Honda Pilot Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 2,051 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Honda Pilot across 24 model years. The 2016 model year has the most (579). The words owners use most often: “keyless start” (9% of reports).
- 2,051electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 32mention a crash
- 12mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- $770typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Keyless start: mentioned in 194 of 2,051 complaints (9%)
- Idle stop: mentioned in 161 of 2,051 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Honda Pilot at $770, and half of them between $640 and $950.
Based on 52 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2007–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 869 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 2,051 complaints, 32 mention a crash, 39 a fire, 12 an injury.
Honda Pilot electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Pilot | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2025 Pilot | 44 | 21% | 16,000 |
| 2024 Pilot | 11 | 9% | — |
| 2023 Pilot | 28 | 19% | 8,550 |
| 2022 Pilot | 38 | 23% | 40,000 |
| 2021 Pilot | 132 | 30% | 47,000 |
| 2020 Pilot | 214 | 43% | 1,850 |
| 2019 Pilot | 265 | 29% | 6,100 |
| 2018 Pilot | 85 | 19% | 51,250 |
| 2017 Pilot | 266 | 29% | 38,000 |
| 2016 Pilot | 579 | 34% | 49,008 |
| 2015 Pilot | 13 | 12% | 35,500 |
| 2014 Pilot | 9 | 8% | 18,500 |
| 2013 Pilot | 9 | 3% | 65,000 |
| 2012 Pilot | 22 | 13% | 30,000 |
| 2011 Pilot | 26 | 9% | 48,500 |
| 2010 Pilot | 9 | 8% | 2,000 |
| 2009 Pilot | 5 | 4% | 96,000 |
| 2008 Pilot | 9 | 7% | 78,500 |
| 2007 Pilot | 22 | 10% | 108,500 |
| 2006 Pilot | 18 | 7% | 96,000 |
| 2005 Pilot | 57 | 8% | 119,000 |
| 2004 Pilot | 60 | 11% | 106,000 |
| 2003 Pilot | 129 | 18% | 130,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Electrical system:software; fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system
Model years: 2023, 2024, 2025
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.
Risk: An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EL1 and AL0.
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera; electrical system:software
Model years: 2019, 2020, 2021
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk: A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera; electrical system:software
Model years: 2019, 2020, 2021
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk: Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Model years: 2016
Problem: 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".
Risk: If a safety system cannot immediately warn the driver when needed, the driver may be at increased risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Model years: 2003, 2004
Problem: Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Pilot and Odyssey and 2003 through 2006 Acura MDX passenger vehicles manufactured from November 26, 2001, through August 30, 2006. The interlock lever of the ignition switch may deform, which can allow the interlock function of a vehicle with an automatic transmission to be defeated.
Risk: Removal of the ignition key when the gear selector of a vehicle with an automatic transmission has not been shifted to the park position can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated shift interlock lever and, if necessary, replace any necessary part of the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on February 22, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
A recent drive on the expressway with my two young children turned into a nightmare when my vehicle's transmission failed without warning. Traveling at 65 mph, I was faced with a huge risk to our safety. Sadly, this was not the first time I've experienced problems with this vehicle. The steering…
VEHICLE: 2019 Honda Pilot EX VIN: [XXX] CURRENT MILEAGE: 77,000 miles COMPLAINT DESCRIPTION: I am filing a critical safety complaint regarding a catastrophic transmission failure that actively disables my vehicle's advanced driver-assist and automated safety systems while driving, creating a severe…
The electrical for the infotainment system cuts out and the rear camera is no longer on the screen, it will cause loud popping while driving as the MOST Net system is failing. There is also poor gas mileage and reads the gas tank contents incorrectly while displaying incorrect MPG typical with the…
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced several electrical failures and the alarm activated unexpectedly, and the radio and instrument panel turned on unintendedly. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer…
Multiple dashboard warnings appeared simultaneously and deactivating Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation, Auto High Beam, Blind Spot Information, and Brake System warning. While on cruise control vehicle tends to…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Honda Pilots have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 2,051 owner complaints about electrical system for the Honda Pilot. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Honda Pilot electrical system?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Honda Pilot?
Owners report a typical cost of $770 (half paid between $640 and $950), from 52 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Honda Pilot?
The most frequent phrase is “keyless start”, in 194 of 2,051 complaints, followed by “idle stop” (161).
Other Honda Pilot problems
- Engine problems (2,339)
- Power Train problems (1,327)
- Air Bags problems (733)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (630)
- Service Brakes problems (533)
- Forward Collision Avoidance problems (511)
- Structure problems (417)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (376)
See all Honda Pilot problems.