194 of the
13,073 complaints filed about the Honda Pilot
are about the lighting —
1% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
when driving our 2023 honda pilot we stopped at traffic light the car shut off would not restart our front doors would open and close our back doors would not operate back tale gate door would not operate we had no4 way blinkers no lights totally dead auto. we were in middle of four lanes bumper to bumper traffic with no way to warn other drivers of our car break down. after short time a helpful driver pulled up behind us and used his auto to block us from traffic and used his 4 way flashers to warn other cars to go around us . police and tow showed up in appx 20 min. car was taken to WILLIAMS HONDA OF TRAVERS CITY MI.49685 they repaired car next day informed us battery shorted out when auto shut off activated at stop light. we had no indications of any issues with our vehicle it is 3 yr old with 40138 mi on it battery was out warrenty. williams installed newAGM100M BATT. our main safety issue is lack of 4 way warning or signal to other drivers.WE WERE LUCKY NO ONE REAR ENDED US AND WE DID NOT NEED BACK DOORS TO OPERATE . THANK YOU [XXX] AND [XXX] FROM SAULT STE. MARIE MI [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11755632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There is an electrical malfunction which causes all of the electrical components to flash on/off, glitch. This has occured while driving but primarily when the vehicle is parked and unattended. I’m afraid it can short and cause a fire. The vehicle will turn istelf on and off repeatedly and rapidly while unattended. This has been going on for 2 years with our vehicle and not under warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11726753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2014 Honda pilot touring--ENGINE-is running through oil faster than it should. The spark plugs/coil packs have all been replaced now. Starting with 1 an 3.I was driving down the road and it started stalling out while I was in traffic about 8 mo.ago . The vehicle didn't want to go anywhere an when it would get some power to go it was slow an the engine was shaking so hard the whole time even at idle. So I pulled over, turned car off an then on trying to get it home since I wasn't far at all. Finally the check engine light came on as I pulled in the drive. Put a code reader on it to find out that plugs 1.and 3 were misfiring., Fixed that problem and 2 months later it did the same thing. Checked codes again and seen now we needed to replace the rest of the spark plugs and all coil packs. Which made it run normal again. Dates are unknown at this point. Best guess it started about between 6 months an a year ago. We have had problems every since though. The check engine light came on again an the car was shaking and idling up an down an the code was- low transmission fluid. Transmission fluid doesn't leak unless something's wrong. There was none leaking and when we checked the level it was perfect We just turned the car off for awhile an when we started it back it acted fine. Seems like it could be something with the computer possibly?? There is so many more problems with this 14 Pilot. This thing shakes really bad during take off an slowing down. Drivetrain-- there is something in the front end making noise like it's gonna break any moment. Could be CV joint, hub assembly or numerous things. Also sometimes I can smell gas fumes or a burning smell and it doesn't show that it's overheating. ELECTRICAL- the doors used to unlock all over when put in park. Now only the driver door unlocks. Also the daytime running lights warning comes up on the dash. It stays on there. The taillights stopped working, wasn't a fuse or anything. Its the wiring. Paint-gone above windshield.
NHTSA complaint #11711134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LIGHTING--DTR warning light stays on an they don't work but then I was pulled over 1 morning on the way to work because the both taillights stopped working. Checked everything no idea what it could be but the wiring. Because if you piggy back off a hot wire they will work. SUSPENSION-- there is a constant popping noise coming from the front, it's either ball joints, stabilizer bar, or could be the torsion bars. It has new struts so that's not it. ELECTRICAL-- check parking sensor stays on the dash as well DTR. Now this vehicle used to unlock all doors when put in park but now only unlocks the driver side. There seriously needs to be responsibility taken for all these complaints from people who spend their hard earned money on Honda. Do better please. I know about the recall that went up to the 2013 but I guarantee Honda used same paint that's flaking off and several other parts from the 2013 to make the 14. Honda, just do the next right thing an if you do Id bet you that when you need help an don't have any recourse something good will happen for you to help you through. Just be a person, put yourself in our shoes. You see all these complaints about the same things concerning vehicles bought from you, you should want to take care of your customers to keep them coming back.
NHTSA complaint #11711149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I’ve had to replace the puddle lamp bulbs on my Honda Pilot three times so far, and I purchased it brand new less than a year ago. My local dealer would not cover this under the bumper to bumper warranty either. It would seem that this is a prevalent issue with Honda Pilots and other model Honda/Acura vehicles if this forum post is accurate: [XXX] You would think that after a few years Honda would’ve redesigned/corrected the casting so that water intrusion isn’t an issue, but that has not happened. This is disappointing for a “reliable” car brand. Can anything be done to at least acknowledge this is an issue? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11710162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car stalled at a red light due to Auto Idle-Stop failure. It failed to restart, shifted itself to Neutral/Park, and the car was completely unresponsive for a minute. This is a huge safety hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11707440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The issue is that the rear light on both sides has a sharp plastic edge and I’ve actually cut myself on it twice. I took it to the dealer, and they said they couldn’t really replace it because it’s the same on other Honda Pilots, so it seems to be a common issue. Basically, it’s a safety concern with that sharp edge.
