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 23 of 26)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #70

Mar 092019

Pilot

  • miles

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

I have 45000 miles on a 2016 Pilot ex. I recently began getting a keyless start system problem error message in the instrument cluster. Engine will not start, have to constantly keep pressing the start botton and stepping foot break. Also notice my "walk away lock feature" stopped working. I check online and a lot of Honda Pilot owner are having the same issues. Please help investigate. Thank you.

- Oxnard, CA, USA

problem #69

Mar 012018

Pilot

  • 29,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. While operating the vehicle and while at a stop light, the auto idle stop feature activated normally, but the vehicle would not immediately restart when the driver released the brake pedal and depressed the accelerator pedal. The failure occurred on several occasions. During the failure, several instructional prompts appeared, explaining how to restart the vehicle. On one occasion, the vehicle could not be restarted and was towed to sterling mccall Honda (22575 hwy 59 North, kingwood, tx 77339). While at the dealer, the vehicle operated normally and the cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 29,000.

- Porter, TX, USA

problem #68

Jan 172019

Pilot

  • 48,000 miles
My vehicle has multiple system error messages that have come on and off when turning on the car and some have became much more frequent and remain on while driving. 1. keyless starting system error- happens frequently when vehicle is turned on and remains on while driving. 2. antilock brake system error- when vehicle is powered on and remains on for about 20 mins after driving vehicle and returns when car is powered on. 3. charging system error- was coming on occasionally and as of today has came on every time the vehicle is powered on and remains on while driving. 4. brake system problem- occasionally comes on when car is powered on and comes off after driving vehicle. Also, the most recent issues I've had was the driver seat does not warm up when seat warmer is turned on and while driving the vehicle at approximately 30mph vehicle begins to jerk as if it is struggling to drive. These problems have become much more frequent and have become a safety concern for me and my children.

- Wilmington, CA, USA

problem #67

Mar 222019

Pilot

  • miles

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

Have a keyless start system problem on my 2016 Honda Pilot. Light is on from the time you turn the vehicle on. It will occasionally go off but then reappear when the vehicle is started again. Had the key fob in my pocket and the vehicle would not lock when the button on the door was pressed. Had to use the remote to lock the vehicle. Need to have the keyless access replaced for $500+ part is currently on back order with no eta. According to blogs other Pilot owners have had the same issue could this be why the part is on back order with no eta?? overall not happy with the vehicle. Have had nothing but issues.

- Lebanon, PA, USA

problem #66

Dec 112018

Pilot

  • 32,000 miles
I have been getting a keyless system start error upon starting my car since 32,000 miles. It has been intermittent and the local Honda dealership has been unable to correct this issue. This issue has become less intermittent as time has gone on; meaning that the problem/error message is nearly constant. I have changed the battery in both keyless remotes, but this has not corrected the issue. The dealership has tried to reset the error code and update the computer. Neither of these have corrected the issue. The message did go away for a day or two, but has returned. This issue has also caused the car to no longer use the away lock system and my keyless remote does not work at times and/or the auto lock switch in the cars. This issue has happened while the car was stationary. The error message will bing as a reminder while the car is on. I have also had the message suddenly appear while driving down the road. My local dealership stated that they have notified Honda of this issue, but there has been no response from Honda. This issue was reported over a month ago. I am afraid that this issue may cause the vehicle to not come on or possible shut the car off while in motion. I am already apprehensive with the locks not working properly at times because of this issue.

- Waycross, GA, USA

problem #65

Mar 122019

Pilot

  • 42,000 miles
While driving car, the panel will show "key fob not detected". when a door is opened, it will beep and display "key fob not detected"

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #64

Mar 092019

Pilot

  • 38,000 miles

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

2016 Honda pilt LX, 38000 miles "keyless start system problem" light comes on every few days. The dealership told me that it was a problem with a ground wire and that they fixed it but few days after my visit the light came back up.

- Kenilworth, NJ, USA

problem #63

Feb 202019

Pilot

  • 85,000 miles
I receive a keyless start system problem error message that comes on when the car is started. I have changed the batteries in my remotes and sometimes the message goes away for a day or two. I have put a brand new battery in the car and the message went away for a day and then returned. The message comes and goes randomly.

- Monroe, NC, USA

problem #62

Jan 242019

Pilot

  • 47,000 miles
When starting my car warning on dashboard goes on 'keyless starting system problem'. I've fixed it twice already, but from what I've seen online it comes back.

