Third generation (YF5/YF6)
2016 Honda Pilot
The most reported problem on the 2016 Honda Pilot is stalling, with 413 complaints, usually around 64,000 miles.
- 1,707owner complaints
- 8recalls
- 23involved a crash
- 54,217median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Pilot doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2016 model year.
- Stalling413 reports
- Engine failure350 reports
- Misfire165 reports
- Dead battery159 reports
- Infotainment147 reports
- Warning lights97 reports
- Transmission shudder74 reports
- Auto start-stop failure54 reports
- Engine rattle51 reports
- A/C failure38 reports
- Traction control light37 reports
- Fuel pump34 reports
- Brake wear31 reports
Is the 2016 Honda Pilot reliable?
The 2016 Honda Pilot has 1,707 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, 6.9 times the median of 248 for 2016 SUVs on this site. Of the 13 Pilot model years since 2014, it has the most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 155 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs above the 2017 (93). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Stalling has 413 complaints and engine failure has 350, out of 1,707 in all. A quarter of the 195 owners who gave a mileage for stalling saw it by about 39,000 miles, and half by about 64,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- Only 36 of the 1,707 complaints (2%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, well under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 23 reports mention a crash, 10 mention a fire and 20 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 8 of 23, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- stalling, engine failure and misfire all have recalls on the same system, and the same campaigns cover them: 23V-751. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2022 at 247 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 234. So far in 2026, 139 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine stalls or loses power while driving, 413 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
1,707 complaints is 6.7 times the median 2016 model on this site and 6.9 times the median 2016 SUV. Among the 13 Pilot model years here it ranks 1st for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2016 Honda Pilot
Honda filed 365 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Honda Pilot. 33 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Check engine light or misfire 8 bulletins · 165 complaints
Under 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.
Owner Notification Letter - On some 2016-17 Pilot, 2017 Ridgeline, and 2018 Odysey models, the malfunction indicator light (MIL) may come on if one of the following diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) are stored: - P0420 (rear bank catalyst system efficiency ...
6 more on this problem
The PCM software may misinterpret sensor inputs as a deteriorated catalytic converter. Additionally, debris from the high pressure pump or the fuel injector machining process can cause internal wear or clogging inside one or more injectors.
During a downshift from 9th or 8th gear to 7th gear or lower, a miscalculation in the TCM software causes the MIL to come on with DTC P0716, input shaft [mainshaft] speed sensor [range/performance].
The MIL comes on with DTC P0430 (front bank catalyst system efficiency below threshold [Bank 2]). The PCM software may misinterpret sensor inputs as a deteriorated catalytic converter.
Servicenews article - We?re getting reports of reduced engine power with the MIL on. Service techs are seeing DTC P0369 (CMP sensor circuit intermittent interruption) and signs of excessive camshaft end play.
Tech line summary article - If there?s an EVAP system leak from the filler neck (DTC P0455 [EVAP system large leak detected] or P0456 [EVAP system very small leak detected] is set), don?t replace the fuel fill pipe! Instead, replace the mis-fuel inhibit ...
Tech line summary article - We're getting reports of reduced engine power with the MIL on. Service techs are seeing DTC P0369 (CMP sensor circuit intermittent interruption) and signs of excessive camshaft end play.
Battery dies or the car will not start 2 bulletins · 159 complaints
American Honda Motor Co, Inc. (AHM) has been collecting batteries from certain models under certain conditions. If you have replaced an OEM battery on a qualified vehicle, please follow the procedure below.
Servicenews article - There are two types of 12-volt batteries used in Honda vehicles today: the conventional flooded lead acid (FLA) battery and the absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 11 bulletins · 147 complaints
Owner Notification Letter - The vehicle may not start upon first press of the ENGINE START/STOP button. Also, the MID displays the error message KEYLESS START SYSTEM ERROR, and DTC B12C5 (Engine Start/Stop Switch Failure) is stored.
The vehicle may not start upon first press of the ENGINE START/STOP button. Also, MID displays the error message KEYLESS START SYSTEM ERROR, and DTC B12C5 (Engine Start/Stop Switch Failure) is stored.
9 more on this problem
Bluetooth HandsFreeLink freezes after a phone call, and stored voice tags are missing when the ignition is turned to ON.
The Bluetooth ® HandsFreeLink ® (HFL) system freezes after a phone call, and the stored voice tags are missing when the ignition is turned to ON. Some audio units are not updated to the latest software version.
FOLLOWUP NOTICE OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT A PRODUCT UPDATE HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE; REFER TO THE ADDRESS CARD FOR THE AFFECTED VIN.
SERVICE BULLETIN THERE IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM WITHIN THE AUDIO-NAVIGATION UNIT THAT MAY CAUSE THE DISPLAY SCREEN, INCLUDING ANY VIDEO IMAGES, TO GO BLANK AND THE UNIT TO STOP WORKING.
TECHLINE SUMMARY ARTICLE DO YOU HAVE A VEHICLE IN YOUR SHOP FOR ANY OF THESE ISSUES? WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE, THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM POSITION IS INCORRECT. WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE, THE AUDIO UNIT PRESETS ARE BLANK (THERES NO TEXT IN THE BOXES).
TECHLINE SUMMARY ARTICLE IF YOUR CUSTOMER HAPPENS TO OWN AN ADA-EQUIPPED PILOT AND ACCORD (OR TWO OF EACH MODEL) AND PAIRS HIS OR HER PHONE TO BOTH ADA UNITS, HE OR SHE MAY FIND THAT BLUETOOTH WONT CONNECT SOON AFTER PAIRING.
TECHLINE SUMMARY ARTICLE WHEN YOU START UP THE VEHICLE, THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM CAN TAKE FROM 5 TO 30 SECONDS TO LOCATE IT ON THE MAP. SOMETIMES THE SYSTEM WONT LOCATE IT UNTIL THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE.
There is a software problem within the audio-navigation unit that may cause the display screen, including any video images, to go blank and the unit to stop working.
BACKGROUND There is a software problem within the audio-navigation unit that may cause the display screen, including any video images, to go blank and the unit to stop working
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 1 bulletin · 74 complaints
Tech line summary article - Loose bulkhead cover latches and strikers can cause a grinding, rattle, flutter, buzz and/or vibration from the front of the vehicle when lightly accelerating with the engine speed under 2,000 rpm.
Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear 1 bulletin · 50 complaints
The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration.
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 4 bulletins · 38 complaints
The A/C does not blow cold air, and the lower corner of the condenser around the receiver/dryer cap is stained due to a poor O-ring compression against the receiver/dryer barrel wall.
There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant Gas Leak Detector -Ultrasonic Leak Detector -Leak Dye
2 more on this problem
The A/C does not blow cold air, and the lower corner of the condenser around the receiver/dryer cap is stained.
The A/C does not blow cold air, and the lower corner of the condenser around the receiver/dryer cap is stained. There is poor O-ring compression against the receiver/dryer barrel wall.
Car won't start 3 bulletins · 38 complaints
American Honda Motor Co.(AHM) is investigating certain 2016 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no-start condition that requires the 12V battery to be replaced.
Servicenews article - We're currently looking into a no-start issue requiring 12-volt battery replacement. To fully understand what's causing it, we need to collect failed batteries from vehicles that meet these criteria.
1 more on this problem
Tech line summary article - American Honda Motor Co.(AHM) is investigating certain 2016 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no-start condition that requires the 12V battery to be replaced.
Fuel pump failure 3 bulletins · 34 complaints
Drivers 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.
SERVICE BULLETIN THERE IS A CHIRPING COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA WITH THE ENGINE WARMED UP. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS MAKING A CHIRP. NOTE: THIS NOISE DOES NOT IMPACT PUMP, ENGINE FUNCTION, OR RELIABILITY.
1 more on this problem
SERVICE BULLETIN THERE IS A CHIRPING COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA WITH THE ENGINE WARMED UP. REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP TO REMEDY THIS CONDITION.
Complaints filed by year
247 complaints came in 2022. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Engine failure. Open.
NHTSA summary
No restart after auto start/stop engages. Open.
NHTSA summary
Engine failure. Closed aug 20, 2025.
NHTSA summary
No restart after auto start/stop engages. Closed mar 26, 2025.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2016 Honda Pilot
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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 and remedy
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. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 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.
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 and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and AWD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that may leak.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
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).
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".
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
All 8 recalls on the 2016 Honda Pilot, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide NHTSA has an open investigation on this car. What the investigation stages mean
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2016 Honda Pilot?
Stalling, with 413 of the 1,707 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 64,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2016 Honda Pilot problems start?
Of the 849 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 36,000 miles and half by about 54,000.
Is the 2016 Honda Pilot better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has more complaints than the 2017: 155 a year against 93.
How many 2016 Honda Pilot complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
36 of them (2%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for stalling on the 2016 Honda Pilot?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 23V-751. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.