no report yet
Structure: frame and members
NewRisk. 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.
2016 Honda PilotProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,730 owner complaints about the 2016 Honda Pilot, most often about the engine. It is covered by 8 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-858 the manufacturer reports only 75% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 6, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Honda Pilot has problems
1,730 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
784Engine14 crash/fire/injury
583Electrical system8 crash/fire/injury
202Power train5 crash/fire/injury
176Fuel/propulsion system3 crash/fire/injury
54Structure
46Engine and engine cooling
39Vehicle speed control
37Electronic stability control (ESC)
29Service brakes
17117 other systems12 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 784 | 14 |
| Electrical system | 583 | 8 |
| Power train | 202 | 5 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 176 | 3 |
| Structure | 54 | 4 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 46 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 39 | 3 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 37 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 29 | 9 |
| 17 other systems | 171 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
8 recalls
2016 Honda Pilot recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2025 Q4
Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
Risk. A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
repaired · 2023 Q4
Hood: latch
Risk. A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
Show 4 more recalls
repaired · 2018 Q3
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2017 Q4
Storage: tank assembly
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
repaired · 2017 Q1
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Risk. If a safety system cannot immediately warn the driver when needed, the driver may be at increased risk of a crash.
repaired · 2016 Q4
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk. If the third row seatbelt is trapped, the occupants may not be restrained properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Honda.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
62kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 195 engine complaints. 78% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 43% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
31under 30k miles153under 100k miles42100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
50 owners mentioned a cost$7,793median
Middle half: $5,250 – $10,000
Electrical system
31 owners mentioned a cost$600median
Middle half: $300 – $1,000
Fuel/propulsion system
16 owners mentioned a cost$1,500median
Middle half: $1,463 – $2,063
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other Pilot year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Pilot median. How we score
'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Honda Pilot safety ratings
2016 Honda Pilot SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Honda Pilot, and the recalls they led to.
- No Restart After Auto Start/Stop EngagesOpen
- No Restart After Auto Start/Stop EngagesNo recall
- Engine failureOpen
- Engine failureNo recall
In owners' words
What Pilot owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My 2016 Honda Pilot has suffered catastrophic engine failure due to an apparent connecting rod bearing failure, identical to the defect described in NHTSA Recall 23V-751. During driving on the interstate the engine began knocking, made a loud banging sound, abruptly seized while driving which…
The manufacturer’s defective fuel delivery system (faulty fuel injectors covered under Honda TSB #19-056) causes severe engine cylinder misfires, dropping the vehicle into an immediate, unpredictable, and sluggish 'limp mode' while driving at highway speeds. This sudden loss of power and…
I was stopped at a traffic light just off a highway exit ramp, with my vehicle in drive. When the light changed and I attempted to accelerate, the vehicle would not move forward. I immediately shut off the engine. Because I was stopped in an active traffic lane near a highway ramp, I became…
Own a 2016 Pilot?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.