CarComplaints.com Notes: Previously we had awarded the 2009 Pilot "Seal of Pretty Good", but have since removed that honor due to all the continuing complaints about excessive oil consumption.

This Honda Pilot oil consumption defect was subject to a class action lawsuit in 2013. However not all 2009 Honda Pilots were covered by the settlement & by now the warranty extension has expired. The oil consumption complaints keep coming in.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
92,059 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Honda Pilot drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2009 Honda Pilot Owner Comments

problem #10

Dec 012022

Pilot

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OTHER Honda Pilot OWNERS AS WELL FROM THE DEALER THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS A VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY COMMON ISSUE. IT WILL COST OVER $6,000 TO FIX. THAT IS CORRECT, OVER $ 6,000 !!!!!!!! WE HOPE THE US GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE ACTION. WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT HONDA IS WELL AWARE OF FOR YEARS NOW. PLEASE HELP US COMMON FOLK THANK YOU

- Sanford, NC, USA

problem #9

Mar 192020

Pilot

  • 197,660 miles
I had just bought this vehicle, and only had it 3 days when it begin to idle high and it seemed as if the car was in neutral while I was driving but it wasn't. then the D light began to blink and then the check engine light came on. I stopped at a car repair place turned the car off, and when the person got in and turned the car back on it was like nothing happened for a few minutes then it started acting up again, but as soon as the car is turned off and then on again it acts normal for a few. I wasn't doing nothing but driving at the time at a speed under 60mph. When I was on the highway going over 60mph it didn't do it at all.

- Duluth, GA, USA

problem #8

Jan 032019

Pilot

  • 150,000 miles
Shuddering at 40 and 60 mph

- Orrick, MO, USA

problem #7

Dec 132016

Pilot

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Variable cylinder management (vcm) excess oil consumption, which has prompt to an engine light "P3497 cylinder deactivation system bank 2" I have taken the car to the dealer, and I am waiting for a resolution/S. the car is a the dealership as I am writing this... I will keep you updated as I know more. Thanks.

- Lakewood, CO, USA

problem #6

Aug 012016

Pilot

  • 140,000 miles
Excessive oil consumption. Started back in beginning of August 2016. Just checking oil and found that there was very little in there. So added 3 quarts. I remembered that we just recently had the car in for service too. Anyway, I checked it again two weeks later and had to add another quart. This occurred over and over again the next couple months. Now we brought it in to the dealer we bought the car from. Now they have been very good to us over the years, but told us that they don't know why this is burning oil. I looked up on line and found a class action settlement. I thought great I am covered! lawsuit mentions my exact car too! well when I called they said I was not! I have no idea why I am not covered! same problem, same year, make, model, engine, everything! I am lost at how this can happen.

- Medford, MA, USA

problem #5

Apr 112016

Pilot

  • 170,000 miles
Excessive oil consumption. 170K miles on this vehicle. Noticed approximately 30K miles ago that I needed to add oil between oil changes, which I always get every 3500-4000 miles. Usually takes less than 1 quart. Most recently, took 2+ quarts. Honda advises this is not unusual and no repair is necessary - just continue to add oil as needed. Seems absurd.

- Owings Mills, MD, USA

problem #4

Oct 092015

Pilot 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission cooler piece fractured internally, which caused the transmission fluid to leak into the radiator without warning. The dealer replaced the radiator and repaired the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000. Updated 12/01/15

- Olney, MD, USA

problem #3

Apr 072014

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 61,230 miles
Torque converter shudder or vibration between 35-40 mph.

- Wesley Chapel, FL, USA

problem #2

Jul 252013

Pilot

  • 45,000 miles
When to dealer's shop last week and was told that the compliance bushing was leaking and torn. I research the internet and noted that it is common problem for this vehicle. I'm paying a steep money to fix this problem. Is there any investigation going on for this problem?

- Coolidge, AZ, USA

problem #1

May 092013

Pilot

  • 53,700 miles
Pulled 2009 Pilot into my slopping driveway I put the car into park and engine running. Noting rear camera was disengaged. My husbad and infant in his arms were 5 feet away from the rear SUV. Once the reverse light came off he went walked behind the to front of passenger door. I opened the door of the car and spoke to my husband who was standing infront of driver side door. I opened driver side door and we spoke briefly while door was open and car inpar engine on. I leaned into the center console to grab coffe and I felt the car rolling backwards down the driveway and into the road causing me to be trapped between door and the driver side frame. It dragged me into the street. I held on to the steering fearing I was going to be run over. The driver side door got caught on the a metal fence slowing the car down where I could finally stand up and rip keys out while engine still engaged running.

- Brrighton, MA, USA

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