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 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,036 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.
Keyless start system problem: This has been a recurring issue. The Honda dealer keeps saying it's the battery, replaces the battery, fixes the issue for a day. The next day, the keyless start system problem comes back on the dash board. Must not be a key fob battery issue.
When I try to start the vehicle by pressing the start/stop button while sitting in the vehicle with my foot on the brake, the key fob in my hand, and the vehicle in park, the vehicle will not start. Also, after several attempts, if the vehicle does start, I get a message 'keyless start system problem' and it often times takes several attempts to turn the vehicle off.
Vehicle start after several attempts of pausing the start stop button. After starting vehicle displays 'keyless start system problem'. discussed with several other 2016 Honda Pilot owners who shared same issues. This owner believes this is a major electrical issue which should be solved by a recall.
Keyless start system problem notification using either fob, even after battery change. Dealer unable to detect or remedy issue. Possibly impacts walk-away autolock.
The push button to start the button is very unreliable. I have you push the button dozens of times to get the vehicle to turn on or off. I also get a warning on the dash that says, "keyless start system problem".
We have a 2016 Honda Pilot touring. Since early 2018 we have been having issues with the idle stop system. The problem is when we are driving and we come to stop in traffic at a light, the idle stop system engages and shuts the engine down, like it is suppose to do. Once the light turns green for traffic to move, I release the brake and the idle stop system tries to engage and turn the engine on again, but fails and shuts the whole vehicle down, inoperable. The lights flash and I cannot turn the car on again for at least 1 to 2 minutes. Vehicles are honking and traffic is blaring across us, but I cannot turn the vehicle back on. After 2 minutes, I can restart the vehicle by pushing the button and brake and then the vehicle moves. This is a safety issue, since you never know when it wil lol happen, but it has always happened while in heavy trafffic or a busy intersection. In 2019, I took vehicle in for service, they said it was a bad battery. I replaced the battery in March 2019. The same identical problem still continued to occur multiple times. November 10 took the same dealer, howdy Honda, austin, tx. They again told me the battery was reading bad, but I had the battery tested at another shop and at the place of purchase, and the battery was more then fine and tested great in and out of the vehicle. The dealer of course said they could not recreate the issue and did not see anything when they tested the system. They just pawned it off on the battery, even though the battery is less than 2 years old and testing just fine. There is no way to permanently disable the system and if I forget to push the idle stop disengage button every time I start the vehicle, I could end up on the road in the middle of traffic and some driver decides not to pay attention and run into me and my disabled vehicle. This is unacceptable and such a hazard and Honda does not seem to care.
Keyless start system problem appeared with no associated issues such as starting the vehicle. Error message was intermittent for 2-3 months. Ultimately it became a constant error. Mechanic performed diagnosis and reported that this error should be coupled with vehicle starting issues. The alarm was reset and came back within 48 hours. The vehicle had approximately 58K miles when the problem began. Honda Pilot forums indicate that this is a common problem with the 2016 Pilot. Owners have exhausted the root cause analysis (electronic switch replacement, ignition module replacement with dealerships). However, the problem does not always go away. My error appeared while starting the vehicle (stationary position).
The push button to start the button is very unreliable. I have you push the button dozens of times to get the vehicle to turn on or off. I also get a warning on the dash that says, "keyless start system problem"
Keyless start system problem appears when I start the car. The car still starts (for now at least) but I have discovered that this is a problem with Honda Pilot especially around the 33,000 to 38,000 miles. Honda does not seem to know what to do about this.
