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, Dec 12, 2020
WHEN I PUSH THE KEYLESS START/STOP BUTTON I GET AN ERROR THAT READS KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. AT FIRST THE ERROR ONLY APPEARED EVERY NOW AND THEN. NOW IT APPEARS ALMOST ALL THE TIME. I HAVE TO PUSH THE BUTTON, SOMETIMES 8 TIMES TO GET THE CAR TO START. NOW WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON TO SHUT OFF THE CAR, SOMETIMES IT WON'T SHUT OFF THE CAR. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PUSH THE BUTTON 2 OR 3 TIMES. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. FROM THE BLOGS I READ, HONDA CHARGES UNREASONABLE AMOUNTS TO TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM AND OFTEN IT IS NOT RESOLVED. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN THIS PROBLEM RESOLVES. WHEN I GET IT TO START THE ERROR MESSAGE REMAINS WHILE DRIVING IT.
Other or unspecified, Dec 8, 2020
THE ' KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM' ALERT KEEPS APPEARING ON MY SCREEN WHEN I START THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS 90% OF THE TIME . BOTH KEYS HAVE NEW BATTERIES . NOTHING APPEARS TO BE WRONG. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MONTHS. SOMETIMES IF I START AND TURN IT OFF REPEATEDLY IT GOES AWAY.
Other or unspecified, Dec 5, 2020
THE KEYLESS START SYSTEM IS SHOWING A PROBLEM AND IS NEVER GONE, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH HONDA VEHICLES
Other or unspecified, Nov 13, 2020
KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ERROR AT 33000 MILES. ALL HONDA PILOT OWNERS ARE FACING THE SAME ISSUE AT 30K+ MILES.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 13, 2020
KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM LIGHT SHOWS UP, LOOKS LIKE THE PUSH TO START MODULE IS DEFECTIVE
Other or unspecified, Oct 26, 2020
AT A STOP LIGHT MY AUTO IDLE-OFF IS ENGAGED (ENGINE GOES OFF), BUT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE DOES NOT RESTART AND ENGINE GOES INTO NEUTRAL. I NEEDED TO TURN THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN RESTART THE CAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AS CARS ARE EXPECTING ME TO MOVE. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED!
Other or unspecified, Oct 25, 2020
THE KEY FOB HAS TROUBLE STARTING CAR. DISPLAY HAS MESSAGE' KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ERROR'. CAR HAS LESS THAN 35K MILES.
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.
Other or unspecified, Oct 6, 2020
HONDA PILOT EX-L JERKS AND ENGINE SLOWS ON ACCELERATION, ROUGH SHIFTING BETWEEN SPEEDS ALWAYS ON INCLINE AND SOMETIMES ON FREEWAY AND AROUND TOWN. OVERHEATS WHILE WAITING IN TRAFFIC, MAKES LOUD NOISE. MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM HAVE BEEN FOUND. THE HONDA SERVICE DEPT. CLAIMS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM ON MY VEHICLE MODEL. IT IS GROWING WORSE AND HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY ALSO. I'M CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY.
Other or unspecified, Oct 5, 2020
KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM MESSAGE COMES ON AS SOON AS I START THE CAR
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.
Other or unspecified, Sep 19, 2020
THE CAR IS ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD AND THE AC STOPPED WORKING WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED THEY SAID THE WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT SO I WENT TO A MECHANIC TO GET IT FIXED HE SAID HE'S GOTTEN MULTIPLE CIVICS AND PILOTS 2016 AND NEWER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM FAULTY AC SYSTEM
Other or unspecified, Aug 17, 2020
ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND SAYS EMISSIONS SYSTEM PROBLEM. KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM. EVERYTHING WORKS AND RUNS FINE BUT THESE LIGHTS SAY ON MY DASH. THEREFORE IT IS AN ISSUE FOR ME TO RENEW MY INSPECTION STICKER. I DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE OTHER THAN THESE LIGHTS STAYING ON. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR LIKE THIS FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.
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.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 5, 2020
INTERMITTENTLY RECEIVE DASH ERROR CODE "'KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ' " IT COMES AND GOES. ALSO VEHICLE STRUGGLES TO RESTART WHEN THE A ENGINE IDLE ENGAGES AT A STOP LIGHT. THIS HAS CREATED SAFETY ISSUES IN THE WINTER WHEN I CAN'T GO AT A GREEN LIGHT OR OTHERS AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION AND MY VEHICLE WON'T START. THERE IS NO WAY TO FULLY DEACTIVATE THIS FEATURE EXCEPT TO SHUT IT OFF AFTER TURNING IN CAR EVERY TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SERIOUSLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
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.
