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
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 1, 2019
I HAVE A 2016 HONDA PILOT WITH 41K MILES ON IT AND OUT OF THE BLUE A LIGHT CAME ON SAYING THERE'S A "KEYLESS REMOTE SYSTEM PROBLEM" CHECKING ONLINE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A ISSUE WITH THE MAJORITY OF THIS MODEL AND AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE. SOME OWNERS CAN'T START THEIR CAR AND THE HONDA DEALER HAS NO ANSWER. THEY CHARGE YOU ABOUT 200 TO TRY AND DIAGNOSE.
Other or unspecified, Sep 29, 2019
AT ~30K MILES, THE KEYLESS START SYSTEM PERIODICALLY FAILS - ISSUING A WARNING (AUDIBLE & VISUAL) WHEN STARTING/TURNING OFF THE CAR. THE VISUAL WARNING PERSIST WHILE DRIVING. THIS SYSTEM ALSO RESULTS IN A FAILURE OF THE WALK-AWAY LOCK FEATURE. THE ISSUE ISN'T APPARENTLY TIED TO THE CAR'S BATTERY OR THE KEY FOB. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO WHEN THIS ISSUE WILL OCCUR.
Other or unspecified, Sep 25, 2019
'KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM' LIGHT COMING UP ON DASH. TODAY THE LIGHT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY AN ALARM/BEEPING ALSO COMING FROM DASH AREA. LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES AS SOON AS VEHICLE IS STARTED- AND SOMETIMES WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION.
Other or unspecified, Sep 22, 2019
'KEYLESS REMOTE START PROBLEM' KEEPS APPEARING ON MY DASHBOARD. IS INCONSISTENT AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY PATTERN TO TURNING ON. IT WILL TURN OFF ON ITS OWN AS WELL. LONGEST AMOUNT OF TIME IT HAS LASTED IS 24- 48 HOURS WITHOUT TURNING OFF. I HAVE CHANGED THE BATTERIES IN THE KEY FOB
Other or unspecified, Sep 20, 2019
I KEEP GETTING 'KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM' ERROR WHEN I PUSH START MY ENGINE. THE CAR STILL DRIVES BUT I AM WORRIED IT WILL NOT DETECT THE KEY AND STOP DRIVING ONE OF THESE DAYS WITHOUT WARNING OR ENGINE WON'T START WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAVE CHANGED BATTERY FOR MY KEY, IT DOES THIS TO BOTH OF MY CAR KEYS, AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT MORE THAN HALF OF THE TIME I START THE ENGINE. UPON INVESTIGATING ONLINE FORUMS, OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE TRIED TO FIX IT BY GOING TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE INTERNAL UNITS, CHANGING CAR BATTERY, RESETTING THE INTERNAL UNIT, CHANGING THE PUSH START BUTTON, ETC., BUT THE PROBLEM COMES BACK. SO I AM HESITANT TO SPEND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT WON'T BE FIXED. I MADE APPOINTMENT TO FIX IT DEALERSHIP AND THAT WHOLE DAY THE ERROR MESSAGE DID NOT POP UP, BUT THE VERY NEXT DAY IT CAME BACK. I HOPE THIS ISN'T SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE...
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 4, 2019
AN ERROR WITH THE "KEYLESS START SYSTEM" KEEPS RE-OCCURRING. AN ERROR CODE "KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM" SHOWS UP. DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2016 HONDA PILOTS.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 29, 2019
KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM GOES ON AND OFF.
Other or unspecified, Aug 23, 2019
KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ERROR MESSAGE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT START UNTIL I HAVE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES.
Other or unspecified, Aug 13, 2019
FACTORY STEREO. I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR TO LIA HONDA IN ENFIELD TO SEE WHY THE FACTORY RADIO WORKS FOR EVERYTHING BUT THE SIRIUS XM RADIO. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD NEED A NEW ANTENNA AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS AND NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG. CAR HAS 58827 MILES ON IT AND IS A 2016. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 750 DOLLARS TO REPLACE MY ANTENNA.
Other or unspecified, Aug 12, 2019
AN ERROR WITH THE "KEYLESS START SYSTEM" KEEPS RE-OCCURRING. AN ERROR CODE "KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM" SHOWS UP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY RE-SET THE COMPUTER (FOR A PRICE), BUT ERROR CODE RETURNED 24 HOURS LATER. DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2016 HONDA PILOTS.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 30, 2019, crash
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AS A "CERTIFIED PRE OWNED BY HONDA" AND FOUR DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, IN "PARK" WHEN I HIT THE START/STOP ENGINE BUTTON AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T START. ALARMS STARTED TO GO OFF SO I ASSUMED IT WAS THE KEY WAS STILL INSIDE THE HOUSE. AS I WENT INSIDE TO CHECK, MAYBE A FEW SECONDS, WHEN I WENT BACK OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WAS GONE. I FOUND IT IN MY FRONT YARD. IT HAD ROLLED OFF WHILE IN PARK WITHOUT ENGINE ON. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED TO HONDA, DAYS LATER I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE START/STOP ENGINE SYSTEM AND THAT IT ALSO NEEDED THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM REPLACED. ATTACHED YOU WILL FIND THE PHOTO I TOOK OF THE VEHICLE STILL IN PARK WHEN I FOUND IT IN MY FRONT YARD.
