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:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,624 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.

2016 Honda Pilot drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2016 Honda Pilot Owner Comments (Page 5 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #80

Jan 302020

Pilot

  • miles

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

I bought a cpo 2016 Honda Pilot ex 3/23/2019. I have a transmission jerking issue and bring back to freeway Honda, santa ana, in Sep 2019. They flush the atf and the situation turns back days later. I bring it back in 1/29/2020 and ask for same transmission issue. But they show tire pressure check on the invoice. I really wondered they try to hide the defect and won't find out any problem in this vehicle by searching its VIN number. The transmission problem is hard to shift when 3rd to 4th, 28-32 mph; hard to shift when downshift 3rd to 2nd in around 22 mph. Now I am thinking to file the lemon law but they won't let me because they didn't tell the truth.

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #79

Oct 222019

Pilot

  • 77,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at various speeds the vehicle shuddered. The contact stated the emissions system and transmission warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Brookklyn, NY, USA

problem #78

Jan 292020

Pilot

  • 37,000 miles
While under moderate acceleration at a range of speeds (10-40mph), there is a surging RPM and a shudder seemingly from the power train. Problem seems to be more apparent with light to heavy loading an an incline. This problem is intermittent but seems to be getting worse. Two dealerships have not wanted to attempt to fix problem if not covered by factory warranty in spite of a Honda service bulletin 17-014 that describes my symptom accurately. There should be a mandated recall to fix the problem and the manufacturer should believe the customer after repeated descriptions of experiencing the know manufacturing problem.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #77

Jan 012020

Pilot

  • 43,500 miles

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

Honda Pilot 2016 jerks when accelerating that causes the transmission fluid to burn so it requires multiple transmission fluid flushes from the burnt oil. It is a safety concern when accelerating to pass other vehicles and something Honda should be fixing so their cars don't keep overheating flequently and destroying the transmission.

- Bend, OR, USA

problem #76

Sep 012018

Pilot

  • 35,000 miles
1. keyless start system problem error warning 2. transmission or throttle issue: Jerky or choppy acceleration when at low or moderate acceleration between speeds of 20 to 50 mph or during cruising at speeds of 20 to 50 mph. Brought it to dealership 3 times for issue, first two times under warranty, at what time the software for the transmission was updated which rectified issue for 3 months. The third time, software was again updated but without improvement of the issue. To make matters worse warranty on powertrain lapsed between second and third request for repair and issue is not being treated as a continuation of a known problem.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #75

Oct 012019

Pilot

  • 44,000 miles
For the past 2 months my car sometimes says key remote problem when I push the button to start it. I have 46000 miles on it.

- Puyallup, WA, USA

problem #74

Feb 012018

Pilot

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. While driving various speeds, the vehicle jerked, stalled, and all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to Honda of aventura (2150 ne 163rd St, North miami beach, fl 33162) numerous times. The battery was replaced and the software was updated several times. The contact was also informed that the failures were normal. The contact took the vehicle to holman Honda (12 E sunrise blvd, fort lauderdale, fl 33304) and was informed that the brake assembly needed to be replaced. The contact had not directly notified the manufacturer of the failure. Each dealer claimed to have notified the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of Honda of aventura. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

problem #73

Jul 012019

Pilot

  • 70,000 miles
When shifting from R to D, the vehicle would periodically shift to park and the driver was unable to shift out of park. The transmission light would be on during this time. After restarting the vehicle several times, it would reset and you coupdndrive it again. This was reported to the local Honda dealer. They could not replicate the problem but said that Honda had this known issue and updated the computer. The problem persisted after this and owners deemed the car dangerous to drive and the dealer agreed to purchase it for cash.

- Lake Wylie, SC, USA

problem #72

Dec 112018

Pilot

  • 42,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. While driving, the transmission jerked without warning. The contact stated that the failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken four times to millennium Honda (286 franklin St, NY 11550, (516) 481-2800) where the software updated was completed; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer a fifth time, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000. The VIN was not available.

- Mineola, NY, USA

problem #71

Nov 092019

Pilot

  • 47,000 miles
The vehicle is jerking when being put in gear. Rather it is in drive or reverse.

