2016 Honda Pilot Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 70,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was stopped at a traffic light just off a highway exit ramp, with my vehicle in drive. When the light changed and I attempted to accelerate, the vehicle would not move forward. I immediately shut off the engine. Because I was stopped in an active traffic lane near a highway ramp, I became concerned for my safety and restarted the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Hello, While driving, the engine developed a distinct, heavy metallic knocking sound coming from the bottom end. I took the vehicle to an independent repair shop for inspection, where the mechanic drained the oil and cut open the oil filter. The filter pleats contained significant metallic debris and bearing shavings, confirming internal…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 49,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The auto idle malfunctioned; the vehicle did not restart when the break was released and/or moving steering wheel. It was in the middle of a busy intersection so that is definitely putting my safety as well as my daughter's and others safety at risk. It took at least a minute to restart the vehicle, by putting the gear in park and…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal dinging sound coming from the vehicle, and the ignition control, stability control, power steering, and hill-start assist warning lights were illuminated. The warning lights initially turned on and off simultaneously but…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 222,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 48,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The 6-speed automatic transmission on my 2016 Honda Pilot EX-L (103,200 miles) has experienced a severe mechanical failure casing dangerously hard, violent gear shifts during both acceleration and deceleration. Critically, no dashboard warning lights or malfunction indicator lamps illuminated while this dangerous driving condition…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle was abnormally jolting and sputtering. The contact stated that the engine warning light was activating and deactivating. The contact stated that failure was a recurring failure. The dealer was contacted, and a transmission flush was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 40,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 56,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Vehicle experiences a severe 3-to-4 second extended engine crank before starting due to fuel pressure loss. Priming the low-pressure fuel pump manually bypasses the issue, indicating a check-valve bleed-down failure. It is continuously worsening over time. This is identical to the failure mode of the active low-pressure fuel pump safety…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact's company owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that vehicle failed to start after several attempts with the "Emission System Failure", "Trailer Stability Assist", and "Electric Power Steering messages were displayed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 180,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 33,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was pulling into a parking space. Hit the brake. Instead of stopping, the car accelerated, jumping a curb and barreling across into another business drive. It hit a sign and a stone garbage can, which caused the car to recognize a collision and automatically go into park which caused it to stop. If it hadn’t been for the stone garbage…Owner complaint, filed 2025

At times, when you start the car, on the screen where the radio and Honda link and Bluetooth are a message ( like an email) with a red exclamation point appears. I check the HONDA LINK app and it says that it has to do with the brake system. I drive the car and it stays on or disappears. It will come back and the go away. It happens…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 26,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (48).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

Taligate is rusting through near the handle as well as around the right taillight. Another recall for this exact issue is in place for the same year/make/model, yet my vehicle is not included in the recall. Faulty seals allow water to get into the tailgate and rust from the inside-out. Honda has told me they won't help even though it is…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at slow and moderate speeds, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle lurched and jerked. The failure was more evident while driving uphill. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the torque converter…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 100,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 31,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

5 times we have experienced P2135 code. 4 times this year, causing the dash warning lights to flash numerous warnings and the vehicle goes into immediate limp mode. Unable to accelerate normally and unable to drive faster than 30-35 mph on the freeway causing us to drive on the shoulder until we are able to safely exit the freeway . This…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Several times, while driving on the freeway, I've taken my foot off the accelerator to naturally slow (rather than brake) for traffic in front of me. When I put my foot back onto the accelerator to speed back up, the car actually decelerates before catching with a "clink" noise and then finally accelerates. This has only happened to me…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles. Parts named most: Warnings (15), Warning (9), Automatic emergency braking (9).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

I have a series of dashboard warning lights that have went off due to failure of this camera-based (LKAS) unit. They are labeled as: 1) Lane Keeping Assist Problem 2) Auto Matic Cruise Control Problem 3) Traction Control Problem 4) ABS - braking system failure. These issues, IMO, are enough to suggest a recall is warranted. Please…Owner complaint, filed 2026

My 2016 Honda Pilot had a U3000-49- Integrated Driver Assist System code. Multipurpose Camera Unit Internal Electronic Failure. It has been happening intermittently for the past 2 weeks. No lane assist. No safety features.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 29,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

Rear glass window exploded outward. It was parked in the parking lot and was not forcefully shut or anything. Luckily, I was not driving when this happened and no one was hurt but it was very odd. No extreme temperatures. No extreme pressure from inside the vehicle. It is very unusual what happened.Owner complaint, filed 2023

The contact owns a 2016 honda pilot. While driving approximately 25 MPH, a loud explosion suddenly occurred and the passenger side exterior mirror dislodged from the mirror assembly. The contact stated that the mirror assembly detached from the vehicle. During the failure, the vehicle had not made contact with anything to cause damage to…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 35,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 21,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

When starting the car it shows the message on the screen "power steering system (eps) problem. This problem started within 6 months I bought this car, but I did not take it as serious, but now it always shows this message. At first this problem was only on extreme cold weather, but now it shows at least once in a week.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 4,000 miles

When starting the car it shows the message "power steering system (eps) problem". First I noticed this problem within 6 months of I bought this car and at that time I did not take it as serious, but now at least once in a weeks it shows this message.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 4,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 57,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

An airbag warning light recently appeared in our 2016 Honda Pilot. Believing it might be a faulty sensor, we scheduled a service appointment with our local Honda dealership. During the inspection, we were advised that the airbag was not properly seated and requires replacement. This vehicle has not been involved in any recent accident or…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I was hit in the front of the vehicle in the driver side by a large deer while traveling at 55 mph and you could smell airbag smoke but there was no airbag deployment whatsoever.Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

In order to complete the safety recall on the rear subframe, the control arms, which are seized to the frame, need to be removed. Honda will cover the cost of these parts but not the labor associated with replacing them. The labor was quoted as $900. I’m unable to see the specific components covered under the recall, but reading the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The car has spent its entire life in southern Arizona; no road salt and minimal moisture. Both front struts were required to be replaced - the front right strut had rusted and broken from its mount and the the front left strut was rusted in place.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The seat belt on the driver's side is too short. I can barely get it to fasten and when I do I have no ability to move. I can't lean forward to look for traffic, light changes, etc. This seems to be a problem as I went on a Honda forum and others experience the same issue.Owner complaint, filed 2024

There is loud clicking from the driver's power seat while attempting to adjust the height of the seat. The height of the seat cannot be adjusted, which inhibits the driver's ability to see things in front of and around the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected by a Honda dealership. The dealership said that the entire seat must be replaced…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 24,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

Lug studs keep breaking i have had honda and other dealers change the studs over 8 times new studs new lugs and 60-90 days one-two are broken againOwner complaint, filed 2026

The spare tire strap / carrier/ mount broke causing the spare wheel and tire to fall off the bottom of the vehicle striking the vehicle behind it.Owner complaint, filed 2025