Complaint volume
388 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Honda Pilot Complaints
388 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Honda Pilot, grouped by component category.
388 Total complaints
12 Crash reports
1 Fire reports
7 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are unknown or other, electrical system, engine. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 12 crash reports, 1 fire report, 7 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 41 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 34,816 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to unknown or other, electrical system, engine?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Honda Pilot?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Honda Pilot
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Honda Pilot complaints?
12 Crash
1 Fire
7 Injury
0 Fatality
12 Towed
4 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Honda Pilot complaint categories?
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 38
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 35
ENGINE 30
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 27
AIR BAGS 22
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 19
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE 16
VISIBILITY/WIPER 16
TIRES 13
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 11
388 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2023 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that he had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 23V174000 (Visibility), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair. Following the repair, the contact became aware that the side-view mirrors were distorted, severely compromising side-view visibility. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 34,000 |
| Jul 2023 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Infotainment panel goes dark for 5-10 minutes while the car is in motion. Attempts to reboots multiple times unsuccessfully and then finally recovers. Network Connection Lost message appears on the Infotainment panel. Intermittent crackling noise in the sound system speakers. Creates a safety issue when vehicle is in motion on a highway and the GPS display on the Infotainment screen disappears right before taking a high-speed exit. The confusion can cause a major accident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | ENGINE | The autostart failed to restart at an intersection traffic light when light changed. It put us at risk of rear end collision while trying to decipher and correct issue. Message appeared to state car needed to go into park. Driver doesn't remember if they tried to put it into park due to stress of situation, but issue was resolved by shutting off car and then restarting. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | VISIBILITY/WIPER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On 2 land roads especially with no other vehicles in view, the car will suddenly brake, flash the dash for emergency braking and violently shake the steering wheel back and forth and almost take it out of your hands. It was done this since new. Taken to dealer 11/15/21 for this issue, they "aligned it" and made it somewhat better but still did the braking and steering wheel shake on way home from dealer. We just put up with it as the vehicle cost so much. The dealer also replaced the windshield as it cracked within 3 months of new sitting in a parking lot. This again required another paid alignment of this system. They said windshield may have been defective buy we had to pay for it anyway, alignment was needed for avoidance system In may of 2023, the vehicle became un-drivable as it would kick the process off about every 30-50 feet. The vehicle has never been in any accident or collision of any type. So they said they aligned it gain but replaced some sensors. The vehicle still has some issues and they charged us $904 to replace some sensors even though they said they were believed they were good but could not find any other explanation, yes the vehicle has been under warranty during this entire time. Dealer and Honda spoke person stated warranty repair is discretionary on these repairs. So they will not honor their warranty either on this system | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I went to my Honda dealership today 7/15/23, and my side mirrors were on a recall, and they replaced them and my driver side mirror is all distorted. It looks like I’m looking through my contacts while wearing my glasses. It’s given me a headache. My passenger side mirror looks fine. I’ll be calling the dealership on Monday morning. This fix is awful and a real safety hazard because now I don’t want to look out of the mirror because it gives me a really bad headache. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Lane departure braking mechanism has become faulty. Over the last 2 weeks, I've had 2 incidents that could have resulted in a rear end crash, bodily injury or death, when the lane departure caused BRAKE to flash on the dashboard and the automatic system caused the Pilot to temporarily hard brake in the middle of the freeway. I reported this to POWAY Honda during my last visit, but they ignored this system problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2023 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I received the recall remedy for my Pilot from a Honda service center per the side-view mirrors detachment recall (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 23V174000). Although my side-mirror was working just fine, I decided to receive the recall remedy, i.e., new side-mirrors, believing that it will improve safety of my car. However, after the Honda service center finished replacing my old side-mirrors with new side-mirrors, I realized while I was driving away from the center that the image of the new side-mirror on the driver side was very waving and distorted, which made me feel nauseous and zoned in when I looked at it. In fact, I had to keep looking at the mirror for more than a second while driving in order to clearly see what's behind my left lane. After trying to adjust myself to the new mirror for several minutes, I realized that I couldn't do it. So I had to take my car back to the service center and they explained that they received the same complaint a lot but another new mirror would have the same issue. After several back and forth between me and the staff, thankfully they replaced it with another new mirror. Although the distorted image on the mirror got better, it still bothered me while driving. As the manager at the center suggested that another new mirror replacement might be even worse than the current one, I decided to try the current one for now, and not ask for another replacement. In addition, I kept asking if I could get my original old mirror back since it was working just fine. But the center said that it is impossible due to the federal obligation they have toward NHTSA. I think quality of the recall remedy should be warranted. But, here, my situation got worse after receiving the recall remedy. I hope NHTSA will look into this issue and make sure the quality of the mirror provided by the manufacturer meets the basic customer expectation. Thank you. (FYI: https://www.piloteers.org/threads/distorted-sideview-mirror-image.180764/) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2023 | TIRES | On 6/23/23, my wife was driving on a street & was changing lanes (from left to right) when the driver-side rear tire suddenly ruptured. She heard a loud pop coming from the tire and immediately scanned for a car impact or debris on the road—but neither was present. The vehicles within her proximity yielded to allow her to pull out of the street and into a safe parking lot. Since our children were in the car, she confirmed that they were safe. Upon my arrival, I could see a visible tear in the side wall of the tire. It is apparent that the tire side wall tore so rapidly that when the rim hit the asphault of the street its impact was so hard— that it left a gaping hole in the rim! Our family’s safety was in jeopardy because had vehicles not yielded , a crash may have been inevitable. Our local dealer has recommended reaching out to the tire manufacturer for a possible claim. There were no warning lamps prior to this incident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | When driving the collision mitigation and brakes come on for no reason. Once when driving down a two lane road with a car coming in the opposite direction in their lane and I was in mine, the car braked. Then once getting on a road nothing coming nor any other vehicle around the vehicle did a hard brake. I just purchased the car last month and it just started happening. