Owners have filed 649 complaints
about the 2018 Honda Pilot with NHTSA between 2018 and 2026.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 11 of 24 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 60
Against the median year of the Honda Pilot. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 24
4.6% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 75
44% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Body
1335.1%
Warnings
616.2%
Automatic Emergency Braking
513.5%
Adaptive Cruise Control
513.5%
Warning
38.1%
Assist
25.4%
Torque Converter
25.4%
Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor
12.7%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
64.1%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
138.8%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
3423.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
2114.2%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
3020.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
1610.8%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
1610.8%
150,000+ miles
128.1%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2018peak 30Aug 2026
NHTSA investigations into the 2018 Honda Pilot
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
2
investigations are
still open.
PE25008Opened 20 Aug 2025Still openENGINE
Engine failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline. The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013). It was determined that these engine failures are outside the scope of Honda Recall 23V-751. Further, evidence gathered in conjunction with RQ24013 does not suggest this failure is caused by the same crankshaft manufac...
EA25004Opened 26 Mar 2025Still openENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:CRANK/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to r...
RQ24013Opened 8 Nov 2024Closed 20 Aug 2025ENGINE
Engine failure
On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016–2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine. Honda recalled these vehicles due to a crankshaft manufacturing defect that caused premature connecting rod bearing wear and engine seizure. While the out-of-scope failures involved in these complai...
PE22005Opened 3 Jun 2022Closed 26 Mar 2025ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:CRANK/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to r...
Recalls on the 2018 Honda Pilot
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
26V365000
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
26V332000
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
23V858000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
23V751000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
Risk: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
21V932000
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.
Risk: A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
19V298000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.
Risk: Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
18V221000
SEATS
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles and 2018 Acura MDX vehicles. The front driver and passenger powered seats in the Honda vehicles and the driver powered seats in the Acura vehicles may have been assembled with improperly manufactured rivets. In the event of a crash, the rivets can break causing the seats not to be secured to the floor. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the floor, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 2026275136,260 units in Canada
Structure
Issue: On certain vehicles, the suspension mounting points on the rear subframe could rust. As a result, rear suspension components could fail. This could lead to poor handling and a loss of vehicle control. Safety Risk: A loss of control could create the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Honda will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit or replace the subframe, as necessary.
Recall 202625112,371 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
Issue: On certain vehicles, the weight sensor for the front passenger seat may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the passenger-front airbag and knee airbag could deploy in a crash that doesn't require them to. Note: This recall is an expansion of Transport Canada recall no. 2024-059. If the weight sensor fails, the SRS warning light would turn on in the instrument panel. Safety Risk: An airbag system that doesn't work properly could increase the risk of injury in a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the passenger-front seat weight sensor.
Recall 2024262291,588 units in Canada
Fuel System
Issue: This recall is for low-pressure fuel pumps installed on certain vehicles or sold at dealerships as a replacement part. On certain vehicles, the low-pressure fuel pump could fail. If this happens, the engine may run rough or may not start and the check engine light may turn on. This could also result in a sudden loss of engine power while driving. Note: This recall replaces Transport Canada recall no. 2023-679. Vehicles that were repaired under that recall don't require this repair. Safety Risk: A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the fuel pump motor.
Recall 2023679285,461 units in Canada
Fuel System
This recall was replaced by Transport Canada recall no. 2024-262. Issue: This recall is for low-pressure fuel pumps installed on certain vehicles or sold at dealerships as a replacement part. On certain vehicles, the low-pressure fuel pump could fail. If this happens, the engine may run rough or may not start and the check engine light may turn on. This could also result in a sudden loss of engine power while driving. Note: This is an expansion of Transport Canada recall nos. 2020-236 and 2021-182. Safety Risk: A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the fuel pump motor.
