How Reliable Is the Honda Pilot? The expected reliability rating for the 2021 Pilot is 79 out of 100. A predicted reliability score from J.D. Power of 91 to 100 is regarded as the best, 81 to 90 as great, 70 to 80 as medium, and 0-69 as fair and below average.
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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 issues are there with Honda Pilots?
Electrical troubles with the 2020 Pilot are rather typical, while not being as widespread as other Pilot faults. Owners of the 2020 model have complained about electrical issues that led to broken navigation systems, instrument panels, and entertainment systems.
Is the Honda Pilot a trustworthy car?
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.
Key Points
- 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.
- 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 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.
Do the Honda Pilot’s transmission issues still exist?
The Honda Pilot’s transmission issues persisted from 2018 to 2020. Throughout these years, the transmission kept jerking and bothering car owners. Despite the fact that it didn’t have many significant flaws, this is still the case.
The majority of jerking issues were found in automobiles with higher mileage and less frequent maintenance. And since the fluid was not changed frequently and the automobile did not receive enough clean fluid to ensure precise shifts, this was primarily the owners’ problem.
Therefore, if you’re searching for a used Honda Pilot, you should choose some vehicles with fewer kilometers on the odometer. This will give you some assurance that some transmission problems won’t arise.
Before you buy, make sure to check the engine and transmission as well. Make sure the shifts are smooth by taking the car for a drive. If the car shifts poorly and has issues throughout the test drive, you will be aware that your future car has some issues.
It is advised to steer clear of this vehicle and opt for one with comparable features. Because if the transmission breaks, you’ll need to spend more than $3,000 to replace it. instead, spend $1,500–$2,500 to have the transmission rebuilt.
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.
How dependable is the Honda Pilot in 2022?
When compared to the average new automobile, we anticipate the 2022 Pilot will be approximately averagely reliable. Based on data from the 2019–2021, 2020–2021, and 2021–2021, models, this forecast.
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.
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 Honda Pilot model is the best-of-the-best?
The top-of-the-line Black Edition trim is brand-new for the Honda Pilot lineup for 2020. Based on the Elite trim but featuring unique exterior and interior aesthetic upgrades to set it apart from the competition.
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.