Honda · Known Issues
2019 Honda Pilot Problems: 21 Known Issues
2019 model year · 10,128+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2019 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2019 model year · 10,128+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2019 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 10,128+ owner reports, the 2019 Honda Pilot has 21 documented known issues, with 7 rated critical. The most serious are VCM System Causes Excessive Oil Consumption and Misfires, Fuel Pump Impeller Failure Causing Stalling and No-Start, ZF 9-Speed Transmission Rough Shifting and Hesitation, Brake Master Cylinder Can Separate From Brake Booster, Expensive Timing Belt and Water Pump Replacement Required, Auto Idle Stop Engine Fails to Auto-Restart (No-Restart / Stall at Stop) ($0-$400 repair) and Honda Sensing / Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) Phantom Unintended Braking ($0-$600 repair). The most commonly reported issue is VCM System Causes Excessive Oil Consumption and Misfires with 2,843 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $30 to $800. 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.
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."
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According to Au7o's analysis of 10,128+ owner reports, the 2019 Honda Pilot has 21 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: VCM System Causes Excessive Oil Consumption and Misfires, Fuel Pump Impeller Failure Causing Stalling and No-Start, ZF 9-Speed Transmission Rough Shifting and Hesitation. Of these, 7 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2019 Honda Pilot has 21 known issues documented across 10,128+ owner reports. 7 issues are rated critical: VCM System Causes Excessive Oil Consumption and Misfires and Fuel Pump Impeller Failure Causing Stalling and No-Start and ZF 9-Speed Transmission Rough Shifting and Hesitation and Brake Master Cylinder Can Separate From Brake Booster and Expensive Timing Belt and Water Pump Replacement Required and Auto Idle Stop Engine Fails to Auto-Restart (No-Restart / Stall at Stop) and Honda Sensing / Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) Phantom Unintended Braking. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Honda Pilot issues range from $0 to $800, 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.
Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) causes excessive oil consumption (1 quart every 1,000-1,500 miles), engine misfires, and fouled spark plugs. The reciprocating effect creates vacuum that pulls oil past piston rings. Leads to premature failure of spark plugs, catalytic converter… Severity: high.
Honda recalled 2,539,902 vehicles including 2017-2020 Pilot for fuel pump impeller defects. Improperly molded low-density impellers deform over time and interfere with fuel pump body, rendering pump inoperative. Causes difficulty starting, engine stalling while driving, or comple… Severity: high.
The ZF 9HP transmission produces rough and delayed shifting, loud noises during shifting, sudden harsh accelerations/decelerations, jerking/hesitating at all speeds, and loss of power. Problems stem from improper software calibration and electrical connection defects. Honda issue… Severity: high.
Brake master cylinder may have been improperly fastened to brake booster during production, resulting in loose or missing tie rod nuts. Tie-rod studs may break due to bending load when brake pedal pushed, causing master cylinder to separate from booster and loss of braking abilit… Severity: high.
3.5L V6 uses timing belt (not chain) that must be replaced every 105,000 miles or 7 years. Timing belt failure causes catastrophic engine damage (bent valves, damaged pistons) costing $3,000-$6,000. Water pump is driven by timing belt and should be replaced simultaneously since l… Severity: high.
On third-gen Pilots with the J35Y6 V6 and ZF 9-speed automatic, the Auto Idle Stop (engine stop-start) system shuts the engine off at a stop but the engine then fails to automatically restart when the driver releases the brake, leaving the vehicle dead in traffic and sometimes re… Repairs typically run $0-$400. Severity: high.
Pilots equipped with Honda Sensing exhibit 'phantom braking,' where the Collision Mitigation Braking System applies sudden, hard, unexpected braking when no obstacle is present. Owners report it triggering on overpasses, near oncoming traffic, over bridge shadows, or on open high… Repairs typically run $0-$600. Severity: high.
Center console touchscreen goes completely black or becomes unresponsive. Audio/navigation system may enter infinite loop during shutdown that drains battery. Loose fuse connections in 2016 models and software glitches across all years are common. Class action lawsuit includes 20… Severity: medium.
Honda Pilots experience excessive parasitic battery drain (over 80mA) causing dead batteries after 24-48 hours. Common causes include radio/audio staying active when off, Bluetooth module constantly searching, and AC compressor clutch relay sticking on. Normal draw should be 12-3… Severity: medium.
Honda Pilots experience premature wear and failure of Active Control Engine Mounts (ACM), especially front and rear mounts. 2016+ Pilot uses 28-volt ACM system with sensors and actuators that cancel vibration. Rubber and metal components degrade due to heat, oil, and road conditi… Severity: medium.
The Omron A/C clutch relay (Honda part 39794-SDA-A03) is defective and gets hot, causing failure. Honda-specific part with reduced coil current known to be problematic. When relay fails, either battery dies overnight (relay stuck closed) or AC stops working (relay stuck open). Lo… Severity: medium.
AWD Honda Pilots experience rear differential fluid leaks from temperature/pressure sensors, axle seals, and case deterioration. Loose or damaged fluid pressure sensors drip onto axle seals. Some cases involve holes in differential case with extensive aluminum deterioration. Leak… 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 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.
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.
The EVAP canister purge valve sticks open and allows fuel vapors to flow into the intake when they shouldn't. On 3rd-gen Pilots this commonly sets P0496 (EVAP high/incorrect purge flow), and can accompany P0455/P0441; drivers notice a check engine light, rough idle, and pronounce… Repairs typically run $30-$250. Severity: medium.
Honda Pilot models with white paint (Taffeta White, White Diamond Pearl, White Orchid Pearl) suffer from paint defects causing peeling, bubbling, and flaking primarily on roof and tailgate. Defect stems from problems in Honda's "three-stage" white paint application manufacturing… 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.
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.