NHTSA complaint #11683595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am writing to formally report a safety concern related to a recent maintenance issue on my Honda vehicle. Approximately one month ago, I had my vehicle serviced to address an issue with the rear tailgate lighting. Although the issue was supposedly repaired, I discovered during nighttime driving that the tailgate lights were still not functioning properly. Despite the headlights being on, the rear tailgate lighting failed to illuminate, creating a serious safety hazard. I was nearly involved in a rear-end collision with a truck due to this malfunction. Upon stopping and inspecting the vehicle, I confirmed that the tailgate lights were not working as intended. This problem raises serious concerns, especially considering the dealership performed a multi-point inspection at the time of service. The malfunction was not detected or corrected adequately. Additionally, I question the reliability of these inspections, as there have been inconsistencies in their findings. For example, one inspection indicated that my brakes were fine, but just three weeks later, another inspection claimed they required replacement. The main issue, however, is that the tailgate lights were supposedly repaired but were not correctly configured to turn on automatically with the headlights. This oversight directly jeopardized my safety and the safety of others on the road. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this matter and determine whether there is a broader issue with the repair or inspection protocols being followed by Honda service centers, particularly regarding rear lighting systems and multi-point inspections. Thank you for your attention to this urgent safety concern. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11663917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LED Headlight burned out and is not possible to change or remove, dealer indicated it is not something that normally goes out, and wants to charge $2,000
NHTSA complaint #11659394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Headlights were replaced under the 3yr/36k mile warranty just prior to the 3 yr mark due to the clear coat peeling and headlights showing excessive wear and scratching. 6 months after replacement, the replaced headlights are showing the same signs of clear coat peeling and excessive wear and scratching, far sooner than the original 3 yr mark. The headlight condition continues to deteriorate and will eventually need replacement or refurbishment. Now, the Honda emblem on the front, which is covered in clear plastic since it houses anti-collision components, is showing the same signs of wear. This seems premature considering the vehicle was purchased in 2021 and will pose a safety risk soon.
NHTSA complaint #11648807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the pilot warning alerts popped up that none of the collision detection, lane assist, cruise control, and seemingly all radar related systems were working. Additionally, the headlights turned off. We have brought this to the Honda dealer on now three occasions, and there doesn’t seem to be any understanding of why this is happening. On the evening of March 11 this issue happened again after the dealership having the car for a week to “fix “this problem and the lights turned off on an unlit road almost causing an accident. The car is again back at the dealer, who apparently is working with Honda again. I have seen this type of problem reported for other 2023 Honda vehicles, including the pilot, passport, and CRV on various Internet forums.
NHTSA complaint #11647933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Both front headlights on low beam suddenly stopped working, high beams work as do the rest of the indicator lights on the vehicle, I have replaced the bulbs, checked fuses and relays and switches and they still do not work. An issue that has been recalled on earlier years and is very common on my model year with no assistance from Honda.
NHTSA complaint #11611526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving late at night and noticed that the headlights were not lighting the road. Upon inspection, I observed excessive amounts of moisture had accumulated on the inside of both headlight assemblies and was refracting the headlight beam resulting in extremely poor visibility placing myself and other drivers at risk for an accident and injury. It is likely that the moisture entered the headlight assemblies while I was driving in a severe thunderstorm the prior day. Much to my surprise, I learned that this is a known issue to Honda. Please see the attachment Service Bulletin number 23-024, titled “Moisture in the Headlights”. Upon review of the technical information from Honda, I learned that the cause of the moisture in the headlight is a broken seal that resulted from improper assembly of the vehicle. Please see the Service Bulletin for a technical explanation of the root cause and corrective action.
NHTSA complaint #11596507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, he became aware that the headlights failed to provide adequate illumination. After a visual inspection of the headlights, the contact observed that both headlight covers were foggy. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the headlight assembly, requiring that the headlight assemblies be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11592476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Defective Keyless Access Unit Car will completely lose power Honda dealer confirmed defective keyless access unit Various problems experienced : a) Car is completely disabled b) Main Battery drained c) Flashing External Lights d) Flashing Dashboard cluster lights and indicators e) Anti Theft security Alarm Horn will sound f) Defective Hood Latch g) Windshield Wipers operational compromised
NHTSA complaint #11589452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LED headlight has been collecting condensation, presumed by mechanic to be from improper venting of the headlight. Possibly related to Honda technical service bulletin regarding hood positioning keeping headlights from venting properly. The chronic moisture caused the headlight to fail and stop working while driving at night, without warning. This caused a sudden impairment to visibility, creating a safety risk for those in the vehicle and others in the road.
NHTSA complaint #11580581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.