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.
2021 Honda PilotProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 459 owner complaints about the 2021 Honda Pilot, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-064 the manufacturer reports only 55% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 9, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Honda Pilot has problems
459 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
139Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
115Engine2 crash/fire/injury
100Forward collision avoidance5 crash/fire/injury
46Lane departure1 crash/fire/injury
33Air bags
26Service brakes
25Power train
24Fuel/propulsion system
21Visibility/wiper
8714 other systems6 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 139 | 4 |
| Engine | 115 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 100 | 5 |
| Lane departure | 46 | 1 |
| Air bags | 33 | 7 |
| Service brakes | 26 | 4 |
| Power train | 25 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 24 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 21 | 0 |
| 14 other systems | 87 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
10 recalls
2021 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
Occupant classification: front passenger
NewRisk. Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Occupant classification: front passenger
Risk. An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 6 more recalls
repaired · 2025 Q2
Foundation components: master cylinder
Risk. Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q1
Back over prevention: display function
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.
repaired · 2025 Q4
Rearview mirrors/devices: exterior
Risk. Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q4
Tires
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.
repaired · 2022 Q2
Sensing system: camera
Risk. Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q2
Sensing system: camera
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.
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.
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.
Forward collision avoidance
9 owners mentioned a cost$2,000median
Middle half: $1,500 – $2,000
Electrical system
8 owners mentioned a cost$2,000median
Middle half: $1,201 – $2,775
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
2021 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
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2021 Honda Pilot, and the recalls they led to.
- No Restart After Auto Start/Stop EngagesOpen
In owners' words
What Pilot owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L, 3.5L V6. The engine cranks slowly and is sluggish to start when restarted after a short stop of roughly 10-30 minutes (for example, running errands). After the vehicle sits an hour or more, it starts normally. The condition appears tied to engine heat-soak. The battery has…
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the Auto Idle Stop system repeatedly failed to restart the engine after stopping. During the failure, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on multiple occasions, where the battery and starter were…
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.
Own a 2021 Pilot?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.