside the spark plug wells. Oil saturates the ign… Repairs typically run $250-$700. Severity: medium.
The Pilot's three-way catalytic converters lose conversion efficiency with age and contamination, setting P0420 (Bank 1) and/or P0430 (Bank 2) and illuminating the check engine light. Symptoms include reduced power/fuel economy, a rotten-egg (sulfur) smell, and a rattle from a br… Repairs typically run $500-$2,300. Severity: medium.
Wheel bearing wear is a widely reported Pilot problem across both generations, often showing up as a growling or humming noise that changes with road speed and steering input. On some vehicles, excessive bearing play or damage to the integrated wheel speed sensor tone ring can al… Repairs typically run $350-$900. Severity: medium.
The backup camera fails to display a live image, showing a black, flickering, or lined screen when reverse is selected. On 2009-2015 Pilots the common cause is water/condensation intrusion into the tailgate-mounted camera housing that corrodes the unit; on 2019-2022 Pilots (and 2… Repairs typically run $200-$700. Severity: medium.
AWD Pilots use Honda's VTM-4 rear differential, whose internal hydraulic clutch packs make a shudder/judder and noise during low-speed tight turns (e.g., parking lots, U-turns) when the VTM-4 differential fluid degrades or becomes contaminated by clutch-friction particles and/or… Repairs typically run $65-$150. Severity: medium.
Owners across both generations report water leaks into the cabin, commonly from clogged sunroof drains, deteriorated roof seam sealer, windshield perimeter leaks, or rear body seam leaks. Symptoms include wet headliners, damp carpets, musty odor, water in the overhead console are… Repairs typically run $100-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The plastic air-mix (blend door) actuator behind the dash, near the left side of the glove box, strips its internal gears over time. When it fails the vehicle loses the ability to modulate temperature (air is stuck all-hot or all-cold and cannot be blended), and a repetitive clic… Repairs typically run $150-$450. Severity: medium.
On power-liftgate Pilots the gas-charged support struts weaken and lose nitrogen pressure prematurely, so they no longer help lift or hold the heavy tailgate. This forces the power motor to carry the full load, which leads to the liftgate opening then immediately closing, grindin… Repairs typically run $60-$800. Severity: medium.
On the Pilot's dual-zone rear A/C system, the front vents blow cold but the rear vents blow warm. Common causes are a clogged or stuck-closed rear expansion valve (starving the rear evaporator of refrigerant), a plugged rear evaporator, or a stuck rear blend-door actuator holding… Repairs typically run $150-$1,200. Severity: medium.
Second-gen Pilots are prone to starter-motor and starter-cable degradation: owners report a single click or slow/no crank, often with a corroded or burnt main copper starter cable terminal as the failure point. The starter sits low and is exposed to heat and moisture, and corrode… Repairs typically run $300-$700. Severity: low.
Individual door lock actuators fail so a door stops responding to the key fob or lock switch, sometimes working in only one direction (locks but won't unlock, or vice versa), and can produce repeated clicking or random lock/unlock cycling. Multiple actuators often fail around the… Repairs typically run $150-$400. Severity: low.
The soft-touch upper dashboard and upper door-panel trim degrade under heat and UV exposure, becoming tacky, glossy, and gooey to the touch, attracting dust and lint and creating windshield glare. Honda acknowledged the phenomenon in a ServiceNews article (dated Jan 2019, followi… Repairs typically run $0-$1,500. Severity: low.
The second-row seat's fold/tilt mechanism fails when the release cable comes loose/frays or the plastic tab on the top latch is cut through by its actuating wire. The lever moves but the latch won't release, so the seat won't fold flat for cargo or won't tilt/slide forward for th… Repairs typically run $100-$400. Severity: low.
The driver and passenger sun visors lose the ability to stay in the raised position and droop down into the driver's line of sight, often within a few years of ownership. The failure is the internal pivot mechanism: the leaf spring that rests in a detent on the hinge rod, or the… Repairs typically run $30-$150. Severity: low.
