Honda Pilot Reviews

I have a 2018 Honda Pilot that had the transmission go out a couple of months ago with only 58,000 miles on it. I contacted Honda to see if they wanted to offer any relief from the $10,500 bill, and they declined to help despite acknowledging that this problem is common to the 2018 Pilot. I am a lifelong Honda buyer, but I will be switching to Toyota, since it seems like you likely get a better car for about the same price.

I don’t recommend getting a Honda. I have a Honda Pilot. My second one, still have my old one. But my newer one has a known part issue. Honda sent me a letter telling me the torque converter was bad. But because I like my car and drive it it’s over the mileage they would change it by (150k). No I did not wait months after they sent me the letter. By the time they sent it my car had already gone over the mileage by 10k. The transmission problem light came on and I scheduled with the dealership to see what was wrong with it. It’s the torque converter. I got the letter after I took it in. So even though they know this part is bad and it’s their fault I will have to pay over $6,000 to fix it. It’s so disappointing, I will never purchase a car from them again.

I have a 2023 Honda Pilot. It's just over 20,000 miles. Two weeks ago, I pressed the button to open the sunroof, and there was a loud popping sound and the shade disappeared. "What's going on?" I looked closely, and the clip holding it in place was broken. I took it to the dealer to get it fixed, but they wanted me to pay for it. They said it was my fault, even though it was still under warranty, and it wasn't covered. I called Honda Customer Service and opened a case. They said they'd fix it for $643 plus tax. When I asked why I had to pay, they said it was my fault. I just pressed the button, and that was my fault. If it were a manual, I'd understand, but it's a button, and they're saying I pressed it wrong? I was so angry that I Googled it and found many similar cases. Some people got their problems fixed under warranty. So, who gets it fixed and who doesn't? What are your thoughts?

I have owned a 2020 Honda Pilot Elite for 3 years and have dealt with multiple issues, many are reoccuring issues that Honda can't get a 100% fix on. Now I am not going to bash it 100%, but Honda has some weird quirks that we couldn't get adjusted to from moving from a fully loaded Ford Flex to a fully loaded Honda Pilot.

Leased a brand new 2025 Honda Pilot EX-L on 6/29/25, the next day, I noticed a rough portion in the seam of the liftgate near the hinge. I immediately informed the dealership and was told that there is nothing for them to repair since the car came as is and the defect does not affect the performance of the vehicle. Also, there are weldings in the engine bay that look hideous. Returning the car for exchange is costly. I am so disappointed with the quality of the car I got. Had I seen it before driving it home, I would have never signed the lease. Now I am tied because of the contract. Yes, it is just aesthetic, but would you buy a brand new watch with scratched watch crystal even if it still tells you the time? Never again will I buy or lease a Honda nor recommend it to others. If you plan on getting one, make sure to check it before leaving the dealership.

I purchased a new 2025 Honda Pilot EX-L and it is turning out to be one of the worst vehicles I have ever owned. My vehicle is equipped with a power liftgate and it does open as it should, but will not close unless I manually close it. The dealer demonstrated power close but it has only worked a handful of times since leaving the dealership. I researched the issue on various forums and videos and many others report this problem going back as far as the 2013 model year. Clearly there is some electrical or mechanical malfunction that Honda doesn't care enough to fix.

The car alarm and light turn on and off randomly, pilot 2021. Honda Milton, Ontario took 200$ to investigate and asked me for 1000$ to replace it. I don’t know how like this issue can happen for car 2021. The customer service hasn’t provided any help or support or discount, just pay and pay.

I bought and leased the Honda 2020 Pilot exl which had a 50k price tag, basically I was handed keys and told to take a walk and all headaches and problems are on me. I’m shocked to learn about my horrific experience, I live in Brooklyn NY and I had to take on my car for service and drop it off for days sometimes, to receive back the car the same way I turned it in. They claimed they fixed it but it was never repaired, finally the 3 years ran by so that they can claim it’s no longer under warranty, however they never repaired the car during the 3 year span neither although they claimed they did.

I have Pilot 2016 and I have Honda care. My ac Compressor is not working and need to be changed. The last time I was in the Honda dealership in Colorado, Arapahoe County, in end of May, They told me they don't have it and don't know when they get it and now end of July. Still I don't have air condition in my car and is not acceptable. How is possible the honda can not provide ac compressor. It is summer time and I can not use my car for trip. I think Honda doesn't have good support for parts in USA, and for next my car I will not consider Honda with this situation. That is terrible.

