2006 Honda PILOT: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10145572 · 2005-12-19 (December 19, 2005)
GAS MILEAGE FOR THE VEHICLE IS NOT AS ADVERTISED. I AM GETTING 20 MPG FOR MIXED USE DRIVING (MOSTLY HIGHWAY). THE EPA ESTIMATES ARE 20/28. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145572 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151672 · 2006-03-02 (March 2, 2006)
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2006 HONDA PILOT IN DEC 2005. FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES WERE GOODYEAR INTEGRITY. THE VEHICLE DAILY LOOSES TRACTION AND SEVERAL TIMES AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TRACTION IS BAD ON WET AND DRY CONDITIONS. WHEN CONTACTING HONDA CORPORATE, THEY SAY IT IS THE TIRE AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. GOODYEAR SAYS THAT WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH HONDA. CLASSIC RUNAROUND. HOWEVER, WHEN I REVIEW THE GOODYEAR WEB SITE, IT PROVIDES TIRE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VARIOUS VEHICLE TYPES. WHEN I REVIEW THE HONDA PILOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 101 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151732 · 2006-03-03 (March 3, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ONLY ILLUMINATE 50 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO VISIBILITY ABOVE 12 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE VEHICLE MEETS FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS AND NO REPAIRS ARE AVAILABLE. UPDATED 3/22/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151732 at NHTSA ↗
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 10152658 · 2006-03-14 (March 14, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED NUMEROUS TIMES AND LANDED ON IT'S TOP DUE TO THE IMPACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR. BOTH OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS; HOWEVER THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD THE OCCUPANTS TO THE SEAT AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT UNBUCKLE; HOWEVER THERE WAS TOO MUCH SLACK IN THE BELT THAT DID NOT RETRACT BACK INTO THE SIDE POST. AS A RESULT, BOTH OF THE OCCUPANT'S HEADS HIT THE WINDSHIELD SUSTAINING INJUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152658 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 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 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 ↗
Recall history
8 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
06V270000 · Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual
Reported: 2006-07-26 (July 26, 2006)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES, THE OWNER'S MANUALS CONTAIN INCORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S (NHTSA) VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE.
Consequence: THE LANGUAGE IN THE OWNER'S MANUALS IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: HONDA WILL SEND A POSTCARD TO DEALERS AND OWNERS WITH THE CORRECT NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE INFORMATION AND WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO INSERT THE CARD INTO THE "REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS" SECTION OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 2, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009, ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238 OR HONDA MOTORCYCLES AT 1-866-784-1870.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V320000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2015-05-28 (May 28, 2015)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received an inflator of a different design, and therefore are not included in this recall and do not require additional servicing. Note: This recall fully supersedes recalls 08V-593, 09V-259, 10V-041, 11V-260, 14V-351 and 15V-153. Honda's numbers for this recall are JQ9, JR0, JR1, JR2, JR3, JR4, JR5, JR6, JR7, and JR8.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V344000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2016-05-23 (May 23, 2016)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2008 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2008 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2008 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling model year 2002-2004 Odyssey and model year 2003-2004 Acura MDX, Honda Element, and Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA0, KA1, KA2, and KA3.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V029000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2017-01-10 (January 10, 2017)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2009 Acura RL and Honda Element vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles and 2006-2009 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2008 Acura RL, Honda Element and Honda Pilot vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2006-2008 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KD9 and KE0.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V268000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-04-26 (April 26, 2018)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Consequence: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V182000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2019-03-06 (March 6, 2019)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Consequence: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V499000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2019-06-27 (June 27, 2019)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V501000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2019-06-27 (June 27, 2019)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
NHTSA campaign record ↗