2016 Honda Pilot

2016 Honda Pilot recalls (8)

• FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

  Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and AWD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that may leak.

  Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KE8.

• FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

  Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura MDX 2WD and MDX 4WD vehicles, 2016 Acura MDX 4WD vehicles, 2015-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles, and 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were manufactured with insufficient welds which may separate and allow fuel to leak out.

  Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda/Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall began on July 29, 2016. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA9 (Honda vehicles) and KB0 (Acura vehicles).

• SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

  Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to June 5, 2015. Due to an assembly issue, the third row seatbelt may be trapped between the rear seat and the rear sideliner.

  Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the rear third row seat belt, free of charge. The recall began on August 6, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's number for this recall is JS7.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

  Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to September 8, 2015 and 2016 Pilot 4WD vehicles manufactured May 7, 2015 to September 4, 2015. In the affected vehicles, when one of the safety systems such as tire pressure monitoring, anti-lock braking or electronic stability control malfunctions, there is potential that the instrument panel will not illuminate the corresponding warning light, however the warning lamps will illuminate when the ignition is turned off and then turned back on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic stability control systems", number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 138, "Tire pressure monitoring systems".

  Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JV7.

• 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.

  Remedy: Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PBV.

• 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.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.

• 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.

  Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

• 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.

  Remedy: 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. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.

2016 Honda Pilot safety ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP ratings.

2016 Honda Pilot owner complaints (15)

• ENGINE

  Complete engine failure while driving on an interstate highway, no previous issue or warning. The car made some knocking noises and then became completely inoperable. Was able to steer it to the side of highway, in traffic, just enough to get off the main roadway. The experience was terrifying and put us and others around us at risk or a highway speed crash due to loss of all power to the vehicle. The problem has been confirmed by a Honda dealership, and has been reported to Honda, with an open case pending. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms of the problem prior to the event of it happening. The vehicle is up to date on all maintenance and I am the second owner, and know the first owner.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the battery became drained. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was taken to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the spool valve was leaking on the alternator, and damaged the alternator and the spool valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,891.

• STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

  The 3.5L V6 engine in this vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic internal mechanical failure due to premature connecting rod bearing wear. The engine stalling occurred abruptly while actively driving, which created an immediate safety risk as the vehicle lost propulsion, power steering assistance, and power braking assistance. This forced a dangerous emergency maneuver to navigate through moving traffic to get to the side of the road. Prior to the engine failure, there were no persistent dashboard warning lights or clear messages indicating an imminent mechanical failure. The first distinct symptom was a brief, sudden metallic knocking sound from the engine bay immediately before the vehicle lost all power and stalled. An authorized dealership has since inspected the vehicle and dropped the oil pan, physically confirming a massive accumulation of metal shavings and bearing debris inside the block. The dealership verified that the complete destruction of the engine block is identical in nature, symptom, and cause to the manufacturing defects described in NHTSA Recall Campaign 23V-751. However, this vehicle's specific VIN was excluded from that original recall parameter. This catastrophic failure directly corresponds to the ongoing Office of Defects Investigation Probe PE25008 regarding extensive V6 engine rod bearing failures. The failed engine block remains fully intact at the service center and is available for regulatory inspection upon request.

• ENGINE

  While driving at night, the 2016 Pilot, it started making a loud rattling noise then just died in the middle of the road and failed to start. There were no service or check engine lights on at the time of failure or at any point prior to the failure. We were stranded in the middle of the road at risk of getting hit by other cars. The electronic transmission would not go into neutral and we had no way of even pushing the car to the safety of shoulder. We had to tow the vehicle. The tow driver also had a very difficult time of getting the car into neutral, necessary to tow it. Having the vehicle towed to a local mechanic, they reported it being very difficult to start and when it did, it had a sever engine skip with a loud rattling noise which is indicative of a connecting rod/bearing failure. The car has 140000 miles at time of failure. We had ALL required maintenance performed as they were scheduled. Approximately 95% was performed by Honda dealers. In fact we had a Honda dealer perform an oil change and inspection a week before the engine failure. We have had some local shops perform several required oil changes and the timing belt / plug service. We have all receipts. We contacted Honda dealership who quoted $18,225 for an engine replacement. We contacted Honda Customer Support who refused to offer any assistance, goodwill or other forms of reimbursement.

• ENGINE

  hEAR RATTLING NOISE ON my 2016 Honda Pilot which has only 111041 miles on it This is what the Honda service department said it was (which there is a RECALL on it but apparently my VIN isnt in the RECALL which i think is not very fari at all) Noise was a lower end RO/BEARING knockingCustomer will need new or used engine Now I have a recall letter that i printed online dtd Jan 2024 This isnt fair I now have a really good vehicle with a blown engine We babied this car too

• ENGINE

  My car has a knocking noise coming from the engine. It happened suddenly when I was driving. I took it to Honda dealer shop to check it out and they told me I need to replace the motor.

• POWER TRAIN

  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 performed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

• ENGINE

  The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, there was a loud bang coming from the engine compartment, followed by a clunking sound. The contact stated that the engine started running rough and the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated prior to the failure. The Check Engine warning light illuminated after the failure, with unknown messages displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was coasted into a nearby parking lot and manually pushed into a parking space. The vehicle was towed from the parking lot to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with complete engine failure. The vehicle was then towed to a Honda dealer for further inspection. The dealer disassembled the engine and informed the contact that the engine had thrown a connecting rod. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact was informed that the manufacturer would do a follow-up with the dealer; however, no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 105,800.

• LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

  These safety features have failed on my 2016 Honda Pilot, Touring, AWD. The failures include Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assistance and Adaptive Cruise Control. When I reported this to my local Honda Dealership they did a plug in indicator test for $195.00. All they could tell me was that I needed a new camera. The cost would be $2000.00 plus. One of the reasons we purchased this vehicle was because of these safety features. We are both drivers [XXX], and thought these were excellent safety features considering [XXX]. However, the cost to fix seemed excessive. We are still able to drive the car but without the safety features that originally led us to buy this vehicle. We delayed reporting this failure thinking there would be a recall that would cover the failures. No recall has been reported to this point. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• ENGINE

  While driving my 2016 Honda Pilot (VIN: [XXX], approximately 125K miles) on the freeway at 65 mph, the engine seized and the vehicle would no longer accelerate. The check engine light began flashing, the oil pressure light came on, and the vehicle began making loud grinding noises. After pulling over safely, the vehicle was no longer drivable and required towing. Upon inspection by Northampton Car Care (6115 Root Road, Spring, TX), it was determined that the engine failure is consistent with the connecting rod bearing failure and crankshaft defect described in NHTSA Recall 23V-751. My VIN does not currently appear in the recall database; however, given that my vehicle experienced the exact failure mode described in the recall, I am requesting this complaint be considered under both Recall 23V-751 and NHTSA Investigation RQ24-013. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

  Summary of issue The vehicle developed an engine/emission warning light and failed mechanically without any crash or impact. The car drove fine until about one week ago. I have driven the vehicle normally and performed regular maintenance. Events and observations A warning light appeared indicating engine and emission problems. I took the vehicle to two separate mechanics: Mechanic A diagnosed engine damage and catalytic converter issues. Mechanic B diagnosed engine damage and a possible fuel pump problem. I am not a mechanic and cannot independently interpret technical findings, but both inspections indicate serious engine-related failures. The vehicle has approximately 80,000 miles and was purchased for more than $20,000 less than two years ago. No collisions, impacts, or abuse occurred that could explain the failure. I believe this is a potential manufacturing defect. I contacted a Honda dealer about the problem; they stated it is not a manufacturing defect and declined to accept responsibility for repair. I believe the dealer is avoiding responsibility. Requested action I request NHTSA open an investigation (or add my report to any existing investigation) into this vehicle’s engine and related components to determine whether a safety defect or noncompliance exists. I request guidance on next steps and that this complaint be considered in any recall evaluation.

• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  Check engine light for fuel emissions and pulled codes. Codes included in known Honda service bulletin 20-100. My car was not included in the VIN search.

• ENGINE

  Was driving vehicle and experienced complete loss of engine power. No warning signs until after the failure. Vehicle was immediately pulled over and limped into a parking lot where it was shut off and then towed to mechanics shop. Upon further inspection, mechanic stated a complete engine failure as it "threw a rod". He stated engine had a complete failure and needs to be replaced.

• ENGINE

  What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine stalls out and shuts the car down. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? While driving down the road, if the engine shuts off, myself, passengers, and other vehicles could cause a fatal crash. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not yet Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? I have brought this in several times to try and fix this issue. The fuel pump has been replaced and the auto idle recall has been take care of. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? The check engine light comes on occasionally when it happens; sometimes when it does not. Other details: Several times now my car has randomly shut off especially when driving down the road. I wasn't sure what happened, but I finally figured out a way to replicate it. Basically if you drive it after about an hour of non-stop driving / engine being turned on, the engine overheats causing the car to stall out and eventually turn off. I timed this at 10:15AM to 11:25AM and my suspicions were correct. At 11:25AM, the car stalled and shut off while I was parked in my driveway.

• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

  I heard knocking as I was leaving gas station. I was scared about what was going wrong and if it was safe to drive home. I was alone and it was after dark. I took the next day off and took the car to my mechanic. He said it sounded like rod knock but didn’t want to do the engine replacement so he sent me to another mechanic who also said it sounded like the engine needed to be replaced. I didn’t have the money or the time to deal with it so it has been parked for the last five months. Today I took it to the dealer (that I bought it from new) for a diagnostic inspection. They stated that the noise was coming from main shaft, unable to repair, will need to replace engine. Cost estimate to replace engine is $15,964.36. I do not remember a check engine light coming on, only the lights for the driving sensing items. Which I read were also problems on this vehicle. Photos of the inspection report have been uploaded. A mistake was made on the mileage it is 103,203 not 103,703. Thank you for your time.