Honda Pilot 2016–2022

3rd generation · YF5 / YF6 · 7,458 complaints, 2,090 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 39,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The engine accounts for 24.3% of complaints (1,809 reports, 321 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,200 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 33,000 and 88,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 20.7% of complaints (1,541 reports, 561 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 37,700 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 8,000 and 58,174 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 11.5% of complaints (859 reports, 218 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 26,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,500 and 50,000 miles.

Forward collision avoidance accounts for 7.7% of complaints (577 reports, 18 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 22,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,000 and 78,000 miles.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 7.5% of complaints (560 reports, 219 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 43,400 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 67,000 miles.

The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 6.9% of complaints (516 reports, 100 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 42,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 32,690 and 62,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2016 model year drew the most — 2,358 complaints — while 2022 drew the fewest at 242. The median year sits at 777.

That makes 2016 an outlier: roughly 3.0 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 23 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the fuel system (4), the reversing camera and sensors (3), the airbag system (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 7,458 complaints filed against this generation, 140 reported a crash; 43 reported a fire; 135 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 1.9% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 12,000 and 66,000 miles, with a median of 39,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the engine and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 37,700, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

Recalls (23)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Honda Pilot 2003–2008
• Honda Pilot 2009–2015
• Honda Pilot 2023–2025