My 2014 Pilot began giving engine problems at 75k miles, despite my keeping the maintenance of the oil etc. After spending money on spark plugs, coils, oil valve, alternator and it continued to give trouble. I found out the 2013 had a recall and class action suit for the exact same issue. Honda isn’t responding to my certified letter and it has been very difficult to get any answer. They talk about warranty, I talk about integrity and reputation. This can cause an engine fire or car crash. Buyer beware.

We purchased our 2106 Honda Pilot Elite new in 2016 and the 100,000-mile warranty. My wife was in a car accident after three months (not her fault, and nobody was injured), and the car was totaled, so we had to purchase a new vehicle. The interest rate went up from 1.99 to 2.99. Fast forward to February 2022; after paying $800 per month for over five years, we paid it off and received the title! One month later, I was driving the car and heard a rattling noise after accelerating at a stop light. Speaking of stop lights, we had to turn off the auto-shutoff because the car stalled 50% of the time when we had it on.

I have a 2015 Honda Pilot with less than 100K miles and the piston rings just went, $3,000+ dollars down the drain. I have had a number of other issues, I will never buy a Honda again. I'm not sure why Honda is rated so well, it is a terrible SUV.

We bought a 2014 Honda Pilot with 90,000 miles on it in November of 2020 after researching many reviews. In March of 2021 the part of paint on the front roof of the vehicle was off. We were baffled. We researched this issue and found out that Honda used faulty paint on their white 2014 models and it’s been coming off in droves. They recalled but decided that only for 7 years after the car is released. So that means by January 2021 the 2014 I just paid 20k for because they are such “great” cars needs a new 2,500 paint job-that’s literally what Honda quoted us....because Honda used cheap crappy paint.... and knew it. Then refused to fix it because apparently they believe car paint under 100k miles should only last 7 years. Good to know that’s what they believe.

Happy taking my 2019 Honda Pilot for a recall on the stereo radio for over 6 times and they refused to replace it. They always tell me that they know what the problem is and they take the car to be fixed and then following day same thing they refuse to replace the stereo.

I bought Honda Pilot 2019.. The car has been causing me the issue since the day I bought it. I have been into dealership 5 times already.. First summer Air conditioner not working. First winter there is some engine light on. Dealership is not able to figure out what it going on. I have dropped the vehicle and keeps on coming again... Honda Canada is not taking responsibility for that... They are just saying it's under warranty. They will look after it but it so much frustrating.. Every other day there is new problem. All system are failing... Never buy Honda .. They have worst customer service... They don't care once you buy car from them.. They are giving lemon car to everyone. My friend is also going through this same issue and they are just ignoring it...

On December 2019 I trade in my 2018 Toyota Camry XSE for the 2020 Honda Pilot Black Edition for more space for my kids and is the worst. The electrical part of it have a lot of issues and distract and scared the driver as well as my kids with popping noises coming out of the speakers, dashboard shooting off, infotainment saying network connection lost and shooting off, plus the brake sensor alert coming on all of sudden and without anyone or anything around. This SUV IS NOT SAFE AT ALL.

Just bought my 3rd Pilot with this one being the 2020 Elite Black Edition...likely my last. 1500 kms on it and the entertainment system keeps crashing. The speakers have a loud crackling noise. Tailgate isn't working nor is the remote start. Warning light is now on that the collision avoidance system is down as well. I trusted Honda because of quality. Now learning this is a nagging common electrical issue. Trust is gone. Very disappointed. Hoping they can fix it. Should have kept my 2014 Pilot.

Purchased my 4th Honda Pilot 3 weeks ago, 2019 Touring. Previously owned a 2011 EXL 2013 Touring, and 2017 Touring. The auto idle stop feature has never worked. After 75⁰ miles, took to dealership and was told Honda is aware, there currently is no fix, and they don't know when one will be available. They will call me. Don't think there will be a 5th Honda Pilot if this is not resolved quickly.

Purchased this 2004 Honda Pilot new in 2004. Driven it across country several times, lived in the Southwest desert and drove it for years. Lived in Chicago and enjoyed the 4 wheel drive in the show. Other than showing signs of aging in the paint job after 16 years, this car is as good as ever. We have never had a serious mechanical issue, ever. The cloth interior has no rips, no worn spots, the headliner is perfect. It runs quiet and has tons of power. Absolutely the best value ever due to its perfect size, flexibility, hauling capacity, visibility over other cars. We will buy another one someday!

