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Honda Pilot Years to Avoid: The 2016 Has 1,716 Complaints

By Sam Rhodes · Published

The 2016 Pilot has nearly as many NHTSA complaints as the 2017 and 2019 combined, and almost half of them name the engine.

Ranked by NHTSA complaints, the 2016 Honda Pilot leads the 2003-2026 model years with 1,716, nearly double the 2017's 933 and the 2019's 917. The 2003 has 717. Engine complaints lead the 2016, named in 817 of them.

Key facts

  • The 2016 Honda Pilot has 1,716 NHTSA complaints as of October 24, 2026, the most of any Pilot model year.
  • The 2017 is next with 933, then the 2019 with 917 and the 2003 with 717.
  • Engine is named in 817 of the 2016's complaints and Electrical in 581.
  • The 2016 Pilot has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns on file.
A dark red 2016 Honda Pilot at the end of NHTSA's frontal crash test, its front end against the barrier, seen from the driver side.
Crash-test image: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation. · Public domain (US government)

The 2016 Honda Pilot has more NHTSA complaints than any other Pilot model year: 1,716 as of October 24, 2026. That's nearly double the 2017, second at 933, and the 2019 at 917. The 2016 was the first year of the Pilot's third generation. The engine is named in 817 of its complaints. Owners most often describe the idle stop failing to restart; a smaller group describes a bearing knock.

These counts cover 9,360 complaints across the 2003 through 2026 model years. They aren't adjusted for sales or mileage, and owners choose whether to file.

Which Pilot years have the most complaints?

Model year NHTSA complaints
2016 1,716
2017 933
2019 917
2003 717
2005 677
2004 543
2020 492
2021 446
Column chart of NHTSA complaints for the Honda Pilot by model year, 2003 through 2026. The 2016 has the most at 1,716, followed by the 2017 at 933 and the 2019 at 917.

Two first-generation years, 2003 and 2005, are also high. Then the record goes quiet: from 2006 through 2015, no year passes 300. The jump to 2016 is the biggest single-year change in the chart.

What's wrong with the 2016 Pilot's engine?

The engine is named in 817 of the 2016's 1,716 complaints. Electrical follows with 581.

Bar chart of 2016 Honda Pilot complaints by area. Engine leads with 817, then Electrical with 581 and Other with 294.

I searched the 2016's complaint narratives for repeated terms. 471 describe the automatic idle stop, the system that shuts the engine off at a red light and restarts it when you lift off the brake, either failing to restart or restarting slowly. 442 describe the engine stalling, shutting off or losing power, sometimes at speed. And 230 describe a knocking rod bearing or a seized engine, a far more expensive failure.

The idle-stop theme carries into the next years: 350 of the 2017's 933 complaints and 255 of the 2019's 917 describe it. The bearing knock mostly doesn't: 24 of the 2019's complaints mention it.

One complaint can match more than one search, so these counts overlap and shouldn't be added together.

How many recall campaigns does the 2016 Pilot have?

Eight, filed between 2015 and 2026.

Timeline of the 8 NHTSA recall campaigns on file for the 2016 Honda Pilot, from a July 2015 rear seat belt campaign to a June 2026 frame campaign.

For the bearing knock, the campaign to check is 23V751000, filed in November 2023: NHTSA's record describes connecting rod bearings that can wear and seize on certain 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilots. It doesn't cover the idle-stop or stalling complaints. Others cover fuel tank and fuel pump components, the hood, the instrument cluster, rear seat belts and, most recently, 26V365000 in June 2026 for the frame, which lists the 2016 through 2022 Pilot. Our 2026 Honda recall roundup has the full list of this year's Honda campaigns.

Which Pilot years have the fewest complaints?

The 2008 through 2010 and the 2014 and 2015 all sit between 109 and 133. Among newer years, the 2022 through 2024 run 116 to 167. The 2025 already has 213, more than the 2022, 2023 or 2024. The 2026 has 27 so far.

Which Pilot years should you avoid?

On the complaint record, the 2016 first, then the 2017 and 2019. If you're looking at one anyway:

  • On a 2016, confirm 23V751000 was done.
  • Listen for a knock on a cold start.
  • Drive it through enough stoplights to see whether the idle stop restarts cleanly every time.

The 2008 through 2015 have far quieter records, though they're older SUVs with their own wear.

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup before paying. After you buy, RideTruth's garage will flag new campaigns for that Pilot.

Data as of . Sources: NHTSA complaints data, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA recall 23V751000 (campaign record, API).

Common questions

Which Honda Pilot year has the most complaints?

The 2016, with 1,716 NHTSA complaints as of October 24, 2026. That's nearly double the next two, the 2017 at 933 and the 2019 at 917.

What is the most common 2016 Honda Pilot problem?

The engine is named in 817 of the 2016 Honda Pilot's 1,716 NHTSA complaints as of October 24, 2026. In the narratives, 471 describe the automatic idle stop or restart, 442 describe stalling or the engine shutting off, and 230 describe a rod bearing knock or a seized engine. One complaint can match more than one of these.

Is there a recall for the 2016 Pilot's engine?

For the bearing problem, yes. Campaign 23V751000, filed in November 2023, covers connecting rod bearings that can wear and seize on certain 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilots. It doesn't address the idle-stop or stalling complaints. Whether a specific Pilot is covered depends on its VIN.

Which Honda Pilot years have the fewest complaints?

Among Honda Pilot model years with a long record, the 2008 through 2010 and the 2014 and 2015 all have between 109 and 133 NHTSA complaints as of October 24, 2026. The 2022 through 2024 sit between 116 and 167, and the 2026 has 27 after a year or less on the road.