My car died on me at a stop sign with the idle start/stop feature with 50K miles on it on 12/3/2019. (one week prior, the 'emissions system problem' popped up.) I came to a stop at a very busy intersection. The idle start/stop kicked in. When I went to take my foot off the brake to hit the gas, my Pilot completely died on me. It wouldn't restart. My dash looked like a christmas tree with all the different lights/warnings popping up every time I would try to start it. My friend came to jump it & it would not start. After over 2.5 hours blocking traffic & 2 police officers having to direct traffic, while waiting for a tow truck, I finally got my car to the dealership. First day they said they had no clue what was wrong with it. 2nd day they called & said the problem was just a software update for the idle start/stop. They said it's a known issue & there is no recall & they are fixing them only as the issue presents itself. Forward to 2/21/2020. 'emissions system problem' pops up again. I drop my Pilot off at the dealership again on 2/24/2020. This time they say all my fuel injectors need to be replaced. The next day they call me again to say when they got in there, my seals were bad & they needed to replace those too. After 3 days, I got my Pilot back. Ever since I have had it back, my idle start/stop has acted like it wasn't going to come back on every time I drive it & I try to remember to turn it off when I get in my car. I go from the brake to the gas & it dings & then 'collision mitigation system problem' pops up & then goes away. 10/31/2020 died on me stopped at a red light again with the idle start/stop feature on. I had to call 911 & have it towed to the dealership again.
Since buying this vehicle the transmission and computer module have already been replaced once due to similar problem. While my son was driving around a corner on a city block so turning left at 15 miles per hour the transmission suffered a failure and error message and accelerated forcing him off the road. Dealer has denied any assistance.
Part 35881-TG7-702 - the dashboard start button - is defective and no longer working consistently at 48,000 miles. I have to hit the start button multiple times for the car to start and once it starts I often get an error message ""keyless start system problem" when driving. I have researched this and it seems to be a very common problem - it should be a recall on this part, not a repair I have to pay for.
The biggest issue is a 'keyless start system' issue. Message is on dashboard constantly. Looking at complaint boards for 2016 Honda Pilot, I'm shocked this isn't a recall. Seems to be a common problem. And a worry that car will suddenly stop while on highway. Also the car has a constant 'rev, rev, rev' pulling at times while driving. Always an issue when behind someone and you worry it will rev and jump ahead and hit car in front of you. Took it into dealership and they supposedly fixed it but still not fixed. Again looking at boards, this seems to be an issue.
Keyless start system problem is showing in the instrument panel. I noticed lots of Honda Pilot owner are reporting the same issues. I am able to start the car and drive but I am afraid it may have to do with the engine being disabled so I will park it until there is a solution. This has to be a defect.
Purchased a 2016 Pilot ex-L certified used with 8K. While pressing the brakes, they would go pretty far down before engaging. If I let up on the pedal and press again, they immediately grab like they are supposed. I have taken the vehicle in several times, brakes bled and flushed, still the same. I was informed that Honda says the distance of brake pedal pressing down is 2" is normal. I also had issues with the screen going out, and the driver side vent wouldn't stay up, and the A/C wasn't cooling property. Also the system wont connect to my phone randomly. I now had a problem with the transmission. Makes a rattling noise while driving/coasting at any speed. Have taken it in and was told it was the bumper and hood noise. After paying for that, I still have the noise. The rpms jumps from under 2 to just above two, then down again. When the rpms do this the noise happens and also the econo mode turns off to white, then green again. Now it feels like when this happens the transmission feels as iff it is trying to go into gear, slipping. Now when driving and trying to pass, it seems to slip. It is definitely a safety issue! come on Honda please fix the issues.
After automatic idle engine stop/start engages and shut off vehicle at stop light, vehicle occasionally will not restart automatically. Results in being stopped and stalled out in traffic for several minutes after which it will restart via manual process.
Keyless start system problem error. This error message pops up on the screen for weeks at a time and the disappears for awhile only to reappear. So far I haven't had a problem actually starting the vehicle. The problem is the switch assembly, engine start & stop - Honda (35881-TG7-A03). There are hundreds of complaints on the Honda Pilot problem forums, yet Honda does not recall the vehicles to resolve the problem. Instead the dealers charge ~ $150 to diagnose the problem and $300-400 to replace the unit. I watched a video of a handyman replace the unit in 7 minutes and he paid only $70 for the part. This is criminal behavior NY Honda and its dealers in my opinion. I will just fix it myself, but I shouldn't have to. Youtube video of problem and repair. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=mxfybfr57mc&ab_channel=bryanshattuck
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Norfolk, VA, USA