Honda Pilot Structure Problems
Owners have filed 417 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Honda Pilot across 23 model years. The 2016 model year has the most (54). The words owners use most often: “paint peeling” (9% of reports).
- 417structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 25mention a crash
- 19mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- $860typical repair cost reported by owners
- 55%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.
- Paint peeling: mentioned in 39 of 417 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the Honda Pilot at $860, and half of them between $620 and $1,050.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2022), 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 structure problems happen?
Based on 261 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 417 complaints, 25 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 19 an injury.
Honda Pilot structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Pilot | 4 | 2% | — |
| 2024 Pilot | 4 | 3% | — |
| 2023 Pilot | 6 | 4% | 9,264 |
| 2022 Pilot | 7 | 4% | — |
| 2021 Pilot | 5 | 1% | 7,000 |
| 2020 Pilot | 7 | 1% | — |
| 2019 Pilot | 12 | 1% | 800 |
| 2018 Pilot | 17 | 4% | 22,500 |
| 2017 Pilot | 15 | 2% | 3,750 |
| 2016 Pilot | 54 | 3% | 15,000 |
| 2015 Pilot | 10 | 9% | 53,500 |
| 2014 Pilot | 20 | 17% | 77,000 |
| 2013 Pilot | 47 | 17% | 60,000 |
| 2012 Pilot | 8 | 5% | 72,010 |
| 2011 Pilot | 19 | 6% | 60,222 |
| 2010 Pilot | 6 | 5% | 50,500 |
| 2009 Pilot | 7 | 5% | 65,479 |
| 2008 Pilot | 16 | 12% | 77,000 |
| 2007 Pilot | 15 | 7% | 5,000 |
| 2006 Pilot | 26 | 10% | 155,000 |
| 2005 Pilot | 23 | 3% | 74,250 |
| 2004 Pilot | 42 | 8% | 103,500 |
| 2003 Pilot | 47 | 7% | 121,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Structure:frame and members; suspension:rear
Model years: 2026
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2026 Pilot and Passport vehicles. The rear subframe bolts may have been tightened improperly.
Risk: Loose rear subframe bolts can lead to a loss of vehicle stability or rear subframe detachment, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rear subframe bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is OOY. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 10, 2026.
Suspension:rear; structure:frame and members
Model years: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch; structure:body:hood
Model years: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Problem: 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.
Risk: A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Structure:body
Model years: 2019, 2020
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Pilot and 2019 Passport vehicles. The front frame left and right side upper members may not have been welded completely to the unibody. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 219, "Windshield Zone Intrusion."
Risk: In the event of a crash, incomplete body welding may provide inadequate protection to occupants, increasing the risk of an injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing welds, free of charge. If the vehicle is identified as missing welds, the dealer will offer to repurchase the vehicle or provide a similar replacement vehicle. Owner notification began November 6 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is X6J.
Structure:body:roof and pillars
Model years: 2019
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Honda Ridgeline and Pilot vehicles. The mounting holes for the clip that secures the right center pillar trim panel may be larger than intended. In the event of a crash necessitating right side curtain air bag deployment, the clip may not hold the center pillar trim panel in position and it may potentially interfere with the curtain air bag deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection," and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the curtain air bag does not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket on the right center pillar that will securely hold the center pillar trim clip, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is D3D.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V365000 (Structure, Suspension); however, the front subframe had a hole caused by corrosion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5-10 MPH, the front end of the vehicle made clunking…
On September 13, 2026, I was cleaning my 2015 Honda Pilot at a car wash while my young child was inside the vehicle. My keys and phone were also inside. After I closed the front passenger-side door, the vehicle unexpectedly locked all doors with my child, keys, and phone inside. I did not…
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V365000 (STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION) and 24V064000(AIR BAGS); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet…
There is significant rust on the frame and undercarriage of the vehicle. There has been no actual safety concerns yet, but it may lead to severe issues if unaddressed. It has since an active recall exists for the corrosion of the rear subframe. A specific rust-related inspection is on hold until I…
I presented the vehicle to a Honda service shop for a squeaking noise from the front of the vehicle. The technician diagnosed a 'loose crash bar/reinforcement bar.' The technician tried to tighten the bar but noted it did not tighten enough to stop the movement, and that the bar will need to be…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Honda Pilots have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 417 owner complaints about structure 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 structure?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the Honda Pilot?
Owners report a typical cost of $860 (half paid between $620 and $1,050), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Honda Pilot?
The most frequent phrase is “paint peeling”, in 39 of 417 complaints.
Other Honda Pilot problems
- Engine problems (2,344)
- Electrical System problems (2,055)
- Power Train problems (1,327)
- Air Bags problems (733)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (631)
- Service Brakes problems (533)
- Forward Collision Avoidance problems (511)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (376)
See all Honda Pilot problems.