2021 Honda Pilot problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (67) · Electrical System (52) · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings (28)
🧭 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
47 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (10)
Suspension:rear 2026-06-04 · campaign 26V365000 · 965,561 vehicles
Defect: 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,
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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) in
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger 2026-05-21 · campaign 26V332000 · 98,892 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor ma
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger 2024-02-01 · campaign 24V064000 · 750,114 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder 2023-06-29 · campaign 23V458000 · 124,077 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
Risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.
Back Over Prevention:display Function 2023-06-15 · campaign 23V431000 · 1,209,673 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.
Visibility:rearview Mirrors/Devices:exterior 2023-03-16 · campaign 23V174000 · 339,404 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.
Tires 2020-11-20 · campaign 20V725000 · 214 vehicles
Defect: American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain 2021 Pilot vehicles equipped with Continental CrossContact LX Sport 245/50R20 102 H tires with DOT serial number A376 D3K9 2920 and mold numbers S-421920 and S-421921. The tires may have been cured for a time beyond the specification limits.
Risk: Over-cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four tires and replace the tires that have the affected DOT serial number and mold number, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is U8Y.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2020-07-28 · campaign 20V439000 · 607,786 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehi
Risk: Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2020-07-28 · campaign 20V440000 · 499,344 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk: A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.
Service bulletins (99)
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.
Electrical System 2025-11-07 · A24-061 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - the wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the phone remains in the correct position on the charger due to software specifications that can cause some phones to have issues charging.
Visibility/Wiper 2025-08-22 · ATI&08212025903 · Other
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2022-2025 passport blacks, trailsports & 2019-2022 pilots with a customer complaint of the taillight and/or brake light being inoperative. vehicles may also have the a6 10a or c27 7.5a fuse blown. to better understand the
Electrical System 2025-08-07 · ATI&08072025902 · Other
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2022-2025 passport blacks, trailsports & 2019-2022 pilots with a customer complaint of the taillight and/or brake light being inoperative. vehicles may also have the a6 10a or c27 7.5a fuse blown. to better understand the
Structure:body 2025-08-01 · A20-022 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - one or more accessory running board lights are flickering or not working due to a faulty running board light assembly.
Visibility/Wiper 2025-07-25 · ATI&07242025904 · Other
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2022-2025 passport blacks, trailsports & 2019-2022 pilots with a customer complaint of the taillight and/or brake light being inoperative. vehicles may also have the a6 10a or c27 7.5a fuse blown. to better understand the
Engine 2025-07-07 · A23-009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. typically, the customer can immediately restart the vehicle by selecting park and pressing the engin
Showing the 6 most recent of 99 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-29 · Electrical System“the car alarm goes off on its own,and the dashboard lights flash even when the car is turned off ,this continues until the battery dies and the car won’t start. i’ve taken it to the mechanic several times and no codes come up; i’ve replaced the battery with a new one twice.…”
2026-10-29 · Unknown Or Other“my wife operates a 2020 honda pilot touring, purchased new and currently with approximately 60,000 miles. the vehicle's automatic idle stop/start system intermittently shuts the engine off while stopped in traffic but fails to restart when the driver releases the brake and attempts to proceed. the driver must shift the vehicle into park and manua…”
2026-10-25 · Engine“on four occasions, my 2021 honda pilot se awd (vin [xxx]) has shut off at a stop under the auto idle stop system and then failed to restart, leaving the driver stranded. the incidents happened on xxx, xxx, xxx, and xxx in and around [xxx]. component: the starter system and the auto idle stop engine restart function. honda has acknowledged this exa…”
2026-10-23 · Engine“while stopped at red light or stop sign the car goes into engine auto off mode when the brake is pressed. when then trying to go, the car is turning off or going to neutral. this causes vehicles behind me to stop suddenly and can cause an accident. the only way to then go is to turn the vehicle off, and restart, then put back in drive. this is hap…”
2026-10-23 · Engine“the auto idle stop feature will turn my engine off like it's supposed to, but then my engine dies when i try to accelerate again. this is happening more and more. i would allow my car to be inspected. my car tried to roll backward into the car behind me today, and i have held up traffic each time this has happened. i have seen on chatrooms that…”
2026-10-22 · Unknown Or Other“to whom it may concern: i am requesting immediate escalation of a serious safety concern involving my 2021 honda pilot touring, which i purchased as a honda certified pre-owned vehicle directly from tempe honda. i also purchased additional warranty coverage at the time of sale. i have owned this vehicle for less than two years, and it has alread…”
2026-10-20 · Visibility/Wiper“the information screen goes blank. then at that point the backup camera will not show on screen when backing up. creating a blind spot and hazard…”
2026-10-17 · Electrical System“refer to [xxx]. my honda pilot started having electrical issues where the car alarm would go off randomly, radio would play at volumes randomly, dashboard lights would flicker on and off, interior lights would turn on, headlights would turn on. this resulted in multiple drained batteries and left the car inoperable until it could be jump started. t…”
2026-10-14 · Electrical System“this complaint is being filed regarding a failed remedy for nhtsa safety recall 23v-431 (honda campaign zem) on my 2021 honda pilot touring. although the vehicle history shows that the recall repair for the most fiber-optic wire harness was previously performed, the authorized remedy has completely failed to fix the safety defect. the central infot…”
2026-10-12 · Unknown Or Other“my vehicle's auto idle engine stops when brake is engaged, goes into neutral when released instead of restarting causing me to have to turn on the flashers, shift into park, turn off the ignition then restart. i was almost rear ended at an intersection & held up traffic during another occurrence, causing impatience behind me. i then found numerous …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.