2011 Honda PILOT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
292 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
46,375 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 200 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 68 of 292 complaints (23.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 58 | 19.9% |
| Steering behavior | 45 | 15.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 22 | 7.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 2.7% |
| 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 | 68 |
| Service Brakes | 39 |
| Steering | 34 |
| Suspension | 33 |
| Engine | 31 |
| Unknown Or Other | 22 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Power Train | 17 |
Air Bags: 68; Service Brakes: 39; Steering: 34; Suspension: 33; Engine: 31; Unknown Or Other: 22; Electrical System: 20; Power Train: 17
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 64 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 41 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 30 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 23 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 64; 25,000 to 49,999: 41; 50,000 to 74,999: 30; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 16
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (64). 92 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 33 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 27 |
| 2016 | 53 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2010: 7; 2011: 20; 2012: 17; 2013: 33; 2014: 26; 2015: 27; 2016: 53; 2017: 21; 2018: 25; 2019: 13; 2020: 11; 2021: 7; 2022: 8; 2023: 10; 2024: 1; 2025: 7; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 58 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 45 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 22 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 10360035 · 2010-10-12 (October 12, 2010)
WHEEL SENSOR WIRES ON 2011 HONDA PILOT ARE EXPOSED AND UNPROTECTED UNDER THE VEHICLE WHICH WHEN DAMAGED, DISABLE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS), VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA), AND THE VARIABLE TORQUE MANAGEMENT (VTM-4) SYSTEMS. EXPOSED WIRES ARE PRONE TO BE CUT OR DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS AND HAZARDS. DUE TO THE WIRE BEING EXPOSED, IT WAS DAMAGED AND CAUSED AN OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE OF APPROX. $266.00 TO REPAIR ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH ONLY 2,600 MILES ON IT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY AVOIDED IF THE WIRE HAD BEEN PROTECTED BY A BRAIDED C…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10435514 · 2011-11-14 (November 14, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 60 MPH. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. THE CANCEL BUTTON WAS ALSO DEPRESSED, BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD RETURN THE CONT…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,175 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392765 · 2011-03-24 (March 24, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO ONE SIDE WITHOUT EXPLANATION. IN ADDITION, WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND STEERING TO THE LEFT HE WOULD MOMENTARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT BUT IT FAILED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460290 · 2012-06-01 (June 1, 2012)
A FEW WEEKS AGO, I BEING TO NOTICE THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND WOBBLES UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE AT 60+ MPH ON OUR NEW HONDA PILOT WE PURCHASED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY MENTIONED THE FORWARD ROTORS NEEDED TO BE MACHINED AND WAS NOT COVERED BY FACTOR WARRANTY AND WOULD CAUSE $220 TO DO THE JOB. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND DEALER MANAGER AND THEY BOTH WOULD NOT OFFER TO HONOR THERE 3 YEARS OR 36,000 BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY TO FIX THE ISSUE. I DECIDED …
Owner-reported narrative. 19,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10361714 · 2010-10-22 (October 22, 2010)
2011 HONDA PILOT, SPONTANEOUS STAR CRACK IN LOWER CENTER WINDSHIELD, SPONTANEOUS REAR HATCH AND PASSENGER DOOR OPENING WHILE DRIVING WITH MY YOUNG CHILD IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT (WITH "LOCKED" DOORS), TRANSMISSION RATTLE UPON SLOW ACCELERATION OR COAST AT SECOND AND THIRD GEARS....HONDA DEALER SAID CALL INSURANCE ABOUT WINDSHIELD, SOMETHING MUST HAVE "HIT" WINDSHIELD WITHOUT ME KNOWING IT, SAID "FOUND NO ABNORMAL NOISES" AND "CANNOT DUPLICATE" RATTLE NOISE BECAUSE DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT DRIVING PATTERNS, SAID "CANNOT DUPLICATE" DOORS…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10404424 · 2011-06-04 (June 4, 2011)
I BOUGHT 2011 HONDA PILOT EX-L RES AT THE END OF APRIL, 2011. I NOTICED THERE WAS A PINK COLOR OIL LEAK (3" SIZE) ON MY GARAGE FLOOR ON THE FIRST DAY AFTER ABOUT 60 MILE DRIVE. AFTER THEN, IT KEPT LEAKING EVERY TIME AFTER RUNNING THE CAR. I HAVE HONDA DEALER CHECKED IT YESTERDAY. I WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I HEARD THIS. IT IS A BRAND NEW CAR AND TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKED AT THE FIRST DAY WHEN I DROVE FROM DEALER BACK TO HOME (~60 MILES). THE DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE WHERE EXACTLY THE LEAK COMES FROM AND WAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404424 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10439769 · 2011-12-13 (December 13, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 87 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AFTER EXHIBITING A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT THEY COULD NOT CONFIRM THAT IT WAS THE ACTUAL CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 9,800.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10439769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10531545 · 2013-07-24 (July 24, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK WITH THE ENGINE IN OPERATION WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000..... UPDATED 10-17-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITH NO WARNING, AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART . THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. AN IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10531545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10406947 · 2011-06-15 (June 15, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. THE DEALER MADE FIVE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILES WERE 9,615. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,600. UPDATED 07/26/11*LJ UPDATED 3/16/12 *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10406947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11302473 · 2020-01-28 (January 28, 2020)
WARPING OF ROTORS CAUSES EXTREME SHAKING WHEN BREAKING ALSO WRENCHING OF STEERING WHEEL WHEN SUDDEN STOPPING OR FAST DESCENTS OF STOPPING/BREAKING. CLICKING IN STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING TURNING,IN REVERSE AND STRAIGHT FORWARD DRIVING, SHUDDER IN SHIFTING 5-30 MPH , ECO LIGHT COMING ON AND CAUSES DELAY IN SPEED PICKUP OR CONTINUING IN SAME SPEED DURING DRIVING 01/15/2019. DOOR LOCKS FAILURE 06/05/2019 GAS PURGE VALVE GAS SMELL IN AC VENT REPLACED 06/05/2019. AC/HEAT BLOWER MOTOR FRONT REPLACED NOT WORKING 02/14/2019. REAR BLOWER AC/HEAT MOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,887 miles reported. Look up ODI 11302473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11562504 · 2023-12-29 (December 29, 2023)
The gas tank bands are rusting out, they are about to break causing the gas tank to fall and probably catch fire. The gas tank protector and gas tank guard are also rusted out to the point of falling off and crumbling rust.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11562504 at NHTSA ↗