VehicleVerdict

2025 Honda Pilot problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2025 Honda Pilot carries two red flags at once: 274 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages). It is one of the Pilot years to avoid. Complainants reported 13 injuries in total across these filings.

Driver Assistance leads the complaint categories with 82 reports (30% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

274

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

1

Investigations · 1 open

22

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

13

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2025 compare to other Pilot years?

Pilot NHTSA complaints by model year, 2025 highlighted2,328 complaints2003: 877 complaints2004: 644 complaints2005: 955 complaints2006: 330 complaints2007: 266 complaints2008: 165 complaints2009: 174 complaints2010: 142 complaints2011: 389 complaints2012: 228 complaints2013: 368 complaints2014: 153 complaints2015: 138 complaints2016: 2,328 complaints2017: 1,296 complaints2018: 634 complaints2019: 1,365 complaints2020: 759 complaints2021: 669 complaints2022: 219 complaints2023: 174 complaints2024: 155 complaints2025: 274 complaints2026: 15 complaints
Pilot NHTSA complaints by model year, 2025 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Pilot years to avoid →

What are the most common 2025 Honda Pilot problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Driver Assistance8230%
Electrical System3212%
Steering2911%
Brakes238%
Engine218%
Transmission176%
Other155%
Fuel System145%
Speed Control135%
Visibility & Wipers114%
Seat Belts41%
Body & Structure31%
Tires & Wheels31%
Airbags31%
Suspension21%
Lighting21%

Does the 2025 Honda Pilot have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

25V391000BrakesJune 12, 2025 · 259,033 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Consequence

A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.

25V056000Seat BeltsFebruary 5, 2025 · 1,494 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The third-row passenger seat belt assembly may not function, due to incorrect routing that traps the seat belt behind the passenger side panel. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence

A non-functioning seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and repair the seat belt routing as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is ZL4.

25V031000Electrical SystemJanuary 23, 2025 · 294,612 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.

Consequence

An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

Dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EL1 and AL0.

24V900000Fuel SystemNovember 27, 2024 · 205,760 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Passport and 2023-2025 Pilot vehicles. The fuel filler neck tube and fuel filler pipe may separate, allowing fuel to leak.

Consequence

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and repair the fuel filler neck tube and pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is OKM.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA25004

No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“ My 2025 Honda Pilot’s Collision Mitigation Braking System and backup sensors have failed three times at low speed, resulting in collisions with objects directly behind or in front of the vehicle. These include a front collision with a tree, running over a small tricycle, and backing into a tree…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · May 1, 2025 · crash

“ My 2025 Honda Pilot’s Collision Mitigation Braking System and backup sensors have failed three times at low speed, resulting in collisions with objects directly behind or in front of the vehicle. These include a front collision with a tree, running over a small tricycle, and backing into a tree…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · May 1, 2025 · crash

“The power steering system software problem undriveable. The AWD failed said undriveable. Only 30k miles on it and it just locked and couldnt steering right to left in the middle of traffic. Could have caused a bad accident lycjuly my kids weren't in the car. The computer software took over…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · April 7, 2026

“ My 2025 Honda Pilot’s Collision Mitigation Braking System and backup sensors have failed three times at low speed, resulting in collisions with objects directly behind or in front of the vehicle. These include a front collision with a tree, running over a small tricycle, and backing into a tree…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · May 1, 2025 · crash

“My vehicle has 1,500 miles on it. Last time I drove it from work back home was Friday 11/21 and nothing was wrong. Got back in the car Sunday 11/23 and my engine light was blinking and all kinds of warnings were displaying such as engine, break, and steering problems. My wife and I noticed the car…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 23, 2025

2025 Honda Pilot — common questions

Is the 2025 Honda Pilot reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 274 complaints put the 2025 model at #13 of 24 Pilot years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Pilot years to avoid.

What are the most common 2025 Pilot problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are driver assistance (82 complaints), electrical system (32 complaints), steering (29 complaints).

Does the 2025 Honda Pilot have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2025 Honda Pilot. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2025 Honda Pilot under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Honda Pilot years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Pilot years to avoid are 2016, 2019, 2017, 2005, 2003, 2020, 2021, 2004, 2018, 2006, 2025, 2007, 2022, 2023, 2008, 2024. The cleanest record among Pilot years belongs to 2026.

How safe is the 2025 Honda Pilot?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2025 Honda Pilot earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

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.