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
1,706 reports, newest first.
Suspension, Power train, Other or unspecified, Nov 10, 2015
I WRITE TO YOU TO CONVEY MY SAFETY CONCERNS REGARDING A NEW HONDA 2016 PILOT. MY ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE MY CONCERNS WITH AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. WERE MET WITH TEPID RELUCTANCE AND A CAVALIER NEGLECTFUL ATTITUDE. 1.AT HIGH SPEEDS (55-75 MPH) THE VEHICLE OVERSTEERS AND DURING EMERGENCY AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS BECOMES UNSTABLE. TWICE WHILE AVOIDING DEAR ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, I HAVE ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND WAS SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT ROLLING THE VEHICLE OVER. I OWN AND HAVE DRIVEN A 2003 PILOT FOR OVER 180,000 MILES AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS SORT OF ISSUE. I BELIEVE THE SUSPENSION IS INCORRECTLY DESIGNED AND THAT UNEXPECTED AND UNNECESSARY ROLLOVERS ARE IMMINENT. 2.THE 'AUTO IDLE OFF' FEATURE TURNS THE ENGINE COMPLETELY OFF AT CERTAIN TIMES AND UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. IT TAKES BETWEEN 900 AND 1,300 MILLISECONDS TO RECOVER POWER TO THE WHEELS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. UNLIKE HYBRID VEHICLES (FROM WHICH THIS FEATURE WAS TAKEN), THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE ELECTRICAL MOTOR TO PROVIDE TORQUE TO THE DRIVETRAIN WHILE THE ENGINE RESTARTS AND AS A RESULT, THERE IS DELAY IN ACCELERATING. IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF TIMES, THIS IS OF NO CONSEQUENCE HOWEVER IN A SMALL FRACTION THIS DELAY INCREASES THE RISK OF COLLISION. ABOUT ONCE PER WEEK, I EXPERIENCE A DELAY IN ENTERING DENSE TRAFFIC WITHIN SHORT INTERSTATE MERGE LANES. THIS DELAY OF ABOUT ONE SECOND IS ENOUGH TO REMOVE MY MARGIN OF ERROR AND INCREASES THE RISK OF COLLISION DURING A MERGING MANEUVER. WHILE THERE IS A SWITCH TO DEFEAT THIS FEATURE, IT RESETS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND REMEMBERING TO OVERRIDE IT EVERY TIME IS INCONSISTENT WITH HUMAN MEMORY AND PERFORMANCE.
Other or unspecified, Nov 5, 2015
I HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF MY GARAGE WHEN THE TAILGATE WINDOW ON MY EIGHT DAY OLD, 2016 HONDA PILOT FORCEFULLY EXPLODED. IT BLEW SHARDS OF GLASS 15 FEET BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE FORCE BROKE THE REAR WINDOW WIPER AND BENT THE WINDOW WIPER ARM DOWN. ALL THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELLING ABOUT 5 TO 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE GARAGE, BUT NOT FAR FROM IT. NO ONE WAS AROUND THE CAR. MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE BACK YARD AND HEARD THE EXPLOSION. OUR HONDA DEALER SAID WE PRESSED THE WIPER INTO THE WINDOW CAUSING PRESSURE WHICH BROKE THE WINDOW. I WAS DRIVING ALONE IN THE CAR. IF ANYONE HAD BEEN BEHIND THE VEHICLE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SHREDDED BY FLYING GLASS. IT DIDN'T DROP TO THE GROUND IT FLEW 15 FEET BEHIND THE CAR. THIS PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF PEOPLE ARE NEARBY AS ON A CITY STREET OR PARKING LOT. FROM THE INTERNET I SEE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER VEHICLE MAKERS, NOT JUST HONDA.
Exterior lighting, Oct 23, 2015
MY 2016 HONDA PILOT EXL SENSING HAS VERY POOR HEADLIGHTS FOR SEEING THE ROAD SURFACE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE EVEN WITH THE DRIVING/FOG LIGHTS TURNED ON WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE ALSO NOT THE BEST ON DISTANCE OBJECTS. I LEAVE THE SWITCH IN THE AUTO POSITION SO I HAVE TO TURN THEM ON AND OFF SOMETIME TO SEE IF THEY ARE EVEN ON AT NIGHT OR IF IT IS JUST THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS THAT ARE ON. WITH THE VEHICLE STATIONARY ABOUT 8 FEET FROM MY GARAGE DOOR THE HEADLAMPS BEAM HAS A SHARP CUT OFF FOR ANY OBJECTS ABOVE 33 INCHES AND FOR ANY OBJECTS BELOW 21 INCHES. THIS PRESENTS A NARROW HORIZONTAL BEAM OF LIGHT OF ABOUT OF ABOUT 12 INCHES, THIS MAY BE THE NEW STANDARD OR GREAT FOR FOG, BUT IT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE IN A CAR I BOUGHT PRIMARILY FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION.
Seats, Oct 7, 2015
FRONT SEAT HEADREST ARE ANGLED TO FAR FORWARD AND HURT MY NECK!
Structure, Sep 14, 2015
ROOF RAIL COVERS BLEW OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. POOR FIT ON FRONT ROOF RAIL COVER MOLDINGS LEAVES AIR GAP. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS CAN CAUSE THE 8 FOOT STRIPS OF RUBBER, PASTIC MOLDINGS TO FLY OFF VEHICLE. THIS HAS SERIOUS ACCIDENT POTENTIAL AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS. ONLINE FORUMS ARE FLOODED WITH SIMILAR ISSUES ON ALL TRIM LEVELS OF THE 2016 HONDA PILOT.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 31, 2015, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD, FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600.