2016 Honda Pilot transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the transmission was slipping. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after the vehicle had been driven for two to three hours. In addition, the contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera screen flashed on and off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The transmission fluids were flushed. The contact stated that the transmission fluids had been flushed and refilled four times within the year. The contact referenced an unknown recall repair for the rear-view camera; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #11755322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle was abnormally jolting and sputtering. The contact stated that the engine warning light was activating and deactivating. The contact stated that failure was a recurring failure. The dealer was contacted, and a transmission flush was performed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #11745912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I heard knocking as I was leaving gas station. I was scared about what was going wrong and if it was safe to drive home. I was alone and it was after dark. I took the next day off and took the car to my mechanic. He said it sounded like rod knock but didn’t want to do the engine replacement so he sent me to another mechanic who also said it sounded like the engine needed to be replaced. I didn’t have the money or the time to deal with it so it has been parked for the last five months. Today I took it to the dealer (that I bought it from new) for a diagnostic inspection. They stated that the noise was coming from main shaft, unable to repair, will need to replace engine. Cost estimate to replace engine is $15,964.36. I do not remember a check engine light coming on, only the lights for the driving sensing items. Which I read were also problems on this vehicle. Photos of the inspection report have been uploaded. A mistake was made on the mileage it is 103,203 not 103,703. Thank you for your time.

NHTSA complaint #11742409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle idled roughly and an abnormal noise was coming from the rear of the vehicle with no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear differential had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the same diagnosis was provided. The contact was informed that the rear differential had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA complaint #11739379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Engine has rod bearing knock noise. Transmission has a torque converter issue, acts up once in a while when shifting from park to drive or reverse.

NHTSA complaint #11730602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this complaint to report ongoing engine and emissions system problems with my 2016 Honda Pilot that raise serious safety concerns and may be related to a broader defect currently under investigation. I purchased this vehicle from a dealership in April of 2024 and the issues began shortly afterward at approximately 67,000 miles. The vehicle currently has approximately 74,600 miles and has received regular oil changes and routine maintenance. The vehicle has repeatedly displayed emissions system warning messages and engine fault codes. It has experienced persistent engine misfiring even after a mechanic performed repairs on cylinder 1. In addition, the vehicle exhibits rough engine shaking during driving and idling, engine stalling, and rough or delayed gear changes continuously since 2024. Despite attempted repairs, the problems continue to occur to present. The stalling, misfiring, and unstable engine operation create a potential safety risk, particularly while driving at speed or in traffic. The rough shifting and loss of smooth power delivery further impact safe vehicle operation. Given the relatively low mileage, proper maintenance, and the recurrence of these symptoms, this does not appear to be normal wear and tear. I am aware that similar engine-related complaints have been reported by other owners of 2016 Honda Pilot vehicles and that this model year is included in an ongoing federal investigation into potential engine defects. I am requesting that this complaint be reviewed as part of that investigation and considered for further action, including possible recall or service remedy, to address the safety risks posed by these engine and emissions system failures. Vehicle Information: Make/Model: 2016 Honda Pilot Mileage: Approximately 74,600 miles VIN: [XXX] Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11716412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Honda is aware of thousands of 9 speed transmission failures. but worst of all they tell you that you failed to change trans fluid as scheduled, but there is no schedule printed in their owner's manual, nor in their vehicle service maintenance manual. the service manual only speaks to the quality of fluid required, and that it not be mixed with other brands of trans fluids. it then goes on to say "HAVE A DEALER CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL AND REPLACE IF NEEDED." I have owned cars with sealed trans that required no maintenance, which is not the case with the Honda's 9speed trans. The Honda 9 speed is a sealed unit. I am currently face with an estimated bill of $10,600 to replace my failed trans. There is a reaccuring problem with the 9 speed, that Honda should pay for. I am requesting an investigation, and a reimburstment of my total cost. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11698236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The front facing camera on my pilot failed over a year ago. We took the vehicle to honda its over 2,000 to fix it. When the camera gets hot all adas lights will go off and it effects the transmission my car went into limp while reversing I also have to pull over in unsafe areas to turn off my vehicle bc the camera heats up and the car freaks out