Recall 202360329,601 units in Canada
Engine
Issue: On certain vehicles equipped with a V6 engine, the connecting rod bearings could wear prematurely and become damaged. If this happens, the engine could make abnormal noises and a warning light may turn on. If you continue to drive the vehicle with these symptoms, the engine could fail. Safety Risk: An engine failure could cause a sudden loss of power and/or increase the risk of a vehicle fire. Both issues could increase the risk of a crash or injury. Corrective actions: Honda will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the engine. If damage is found, the dealer will replace the necessary parts.
Recall 202172551,325 units in Canada
Structure
Issue: On certain vehicles, the hood latch striker could separate from the hood. If this happens, the hood could open while driving. Note: A loose or vibrating hood may be a warning that the hood latch is failing. Safety Risk: A hood that opens suddenly while driving could block the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Honda will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the hood latch striker. Depending on its condition, a striker support plate will be installed, or if necessary, the hood will be replaced.
Recall 2018167285 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
Certain vehicles equipped with power driver and passenger seats may fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 207 - Anchorage of Seats and CMVSS 210 – Seat Belt Anchorages. The front driver and/or passenger seats may have been assembled with improperly manufactured rivets to secure the seat slide rails to the forward seat feet. In the event of a crash, the rivets may break and allow the front seat(s) to separate from the seat feet, which would fail to meet the requirements of the standard(s), and could increase the risk of injury to the seated occupant. Correction: For Pilot models, dealers will replace the “H” frame (seat rail assembly), on both front seats, and for affected MDX models, dealers will replace the driver’s seat frame assembly.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Tucson, AZCrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
My wife was in an accident where she struck a vehicle crossing an intersection in front of her. She believed she was traveling at between 25-30 mph. Following the accident, the Honda Pilot dash indicated a problem with the airbag. My wife suffered bruising across her chest and her hips from the belt. After extensive repairs, documents attached, the dash continued to display a fault with the airbag system that was subsequently addressed by a local Honda dealership.
NHTSA complaint #11671282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,000 milesSouth Ozone Park, NYCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH during traffic, the vehicle hesitated, jerked, and suddenly accelerated. Multiple unknown warning lights illuminated. As a result, the vehicle rear-ended a U-Haul trailer that was in front, then crashed into a wall and from the impact into the trailer where it came to a stop. None of the air bags deployed. The contact suffered injuries to the head when she impacted the steering wheel, the right leg near the hip, and the right arm. The contact was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the sensors on the vehicle malfunctioned weeks before the crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where unknown repairs were completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The insurance company was contacted and pending results. The failure mileage was 26,000.
NHTSA complaint #11641167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,000 milesSouth Ozone Park, NYCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH during traffic, the vehicle hesitated, jerked, and suddenly accelerated. Multiple unknown warning lights illuminated. As a result, the vehicle rear-ended a U-Haul trailer that was in front, then crashed into a wall and from the impact into the trailer where it came to a stop. None of the air bags deployed. The contact suffered injuries to the head when she impacted the steering wheel, the right leg near the hip, and the right arm. The contact was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the sensors on the vehicle malfunctioned weeks before the crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where unknown repairs were completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The insurance company was contacted and pending results. The failure mileage was 26,000.
