Complaint volume
403 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
403 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Honda Pilot, grouped by component category.
403 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 electrical system, unknown or other, 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 42 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 36,320 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to electrical system, unknown or other, 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?
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 62
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 49
ENGINE 47
AIR BAGS 24
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 20
VISIBILITY/WIPER 17
TIRES 13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 12
SERVICE BRAKES 12
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 11
403 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | Infotainment system doesn't work, including maps, and backup camera. I have read this is a common problem, but Honda isn't doing anything about it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | When driving.car I hear crackling noice. I did research it has to do with electrical wiring under the dash. It effects all information on the display screen can not access maps direction phone calls won't work,effect radio from working,causes panel lights not to work heater & AC display information won't work caused ac & heater not working. Defrost won't work caused windshield to fogged up could not see through windshield lucky I did not crash or harm any cars It doesn't happen everyday but it has been happening more It could catch on fire.Problem been occurring since 2023.Happens all the time at least 3-5 times a week. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | ENGINE | Engine started knocking and within a couple days my wife was left stranded. The vehicle went into limp mode with check engine light flashing, and would not accelerate. The vehicle stopped completely in the middle of the road and lost all power, which could’ve caused a major accident. Scheduled maintenance and oil changes has been kept up by me. I had the vehicle towed to a trusted shop and was informing that there were metal shavings in the oil filter. They inspected the top end of the engine and everything was normal. The only indication is that the problem is internal to the engine. There is a recall for Honda Pilots up to model year 2020 but I believe this issue is affecting vehicles up to 2022. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Braking system and cameras defective. Vehicle will flash BRAKE when nothing is in roadway. This will also cause vehicle to hard brake. When on interstate, cruise control no longer functions properly due to camera sensors reading a vehicle is in front of my vehicle when there is no other vehicle near. This causes braking system to activate and/or slow the cruise control down. This is a major safety risk for everyone involved, especially my children in the vehicle. This is a known Honda issue. This needs remedied before someone gets hurt and a lawsuit ensues. Fix the braking system and cameras! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL | Front camera needs to be replaced. According to several Honda forums, this is a very common problem requiring the front camera to be replaced. All safety features requiring the camera no longer work. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | AIR BAGS | My wife was driving at about 40mph and hit a curb while driving straight. The car’s swerved and hit the front right and right rear tire with the curb. The right side curtain airbag deployed. This vehicle was taken to the Honda dealership a few months ago to address the exact same problem that was addressed through a safety recall with a sensor that was supposedly replaced but the Honda dealership in Waco Texas. I am requesting assistance to hopefully get the vehicle inspected and repaired at no cost by the dealership. This should not be happening. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING | There is a problem with the camera that is disabled my brake system features. I am hearing this is a known issue with many of these cars | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | TIRES | I am reporting a safety defect involving Continental CrossContact LX Sport tires, size 245/50 R20 used on my 2021 Honda Pilot. These tires are not currently included in the existing Continental recalls, but they are showing the same types of failures described in NHTSA recall 21T‑001 and related Continental bulletins. Specifically, my tires developed cracking/localized tread wear/vibration and visible separation in the tread/sidewall area. This matches the recall descriptions of carcass breaks and belt‑edge separations that can cause sudden air loss or partial/full tread and belt loss, leading to loss of vehicle control and increased risk of a crash. I believe these tires were manufactured with a similar defect and should be investigated and included in the recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | Auto idle stop activated at a stop light for the 2nd or 3rd time over a few years. Lifted foot off the break and stalled, the car went into Park and I could not put it into neutral or drive. The odometer screen looked like it does when the engine is on. The battery light was on. I tried to turn down the radio and the volume didn't work. I tried pressing the ignition button to turn off the car entirely but it didn't work the first couple of tries. Once I was able to completely turn it off, it struggled to turn over when I tried to start the engine, which I've never had happen, but did turn over. Dealership wanted to charge $325 for a few hours of diagnostics which we declined. