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.
6.0
fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,100
Average Mileage:
135,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
smart power control unit-part #38320tg7a32 (1 reports)
With no keys in sight, vehicle will out of nowhere try to start itself. All dash lights flicker and make sounds. Lights will come on and off. Have to disconnect battery. Otherwise it will just drain it. I had a dead battery on several mornings. I had it at an independent garage twice and they can't figure out the problem. Recently, I have read similar reports that say problem is due to a faulty body control module. There is actually a recall regarding the BCM for 2018-2020 accord, accord hybrid, and Insight. Reports I've read of affected vehicles with this same problem go back to 2015 Odyssey.
I haven't trusted running the vehicle so it has not been driven since this summer. However, since I read these reports recently I will drive the vehicle until the problem presents itself again. It could be days or several weeks for it to occur. It seems to come out of nowhere. Then, I will take it to a Honda dealership. I have been resistant to go to the dealership with an electrical problem in fear of spending a lot of money and the problem still persisting. Since reading about the success of fixing the problem by replacing the BCM, I feel more confident now to take it to the dealership. Of course, if this is not an uncommon issue, I wish Honda would just extend their current recall to earlier years.
Update from Jun 22, 2022: dealership said issue was faulty smart power control unit. Had it replaced yesterday and both key fobs reprogrammed. Cost was $1100.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
With no keys in sight, vehicle will out of nowhere try to start itself. All dash lights flicker and make sounds. Lights will come on and off. Have to disconnect battery. Otherwise it will just drain it. I had a dead battery on several mornings. I had it at an independent garage twice and they can't figure out the problem. Recently, I have read similar reports that say problem is due to a faulty body control module. There is actually a recall regarding the BCM for 2018-2020 accord, accord hybrid, and Insight. Reports I've read of affected vehicles with this same problem go back to 2015 Odyssey.
I haven't trusted running the vehicle so it has not been driven since this summer. However, since I read these reports recently I will drive the vehicle until the problem presents itself again. It could be days or several weeks for it to occur. It seems to come out of nowhere. Then, I will take it to a Honda dealership. I have been resistant to go to the dealership with an electrical problem in fear of spending a lot of money and the problem still persisting. Since reading about the success of fixing the problem by replacing the BCM, I feel more confident now to take it to the dealership. Of course, if this is not an uncommon issue, I wish Honda would just extend their current recall to earlier years.
Update from Jun 22, 2022: dealership said issue was faulty smart power control unit. Had it replaced yesterday and both key fobs reprogrammed. Cost was $1100.
- Keith W., Centreville, US