TRANSMISSION AND DRIVETRAIN VEHICLE IN MOTION FROM START UP. ENGINE/TRANSMISSION SOUNDS AS THOUGH IT SHOULD SHIFT BUT DOES NOT MAKE SMOOTH SHIFT FROM 1 GEAR TO NEXT. VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION AS RESULT OF TRANSMISSION NOT MAKING A SHIFT UP TO NEXT GEAR.
2015 Honda Pilot
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2015 Honda Pilot do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 239.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pilot years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
64 reports with mileage · 45 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
109 reportsWITHIN A FEW SECONDS AND WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES SEEM NOT TO ENGAGE, BUT THEN ENGAGE, THE ENGINE REVS UP. THE ENGINE STAYS IDLED UP UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED. TWO OCCURENCES HAPPENED IN ONE DAY AND DOESN'T DUPLICATE FOR THE DEALERSHIP. TWO WEEKS PASS AND ANOTHER OCCURRENCE HAPPENED. THE INCIDENTS OCCUR WHILE AL…
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WITHIN A FEW SECONDS AND WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES SEEM NOT TO ENGAGE, BUT THEN ENGAGE, THE ENGINE REVS UP. THE ENGINE STAYS IDLED UP UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED. TWO OCCURENCES HAPPENED IN ONE DAY AND DOESN'T DUPLICATE FOR THE DEALERSHIP. TWO WEEKS PASS AND ANOTHER OCCURRENCE HAPPENED. THE INCIDENTS OCCUR WHILE ALREADY ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THE CAR SKIDDED LIKE THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WHEN I WAS STOPPED TO ENTER A PARKING GARAGE. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY AND I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN GOING ANY MORE THAN 25 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I APPLIED BRAKE, THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED A LITTLE BIT AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE HAPPENED YESTERDAY JANUARY 7TH WHILE GOING ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.THE VEHICLE BEHAVED AS THOUGH IT WASN'T GOING TO STOP BUT EVENTUALLY STOPPED( APPLYING BRAKE BUT NO REDUCTION IN SPEED) AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. EACH OCCURRENCE OF THE ENGINE REVVING UP HAPPENED WHILE EITHER STOPPED OR ATTEMPTING TO STOP.
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. ALL OTHER LIGHTS IN THE PILOT ARE OPERATIONAL. THIS IS NOT A HEAD LAMP ISSUE, BUT APPEARS TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM AS ALL OTHER TROUBLESHOOTING HAS BEEN PERFORMED.
AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR, TURNED CAR OFF FOR TWENTY MINUTES. WHEN STARTING THE CAR WITH THE SAME KEY THE IMMOBILIZING SYSTEM WENT OFF. FOR TWO AND ONE HALF HOURS CAR WOULD NOT START. A TOW TRUCK HAD TO BE CALLED. THEN SIX HOURS LATER AFTER TOWING PUTTING THE SAME KEY INTO IGNITION THE CAR STARTED. THIS IS A FAMILY CAR MY WIFE U…
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AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR, TURNED CAR OFF FOR TWENTY MINUTES. WHEN STARTING THE CAR WITH THE SAME KEY THE IMMOBILIZING SYSTEM WENT OFF. FOR TWO AND ONE HALF HOURS CAR WOULD NOT START. A TOW TRUCK HAD TO BE CALLED. THEN SIX HOURS LATER AFTER TOWING PUTTING THE SAME KEY INTO IGNITION THE CAR STARTED. THIS IS A FAMILY CAR MY WIFE USES EXTENSIVELY TRANSPORTING OUR FAMILY. I AM EXTREMELY FEARFUL OF THIS DEFECT REOCCURRING WHEN I AM NOT WITH HER.
BREAKS SEEM OFF & WEAK A YEAR AFTER OWNERSHIP. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP LOOK INTO PROBLEM. SAID THEY LOOKED GREAT AND COMPLETED MULTI POINT INSPECTION. GAVE ME PAPERWORK SAYING THEY WERE STILL GOOD. FEW MONTHS LATER VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND BREAK POORLY. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALSHIP FOR SERVICE. THEN SAID I NEED TO REPLACE ALL BREAKS AND…
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BREAKS SEEM OFF & WEAK A YEAR AFTER OWNERSHIP. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP LOOK INTO PROBLEM. SAID THEY LOOKED GREAT AND COMPLETED MULTI POINT INSPECTION. GAVE ME PAPERWORK SAYING THEY WERE STILL GOOD. FEW MONTHS LATER VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND BREAK POORLY. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALSHIP FOR SERVICE. THEN SAID I NEED TO REPLACE ALL BREAKS AND ROTORS. TWO WEEKS LATER AFTER REPLACING EVERYTHING BREAKS STILL SEEM OFF AND MAKE SCREECHING SOUND. TAKING VEHICLE BACK THIRD TIME FOR BREAKS IN 6 MONTHS.
