Honda Pilot Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 1,327 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Honda Pilot across 24 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (224). The words owners use most often: “torque converter” (11% of reports).
- 1,327power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 33mention a crash
- 19mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,650typical repair cost reported by owners
- 28%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.
- Torque converter: mentioned in 147 of 1,327 complaints (11%)
- Transmission fluid: mentioned in 104 of 1,327 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Honda Pilot at $5,650, and half of them between $2,600 and $7,250.
Based on 80 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2026), 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 power train problems happen?
Based on 848 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,327 complaints, 33 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 19 an injury.
Honda Pilot power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Pilot | 3 | 13% | — |
| 2025 Pilot | 22 | 10% | 22,000 |
| 2024 Pilot | 12 | 10% | 20,000 |
| 2023 Pilot | 10 | 7% | — |
| 2022 Pilot | 16 | 10% | 18,000 |
| 2021 Pilot | 25 | 6% | 20,000 |
| 2020 Pilot | 35 | 7% | 56,994 |
| 2019 Pilot | 93 | 10% | 31,700 |
| 2018 Pilot | 78 | 18% | 51,000 |
| 2017 Pilot | 122 | 13% | 40,000 |
| 2016 Pilot | 201 | 12% | 47,500 |
| 2015 Pilot | 11 | 10% | 55,000 |
| 2014 Pilot | 7 | 6% | 18,500 |
| 2013 Pilot | 54 | 20% | 3,000 |
| 2012 Pilot | 20 | 12% | 4,839 |
| 2011 Pilot | 21 | 7% | 45,000 |
| 2010 Pilot | 6 | 5% | 109,369 |
| 2009 Pilot | 12 | 9% | 82,115 |
| 2008 Pilot | 11 | 8% | 101,842 |
| 2007 Pilot | 13 | 6% | 99,000 |
| 2006 Pilot | 13 | 5% | 105,487 |
| 2005 Pilot | 176 | 26% | 97,500 |
| 2004 Pilot | 142 | 26% | 106,000 |
| 2003 Pilot | 224 | 31% | 122,493 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2003, 2004
Problem: On some mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage.
Risk: Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
Fix: On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission to identify gears that have already experienced discoloration due to overheating. If discoloration exists, the transmission will be replaced if discoloration is not present, the dealer will perform the revision to the oil cooler return line. The recall began on april 21, 2004, for pilot, odyssey, and mdx owners. Owners of the accord vehicles will start receiving letters on june 28, 2004, and on june 29, 2004, for owners of the tl and cl vehicles. Owners should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
When I am driving my Honda sometimes will change gears "hard" or sometimes when I press the gas pedal it will hesitate and not go when I am trying to go around another car. I have had my car for less than a year and it has happened through out my ownership.
My 2016 honda pilot has 97,500 miles. The engine stop working and I have it replaced a used 3.5 engine. The transmission has transmission overheating problem and I took a picture on the dash board. I show it to the service advisor and they won't acknowledge about the overheating problem. Honda care…
After Automatic Braking engaged, within a couple days car will make a zipper noise and gas pedal will not work. Have to press it 5-6 times and then it will start working again. Very dangerous when you have cars traveling behind you and you basically start slowing down immediately. But today, not…
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle recently received routine maintenance by the dealer; however, approximately one month later while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power and came to a complete stop. The messages âTransmission Temperature…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Honda Pilots have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,327 owner complaints about power train 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 power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Honda Pilot?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,650 (half paid between $2,600 and $7,250), from 80 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Honda Pilot?
The most frequent phrase is “torque converter”, in 147 of 1,327 complaints, followed by “transmission fluid” (104).
Other Honda Pilot problems
- Engine problems (2,344)
- Electrical System problems (2,055)
- Air Bags problems (733)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (631)
- Service Brakes problems (533)
- Forward Collision Avoidance problems (511)
- Structure problems (417)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (376)
See all Honda Pilot problems.