Is the 2021 Honda Pilot a bad year?
454 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 119, 3.8× a quiet Pilot year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 15k–72k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 2 of 119 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 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 33,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 119 (26%) | 15k–72k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 138 (30%) | 1k–15k miles · mostly behind | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 28 (6%) | 2k–15k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Collision avoidanceSTANDS OUT | 98 (22%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assistSTANDS OUT | 45 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 32 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 31 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 25 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 23 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 19 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 13 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (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 33,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 454 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 13 say the car was towed.
129 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2021 Honda Pilot: 10
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 front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended. An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can 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.
The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly. Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The tires may have been cured for a time beyond the specification limits. 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.
Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. 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.
Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display 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: 80
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 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
MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
Due to variations in the purge control solenoid valve spring, the valve wears unevenly and intermittently sticks
The engine will not crank on initial startup after precipitation and sub-freezing temperatures
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
Neighbouring years
2020 Pilot: 494 complaints, keep it · 2022 Pilot: 175 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 2021 Honda Pilot a bad year?
454 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 119, 3.8× a quiet Pilot year. At 33,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 15k–72k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 2 of 119 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda Pilot?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (119), electrical system (138), brakes (28), collision avoidance (98), lane assist (45). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 15k–72k miles.
How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Pilot have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 26V-365), Air bags (NHTSA 26V-332), Air bags (NHTSA 24V-064), Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858) 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.