AI Damage2021 Honda Pilot: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Honda Pilot filed 447 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. The maker issued 99 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 447
- involving a crash
- 14
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 99
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 30% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 24% of all complaints
- 3 Forward collision avoidance 22% of all complaints
- 4 Lane departure 10% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 7% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 136 complaints (30% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 30.
- Engine: 109 complaints (24% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Forward collision avoidance: 98 complaints (22% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Lane departure: 44 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 32 complaints (7% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 9-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 447 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 136 | 1 | 30 |
| Engine | 109 | 1 | 4 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 98 | 4 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 44 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 32 | 6 | 2 |
| Visibility | 31 | 0 | 15 |
| Service brakes | 28 | 5 | 12 |
| Powertrain | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 23 | 1 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| Suspension | 6 | 1 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The severe impact caused over $9,000 in structural damage—including the driver-side door, fender, wheel, mirror, and radiator support brackets—yet the side/curtain airbags failed to deploy.
The recall concerns corrosion at the rear subframe suspension mounting points, which may result in failure of rear suspension components and adversely affect vehicle handling and control. I am concerned that a mechanical or vehicle safety defect may have contributed to my inability to slow or stop the vehicle.
Despite the nature of the crash, the airbags did not deploy. However, post-accident diagnostic information reported by the auto body repair shop indicates that the vehicle’s computer system recorded the airbags as having deployed.
The car's steering wheel got locked out and air bags came out suddenly while car is still moving on the road and driver blocked and not able to do anything and hit the parked car on the street due to car's system malfunction.
I did not see any warning nor messages on the screen until the accident happened that said "Crash has been detected" Since we were left to do everything on our own we called Caliber Collision to haul the car to their location to assess the damage done to the car.
No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, pending inspection. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number 23V458000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened.
The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera failed to turn on, causing the vehicle to hit another unoccupied parked vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated.
My honda pilot started having electrical issues where the car alarm would go off randomly, radio would play at volumes randomly, dashboard lights would flicker on and off, interior lights would turn on, headlights would turn on.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 119 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 6% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Pilot has 560 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 447, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Lane departure. Windshield camera: calibration after windshield replacement.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the…
Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the phone remains in the correct position on the charger due to software specifications that can cause some phones to…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2025 Passport Blacks, TrailSports & 2019-2022 Pilots with a customer complaint of the taillight and/or brake light being inoperative. Vehicles may also have the A6 10A or C27 7.5A…
- Service Bulletin - One or more accessory running board lights are flickering or not working due to a…
Service Bulletin - One or more accessory running board lights are flickering or not working due to a faulty running board light assembly.
- Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle…
Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Typically, the…
- Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear…
Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear differential pump motor connector area that corrodes the terminals.
- Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the…
Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the phone remains in the correct position on the charger.
- Service Bulletin - Customer complaint of the A/C not blowing cold air due to Oil/Refrigerant leak from the…
Service Bulletin - Customer complaint of the A/C not blowing cold air due to Oil/Refrigerant leak from the A/C compressor shaft seal.
- Service Bulletin - MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around…
- Service Bulletin - The MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around…
- Service Bulletin - Customer complaint received regarding the A/C not blowing cold air due to an…
Service Bulletin - Customer complaint received regarding the A/C not blowing cold air due to an oil/refrigerant leak from the A/C compressor shaft seal.
- Service NewsDue to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019 vehicles, American…
Service NewsDue to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019 vehicles, American Honda’s Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) On-Board Diagnostic monitors are now included in the…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2023 Passports, 2016-2022 Pilots, & 2017-2023 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the front passengerâs power window inop from either the driverâs window switch, front…
NHTSA lists 99 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda Pilot?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, forward collision avoidance. Total complaints: 447. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (17%), infotainment or screen glitches (14%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA lists 99 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Honda Pilot from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.