UsedScore

2017 Honda Pilot: Use caution

Owners filed 242 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Honda Pilot in its first five years on the road, about 193 for every 100,000 sold: 1.6× the rate of a typical Pilot year. That's above average, so use caution.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the engine (33% of complaints, median 37,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.6×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Pilot year
Rank
10th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
242
first five years; 193 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
4
campaigns
3rd generation, 2016–2022 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2016 Honda Pilot LX

Photo: 2016 Honda Pilot LX · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Engine33% · 80 complaints · median 37,000 miles
  2. Electrical26% · 62 complaints · median 35,000 miles
  3. Powertrain16% · 39 complaints · median 34,000 miles
  4. Fuel and propulsion16% · 38 complaints · median 37,000 miles
  5. Brakes9% · 21 complaints · median 21,000 miles
  6. Speed control4% · 10 complaints · median 13,000 miles
  7. Body and structure3% · 8 complaints · median 2,000 miles
  8. Seats and belts5% · 13 complaints · median 0 miles
  9. Steering2% · 6 complaints · median 11,000 miles
  10. Visibility3% · 8 complaints · median 15,000 miles

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

Electrical

Many owners of this Pilot report the auto idle-stop feature causing the engine to stall at stops and not restart right away, sometimes along with dashboard warning lights or electrical glitches. Dealers often can't replicate the issue and repairs like battery or starter replacement frequently don't permanently resolve it.

Warning signs:
Owners often notice radio or dash lights flicker, popping sounds, hesitation on restart, or a keyless start warning before the engine stalls or the vehicle loses power.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently could not duplicate the problem, sometimes replacing the battery, starter, fuse box, or performing software resets, but many owners report the stalling returned.
Mileage:
most between 30,000 and 60,000 miles, among 65 complaints that give it

“All of the warning lights came on and the engine stalled. I shifted into "park", engaged my emergency flashers, and attempted to restart the engine several times without success”

Engine

Owners describe a 2017 Pilot that sometimes stalls unexpectedly, either from an idle-stop feature that won't restart at stops or from engine bearing and injector problems that can require an engine replacement. Many say dealers struggled to replicate or permanently fix these issues, even after multiple visits.

Warning signs:
Owners report dashboard warning lights (emission, transmission, collision system), rough idling, hesitation on restart, knocking, ticking, chirping, or pinging sounds from the engine before stalling or failure.
What shops did:
Dealers replaced batteries, fuel injectors, software, or diagnosed rod bearing and camshaft failures requiring engine replacement; many report the issue could not be duplicated or was left unrepaired.
Mileage:
most between 30,000 and 95,000 miles, among 88 complaints that give it

“When my 2017 honda pilot touring enters idle stop mode, it has begun to stall when you release the brake to re-engage the engine”

“the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to lose motive power”

Powertrain

Owners of this Pilot commonly describe jerky or hard shifting, shuddering, stalling at stops, and occasional loss of power, sometimes tied to the auto idle-stop feature. Dealers frequently flush transmission fluid or update software, but many owners say the problem returns or can't be duplicated.

Warning signs:
Owners report shuddering, shaking, judder or rattling noises, warning lights (transmission, emissions, or other systems), lurching, hesitation, and sudden loss of acceleration, often at low speeds or after stopping.
What shops did:
Dealers often performed transmission fluid flushes, software or computer updates, or replaced transmission components, though many owners say the failure could not be duplicated or recurred afterward.
Mileage:
most between 20,000 and 60,000 miles, among 45 complaints that give it

“My vehicle shuddered while accelerating, and began jerking and slowing down before losing all acceleration”

“My car stalls at a stop (stop sign, traffic light, etc) by shifting itself into neutral”

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 26V365000June 2026880,514 vehicles

    Structure: frame and members · Suspension: rear

    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.

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 26V332000May 202698,892 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.

  • 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 21V932000November 2021724,826 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch · Structure: body: hood

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.

    Risk: A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, 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 181 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2017 Pilot. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • ONL6T603102023-2 · March 2023 · Warranty extensionWarranty Extension reimbursement form for engine idle stop repairs made before the warranty extension notice date.
  • ONL6T603102023-4 · March 2023 · Warranty extensionUnder certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart.
  • A23-009 · July 2025Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque.
  • A23-078 · May 2025Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications.
  • AEBM04182025901 · April 2025Dealer Message - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications.
  • A16-013 · September 2024Drivers may experience a chirping sound coming from the engine area with the engine warmed up due to the high pressure fuel pump is making a chirp.
  • A24-085 · July 2024MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power.
  • A23-008 · November 2023Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart.

All 2017 Pilot bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2017 Honda Pilot reliable?
Owners filed 242 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Honda Pilot in its first five years on the road, about 193 for every 100,000 sold: 1.6× the rate of a typical Pilot year. That's above average, so use caution. 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 2017 Pilot problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (33%), the electrical system (26%) and the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (16%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2017 Honda Pilot been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2017 Honda Pilot, the most recent in June 2026 (structure). 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 2017 Honda Pilot on NHTSA.gov · How we rate