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:
4 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,967 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.
I have a 2016 touring Pilot with just over 38,000 miles. Since about 25,000 miles I have felt that there was an odd hesitation with the auto-off feature that I'd not noticed during the initial period of ownership. The issue escalated to the point which it would actually stall out at an intersection and the vehicle would not turn back on for a few minutes. The dealership replaced the battery and said that they could see the error and that there was an issue caused by the battery. A few months later the issue started to happen again and stalled for my wife again with our kids in the car at a busy intersection. The car went back into the dealership and they have now had it for close to 6 weeks with little to no update as to what is going on. This is a horribly unsafe issue and I know for a fact that many people are having the same issue as referenced in this blog: Https://www.piloteers.org/forums/114-2016-third-generation-Pilot/157005-elite-shuts-off-stop-light-5.html the fact that Honda can not come up with a fix for the issue is a very scary thought. We as consumers need someone to help hold Honda accountable to provide a safe driving experience for our families.
We have had multiple, ongoing problems with our 2016 Honda Pilot elite since early on in our ownership. When I try to go after coming to a stop, the car tries to stall and has stalled several times in the middle of the road. When it stalls, it has switched itself to neutral and for several minutes, it will not let me do anything to try to get the car going again such as change gears, start the car, etc. As I try to get it going, it will tell me that I need to start the engine to change the gear back to drive but will not do anything when I press the start button. Further, there are several issues with the infotainment system: The back up camera goes black, the entire system reboots while driving, the audio screen freezes and audio ceases while driving, the entire screen goes black except the time line on top while driving, and the navigation screen blacks out while driving. Despite providing video and photographic evidence of the issues, Honda kept saying they couldn't replicate it and thus couldn't test it, but when I was able to bring it to them with the screen frozen, they said there were no tests they could run. They finally tried replacing the infotainment system, but the issues returned. These issues are on top of the fact that they replaced the dvd player because it was looping. We feel we have received a lemon and that these issues cause a hazard during what should be normal operation of our vehicle.
When trying to start vehicle you receive 'keyless start system problem'. taken to the dealer twice and not able to diagnose the issue. Vehicle has 49000 miles today and have had this intermittent issue since 42000 miles. Fob batteries have both been replaced and supposedly reprogrammed. Still unable to resolve. Let me know if and how you were able to resolve the issue.
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.
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.
On 2 occasions, the automatic idle stop has turned off the engine and not allowed the car to be turned back on. One time the vehicle eventually restarted, but the second time the vehicle had to be jumped by highway patrol. It was at a busy interstate exit ramp, stopped at a stoplight, and we were unable to move the vehicle out of the way. It was a very dangerous situation. We had the battery tested and it was good. I contacted Honda via email and they just responded that there were no recalls and to contact the dealer. The dealer said that they are unable to permanently disable the feature. Now, to ensure that I am not in another dangerous situation due to this feature, I have to manually disable it every time I turn the car on.
When engine tries to restart from idle stop the engine stalls and fails to restart. Has done this numerous times and the dealer can not replicate the issue. Is a danger while at a busy intersection. Radio also turns off when trying to restart. This happens almost every time the vehicle goes into idle stop mode.
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.
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.
2016 Honda Pilot A/C grinding noise after activated at cold start after more than 36-48 hours parked. When A/C activated while driving vehicle belt system slips and pulls forward loosing speed. A/C compressor damage confirmed by dealer and Honda confirmed and acknowledged problem due to severe loop on the A/C suction hose design on this model causing issues with the oil flow. Issue found at 12,444 miles and current mileage 17,874.ongoing issue since 2016. No fix at the moment according to Honda. According to this there's an issue with the clutch engagement which explains the loss of power on the belt system.
Vehicle turns off completely when auto off feature engages while in a stopped condition. On two occasions, vehicle refused to restart for several minutes. The first time, the vehicle restarted after 2-3 minutes, the second time it happened, car would not restart until 10-15 min after the occurrence. During both occurrences, I was in a stop condition with foot on the brake, vehicle in drive. Dealer says battery tests fine and cannot replicate the issue, but I know there are others experiencing same problem. This is a major safety issue. Only out of shear luck, it happened to me while at a residential gate key pad punching in the code, and then today while in the drive thru of a fast food place. If this would happen on a busy street, at a busy intersection, while sitting in standstill traffic on interstate, etc, it could be extremely dangerous.
