2015 Honda Pilot problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (14) · Service Brakes (10) · Structure:body (9)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Honda Pilot model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
64 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2023-12-18 · campaign 23V858000 · 2,490,460 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-06-27 · campaign 19V502000 · 9,555 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to p
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-05-16 · campaign 19V378000 · 19,138 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-09-27 · campaign 18V661000 · 1,355,406 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.
Service bulletins (85)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-02-01 · A26-002 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - the piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge. oil adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire. this can set dtcs p0301 no. 1 cylinder misfire detected, p0302 no. 2 cylinder misfire detected, p0303 no. 3 cylinder
Engine 2025-08-29 · A25-060 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - the piston ring function deteriorates due to ring wear and sticking from sludge. oil from the crankcase adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire. this can set dtcs p0301 no. 1 cylinder misfire detected, p0302 no. 2 cylinder misfire detected, p0303 no. 3 cyli
Engine 2025-07-29 · ONL6Z6072025 · Other
owner notification letter - the piston ring function can deteriorate due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge. oil adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire. this can set dtcs p0301 no. 1 cylinder misfire detected, p0302 no. 2 cylinder misfire detected, p0303 no.
Engine 2025-07-18 · A25-060 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - the piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge. oil adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire. this can set dtcs p0301 no. 1 cylinder misfire detected, p0302 no. 2 cylinder misfire detected, p0303 no. 3 cylinder
Engine 2025-06-17 · AEBM06172025901 · Other
dealer message - piston ring effectiveness may be reduced due to excessive wear and oil sludge build-up, which can cause oil to adhere to the spark plug, potentially leading to carbon fouling and misfire triggering dtcs p0301 through p0304 and cause the mil to come on.
Engine 2025-06-17 · A25-060 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - the piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge. oil adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire.
Showing the 6 most recent of 85 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-14 · Structure:body“on september 13, 2026, i was cleaning my 2015 honda pilot at a car wash while my young child was inside the vehicle. my keys and phone were also inside. after i closed the front passenger-side door, the vehicle unexpectedly locked all doors with my child, keys, and phone inside. i did not intentionally lock the vehicle and did not expect the doors …”
2026-07-29 · Engine“on july 3, 2026 the check engine light, check vsa warning and check emissions warning indicators all illuminated simultaneously and the vehicle began to misfire and sputter which triggered an immediate slow down of traffic behind me. my local honda dealership acknowledged a known defect with 2013 - 2015 pilots in which the piston rings deteriorate …”
2026-06-10 · Suspension:rear · 270,000 mi“the contact owns a 2015 honda pilot. the contact stated that upon pulling into the gas station and parking the vehicle, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound, and the contact also noticed a grinding sound coming from the underbody of the vehicle. the contact stated that the grinding sound persisted and became louder while reversing out of the p…”
2026-05-11 · Power Train“1. the engine assembly failed — piston 1 suffered catastrophic failure due to vcm-related piston ring wear and oil sludge buildup, generating dtcs p0301–p0304 (engine misfire, cylinders 1–4). vehicle is completely non-operational. failed engine is available for inspection in mableton, ga 30126. 2. progressive engine misfire created risk of sudden …”
2026-03-12 · Engine“while driving in traffic the vehicle suddenly began to sputter and lose power with check engine light flashing on the dash board. i was able to pull over and limp the car the one mile to my home on side streets. i parked the vehicle and called for a tow truck to tow the vehicle to my local dealership that i purchased the car from brand new. this …”
2026-03-02 · Engine · 120,000 mi“the contact owns a 2015 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. in addition, the error message instructed the driver to pull over immediately. the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with piston ring failures. in addition, dtc: p0301 (misfire in cyli…”
2026-02-26 · Engine · 💥 crash“i bought my 2015 pilot in 2024 and since then my local mechanic has told me i am burning oil and i have had to replace several spark plugs. i have had error codes like p0304 come up in conjunction with the replacements. i now have a total engine failure. i looked online after my failure and saw the vcm warranty extension, but i was never notified a…”
2025-09-23 · Unknown Or Other“the catalytic converter system on my vehicle is failing prematurely due to the vehicle’s built-in fuel management and energy-saving computer settings. these settings cause excess fuel to be burned and pushed into the catalytic converter, damaging the unit. in addition, this flaw is causing oil to be pushed out of the car, creating both a mechanical…”
2025-09-10 · Engine And Engine Cooling“see attached document for complaint.…”
2025-08-28 · Unknown Or Other“constant mold accumulates inside my car, creating an unpleasant, musty odor that fills the air. over time, this persistent growth not only detracts from the vehicle's interior appearance but also poses potential health risks for anyone who enters. i have had to clean the car and remove mold repeatedly. this situation is extremely dangerous, especia…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.