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.
During extremely cold weather, all system failure indications scroll on the display. Happens intermittently and will reset itself over time. I renders the systems useless as well. Alarms include hill start assist, trailer stability assist, road departure mitigation assist, emissions, AWD and eps. Many of these systems are safety features and no longer respond until battery cable is removed or reset after time.
On numerous occasions, beginning just months after purchase, I have had all of the indicator light turn on on my dash, including the lkas, collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, road departure and various notifications for my bluetooth, radio and navigation come on. Also, my backup camera will have a black screen and then my maps will be gray with no information. My car will suddenly brake when there is no one in front of me and surge forward as I'm to coming to a stop and the RPM's will raise, it's like I'm sliding over ice for a short period of time. I also can't make phone calls using the system, as it won't recognize any of my voice tags. And instead will give me every contact in my phone book with a home number when I ask for it to call home. Recently the ABS is activating as I turn my wheels to the right while backing our of parking spaces, either on a driveway or flat surface. These may happen while driving or stationary and just turning the car on. It just isn't safe. I've had people slam on their brakes to avoid hitting me as my car decides to suddenly stop for no reason and have fear that I may rear end someone due to it lurching forward while stopping, so now I stop even further away from vehicles and objects - just in case. I'm also experiencing a popping noise coming from my speaker system that seems to occur whenever my ac compressor switches on or off or if I'm using my door locks, leading me to wonder if I'm actually having electrical issues. I've taken it to the dealer numerous times and they of course say that they can't duplicate the issues. So I show them all of my photos and videos. I'm not alone with many of these problems. I see others complaining of similar issues as well. Honda needs to repair our vehicles or buy them back. I've always loved Honda but after my experience with this vehicle, they may have lost my business.
On numerous occasions I have had all of the indicator lights on on my dash, including the lkas, collission mitigation, adaptive cruise control, road departure, and various notifications for my bluetooth, radio, and navigation come on. Also, my back up camera will have a black screen and then my maps will be gray with no information. My car will suddenly brake when there is no one in front of me and surge forward as I'm trying to come to a stop, like my brakes aren't working. I also can't make any phone calls using the system, as it wont recognize any voice tags and instead gives me every contact in my phone book that may have a home number. Recently the ABS is activating as I turn my wheels to the right while backing out of parking spaces. These may happen while driving or while stationary. It just isn't safe. I've had people slam on their brakes to avoid my car as it suddenly stops for no reason and have feared that I may rear end someone due to it lurching forward, so now I stop really far back from other vehicles. I'm also experiencing a popping noise coming from my speaker system that seems to occur whenever my ac compressor switches on and off, leading me to wonder if I'm experiencing electrical issues with this vehicle. I've taken it to the dealer so many times and they say that they can't "duplicate" this. So I show them the photos and the videos. I'm not alone with many of these problems. I see others complaining as well. Honda needs to repair our vehicles or buy them back. I've always loved Honda's but after my experience with this vehicle, they may have lost me as a customer. My family's safety is too important to leave in the hands of a corporation that cares more about their bottom line, than their customers.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that various warning indicators and gauges illuminated on the instrument panel cluster. The dealer (Honda city long island, 3859 hempstead turnpike, levittown, NY 11756, (516) 735-8900) scheduled an appoinment and indicated that they provided a pgmfi software update, but it failed to provide a solution. The various warning indicators and gauges continued to illuminate. The manufacturer was notified of the failure to determine if they could provide a solution. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
- Valley Stream, NY, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
1. I am getting static on the radio, the dealership is not solving this issue completely. I know by turning on and off the car it will resolve it for an amount of time and it comes back. This occurs when driving and not driving. 2. issues with tire low pressure the dealership is not solving this issue completely. I know by adding air it will resolve it for an amount of time and it comes back. This occurs when driving and not driving.
The collision mitigation system comes on and issues a warning that it no longer operates after driving along a road where there are numerous orange cones along the side of the road. The systems states it is overloaded and stops functioning. System must be re-coded by dealer in order for system to work again. Dealer says there is no fix. Recommendation is to turn off the system whenever encountering this situation. This essentially makes defeats the purpose of the system.
Collision mitigation system failure indicator on dash as car moves past multiple highway safety cones. System appears to be overloaded as it detects cones on side of road. Codes must be reset in order for system to work again. Honda cannot fix this at this point. This has happened multiple times with the car.
2016 Honda Pilot 12,442 miles. The vehicle did not start after parked for about an hour. Vehicle electrical system had power but no start. Dealer claimed that the problem was a 2 year old battery. Cluster lights flashing and various system problem codes displayed. Dealer updated software with a service bulletin. I am wondering if the software issue damaged or drained my battery. Also A/C compressor loud grinding noise found at cold start when A/C turned on after vehicle parked for a couple of days. The issue has been recorded but dealer can not duplicate. Currently being repaired also for a noise found under steering wheel while slightly turning. It might be an issue with the wiring in the steering electrical system and this can create a problem with the controls found on the steering wheel including the airbag and horn. It took 6 hours for roadside assistance to pick up the vehicle after being stranded in remote area late at night due to a failure in their system which they are working on improving. They just don't make them like they used to. Too much technology for the manufacturers to keep up with it.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V668000 (electrical system). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (valley Honda, 296 lee jackson hwy, staunton, va 24401) to be repaired. While the vehicle was being repaired, it was diagnosed that the instrument cluster failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer stated that there was a 1% chance of the cluster failing again due to the part being defective. The manufacturer was notified and was working with the local dealer to find a remedy. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 11/03/17 consumer stated instrument cluster failed. Car sold, VIN invaid updated 7/18/18
Emission problem and engine malfunction warning lights on for no apparent reason. This has occurred twice within the past three weeks. Dealership reset alarms first time and now new software installed today. Honda had issued a service advice about the issue. Hopefully this takes care of the problem.