NHTSA complaint #11641167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frankfort, ILFire
ENGINE
I was driving on the highway, and the sensor stating the transmission is too hot popped up on the dashboard. This is an issue I have brought to Honda's attention on a few other occasions over the past three years, as this light has shown up before, but only when the outside temperatures had exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and I was driving at speeds of 55mph or more. I'd been told that since there was no active re-call, there was nothing they could do each time I reached out to Honda. Shortly after the light showed on the dashboard, I lost the ability to accelerate. I was pushing the gas pedal down, the RPM's were increasing, but my speed was decreasing. At that point, I decided it was best to exit at the upcoming Oasis, and before I could start to merge right, I heard a loud "pop" noise from presumably from the engine. Flames began to shoot out from under the hood on the driver-side. I merged over to the shoulder as quickly and safely as I could, grabbed my purse and exited the vehicle immediately. I then called 911, and while I was on the phone with dispatch, more loud "pops" occurred, growing the flames, until the car was completely engulfed in fire and black smoke. After a few minutes, the state police, EMT and South Holland FD arrived. The firefighters put the fire out, and the car was completely destroyed, resulting in a total loss of the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11632560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brentwood, TNFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
We were on a road trip to Gatlinburg from Brentwood TN. We were about a mile from our cabin when we saw a mama bear and cubs. We rolled down the window to take photos and my [XXX] smelled smoke. We didn’t see any smoke but thought maybe someone was burning brush or cooking out. We rolled up the windows and continued to drive for about thirty seconds when we saw smoke billowing out of the front hood. There were no warnings on my dash of any problem. We jumped out and I saw a small ember under the front of the car. I called 911 and we started to run, the car quickly went up in flames and then exploded before fire department arrived. We lost everything inside and are grateful to be alive. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11599230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gurnee, IL1 injured
SEATS
I bought the car three days prior to this event. On February 14, 2024, I reached into the third row to lower the seats and I pulled the black strap toward me like it says to do in the manual and the seat came down so hard it crushed my hand between the seat and the side of the car and broke my 5th metacarpal in 3 places. I had to have surgery 6 days later and had hardware put in my hand. Even the emergency room doctor said there is something wrong with my seat. This story is similar to the boy that got crushed in the third row seat and died. Why is this seat like this? I realize if this was a child it would be all over the news but I am an adult and our lives matter much less to the media.
NHTSA complaint #11578113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Gurnee, IL
ENGINE
The vehicle started to make some strange noises coming from the engine area. I brought the vehicle to our mechanic, who stated that the engine needs to be replaced. He described the problem as an issue with the piston that is appearing to be common with the shut off system, causing it in this vehicle. He classified as.’Engine has internal knock from wrist pin/rod bearing’. I’m looking at recalls and there are 2018s that appeared to have some sort of rod or piston issue that is under recall. Our particular VIN does not show a recall. This does appear to be a relatively common problem occurring with our model year though.
NHTSA complaint #11758136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenville, SC
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Failed Component: Lane Departure System Camera - Honda (P/N 36160-TG8-A51). This camera has completely failed which completely shuts down the following safety systems in this Honda Pilot: Adaptive Cruise Control Forward Collision Warning Lane Departure Warning Lane Keeping Assistance It also fully disables the cruise control system. I have attempted to have this repaired at our Honda dealership - but parts are on backorder without a known delivery time.
NHTSA complaint #11756633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenville, SC
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Failed Component: Lane Departure System Camera - Honda (P/N 36160-TG8-A51). This camera has completely failed which completely shuts down the following safety systems in this Honda Pilot: Adaptive Cruise Control Forward Collision Warning Lane Departure Warning Lane Keeping Assistance It also fully disables the cruise control system. I have attempted to have this repaired at our Honda dealership - but parts are on backorder without a known delivery time.
NHTSA complaint #11756633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenville, SC
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
Failed Component: Lane Departure System Camera - Honda (P/N 36160-TG8-A51). This camera has completely failed which completely shuts down the following safety systems in this Honda Pilot: Adaptive Cruise Control Forward Collision Warning Lane Departure Warning Lane Keeping Assistance It also fully disables the cruise control system. I have attempted to have this repaired at our Honda dealership - but parts are on backorder without a known delivery time.
NHTSA complaint #11756633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norfolk, VA
ENGINE
When I press down on the gas, the car is delayed in responding. This has gotten increasingly worse, at times resulting in near collisions with on-coming traffic. I've reported this to my local dealership (Priority Honda in Chesapeake, Virginia) but they continue to tell me there are no diagnostic codes that allude to there being an issue and will not review it further. When I took a technician for a test drive and was able to replicate it, the technician said that it was normal that the gas was not immediately responsive. The unresponsiveness happens when I'm trying to get initial momentum (starting at a full stop), when I'm changing from reversing to moving forward, and when I'm already in motion and trying to advance speed.
