Is the 2018 Honda Pilot a bad year?
442 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 162, 5.2× a quiet Pilot year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 5.2× the complaints of a quiet Pilot year, spread over 57k–135k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 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 90,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 162 (37%) | 57k–135k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 125 (28%) | 57k–106k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 85 (19%) | 6k–50k miles · mostly behind | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 78 (18%) | 21k–66k miles · mostly behind | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 23 (5%) | 6k–23k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 17 (4%) | 3k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 11 (2%) | 6k–36k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 10 (2%) | 4k–30k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 12 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 5 (1%) | 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 90,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 442 complaints: 9 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 18 say the car was towed.
42 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Vehicle was stopped in a parking lot in "Drive" With the auto-idle feature in use. Car would not re-start when foot taken off brake.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 90,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2018 Honda Pilot: 7
The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure. 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.
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash. Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine. A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving. A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt. Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
The front driver and passenger powered seats in the Honda vehicles and the driver powered seats in the Acura vehicles may have been assembled with improperly manufactured rivets. In the event of a crash, the rivets can break causing the seats not to be secured to the floor. In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the floor, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
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: 103
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Honda Pilot. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart
Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications
MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
The engine will not crank on initial startup after precipitation and sub-freezing temperatures
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Engine failure
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
Engine failure
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
Neighbouring years
2017 Pilot: 941 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2019 Pilot: 929 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
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 2018 Honda Pilot a bad year?
442 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 162, 5.2× a quiet Pilot year. At 90,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 5.2× the complaints of a quiet Pilot year, spread over 57k–135k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Honda Pilot?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (162), fuel system (125), electrical system (85), transmission and drivetrain (78), speed control (23). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 57k–135k miles.
How many recalls does the 2018 Honda Pilot have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 26V-365), Air bags (NHTSA 26V-332), Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858), Engine (NHTSA 23V-751) 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.