Other or unspecified, Jul 29, 2019
THE BOARD IS SHOWING THIS MESSAGE AFTER I TURN THE ENGINE ON: KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 22, 2019
2016 HONDA PILOT BEGAN DISPLAYING "KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM" ON DASH BOARD AFTER STARTING CAR. VEHICLE STILL OPERATES NORMALLY MINUS THE WARNING LIGHT AND MESSAGE ON DASH. NUMEROUS OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND YEAR.
Other or unspecified, Jul 18, 2019
AUTO START BUTTON FAILURE. JUST HAPPENED TO ME AT 36,000 MILES. DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS QUITE COMMON. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE NO PERMANENT FIX. WILL THINK TWICE BEFORE PURCHASING ANOTHER HONDA.
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Jul 16, 2019
MY CAR KEEPS DISPLAYING 'KEY START SYSTEM PROBLEM' IT COMES ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES FOR A WEEK OR JUST A FEW DAYS. I HAVE NOW TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY IT COMES ON THEN TURNS OFF. THIS LAST TIME LASTED A WEEK AND IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS STRUGGLING TO MOVE WHEN I ACCELERATED. THIS IS CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE HONDA PILOTS. I CHECKED ONLINE AND OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY TRIED REPLACING THE PUSH TO START BUTTON, KEY BATTERIES AND THE HARNESS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I START MY CAR ONLY, I HAVE NOT MADE ANY ALTERATIONS TO MY VEHICLE. I JUST GOT MY CAR IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
Other or unspecified, Jul 15, 2019
WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN MY EMPLOYER'S PARKING LOT, THE REAR/BACK WINDOW SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. AFTER RESEARCHING, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING EXTREMELY WARM TEMPERATURES LATELY SO I AM NOT SURE IF THAT IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. EITHER WAY IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO COME OUT TO YOUR VEHICLE AND NOT HAVE A REAR WINDOW.
Other or unspecified, Jul 13, 2019
VEHICLE STATES KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM THOUGH NOTHING IS WRONG? THE OTHER WEEK THE WINDOWS, INCLUDING SUNROOF, ALL ROLLED DOWN BY THEMSELVES SOMETIME EARLY MORNING AND RAIN GOT IN- INORDER FOR ME TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN I HAVE TO SLEEP WALK TO MY KEY FOB AND HIT UNLOCK TWICE AND HOLD THE UNLOCK BUTTON UNTIL ALL WINDOWS ARE FULLY DOWN. IT WAS A STINKY FLOOD MESS.
Other or unspecified, Jul 11, 2019
GETTING AN ERROR - KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM THIS ERROR APPEARS AS SOON AS CAR IS STARTED AND DOESN'T GO AWAY
Other or unspecified, Jul 10, 2019
UPON ACCELERATION TO PASS, THE RPMS DROP, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO POWER. LIFTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND REAPPLYING, THE POWER RETURNS. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES,THREE BEING INTERSTATE AND ONE LOCAL FOUR LANE ROAD.
Other or unspecified, Jul 7, 2019
MY SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED TODAY WHILE WAITING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT. THE SUNSHADE WAS CLOSED SO NO GLASS SHARDS FELL INTO THE CAR. WE WERE MOVING AT OR UNDER 5MPH ON LEVEL GROUND. THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE HIGH 80S WITH CLEAR SKIES AND BRIGHT SUN HERE IN ROCKLAND COUNTY NY, TODAY JULY 7TH 2019. THE GLASS WAS NOT STRUCK BY A STONE OR DEBRIS, THIS WAS MOST LIKELY A DEFECT IN THE GLASS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2019
THE KEYLESS START SYSTEM ERROR HAS COME ON RECENTLY AND GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE CHANGED THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOBS AND THE ERROR STILL COMES UP. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I HAVE LEARNED THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND IN A LOT OF CASES THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN DURING OPERATION DUE TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT COULD LEAD TO GREAT BODILY INJURY AND /OR DEATH. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND AND REMEDIED. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THROUGH NHTSA ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 21, 2019
MY 2016 HONDA PILOT HAVE BEEN POPPING UP A 'KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM' MESSAGE . IT HAPPENED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. IT'S SOMETIMES WILL GO AWAY AND COME BACK THE NEXT DAY. IT'S ON AND OFF. WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS THE 'WALK AWAY AUTO LOCK ' ALSO DIDN'T WORK TOO. I HOPE HONDA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE BY RECALLING THE MODEL.
Other or unspecified, Jun 19, 2019
THE FOLLOWING ALERT SHOWS UP: KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND REMAINS ON. THE DEALERSHIP RESET THE CODE BUT IT RETURNED 1 WEEK LATER AND ISN'T GOING AWAY.
Other or unspecified, Jun 11, 2019
THE CAR WONT START OR LOCK. 'KEY FOB NOT RECOGNIZED' LIGHT COMES ON. INTERMITTENT. CAR IS PARKED, BUT WILL DRIVE WIHT IGHT ON.
Other or unspecified, Jun 8, 2019
KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ERROR ... IT'S SHOWING UP ON & OFF FOR PAST FEW MONTHS NOW...I SEE IT'S HAPPENING ALOT OF THE 2016 HONDA PILOT YET NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE....IT'S HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR HAS PASTED IT'S WARRANTY PERIOD