2016 Honda Pilot
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,706 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 23 Pilot model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 23 involved a crash and 10 involved a fire. 20 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, frame and membersJun 4, 2026
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.
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.
Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.
Campaign 26V365000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpDec 18, 2023
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.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Campaign 23V858000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, hard parts internal/mechanicalNov 13, 2023
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.
A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
Campaign 23V751000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, hoodNov 29, 2021
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.
A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PBV.
Campaign 21V932000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storageMar 30, 2017
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and AWD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that may leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KE8.
Campaign 17V219000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assemblyJun 9, 2016
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura MDX 2WD and MDX 4WD vehicles, 2016 Acura MDX 4WD vehicles, 2015-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles, and 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were manufactured with insufficient welds which may separate and allow fuel to leak out.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda/Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall began on July 29, 2016. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA9 (Honda vehicles) and KB0 (Acura vehicles).
Campaign 16V417000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, instrument cluster/panelOct 16, 2015
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to September 8, 2015 and 2016 Pilot 4WD vehicles manufactured May 7, 2015 to September 4, 2015. In the affected vehicles, when one of the safety systems such as tire pressure monitoring, anti-lock braking or electronic stability control malfunctions, there is potential that the instrument panel will not illuminate the corresponding warning light, however the warning lamps will illuminate when the ignition is turned off and then turned back on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic stability control systems", number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 138, "Tire pressure monitoring systems".
If a safety system cannot immediately warn the driver when needed, the driver may be at increased risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JV7.
Campaign 15V668000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, rear/otherJul 6, 2015
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to June 5, 2015. Due to an assembly issue, the third row seatbelt may be trapped between the rear seat and the rear sideliner.
If the third row seatbelt is trapped, the occupants may not be restrained properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the rear third row seat belt, free of charge. The recall began on August 6, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's number for this recall is JS7.
Campaign 15V424000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
579 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Oct 15, 2020
STARTED CAR ONE MORNING AND KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ERROR HAS POPPED UP AND HAS STAYED ON. WENT OFF FOR ONE DAY AND THEN CAME ON NEXT DAY.
Electrical system, Oct 14, 2020
KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ERROR. THIS ERROR MESSAGE POPS UP ON THE SCREEN FOR WEEKS AT A TIME AND THE DISAPPEARS FOR AWHILE ONLY TO REAPPEAR. SO FAR I HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM ACTUALLY STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY, ENGINE START & STOP - HONDA (35881-TG7-A03). THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE HONDA PILOT PROBLEM FORUMS, YET HONDA DOES NOT RECALL THE VEHICLES TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD THE DEALERS CHARGE ~ $150 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND $300-400 TO REPLACE THE UNIT. I WATCHED A VIDEO OF A HANDYMAN REPLACE THE UNIT IN 7 MINUTES AND HE PAID ONLY $70 FOR THE PART. THIS IS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR NY HONDA AND ITS DEALERS IN MY OPINION. I WILL JUST FIX IT MYSELF, BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. YOUTUBE VIDEO OF PROBLEM AND REPAIR. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=MXFYBFR57MC&AB_CHANNEL=BRYANSHATTUCK
Electrical system, Oct 13, 2020
FEYFOB COMMUNICATION ISSUE. PROVIDES WARNING THAT SYSTEMS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. PURCHASED 2016 PILOT NEW FROM LOCAL DEALER. NO OTHER MAJOR ISSUES
Electrical system, Oct 11, 2020
THE CAR IS SHOWING "KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM" SIGN WHEN I JUST TURN ON THE CAR THESE DAYS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 7, 2020
I AM GETTING A KEYLESS START SYSTEM ERROR, NOBODY KNOWS WHY OR CAN FIX IT WITH THE SEVERAL MEASURES THEY HAVE TRIED.
Electrical system, Oct 6, 2020
I AND SEVERAL OTHER 2016 HONDA PILOT OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CODE ABOUT THE AUTO START/STOP FUNCTION HAVING A PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY BLAMED THE ISSUE ON "CRITTERS," AS IN RODENTS/SQUIRRELS. I ASSURE YOU THIS IS NOT THE CASE! THE LIGHT APPEARED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND IT ALSO AFFECTED MY AUTO LOCK FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE. THIS MALFUNCTION IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 2016 PILOT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD TROUBLESHOOT WHERE THE MALFUNCTION IS BUT IT WOULD COST ME, STARTING AT $150. THE MECHANIC RESET THE CODE (FOR $65) AND IT HAS NOT SHOWN UP IN THE PAST WEEK SINCE I TOOK IT IN. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS ISSUE AND HONDA SHOULD MAKE THIS A RECALL. THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR SAFETY ISSUE.
