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 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 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 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 40
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 37
ENGINE 33
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 29
AIR BAGS 22
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 20
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE 16
VISIBILITY/WIPER 16
TIRES 13
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 11
403 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | AIR BAGS | Approximately 12 months ago (01/2024), we received a notice that the airbags have been recalled. We've attempted to have the car serviced many times but the Honda Dealerships keep saying they do not have the part in stock. In October, we ramped up our calls (called approximately 8 times) to have it resolved to a specific dealership in Countryside Illinois and continuously they say they do not have the part in stock and to call back in 2 weeks. Then it turns into to call after the new year and we've called twice this year and still no inventory. They inform us that the part is coming from Honda USA and they are only sending a few to select dealers. They do not offer to inspect, take our information or offer any options with this risk. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | After contacting the dealer several times, I’ve been told the parts for the recall are unavailable and it has been more than 6 months. The recall is over air bags that may not deploy correctly. Additionally, the electrical panel is periodically going out, the electrical on the seat isn’t working, and the car charger isn’t working. Finally, the car hesitates when going from reverse to drive. It won’t go and then I have to press the accelerator hard and then the car jumps. This is after I’ve had the radio fixed for incessant crackling from a different recall. The car seems unsafe. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | TIRES | Size of tires: 245/59 R 20, 102H DOT serial #: [XXX] The 2021 Honda Pilot came equipped with the tires in this discussion. At 30,000 mile check up at dealership, we were informed the 3 tires with this DOT number had “dry rot” and needed replacing. A fourth tire with a different number is in excellent shape. These tires are NOT on a recall list. Many of the Continental tires of this type have been recalled. Obviously since 3/4 tires are falling apart, it is not environmental or from road conditions or driving. These tires should be included in a recall. They are not safe and should last much longer than 30,000 miles of wear. We are going to have to replace them as soon as possible so they are not available for inspection. If they had failed, we could have crashed. There were no warning messages or lamps. I noticed they looked odd but it was just confirmed last week during the service visit that they had “dry rot” and needed replacing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | AIR BAGS | The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Autostart failed several times then starter ultimately failed. Taken to dealer and repaired at my cost. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | SEATS | My car is showing no signs of having any problems. I do however use this car for my business and have not been able to use it because of this recall. It has been a little over a year since it got recalled and I call every week just to get rejected time and time again. This car has been out of service in my business since I am not allowed to use it when any recalls are pending. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION | The sensors stopped working when the infotainment screen went out. It goes out all the time. Honda knows of this issue but does nothing to repair. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Brake system light on, Adaptive Cruise Control problem and Road Departure mitigation system problem error messages. Brakes light turn on randomly, even when car is off. This intermittently causes issues with acceleration pedal not responding while driving as well as being able to start vehicle without depressing brake pedal which is a major danger if kids are inside and pushes the button. Unable to accelerate when needed also causes problem that can lead to a crash. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | None of the safety sensors were working. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | While driving at freeway speed the gauge cluster including speedometer, gear selection, and navigation system shut off. The speedometer area was blank and the navigation screen said "network connection lost" No MOST network. It began to come back on a minute or 2 later. The MOST cable recall work has been done. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Audio and backup camera panel popping noise and disconnects whole panel causing it to go black , which includes the backup camera. Extreme safety issue with no backup camera . | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | The contact owned a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH and while attempting to stop depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact confirmed that the accelerator pedal was not depressed accidentally. No air bags deployed. The contact crashed into unknown private property in a parking lot. No injuries were sustained. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the diagnosis was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, offered no assistance, and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 47,395. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | 47,395 |
| Dec 2024 | ENGINE | So on Oct 25, 2024 I took my car to get an oil change at the moss bros Honda dealership. I always get all maintenance done there. Then a week later on Nov 3, 2024 my suv pilot broke down on the freeway it just started jerking and the screen kept glitching then right after the engine light went on. I was not aware of any signs for it to happen but Luckily there was a cop and a tow truck close by because who knows what would have happened. After that I took to the dealership on Tuesday and they inspected it then they come and tell me that my engine is done. So they were trying to charge me $8792 for a used engine. I just think is so weird that how everything happened knowing that is a semi new car and I been taking care of the maintenance so for this to happen I find it sketchy. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION | Popping sounds through speakers and then infotainment screen goes black. No camera no sensors. Nothing. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | AIR BAGS | The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Our vehicle continues to randomly turn off and not go while driving. Whenever the idle start/stop is engaged, the vehicle will randomly not restart when traffic is moving. When this occurs you must completely turn off the vehicle, wait a few seconds, restart the vehicle, wait a few seconds, then attempt to place back into drive before being able to move. We have been having this same issue many times now. We have taken our vehicle in to the dealer service department multiple times with this issue. We have replaced the battery ($400) and it still happens. They act like they have never heard of this happening to anyone before and we must be "making it up". They then proceed to tell us that we need to let it keep happening until it is much more common. Then bring it back in again so they can see it happen. I complained to Honda USA with the same story, being that it keeps happening over and over, and they gave us the same answer..."wait until it happens so the mechanic can see it" as if it has never happened to anyone else before. This is going to end up causing people serious harm or worse. Honda is obviously trying to play down the issue to avoid cost at the expense of consumers. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1) Recall 2020-22 multi-model seat weight sensor safety recall. Called since February 2024 when it was posted. I called the dealership and was told that I will received a postcard by mail. I have been waiting for the postcard and called multiple dealerships multiple times. I have been told that they don't have the parts to fix the issue and be put on the waiting list until further notice. 2)The screen goes off or it goes blurry. 3)The Car charger goes out sometimes too. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES | It's been a while my vehicle acting up, the brake is not working the way it was, had complained to the dealer but stating everthing looks ok, but i know how my car drives, steering is getting hard something is wrong its not normal, I have another suv I can tell something mechanical is wrong | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION | Infotainment screen goes blank all the time. Nothing at all on the screen including back up camera. Now it is causing the other sensors not to work so you don't know if you are close to hitting something. Honda has had this issue now for years. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION | The infotainment screen was black and not working at all so no back up camera. Also all the sensors warning you that you are getting to close to hitting something stopped working. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION | The infotainment system has some major wiring issues that cause the screen to go black and disconnect which then renders the back up camera useless. There is a potential class action lawsuit over this issue. Lots of Honda Pilot owners have this same issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Center infotainment system screen shorts out and goes dark. Back up camera will not work and it is unsafe to back up as you can't see below the rear window. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Infotainment system is crackling through the speakers and then the whole screen goes black and nothing works including the back up camera. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The heat stopped working last year when parked. To the point where it's blowing out cold air. I brought it to the dealership and they told me nothing is wrong. It appears to be the thermostat which I now have to replace on my own. Also the transmission slips randomly and I was told that could not be repeated either. Yet the car only has 90,000 miles, this should not be occurring. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | AIR BAGS | The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (AIRBAGS) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |