2018 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 100owner reports
- 75,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
338 of the 440 complaints on this car are about the engine. 100 of those describe stalling, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 Pilot.
Tick what matches of 100 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 (16 reports) and the fuel pump (12 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the engine cover the 2018 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 timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.
All 7 recalls on the 2018 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.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 52,500 and 102,000 miles, from the 35 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“On several occasions so far, when stopped with the idle stop system engaged, the brake depressed and at a full stop, the engine shut down, as expected, but failed to restart once the brake pedal was released.”
Filed Feb 21, 2023
“My 2018 Pilot has started to stall when the auto start-stop is engaged. It has happened 3 times at busy intersections creating a dangerous situation. It doesn't look like this issue has been recalled, but I have seen hundreds of posts regarding the same issue.”
Filed Oct 18, 2022
“The vehicle routinely shuts off at intersections and is unable to restart. This often causes traffic to back up behind the vehicle and vehicles around us having to make sudden stops. This occurs during normal driving conditions about 3 times/month. It seems to be attributed to the automatic shut-off feature but does not restart as it should when operating properly.”
Filed Oct 3, 2022
“Engine unable to restart after stopping at traffic light. When Auto Engine is enabled I have faced this problem multiple times and it was unable to restart. Traffic backed up because I could not go forward. I had to literally shut down everything and then start the engine again. I have already seen this news that you guys are investigating this issue with Honda. Now I disable my engine before I start my journey.”
Filed Aug 13, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 100 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Fuel pump failure 33 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 31 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 29 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 26 reports