2018 Honda PILOT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
437 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
47,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 104 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 156 of 437 complaints (35.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 77 | 17.6% |
| Braking behavior | 70 | 16.0% |
| Engine operation | 68 | 15.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 40 | 9.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 38 | 8.7% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 156 |
| Electrical System | 82 |
| Power Train | 75 |
| Unknown Or Other | 73 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 63 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 62 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 23 |
| Structure:Body | 13 |
Engine: 156; Electrical System: 82; Power Train: 75; Unknown Or Other: 73; Fuel/Propulsion System: 63; Fuel System, Gasoline: 62; Vehicle Speed Control: 23; Structure:Body: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 36 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 36; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 8
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 333 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 27 |
| 2022 | 97 |
| 2023 | 46 |
| 2024 | 119 |
| 2025 | 68 |
| 2026 | 30 |
2018: 13; 2019: 20; 2020: 17; 2021: 27; 2022: 97; 2023: 46; 2024: 119; 2025: 68; 2026: 30
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 77 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 70 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 68 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 11175830 · 2019-02-09 (February 9, 2019)
TRANSMISSION JERKS, HESITATES AND/OR CLUNKS WHEN CHANGING AND/OR ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE TO NEXT HIGHER GEAR, HESITATES AND/OR REVERTS TO NEXT LOWER GEAR WHEN IT SHOULD SHIFT TO NEXT GEAR. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON LEVEL SURFACES AND DOWN HILLS CAUSING PASSENGERS TO JERK FORWARDED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT EXPECTATION. HONDA DEALER KEPT VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS AND DID NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN APRIL 2018, HAD SAME PROBLEM SINCE WEEK #1. WHEN SHIFTING MANUALLY DOES NOT EXPERIENCE HESITATION OR GEAR HUNTING BUT CLANKING STILL EXIST…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11175830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11206293 · 2019-05-08 (May 8, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD VIOLENTLY AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. ALSO, THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HEADQUARTER HONDA (17700 FL-50, CLERMONT, FL 34711, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN PART ATTACHED TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MI…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11206293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11154596 · 2018-11-28 (November 28, 2018)
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT IN "DRIVE" WITH THE AUTO-IDLE FEATURE IN USE. CAR WOULD NOT RE-START WHEN FOOT TAKEN OFF BRAKE. RADIO CUT OUT BRIEFLY AS WELL. DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH MANY ERROR MESSAGES - ONE OF THEM WAS "COLLISION MITIGATION PROBLEM" OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. PLACED CAR IN PARK AND PUSHED START BUTTON NUMEROUS TIMES. ONLY GOT CLICKING SOUNDS, WITH OCCASIONAL ENGINE TURNOVER NOISE, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. TURNED OFF A/C AND RADIO. CAR FINALLY STARTED AFTER SEVERAL MORE MINUTES OF PUSHING START BUTTON WHILE IN PARK WITH FOOT ON BR…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11154596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11164334 · 2019-01-01 (January 1, 2019)
MY 2018 HONDA PILOT ELITE TURNS ON THE "AUTO IDLE STOP" FEATURE EACH TIME I START THE VEHICLE. BASICALLY, THIS MEANS THAT THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN I'M AT A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE STARTS AGAIN. HOWEVER, THERE IS LAG TIME BETWEEN THE TIME I RELEASE THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATION. THIS HAS NEARLY CAUSED A DEATHLY ACCIDENT ON MORE THAN A DOZEN OCCASIONS DURING THE PAST 6 MONTHS AT INTERSECTIONS. I'VE NEARLY BEEN T-BONED EACH AND EVERY TIME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL SIMPLY NOT ACCELERATE AT THE PRECISE MOMENT WHEN I NEED IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11164334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11186259 · 2019-03-12 (March 12, 2019)