- Petersburg, VA, USA

problem #70

Nov 072019

Pilot

  • 52,000 miles

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

My car is shifting harshly and dangerously while accelerating between 20-30 mph and decelerating. This is a very common problem in the 2016-2019 Pilot and should be addressed by the manufacturer! 2016 Honda Pilot (52,000 miles)

- Newnan, GA, USA

problem #69

Nov 032019

Pilot

  • 73,000 miles
When I am at a stoplight and the car goes into idle stop, it does not restart after I take my foot off of the break. I have to put it back in park and hold the start button down as it struggles to turn over. It is very dangerous because cars behind me expect me to be moving and I have been almost hit as a result. It used to work fine and restart as I took my foot off of the brake. I took it to the dealership and they couldn't replicate it. We tried replacing the battery. It did it that same day after I left the dealership.

- Rock Island, IL, USA

problem #68

Jan 012018

Pilot

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle violently hesitated to drive and jerked. The vehicle was taken to colonial Honda of dartmouth (225 state rd, dartmouth, MA 02747, (508) 996-6800) where the contact was informed that the software needed to be updated so that the vehicle would not overheat. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

- Dartmouth, MA, USA

problem #67

Oct 182019

Pilot

  • 101,000 miles
Our 2016 Honda Pilot jerks and hesitates; appearing that it does not know which gear to shift into while driving on the highway and on a city street. As recommended by Honda, the transmission service was done at 30,000 mile intervals. However the problem persists. I took the vehicle to the local dealership and was told that the vehicle need a new powertrain control module at a cost of $1400, with no guarantee that it will solve my problem. Option #2 is to replace the transmission at a price of $5,000. I called Honda's corporate customer service and was told that since the vehicle was not under warranty, they could not do anything for me unless their certified mechanic at the dealership let them know that the root cause of the problem was a mechanical defect from the manufacturer. I was given a case number. This is a high risk hazard that needs corrections and corrective actions, not rhetoric. Honda corporation needs to recognize near misses can easily escalate to incidents, if effective controls are not implemented. In addition to this persistent transmission problem, the vehicle's emissions warning light comes on at various times. The dealership says that all of the fuel injectors need to be replaced. I asked about possibly cleaning them. I was told by the service representative that his directive is to replace them and that Honda does not have a procedure in place for cleaning fuel injectors. I was also told by the service representative that a Honda computer code, P0776 (pressure control solenoid B performance or stuck off), was shown. My vehicle was bought new (zero miles) and now have 101,000 miles. It has been served at the recommended intervals stated in Honda's service booklet.

- Fort Mitchell, AL, USA

problem #66

Oct 172019

Pilot

  • 73,000 miles
The vehicle was having sporadic surges of acceleration while driving at speeds of 20 to 50 mph on city streets and while climbing gradual hills on the highway at 65 to 70 mph. Brought it to the dealership and they performed a software update to the transmission and flushed the transmission fluid. Notes from the dealership say it was caused by fluid deterioration.

- Sylvania, OH, USA

problem #65

Oct 072019

Pilot

  • 71,500 miles
While stopped at a traffic light the car put itself into park without my (the driver) knowledge. When the light turned green I attempted to accelerate however the car was in park. I attempted to shift the car into drive and it would not do so. I had to turn the car off and then back on in order to place the car into drive and proceed through the intersection.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #64

Oct 162019

Pilot

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. While driving 25 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. In addition, the vehicle jerked forward forcefully and made an abnormal noise. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred three times within two miles. The vehicle was taken to howdy Honda (located at 5519 E ben white blvd, austin, tx 78741, (512) 686-1544), but the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #63

May 012019

Pilot

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. While driving 30 to 50 mph, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate and jerked. The failure was experienced numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Marshville, NC, USA

problem #62

Sep 222019

Pilot

  • 54,000 miles
Jerking when accelerating (usually happens at speeds between 30mph and 50mph) or heading up a hill at low speeds on city streets and highways. It happens while driving straight and turning in curves. The tac will jump when this is occurring. I have been told there is an issue with the transmission in this model year (the transmission fluid deteriorates quicker than it's supposed to). I've only had this car for 18 months so now I'm worried about the transmission and what damage if any this issue has caused and if I will continue to have trouble with this car.

- Concord, NC, USA

problem #61

Sep 012019

Pilot

  • 54,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. While driving approximately 40 mph or less, the vehicle jerked. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the gear shifted into a different gear, especially on an incline. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The contact called Honda of concord at 704-774-4538 (located at 7650 bruton smith blvd, concord, nc 28027) and scheduled an appointment. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

- Concord, NC, USA

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