UsedScore

2018 Honda Pilot: Solid

Owners filed 151 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Pilot in its first five years on the road, about 100 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical Pilot year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the engine (38% of complaints, median 38,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.9×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Pilot year
Rank
6th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
151
first five years; 100 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
7
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. Engine38% · 57 complaints · median 38,000 miles
  2. Electrical26% · 39 complaints · median 28,000 miles
  3. Powertrain19% · 28 complaints · median 28,000 miles
  4. Body and structure9% · 13 complaints · median 22,000 miles
  5. Speed control9% · 13 complaints · median 14,000 miles
  6. Seats and belts10% · 15 complaints
  7. Brakes7% · 10 complaints · median 13,000 miles
  8. Air bags1% · 1 complaints
  9. Fuel and propulsion3% · 5 complaints
  10. Visibility4% · 6 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

Electrical

Many owners report their Pilot's auto idle-stop feature shuts the engine off at stops and is slow or fails to restart, sometimes stranding them in traffic. Others describe separate electrical glitches such as dead batteries, keyless module failures, and malfunctioning screens or windows, with dealers often unable to find a lasting fix.

Warning signs:
Many describe warning lights (collision mitigation, stability control, check engine), dashboard flickering, radio or screen cutting out, clicking/popping noises, and instructions to shift to park before restarting.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate or diagnose the stalling issue, sometimes replaced batteries, performed software updates, or referenced service bulletins, with mixed or no resolution reported.
Mileage:
most between 20,000 and 85,000 miles, among 18 complaints that give it

“the car engine shuts off automatically after stopping the car at stop signs/red lights etc and does not restart automatically after releasing the brake”

“the engine will not come back on...the lights and radio will all be on and the engine will not come on”

Engine

Owners describe their Pilot's engine unexpectedly stalling or failing to restart, especially when the auto Idle-Stop feature is active, sometimes stranding them in traffic. Others report engine knocking or rod-bearing wear that mechanics say requires replacing the engine.

Warning signs:
Owners report warning lights, clicking or popping sounds, radio and electronics cutting out, lurching, knocking noises, or rough running before the engine stalls or won't restart.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate the stalling issue and replaced batteries or performed software updates; for knocking or rod-bearing wear, some shops recommended or performed full engine replacement, while others found no problem.
Mileage:
most between 55,000 and 135,000 miles, among 23 complaints that give it

“The vehicle would "stall out" at a stop light or stop sign when I was in "auto idle-stop" and pressed on the gas.”

“the rod bearing was worn and caused damage to the engine”

Powertrain

Owners of the 2018 Honda Pilot describe recurring transmission and powertrain trouble, from hesitation and jerking to stalling and torque converter failure. Repairs vary widely, with some dealers unable to find a cause and others replacing major components under warranty, recall, or extended coverage.

Warning signs:
Many report delayed acceleration from a stop, jerking or clunking during shifts, warning lights such as "Transmission System Problem," and the vehicle stalling or shifting to neutral at stops.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate the issue, while others replaced torque converters, transmissions, flushed transmission fluid, updated software, or performed recall-related fuel injector repairs.
Mileage:
most between 20,000 and 65,000 miles, among 22 complaints that give it

“It was a total failure of the transmission. It had to be replaced.”

“The vehicle became very slow and later was unable to engage into gear.”

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

Recalls (7)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 26V365000June 2026880,514 vehicles

    Suspension: rear · 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.

    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 23V751000November 2023248,999 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.

    Risk: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, 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.

  • NHTSA 19V298000April 201993,946 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.

    Risk: Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V221000April 20185,810 vehicles

    Seats

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles and 2018 Acura MDX vehicles. The front driver and passenger powered seats in the Honda vehicles and the driver powered seats in the Acura vehicles may have been assembled with improperly manufactured rivets. In the event of a crash, the rivets can break causing the seats not to be secured to the floor. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

    Risk: In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the floor, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat frame assembly in Acura MDX vehicles, and replace the driver and front passenger seat slide rail frames in Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles, 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 140 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2018 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.
  • 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.
  • A23-073 · September 2023The vehicle's transmission temperature can become too hot due to automatic transmission fluid deterioration causing high foaming and low viscosity.

All 2018 Pilot bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2018 Honda Pilot reliable?
Owners filed 151 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Pilot in its first five years on the road, about 100 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical Pilot year. That's close to a typical 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 2018 Pilot problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (38%), the electrical system (26%) and the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (19%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2018 Honda Pilot been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2018 Honda Pilot, the most recent in June 2026 (suspension). 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 2018 Honda Pilot on NHTSA.gov · How we rate