Breakdown of the Honda Pilot’s reliability rating. The Honda Pilot has a 3.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating, which places it 13th out of 26 midsize SUVs. It has cheaper ownership costs than the national average due to the $542 average annual repair cost.
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Do Honda Pilots have many issues?
There are many options available if you’re searching for a Honda Pilot that is a touch more dependable than the versions we’ve already covered. Although the Honda Pilot has a few significant flaws, the most of its iterations have been exceedingly reliable and long-lasting.
- 2012 2017\s\s 2014\s\s 2007\s\s 2010\s\s 2018\s\s 2006\s\s 2019\s\s 2015\s\s 2020\s\s 2004\s\s 2008
All of these alternatives are strong, dependable, and have a very low frequency of the kinds of catastrophic issues and part failures that plagued earlier Pilot versions.
You’re looking to buy a used car, then. We have already prepared a list of crucial inquiries to make while purchasing a secondhand car.
Is a Honda Pilot purchase worthwhile?
The Honda Pilot is a solid midsize SUV, that much is true. With three rows of comfortable seats, a sizable load area, and a high-quality cabin, it succeeds on almost all counts. Thanks to a strong base V6 engine and a good balance of handling ability and ride comfort, driving it is also not boring.
Key Points
- Less than 100 complaints on vehicles from 2014 and later indicate that the Pilot has been a reliable vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- The average annual repair cost for more recent Pilots is $542, which is less expensive than the Ford Explorer’s average annual repair cost of $732.
- In a recent survey of the cars most likely to travel 200,000 miles, the Honda brand came in second. Although the Honda Odyssey minivan, which has the same platform as the Pilot, was listed in the study’s list of 16 cars projected to reach that mileage milestone, the Pilot was not.
- The Pilot’s track record of dependability has one flaw: In 2013, a class action lawsuit involving an engine problem impacting more than 1.6 million automobiles was resolved. The 3.5-liter V6 engine used in 2009–2013 Pilots may malfunction or burn excessive amounts of oil, according to the lawsuit.
- The Honda Pilot is a dependable and reasonably priced SUV that, while not the most thrilling car on the road, should satisfy the ordinary driver for a decade or more of devoted service and can easily travel over 150,000 miles with proper maintenance.
What Honda Pilot model year is the best to buy?
Overall, we believe that the second generation vehicles from 2009 to 2015 are the greatest deal. They provide greater space than the first-generation aircraft, but won’t cost as much as the third-generation Pilot, which is a relatively recent model.
What’s next
Honda and NHTSA will carry out their investigations and, if necessary, issue a recall.
The Honda Pilot is a reliable midsize crossover, but no car is impervious to issues, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently looking into whether or not the stop-start technology in these vehicles is a common source of complaints.
The 2016–2020 Honda Pilot is being looked into by the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation for a potential problem that prevents the 3.5-liter V6 from starting. It is unknown how many of the country’s about 195,000 examples of these automobiles may be impacted by the issue. NHTSA has so far received 221 reports about this particular ailment. The 3.5-liter V6 engine, nine-speed automatic transmission, and stop-start technology featured on Touring and Elite trims are all shared by all the aforementioned vehicles.
The stop-start system, which is designed to reduce fuel consumption by turning off the engine when the car stops, is the source of the problem. The Pilot’s engine may not restart when it should, leaving owners with a seemingly dead car, according to the NHTSA inquiry report. According to the document, some owners need a jump start to get their cars rolling again.
Is Honda Pilot upkeep expensive?
During its first ten years of use, a Honda Pilot will require roughly $7,373 in maintenance and repairs.
This is $1,760 less than the industry average for popular SUV models. Additionally, there is a 21.05% likelihood that a Pilot will need a significant repair within that time. Compared to similar vehicles in this sector, this is 0.45% better. The following graph shows how these expenses and the likelihood of repairs will rise over time.
Which is more dependable, Pilot or Highlander?
The information above makes it evident that the Toyota Highlander outperforms the Honda Pilot in every category, including safety features and fuel efficiency. The Highlander is a much better choice if you’re searching for a three-row SUV that is incredibly dependable in this situation.
Is Highlander superior to Honda Pilot?
A 3.5-liter V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque is standard on every 2022 Honda Pilot. Three-row midsize SUVs frequently have six-cylinder engines, but this one distinguishes out for its lively performance. The V6 from Honda is paired with a 9-speed automated transmission.
Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4), the available AWD technology for the 2022 Pilot, is capable of torque vectoring and offers various terrain settings. In order to maintain traction, it is possible to direct up to 70% of the engine’s torque to a single rear tire.
7.3 inches of ground clearance are typical for Pilots. Because it has 7.9 inches of clearance, the Honda Pilot TrailSport is a good option if you frequently travel on dirt roads. AWD Pilots have a 5,000-pound towing capacity as opposed to front-drive models’ 3,500-pound limit when properly equipped.
The FWD 2022 Honda Pilot receives a combined city and highway fuel economy rating of 23 mpg from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Pilots with all-wheel drive get 22 mpg on the highway. Due to its higher suspension, the Pilot TrailSport achieves a combined fuel economy rating of 21 mpg.