Most reliable car I have ever owned. Only done general maintenance for 100,000 miles. Oils changes, tire, fluids etc. Car is built very solid like a truck but drives well like a Sedan.

I purchased this 2019 Honda Pilot EX new from a dealer in The Milwaukee area. Almost immediately, the 6 speed transmission would cause the vehicle to shake, vibrate, hesitate and growl as it seems to up-shift prematurely and it can't counter shift to a lower gear. Over 5k on the vehicle to date and it does this every day at speeds of 24, 33 and 43 mph. Repeated trips to the dealer with no resolve. I hate it and won't keep it much longer.

I would highly recommend the Honda Pilot. It's a great "large" SUV without being too big. The thing I like most is the rear windows. Most new SUVs have those tiny triangular side windows and a scrunched rear window. The Pilot has has excellent sight lines out the rear!

The vehicle makes noises that at this price point it should not make. Mainly in relation to the drivetrain and the transmission has been very unreliable. We have put a lot of long distance miles on our pilot and when we take it in to service it seems that they always say, “Wow this is a first on this year for us to see with this (fill in the blank) problem,” feels very unreliable with high mileage currently 106,000. Year 2016.

I bought in March this year a 2014 Honda Pilot with 120k on it, formerly a rental according to the Navigation system as to where it has been. It is now in my hands for 8 mos with 30k more miles. I have driven long distances with 3400 lbs trailer attached. 4x4 driven in snow and and dirt. Regular maintenance performed. No problems at all. This is the first Honda that I have owned and won't be the last! A retired master mechanic, electrician, electronics tech.

Car has worked great, the software can be a little quirky at times but has been very reliable and comfortable riding car. A lot of the safety features I don't feel are necessary for me, but wife loves them.

I love my Honda Pilot. It is big enough to carry multiple people and/or items, and very comfortable. It drives very well and is very stable on the road. It looks amazing, too! I especially like the camera that comes on when I turn on the right blinker. I didn't realize how much I'd come to depend on it until I was in a different vehicle last week that didn't have it.

2016 Honda Pilot Touring was advanced than their luxury model 2016 Acura MDX as this model have 9 gear transmission and 3.5 Acura engine with all those safety gadgets make this SUV delightful! I wished hand shift was also smooth as rest of the vehicle and front engine bonnet little too puffy on high speed (120 KMPH).

The Honda Pilot is a very sturdy vehicle. It's great for families, I have 122,377 miles on it and it still runs really smoothly, I never had any mechanical problems other than wear and tear which is normal. It's very roomy and also does well in the snow. The Honda Pilot is highly recommended.

We’ve owned 3 Pilots now and have loved everyone. It’s spacious and comfortable for the whole family and even the grandparents! We comfortably fit our family of four (2 being kids and one is still in a very bulky car seat) and my 2 parents with room to spare. The technology is also amazing which makes for a fun and much safer ride! We will definitely be Honda owners for a long time!

Driving this Honda Pilot is miserable and we regret the purchase every time we get into the car. The car is sluggish when accelerating, it jerks when shifting gears and makes awful knocking noises. We live in a large master planned community where the speed limit is 25 mph and driving this vehicle at any speed below 40 mph is absolutely awful. We have taken the car into Brandon Honda more than once and the service technicians have driven with us so that they can verify that what we are experiencing is valid and they have validated the issues.

I've purchased a 2014 Honda Pilot from a certified Honda Dealer - Fischer Honda. I've noticed that car paint started peeling off from the roof and the clear paint cover was fading away in the whole/entire car. This issue causing the car to lose its protective base leading now to get rust spots (along with the roof peeling). I have purchased the car a year after its manufacture with minimum miles on it, drove it to work and maintained inside the garage while at home. FISCHER Honda Rep acknowledges the issue and sent me to get an estimate to have the car re-painted. I took the car to the various shop and they all agreed that the entire car lost its cover and there is a definitely paint issue from the manufacturer.

Infotainment system is completely unreliable. Doesn't matter if my phone is connected by Bluetooth or USB. First you will hear skips in the audio you are listening to then the audio will cut off completely. The screen will say that it is playing but no sound is heard. When this defect happens, you can't hear anything - even if you switch to the radio or other source. When you turn the car off, it resets but will do it again the next time you drive it. This is ridiculous for a new car - especially a Honda. This has been happening off and on for several months. Now it is just over the 36,000 mile warranty. This needs to be a class-action suit and a recall is needed to repair or replace the infotainment system.

