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.

2016 Honda Pilot electrical problems

electrical problem

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2016 Honda Pilot Owner Comments (Page 19 of 26)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #150

Dec 012018

Pilot

  • 70,000 miles

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

When going to start the vehicle, continually get "keyless start problem". have been to the dealer 3 times where they say they cannot find any errors logged. I even have pictures of it. Sometimes the car won't even start at all. We at one time had to have it towed after trying to start it for 30 minutes. Got a new batter and problem still exists. Have replaced batteries in both key fobs. Been to 2 other mechanics and no one has any idea what the issue is. The car is always at rest and stitting when this happens. The warninig light won't go off until after the car is turned off.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #149

Sep 212019

Pilot

  • 51,107 miles
Keyless start system error this started appearing after the car was turned off but the accessory system did not turn off. I tried starting and turning it off multiple times and the accessory system would not shut down. After reversing the car and then driving forward and returning to park, the system did turn off but the error warning persisted for several days despite the car functioning properly. The warning went away and returned a few days later and I have also had key not detected messages despite replacing the battery in the fob. At the dealership, I am being told this is a common problem with 2016 Pilot models, but no recall has been issued.

- The Woodlands, TX, USA

problem #148

Oct 022019

Pilot

  • 45,000 miles
2016 Pilot does at red lights when it goes into hybrid/idle mode. Car takes several minutes to restart.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #147

Jan 192019

Pilot

  • miles

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

Display shows remote start system problem, seems like a lot of people have the same issue, according to the internet. Most say it's the start/stop switch in the dash. So far it does not seem to effect the operation of the car just always keeps the light on showing engine problem. Comes on after the car is started and has been since approximately 1/19/2019

- Greenville, TX, USA

problem #146

Sep 302019

Pilot

  • 41,000 miles
I have a 2016 Honda Pilot with 41K miles on it and out of the blue a light came on saying there's a "keyless remote system problem" checking online and it seems to be a issue with the majority of this model and around the same mileage. Some owners can't start their car and the Honda dealer has no answer. They charge you about 200 to try and diagnose.

- Pico Rivera, CA, USA

problem #145

Aug 012019

Pilot

  • 50,000 miles
Keyless entry problem car won't start

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #144

Sep 272019

Pilot

  • 65,000 miles

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

Remote restart system problem message intermittently displays. Key fob battery has been replaced and issue persists. Error occurring more frequently when vehicle is started and remains displayed while driving. Seems to occur now about every third restart.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #143

Aug 172018

Pilot

  • 28,524 miles
This vehicle stalls when the brake is depressed. The engine should restart when your foot comes off the brake. It does not restart. In order to restart the engine, the vehicle has to be put in park position, put foot back on brake, & hold the start button until the vehicle restarts. This is a serious safety issue in traffic.

- Covington, LA, USA

problem #142

Sep 202019

Pilot

  • 66,000 miles
Previous complaint submitted 06/20/2019 complaint # 11221559 this is the 5th time I have taken the vehicle in for the same problem. Car has engine idle when vehicle comes to halt, but what it keeps doing is the engine completly shuts down and gos into park and then the engine turns off. This has happened on freeways.and regular streets. Vehicle is not safe. In June Honda kept my car for 5 days and updated software so they can see problem as they can not relpicate. This car once again is not safe and I fell I will be killed in it.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #141

Sep 202019

Pilot

  • 5 miles
I am having problems with the stop-start system of my 2016 Honda Pilot. We purchased it brand new in 2015 from a Honda dealership and were initially very happy with it's performance. It is equipped with a stop-start system which causes the car to idle when you fully step on the brakes when are at a stop but it would immediately turn back on once you release the brakes.we hardly drive this car since we only use it mainly on weekends for leisure travels with the family. It currently has approximately 33000 miles. Battery is fine. I didn't have any issues with it until maybe in the last year I've noticed it would take take longer to start after releasing the brakes to now it actually completely stalls while at a complete stop in traffic, stop sign, stop-light or when your turning in front of incoming traffic!! this has been happening more often that I now try to always remember to disable the stop-start system manually when I initially start the car. This is very dangerous since the car would completely shut down in the middle of the freeway during traffic, stop lights and stop signs and starting the car back up requires several tries. When it happens, the car makes a popping sound like it wants to start, then all the dashboard lights turns on and then the radio turns off and the car completely turns off!!.trying to start the car back up is not immediate and requires several tries while people behind us are honking their horns like crazy to make you move. Please make sure to have this issue investigated since I noticed many people are having the same issues as me. Thank you for your time.

- Hacienda Heights, CA, USA

problem #140

May 152019

Pilot

  • miles

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

First a lot of different lights were coming on saying different stuff was wrong. So had it fixed. They replaced the spring harness in the steering column. Then not long after the battery died replaced it and now the battery died again then all of a sudden the keyless remote start problem light turned on and the mitigation system doesn't always work it just work then sometimes doesn't work, their is no light that come on to tell me it not working I just know be I'm driving and might raft I drift over a white line and nothing happens and sometimes it work let's me know I'm going over the white line also if I'm coming up on another car to fast it doesn't let me no by beeping and sometimes it does and the center touch screen doesn't work at all and the ac/heat doesn't work either. My Pilot only has 45,000 and about 38,000 when I first started having the problems.

