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: other or unspecified
291 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Jun 6, 2019
A FEW WEEKS AGO MY 2016 HONDA PILOT SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON AN OPEN HIGHWAY AND THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND. NOTHING HIT THE SUNROOF, BUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HEARD TWO LOUD POP SOUNDS AND LOOKED UP AND THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT A HONDA DEALER, AND HONDA REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR IT AS THEY DID NOT WANT ACCEPT THE LIABILITY OF A VEHICLE FLAW. I AM CONTACTED HONDA CUSTOMER CARE TWICE ABOUT THIS TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THIS AND WHETHER THEY THOUGHT THERE IS A RISK FOR THIS HAPPENING AGAIN, AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T OFFER ANY INSIGHT ON THIS. I AM CONCERNED FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT AS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND HURT ONE OF MY CHILDREN. THIS VEHICLE FLAW COULD HAVE LED TO SERIOUS INJURY. I DID A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH OF THE PROBLEM AND FOUND SEVERAL ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC (SUCH AS THIS ONE: HTTPS://WWW.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/CAR-SAFETY/EXPLODING-SUNROOF-CASES-HEAD-TO-COURT/) . WHILE THIS IS NOT A HIGH PERCENTAGE PROBLEM, I AM NOT ALONE IN HAVING EXPERIENCED IT, AND I AM COMPLETELY CERTAIN THAT IT WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT. THIS QUITE SIMPLY WAS A FAILURE OF THE EQUIPMENT, AND IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY EITHER FROM THE DEBRIS FALLING FROM THE SUNROOF IF I HAD THE COVER OPEN, AND/OR FROM AN ACCIDENT HAD I SWERVED FROM THE SHOCK OF THE NOISE OR DEBRIS AND THERE WERE OTHER CARS NEARBY.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 4, 2019
AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR THIS MORNING, THE KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ERROR POPPED UP. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN JUST TO MAKE SURE IT WOULD START, THEN TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND THEN DROPPED OFF MY KIDS AT DAYCARE. WHEN I STARTED IT 5 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR STARTED AND RAN FINE, BUT THE SYSTEM ERROR LIGHT CONTINUES. WE RECENTLY HAD THE PILOT AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE AN EMISSION ERROR LIGHT CAME ON AND SUDDENLY THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OR ACCELERATE PROPERLY. ALL THREE SENSORS WERE REPLACED (ONLY THE DAMAGED ONE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY) AND THE CAR WAS AGAIN RUNNING FINE, BUT NOW THIS NEW ERROR LIGHT.
Other or unspecified, May 30, 2019
KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM. CHANGED CAR AND REMOTE BATTERY BUT KEYLESS PROBLEM KEEPS APPEARING. IF I TURN VEHICLE OFF AND ON AND RUN CAR FOR A WHILE MESSAGE GOES AWAY BUT THEN COMES BACK. SOME TIMES MESSAGE DOESN'T GO AWAY AT ALL
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 27, 2019
SUDDENLY 'KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM' POPPED UP WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK.
Other or unspecified, May 25, 2019
KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM
Other or unspecified, May 23, 2019
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND REAR WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY SHATTERED.
Other or unspecified, May 13, 2019
KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM CODE HAS STARTING APPEARING ON DASH. CAME ON AFTER VEHICLE STARTED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 24, 2019
WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE YOU RECEIVE 'KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM'. TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. VEHICLE HAS 49000 MILES TODAY AND HAVE HAD THIS INTERMITTENT ISSUE SINCE 42000 MILES. FOB BATTERIES HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED AND SUPPOSEDLY REPROGRAMMED. STILL UNABLE TO RESOLVE. LET ME KNOW IF AND HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 10, 2019
I HAVE 45000 MILES ON A 2016 PILOT EX. I RECENTLY BEGAN GETTING A KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ERROR MESSAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ENGINE WILL NOT START, HAVE TO CONSTANTLY KEEP PRESSING THE START BOTTON AND STEPPING FOOT BREAK. ALSO NOTICE MY "WALK AWAY LOCK FEATURE" STOPPED WORKING. I CHECK ONLINE AND A LOT OF HONDA PILOT OWNER ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. PLEASE HELP INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU.
Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2019
THIS CAR HAS ISSUES WITH THE AUTO IDLE RESTARTING. APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES OVER THE LAST 1.5 YEARS THE CAR DOES NOT RESTART AFTER ITS IDLE. IT HAS TO BE PUT INTO PARK, ENGAGE THE BRAKE AND TRY TO RESTART. THIS TAKES MULTIPLE TRIES TO GET THE CAR'S ENGINE TO START AGAIN. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. 7/8 TIMES I WAS AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, BUT ONCE I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WITH AN 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD NOT REENGAGE.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 26, 2019
THERE IS A GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE CAR AND OUTSIDE I DONT SEE ANY LEAKING BUT THE SMELL IS MAKING ME WORRY
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 22, 2019
HAVE A KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ON MY 2016 HONDA PILOT. LIGHT IS ON FROM THE TIME YOU TURN THE VEHICLE ON. IT WILL OCCASIONALLY GO OFF BUT THEN REAPPEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AGAIN. HAD THE KEY FOB IN MY POCKET AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT LOCK WHEN THE BUTTON ON THE DOOR WAS PRESSED. HAD TO USE THE REMOTE TO LOCK THE VEHICLE. NEED TO HAVE THE KEYLESS ACCESS REPLACED FOR $500+ PART IS CURRENTLY ON BACK ORDER WITH NO ETA. ACCORDING TO BLOGS OTHER PILOT OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE COULD THIS BE WHY THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER WITH NO ETA?? OVERALL NOT HAPPY WITH THE VEHICLE. HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2019
WHILE DRIVING CAR, THE PANEL WILL SHOW "KEY FOB NOT DETECTED". WHEN A DOOR IS OPENED, IT WILL BEEP AND DISPLAY "KEY FOB NOT DETECTED"
Structure, Other or unspecified, Feb 18, 2019
DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED IT BRINGS THE WINDOW DOWN. HOWEVER THIS FEATURE IS AUTOMATIC FOR ROLLING THE WINDOW UP AND DOWN. THIS IS NOT WORKING. KEYLESS START STOPPED WORKING, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCERN IS THE IGNITION FOR BUTTON START IS ACTING UP. TODAY IT WORKED IN THE MORNING BUT LATER IN THE AFTERNOON THE CAR WOULD NOT START. DASH BOARD LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING. THIS EVENING TRIED AGAIN AND IT WORKED FINE NOW. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERN.
Other or unspecified, Feb 7, 2019
I HAVE A MESSAGE ON THE DASH SAYING 'KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM' I CHANGED BATTERIES ON BOTH KEYFOBS AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME
Other or unspecified, Jan 29, 2019
I'M GETTING A KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM THAT STARTED STATIONARY AND REMAINS AS THE CAR DRIVES. I CHANGE THE BATTERIES SEND I TRIED THE ALTERNATE KEY, I DID THE DIAGNOSIS RESET. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS HELLO I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. IN ADDITION, I'M GETTING EMISSION SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE OXYGEN SENSOR IN QUESTION IS NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE BY MY MECHANICS. I WOULD TROUBLE RESET AND IT WILL RETURN.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 23, 2019
KEYLESS REMOTE SYSTEM PROBLEM. NOTICED THIS PROBLEM AFTER REACHING 36,000 MILES
Other or unspecified, Jan 22, 2019
WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT AN APT. BUILDING AT THE SLOWEST SPEED IMAGINABLE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ON THE BACK WINDOW ON MY 2016 HONDA PILOT CAME IN CONTACT WITH AN OVERHANG STORAGE CABINET AT THE BACK OF THE PARKING SPACE AND THE WINDOW EXPLODED. ON MY BACKUP CAMERA, IT SAID I STILL HAD ROOM TO GO BACK BUT THAT IS BECAUSE THE WINDOW PROTRUDES MORE THAN THE BACKUP CAMERA. I AM ATTACHING PHOTOS HERE AND WOULD LIKE TO NOTE HOW CONCERNING IT IS THAT THE WINDOW EXPLODED WITH SO LITTLE IMPACT ON ONLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER. I AM PAYING NEARLY $800 OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE THIS BECAUSE OF A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE BUT IT'S A BIGGER WORRY TO ME THAT THE DESIGN OF THE BACK WINDOW IS SO VULNERABLE. I HAVE SEARCHED AND FOUND MANY ACCOUNTS OF WEAKNESS IN REAR WINDOWS OF HONDA PILOTS ONLINE AND WANTED TO REGISTER MINE IN THE HOPE THAT THE SAFETY OF THE DESIGN WILL BE EXAMINED. I CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 11, 2019
THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON OCT 7, 2018. WE WERE AT A STOP LIGHT WITH THE ENGINE IDLE OPTION ENABLED. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE STARTED BACK UP, BUT INSTEAD, IT STALLED. AFTER THE 2ND TIME IT OCCURRED, WE STARTED TO DISABLE THE ENGINE IDLE FEATURE AS SOON AS WE START THE CAR. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN A FEW TIMES AND THE VEHICLE STALLING HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 ADDITIONAL TIMES. ALL BEING AT RED LIGHTS WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED. WHEN THE FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE JERKS SLIGHTLY AND THEN STALLS. ONCE ON NOV. 1, 2018 AND AGAIN MOST RECENTLY ON JAN. 6, 2018. LUCKILY, NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED YET. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AT THE DEALERSHIP DIRECTLY AND RECEIVED ALL MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDED. THE MOST RECENT SERVICE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ERROR OR IDENTIFY THE ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, Jan 8, 2019
KEYLESS ENTRY WARNING. WARNING IS INTERMITTENT.
Other or unspecified, Jan 5, 2019
KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM WARNING LIGHT IS IGNITED ON THE DASHBOARD. IT STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT. THE WALK AWAY AUTO LOCK FEATURE STOPPED WORKING ALSO. THE KEY FOB BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE WARNING LIGHT STILL REMAINS ON. THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND REMAINS ON DURING DRIVING, IT DOES NOT GO AWAY.
Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2019
I KEEP RECEIVING A CODE THAT STATES "KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM". HONDA DEALERSHIP STATES THEY RESET COMPUTER BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES TO SHOW EVERY TIME I START VEHICLE. APPARENTLY THEY EITHER CAN'T FIX IT OR THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. HAD PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS.
Other or unspecified, Nov 25, 2018
DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON FLAT ROAD AT 40 MPH. VEHICLE SOUNDS AN ALERT AND BEGINS DISPLAYING ERRORS. THE ERRORS ROTATES THROUGH THE DISPLAY OF SEVERAL FAULTS WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING -- IDLE OR IN DRIVE. PROBLEMS DISPLAYED INCLUDED, IN ORDER: EMISSIONS SYSTEMS, POWER STEERING SYSTEM, VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST, HILL START ASSIST, TRAILER STABILITY ASSIST, AND ROAD DEPARTURE MITIGATION SYSTEM. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO A STOP, ENGINE SHUT OFF, THEN RESTARTED. THESE FAULTS RETURN WHEN THE CAR RESTARTS. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE GIVEN THE REPORTED STATE. MILEAGE: 34,122. REGISTERED NEW IN 12/2016. SCREEN SHOTS AND MAINTENANCE LOGS/RECEIPTS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 11, 2018
MY VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING WOULD NOT START AFTER GETTING HOME AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE PANEL STATES AND IGNITION SYSTEM ERROR. ALL OF THE LIGHTS AND OTHER FUNCTIONS WORK WELL BUT IT WILL NOT START WHILE PHYSICALLY IN THE VEHICLE OR WITH THE REMOTE. IT MAKES A CONTINUOUS CLICKING SOUND ALL OF THE LIGHTS FLASH ON THE VEHICLE BUT NOTHING MORE.
Other or unspecified, Oct 25, 2018
SUNROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD ON THE HIGHWAY