10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,708 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.

2021 Honda Pilot electrical problems

electrical problem

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2021 Honda Pilot Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #36

Jun 272024

Pilot

  • miles

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

The battery has gone bad twice (second replacement only took nine months) since an update was applied to the auto engine restart function. The car will work for some amount of time after the battery is replaced and then begin to not restart (shut off) at a light after the auto engine shutoff is engaged from the brake. It progressively gets worse until we replace the battery.

- Bloomington, IN, USA

problem #35

Jun 072024

Pilot

  • miles
Problem Dealer said recall for airbags risk/ seat sensor cannot be fixed due to unable to get parts.

- Fairfax, VT, USA

problem #34

Apr 052024

Pilot

  • miles
The infotainment screen went black. No back up camera available.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #33

Mar 012024

Pilot

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the idle stop system was deactivated, while idling at a stop light the vehicle suddenly turned off after releasing the brake pedal and shifted into neutral. The vehicle was eventually restarted and operated normally. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,000.

- Clearwater, FL, USA

problem #32

Dec 312023

Pilot

  • miles
When I-??m stopped and try to drive my car it sometimes dies. It-??s a big safety concern and happens often and when I have my kids in the car. I can-??t get it to start again for a little while. The lights come on the dashboard but it won-??t start at all until a while after trying.

- Mcminnville , OR, USA

problem #31

Oct 022023

Pilot

  • miles
This is regarding the MOST FAKRA Service Cables Safety Recall which affects the display in my car. It started off with the radio cutting out but has progressed to the display not working which affects the rear camera. I believe this is extremely dangerous. I have taken my car to the Honda dealership in Burlington, Iowa FOUR times and they have not fixed the problem. It's my understanding that they have not replaced the cable harness but have only "checked the connections" and in one instance, one of the maintenance workers told my husband that they simply "hit the dash" and it started working again. This dealership has been very troublesome to work with as they simply say that the screen never malfunctions for them. I don't believe this as I encounter a problem with the display EVERY time I drive it. I contacted the Honda Customer Support almost a month ago. They followed up with my husband two weeks ago asking for receipts from the dealership which we did not have. He informed them that the dealership should have them on file although the receipts never described what they attempted to do to fix the problem. Since them, I have followed up with Honda Customer Support TWICE and am not able to receive any sort of reply from them. I am at a loss with what to do as I don't feel comfortable driving my car but have no other option to. I heavily rely on my display and its back up camera features. It is greatly increasing my risk of a crash every time I drive it.

- Fort Madison, IA, USA

problem #30

Feb 102024

Pilot

  • miles

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

When stopped at red light idle stop feature was active and car wouldn-??t restart couldn-??t turn the truck off or on all electrical components such as radio, screen and heating were on but engine wouldn-??t start or stop

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #29

Jan 292024

Pilot

  • miles
There appear to be more than one issue. When using the auto idle feature, my car will turn off completely. Meaning the engine turns off and it is difficult to restart. I also have issues starting the car from scratch. This has occurred multiple times where the engine will not turn on but other components will. I cannot be jumped or put in neutral as the transmission won't move out of park if the engine is not on. It has been to the dealership multiple times for both issues. A software update was done to fix the auto idle issue, but it has not fixed the issue. i know longer use the auto idle feature. The most recent incident was today.

- Chester , VA, USA

problem #28

Jul 012022

Pilot

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the Auto Idle feature on the vehicle intermittently failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that an unknown message was displayed on the instrument panel during the failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer on several occasions and software updates were performed; however, the failure returned soon after the updates were completed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

- Marco Island, FL, USA

problem #27

Oct 032023

Pilot

  • miles
I was driving my Pilot and came to a stop during stop and go traffic on a highway. Normally the auto stop/start feature would stop the engine and start it again when I released the brake, but at this stop the vehicle stopped the engine and lost all power. The car went completely dead. As traffic started moving again I had no idea what was going on and my vehicle was in the path of moving traffic causing a hazard and safety risk to myself and others. I was able to restart the vehicle with the normal procedure, but it was in park and had to be shifted back into drive to get moving again. This became a normal occurrence so I took the vehicle to Honda for evaluation. They contend that the battery, while still "good", was not providing adequate voltage for the stop/start system. Proposed solutions were continue use but manually deselect auto start/stop function each time I started the car or replace the battery (at my expense - not covered by warranty). I am reporting this due to how the vehicle handles this lower voltage state of the battery. I think it if the vehicle senses this situation it should 1) notify the driver of the low voltage state of the battery and 2) automatically turn of the auto start/stop function of the vehicle thereby preventing an unsafe and startling vehicle shutdown while on the road and in traffic. This is an unsafe vehicle reaction that should not occur with proper system programming. I confirmed with the dealership this is a normal occurrence when the battery falls below certain voltage requirements, but the operator of the vehicle has no prior knowledge when this situation might occur (ie no warning light). This creates a potential for vehicle accidents and personal injury. Some type of warning and automatic suspension of the auto stop/start feature should occur.

- Vinemont, AL, USA

problem #26

Sep 222023

Pilot

  • miles

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

The car shuts down when coming to an idle such while stopping at a light. All systems are powered down including the hazard lights, front and tail lights and windows. The car has so far restarted after multiple attempts at the start button. This may range from 30 seconds to 5 minutes before the car will restart. This is a safety concern as when this occurs in traffic especially at night with limited visibility, this can lead to being rear ended waiting for the vehicle to start. When this occurs is unpredictable. The Honda dealer was unable to replicate the issue and as such carried out a software reset to address the issue. This has happened 8 times already.

- Fogelsville, PA, USA

problem #25

Jan 012023

Pilot

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the information center was not connecting. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V439000 (Back Over Prevention, Electrical System) and the vehicle was repaired but the failure occurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Detriot, MI, USA

problem #24

Aug 092023

Pilot

  • miles
Two weeks ago, the audio in my 2021 Pilot became very distorted also as if the car was losing power. On my way to work this morning, I reached a red light, came to a complete stop, and the vehicle went into idle mode as normal. However, while in idle mode the vehicle turned completely off just as I was about to release the brakes to start driving again. The battery indicator on the gauge clustor flashed a few times and the car automatically went into neutral. I was not able to put the vehicle back into park as instructed by the message prompt. After waiting a couple of minutes, I pressed AND held the start button and the vehicle finally turned back on. I do not know what the issue is, but due to this incident I felt that it was completely unsafe.

- Buford, GA, USA

problem #23

Jul 252023

Pilot

  • miles
Honda Pilot 2021 Elite AWD w/ 34k miles shuts down at a complete stop e.g. traffic light, stop sign or highway stop and go rush hour. Panel says put in Neutral, but the push button transmission shift does not respond. Attempts to restart with the push start/stop button and fails multiple times first and then it starts again, while other motorists are honking behind you for blocking traffic. Major safety concern.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #22

Jul 142023

Pilot

  • miles
When going from stop light, car died in middle of intersection. Couldn-??t get it started. Had it towed to dealership.Dealer did diagnostics and couldn-??t find any issue. Drove car home. Turned it off. The car would not restart. Had it towed back to dealership. Not sure if it-??s starter, alternator, auto engine stop features. Battery seems to be Gett drained. Danger is that the car randomly dies and won-??t start. Dealer has no idea of the issue. Tow truck driver said he has towed severs Honda pilots with the same issue.

- Minnetonka, MN, USA

problem #21

Jun 072023

Pilot

  • miles
Audio system popping noise affecting the dashboard system and audio system not working loss of power controls to use any of the systems digital components including speed control backup camera entire audio system

- Loving, TX, USA

problem #20

May 252023

Pilot

  • miles
The Entertainment system makes popping and crackling sounds and will cut out. This is very distracting while driving. It does not allow you to use the screen at all including to view backing up. I contacting Honda Corp and was told to get a formal diagnosis which is scheduled for June 16, 2023. Was also told this has happened many times before in other models of pilots.

- Monkton, MD, USA

problem #19

May 072023

Pilot

  • miles
Last week the the security alarm went off for no reason. The following day, I arrived to work and parked my car. 45 minutes later, I am notified my headlights were on. I ALWAYS keep my headlights on AUTO so they never should have been on. After I started my car for a minute, everything seems fine. 3 hours later, I hear an alarm in the parking lot but did not think it was my vehicle. I leave work and go to outside and realize my alarm has been going off for a couple of hours. I go to open my vehicle and try to start the car but all the whole dashboard lit up and the speakers were popping and making horrible noises. I could not get the car started and my driver seat kept moving on its own. I called Honda of Murfreesboro and they advised that I needed to get my vehicle towed. I receive a call the next day and I was told that it had an electrical malfunction and the entire keyless access control unit needed to be replaced along with the connector ends. I have had several issues with the 2021 Pilot and this takes the cake. First it was the auto/stop at a red light and it completely shut off the engine. I had to turn the vehicle off and shift to park and then start the car. Also my "warning brake" lights come on randomly which alarms me and it will shift the car over. I also have had some issues with getting on an entrance ramp and the car doesn't want to pick up speed and I push the gas and the RPM's rev. This vehicle is unsafe.

- Smyrna, TN, USA

problem #18

Mar 172023

Pilot

  • 29,000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving in stop and go traffic, the Auto START/STOP feature malfunctioned causing the vehicle to lose electrical power and shut off. During the failure, the display and instrument panel became inoperable. Additionally, the turn signals were inoperable, and the shifter could not be shifted to neutral. Triple AAA was called to the scene and was able to get the vehicle restarted by recharging the battery. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted, and a service appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The contact referenced the NHTSA Investigation: PE22005 and indicated that the vehicle experienced a similar failure. The failure mileage was 29,000.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #17

Feb 142023

Pilot

  • miles
2021 Honda Pilot Black Edition with 37,007 miles. Navigation screen will display "Network Communication Lost" and "MOST Net Off" before completely shutting down for 5-10 minutes at a time, only to do the same thing after resetting. This is a known issue for Honda, hence Technical Service Bulletin 20-058 to cover a range of vehicles, including my 21 Pilot; most older covered vehicles are at 5 years 60k miles, but because my vehicle is newer, it isn't covered and is limited to 3 years 36k miles. I am having to pay out of pocket for these repairs. Contacted Honda and they couldn't help, stating my vehicle is out of warranty. It makes no sense to cover older vehicle but not a newer one when these issues are known and reported under TSB 20-058. Honda complaint Case # 13646867.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

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