Electrical system, Oct 1, 2020
FAULTY START/STOP SWITCH-BASIC INTERNET SEARCH REFLECTS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH 2016 HONDA PILOTS. THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED AND MAY NOT RESTART DUE TO FAULTY SWITCH. WE HAD TO REPLACE SWITCH AT A COST OF $299.13. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES.
Electrical system, Sep 29, 2020
ERROR ' KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM'. IT HAS 57K MILES.
Electrical system, Sep 29, 2020
THE KEYLESS IGNITION SWITCH (PN: 35881-TG7-A03) FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT START, THE DEALER (KEENAN HONDA, DOYLESTOWN, PA) CHARGED US $127.74 FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART (RETAIL IS $68.20) AND ANOTHER $149.00 FOR LABOR (SHOULD ONLY HAVE TAKEN 10 MIN PER YOUTUBE).
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 28, 2020
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH AWD, KEYLESS START SYSTEM, EMISSIONS SYSTEM, UPHILL START, TRAILER ASSISTANCE, ETC. HAVE HAD TWO ENGINE COILS REPLACED AND A SOFTWARE UPGRADE. THE LIGHTS GO OFF FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN RETURN. HAVE SPENT $250 IN DIAGNOSTICS AND NOTHING IS FIXED. REPLACED BATTERIES IN BOTH KEY FOBS. I WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE START/STOP BUTTON FOR $375. DEALERSHIP ALSO RECOMMENDED REPLACING FUEL INJECTORS FOR $1600.NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX ANY OF THE ISSUES.
Electrical system, Sep 28, 2020
AFTER 4 YEARS AND 53,000 MILES, WE'RE NOW GETTING A KEYLESS START SYSTEM ERROR WHILE SHUTTING OFF OR TURNING ON THE VEHICLE WHILE STOPPED. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS GENERATION PILOT AND RIDGELINE VEHICLES, ACCORDING TO VEHICLE OWNERS AT PILOTEERS.ORG, THE PROBLEM USUALLY IS A FAILING PUSH-TO-START BUTTON. SO FAR, OUR VEHICLE STARTS, BUT THE WALK-AWAY LOCKING SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS. OTHERS HAVE REPORTED SECURITY SYSTEM ALARMS, DASHBOARD MALFUNCTION, AND A FAILURE TO START.
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 27, 2020
THE CAR ENGINE/BATTERY SHUTS OFF AT STOP LIGHTS AND RED LIGHTS WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BREAK PEDAL. THIS SAME ISSUE OCCURRED A YEAR AGO. HONDA INITIALLY TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE AND UNTIL WE PRESSED ABOUT FINDING A KNOWN ISSUE REPORTED ONLINE THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. EVENTUALLY A REGIONAL SERVICE REP WAS INVOLVED WHO SAID THE ISSUE WAS KNOWN AND WAS WITH THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND FOR ONE YEAR HAD BEEN OKAY UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN SAME ISSUE BEGAN OCCURRING AGAIN. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE TURNING OFF. I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING. I AM NOW WAITING ON A REPEAT SERVICE VISIT ON OCTOBER 8, 2020 TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE THIS YEAR.
Electrical system, Sep 25, 2020
MY PILOT HAS A MESSAGE THAT READS "KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM." I HAVE CHANGED THE BATTERY IN THE PHONE AND REPLACED THE PUSH BUTTON START ASSEMBLY. NOTHING HAS REMOVED THE MESSAGE. I HAVE SEARCHED HONDA PILOT FORUMS AND FOUND HUNDREDS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND THAT NO DEALERSHIP HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. MOST HAVE SPENT $500 + AT DEALERSHIPS WITH NO RESULTS.MY MESSAGE STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. HONDA SHOULD FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG AND RECALL ON EFFECTED CARS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Sep 18, 2020
I'VE BEEN HAVING A WARNING LIGHT ISSUE BEING ENGINE START KEY ISSUE. I REPLACED KEY FOB BATTERY AND WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARED FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS AND THEN IT REAPPEARED. I SEE MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES
Electrical system, Sep 14, 2020
SUDDENLY STARTED DISPLAYING KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM. USED SPARE KEY AND STOPES DOING IT FOR A DAY AND THEN STARTED DOING IT TOO.
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 10, 2020
THE KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM LIGHT HAS COME ON AND THE DEALERSHIP FINDS NO CODES TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE AUTO ENGINE SHUTOFF TO CONSERVE GAS WHEN THE BAKE IS DEPRESSED WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF THE CAR AND I AM NOT ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIME FROM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPING IN TRAFFIC TO BEING IN THE CITY STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. IT CAN TAKE UP TO A MINUTE OR MORE TO GET THE CAR TO START AGAIN. THE ONLY WAY TO DISABLE THIS FROM HAPPENING IS TO MANUALLY SHUT OFF THIS FEATURE EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE.
