FaultScore

2011 Honda Pilot body problems

19 of the 390 complaints about the 2011 Honda Pilot are about the body and structure — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 60,221 miles.

C

19

Complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Body 15 78.9%
Structure 4 21.1%

Body & Structure across every Honda Pilot year

2003 48 13.5%
2004 42 11.8%
2005 24 6.7%
2006 26 7.3%
2007 16 4.5%
2008 16 4.5%
2011 19 5.3%
2013 47 13.2%
2014 20 5.6%
2016 54 15.2%
2017 15 4.2%
2018 17 4.8%
2019 12 3.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Portsmouth, RI

STRUCTURE:BODY

Left side front windshield garnish / trim piece detached at highway speed and went airborne. Impacted following vehicle’s front windshield.

NHTSA complaint #11507072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mountain Top, PA

STRUCTURE:BODY

The exterior paint is chipping in multiple places

NHTSA complaint #11444410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pueblo West, CO

STRUCTURE:BODY

Paint Peeling around windows and top surfaces of 2011 Honda Pilot - White Pearl Paint Paint chips coming off around windows and landing in car when eating. Child almost ate paint chips. Took Car to Pueblo Honda several years ago and told that there was nothing they could do as car was to old. Out of warranty. They did not check or notify me that the warranty was extended for 7 years. I just found this on Google. Car had hail damage 2018 and insurance and auto body shop said paint defective. Filed online at Honda about this no one contacted me. This first appeared and started to peel about 5 years ago in 2016. Is only getting worse. 102,429 8.6.2018 mialage

NHTSA complaint #11430875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,000 miles Belford, NJ

STRUCTURE:BODY

The contact owns a 2011 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the paint was peeling throughout the vehicle. The contact spoke with an independent mechanic regarding the paint. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000. The contact mentioned she was concerned about the long-term effects of the paint peeling.

NHTSA complaint #11427989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 126,000 miles Adairsville, GA

STRUCTURE:BODY

PAINT IS PEELING ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND TOP OF VEHICLE (MOONROOF AREA). STATIONARY IN MY GARAGE.

NHTSA complaint #11385485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Agoura Hills, CA Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

UPON PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, EVEN THOUGH BRAKE FULLY DEPRESSED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP FORWARD MOTION, AND THE VEHICLE HIT THE FLOWER BED AND A SMALL TREE. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO CENTER BUMPER AND FRAME UNDERNEATH. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS NUMEROUS SIMILAR OCCURRENCES

NHTSA complaint #11337064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,000 miles Martinez, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

DRIVER DOOR SLIGHTLY LIFTS AT TOP LEFT CORNER DURING WINDY CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. SEEMS LIKE DOOR ALIGNMENT IS IMPROPER.

NHTSA complaint #11157028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Peoria, AZ

STRUCTURE:BODY

HEADLIGHHTS LOOK LIKE SOMEONE HAS TAKEN SANDPAPER TO THEM. THIS STARTED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. I HAVE NOTICED OTHER HONDA PILOTS WITH SAME ISSUE

NHTSA complaint #11124137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Arlington, VA Fire

STRUCTURE:BODY

DRIVING ONTO ON RAMP OF HIGHWAY FROM PRIOR HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 30 MPH. DRIVER NOTICED A LURCH FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. UNKNOWN PART THAT WAS INVOLVED. POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION OR FUEL LINE BUT ONLY SUSPICION WITH NO EVIDENCE LEFT TO INVESTIGATE (SEE PICTURES INCLUDED). ACCELERATION NO LONGER ENGAGING. DRIVER PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, NOTICED A STREAM OF SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER HOOD OF VEHICLE. SMALL FIRE NOTICED AT BOTTOM OF CAR. WITHIN MINUTES THE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. EMS EXTINGUISHED FIRE EVENTUALLY. TOTAL TIME OF INCIDENT 10-15 MINUTES.

NHTSA complaint #11079800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2 miles Abington, MA Fire

STRUCTURE:BODY

GOT A NEW BATTERY 36 MINS LATER THE CAR WAS ON FIRE

NHTSA complaint #11063323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hilliard, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY

I NOTICE MY 2011 PILOT'S BRAKES DON'T FUNCTION NORMALLY. INSTEAD OF SMOOTH BRAKE APPLICATION THE BRAKE PEDAL 'CLICKS' WHILE BEING PRESSED AND RELEASED. BRAKES DON'T FEEL WEAK, THEY STILL STOP WELL BUT JUST THE PEDAL MAKES ME WORRY. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW. THE PROBLEM DOESN'T GO AWAY EITHER, NO MATTER IF YOU'RE STATIONARY OR HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 2 HOURS THE BRAKE FEEL IS THE SAME.

NHTSA complaint #11060899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 131,000 miles Sweetwater, TN

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD WAS LEAKING WATER INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WHILE RAINING. THE FAILURE CAUSED MOLD TO FORM ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE HONDA OF CLEVELAND DEALER (2701 S LEE HWY, CLEVELAND, TN 37311; 423-478-5301) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAM WHERE THE VEHICLE'S FIREWALL WAS LOCATED HAD FRACTURED. THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REMOVED SO THAT THE SEAL COULD BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 063774946. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA complaint #11032850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Smiths Station, AL