NHTSA complaint #11756203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kennewick, WA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
-the transmission too hot message came up on my dashboard. yes it is available for inspection upon request -we could not continue to drive to our destination -they could not find any issue when i brought it to Honda Service center, they did recommend ATF cooler which i had it installed -there are no other warning messages, it first appeared in 2023 going to california, it happened again in 2024. and happened again last month.
NHTSA complaint #11754476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clarkston, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
If the auto engine shut off is activated the engine shuts off randomly and it does not restart the engine. The battery needs to be unplugged to reset the electrical system. This happens daily.
NHTSA complaint #11754464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clarkston, MI
ENGINE
If the auto engine shut off is activated the engine shuts off randomly and it does not restart the engine. The battery needs to be unplugged to reset the electrical system. This happens daily.
NHTSA complaint #11754464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portland, OR
ENGINE
We were driving from [XXX], to [XXX], on XXX. That morning we'd taken the Honda Pilot in to Xpresso Lube and got an oil change and all fluids checked out. Eight hours into the drive we heard a little clanking and started to pull off the freeway. As we did so, a Low Oil Pressure light came on for a few seconds and then we heard a loud bang and then very loud, rhythmic, clanking noises in the engine as it was losing power. The first mechanic shop we had it towed to diagnosed engine failure, so we had it towed to a Honda Service shop 30 miles away. They said it was a rod bearing and the entire engine needed replacing. Our mileage at the time it entered the Honda shop was 72, 275K. We have done regular, consistent oil changes and maintenance on this car that we bought new in 2019 (a 2018 model). We at first wondered if the wrong oil was put in or if it was a faulty oil filter, but Honda said there was plenty of oil in the engine. We did get a sample of the oil that came out. The filter will be sent in to the manufacturer for quality assessment. Our safety was at risk to some degree, but we were able to pull off the road. The Honda dealership is holding the engine for me and could be inspected.. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11754555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Noblesville, IN
ENGINE
Vehicle was being driven on the interstate going 70-77 mph. First noticed faint knocking sound and loss of ability to accelerate followed by check engine light and multiple system failure notifications. Pulled over on the highway between exits and turned vehicle off to call for assistance. Turned vehicle back on after 10-15 minutes to test, all warnings remained and acceleration was limited but possible. Drove vehicle on side of i70 until reaching an exit and parking for help to arrive. Two children and myself the driver were in the car. Vehicle was inspected and codes ran, but ultimately towed to our local Honda dealership. This event took place on July 18, 2026 causing us to miss a family wedding. The vehicle has been sitting at Penske Honda since then waiting for diagnostic tests to be run, scheduled for August 6.
NHTSA complaint #11754624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Jose, CA
POWER TRAIN
2018 Honda Pilot Transmission Failed at Only 34,726 Miles I want to share my experience so other Honda owners are aware of a very premature transmission failure. I am the original owner of a 2018 Honda Pilot with only 34,726 miles. My family has trusted Honda for many years, and my wife also drives a Honda HR-V. We believed Honda vehicles were reliable. While driving, my Pilot suddenly showed a “Transmission System Problem” warning. The vehicle became very slow and later was unable to engage into gear. I had to tow it to Capital Honda in San Jose. Capital Honda diagnosed a complete transmission failure requiring a full replacement. The repair cost was about $11,800. I appreciate that American Honda provided goodwill assistance and covered a large portion of the repair. With that assistance, my out-of-pocket cost was reduced to $3,500. However, I am frustrated and disappointed that a Honda transmission could fail completely at only 34,726 miles. This is unacceptable for such a low-mileage vehicle, especially from a company known for engineering quality and reliability. All maintenance was completed on time at Honda dealerships. About six months before the failure, the transmission fluid service was also performed at a Honda dealer. I did not neglect this vehicle. Because of the low mileage, I asked American Honda to review my case for additional goodwill assistance. Unfortunately, that request was declined. Again, I appreciate the assistance already provided, but as a loyal Honda customer, I am deeply disappointed that I still have to pay $3,500 for a major transmission failure that happened far too early. I am sharing this so other Honda Pilot owners can watch for warning signs such as warning messages, delayed engagement, slipping, jerking, or abnormal shifting. Please keep your service records and report serious issues if they occur. Honda built its reputation on reliability, but this experience has made me question that reputation.
