CarComplaints.com Notes: It's worrying when the top category for 2016 Honda Pilot problems are transmission problems. Owners report jerking when accelerating. Also as the first model year of the redesigned 3rd generation Pilot, it's not a good sign.
Honda released a TSB on October 29 2016 that's possibly related. The TSB deals with a "a judder from the torque converter lock-up clutch ... while driving between 20 and 60 mph" due to deteriorated transmission fluid resulting from "specific driving conditions". In the TSB, Honda states they are developing a software fix to try to keep the transmission fluid temperature within spec.
We are keeping a close eye on this defect trend because if certain driving conditions can affect transmission shifting in the first year of ownership, we'd hate to think what 10+ years will do.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
13,259 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.
When I reach interstate speeds the hood starts to rattle and makes a very loud noise. It shakes as if it is going to come open. It also does then when I am behind a large tractor-trailer where the wind coming off whips the front of my care. I have checked to see if the hood needed a height adjustment but that isn't the issue. It is up as far as it can go and if I lower it any it gets even worse.
At highway speeds, especially in wind or drafts from trucks, the hood vibrates/flexes by inches. At higher wind levels it creates a tremendous roar and vibrates the whole car. The latch seems loose. A recurring problem which first occurred in 2017 just after we bought the car. I have taken it in to the dealer several times but the problem remains. When the car was recalled I hoped it would fix the problem but it did not.
I purchased this vehicle a little less than two months ago-?? this vehicle is babied and I make sure to stay on top of everything possible as it-??s a primary transportation to bring my toddler to his many appointments. While operating on the highway, everything was smooth sailing as expected, until I heard a noise. I glanced in the rear view mirror to see a part flying off of the car and colliding with the vehicle behind me. I couldn-??t locate where the item came from. Today, I went to pick my son up from preschool and noticed the entire piece on the roof was hanging outward, right off and over the side of the vehicle. Had I not noticed, it could-??ve caused further danger to others. I hopped up to look at my roof to realize the rear trim is the piece that flew off, and the following straight part is what was now dangling over the side. On top of everything else, on the same side, the trim along the side my of windshield is upraised and I am absolutely torn. How dangerously this could-??ve ended had I not noticed. I-??ve seen other pilot-owners discuss how their trim pieces have caused trouble and even further dented some trunks. This needs to be brought to attention, I didn-??t spend $$,$$$ on a vehicle that is not safe.
hood cracked due to excessive vibration over the years from late 2015 until latch was repaired by Honda in 2021. Due to the number of years prior to the repair, the hood has cracked and could potentially fall apart or fly up and block the driver's vision.
My vehicle had a recall on my car hood because its loose. When you drive it when its windy it moves. I had recall fixed at a Honda dealership in Hutchinson Ks. Now my hood is loose again. I had to pull off the interstate yesterday to try to get it to latch because it was moving, and it was very windy, and I was afraid it was going to blow open on me. I wanted a whole new hood, and I was told I'd have to pay for that myself. I really think a new hood and latch system should be included in recalls with this type of vehicle. Im honestly afraid to go over 65mph in my cars current condition.
Roof molding comes loose and flies off while car is in motion on roads. Imposing risk to other drivers on roads. Once removed area is exposed which can result in increase in deterioration of vehicle.
roof molding that runs along the top flat part of the roof from front to back, one on both sides right & left of the car. It is in place to connect and/or cover where the roof & body/ sides come together & were welded. safety issue is that it falls off while the car is moving. Mine flew off on a major highway, while driving, which creates a risk to others on the road driving behind the vehicle. *Honda and my vin search is stating it is not recalled. However, there was a 2018 Honda Service Bulletin stating the front end caps are loose & that this was a known issue. My vehicle falls under the: 2016 Pilot, All Trim models & all vin ranges was included. But Honda is not honoring this because the vin# is not pulling up a recall. The updated notice from Honda is stating some vin#s but mine flew off due to the issues with the clips & the other side that-??s still intact is actually loose in the front & I have to be mindful & remember to keep Che king to press it down & back in place or possibly tape it down. * dealership looked at the vehicle and confirmed that they were simple clipped on and known (2016-2017) to be an issue of them falling off. Advised me to cover until I can repair it, to prevent moisture, rust & possible future internal water damage.
Hood - flutters and wobbles significantly at highway speeds. Per recall check, this vehicle is not included. Seat belt - more of a personal thing, but the driver's seat belt cuts into the driver's neck, even when high of shoulder strap is adjusted. When using a device to help control where the shoulder strap lays, it was found that the driver's seat belt is MUCH shorter than all other in the vehicle. Therefore not allowing the driver to use something to adjust the shoulder portion and still safely check blind spots.
I have a 2016 Honda Pilot, color, Pearl White. The paint started to peel appointmently one month ago. The area is on the roof in front of sunroof behind the front windshield. There is a recall on the same color, make, year and model. Peeling in the same area. I was told by Honda of America that it was only for Honda that were painted at a certain factory that are covered by the recall. I did have the vehicle inspected by Honda and a body shop that they sent me too. Total estimate is around $1200. They both confirmed that it's the same area as the recall. I do have the email with pictures that they took to send to Honda. Honda is only willing to cover 25% and told me to put a complaint into your department. PER Honda they said if there is enough complaints. There would be a recall for the other vin numbers to cover the paint job. We find there response unacceptable based on pass practice and previous recalls.
A roof moulding flew off my vehicle on the expressway. Apparently there is a Honda Service Bulletin that came out to the dealership that indicates these mouldings need to be secured better. However, they listed only some of the VINs and mine wasn't one of them, but the moulding ended up flying off anyway. It sounds like is a problem for other VINs that Honda didn't indicate.
On the highway I can see the hood is vibrating and air is getting under it. I had a recall for the hood latch and believe I completed that service but am concerned that it-??s still not safe.
Molding trim on roof of the vehicle is lifting and not secured. Molding trim around windshield is not secured and a plastic screw deteriorated and fell out. Trim won't stay in clips on the roof or on the windshield. I noticed the trim around the windshield was lifted while driving on a city street. I noticed the roof trim lifted when I arrived home and the screw on the windshield by the vent.
The paint near the moon roof is peeling and exposing the vehicle body to corrosion. Honda previously issued a service bulletin (19-057) that extends the warranty to 7 years from purchase date for 2013-2016 Honda Pilot wihth moonroof and painted white diamond pearl. I brought this to the dealership and they said this vehicle is not covered, even though it's clear there is a paint defect that is covered under the service bulletin, for the prescribed vehicle make, model, and year.
While driving on the highway, in strong winds, or passing larger vehicles or semis, the hood flexes as if it is going to unlatch and fly off the car. This is not a minor flex, the hood can bounce 2-3 inches. It is extremely unnerving and after time, the latch on the hood will fatigue and eventually break. It is becoming loose. There are currently no recalls by Honda. This is a serious oversight. The dealerships have tried to fix it, but never with success. Please look into this. Thank you.
Noticed paint peeling off the roof, between the windshield and the moonroof for no reason while my car was parked in my driveway. No dings or dents in the area. Called Honda headquarters to report the problem and they said they can't help. Then I want to go wash the car so I could apply some touch cup paint to seal it up and it starting to peal off ever more. Just pealing way and spreading. Also noticed a small patch of rusting under the rear trunk.
We were hit on the drivers and passengers sides of the vehicle by another vehicle that was travelling at an estimated 90-100 mph, and the airbags did not deploy. My vehicle was travelling at about 50 mph on an interstate when it was struck on the driver's side first. The force of that impact pushed my vehicle into a large box truck on the passenger's side. The police stated that the airbags should have deployed with the extreme force of the impact.
The rear lift gate has been malfunctioning periodically since we purchased this vehicle new in 2016. It has been repaired several times but keeps malfunctioning. The issue is that the lift gate starts to open, but then closes itself for no reason and does not stop closing even if a person or obstacle is underneath. Sometimes the lift gate also will not reopen. Our ongoing concern is that a child or other person will be crushed beneath the malfunctioning lift gate. This has happened in all types of scenarios - when the car is parked flat, on an incline, inside, outside, etc. And there does not seem to be a consistent cause. Also, our Honda dealer is often unable to identify the problem using their computer system - they have told us nothing is wrong with the lift gate until they have watched this happen.
I bought this vehicle as a "certified pre owned by Honda" and four days after the purchase the car was parked in my driveway, in "park" when I hit the start/stop engine button and the vehicle didn't start. Alarms started to go off so I assumed it was the key was still inside the house. As I went inside to check, maybe a few seconds, when I went back outside the vehicle was gone. I found it in my front yard. It had rolled off while in park without engine on. After getting it towed to Honda, days later I was informed that there was a problem with the start/stop engine system and that it also needed the entire A/C system replaced. Attached you will find the photo I took of the vehicle still in park when I found it in my front yard.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fishersville, VA, USA