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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE | Multiple safety features are failing on this 2021 Honda Pilot. At startup, I get the following errors: Collision Mitigation System Problem, Road Departure Mitigation System Problem, Adaptive Cruise Control Problem, Lane Keeping Assist Problem. Dealership says the camera inside the vehicle needs to be replaced and it will cost $1,800. It looks like many people with similar models are encountering this problem with very young vehicles. | 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 |
| Oct 2024 | POWER TRAIN | When shifting from reverse into drive, there is a 5-10 second hesitation. I push the gas and the car does not go. It will eventually accelerate at a very high speed. Does not happen every time, but often enough to be very dangerous. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Auto start-stop system failed. The car completely shutoff when the engine idle was engaged in the middle of traffic. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | as i approached a red light and hit the brake - the car went into auto idle. however this time, the car shut off completely. i was able to turn it back on but then it happened again when i hit the brakes again. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The system that is malfunctioning is the transmission. It is randomly shifting into neutral while at stop lights and while driving down the roads. This is an unsafe problem because the vehicle has to stop and be turned off then restarted before the transmission will allow you to change into drive. Stopping in the road on multiple occasions due to not being able to move to the side, has been causing hazardous conditions and near accidents on several occasions. The problem is random and when taken to the dealer for the issue, they test drove it for a few minutes and said they couldn't see the issue happening. They stated that we should just wait until it is happening more often and then come back. I have done a quick internet search for the issue and it has popped up in many Honda forums and sites. It seems to be a somewhat common problem. Honda seems to act unaware of the issue. Our insurance is aware of the issue but it has not been checked by anyone other than the dealership service department. There were no warnings or lights to indicate an issue before during or after the problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Normal driving of vehicle when suddenly several warning lights began to appear and show up every time when driving (LKAS, ACC, Mitigation, etc) despite these features working. Honda dealership claims it is due to a faulty front camera. Safety at risk because if these systems do fail, there will be no way of indicating. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Car slammed on breaks for no reason. Good thing I was paying attention and was able to keep my vehicle under control. My neck hurt for the rest of the day and is Sore today. Now my cars system says the system isn’t working correctly after my car slammed on the breaks for basically no reason. I know this is an ongoing problem certain Honda models already. I believe every Honda with this system should be recalled. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE | The truck lights came on, with no reason, ACC and LKAS dealer wants to charge 200 just to diagnose, I keep hearing many have thir problem, honda needs to fix this problem that they know they have. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Infotainment systems makes a crackling sound then the whole system will shut down and screen goes black. Nothing with the system will work including the back up camera. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | While stopped at a light the engine completely shut off and put itself into neutral. Nothing worked. Had to press and hold the ignition button for at least 5 seconds to shut down and restart the vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 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 not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I think the issue may be the Auto Idle system. Twice the car has shut off when waiting in traffic at a light causing obviously severe panic as the cars behind me honk and I try to get the car to come back on. Then another time, the car just wouldn't turn on. It took about 30 minutes before I could get it turned on. My safety could have been compromised had someone rear-ended me while I was trying to turn the car back on. The dealer can not reproduce the problem. No one else has inspected the vehicle. There were no warning lights etc. prior to the failures. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My car started stating that 6 systems were having problems. The adaptive cruise control system, automatic high beam system, blind spot information system, road departure mitigation system, collision mitigation system, and lane keep assist system. I took the car to the Honda dealer it was purchased from and was informed that the technician found that the multipurpose camera was not working and needed to be replaced. The component that failed is the multipurpose camera. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk because the following 6 safety systems stopped working. Adaptive cruise control system, automatic high beam system, blind spot information system, road departure mitigation system, collision mitigation system, and lane keep assist system. The problem has been diagnosed by the dealer. I don't know if this component has been inspected. There were no warning lights, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure. The car was just at the dealership the previous month for the annual state inspection and nothing was noted by the dealership. I was driving when suddenly the component failed and I was notified that the 6 safety systems were no longer working. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | When driving the my 2021 Honda Pilot and I stop, the vehicle goes into idle engine automatically. There are have been numerous incidents when I lift my foot off the break, the engine does not turn back on. The vehicle is in drive and starts to beep and flash to put in park, shut off and restart. Obviously, this is extremely dangerous since it has occurred in the middle of traffic and in stop and go traffic on the highway. It puts the passengers in my vehicle at risk as well as other cars on the road. There are no warning signs or lights. My dealer has been made aware of the “idle stop” feature not working correctly. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | AIR BAGS | The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags). The contact reached out to several dealers and was informed that unless the air bag light was illuminated; the dealer could not service the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that parts were available; however, the dealers have failed to order the parts to service the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |