VehicleVerdict

2009 Honda Pilot engine problems

The 2009 Honda Pilot has 39 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 22% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

39

Engine complaints

22%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Pilot engine complaints by model year786 complaints2003: 63 complaints2004: 50 complaints2005: 91 complaints2006: 32 complaints2007: 24 complaints2008: 17 complaints2009: 39 complaints2010: 28 complaints2011: 36 complaints2012: 45 complaints2013: 83 complaints2014: 34 complaints2015: 23 complaints2016: 786 complaints2017: 463 complaints2018: 158 complaints2019: 225 complaints2020: 98 complaints2021: 96 complaints2022: 21 complaints2023: 9 complaints2024: 10 complaints2025: 21 complaints
Pilot engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITHIN THE CITY AT 15-20 MPH. SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING THEN SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW THE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CAR BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CALLED POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · October 12, 2013 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2009 Honda Pilot have?

NHTSA has 39 complaints about the 2009 Honda Pilot engine — 22% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.