In a similar vein, the Toyota Highlander’s base engine is a 3.5-liter V6. With an 8-speed automatic transmission, this engine produces 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Although there is occasionally a delay during transmission upshifts, the engine delivers power smoothly.
On the V6 Highlanders, Toyota provides two AWD systems. The entry-level system offers hill-descent control and terrain modes. Torque-vectoring technology is added to the improved AWD system on higher models to increase grip.
8 inches of ground clearance are standard on every 2022 Toyota Highlander. A properly equipped V6 Highlander has a 5,000-pound towing capacity regardless of drive configuration.
The 2022 Highlander with a V6 engine is rated by the EPA at 23 mpg combined with FWD and 24 mpg combined with AWD. Toyota offers the 2022 Highlander Hybrid if you’re looking for a more fuel-efficient family car. The hybrid powertrain combines a front electric drive motor that receives power from a compact, 1.9 kilowatt-hour battery pack with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 186 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The power sources are combined by a second electric motor; this is an electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT). The combined horsepower of hybrid Highlanders is 243 hp.
The rear wheels of AWD Highlander hybrids are propelled by a third electric motor. The gasoline engine does not deliver torque to the rear wheels, unlike on V6 Highlanders (and Pilots). No matter the powertrain configuration, properly outfitted Highlander Hybrids have a 3,500-pound towing capacity.
The FWD 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid gets 36 mpg in combined driving, according to the EPA. The Highlander hybrid AWD gets 35 mpg.
Despite having a lesser horsepower rating, the V6 in the Pilot is superior. If you can endure its noisy 4-cylinder engine, the Highlander Hybrid is the winner if fuel economy is your top goal.
Are Honda Pilots fuel-efficient?
Although buyers in the SUV industry have a lot of options these days, the Honda Pilot has been a standout choice for 20 years running.
For a full-size SUV, the Honda Pilot gets fairly good gas mileage. As a result, a brand-new Honda Pilot should have a maximum fuel efficiency of 20 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the interstate, or 23 mpg overall. If you choose the FWD model over the AWD, you might perform marginally better.
Although an SUV won’t ever match the fuel efficiency of a compact car or hatchback, they are incomparably more convenient if you have a family or lead an active lifestyle.
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When did Honda Pilots begin experiencing transmission issues?
We don’t expect you to go out into the wilderness and try to buy an automobile that is over 20 years old. However, you might find one if you’re looking for a cheap used Honda Pilot. We’re here to advise you not to purchase it under any circumstances. This is by far the worst model year Pilot has ever produced. Users of the NHTSA and Car Complaints have encountered a lot of issues since 2003.
Users have specifically reported issues with the drivetrain, electrical, engine, and airbags. There are a lot more difficulties mentioned, but these are the biggest and most expensive. For instance, the NHTSA received reports of 105 gearbox issues, 123 electrical issues, and 112 drivetrain issues. It’s far simpler to avoid this paradigm given how frequently serious, expensive to fix problems like this occur. If you see a 2003 Pilot laying around, do not purchase it.
Furthermore, same issues reappeared for the 2005 model year a few years later. This one is still best to avoid even though they don’t happen as frequently as the 2003 model did. Even if this is a different model year, we wouldn’t anticipate anyone to be purchasing at the moment.
Why jerks my Honda Pilot?
An unreliable or imbalanced flow of air and fuel will cause a vehicle to malfunction. If a car jerks or rushes ahead at a fast rate of speed, it may not be getting the proper amount of air and fuel. This jerking or surging sensation could be brought on by a number of parts in the fuel or air intake system. Additionally, problems with these systems may result in worsening fuel efficiency.
Do Honda drivers experience transmission issues?
One of the most popular Honda models sold in the US is the Pilot. However, class action lawsuits involving the Honda Pilot and other Honda vehicles have been filed, alleging that its gearboxes have a history of recurring flaws such violent shaking, acceleration issues, stalling, lurching, gear changing problems, and transmission failure.
The torque converters in some afflicted Honda car owners’ cars are reportedly defective, and some owners have even experienced torque converter clutches locking up.
We have gathered a sample of complaints sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to give you an idea of the problems some Honda Pilot SUVs are having.
Please be aware that the Honda Pilot SUV complaints have been modified for clarity and language.
How quiet is the Honda Pilot to drive?
The remainder of Consumer Reports’ evaluation of the 2021 Honda Pilot is positive, despite the sarcasm and a few areas of disappointment. Despite the odd handling, the ride is really comfortable. Additionally, the cabin is incredibly quiet because to the plethora of soundproofing materials.
The 20 mpg all-wheel-drive and the 3.5-liter V6 engine’s excellent acceleration won accolades. The visibility is excellent, and this SUV meets all practical requirements for a family vehicle. The Pilot “makes a decent minivan impersonation,” according to Consumer Reports, praising its adaptability and versatility for seating eight people, as well as a “feature-filled interior.