UsedScore

2015 Honda Pilot: Best bet

Owners filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Honda Pilot in its first five years on the road, about 37 for every 100,000 sold: 0.4× the rate of a typical Pilot year. That's among the fewest of any Pilot year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the brakes (19% of complaints, median 3,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.4×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Pilot year
Rank
3rd of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
48
first five years; 37 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
4
campaigns
2nd generation, 2009–2015 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2011 Honda Pilot LX

Photo: 2011 Honda Pilot LX · U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Brakes19% · 9 complaints · median 3,000 miles
  2. Air bags10% · 5 complaints
  3. Engine17% · 8 complaints · median 37,000 miles
  4. Electrical15% · 7 complaints · median 26,000 miles
  5. Powertrain15% · 7 complaints · median 51,000 miles
  6. Body and structure6% · 3 complaints
  7. Visibility8% · 4 complaints
  8. Suspension6% · 3 complaints
  9. Speed control4% · 2 complaints
  10. Lights4% · 2 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Air bags

Owners describe air bag warning lights and related electrical issues, sometimes tied to unexpected deployment or non-deployment during a crash. Repairs often involved replacing air bag modules or sensors, though some owners say dealers denied recall or warranty coverage.

Warning signs:
Owners report air bag warning lights staying on, intermittent warning lights, or affected seat belt alarms and power locks before repairs.
What shops did:
Owners report dealers replacing air bag modules or sensors, sometimes after long wait times for parts, while others say dealers could not diagnose the issue or denied it was covered by recall or warranty.
Mileage:
most between 45,000 and 60,000 miles, among 5 complaints that give it

“My air bag light would not go out. My seat belt alarms would no longer work and my locks would not work automatically.”

Brakes

Owners of this Pilot report soft, spongy, or unresponsive brake pedals that sometimes require pumping to stop the car, along with vibration or noise during braking. Dealers have replaced parts like pads, rotors, and master cylinders, but some owners say the issue returned or couldn't be fixed.

Warning signs:
Owners noticed a low or spongy pedal that firms up after pumping, screeching or grinding sounds, engine revving while braking, and vibration through the steering wheel.
What shops did:
Dealers replaced master cylinders, brake pads and rotors, bled or flushed brake fluid, but some owners report the problem returned or could not be duplicated.
Mileage:
most between 0 and 50,000 miles, among 10 complaints that give it

“The brake pedal extended to the floorboard when the brake pedal was depressed and the stopping distance was extended”

Engine

Owners describe recurring engine misfires, oil burning, and piston or rod bearing failures that cause shaking, stalling, or loss of power, sometimes while driving in traffic. Repairs range from spark plug and coil replacement to full engine rebuilds, with some owners denied warranty coverage despite citing similar Honda recalls.

Warning signs:
Owners report shuddering or shaking, hesitation or loss of power, check engine and traction lights, rough idling, ticking or knocking noises, and stalling.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced spark plugs, coils, or software, some flushed transmission fluid, while others rebuilt or replaced pistons, engines, or declined repairs citing recall or warranty limits.
Mileage:
most between 35,000 and 85,000 miles, among 11 complaints that give it

“The check engine light begins flashing and the car begins to lose acceleration power and vibrates excessively”

“Started hearing a loud ticking/knocking noise, but it would get quiet once the car was running over 2500rpm.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (4)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 23V858000December 20232,490,460 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 19V502000June 20199,555 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. 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.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 19V378000May 201919,138 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V661000September 20181,355,406 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. 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), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Honda sent NHTSA 85 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2015 Pilot. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 19-003-1 · August 2019 · Warranty extensionCustomer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator for 2010-12 Accord and Other Listed Years and Models (Expires September 30, 2028)
  • A26-002 · February 2026The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge.
  • A25-060 · August 2025The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring wear and sticking from sludge.
  • ONL6Z6072025 · July 2025Owner Notification Letter - the piston ring function can deteriorate due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge.
  • AEBM06172025901 · June 2025Dealer Message - Piston ring effectiveness may be reduced due to excessive wear and oil sludge build-up, which can cause oil to adhere to the spark plug, potentially leading to carbon fouling and…
  • ATI&04082024901 · April 2024Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
  • ATI&03212024905 · March 2024Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
  • ATI&03192024902 · March 2024Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

All 2015 Pilot bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2015 Honda Pilot reliable?
Owners filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Honda Pilot in its first five years on the road, about 37 for every 100,000 sold: 0.4× the rate of a typical Pilot year. That's among the fewest of any Pilot year. Ratings compare Pilot years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2015 Pilot problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the brakes (19%), the air bags (10%) and the engine (17%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2015 Honda Pilot been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2015 Honda Pilot, the most recent in December 2023 (fuel system, gasoline). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Honda. The 2015 Honda Pilot on NHTSA.gov · How we rate