NHTSA complaint #11691530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Complete engine failure on highway

NHTSA complaint #11689356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I own a 2016 Honda Pilot AWD with approximately 160,000 miles. Within a week of purchase, the engine suffered a crankshaft/rod bearing failure. While driving, the engine suddenly began knocking, lost power, and stalled in traffic. I had to quickly turn onto a side street to get out of traffic, and smoke started coming from the engine bay. The vehicle is now not driveable. I already went to a Honda dealer, and when they checked my VIN, their system only showed warranty extensions for the fuel injectors and the start/stop switch. No recall or campaign appeared for the known rod bearing defect. However, my vehicle experienced the exact failure described in recall 23V-751 and the current NHTSA investigation into Honda V6 engines. I also contacted Honda corporate recall center directly, and they opened a case under my VIN. I have the case number available if needed This poses a serious safety risk since the engine can stall without warning while driving. I request that NHTSA investigate and expand the recall to cover additional vehicles including mine, that have experienced this same dangerous defect.

NHTSA complaint #11688922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Transmission slipping and motor making a grind sound since like 120k and dash problems and paint chips every were paint is coming off on its own. I did not about that i can do a complete here.

NHTSA complaint #11685070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

transmission slipping

NHTSA complaint #11685075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

There was a small ticking/knocking noise that started the week before I took my Honda Pilot in to the dealer. I took the car in for regular service and told them about this noise. Under further inspection, I was advised by the Honda dealership that the piston connecting rod bearing had failed causing damage to the motor. I had to pay to replace the motor at my own expense. This is a safety issue as I did not really have a warning that anything was wrong with the vehicle and the engine could have seized up and caught fire while I was driving putting my family and other vehicles in harms way. It is my understanding that Honda had a partial recall on this issue in which my VIN was not covered. I was not notified that this was even an issue for the 2016 Honda Pilots and I should have been notified and and this should have been fixed before it occurred. The dealer reached out to Honda Corporate to request coverage of this cost and they denied it even though this is a known issue with this motor.

NHTSA complaint #11683219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

2017: transmission replacement UW 2021: Vehicle stopped/ lost power on I44 at a speed of 70 mph. I immediately pulled over and called Roper on a recorded line per roper Honda. Took it to roper- needs a new motor. 2021: motor replacement Not UW 2024: vehicle was called in about hatch defect . Apparently, Roper reports that it is fixed yet- it IS NOT. I was unaware of the rods recall. That would explain why I need another motor. 2025: motor is knocking. Not UW 2025: AIS: vehicle has stalled at busy intersections after an idle stop. Scary when you have a car full of kids and your car doesn’t want to go. Now the car will just loose power and not start at a stop light regularly. I paid $43,000 for a vehicle that may have all the bells and whistles but it is complete trash to say the least. I have records of all of the work, issues, and roper has recorded calls that could be supenaded. ROPER HONDA JOPlIN MO

NHTSA complaint #11682384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The vehicle has started displaying numerous codes/error messages on the display. Vehicle jerks while attempting to accelerate and loses power. Dealership diagnosed the problem as a camshaft, stating the camshaft, timing belt, camshaft thrust cover, and spark plugs would all need to be replaced. They also said this may have caused damage to the converter, which will not be known until other repairs are made. This is apparently a common and widespread issue with these Hondas despite no recall being issued.

NHTSA complaint #11678821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Transmission Temperate Too Hot warning came on in summer of 2023. Ended up needing to replace the engine. Fast forward to 6/25/25 and the light came on again. We take very good care of this vehicle and do all scheduled maintenance so this is very disappointing.

NHTSA complaint #11669257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I had to replace my transmission in my 2016 Honda Pilot. Honda paid for part of the repairs and I was responsible for the remaining amount. It has been well documented that this year and model have transmission problems. I asked Honda to reimburse me for the amount I was responsible for, but they refused to because of the mileage and age of the vehicle, even though I reported transmission issues when the vehicle only had 38k miles. I sent several emails and left several voicemails with no meaningful response. They have been very difficult to deal with.