STRUCTURE:BODY

BOUGHT A 2011 HONDA PILOT APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO. RIGHT OFF NOTICED IT HAD A WEIRD SMELL TO IT. COULD NOT TRACK IT DOWN. WELL ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT RAINED FOR ABOUT FIVE DAYS STRAIGHT. THAT IS WHEN WE NOTICED THE FLOORBOARDS WERE SOAKING WET. TRIED TO LOCATE THE LEAK AND FIRST FOUND THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED SO WE HAD IT REPLACED. NO LUCK THERE. PULLED UP THE CARPET IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND IT WAS FULL OF WATER AND MILDEW/MOLD. THIS WAS AN ISSUE WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF IT. YOU CAN TELL FROM HOW MUCH MOLD AND MILDEW THAT THIS IS NO NEW PROBLEM. TRIED TO RESEARCH IT ONLINE AND THIS IS NO ISOLATED ISSUE. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2011 PILOT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WET SHOES CAN SLIP ON SLICK WORN OUT PEDALS, AND THEN YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT. STILL TO DATE HAVEN'T FOUND LEAK AND HONDA JUST WANTS TO CHARGE TO "FIX" THE ISSUE AND THE NEXT TIME IT RAINS THE FLOORBOARD IS FULL OF WATER AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10821771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,443 miles Chester, VA

STRUCTURE:BODY

VIBRATION UNDER BRAKING. HAVE BOTH LOWER ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED. TOTAL INVOICE $733.38 BEFORE TAX.

NHTSA complaint #10584860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 31,000 miles Dallas, TX

STRUCTURE

I WAS TOWING A TRAILER WITH A MOTORCYCLE IN IT. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH AND THE FRONT END STARTED TO VIBRATE REALLY BAD. I DROVE TO A FRIENDS HOUSE AND LEFT MY TRAILER THERE BECAUSE I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN. I DIDN'T NOTICE THE VIBRATION ONCE THE TRAILER WAS REMOVED. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 54,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE VIBRATION CAN BE PRETTY BAD WHEN I'M STOPPING HARD AND ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING. I'VE HAD THE TIRES CHANGED AND ROTATED SO I KNOW IT'S NOT THE TIRES. I ALSO HAVE A REAR LEFT TAIL LIGHT THAT KEEPS GOING OUT. I'VE CHANGED IT TWICE BUT IT'S NOT BURNED OUT. I THINK IT MUST BE A SHORT. NOW THE RADIO LIGHTS HAVE STARTED TO GO DIM. I FIRST NOTICED THIS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. WE GOT A HARD RAIN THIS WEEKEND AND WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR THE NEXT MORNING THE HEADLINER WAS WET AROUND THE SUNROOF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10573202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,000 miles Bronx, NY

STRUCTURE

IM NOT SURE WHERE WATER IS COMING IN FROM NOT SURE IF ITS FROM RAIN OR THE AC BUT MY RUGS ARE DRENCHED WET.

NHTSA complaint #10525522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,200 miles Gaithersburg, MD

STRUCTURE:BODY

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE HOOD BECAME AJAR AFTER HITTING A SMALL DIP IN THE ROAD AT THE END OF A BRIDGE. THE HOOK PREVENTED THE HOOD FROM OPENING THE ENTIRE WAY AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY AND CLOSE THE HOOD. TRIED PULLING IT OPEN AFTERWARDS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO.

NHTSA complaint #10414232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 750 miles Moscow, PA

STRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS DAMAGED WHEN A SMALL STONE BOUNCED OFF OF THE GROUND AND ENTERED THE GRILL. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE GRILL HAS OPENINGS THAT ARE TOO LARGE AND ALLOW ROAD DEBRIS TO COME THROUGH AND DAMAGE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 750.

NHTSA complaint #10363869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,800 miles Louisville, KY

STRUCTURE

2011 HONDA PILOT, SPONTANEOUS STAR CRACK IN LOWER CENTER WINDSHIELD, SPONTANEOUS REAR HATCH AND PASSENGER DOOR OPENING WHILE DRIVING WITH MY YOUNG CHILD IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT (WITH "LOCKED" DOORS), TRANSMISSION RATTLE UPON SLOW ACCELERATION OR COAST AT SECOND AND THIRD GEARS....HONDA DEALER SAID CALL INSURANCE ABOUT WINDSHIELD, SOMETHING MUST HAVE "HIT" WINDSHIELD WITHOUT ME KNOWING IT, SAID "FOUND NO ABNORMAL NOISES" AND "CANNOT DUPLICATE" RATTLE NOISE BECAUSE DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT DRIVING PATTERNS, SAID "CANNOT DUPLICATE" DOORS OPENING WHILE DRIVING, DEALER DID NOT "FIX" ANY OF THESE SAFETY ISSUES, JUST TOLD US TO PICK UP THE CAR...AFTER RESEARCH ON INTERNET, I BELIEVE THESE TO BE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW VEHICLE SO I DID NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SAFETY OR REPAIRS. THIS IS THE THIRD PILOT I HAVE HAD, AND THE SAFETY ISSUES ARE VERY CONCERNING. AFTER THE RECALL ON THE 2004 PILOT TRANSMISSION, WHY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES COME UP AGAIN IN 2010? MANY COMPLAINTS CAN EASILY BE FOUND REGARDING THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS AND WINDSHIELDS IN HONDA VEHICLES. HOW IS IT LEGAL FOR A CAR MANUFACTURER TO CONTINUE ROLLING OUT VEHICLES WITH KNOWN SAFETY ISSUES? AND THEY MARKET THESE VEHICLES TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. HOW ABOUT A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AND SHUT DOWN THESE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES? I WILL NEVER TRUST HONDA AGAIN, AFTER 15 YEARS OF LOYALTY AND TRUST THAT SAFETY SHOULD BE A CORE ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10361714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2011 Honda Pilot problems

← Full 2011 Honda Pilot report