Honda Pilot: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
9,438 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Honda Pilot, model years 2003 to 2026. 9 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2016 (engine 27×); 2017 (engine 16×); 2019 (engine 8.1×); 2003 (transmission 19×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2015, 2010, 2014. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Pilot | 720 | transmission 19× | 14 | |
| 2004 Pilot | 544 | transmission 12× | 13 | |
| 2005 Pilot | 677 | engine 2.9×, transmission 15× | 15 | |
| 2006 Pilot | 268 | — | 10 | |
| 2007 Pilot | 211 | — | 9 | |
| 2008 PilotFEW REPORTS | 133 | quiet: 4 of 17 | 9 | |
| 2009 PilotFEW REPORTS | 134 | quiet: 5 of 17 | 9 | |
| 2010 PilotFEW REPORTS | 111 | quiet: 2 of 17 | 10 | |
| 2011 Pilot | 293 | — | 11 | |
| 2012 Pilot | 173 | quiet: 6 of 17 | 9 | |
| 2013 Pilot | 273 | engine 2.7×, transmission 4.5× | 6 | |
| 2014 PilotFEW REPORTS | 116 | quiet: 3 of 17 | 3 | |
| 2015 PilotFEW REPORTS | 109 | quiet: 1 of 17 | 4 | |
| 2016 Pilot | 1,728 | engine 27× | 8 | |
| 2017 Pilot | 941 | engine 16× | 4 | |
| 2018 Pilot | 442 | engine 5.2×, transmission 6.5× | 7 | |
| 2019 Pilot | 929 | engine 8.1× | 13 | |
| 2020 Pilot | 494 | — | 11 | |
| 2021 Pilot | 454 | engine 3.8× | 10 | |
| 2022 Pilot | 175 | — | 5 | |
| 2023 PilotFEW REPORTS | 149 | — | 5 | |
| 2024 PilotFEW REPORTS | 118 | — | 6 | |
| 2025 Pilot | 217 | — | 4 | |
| 2026 PilotFEW REPORTS | 29 | — | 1 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Honda models
Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 2003200420052006200720112012201320162017201820192020202120222025