NHTSA complaint #11667978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I am writing to report a persistent powertrain issue with my 2016 Honda Pilot, specifically regarding hard shifting between first and second gear when accelerating from a stop. Honda has acknowledged this issue and released an ECU software update intended to resolve it; however, in my case, as well as for many other owners who have reported similar concerns, the update did not effectively correct the problem. My vehicle currently has 76,000 miles, and despite Honda’s attempted fix, the hard shifting continues to impact performance and drivability. Given the widespread nature of this complaint, I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter further and take appropriate action to ensure a proper resolution. Thank you for your time and attention to this issue. Sincerely,

NHTSA complaint #11666297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I was on my way to work and was in a neighborhood going 25 mph and came to a stop. My engine cut off and would not restart. I bought the car with somewhere around 120,000 miles in 2021.. it is the end of May 2015 and the car has a little less than 152,000 on it. I kept up with required oil changes and I have been told that the engine is siezed. As well as the torque converter being stuck... sounds like the SAME ISSUES listed in the recall

NHTSA complaint #11663981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

While driving vehicle lost power and started smoking; and would not restart. Towed to honda, they stated engine siezed and connecting rod was protruding out of the side of engine. Took to another shop and they confirmed rod bearings failed and caused connecting rod to break causing it to go through the engine. When attempted to restart car check engine light was on. Heads to the engine were good. Had to replace engine at 157k with all service being done at honda on time or early with all maintenance being done on time. Vehicle lost power on highway in far left lane, very dangerous.

NHTSA complaint #11664030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

On 4-24-25 my engine had a knocking sound. I took it to a Honda Service center and they ran a diagnostic and found a rod bearing issue. Their recommendation was to replace the engine and quoted me an estimate of about $9000. I was told to not drive my car anymore and the rod can blow at any time and it is not safe for me to drive back home. I left my car at the Honda dealership. I have done regular maintenance- oil changes, filter changes, tune ups, etc. My car is at 171,000 miles and had no issues up until this. I purchased the car ten months ago. I saw that many consumers complained of the same issue and had got stuck on the side of the road, and paying costly repairs. I contacted Honda today and they told me that my VIN number is not affected by the rod bearing recall and they might try to get me into their "Goodwill Program" to help me with the cost of repair. I can't drive my car or else I would risk my safety and others' safety on the road. I had to Uber home. I don't have a drivable car now, and have to take my duaghter to school everyday. I am a single mom and saved up for this vehicle and paid cash, because Honda had the reputation of being reliable and built to last. Now I am at the mercy of their corporate department for the cost of the huge repairs that need to be done. It is not a guarantee that they will help me. I am glad that my daughter was not in the car with me or anything horrible happened like injury or death. This is a very concerning issue and I hope Honda will rectify this issue soon and acknowledge the safety hazards of this defect.

NHTSA complaint #11657313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle was fixed for auto start stop under recall. They changed all the parts including capacitors. Within 5000 miles it started happening again. I’ve informed Honda about this from 20k miles. The vehicle now has 165k. I’ve told them on multiple occasions that this is a serious safety issue. They said they have this fixed and they do not. They closed my case even though I asked them to keep it open as they have not proved to me that it is fixed. The only way to fix this is to have Honda program the care to not allow start stop as someone is going to get killed. It’s just a matter of time.

NHTSA complaint #11651890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The engine is making a very loud internal noise and it is available upon request. There is a major fear of the engine seizing while driving. I don't know if the vehicle has been taken to a dealer for this issue before. The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There weren't any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.

NHTSA complaint #11649757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The ATF Warmer failed. This allowed engine coolant and transmission fluid to mix. This caused the engine and transmission to overheat. No warning messages appeared up until the transmission overheated. A warning appeared about the transmission, but not about the engine. Honda says that they do not think my VIN was impacted by this known issue. And, yet, my car has a textbook defective ATF warmer with 100% overlap in symptoms with a known service bulletin issue (17-035 from April 7, 2018).

NHTSA complaint #11646531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The brakes have been repaired and replaced repeatedly. The vehicle locked down yesterday 2/25/25 when the driver was headed to school to pick up the children. The car came to a complete halt and was a danger to others with a "transmission engine" warning light on the dash. This vehicle has numerous repairs in addition to being too dangerous to drive down a two lane road due to the severity of the following issues: •Abrupt jerking or 'juddering' while accelerating, which can cause sudden unintended movement. •Noticeable hesitation when pressing the gas pedal, impacting the vehicle's response time. •Unusual clunking noises or hard downshifting, indicating potential internal damage.

