2006 Honda PILOT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
267 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
99,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 174 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 58 of 267 complaints (21.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 55 | 20.6% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 3.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 58 |
| Service Brakes | 24 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 22 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 |
| Structure:Body | 18 |
| Suspension | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
Air Bags: 58; Service Brakes: 24; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 22; Engine: 22; Vehicle Speed Control: 20; Structure:Body: 18; Suspension: 18; Unknown Or Other: 16
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 28 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 39 |
| 150,000 and above | 48 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 28; 100,000 to 149,999: 39; 150,000 and above: 48
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (48). 93 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 24 |
| 2015 | 27 |
| 2016 | 38 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2005: 1; 2006: 18; 2007: 5; 2008: 8; 2009: 6; 2010: 15; 2011: 10; 2012: 14; 2013: 18; 2014: 24; 2015: 27; 2016: 38; 2017: 10; 2018: 14; 2019: 17; 2020: 12; 2021: 4; 2022: 3; 2023: 8; 2024: 8; 2025: 5; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 55 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10152166 · 2006-03-08 (March 8, 2006)
PURCHASE A NEW 2006 HONDA PILOT 2WD ON 2/23/06. ON 2/27/06, WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARD SEVERAL FEET, AND FRONT TIRES KEPT SPINNING LOOSING TRACTION, AND THE BACK OF THE CAR HAD A FISH TAIL MOTION. I TESTED THE CAR ON A FLAT SURFACE IN THE RAIN, AND THE FRONT TIRE SPINNING STILL OCCURS. I TESTED THE CAR ON THE SAME INCLINE DURING DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, AND THE CAR ROLLS BACK ONCE YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. TOO…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155860 · 2006-04-22 (April 22, 2006)
AFTER DRIVING MY LEASED 2003 PILOT FOR 3 YEARS, I KNEW HOW IT HANDLED ON TURNS AND HOW IT STOPPED IN EMERGENCIES. BARELY 100 MILES INTO MY 2006 LEASE, I HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP ON A RAINY ROAD DUE TO AN ACCIDENT IN FRONT OF ME, AND REAR-ENDED A CAR WHEN MY ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO STOP IN TIME, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY 2003 PILOT WOULD HAVE STOPPED AT LEAST 6 FEET BEFORE THE NEXT VEHICLE. KNOWING MY 2003'S STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN ABS KICKS IN, I WAS FLABBERGASTED THAT THE NEW CAR DIDN'T COME CLOSE TO STOPPING IN TIME. I NOTICED ONE TIME SIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 110 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153125 · 2006-03-19 (March 19, 2006)
MY 2006 HONDA PILOT SUV HAS HAD A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL SINCE DAY 1. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHO GLADLY PERFORMED 2 TIRE BALANCES BUT THE VIBRATION DOESN'T GO AWAY. THE VIBRATION IS FELT AT ANY SPEED HIGHER THAN 63 MPH. ON LONG HIGHWAY DRIVES, MY ARMS UPTO MY ELBOWS VIBRATE FOR VERY LONG THAT I HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK FOR 20 MINUTES AND JUST SHAKE THE HECK OUT OF THEM. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF 3 OTHER PILOT OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS MORE WHO REPORT THIS ON WEBSITES LIKE WWW.HONDAPILOT.ORG/FORUMS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10153125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156935 · 2006-05-07 (May 7, 2006)
WITH LESS THAN 1000 MILES, I BEGAN NOTICING A VIBRATION PROBLEM ON MY '06 HONDA PILOT. VIBRATION FELT IN SEATS AND STEERING WHEEL. ALTHOUGH CAN BE FELT AT LOWER SPEEDS, MORE PRONOUNCED @ 55 - 70 MPH. MAY HAVE BEEN THERE FROM DELIVERY, BUT DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE ANY SMOOTH ROADS HERE IN PA. FOR FIRST FEW WEEKS. DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM AND WORKED FOR TWO DAYS TO ELIMINATE, CHECKING TIRE BALANCE, DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS AND RUN-OUT ON ROTORS. REAR ROTORS WERE RESURFACED AND SEEMED TO LESSEN THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH PROBLEM STILL …