- Mishawaka, IN, USA

problem #139

Sep 202019

Pilot

  • 69,000 miles
When car comes to a stop in traffic, at stop sign or stop light the engine will completely shut down. It does not restart by stepping on the gas. I need to put the car in park and push restart. A message some times appears on the dash that the collision assist has been activated even though there is nothing infront of the vehicle.

- Avon, IN, USA

problem #138

Sep 162019

Pilot

  • 58,000 miles
This issue has occurred about a dozen times over the last few months, but I will simply detail the latest incident which happened yesterday. Car was in busy stop-N-go traffic. Auto-idle start/stop was enabled, as it is every time you start the car. After car was stopped for several seconds, released the brake. Radio cut out, made a popping noise (as if it was trying to start back up), but Pilot just stalled. Dashboard lit up with all lights. Had to switch the gear to

. then press the brake and press the start/stop ignition button. Had to do this several times before the car would actually start. Was on a very busy 5-lane highway, in the far left lane. Extremely dangerous to have our Pilot die in traffic like this. We do not feel safe driving this car, especially with our kids in it!!

- Downers Grove, IL, USA

problem #137

Aug 082019

Pilot

  • 37,000 miles
Our Honda Pilot shuts down while being operated, typically while attempting to resume driving after having been stopped at intersections, making turns, red lights, etc. All electrical components become unresponsive, including starter, shift controller, hazard lights, etc. Typically takes to 5 minutes to restart, leaving us stranded in traffic; an incredibly dangerous situation. This has occurred (5 times so far) with the "auto engine idle stop" engaged and is suspect. 1st attempt by dealer to diagnose & repair involved replacing the battery despite testing "good". shutdowns continued; the last occurred in a 5-lane highway with my wife and 3-year old child on board. 2nd attempt to diagnose & repair, took 4 weeks and a suggested repair of replacing the battery (previous battery less than a year old) and a new starter @ $1,600; even though the technician stated both were "good". conversations with the dealership/technicians acknowledge the suspected problem electrical/computer based but the on-board computer does not record these events. The dealership/technicians state they reported and researched this issue via their in-house tech site but we were told this issue is unknown and isolated to our car. Our solution being a mutually acknowledge, unnecessary repair. I debated their $1,600 "solution" and questioned warranty coverage and was informed if not done, would be recorded as "customer refuses repair". when I asked if the $1,600 would be refunded when the issue resumed (since well agreed the suggested repair was not the solution), I was informed "no". we have not done the repair. A simple internet search shows this is not an isolated problem as we were told and is even recorded here on the NHTSA website numerous times, verbatim to our experience.

- Thomasville, GA, USA

problem #136

Sep 082019

Pilot

  • 49,015 miles
The 2016 Honda Pilot elite auto idle is not functioning properly. While stopping at a stop light on city street, the auto idle turn the engine off to save fuel when I apply the brake and the car stopped while the light is red. Once the light turns green the engine stall when I lift my feet off the brake and the dashboard lights flashed, radio is off and lights and radio turn on again but engine is still off. I had to put the car in park and restart the ignition in order to restart the car. This is a dangerous situation to address during busy traffic area and time. I checked the Honda dealership and there is no recall for this issue. Online community board said that there are many owners with similar issues. Honda needs to fix this for their customers.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #135

Jul 302019

Pilot

  • 45,000 miles
Keyless start system problem error message when starting engine. 2016 Honda Pilot 45K miles. My Honda service dept wants to hook it up for $170 to diagnose problem. He did say if the warning light is orange, not to worry about it too much (I guess red means worry). New batteries in both fobs. This has been ongoing intermittently for 6 weeks - now constant

- Downers Grove, IL, USA

problem #134

Aug 022019

Pilot

  • 60,000 miles
Keyless start system problem" has been popping up on my dashboard for past month when I start the car. It happens with both key fobs. I have 60,000 miles on Pilot. Doesn't seem to affect car yet but I have read online that others are having this problem which is causing issues with car not starting. Online comments suggest Honda has no clear way to fix it.

- Enfield, CT, USA

problem #133

Sep 012018

Pilot

  • 35,000 miles
2016 Pilot intermittently shows error message 'keyless start system problem'. there isn't a pattern when error message occurs or why it suddenly stops appearing. Appears if I start while in the car or remote starting with either key fab. According to dealership, they aren't sure what's causing the issue.

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #132

Sep 042019

Pilot

  • 42,000 miles
An error with the "keyless start system" keeps re-occurring. An error code "keyless start system problem" shows up. Did a google search and this seems to be a common issue with 2016 Honda Pilot.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #131

Aug 292019

Pilot

  • 38,000 miles
Car turns off completely while driving, does not respond to attempts to restart right away

- Raleigh, NC, USA

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