Honda Pilot 2016 model with 30000 miles has stalled on highway interstate suddenly within 2 min of signalling messages of engine temperature too hot, transmission system problem, emission system problem etc...and went into neutral mode with failure of brakes. Car would not respond to brakes as it went to neutral state. Also noticed a burning or gasoline smell inside the car. I had to apply parking brake to stop the vehicle from moving on highway which could have led to a major crash. As I was not on the speeding lanes, things were not worse. I had to call 911 and they helped me move my car to a shoulder and later towed to Honda dealership. This was the second time happening for the same issue where earlier it happened on a local road. The same dealer kept the car for a week and returned the car saying its fixed.within 30 min of driving into the highway, it stalled again this time the situation being on highway. The car is now returned to same dealer who fixed first time and is under investigation.
Auto stop malfunction first year of owning the Pilot elite, the auto stop function worked and would restart after coming to a stop. By the second year, after coming to a stop in city traffic and engine is supposed to come back on, it stalls and shuts off and needs to be shifted to neutral and then restart engine. Have taken the car for services since having this issue and reporting the issue to the dealership and they are unable to fix the issue or replicate the problem. Now into year 3 of ownership the auto stop function has gotten worse because now when it shuts off after auto stopping, it takes a couple of minutes before you are able to restart the car. This is very unsafe at an intersection when the light turns green. Only way around this issue is to disable the auto stop function at the beginning of the drive which defeats the purpose of having such a function and we aren't able to permanently disable the function. I have reported this problem each and every time I have taken it in to the dealership for service and they have run diagnostics and said they weren't able to replicate the issue.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds, the "auto idle disabler" feature engaged on several occasions. The vehicle stalled without warning after the brake pedal was depressed at a stop light. Three weeks later, while driving approximately 15 mph on the freeway, the "auto idle disabler" feature engaged again while in heavy traffic and the vehicle stalled. The contact shifted the gear into park, disabled the power, and restarted the vehicle. In addition, while the vehicle was stationary, all of the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. While driving 55 mph, on another occasion, the vehicle failed to shift gears properly and the rpms rapidly increased to 5,000. Also, the reverse gear shifter became inoperative and the gears would not shift while driving 55 mph. Big star Honda (11200 gulf freeway, houston, Texas 77034) could not diagnose and duplicate the failures. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start when attempting to drive. Also, while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was not able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road. While in traffic, the vehicle restarted independently after ten minutes and was able to drive normally. The vehicle was taken to Honda cars of katy (21001 katy fwy, katy, tx 77450) where it was diagnosed, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened case number: 08934725. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.
About 4 months ago I was at a stoplight, my engine shut down, as it was supposed to with the 'auto idle stop' function. It is supposed to start back up when you take your foot off the brake, but this time the car stalled. It stalled many times after this and it was always unexpected and scary. I took it into my dealer on June 6, 2018 and they said they could see that they could see in the computer that it stalled a few times, but could not reproduce the problem while test driving it. They did a reset on the electronics. That did nothing. I stalled a while after I left the shop. I stalled many more times after that. It does have an override to this 'auto idle stop' system, but you have to always remember to push the button and if I forgot and the car was in 'auto idle stop' mode and I pushed the button, many times the car would stall. I now also have a problem starting the car. When I push the start button, many times the engine won't start. I have to push it 3-4 times to get it to start. This makes my stalling even more dangerous, as if it was not dangerous enough, because it will take me much longer to start the car from a stall. I can imagine being in situations where I would have to be able to get out a situation quickly and if I stall I would not be able to. If I am on a freeway and stall in heavy traffic, or stalling on train tracks if I am in heavy traffic and I happen to be the car left on the tracks and can't start. Or if a car or object is heading towards me and will crash into me and I can avoid it be speeding away. If I stall I can't. here is a thread from a Honda Pilot forum with many owners with the same problem. Https://www.piloteers.org/forums/114-2016-third-generation-Pilot/157005-elite-shuts-off-stop-light.html not one of them has had it fixed by there repair shop. My car has been in the shop for the 2nd time since August 8, 2018.
The car continually stalls at red lights and other full stops after the "auto-shutoff" engages. The car fails to restart and results in dangerous situations in high traffic areas in the city. The car can not be moved easily because it becomes completely unresponsive, even disabling the flashers. It has happened repeatedly.
While driving all warning lights activated cycling through each of them. The vehicle lost almost all power causing a very unsafe and potentially fatal condition. Several transmission and other codes were noted following the incident. Honda tech line admitted that this condition was known to them very well but refuses to correct the problem unless it occurs repeatedly. Online research shows this is a common problem but does not appear to have already been addressed by the ntsb.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lake Oswego, OR, USA