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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,778 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.
Car would not start after going into auto idle stop.car went into neutral by itself.had to put in park and it took several attempts before car would start.
When I'm pushing the start button to turn the engine, an error occurred in the dashboard 'keyless start system problem' my mileage is 37991. The dealer didn't find any issue, they run vehicle diagnostic and I change my battery of my key. Is this a safety issue? or a computer program that needs updating..please help me. Thanks how to fix.
The push start button does not work, it is giving me an error 'keyless start system problem'. I changed the key fob's battery to a brand new battery and it is not the key fob with issues, it is the button itself. I have to keep pressing the break and the start button to get the car to start working. This has been happening for 3 months and it keeps getting worse, I have to press the start button like a toy.
We have an ongoing issue with our auto-idle feature malfunctioning that began at about 20,000 miles. I have written a complaint here before, as have many other 2016 Pilot owners, however nothing appears to have been done to date. This is a significant safety feature when the auto-idle is engaged, foot is taken off the brake and the car completely shuts off, often times not starting back up without a jump start. The car completely shuts off, warning lights flash all over the dash and no matter what you try the car will not start back up.this has happened to my wife with our 2 daughters numerous times. Fortunately, there hasn't been an accident, but my greatest fear is one time there will be. Naturally this always seems to happen at busy intersections. We have taken the vehicle into Honda dealership where we purchased the vehicle too many times to count. They have replaced the battery, replaced the start/stop switch, cleaned out multiple error codes. Nothing has provided a permanent fix. We just had to have our transmission replaced at 70,000 miles! the problem reared it's head again today. This time my wife had to press the brake, the gas pedal (both with all her might) and press the start/stop button at the same time. Something isn't right. I'm convinced we have a lemon, however the dealer seems to think we don't have a case for that. Honda has to step in and take accountability. There are far too many 2016 Pilot owners having this same issue for Honda not to realize the valid safety concern we all have. Take a look at piloteers.org and you will find a ridiculously long list of frustrated 2016 Pilot owners all struggling with the same problem. I am urging you to take action to correct this problem. We purchased this vehicle for the safety features, however "safe" isn't something I feel knowing my wife and daughters are in this vehicle multiple times per day.
- Chico, CA, USA
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Problem with the auto stop/start feature- the engine stops but doesn't always start. It tries to start but doesn't. pressing the start button (ignition) doesn't always work right away. Seams you have to put the transmission in park, and press the start button (sometimes 4-5 times) before the engine starts. This is nerve racking and dangerous when you are in traffic- say at a light, or trying to cross over oncoming traffic. The time is takes sometimes to re-start the engine is about 10-15 seconds. This problem is intermittent. (doesn't always happen). It's not the battery. I had a new battery replacement. I also tried using a trickle charger to "top off" the battery incase it wasn't fully charged. No luck.
I have taken my 2016 Honda Pilot 3 times to the dealership and they cant figured out why the keyless start system problem light is coming on. They replaced the started and also the battery because something in the electrical is bad.
The error message 'keyless start system problem' appears on my dashboard. I kept really the Honda servixe technician and they told me there's nothing wrong with my car. But it doesn't go away. It keeps coming back.
When I push the keyless start/stop button I get an error that reads keyless start system problem. This problem started about a year ago. At first the error only appeared every now and then. Now it appears almost all the time. I have to push the button, sometimes 8 times to get the car to start. Now when I push the button to shut off the car, sometimes it won't shut off the car. Sometimes I have to push the button 2 or 3 times. This is a systemic problem. Many people have this problem. From the blogs I read, Honda charges unreasonable amounts to troubleshoot the problem and often it is not resolved. The vehicle is stationary when this problem resolves. When I get it to start the error message remains while driving it.
The ' keyless start system problem' alert keeps appearing on my screen when I start the car. This happens 90% of the time. Both keys have new batteries. Nothing appears to be wrong. This has been happening for months. Sometimes if I start and turn it off repeatedly it goes away.
At a stop light my auto idle-off is engaged (engine goes off), but when trying to accelerate, the engine does not restart and engine goes into neutral. I needed to turn the car completely off and then restart the car. This is extremely dangerous, as cars are expecting me to move. I almost got rear ended!
Honda Pilot ex-L jerks and engine slows on acceleration, rough shifting between speeds always on incline and sometimes on freeway and around town. Overheats while waiting in traffic, makes loud noise. Many other complaints about this same problem have been found. The Honda service dept. Claims no knowledge of the problem on my vehicle model. It is growing worse and happens on the freeway also. I'm concerned for the safety of my family.
Check engine light is illuminated along with AWD, keyless start system, emissions system, uphill start, trailer assistance, etc. Have had two engine coils replaced and a software upgrade. The lights go off for a couple of days and then return. Have spent $250 in diagnostics and nothing is fixed. Replaced batteries in both key fobs. I was told by dealership to replace the start/stop button for $375. Dealership also recommended replacing fuel injectors for $1600.no guarantee that this will fix any of the issues.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Seaside, CA, USA