ALL THE SADEN NO METER READ ANY HIGH TEMPERATURE, WHEN I RETURN FROM AIRPORT TO MY HOUSE (NO MORE THAN 50 KM)>> I HEARED THE STRONG SOUND OF ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ,, I STOPED THE CAR, AND OPEN THE COVER OF THE ENGINE ,,TO FIND SOMETHING LIKE MILK SPETING IN A FORM OF BURKANING LAVA...I TOW THE CAR TO THE AGENTS ASK THE CO. TO CHECK…
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ALL THE SADEN NO METER READ ANY HIGH TEMPERATURE, WHEN I RETURN FROM AIRPORT TO MY HOUSE (NO MORE THAN 50 KM)>> I HEARED THE STRONG SOUND OF ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ,, I STOPED THE CAR, AND OPEN THE COVER OF THE ENGINE ,,TO FIND SOMETHING LIKE MILK SPETING IN A FORM OF BURKANING LAVA...I TOW THE CAR TO THE AGENTS ASK THE CO. TO CHECK ,,THEY OPEN THE ENGINE TO SMALL PARTS AND NEVER GAVE ME ANY REPORT TILL TODAY>> INSTEAD HE REFUSE TO APPLY THE WARRENTY ??!! AND SAID THE ENGINE MIX WATER AND OIL,, BECOUSE THE RADIATER DAMEGED.!!??. IN SPITE THERE IS< AS I SAID< NO TEMPERATURE RISE AT THE TIME IN THE CAR METER AT ALL !!>> I COMPLAIN TO OUR MINISTRY OF COMMERESE.. AGAIN THEY DID NOTYHING.??..I TOOK THE CAR OUT SIDE THE AGENCY AND BOUGHT NEW ENGINE ( COSTE ME ALOT) AM USING THE CAR AGAIN WITH THE SAME ORIGINAL RADIATOR <WHICH OUT SIDE THE AGENCY THEY ASURE ME, ITS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT>>??..NOW ALMOST 6 MONTHS, SINCE 18-4-2018>>> WHICH AM USING THE CAR WITH THE SAME RADIATOR >>> TAKE INTO COSIDERATIONS I DID IN THE AGENCY THE 52932 KM, FULL MAINTANANCE THE 50000 KM MAINTANANCE (WITH CHANE OIL AND FILTER) AND AT 58119KM AGAIN CHANGE OIL AND OIL FILTER WITH STANDARD CHEKINGS OTHERS LIKE WATER >>ETC >>>THE ENGIN GIVE UP(MIX WATER +OIL) WITHOUT TEMP. INCRESE???!! AT 59909 KM.. WHERE THE WARRENTY IS 3 YEARS OR 60000 KM..PLEASE CHECK THESE CARS FROM SUCH A DENGEROUS ACT... IF I DID NOT HEAR THE NOISE AND STOP THE ENGINE MIGHT BE ON FIRE>> HONDA AGENCY ABDULLAH HASHIM CO.LTD, RIYADH, KSA.....THANK YOU
VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKING AT ABOUT 65000 MILES. I DECIDED TO TAKE TO HONDA IN DUBLIN OH AND THEY RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACE ALL ROTORS. I ALSO DECIDED TO FLUSH BRAKE FLUID. I SAW ANOTHER COMPLAINT AND THOUGHT I SHOULD DO THE SAME.
AT ABOUT 55000 MILES MY PILOT STARTED JERKING/HESITATING AT ALL SPEEDS, ANY ROAD, USUALLY AFTER SHIFTING GEARS BOTH UP AND DOWN. NOW I BOUGHT IT IN FEBRUARY 2017 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED SO ALL RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. SO, I TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE DEALER IN DUBLIN OH SAID THE TRANSMISS…
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AT ABOUT 55000 MILES MY PILOT STARTED JERKING/HESITATING AT ALL SPEEDS, ANY ROAD, USUALLY AFTER SHIFTING GEARS BOTH UP AND DOWN. NOW I BOUGHT IT IN FEBRUARY 2017 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED SO ALL RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. SO, I TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE DEALER IN DUBLIN OH SAID THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE TRIPLE FLUSHED FLUSHED 3 TIMES!!! SINCE I NEEDED A VEHICLE TO DRIVE TO WORK, I COULDN'T ARGUE AND GOT THE SERVICE DONE. AFTER READING OF OTHER LANGUAGES WITH SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE JERKING/STUTTER/HESITATION I DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. THE RESULTS OF THE TRANNY FLUSH WERE GOOD HOWEVER I CAN STILL FEEL A VERY FAINT ALMOST UNNOTICEABLE HESITATION THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
2015 PILOT WITH 67K MILES. WAS TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS BY HONDA DEALER IN DUBLIN, OH.
WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. A BYSTANDER YELLED AT ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. SHE SAW FIRE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE. SMOKE CONTINUED TO POUR OUT AND THEN THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLA…
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WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. A BYSTANDER YELLED AT ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. SHE SAW FIRE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE. SMOKE CONTINUED TO POUR OUT AND THEN THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
Official recalls
423V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Dec 18, 2023
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 & remedy
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.
19V502000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jun 27, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
19V378000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
May 16, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
18V661000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Sep 27, 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1RQ24013 · Engine Failure
Opened Nov 8, 2024 · Closed Aug 20, 2025
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016–2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine. Honda recalled these vehicles due to a crankshaft manufacturing defect that caused premature connecting rod bearing wear and engine seizure. While the out-of-scope failures involved in these complaints appear to have a very similar failure mechanism as the recalled engines, a thorough analysis of all available data from Honda has not indicated that the same manufacturing defect exists in the out-of-scope engines as the engines recalled by 23V-751. Based on this analysis ODI has determined that Honda has properly defined the scope of recall 23V-751. Consequently, ODI will close this RQ investigation. NHTSA will continue to investigate these complaints of engine failure as part of a new Preliminary Evaluation Investigation (PE25008). The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.
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