Is the 2016 Honda Pilot Reliable? The reliability rating for the Pilot is three out of five, which is mediocre for the sector and middle of the pack for a midsize SUV. The Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer are rated poorer than rivals like the Chevrolet Traverse and Hyundai Santa Fe.
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What issues are there with 2016 Honda Pilots?
Additionally, the 2016 Pilots with this problem had an average mileage of around 30,000 miles. This implies that almost-new 2016 Pilot users were experiencing this problem. The transmission problem itself was mostly caused by the transmission occasionally slipping. A common complaint from owners was that their transmission felt jerky.
Even though these transmission problems were highly common and could be deadly, fixing them didn’t actually cost a lot of money. Limited information is available, however Car Complaints notes that the two most common gearbox problems range in price from $400 to 750 dollars to fix. It’s true that these transmission problems weren’t serious enough for Honda to recall the Pilot.
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.
- There is one blemish on the Pilot’s dependability record: A class-action lawsuit for an engine problem impacting more than 1.6 million vehicles was settled in 2013. 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.
- 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.
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.
The finest Honda Pilot was produced in what year?
The second-generation Pilot was produced from 2009 to 2015 and featured a number of extremely significant contemporary conveniences. The latter models had more streamlined and contemporary body lines even if the overall size and shape were similar to that of the first generation. 2015 is regarded as the Honda Pilot’s best year.
Second-generation automobiles still come with the 3.5-liter engine. To increase fuel efficiency, Honda, on the other hand, used cylinder deactivation technology. Depending on how much power is needed, the engine shuts down two or three cylinders at cruising speeds. Reducing the number of cylinders in use increases fuel savings. Because of this technology, the second-generation Pilot boasts much better EPA fuel-efficiency ratings.
Both the front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions score 20 mpg overall. On the interstate, all-wheel-drive cars earn 24 mpg, while front-wheel-drive models get 25 mpg. Given that second-generation vehicles continue to produce 250 horsepower, this represents a significant improvement over first-generation models.
Like the first-generation Pilot, the second-generation Pilot has experienced many airbag recalls during its entire production run. Early models up to 2011’s seat belt stitching has been recalled owing to faulty or inadequate stitching, which might lead to the seatbelt disengaging from the chassis in the event of an accident.
Due to loose nuts on the front suspension parts, which could result in steering loss, other early models are recalled. Premature piston wear in some Honda Pilot models from the 2013 model year may cause engine failure.
Honda Pilot’s Second-Generation Gets An Offroad Design
Honda was spot on with the second-generation Pilots’ use of current technology, just as it was with the first-generation models. Voice controls and satellite navigation have been added to The Pilot’s GPS game. Beginning with the 2013 model year, all Pilots were required to have a backup camera as standard equipment. Some second-generation vehicles included an XM radio, and the rear-seat DVD system was still available.
Family-friendly features have also become more prevalent. Twelve cupholders in total are included with the second-generation Pilot. The number of 12-volt power outlets was reduced to three due to the loss of one of the original three. However, a 115-volt power outlet with a standard household socket soon became accessible, enabling the family to bring along gadgets like phone chargers and portable game systems. The second-generation Pilots could tow up to 4,500 pounds, much like the first.
The second-generation Pilots may be obtained in earlier versions for less than $10,000, but if you want one with all the bells and whistles, expect to pay more over $10,000. The most appealing models in terms of technology are those from 2013 and later. If you can do without a primary backup camera and make a few other minor changes, buying a model made before 2013 can save you a ton of money. Overall, you can obtain a superb second-generation Pilot for $15,000 or less.
What is the Honda Pilot’s main issue?
The transmission breakdown issue is likely the most significant of all the issues Honda Pilots encounter. Fortunately, this issue mostly affects the 2003 model. Other Pilot models have seen a few rare transmission failure incidences, though.
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 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.
What kind of mileage does a Honda Pilot have to have?
Any car or SUV lasting 200,000 miles, much less 300,000, can be challenging to envision. Only 1% of all vehicles exceed 200k miles, 9% of SUVs do, and only 0.3% of all vehicles reach 300k, according to the most recent dependability study from iSeeCars. Despite not making the 300k list, the Pilot came in at number eleven on the list most durable SUVs.
There are outliers and reports that defy the statistics, as there are in most things in life. There is a question and answer section on the website Vehicle History where users can, you guessed it, ask questions and get answers from other users. One such question is “How long do Honda Pilots last?” and the 44 responses range from the low 100,000s to the mid 300,000s.
A 2008 Pilot owner claims to have driven it everyday for 372,000 miles, and a 2004 Pilot owner claims to have driven it every day for 346,000 miles or more.
In fact, the majority of posters who had fewer than 200k miles on their Pilot had only recently bought it, and they all claimed it was still in good shape.
For a used Honda Pilot, what is a good mileage?
A Honda Pilot should last between 250,0000 and 300,000 miles if it is used sensibly and maintained on a regular basis. If you drive an average of 15,000 miles each year, as the majority of Americans do, it translates to 16 to 20 years of dependable service.
Toyota Highlander versus Honda Pilot: which is more dependable?
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.
Do all Honda Pilots have issues with the transmission?
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.
Highlander or Pilot, which has more space?
83.7 and 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space are available within the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, respectively. The Pilot, however, has more space behind the back seats. As opposed to 13.8 cubic feet inside the Highlander, you get 16.5 cubic feet of traditional cargo space. Additionally, the Pilot’s passenger volume is 152.9 cubic feet larger than the Highlander’s, or 8 cubic feet. You and your passengers can spread out and relax on the Pilot’s larger interior surfaces. For instance, the Pilot’s third-row occupants have 57.6 inches of shoulder room, compared to only 55 inches in the Highlander.