Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here.
Owners have filed 1,699 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Honda Pilot, and it carries 8 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 439 | 26% |
| Electrical system | 273 | 16% |
| Unknown or other | 154 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 113 | 7% |
| Power train | 87 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 80 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 44 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 38 | 2% |
| Structure | 36 | 2% |
| Power train | 33 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Engine warning light came on, then all warning lights came on, then the engine just stopped. Honda dealer confirmed it was due to a failed crankshaft and might be covered under a current recall, 23V-751. We spent over 10
NHTSA complaint: Engine
My vehicle's fuel injectors failed, triggering a check engine light with code P0430. This matches a known manufacturing defect described in Honda's Technical Service Bulletin 20-100, which states injectors on affected ve
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle lost automotive power, and the battery, oil, and information warning lights remained illuminated. Several minutes l
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
The 6-speed automatic transmission on my 2016 Honda Pilot EX-L (103,200 miles) has experienced a severe mechanical failure casing dangerously hard, violent gear shifts during both acceleration and deceleration. Critica
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The engine started making a faint rattling sound at low rpm , but after 15 miles of driving the noise grew rapidly and something broke in the engine and seized the engine. Currently at a workshop and mechanic said this
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Engine bearing rod failure. Even though all engine required service was completed on time and at the official Honda service, engine bearing rod failed requiring costly whole engine replacement.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Honda recognized a factory paint adhesion defect and issued a warranty extension 19-057 for a defined VIN population. When I inquired a Honda dealer in 2022, the response was that my vehicle was outside that population.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine and ABS warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an indepen
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2016 Honda Pilot. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and AWD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that may leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KE8.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura MDX 2WD and MDX 4WD vehicles, 2016 Acura MDX 4WD vehicles, 2015-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles, and 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were manufactured with insufficient welds wh
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda/Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall began on July 29, 2016. Honda's numb
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to June 5, 2015. Due to an assembly issue, the third row seatbelt may be trapped between the rear seat and the rear sideliner.
Risk: If the third row seatbelt is trapped, the occupants may not be restrained properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the rear third row seat belt, free of charge. The recall began on August 6, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to September 8, 2015 and 2016 Pilot 4WD vehicles manufactured May 7, 2015 to September 4, 2015. In the affected vehicles, when one of the safety systems such as tire pressure mon
Risk: If a safety system cannot immediately warn the driver when needed, the driver may be at increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
| Reliability raw | 44 | below average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 66 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 62 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 1,699 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 439 of them (26%). There are 8 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 44/100 (below average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 66/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2016 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip, because the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here. Its overall ownership score is 63/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.