2019 Honda Pilot Reliability Report

Judder, jerky shifts between first, second and third gear, slipping and hesitation under acceleration are the main transmission complaints. They often appear between 32,000 and 63,000 miles, and dealers commonly recommend fluid flushes. Other reports describe the transmission dropping into neutral or refusing to move at stop lights after idle stop. In another, a failed torque converter slipped during an emergency maneuver. Two injury reports involve the vehicle moving forward as the driver stepped out, and one crash involves sudden acceleration while parking. A rear differential failed at about 66,000 miles.

Most reports concern fuel pump recall 23V858. Many describe long waits because dealers have no parts, often before any failure has happened. When a failure does occur, the engine stalls while driving or at red lights, will not start, or lights up battery, emissions and 4WD warnings. One report describes smoke and then a fire at a red light while the recall repair was still waiting on parts. Failed fuel injectors with codes P219A or P219B also appear, along with a high-pressure fuel pump replaced at about 70,000 miles.

Failed fuel injectors are the main complaint. An Emissions System Problem warning comes on, the engine misfires, hesitates or loses power at highway speed, and scans show codes P219A, P219B and P0430. Many owners say Honda's injector warranty extension excludes their VIN, so they pay for the repair themselves. Some also replaced catalytic converters. Fuel pump recall 23V-858 draws complaints about missing parts, and one recall replacement pump failed on the highway. One crash followed the engine hesitating and then surging forward.

The camera behind the rearview mirror fails and shuts off adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation and auto high beams at the same time. A cluster of warning lights comes on with it. Dealers often find code U3000-49 and quote over $2,000 for replacement and calibration. Failures are reported from 47,817 to 125,000 miles. Separately, the system brakes with no vehicle in the lane, sometimes when passing oncoming traffic. Both crash reports describe the system not working before a collision.

The backup camera image turns into bright green, purple and other colored pixels, or the screen goes blank with a connection message. Failures are reported from about 26,000 to 85,000 miles. Repairs such as replacing the coaxial or network cable often do not stop the problem from coming back. Some owners point to recall 23V431000 but report excluded VINs, recall work that did not help, or parts that are not yet available. With the image unreadable, backing up safely depends on mirrors and looking over your shoulder.

Automatic emergency braking engages with no vehicle ahead, flashing BRAKE on the dash and jolting the SUV. This often happens on curves or when passing oncoming traffic, and one report of it happening while merging lists two injuries. Other complaints describe a soft or low pedal that needs heavy pressure, a brief loss of braking at an intersection and rear brakes dragging after stops. One describes a failed brake pedal position switch that set off many warnings and kept the car from starting. Idle stop stalling also shows up here.

In three of the four reports, the airbags fail to deploy or inflate only partly in a frontal crash. These three crashes account for five injuries. In one, the driver hit the steering wheel while the airbag made a sound but never filled. Another crash report also says the brakes and the collision mitigation system did not stop the car before impact. The fourth report is not about a crash. It describes brake, emissions and low tire pressure warnings that come and go while driving.