NHTSA complaint #11753017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wylie, TX
ENGINE
2018 Honda Pilot – Engine Failed to Restart During Auto Idle Stop I own a 2018 Honda Pilot that has experienced an intermittent Auto Idle Stop restart failure. Approximately 18 months ago, my Honda dealer performed the Honda service bulletin repair related to the Auto Idle Stop restart issue, including replacement of the starter. More recently, I began experiencing intermittent hard starts after driving the vehicle and allowing it to sit for approximately 10–15 minutes. The battery is new and has tested good multiple times, and no diagnostic trouble codes or check engine light were present. Based on the starting symptoms, the EVAP purge solenoid was replaced. Immediately after that repair, the Auto Idle Stop system began functioning normally again. However, two days later, while stopped at a traffic light, the Auto Idle Stop system shut the engine off as designed. When the vehicle attempted to automatically restart, the engine failed to restart and the vehicle remained disabled in the traffic lane. I had to shift the vehicle into Park and manually restart the engine using the Start button. The engine then started immediately and operated normally. Since that event, the vehicle has continued to exhibit intermittent hot-start hesitation after short drives, although it runs normally once started. This is a significant safety concern because a failure of the Auto Idle Stop system to restart the engine can leave the vehicle disabled in an active traffic lane or intersection, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision or other crash. I am submitting this complaint because the vehicle experienced an Auto Idle Stop restart failure despite having previously received Honda’s repair for this issue, and I believe the condition warrants further investigation.
NHTSA complaint #11752912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Williston, SC
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
As I was driving I had a transmission system error come up. Took it to a mechanic and code P0741 came up related to the torque converter problem. A service bulletin for 17-18 Pilots is out but does not include mine. I feel like this should be covered as I had to fork out $3000 for a known issue.
NHTSA complaint #11751350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Groves, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle will not start occasionally and states brake issue. The brakes becomes rigid and I'm left stranded until it corrected itself. This is a KNOWN issue, and yet they won't do a recall. It seems like a deceptive practice.
NHTSA complaint #11750571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Groves, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
The vehicle will not start occasionally and states brake issue. The brakes becomes rigid and I'm left stranded until it corrected itself. This is a KNOWN issue, and yet they won't do a recall. It seems like a deceptive practice.
NHTSA complaint #11750571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Honda pilot would not restart after auto ideal engine stop. This issue caused all the warnings lights to come on with blinking engine light! Honda dealer was not able to resolve the issue and ended up paying $1500 even though it was a part of their service bulletin 23-009.
NHTSA complaint #11747433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KY
ENGINE
Honda pilot would not restart after auto ideal engine stop. This issue caused all the warnings lights to come on with blinking engine light! Honda dealer was not able to resolve the issue and ended up paying $1500 even though it was a part of their service bulletin 23-009.
NHTSA complaint #11747433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KY
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Honda pilot would not restart after auto ideal engine stop. This issue caused all the warnings lights to come on with blinking engine light! Honda dealer was not able to resolve the issue and ended up paying $1500 even though it was a part of their service bulletin 23-009.
NHTSA complaint #11747433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deatsville, AL
ENGINE
Engine failure , has been confirmed by a shop. It is available for inspection upon request. No previous problems or warning lights. Stalled and put myself and my children at risk of serious injury.
NHTSA complaint #11746603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kaufman, TX
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While driving down a freeway, my car shuddered and my engine suddenly lost power and was put into limp mode. Mechanic determined it was the high pressure fuel pump that failed. This vehicle was part of the recall for the low pressure fuel pump that was completed. It also had to have fuel injectors replaced under Honda’s extended warranty over faulty injectors.
NHTSA complaint #11742027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vancouver, WA
POWER TRAIN
While operating my vehicle on a public roadway, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of transmission hydraulic pressure and vehicle propulsion, accompanied by a dashboard warning light with a blinking "D". The vehicle completely stopped delivering power to the drive wheels while moving with traffic, creating an immediate and severe safety hazard for a rear-end collision on an active road. We pulled into the high school parking lot, stopped the car, then restarted it. It had the error on the dashboard, but we were able to get it safely home, where it was towed to the dealership later. The vehicle was towed to Dick Hannah Honda (the local authorized dealership). The service department scanned the onboard computer (from the parking lot, NO actual physical inspection done) and pulled internal transmission fault codes P0730 (Incorrect Gear Ratio) and P0746 (Pressure Control Solenoid "A" Performance/Stuck Off). Based solely on these electronic fault codes, the dealership stated that the internal mechanics of the ZF 9-speed transmission had completely failed. They stated the transmission is completely unrepairable and quoted a full replacement cost of $11,984.41. Prior to this failure, the vehicle had service documentation and inspection records from authorized Honda franchise technicians, who repeatedly marked the transmission condition and vehicle health check sheets as completely healthy and "GREEN" at every visit for 60,000 miles by American Honda Motor Co. Case Management was contacted (Case #16371194), but they refused any financial goodwill assistance. This sudden operational failure of the ZF 9-speed transmission platform without ANY prior Maintenance Minders given by the computer system. This failure matches the exact software calibration and pressure defects currently cited in ongoing consumer protection litigation involving the 2016-2022 Honda Pilot 9-speed drivetrain.
NHTSA complaint #11741546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Los Angeles, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Safety recall on 2018 Honda pilot fuel pump Honda dealership refuse to repair unless other repairs where done due to engine light on . I ask advisor who was helping me [XXX] to give me clarification on the reason his respond was i am just doing my job no other dealer will be able to help you Technician doesn’t want to proceed with repair due to engine light on , unless you do other repairs rough estimate amount $1851.64 I politely denied those services walk out contact another Honda dealer on May 28 2026 , I spoke to advisor Jennifer Cruz explain the situation set up an appointment for safety recall on fuel pump @ location 9055 Washington blvd , Culver City , Ca 90232 [XXX] Repairs will be done by 3pm on May 29 2026 , Jennifer Cruz was really helpful and apologized for my bad experience with previous Honda dealership INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11740751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Los Angeles, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Safety recall on 2018 Honda pilot fuel pump Honda dealership refuse to repair unless other repairs where done due to engine light on . I ask advisor who was helping me [XXX] to give me clarification on the reason his respond was i am just doing my job no other dealer will be able to help you Technician doesn’t want to proceed with repair due to engine light on , unless you do other repairs rough estimate amount $1851.64 I politely denied those services walk out contact another Honda dealer on May 28 2026 , I spoke to advisor Jennifer Cruz explain the situation set up an appointment for safety recall on fuel pump @ location 9055 Washington blvd , Culver City , Ca 90232 [XXX] Repairs will be done by 3pm on May 29 2026 , Jennifer Cruz was really helpful and apologized for my bad experience with previous Honda dealership INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11740751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lenexa, KS
AIR BAGS
DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY REASON WHITE GOING AT 35 MILES/HOUR FROM FRONT TO BACK OF THE TRUNCK
NHTSA complaint #11739220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The moonroof glass shattered for no apparent reason while driving at highway speed. Fortunately, the inner moonroof cover was closed preventing glass pieces from entering the vehicle interior. The incident happened while driving on an interstate highway in light traffic.
NHTSA complaint #11732944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.