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2023 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Inside rearview mirror(adhesive detched and air bubble is between windshield and rearview mirror) a crack had since developed exactly dead center where the rearview mirror has come detached. Problem has not been confirmed with dealer. Not yet. December 7th (when I noticed a few weeks ago, i went back into my camera roll and looked for pictures of my car and I found one where I can see the air bubble between the mirror and windshield before the crack had formed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 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 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The driver side door doesn’t open when unlocked. You have to hit the lock button multiple times before the door can detach from the driver side panel. And the door doesn’t shut when you close it. Something wrong with the lock. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I purchased the vehicle brand new in 2021. At this time I don't feel safe driving the vehicle due to the following issues I'm having: The automatic braking system will engage without notice. On 5/20/23 I was at driving at 60 MPH at 2:00am and the car slammed on the brakes for no reason, there was NO other vehicles on the road in front of me or besides me at the time of the incident. On 5/21/22 I was driving around 45MPH and I went next to a vehicle that was parked on the should of the road, When I approached the vehicle the brakes engaged almost causing a collision with the vehicle that was driving behind me witch it happen to be a Semi Truck. 12/22/22 While driving on HWY 18th the vehicle brakes engaged for reason or warning while driving on straight line. This happens 99% of the time when I drive the vehicle. The warning yellow braking light would illuminate and the steering wheel will shake or vibrate for no apparent reason when cars are coming the opposite way. This is extremely scary situation to have in a brand new vehicle. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership in hope of repair but nothing has been done. I started having this concerns a month or so after the vehicle was purchased, and the only solution I was given by the dealership was to disengage the auto braking program, But I don't think that's the solution. This coming Thursday 5/24/23 the vehicle will be inspected. ( this will be the second or third time the vehicle will be in the shop due to the same issue. Thank you for taking the time in reviewing my concern. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | When driving the collision mitigation and brakes apply , flash dash and shake wheel violently. Almost loss of vehicle control. Almost not drivable on 2 lane roads This happens multiple times during any driving. This has been ongoing since Purchase and has been reviewed by Honda dealer without correction. Only recourse was replace controls at owner cost even while under new car warranty | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SEATS | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The Auto Idle Stop is defective on this vehicle and has resulted in multiple incidents where the vehicle stalls after the break is applied in sitting traffic. I have had near collision experiences that pose a severe safety risk. The car jolts forward after releasing the break at an intersection, and immediately becomes immobile. This has happened in sitting traffic, at intersection and more dangerously, while trying to make a left turn which has left me stranded in the middle of busy intersections at risk of nearly being hit by moving traffic. Honda has done the software update on the vehicle and yet, this continues to happen. Honda needs to be held liable as this will result in injury and/or death to consumers. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Sunroof exploded while driving down highway. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I’ve purchased my Honda pilot 2021 Brand New within the last two months. My car is CMBS has initiated, breaking for oncoming objects that were nonexistent or when on coming traffic was passing me in the other lane, causing my vehicle to break abruptly nearly causing an accident followed by all Honda, sensing features such as forward, collision collision lane assist us cruise control assist to driving along with automatic head beams. High beams. Are no longer functional. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | TIRES | I was researching recalls on my 2021 Honda Pilot and came across NHTSA Campaign number 20V725000. When i inspected my tires I can confirm that they are the ones in question as they are the Continental CrossContact LX Sport tires with tire size 245/50 R20 102H and DOT serial number of A376. When I brought the vehicle into the dealership over the weekend they were dismissive and stated they only have one recall on the vehicle. I have explained my concern to a body shop previously and they recommended I do some research to see if any recalls are in effect, to my surprise I located this from NHTSA. I showed them the NHTSA campaign number 20V725000 and they were dismissive. I went on to inform them that my tires match what is outlined and this is a safety concern for me. I have had issues with the tires losing pressure and I have had them rotated on a regular basis. I have not looked specifically at the spare tire, but I am asking that to be remedied as well if I have a full size spare that matches the recall. The tires have lost air suddenly where I have had to go into a tire shop or a gas station to add air routinely on occasion. It is hit and miss when it needs to happen and the weather is consistent, so now sudden change in temperatures to warrant this. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | When driving the collision mitigation and brakes apply causing steering wheel shake and braking WITHOUT passing of vehicles. This happens multiple times during driving. This has been ongoing since June 2022 and has been reviewed by Honda without correction. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Loud, consistent, cracking sound along the base of the windshield along dashboard. Sounded as if the entire windshield would crack and shatter. Happened at least 3 separate instances, seems to be temperature related and on longer car rides. Once during NE winter with heat cranking it began to make the cracking sound. It was terrifying as I was unsure if the windshield would shatter and implode on us. I turned the heat off and opened windows to cool interior of the car. That made the sound stop. The car has not been inspected yet and unsure if they could recreate problem in the shop. Would probably need heat of engine over a long period and internal heat turned all the way up for a long period of time. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Collision warning system goes off when no vehicles present. Steering wheel starts shaking and brake flashes on dash display. This has happened several times before. Date of last incident recorded. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |