2021 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 75owner reports
- 60,000median miles
- $572median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
215 of the 435 complaints on this car are about the engine. 75 of those describe stalling. Only infotainment is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 75 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 (20 reports) and the fuel pump (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the engine cover the 2021 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.
Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.
All 10 recalls on the 2021 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
8 of the 75 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $420 to $1,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 29,000 and 68,000 miles, from the 10 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“The vehicle won't start, electrical system failure. Sometimes the electrical system fails when the car is driving/it will stall on the road. It was predicated by the alarm going off intermittently and without provocation (in the middle of the night/etc).”
Filed Aug 21, 2026
“The battery has gone bad twice (second replacement only took nine months) since an update was applied to the auto engine restart function. The car will work for some amount of time after the battery is replaced and then begin to not restart (shut off) at a light after the auto engine shutoff is engaged from the brake. It progressively gets worse until we replace the battery.”
Filed Jun 27, 2024
“The automatic start/stop feature has caused several stalls at intersections. It has taken repeated efforts to restart the vehicle, once resulting in a near miss situation. What is especially worrying is that my [XXX] driver was behind the wheel during one instance. In the past 48 hours, it has happened three times. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”
Filed May 31, 2024
“Vehicle shut off while at a busy intersection light. Unable to restart the vehicle for several minutes. All safety systems (crash mitigation.....) were disabled. Unable to find a current recall through Honda and the dealership is closed since it is sunday.”
Filed Aug 20, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 75 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
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 78 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 53 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 47 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 37 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 31 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 31 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 27 reports