Other or unspecified, Jul 22, 2020
FOR AT LEAST THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF I KEEP GETTING AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT SAYS, KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERIES IN MY FOB BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD CREATE THIS MESSAGE. DURING THE LAST MONTH I HAVE NOTICED MY CAR IS NOT STARTING UP IMMEDIATELY LIKE IT USED TO WHEN I WOULD PRESS THE START/STOP ENGINE BUTTON.I HAVE TO PRESS IT SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WILL START. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I WAS TRYING TO START IT TO LEAVE FOR WORK.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 22, 2020
CAR STALLED WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND DID NOT RESTART. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS CAR WAS STOPPED IN TWO WAY TRAFFIC AT A BUSY 4-WAY INTERSECTION. CAR COULD NOT BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL (OR ANY GEAR) TO BE MOVED OUT OF TRAFFIC. DASH INDICATED ENGINE MUST BE RUNNING TO SWITCH GEARS, SO ENGINE CLEARLY CUT OUT. DASH ALSO INDICATED TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL AND PUSH START BUTTON TO RESTART BUT THIS WOULD NOT WORK. ATTEMPTED MANY TIMES. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET CAR INTO ACCESSORY MODE. SUBSEQUENTLY, DEPRESSED BRAKE AND PRESSED START BUTTON AND ENGINE FINALLY RESTARTED. *LN*JB
Other or unspecified, Jul 10, 2020
I HAVE HAD 2 PROBLEMS SHOW UP ON THE DASHBOARD FOR MY VEHICLE. AS FOLLOWS: 1) EMISSIONS SYSTEMS PROBLEM 2) KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM MY DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE NORMAL. I KEEP MY VEHICLE MAINTAINED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. I WANT TO REPORT THESE 2 SAFETY PROBLEMS SINCE I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD NOT APPEAR FOR A VEHICLE AT THIS MILEAGE. THANK YOU
Other or unspecified, Jun 30, 2020
STRIPPING ON ROOF COMES OFF ON ITS OWN. MOST RECENTLY THE STRIPPING ABOVE THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS FALLEN OFF, LEAVING A VISIBLE NAIL OR SCREW. HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING.
Other or unspecified, Jun 30, 2020
2016 HONDA PILOT I GET A KEYLESS START SYSTEM ERROR MESSAGE AND I HAVE HEARD THAT 2016 MODELS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. HONDA WANTS TO CHARGE ME $400 TO FIX AND IT IS ONLY A 10 MINUTE JOB. RECALL ISSUE??
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON A DUAL TWO LANE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. AT A CROSS ROAD A TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS RED, AND I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE AUTOMATIC IDLE STOP SHUT OFF THE ENGINE FOR 1/2 TO 1 MINUTE, BEFORE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK, THE CAR SHOULD HAVE STARTED, BUT IT DIDN'T.. MANY OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON, THE CAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE CARS AROUND ME MOVED FORWARD AND SEVERAL HONKED, BECAUSE I WASN'T MOVING. OTHER CARS WERE APPROACH ME FROM BEHIND AT SPEED. I TRIED TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTART IT. NOTHING HAPPENED BECAUSE THE SHIFT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I EXITED THE CAR AND PUSHED IT TO THE RIGHT TURN LANE JUST AHEAD AND PUSHED THE BRAKE TO STOP ONCE I WAS OUT OF THE DRIVING LANE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO START THE ENGINE 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE THE STARTER TURNED THE ENGINE OVER. SEVERAL CARS WENT BY AT SPEED, AND LUCKILY NO ONE WANTED TO TURN RIGHT. THE CAR IS JUST OVER 5 YEARS OLD AND I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH ITS OPERATION WITH THE AUTOMATIC IDLE STOP FEATURE, BUT THIS TIME IT SURPRISED ME. I HAD REPLACED THE BATTERY AFTER 2.5 YEARS OF DRIVING, AND IT IS ONLY 1 YEAR AND 10 MONTHS SINCE IT WAS REPLACED. I HAVE READ ANECDOTAL ACCOUNTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENCES BY OTHER 2016 PILOT OWNERS WHO HAD NO REASON FOR THE INCIDENT. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS THAT DAY, BECAUSE I CANCELLED THE IDLE STOP FEATURE FOR THE TRIP HOME. I FEEL I COULD EASILY HAVE BECOME A STATISTIC ALONG WITH MY WIFE HAD THE TRAFFIC BEEN MODERATELY GREATER THAT EVENING. OTHER HAVE REGISTERED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THIS WEBSITE. I AM HAVING THE BATTERY REPLACE TOMORROW, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER HASN'T YET EVALUATED ITS CONDITION.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 25, 2020
2016 HONDA PILOT RANDOMLY GET A KEYLESS START SYSTEM ERROR MESSAGE WHEN ABOUT TO START VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WANTS $110 JUST TO DO AN ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSIS. MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. COULD LEAVE DRIVER STRANDED IF VEHICLE DOES NOT START OR SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. SOME STATE COULD RESULT IN DRIVER/OCCUPANT NOT BEING ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE IF FAILURE OCCURS. VERY UNSAFE SITUATION! *TR
Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2020
ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 3 WEEKS FROM A DEALERSHIP AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CHECK EMISSION LIGHTS COME ON BEEN LOOKING AT REVIEWS AND THEY ARE NOT GOOD. *TR
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 15, 2020
AT STOP LIGHT, ENGINE DIES AND CANNOT RESTART. VERY DANGEROUS, THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND TODAY. THE CAR WAS SERVICED FOR SAME ISSUE ON JAN 4, 2020. WAS TOLD NEEDED SOFTWARE UPDATE. EVENTUALLY IT STARTS BUT I AM STUCK AT INTERSECTION FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL IT WILL RESTART. *TR