NHTSA complaint #11645078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Connecting rod to piston broken of damaged. Loud rattle on engine startup and acceleration. Not shifting well. Engine cutting off at stops and not restarting without shifting to park and restarting

NHTSA complaint #11638677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

To whom it may concern, My name is [XXX] . I hope this message finds you well. I am writing this message with a heavy heart, to advise of our story that is ending with a tragic experience. On [XXX] my wife, [XXX] , and I, walked in a Honda dealership. We drove away confident about our new vehicle, a 2016 Honda Pilot. It was highly recommended by the salesman. Since then, we have maintained the vehicles services. Sadly, on Saturday, [XXX], the vehicle malfunctioned and engine stalled on the highway. The steering wheel locked, the vehicle would not accelerate, and the brakes failed. I managed to pull over, but we were terrified and stranded for over forty minutes. The vehicle was towed home, and we contacted the dealership, who agreed to inspect it. It was taken to the service center in early December and has remained there since. The certified Honda mechanics' diagnostic report confirms issues consistent with online Honda recalls. As this is our only vehicle, this situation has created significant hardship for our family. Our dream of owning a Honda has unfortunately turned into a nightmare. Honda corporate has denied our request for any and all assistance. We would be most grateful for any assistance you can provide. CAMPAIGN DESCRIPTION:2016 & 2018-2019 Pilot Conn Rod Inspect Recall RECALL DATE:11/08/2023 SUMMARY: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain 2016 and 2018-2019 model year Pilot vehicles. Due to a manufacturing defect of the engine crankshaft, the connecting rod bearing can prematurely wear and seize. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11638009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

We have always taken great care of our Pilot, regular oil changes, tire rotations, checking the fluid levels. Just before we went on vacation, our Pilot's check engine light came on and started blinking under normal driving conditions. When we hooked up the code reader, it was for a misfire in the second cylinder. Having changed the spark plugs about 30-40k before this incident, we tested the plugs and assumed it was the coil. We changed the coil. After returning from vacation, we drove the car minimally yet after about 40-50 miles, the code returned with knocking sound. We had the car towed to our residence...to find the same code. We inspected the plug and coil, no issues were present and the code was cleared. The next day, the code came back on and the engine was knocking very loud and had definite performance issues. I checked the Honda recall page and our car had no open recalls. I noticed that other Pilots with the V6 engine in our model year range were included an investigation by the NHTSA. Our mechanic drove our pilot for 30 feet and immediately called me to tell me that he would not suggest even spending money on diagnosing the problem....as he believes the engine is a total loss. It seems unfair that Honda would not address this issue as it seems a wide spread problem after a simple google search.

NHTSA complaint #11635997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the Auto Start/Stop function engaged. Vehicle struggles to restart on various occasions. Honda America has an extended warranty to replace the starter.

NHTSA complaint #11634762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Engine failure consistent with recall 23V-751, and would like this included in NHTSA investigation RQ24013. Lost acceleration and check engine light came on. Pulled off of Interstate, turned off vehicle and restarted. Check engine light was off and vehicle accelerated normally for about 5 minutes. Then problem repeated with increased engine noise. Was able to limp the vehicle at no faster than 40mph to Honda dealer in Napleton, IL. River Oaks Honda of Napleton is able to verify the problem. Safety of occupants was put at risk due to large volume of traffic on [XXX] during holiday season and inability of the vehicle to maintain required minimum speed. Symptoms of this problem did appear in May 2024 and was diagnosed as P0369. Front bank camshaft was replaced by Hendrick Honda of Sarasota. Symptoms appeared again in October 2024 and vehicle was brought to John Hinderer Honda of Newark, OH. They diagnosed that the intake and exhaust valve lash was out of spec and they performed an intake and exhaust valvestand adjustment. This vehicle was well maintained and serviced by Honda dealers whenever problems appeared. I don't understand why previous diagnosis & repairs, which were costly, did not correctly identify the root cause. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11634309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.