We purchased a 2020 Honda Pilot AWD Touring and experienced the same infotainment issue that others have described. Ten days off the lot, we heard crackling and popping across the dash and both the center dash screen and the screen behind the wheel went black with no access to nav, radio, bluetooth, backup camera, speedometer, etc. The system continually tried to reboot but would continue crashing. Took it in and they replaced audio tuner and gauge control module and then said it was working perfectly. Two hours after I picked it up, the same problem occurred. They kept it for 2 more weeks, saying they were in touch with Honda's engineers. They wound up replacing both the floor harness and dash harness. Time will tell whether it is actually fixed. Have had it back for a week with no issues.

I purchased a 2019 Honda Pilot Touring from Honda Valley Stream in Aug, 2019. Within two weeks, the computer/electrical system went out. I took it to the service Department where I was informed that a hard reset was done. On my journey from NY, two weeks later, the entire System went out again. The kids were watching a video and that shut down, along with phone, radio and the back up camera. The entire system went down again within the space of a month. The display section at the front of the car Stays on while the vehicle is parked and locked. I have to Take time off from work twice within a month to have my brand new 2019 Pilot serviced. This is terribly frustrating and Honda has to rectify this issue immediately.

Radio crackling, shutting off, not shutting off when the car is off. Completely unpredictable for the entire infotainment system. Honda has no clue how to fix it. I've owned 3 Odyssey prior to this and will never buy another Honda.

2019 Honda Pilot Elite - first Honda I've ever owned. In six months the computer/electrical system has gone out three times. Similar stories all over the internet. Basically at any given moment while driving there will be a glitchy feedback sound that comes through the speakers in the car. At that point, the audio system shuts off. No music (Satellite, FM/AM, Bluetooth, iPod, etc.), no voice controls, no phone (calls in or out). No backup camera - surround sensors still work for no visual cues or lines display for distance visualization. Many features within the computer display selection not available while vehicle is in motion even if the vehicle is parked. When the car is parked and turned off and locked, the computer display does not turn off. It will stay off overnight and the computer will still be on in the morning. The freeze/short will last usually 36 to 48 hours then randomly reset itself. Like nothing happened.

The ACC/LKAS/Cruise CONTROL is scary, it will interpret a vehicle coming toward you in the opposite lane as a threat and swerve out of the way by taking control of the vehicle and snatching the steering wheel out of your hands. If it doesn’t do that it’ll apply the breaks and then snatch the steering wheel out of your hands to swerve away. My advice disengage that system on any and every 2 Lane Rd. The interior is cheap. It feels cheap. The vent on my AC will not close so I get to breathe all the outside air all the time. It idles like a Sherman tank when you first crank it up. It rides rough. It is not comfortable. Ergonomically it is not comfortable. If I drive a long distance my back hurts because the armrests are not even.

I bought this 2010 Pilot new and it seemed to be the best car I have ever owned. It runs very well and I love the size and features it came with. A few years of owning it I received a letter from Honda that stated its supplier used dissimilar metals in the rivets. This will cause the tailgate to rust prematurely so they added a 7 year warranty. Sure enough my tailgate had rust coming through just after reading the TSB. I had it repaired and it looked great. Just after the warranty expired the rust came back FAST. I called Honda and they will do nothing about it now. They "fixed" it to last just past the warranty and now I am stuck with a rusty tailgate due to Honda's cheap discount .01 rivets. I thought they had a lifelong customer but their customer service changed my mind.

+This is the fourth Honda we have owned and I don't think there will be a fifth purchase based on what I have experienced in one week's time with the new vehicle. On Day 3 with just 300 miles on the car, the radio stopped working. It had power to it but we couldn't use it for Apple Play or Sirius or even local channels. When we shut off the vehicle, the radio stayed on. I noticed this after about two hours and was lucky I caught it, because I did not want to drain the battery. I wound up pulling the fuse to the radio (#29, if anyone needs to know) to cut the power. I've had to do this three times so far.

Safety concern: hood raises up and down in the wind. Dealer adjusted, changed latch. It still flexes in wind. It’s startling to see a hood move that way when driving on the highway. Is it the material it’s made of? Is it the latch? Trying to get a solution from Honda but no luck so far.