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | There is an electrical malfunction which causes all of the electrical components to flash on/off, glitch. This has occured while driving but primarily when the vehicle is parked and unattended. I’m afraid it can short and cause a fire. The vehicle will turn istelf on and off repeatedly and rapidly while unattended. This has been going on for 2 years with our vehicle and not under warranty. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | My vehicle has failed to restart several times with the auto idle start feature enabled while stopped at a stoplight. I was in a turning lane the first time it happened, so other vehicles had to make a left hand turn from a lane that was meant to go straight to get around me. The starter has not been inspected There weren't warning lamps prior to the auto start feature not working. When the car would not turn back on. I had to put the car in park, turn off "Accesory mode", turn the car back on, and put the car back in drive. There have been several other instances the car has hesitated to restart, but it does. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | AIR BAGS | I am submitting this letter as an official complaint regarding a potential safety defect involving the airbag system in my 2021 Honda Pilot. I was involved in a motor vehicle accident on February 3, 2026 in Atlanta, GA. The collision was a direct frontal impact with another vehicle at approximately 35 mph. The vehicle sustained damage with repair estimates over $8,000. Despite the nature of the crash, the airbags did not deploy. However, post-accident diagnostic information reported by the auto body repair shop indicates that the vehicle’s computer system recorded the airbags as having deployed. This discrepancy raises serious safety concerns, as the system appears to have registered a deployment event that did not physically occur. This could indicate a malfunction in the airbag control module, sensors, wiring, or software. A failure of this kind prevented the proper airbag deployment in a crash where it was needed, posing a significant risk to my safety. To my knowledge, the airbag system had no prior warnings or indicators of malfunction before the accident. Directly following the accident an error appeared on the screen behind the steering wheel stating "Airbag System (SRS) Problem." The vehicle is currently at the body shop and available for inspection. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Auto start-stop feauture turned on at complete stop at traffic light. When light turned green and pressed the gas pedal to accelerate, engine did not turn back on. It had put vehicle into neutral and would not allow vehicle to shift into any other gear. Had to shut off engine and turn on vehicle an additional 3 times to get the engine to start again and into drive. This has happened twice before within the last year with the auto start stop feauture when it turns on at a complete stop. I usually press button to turrn off auto start stop feature to prevent this known issue from happening but forgot to turn feature off. Honda wants to charge $300 to diagnosis problem with auto start stop feature due to problem being known but no recall issued. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | auto idle stop stalled at a red light causing my car to not move and having to shut off my car in the middle of traffic. Once i tried to turn back on it wouldnt start at first. i had to do this twice in order for the car to come back on. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The following warning lights: adaptive cruise control problem, lane keeping assist, collision mitigation system, road departure mitigation problem, auto high beam problem | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The auto idle start-stop feature has been failing for many years without being resolved. Honda has done updates and updated the fuel injection software without improvement. I have also replaced the battery as recommended. I continue to get stuck at stop lights and intersections which is a safety hazard. This most recently occurred on 3/7/26. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | The car engine autorestart causes all sorts of problems. We have repeatedly had the warning come on and the engine stop while at a light or paused in moving traffic. We have replaced the battery and other parts. The safety issue is that the car totally stops while in traffic and we have almost been hit multiple times as we try to restart the car. You have to put the car in park and restart the engine due to "compression issues" or something else. That has nothing to do with being a branded title and everything to do with a safety issue. The car just stops and won't autorestart. This has happened several times in the last week and then yesterday other warning lights came on resulting in the car then not accelerating beyond 25 mph initially and then 45 mph. Imagine this happening on a highway. This is really scary as it has happened on an interstate when traffic stopped and at a traffic light. I called Honda and they acknowledged it was safety issue but written up as a warranty extension so they refused to cover the repair of the vehicle. I am therefore escalating what I believe you are already investigating according to articles I have seen. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS | The following warning lights: adaptive cruise control problem, lane keeping assist, collision mitigation system, road departure mitigation problem, auto high beam problem. Honda estimates over $2000 to repair? From what I understand there are many other Honda's with these issues! With these items not functioning, it defeats many of the safety features we bought the car for. Exact date of when it began was last summer. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING | The windshield camera has malfunctioned causing 5 different safety warnings to appear and these functions are unavailable now. It has been evaluated by a dealership and they claim that it has to be replaced at a cost of $2100. This is a pretty widespread issue in these Pilots with varying mileage. I would expect much better from a Honda product. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE | Vehicle Information: 2021 Honda Pilot Elite Component: Forward Collision Avoidance: Camera System Lane Departure: Lane Keeping Assist Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Failure Description: The windshield-mounted forward-facing camera (Lane Keeping Assist System / Honda Sensing camera) failed without warning on my 2021 Honda Pilot Elite. This camera is mounted behind the windshield and controls multiple advanced safety systems, including Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, and Collision Mitigation Braking. There were no warning lamps, dashboard messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure. The malfunction appeared randomly approximately one month ago. The issue was diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized Honda dealer service department. I was informed that the windshield-mounted camera system requires replacement and was quoted approximately $1,800 for the repair. Because this repair is extremely expensive and currently unaffordable, I have lost multiple critical safety features. The vehicle no longer has functioning Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, or related Honda Sensing technologies. The sudden and complete loss of these safety systems significantly reduces vehicle safety and increases the risk of unintended lane departure or reduced collision avoidance capability for myself, my passengers, and others on the road. I believe a critical safety system should not fail without warning and should not be this costly to repair, especially when its failure disables multiple core safety features. This is a known issue across multiple threads and owners and Honda should take ownership and recall this issue. The vehicle and failed component are available for inspection upon request. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the infotainment screen and the rearview camera screen intermittently failed to activate while the vehicle was shifted into reverse. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V431000 (Back Over Prevention). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 32,000 |
| Feb 2026 | ENGINE | While driving vehicle downshifted with no warning and went into neutral. Was driving on a busy street. Was not able to shift back into drive. When car stops was not able to put it into park. No previous warning of anything wrong. No engine light, battery etc. illuminated on the dash. Earlier that day did hear from time to time a tick or tap like noise that had not been heard before. Car had to be towed to auto shop. Upon inspection was told all components are in working order but the engine is not working and needs to be repaired. Given the engine only has 109,000 miles this was odd to them based on condition of the vehicle. There is a known issue with Honda engines similar to this vehicle and asked we check with Honda as to what could be done to diagnose further. This is very concerning as there was no warning. Driving on a busy street with unexpected downshift was almost rear ended. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | The backup camera feeds to the infotainment screen integrated into the radio. This screen intermittently fails to illuminate and does not allow the backup camera feed to be be visible rendering the backup camera inoperable. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ENGINE | The Honda Pilot completely lost power on my husband's way home from work in a snow storm. It would not start but it did yesterday. It sounds like clinking/clunking when started but stalls out if you try to put it in drive or reverse. It has a brand new battery. But otherwise it had to be towed and is now sitting. It didnt give any warning signs or lights on the dash until after it completely broke down. It has the engine light on when started. It has not be confirmed by a dealership as times are really rough right now with a new baby and not having the extra funds to have it looked at. And not to mention the closet dealership to look at it is almost an hour away. It seems that the rods/engine area are at fault. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I believe I have a fuel pump issue. My car has stalled on multiple occasions while trying to pull out of my driveway. There is at least a quarter tank of gas. I have had to get gas in a gas can and add it to the tank and then it would start. I now make sure I always have at least a half a tank of gas. On three separate occasions when the auto idle stop turns the car off at a light, the car does not restart when the brake is released and it slips the car into neutral (very dangerous at an intersection) There was a recall on Pilots Fuel system, gasoline: Delivery: Fuel pump Recall date 2023-12-17 Recall no. 23V858000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Hide details Recall consequence Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. As you can see it covers Pilots from 2015-2020, however I am having this problem with my 2021 Pilot. Please consider extending the recall to 2021 Pilots | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |