Problems · NHTSA complaints
2008 Honda Pilot problems
Owners filed 133 complaints about the 2008 Honda Pilot with NHTSA between Jan 2008 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (32).
Complaints
133
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags32
- Structure16
- Power train11
- Engine10
- Electrical system9
- Exterior lighting9
- Suspension8
- Steering8
- Seats8
- Electronic stability control (esc)7
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Service brakes6
- Vehicle speed control6
- Visibility5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
7
4
10
3
8
6
11
15
19
8
10
6
6
4
2
6
2
3
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
32 reports4 crashes7 related recalls
“2008 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO THE REPAIR IT WAS NOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO PAY TO HAVE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE CONSUMER DECLINED. *JS”
Structure
16 reports1 fire
“2008 Honda pilot Rear subframe on both sides rotted out! horrible design! Lots of Honda pilots with this issue!! you could've killed my family due to this!! This is a known issue now take care of your buyers!!!”
Power train
11 reports1 crash
“WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 HONDA PILOT AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES AN HOUR THERE WAS A TERRIBLE SHUDDER IN THE TRANSMISSION AND IT LASTED FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS . AT THAT TIME I LOST POWER AND LUCKILY I WASN'T CROSSING OVER AN INTERSECTION , OR ELSE I MIGHT NOT BE HERE TO DOCUMENT THIS. THIS OCCURRENCE HAS HAPPENED PROBABLY 6 TIMES A WEEK. THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS I AM . WHY IS HONDA OF AMERICA NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR”
Engine
10 reports1 crash1 fire
“STATE INSPECTION FAILD, check engine light, bank 1 Catalytic Converter Internal Failure and bank 2 Catalytic converter Internal Failure, passenger side axle to be leaking, power steering pump to be leaking, power steering reservoir tank to be leaking, front and rear brake pad”
Electrical system
9 reports
“Left headlight went out in July 2023 while traveling in Oklahoma. I had it replaced at a NAPA shop in Kansas shortly after. The headlight went out again while home in Charleston, SC in November 2023. I had it replaced again. 2 weeks later around roughly November 15th 2023 the light went out again.”
Exterior lighting
9 reports1 fire
“WINCHESTER VA 22602 NOV 23 2018 7:38 PM . THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT IN THE DRIZZLE ON VERY DARK ROAD. I HAD TO KEEP HITTING THE HIGH BEAMS AND RUN ON THE DRIVING LIGHTS. WHILE HITTING THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN POSSIBLE.THIS SAME PROBLEM WAS RECALLED ON EARLIER MODELS OF HONDA PILOTS BUT IT DOES NOT COVER MINE AFTER GOING TO REPAIRPAL THIS IS A 9 MODEL YEAR PROBLEM.YOU CAN READ POST AFTER POST ON DIFFERENT SITES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR AT THE TIME.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.