2016 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet

A/C blows warm or the compressor fails

38owner reports
36,500median miles
2involved a crash

Newest report Jul 17, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026

38 of the 1,707 complaints on this car describe A/C failure.

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026

2 crashesin 38 reports

1 firein 38 reports

Tick what matches of 38 reports

blows warm or not cold enough

works then cuts out

a noise from the compressor

the condenser had a leak

A/C failure on other Pilot years

No other Pilot model year has enough reports of A/C failure for a sheet of its own. See every Pilot year.

What this problem usually is

Most A/C complaints start the same way: the fan still blows, but the air coming out of the vents is warm or only a little cool. Some owners get cold air that fades after a while, and others hear a noise from the compressor before it quits. It's rarely a safety problem on its own, which is also why it seldom gets a recall.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the compressor (6 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on this problem covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 12,442 and 51,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Honda Pilot that deal with this problem. 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.

Service bulletinA18-080Jun 19, 2024
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.
Service bulletinA07-030Jan 23, 2021
There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant Gas Leak Detector -Ultrasonic Leak Detector -Leak Dye
Service bulletinA18-080Sep 7, 2019
The A/C does not blow cold air, and the lower corner of the condenser around the receiver/dryer cap is stained.
Service bulletinA18-080Oct 4, 2018
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.

What owners wrote

“Car shuts off when idle or when ac is used Car vibrations Car not trying to start Engine light on and off”
Filed Jul 9, 2024

“The car consistently stalls out when we stop and the auto idle begins. When we remove foot from break the car doesnât restart and takes a few minutes of turning it on/off before vehicle resumes functioning. Honda says nothing is wrong but it has been an issue since purchase. It is more likely to occur when ac is running. I have to manually turn off auto idle every time I turn on vehicle to prevent stalling.”
Filed Jan 16, 2023

“The auto stop on my 2016 honda pilot is causing the car to not restart and have to put in park, restart and then put back into drive. If it doesn't stall completely, everything with shut off (AC, radio) and then start back.”
Filed Aug 2, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 38 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.

Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found