Problems · by component

2009 Honda Pilot engine problems

35 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Honda Pilot cite engine, 26% of all 134 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
35
26% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“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
“In September of 2021 my mechanic noticed low oil. oil consumption and poor mileage. We have to travel from New Mexico to Houston to see our grandchildren and sometimes we bring them back to our home. The risk is that we can get stranded in the middle of the desert. There have been reports of oil consumption see attached article: https://www.vehiclehistory.com/articles/honda-pilot-excessive-oil-consumption-recalls But when I called Honda customer service they dismiss it because my vin# does not show on their computers of recall of problems of such. I called the dealership and the same thing happened. I am an old timer that changes its oil and does the required maintenance regularly and on time. This should not happen to a very well-maintained vehicle! I hope you can help or at least direct me to someone that could help me. A very dissatisfied customer”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2022EngineODI 11481250
“The contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, there was an odor of burning oil present inside the cabin of the vehicle. In addition, the contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced excessive oil consumption and no oil leaks were present. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2022EngineODI 11463314
“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
“WE PURCHASED THE 2009 HONDA PILOT FROM IN MID-SEPTEMBER IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - ONE PREVIOUS OWNER, SERVICED REGULARLY, TIMING BELT REPLACED AND TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACED AT 100,00 MILES.IN NOVEMBER 2018,AS AGREED UPON WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WE BROUGHT THE PILOT INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR FOR THE BACKUP CAMERA, A TEAR IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT ARMREST AND WE ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE EMISSIONS AND ENGINE BE CHECKED AS THE ENGINE AND EMISSIONS LIGHTS WERE ON. THE BACKUP CAMERA AND TEAR WERE REPAIRED AND GRACE'S ASSURED US THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT AND EMISSIONS LIGHT WERE OKAY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CARED, FOR (OIL CHANGED ETC) AND LESS THAN AVERAGE MILES HAVE BEEN PUT ON IT AS I WORK LOCALLY. HOWEVER, ON SUNDAY, MARCH 24 AT 11:40 AM, I WAS DRIVING EAST ON 64 IN VIRGINIA AND SUDDENLY THE PILOT SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF 64. AS I DID, SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND I COULD SMELL GAS, SMOKE AND OIL AND I GOT OUT QUICKLY AS I WAS AFRAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE - I HAD NO IDEA WHAT COULD BE WRONG OR WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AS WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH, IT AND IT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND AGAIN,…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2019EngineFire reportedODI 11193055

Showing 6 of 35 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2009 Pilot problem areas