2016 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 413owner reports
- 64,000median miles
- $2,250median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
1398 of the 1,707 complaints on this car are about the engine. 413 of those describe stalling, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Pilot.
Narrower sheets: Engine stalls at idle or a stop (90 reports)
Tick what matches of 413 reports
Stalling on other Pilot years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (94 reports), the fuel pump (22 reports), the engine (14 reports) and the alternator (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
5 recalls on the engine cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that may leak.
The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were manufactured with insufficient welds which may separate and allow fuel to leak out.
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.
All 8 recalls on the 2016 Honda Pilot, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Pilot
Engine failure. Open.
No restart after auto start/stop engages. Open.
Engine failure. Closed aug 20, 2025.
No restart after auto start/stop engages. Closed mar 26, 2025.
Ignition interlock failure - rollaway. Closed jan 14, 2013, led to recall 12V-573.
Low beam headlights stop illuminating. Closed sep 17, 2012, led to recall 12V-136.
What owners paid
33 of the 413 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $370 to $9,222.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 39,000 and 99,000 miles, from the 195 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Yes available for inspection. Was driving on highway when my engine lost power. Almost crashed and almost got rear ended on the highway. Mechanic said something about piston rod bearings? Very loud knocking noise when car is started now . Not able to use. Only 100k miles. Fully maintained. Has to be part of recall soon? Recall is for piston rod bearings. Same issue my pilot has.”
Filed Dec 2, 2025 · 100,000 miles
“This vehicle has a good service history but when I was driving on the highway the motor stalled almost causing an accident I heard a popping sound then the motor started to knock like crazy I know there was a recall on these vehicles for the same issue I feel that honda should honor the recall on the pilot elite as well”
Filed Mar 26, 2025 · 128,000 miles
“The engine shuts off while driving and attempting to accelerate, happens frequently.”
Filed Feb 2, 2025 · 154,717 miles
“Engine knocking at 70,000 miles with loss of power. Knocking gets worst on attempted acceleration.”
Filed Jan 21, 2025 · 70,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 413 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 350 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 165 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 159 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 147 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 97 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 74 reports
- Auto start-stop will not restart the engine 54 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 51 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 38 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 37 reports
- Fuel pump failure 34 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 31 reports