2014 Honda PILOT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
116 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
34,258 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 66 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 116 complaints (26.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 19.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 7.8% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 5.2% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 5.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
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 | 31 |
| Structure:Body | 19 |
| Wheels | 16 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
Engine: 31; Structure:Body: 19; Wheels: 16; Unknown Or Other: 15; Air Bags: 9; Electrical System: 8; Power Train: 7; Service Brakes: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 26 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 50 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2013: 1; 2014: 10; 2015: 12; 2016: 16; 2017: 8; 2018: 14; 2019: 9; 2020: 10; 2021: 5; 2022: 5; 2023: 9; 2024: 5; 2025: 5; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 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 10556767 · 2013-12-20 (December 20, 2013)
WHEN THE VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT KICKS IN AT 2000 RPM THE ENGINE VIBRATES. IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY WHEN THE ECO GREEN LIGHT COMES ON. VERY DISTRACTING AND ANNOYING. ALSO IS A PROBLEM IN MY SISTERS 2013 PILOTS. DEALER KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT DISCLOSE UNTIL AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556767 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560599 · 2014-01-20 (January 20, 2014)
45 MILES ON A BRAND NEW 2014 PILOT EX-L THE IGNITION DOES NOT ENGAGED CONSISTENTLY. WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY AND THE ENGINE CRANKS, IT DOES NOT TURN OVER, RATHER IT CONTINUES TO MAKE CRANKING SOUND, EVEN WHEN KEY GOES BACK TO RUN/ON POSITION. YOU NEED TO TURN KEY OFF TO GET CRANKING TO STOP. 50 MILES ON BARAND NEW 2014 PILOT EX-L A CONTINUOUS CLICKING SOUND COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. IT DOES IT WHEN YOU TURN RIGHT, BUT MORE PREDOMINANT WHEN TURNING LEFT. FROM ONSET - THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT O…
Owner-reported narrative. 45 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10567514 · 2014-03-05 (March 5, 2014)
WHEN CRUISING IN MY 2014 HONDA PILOT EX-L AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON RELATIVELY FLAT TERRAIN, THERE IS A LOW FREQUENCY VIBRATION AND RUMBLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO THE VCM FEATURE OF THE ENGINE. IT IS POSSIBLE THIS COULD GET WORSE AND CAUSE SOME ENGINE DAMAGE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10575919 · 2014-03-31 (March 31, 2014)
TWO INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE FIRST ON JANUARY 31, 2014, THE SECOND ON MARCH 25, 2014. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT A VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES PER HOUR. IN BOTH SITUATIONS THE CAR WAS COMING TO A STOP WITH THE BRAKE BEING APPLIED. SUDDENLY, THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE CAR SUDDENLY MOVED FORWARD WITH THE BREAK UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR EVEN THOUGH BOTH FEET WERE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDDLE. THE CAR WAS STOPPED BY PUTTING THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10575919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576271 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)
LEASED BRAND NEW PILOT LX ON MARCH 15, 2014. IT APPEARED TO BE IN PERFECT WORKING CONDITION. THEN, SUDDENLY ON 3/30/14 WHILE DRIVING HOME, IT LOST ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF ITS BRAKES. TO STOP IT, YOU MUST HAVE FOOT TO FLOOR ON BRAKES. IF THIS HAD BEEN AN EMERGENCY STOP, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. TAKING IT TO DEALER ON 4/2/14 TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 380 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10610709 · 2014-07-15 (July 15, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN ACTIVATING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10610709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637663 · 2014-09-19 (September 19, 2014)
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW HONDA PILOT-NAVI 2014 ON JULY 3 2014. 1 WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE THERE WAS A MAJOR WATER LEAK INSIDE THE NEW 2014 VEHICLE!.. WATER WAS LEAKING INSIDE FROM A BIG RAIN STORM AND I DO HAVE A VIDEO AND PICS TO SHOW YOU. THE NEXT DAY SPACE COAST HONDA WAS CALLED WHERE I PURCHASED THE NEW 2014 TO GET FIXED. THE SERVICE DIRECTOR SAID THAT I OPENED THE MOONROOF WHICH IS NOT TRUE!. HE THEN TOLD ME LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A TECHNICIAN TO LOOK WHERE THE WATER WAS COMING FROM. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP OFFERED ME A LOANER …
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637675 · 2014-09-19 (September 19, 2014)
MY 2014 HONDA PILOT EX-L HAS A MULTI MAJOR ISSUES. STARTING WITH A MAJOR WATER LEAK INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEFT HAND TURN DURING THE RAIN. HESITATION IN THE MOTOR WHEN TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. THIS OCCURS ALL THE TIME WHEN DRIVING. LUNGING FORWARD WHILE THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED. PULLING TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE IN ALIGNMENT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE DAY OF PURCHASE. WHINING IN THE POWER STEERING NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU ARE TURNING. LIFTERS ARE TAPPING UNDER THE HOOD. THE LIST GOES ON. TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 672 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637675 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V661000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-09-27 (September 27, 2018)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the 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. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles 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 air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher 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 air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V378000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2019-05-16 (May 16, 2019)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Consequence: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V502000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2019-06-27 (June 27, 2019)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot 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 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 F5F and Q5E.
NHTSA campaign record ↗