ON SATURDAY I WAS DRIVING MY 10 MONTH OLD 2018 HONDA PILOT WITH APPROX. 7,000 MILES ON IT TO AIRPORT TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER. MY HUSBAND AND 3 YOUNG KIDS WERE MERGING ONTO AIRPORT PROPERTY ON A EXTREMELY BUSY AFTERNOON, MY VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS LIKE A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. I WAS LEFT STRANDED AT 7PM, IN DARK, WITH 3 SCARED CHILDREN, UNABLE TO ALERT OTHER HOSTILE DRIVERS AROUND ME BY TURNING ON FLASHERS. AFTER NOT BEING ABOUT TO PUSH VEHICLE OUT WAY OF HEAVY TRAFFIC, I WAS FORCED TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR ASSISTANCE WHICH PROVED …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11186259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11317205 · 2020-03-10 (March 10, 2020)
THE VEHICLE WOULD "STALL OUT" AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN WHEN I WAS IN "AUTO IDLE-STOP" AND PRESSED ON THE GAS. I FIRST NOTICED THAT THE AUTO IDLE-STOP WAS HESITATING WHEN IT WOULD START UP. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE RADIO WOULD "CUT OUT". AFTER THAT, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST STALL OUT AND I WOULD HAVE TO PUSH PARK, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THEN PUSH START. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11317205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11452191 · 2022-02-16 (February 16, 2022)
Engine misfires randomly causing car to go into limp mode. Car was unable to go pass 40 mph on while trying to merge highway. It was very dangerous and scary as cars came very close to my bumper. Honda is aware of an injector issue and has extended the warranty, but this should be a safety recall.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11452191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11506851 · 2023-02-12 (February 12, 2023)
Extreme vibration from the high pressure fuel line due to premature failure of the high pressure fuel pump. Was told that I need to replace everything going to the high pressure fuel pump when I replace the pump because of the risk of fire. Honda is aware of this issue as they have issued a 16-013 service bulletin and has passed the cost of a design flaw down to the consumer knowing the line could rupture and catch the vehicle on fire. Honda says oops well it's over 60k miles and your past the warranty. The vibration from acceleration is so lou…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11506851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11325339 · 2020-05-20 (May 20, 2020)
I HAVE A 2018 HONDA PILOT EX 2WD, VIN NUMBER [XXX] WITH 57,100 MILES THAT I PURCHASED FROM EARNHARDT HONDA AVONDALE, AZ ON FEB 13, 2018. ON MARCH 1, 2020 AT 0830 MY FAMILY OF 6 AND I WERE SEATED IN OUR CAR IN OUR GARAGE PREPARING TO LEAVE TO GO TO CHURCH. AS I PUSHED THE START BUTTON WE WERE ALL SHOCKED AS WE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SAW SMOKE SPEWING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR HOOD. I QUICKLY INSTRUCTED MY FAMILY TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND MOVE TO SAFETY. I THEN OPENED THE HOOD TO INSPECT WHAT HAPPENED. AFTER REMOVING THE PLASTIC COVER FROM THE B…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11325339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11164335 · 2019-01-01 (January 1, 2019)
2018 HONDA PILOT ELITE-- WHILE DRIVING ON A SMALL, CONGESTED, CURVY TWO-LANE ROAD, IN A POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION, MY FRONTAL IMPACT SENSORS ALERTED ME TO FRONTAL IMPACT MULTIPLE TIMES BY SHAKING MY STEERING WHEEL. THE DASH LIGHTS ALSO FLASHED THE WORD "BRAKE" IN ORANGE AND BLACK. THIS SO-CALLED "SAFETY" FEATURE ALMOST CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS ROAD BECAUSE OF THE SHAKING STEERING WHEEL. THIS FRONTAL IMPACT ALERT ALWAYS OCCURRED WHEN A LARGE RV TYPE OF VEHICLE PASSED BY ME. ALTHOUGH I LATER DISCOVERE…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11164335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11453829 · 2022-02-24 (February 24, 2022)
Just saw the article concerning the automatic braking in Honda CR-V's and Accords. Since purchasing my 2018 Pilot, in September 2018, this has occurred multiple times. While driving "Brake" will flash on my dash screen and a momentary braking action, along with a shimmy in the steering wheel will occur. I have never had a complete stop happen. I went to my local Honda dealers in Modesto and Stockton, CA. Spoke to their service personnel and they both had no idea what might cause this to happen. I then called Honda customer service and they hadn…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11453829 at NHTSA ↗