Is the 2011 Honda Pilot a bad year?
293 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Pilot years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2011 Honda Pilot are in line with other Pilot years. Air bags stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 Pilot owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 72,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 68 (23%) | 44k–116k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 35 (12%) | 31k–114k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Steering | 34 (12%) | 31k–90k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Suspension | 34 (12%) | 27k–72k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Electrical system | 26 (9%) | 29k–166k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 19 (6%) | 34k–107k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 16 (5%) | 5k–79k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 10 (3%) | 16k–89k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 41 (14%) | 20k–56k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 21 (7%) | 5k–59k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 18 (6%) | 18k–67k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 72,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 293 complaints: 29 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 17 report an injury · 8 say the car was towed.
7 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Moving key back and forth in driver's door lock will result in engine repeatedly turning over, even with no key in ignition.
While slowing to yield onto a highway I was behind another vehicle which was stopped to the oncoming traffic.
My 2011 Honda pilot touring had to have all 3 engine mounts and the transmission mount replaced. The whole front end of the vehicle would shake uncontrollably on acceleration and especially at high speeds.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 72,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2011 Honda Pilot: 11
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 propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. 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.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators. In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing. The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.
There is a possibility that the stitching that secures the end of the driver and front passenger lap section of the seatbelt may be incomplete or missing. If the stitching is incomplete or missing, the seatbelt may detach from the anchor webbing, increasing the risk of personal injury in a crash.
The bolts that attach the lower left and right front damper bracket to the front suspension and the spindle nuts on the pilot may not have been properly tightened which may result in loss of steering. Loss of steering increases the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 44
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Honda Pilot. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The front rocker arm oil control valve is leaking
The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align, which can lead to spark plug fouling
If the engine is overheating and there s engine oil mixed in the coolant reservoir, chances are the cylinder head may be cracked
While driving under steady cruise (Between 30 and 65 MPH) or light acceleration, does the engine intermittently rattle or runs rough with the MIL blinking
Neighbouring years
2010 Pilot: 111 complaints, keep it · 2012 Pilot: 173 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda Pilot year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Pilot years side by side
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.
Questions
Is the 2011 Honda Pilot a bad year?
293 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Pilot years. At 72,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Honda Pilot?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (68), engine (35), steering (34), suspension (34), electrical system (26).
How many recalls does the 2011 Honda Pilot have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-502), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-378), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-661), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-268) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.