- Wilmington, CA, USA

problem #61

Nov 172018

Pilot

  • 28,000 miles
Our 3 year old car at about 28,000 miles started displaying the warning message "keyless start system problem" nearly almost every time it is started. (note, this problem developed the month after it's warranty expired...) when the message first displayed we took it to the dealer, they could not find any problem with the starting system, only that our electronics system needed an update. With the update, the message disappeared for a few weeks, but has now returned and is appearing nearly every time we start the car. This happens regardless of whether mine or my wife's key is used, and changing the battery in the keys has not changed anything either. We have never had an actual issue with starting the car, it's just that we now have to live with this constant warning light. In looking online, there are multiple forums dedicated to this exact issue for 2016 Honda Pilot's and it sounds like it is fairly well established issue for this make / model.

- Bartlett, TN, USA

problem #60

Feb 022019

Pilot

  • miles

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

I'm getting keyless start system problem when I googled it appears there are lot of people having this problem. I am not why Honda is recalling this issue please review this issue. Thank you ismail

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #59

Dec 042018

Pilot

  • 36,000 miles
Keyless remote system problem. Noticed this problem after reaching 36,000 miles

- Moorpark, CA, USA

problem #58

Mar 292018

Pilot

  • 37,000 miles
The TPMS system isn't monitoring the wheels sensors. The sensors were check and are good. The problem is that TPMS system that not appear in the control panel to reset this. The light of TPMS system is on all the time. This occured to 37,000 milles aprox.

- Caguas, PR, USA

problem #57

Jan 152019

Pilot

  • 0 miles
Error message 'keyless start system problem' this recently start happening, I have recently brought it in to the dealer and they ran a diagnosis and found no real error so they have reset the ignition switch but now it's back on.

- San Gabriel, CA, USA

problem #56

Jan 062018

Pilot

  • 44,000 miles
The keyless start system appears to be faulty. The vehicle has begun to intermittently, but increasingly, show a keyless start error that prevents the vehicle from being started with the starter button. Multiple attempts are sometimes necessary to get the vehicle to start. A critical system such as this should not fail in this fashion, completely disabling the vehicle, given its current mileage of 44,610.

- Richland, WA, USA

problem #55

Jan 062019

Pilot

  • 58,000 miles
The first incident was on Oct 7, 2018. We were at a stop light with the engine idle option enabled. When the light turned green and the brake was released, the vehicle should have started back up, but instead, it stalled. After the 2nd time it occurred, we started to disable the engine idle feature as soon as we start the car. We have forgotten a few times and the vehicle stalling has happened at least 3 additional times. All being at red lights with the brake depressed. When the foot is removed from the brake, the vehicle jerks slightly and then stalls. Once on Nov. 1, 2018 and again most recently on Jan. 6, 2018. Luckily, no one has been injured yet. It has been serviced regularly at the dealership directly and received all maintenance recommended. The most recent service, they were unable to duplicate the error or identify the issue.

- Keller, TX, USA

problem #54

Jan 092018

Pilot

  • miles
The Honda Pilot 2016 keeps saying remote key less start system, the dealer is not able to fix it, they dont know whats wrong, it is going on for more than 5 months, this happens when you try to start the car

- Sharpsburg, GA, USA

problem #53

Nov 012018

Pilot

  • 38,000 miles
When starting car, keyless start problem comes up on dash. Car starts fine, everything works. But warning remains until car is shut off. Taken to dealer several times, replaced batteries at the dealer. They have no answers. Even made sure my purse or phone were not the issue. At a loss. Problem started in November. Almost 38,000 miles on it. Seems like this is the magic number according to other complaints I have read. The remote start does not always work. Tried it at a close proximity and it worked but the warning came up as keyless start system problem. It never did that before. Again, everything seems to work fine, there is something wrong none the less.

- Sheridan, WY, USA

problem #52

Dec 032018

Pilot

  • 38,000 miles
I was driving in stop and go traffic on a freeway, my foot was on the brake and car was in drive, when I took my foot off break and pushed gas pedal the car would not go. I tried to put it in park and it would not go, I tried to turn off car and it wouldn't turn off. The message on the dashboard said to push brake and turn on car (same message as when I remote start car) after 2 solid minutes, the car finally drove. The problem seems to be impacted by the econ mode which shuts off engine when brake pedal is fully engaged. You are able to turn this mode off on the gear shift but have to do it every time you start the car.

- West Hills, CA, USA

problem #51

Nov 272018

Pilot

  • 39,000 miles
Keyless start system error appears randomly and the walk away lock feature no longer works. It happens in all types of weather with both key fobs. Batteries were also changed in the key fob. Seems like a common issue with no clear answer why

- Canton, CT, USA

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