What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2021 Honda Pilot

Typical pattern

7.5% of complaints about the 2021 Honda Pilot came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2021 vehicle — around the middle of the 159 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.1 yr in service. The most-reported system is collision avoidance (158 complaints), typically at 4.3 yr or about 10,486 miles.

Complaints
736
Median age at failure
4.1 yr
Median mileage
32,000 n=57
Crash / fire / tow
4.6% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Collision avoidance
158 reports · 10,486 mi
4.3 yr
4.4%
Electrical system
126 reports · 44,000 mi
4.3 yr
2.4%
Engine
104 reports · 30,000 mi
4.5 yr
1.9%
Other
82 reports · 1,500 mi
3.6 yr
1.2%
Lane departure
57 reports
4.5 yr
1.8%
Air bags
31 reports · 47,395 mi
3.8 yr
19.4%
Power train
24 reports · 20,000 mi
4.1 yr
8.3%
Service brakes
24 reports
3.8 yr
12.5%
Back over prevention
23 reports · 55,000 mi
4.2 yr
8.7%
Fuel / propulsion
21 reports · 53,591 mi
4.0 yr
9.5%
Visibility / wipers
20 reports · 4,800 mi
1.9 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

26V365000 2026-06-04
Structure:frame and members

American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. 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.

26V332000 2026-05-21
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. 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.

24V064000 2024-02-01
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. 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.

23V858000 2023-12-18
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. 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.

23V458000 2023-06-29
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. 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.

23V431000 2023-06-15
Back over prevention:display function

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

23V174000 2023-03-16
Visibility:rearview mirrors/devices:exterior

Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

20V725000 2020-11-20
Tires

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain 2021 Pilot vehicles equipped with Continental CrossContact LX Sport 245/50R20 102 H tires with DOT serial number A376 D3K9 2920 and mold numbers S-421920 and S-421921. 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. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

20V440000 2020-07-28
Electrical system:software

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

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.

20V439000 2020-07-28
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system mileage not reported 7 mo in service
The dash crackles sometimes a little and other times it crackles constantly all across the dash. If the radio is playing, it interferes with the radio or using the Bluetooth. At first it seemed like something hit the windshield and now it's worse and crackles all the time. There was a recall on this recently but not for the 2021 Pilot. This needs to be fixed. It is quite distracting and annoying.
Electrical system mileage not reported 6 mo in service
I was about to cross the border I was not driving faster than 3 mph when a few functions stop working
Electrical system mileage not reported 9 mo in service
There is an issue with the electrical system in this car. The radio has intermittent static on any station and hands free calls drop after a short period. I have Googled this and it is a very common complaint on this type/year vehicle. I am concerned there are other electrical issues that may be more safety related. The dealer did a hard reboot of the computer, but nothing changed.
Other 600 mi 4 mo in service
WHEN USING THE HANDSFREE BLUETOOTH FUNCTION, THE RECIPIENT CANNOT HEAR WHAT WAS SPOKEN AS IT MAKES BOISTEROUS/ STATIC NOISE. THIS IS EVEN SEVERE WHEN THE HEATER FAN IS ON. BOTH IOS AND ANDROID PHONES OBSERVE THE SAME RESULTS. MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER SAYS IT IS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS MODEL, AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Other Pilot model years

20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003

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