Engine stops won't restart multiple warning light flashing giving appearance of computer failure. Second incident. First incident dealer said no problem after checking battery. Second incident in traffic when failure occurred (5/25/17 approx 8 a.M) blocking intersection. Fortunately we were slowing to stop at light. Video of dash available too large to upload.
Front end creeking/loud pop when taking off and turning. Not continuous. Had it test driven by Honda dealership mechanic twice. I was told it was normal... and never check under the vehicle. Also, Honda recalled software for navigation panel... but the same issues have arisen again.
Rear tailgate opening and closing without control once selecting this option on the door control, rear tailgate button and on key fob. Does not sense when something or someone is under the door upon closure which is a standard safety feature of this automobile. This tailgate fails to open and close opporopriately and has closed on my head and others when operating this tailgate for loading and unloading purposes.
I was driving around town running errands. As I pulled out of a parking lot, my display panel showed emissions system problem and the engine light came on. Called dealer and they said it's not a big concern unless engine light was flashing and to bring it in after the weekend (was a Friday afternoon). Drove it 30 minutes home at 55-65 mph and noticed no problems. Drove it that distance and speed to take it to the dealer as well with no problems. Picked it up a few days later. Service notes indicate: Code P0328, knock sensor failure, replaced knock sensor and retested, ok at this time. After picking it up, was about 10 min away and trying to go from 60 to 68 and set cruise. Speed began to jump around, not staying at a speed for more than a second 70-60-65-68-63, etc. Engine light now flashing took off cruise and it continued. Turned around to head back to dealer. Car working fine for a bit, but then continued to jerk at different speeds (60, 40, 25). Was stopped at light and engine was still revving at 4 RPM. Stepped off brake and car accelerated on own to 25. Dealer notes: Code P2638, idle relearn, torque management feedback, performed relearn. Today, 6 days after picking it up, I was stopped at a stoplight. Eco button is on, engine idle is running, seat warmer and heater on. While I was still applying brake, the engine idle sounded like it was trying to kick off and the whole car shut off on me. All indicator lights came on, but the engine was off and nothing was running. Turned car off and back on, drove the 2 miles to the dealer, and left it with them.
Less than a month after purchasing the car, the cabin lights stopped working. The fuse was replaced, but it happened again. Then the electric in the rear hatch is faulty. At random, when we open the hatch, it will come back down on its own and then it won't work at all for a period of time. This happens with the key fob and also when using the button in the door. The vehicle is stationary when this happens. We took it in to get it fixed, we were told that it was fixed, and the very next day the problem continued.
On 3 separate occasions, our 2016 Honda Pilot elite has completely shut down while we were driving - twice on the highway and once in busy traffic. When this happens, the engine, transmission, power steering, etc. All stop working and the car displays every error you can imagine. I have posted a video here: Https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=btebmywy-is this is very scary because there is nothing you can do to get the car working again - luckily, we have been able to coast to the side of the road. When it first happened, we called Honda emergency roadside assistance and we had a tow on the way when we tried restarting the car several times in a row and that cleared the errors. Since then, we have used the same trick to get the car running again but it has happened twice in the last week - very scary! I have found other similar complaints online so it's clear that there's some kind of computer or electric problem with this model - it's just not obvious what triggers it. We are going to try to trade in our car for a different model because Honda has not been able to provide any help in spite of the fact that we have taken it to the dealer 3 times - I am very disappointed with their service on this.
Car is throwing fault codes for transmission, check engine, electrical. The car suddenly goes to "engine limp mode". hard shifting, shuttering and loss of power. Random occurrences. Has been to dealer 3 times for same issue. Issue occurs from a start or at low speeds 20-35mph while in motion. The hard shifting is causing long term damage to the drive train.
Two separate incidents in sacramento, ca where we experienced engine failure with our 2016 Honda pilate elite. The first incident occurred in May 2016 on a busy city street with our three young children in the car. While in motion, the car essentially shut down with the display screen showing a series of warnings indicating numerous system failures. There was no engine power but luckily I was able to coast the vehicle to a nearby parking lot. The dealer indicated there was no problem, just a computer glitch, and the only repair necessary was to reset the computer/software. The second incident occurred last week, only this time while driving on the freeway. We completely lost all engine power but luckily I was in the right lane and I was able to coast to the side and pull over on the shoulder. If I had been in the fast or middle lane with little opportunity to move over, there could have been a serious collision. Similar to the first incident, we were unable to start the car with the warning lights showing various system failures. We had the car towed to the same dealer who initially indicated they would just reboot the software again. So we pressed upon them to do a more thorough diagnosis since this is the second time its happened. They agreed to keep the vehicle and seek to identify the root cause of the problem. At this point no diagnosis has been made. We would have never expected this from a near brand new (purchased in December 2015 and currently has only 9,200 miles) Pilot elite loaded with safety and technology features. Again we experienced two separate incidents where the car immediately shut down while in motion with the most recent occurring on the freeway. And both times our three young children were in the vehicle. This is a huge safety risk and I certainly hope Honda does its due diligence in diagnosing and addressing this issue.
Honda Pilot 2016 touring. Vehicle battery drains overnight or in a few hours for no reason. The vehicle would not start and would have to be transported to the dealership or have battery recharged for a long time. After recharge, safety equipment such as sensors, emergency stop, etc. Stop working. Contacted Honda and took vehicle to dealership multiple times. One time they replaced the battery and other times did something else but they are unable to resolve the problem. We believe vehicle is unsafe to drive. This problem seems to be encountered by many Honda Pilot 2016 owners which is reported online. They all complain of taking their vehicle to Honda dealership only to be told the dealership unable to resolve the issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fort Peck, MT, USA