2016 Honda Pilot
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 810 of 1,699 complaints (48%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Brakes include more reported injuries (13) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 108 in 2015 to 1,699 in 2016.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,100 | 3,100 | 2,700–2,950 | 2,700–2,950 | 2,700–2,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 20 | 20 | 21–23 | 21–23 | 21–23 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–18 / 24–25 | 17–18 / 24–25 | 18–20 / 25–27 | 18–20 / 26–27 | 18–20 / 26–27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 433–447 | 433–447 | 388–423 | 388–421 | 388–421 | |
| Complaints filed | 116 | 108 | 1,699 | 918 | 437 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 7 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 8 | 7 | 23 | 9 | 9 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 7 | 13 | 20 | 6 | 11 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Honda Pilot have?
8 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Honda Pilot?
Engine: 810 of 1,699 NHTSA complaints (48%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Honda Pilot get?
EPA rates it 21–23 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Honda Pilot?
EPA estimates $2,700–$2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S9) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 20 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $2,700 (low) | 388 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 19 mpg | 27 mpg (high) | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 405 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S9) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 19 mpg | 26 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 406 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | $2,950 (high) | 423 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 810 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 200 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 187 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| Electrical | 579 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 67 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Steering | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 23 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 20 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 71 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 62 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 292 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (8)
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS; SUSPENSION:REAR · Campaign 26V365000 · Jun 5, 2026
Defect: American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
Consequence: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · Campaign 23V858000 · Dec 19, 2023
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL · Campaign 23V751000 · Nov 13, 2023
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
Consequence: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD; LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH · Campaign 21V932000 · Nov 30, 2021
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.
Consequence: A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PBV.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE · Campaign 17V219000 · Apr 3, 2017
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and AWD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that may leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KE8.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY · Campaign 16V417000 · Jun 9, 2016
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura MDX 2WD and MDX 4WD vehicles, 2016 Acura MDX 4WD vehicles, 2015-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles, and 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were manufactured with insufficient welds which may separate and allow fuel to leak out.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda/Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall began on July 29, 2016. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA9 (Honda vehicles) and KB0 (Acura vehicles).
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL · Campaign 15V668000 · Oct 16, 2015
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to September 8, 2015 and 2016 Pilot 4WD vehicles manufactured May 7, 2015 to September 4, 2015. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic stability control systems", number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 138, "Tire pressure monitoring systems".
Consequence: If a safety system cannot immediately warn the driver when needed, the driver may be at increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JV7.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER · Campaign 15V424000 · Jul 6, 2015
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to June 5, 2015. Due to an assembly issue, the third row seatbelt may be trapped between the rear seat and the rear sideliner.
Consequence: If the third row seatbelt is trapped, the occupants may not be restrained properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the rear third row seat belt, free of charge. The recall began on August 6, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's number for this recall is JS7.