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10298293 · 2010-01-05 (January 5, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE SPEEDING UP SUDDENLY EVEN WHEN HE TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. HE WAS FORCED TO SHIFT GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO RE-START THE VEHICLE AND SEE IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THE ISSUE DID NOT RE-OCCUR SO HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT. HE HAD A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AT THE TIME THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. HE HAS NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROX…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10298293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310147 · 2010-02-13 (February 13, 2010)
I EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS INCIDENT OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN MY 2006 HONDA PILOT EX-L ON FEBRUARY 8, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:45 A.M. EST NEAR THE REAR GARAGE ENTRANCE TO THE OFFICE TOWER. AS I WAS APPROACHING THE GARAGE ENTRANCE AT UNDER 10 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED ROARING TO 5000 RPM. I IMMEDIATELY AND WITH MAXIMUM FORCE PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH FORTUNATELY DID STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN PARK, AND THE ENGINE NEVER DEVIATED FROM THE 5000 RPM LEVEL. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AT THE IGNI…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215506 · 2008-01-21 (January 21, 2008)
THIS PROBLEM PRESENTED ITSELF SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT ANNOYANCE SINCE THEN. SOMETIMES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING THE RADIO ON THERE WILL BE NO SOUND FROM THE SPEAKERS. SOMETIMES AFTER DRIVING A WHILE, PERHAPS 20 MINUTES OR SO, THE RADIO WILL EMIT A LOUD ELECTRICAL POPPING NOISE AND SOUND WILL COME FROM THE SPEAKERS AGAIN. ALSO IF THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF LET SIT AND THEN TURNED BACK ON THE RADIO WILL START WORKING AGAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10215506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10552385 · 2013-11-15 (November 15, 2013)
WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS 2006 PILOT EX-L AND ARE EXPERIENCING DANGEROUSLY HOT CONDITIONS WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT. ON HIGH SETTING IT IS UNBEARABLE AND SEEMS MUCH HOTTER ON THE LEFT SIDE BASE PORTION. ON LOW SETTING IT IS MUCH HOTTER THAN NORMAL ALSO. I HAVE NOTICED A SLIGHT ELECTRICAL SMELL AND AM VERY CONCERNED. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 79,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160741 · 2006-06-26 (June 26, 2006)
WE RECENTLY PURCHASE A CERTIFIED USED HONDA PILOT. WE WERE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC AND THE PILOT STALLED. I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AND IT NEVER RAISED THE RPM LEVEL. I THEN TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND CRANKED IT, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO A PARKING LOT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM, AND ASKED THEM WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED. THEY HAD NO IDEA. ONE WEEK LATER WE WERE PULLING OUT INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC FROM A PARKING LOT FROM A DEAD STOP AND IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN. …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460163 · 2012-05-31 (May 31, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD FURTHER INVESTIGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 117,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153623 · 2006-03-24 (March 24, 2006)
FUEL SLOSHES IN FUEL TANK AND PHYSICALLY MOVES THE VEHICLE WHEN SUDDEN STOPS OCCUR. HONDA CORPORATE SAYS THIS IS A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE VEHICLE AND WILL, THEREFORE, TAKE NO ACTION TO CORRECT/REPLACE THE TANK OR VEHICLE. I'M GRAVELY CONCERNED THAT THIS DESIGN FLAW MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC IF ROAD SURFACES ARE COVERED WITH PACKED SNOW AND/OR ICE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11132829 · 2018-10-02 (October 2, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING FOR 500 MILES ONE GO, THE WEATHER TEMPERATURE WAS 93F I HAD SMELLED GAS I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED I FOUND THE GAS TANK HAS MELTED DUE TO HEAT COMES FROM THE MUFFLER RUNS UNDER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TANK, GOOD NEWS THE GAS WAS IS NOT THAT HOT TO IGNITE AND BURN, I WONDER HOW THE TANK MATERIAL COULD MELT IN THIS CONDITION IT HAS TO STAND THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE.
Owner-reported narrative. 147,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11132829 at NHTSA ↗