2017 Honda Pilot problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 826 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Honda Pilot, most often about engine. There are 4 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
826
Recalls
4
Crashes
4
Fires
5
Injuries
1
Median mileage
55,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 471 of 826 complaints (57%).
  • Electrical System (250) and fuel, hybrid & EV propulsion (127) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 55,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 4 crashes, 5 fires and 1 injury.
  • The 2017 Honda Pilot has 4 recalls on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations covering this vehicle.
  • It ranks 3rd of 22 Honda Pilot model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 36% fewer complaints than the 2016 model year (1,283).

2017 Honda Pilot problems by category

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Engine459
Electrical system240
Unknown or other122
Fuel/propulsion system109
Power train103
Vehicle speed control24
Forward collision avoidance: warnings17
Service brakes14

When problems happen (mileage)

7Under 10k1810k–30k6830k–60k3860k–100k28100k–150k6150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2017 Honda Pilot complaints that list mileage.

2017 Honda Pilot recalls (4)

  • Recall 26V365000Jun 4, 2026880,514 vehicles
    STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS · SUSPENSION:REAR

    American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

    Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.

  • Recall 26V332000May 21, 202698,892 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

  • Recall 23V858000Dec 18, 20232,490,460 vehicles
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

    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.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

  • Recall 21V932000Nov 29, 2021724,826 vehicles
    LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH · STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.

    Risk: A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PBV.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • PE25008Opened Aug 20, 2025Open

    Engine failure

    The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline.  The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013).  It was determined that these engine failures are outside the scope of Honda Recall 23V-751. Further, evidence gathered in conjunction with RQ24013 does not suggest this failure is caused by the same crankshaft manufac…

  • EA25004Opened Mar 26, 2025Open

    No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages

    On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to r…

  • RQ24013Opened Nov 8, 2024Closed Aug 20, 2025

    Engine failure

    On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016–2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine. Honda recalled these vehicles due to a crankshaft manufacturing defect that caused premature connecting rod bearing wear and engine seizure. While the out-of-scope failures involved in these complai…

  • PE22005Opened Jun 3, 2022Closed Mar 26, 2025

    No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages

    On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to r…

NHTSA 5-Star safety ratings

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2017 Honda Pilot SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
2017 Honda Pilot SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆

Recent 2017 Honda Pilot complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Oct 4, 2026CAOther / Unknown
    The vehicle is not starting after coming to a complete stop with the auto start stop feature at a red light or stop sign. After releasing the brake pedal, the engine does not start up again, which leads me to having to turn off the car and turn it back on manually, which could take up to a minute. The Honda dealer has already updated the vehicle replaced the starter and adjusted the valves two months ago and the issue is still persisting.
    NHTSA complaint #11768853 · source
  2. Filed Sep 29, 2026FLDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System
    While driving with ACC active, I engaged LKAS. After approximately 30-40 seconds, ACC and LKAS disengaged and all sensor warning lights illuminated and sensors as well as ACC and LKAS would no longer work. Warning lights and error messages on instrument cluster continue to show since this happened. Vehicle starts and runs normally otherwise. Battery tested and is healthy. OBD II shows no codes. New windshield was installed in July 2026 by Safelite.
    NHTSA complaint #11767926 · source
  3. Filed Sep 29, 2026CAEngine
    My car starting making ticking noises. The engine oikd light briefly came on while I was driving with my family. It started to get worse so I took it to my mechanic. They discovered that it was a rod bearing failure.
    NHTSA complaint #11767848 · source
  4. Filed Sep 27, 2026NCEngine
    Was traveling in moderately heavy highway traffic at 65 mph (actual speed limit) and vehicle suddenly started slowing down and hesitating. The narrow shoulder made it unsafe to stop but was able to continue at 45 mph or so and pulled off at first exit. There were numerous trouble lights on the dash. Car towed to Honda dealership and they found trouble code P0369. They found front camshaft sensor to be ground down in the center, as it had been damaged by the cam sprocket. The…
    NHTSA complaint #11767219 · source
  5. Filed Sep 25, 2026AREngine
    Random complete engine failure while driving due to connecting rod bearings. Mechanic diagnosed and shows damage. Car will not start or run at all.
    NHTSA complaint #11767059 · source
  6. Filed Sep 25, 2026GAEngine
    While driving car it made some noise from engine area and only would drive about 35 mph. The car then shut off and had to coast off highway into parking lot. Luckily it didn't stop in middle of 4 lane highway. Car would not crank and had it towed to Honda dealer. Upon inspection from Walker Jones Honda dealer the following diagnosis. Verified motor locked up. Dropped the oil pan and inspected. Found bearing material in the oil caused by bearing slippage. Pictures were taken.…
    NHTSA complaint #11766873 · source
  7. Filed Sep 24, 2026MNElectrical SystemEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control
    Started the car Check engine lights and all the other lights came on: tire pressure, ABS,ACC, break, emergency break, collision mitigation system problem, road departure mitigation,VSA. Turned off the car, the lights and check engine lights went away and a few days later while driving car did that again and then it engine decline in speed and died on highway.
    NHTSA complaint #11766584 · source
  8. Filed Sep 21, 2026MOEngine
    2017 Honda Pilot 3.5 L V6 170,000 miles has mechanical "knock" noise corresponding to engine RPM at start, idle, and acceleration. Knock comes from engine block and can be heard from top and bottom of the engine bay, louder from underneath, clearly coming from the rear bank of cylinders. Possibly connecting rod bearing failure. General routine maintenance and oil changes have been completed consistently. If the connecting rod bearing were to fail while running, metal…
    NHTSA complaint #11766006 · source

Compare the 2017 Honda Pilot with another vehicle →

Other 2017 Honda models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology