2017 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet
Auto start-stop will not restart the engine
- 56owner reports
- 70,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 29, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
607 of the 929 complaints on this car are about the engine. 56 of those describe auto start-stop failure.
Tick what matches of 56 reports
Auto start-stop failure 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, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Start-stop complaints describe one moment: the engine shuts off at a light, as designed, and then doesn't come back when the driver lifts off the brake. Owners report sitting in traffic with a dead engine, having to shift to park and restart by hand, and dealers who find nothing wrong on the first visit. It usually happens more than once before anyone files.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (17 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
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.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 50,000 and 128,000 miles, from the 8 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“After stopping and the auto start-stop system is utilized to turn off the engine, the engine does not restart on its own when releasing the brake pedal. The vehicle must be shifted to park, turned off, and restarted before you can begin driving again. This has happened many times and poses a major safety risk since it happens predominantly at stop lights.”
Filed Oct 3, 2022
“While at a stoplight, my auto start/stop feature shut the engine down. When I released the brake after the light turned green, the car didnât restart. Instead it shutdown in put the car in neutral. This resulted in traffic being halted and me frantically attempting to get it restarted. After getting it back in park, I was able to get it restarted.”
Filed Sep 30, 2022
“Multiple times the cars engine shuts down at a light due to the auto start/stop and then stalls immediately when trying to restart the car to proceed. It takes a few attempts to restart the car .”
Filed Sep 6, 2022
“1. The problem is linked directly to the Auto Start/Stop capability. The Car is available for inspection upon request. 2. Car shut down electrically in the intersection of the road and caused traffic and police presence, semi trucks rolling through were frightening 3. Honda West Dealership in Las Vegas inspected the problem but had no resolution to fix it. 4. No warning lights indicated a shut off was emminent.”
Filed Aug 26, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 56 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
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 292 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 134 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 84 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 75 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 58 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 51 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 39 reports
- Fuel pump failure 32 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 27 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 27 reports