Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Honda Pilot problems

Owners filed 134 complaints about the 2009 Honda Pilot with NHTSA between Dec 2008 and Jan 2026. The most-cited component is engine (35).

Complaints
134
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine35
  2. Air bags29
  3. Suspension19
  4. Service brakes13
  5. Steering13
  6. Power train12
  7. Seats7
  8. Structure7
  9. Seat belts5
  10. Electrical system5
  11. Engine and engine cooling4
  12. Vehicle speed control4
  13. Electronic stability control (esc)3
  14. Tires3

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20081
20094
201010
20117
20124
201313
201415
201512
201629
20177
20186
20199
20204
20211
20225
20232
20243
20251
20261

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

35 reports1 crash4 fires
“My 2009 Honda Pilot has 188,793 miles, I barely drive the vehicle and it need Piston Rings. I'm aware that this is a common problem with the 2009 Honda Pilots. I do not have $3,000. to just give to these people when Honda knows there is a problem with this vehicle.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2023EngineODI 11546707

Air bags

29 reports4 crashes8 related recalls
“I bought this car from Nalley Honda. After that I drove back to Birmingham. On my way airbag alarm pops up. Now they says I have to pay for this. But why should I pay for an safety issue as they should make sure its works fine.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 5, 2024Air bagsODI 11592760

Suspension

19 reports
“ON JULY 29, 2020 I PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM CROWN NISSAN OF GREENVILLE. THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SAFETY INSPECTION AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND ALL THAT NEEDED WAS A NEW AC COMPRESSOR THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY WERE NOT TRANSPARENT ABOUT OTHER PROBLEMS THAT SURFACED WITHIN THE FIRST QUARTER TANK OF GAS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND WAS CAUSING ERRORS WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN. BOTH LOW CONTROL ARMS AND STRUTS WERE COMPLETELY WORN AND NOT SAFE FOR VEHICLE OPERATION. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK IN IT. THERE WERE ALSO FAULTY ENGINE MISFIRING. THERE INSPECTION DID NOT ANIMATE ANY OF THESE ISSUES AND SAID THE ONLY THING WRONG WAS THE AC COMPRESSOR, WHICH WAS A LIE. THE LEFT STRUT WAS ALSO WAS NOT OPERATIONAL AND HAS MADE THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 100 MILES AND HAS CAUSED NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND A SAFETY CONCERN FOR THE DRIVER. I USED THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT TWICE AND THEY WERE NOT TRANSPARENT ABOUT ISSUES CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. THEY DID NOT CARE AND BOTH TIMES SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE WHICH WAS NOT TRUE THERE WAS A LOT WRONG…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2020Suspension, Service brakes, EngineODI 11343816

Service brakes

13 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 45 MPH, the brake pedal failed to operate as needed upon depression as his wife crashed a vehicle that stopped at the light. The airbags deployed upon impact. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to a local hospital by ambulance; her injuries were unknown. The contact took his wife to the hospital after the accident where she was treated for neck and back pain. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed and remained in the possession of the independent mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2022Service brakes, air, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11453866

Steering

13 reports1 crash
“THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2009 HONDA PILOT VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY AT ANY SPEED OVER 50MPH. I HAVE COMPLETELY REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTOR AND PADS WITH BRAND NEW PARTS. IT IMPROVED SOMEWHAT, BUT DIDN'T ELIMINATE THE VIBRATION PROBLEM. MY ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THEY ARE MANY OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS ACROSS ALL MODEL YEARS. IT APPEARS TO BE A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SOME PEOPLE CLAIMED TO HAVE THE VIBRATION PROBLEM FIXED BY REPLACING THE ENGINE MOUNT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 31, 2015SteeringODI 10817255

Power train

12 reports1 crash
“WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OTHER Honda Pilot OWNERS AS WELL FROM THE DEALER THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS A VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY COMMON ISSUE. IT WILL COST OVER $6,000 TO FIX. THAT IS CORRECT, OVER $ 6,000 !!!!!!!! WE HOPE THE US GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE ACTION. WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT HONDA IS WELL AWARE OF FOR YEARS NOW. PLEASE HELP US COMMON FOLK THANK YOU”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2022Power train, EngineODI 11498297
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.