Electrical system, Sep 9, 2020
THE CAR STALL DIDN'T START AFTER THE IDLE START AND NOW I HAVE KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 2, 2020
KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ERROR COMES ON AND OFF SINCE ABOUT 50,000 MILES. I OFTEN HAVE TO TRY SEVERAL TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE EVEN WITH A NEW BATTERY. TRANSMISSION ISSUES OFTEN AS WE ARE DRIVING ALONG THERE IS A BUMPINESS WHETHER ACCELERATING OR JUST DRIVING ALONG. THIS STARTED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES
Electrical system, Aug 26, 2020
KEYLESS START ENTRY SYSTEM ERROR HAS GONE INTERMITTENTLY FOR A YEAR OR SO ON MY 2016 HONDA PILOT. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS IN HONDA ONLINE DISCUSSION BOARDS. DOES NOT APPEAR TO AFFECT PERFORMANCE YET, BUT IS FRIGHTENING TO THINK CAR MAY NOT START OR MAY QUIT RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING. ERROR LIGHT IS ON WHEN CAR IS PARKED OR RUNNING.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 18, 2020
VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN WHEN START/STOP SYSTEM IS ENGAGED. WHEN STOPPED IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN, STALLED COMPLETELY, HAVING TO TURN IT OFF AND ON. TURNING IT OFF IS WAS NOT EASY AS THE START BUTTON WAS NOT WORKING. IT LEFT ME IN A VERY PRECARIOUS SITUATION WITH INCOMING TRAFFIC.
Electrical system, Aug 12, 2020
ALERT SHOWING KEYLESS REMOTE PROBLEM. CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING. NO WAY FOR A MANUAL OVERRIDE. YOU MAY BE STUCK WHEREVER YOU ARE.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 7, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER DAUGHTER'S PUSH START FEATURE FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN A SERVICE REPORT, IT WAS STATED THAT THE KEY IMMOBILIZER CODE WOULD APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LEJEUNE HONDA CARS (2221 N MARINE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, NC 28546) WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE TIRE PRESSURE MOTORING SYSTEM (TPMS) CONTROL UNIT, WHICH CAUSED HER FAILURE. SHE DECLINED TO HAVE THE PART REPAIRED AFTER GIVEN AN ESTIMATE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CERTAIN IF HER DAUGHTER HAD REACHED OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,324.*DT*JB
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 6, 2020
WHEN I START MY CAR, I GET "KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM" ERROR ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS ERROR COMES SOMETIMES AND THEN GOES AWAY FOR DAYS AND THEN COMES BACK. SHOWED IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I SEE LOT OF PEOPLE REPORTING THIS ERROR ON HONDA FORUMS. THE CAR FUNCTIONS PROPERLY OTHERWISE BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS AND IF THERE IS ANY MAJOR PROBLEM WITH IT.
Electrical system, Aug 3, 2020
REPEATED MESSAGE FOR KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM. VECHICLE TURNED OFF AT INTERSECTION WHILE IN DRIVE,, DRIVER REQUIRED TO PUT IN PARK TURN VECHILE OFF THEN ON AGAIN. WHILE DOING RESEARCH THIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH SEVERAL PEOPLE GOT IT SUPPOSIDLY FIXED, PROBLEM AND ERROR MESSAGE PERSISTED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 31, 2020
I HAVE A 2016 TOURING MODEL. I PURCHASED IT USED FROM GLADSTONE HONDA (NOW SWICKARD) IN 2017. IN 2018 MY BATTERY SUDDENLY DIED DURING ERRANDS. I HAD THE CAR JUMPED AND REPLACED THE BATTERY FROM A LOCAL AUTO SUPPLY STORE. LAST YEAR, WE STARTED HEARING AN OCCASIONAL WEIRD CLICKING DURING IDLE-STOP. NOW, THIS YEAR, WHEN IN IDLE-STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, OFTEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF, SLIPS INTO PARK MODE, FLASHES ERROR MESSAGES AND WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY START AGAIN WHEN PUSHING THE IGNITION BUTTON. SOMETIMES, I HAVE BEEN ON A HILL AND THE CAR ROLLS BACKWARDS. THERE IS NO WAY TO PERMANENTLY DISABLE THIS FEATURE, SO UNLESS YOU REMEMBER TO DISABLE IT EVERY TIME YOU START THE CAR, THE SAFETY MALFUNCTION REPEATS ITSELF. IT'S TERRIFYING AND DANGEROUS.