Problems · NHTSA complaints

2014 Honda Pilot problems

Owners filed 116 complaints about the 2014 Honda Pilot with NHTSA between Dec 2013 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is engine (31).

Complaints
116
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine31
  2. Structure20
  3. Wheels16
  4. Electrical system9
  5. Air bags9
  6. Power train7
  7. Suspension7
  8. Service brakes7
  9. Fuel/propulsion system5
  10. Vehicle speed control4
  11. Steering4
  12. Engine and engine cooling3
  13. Exterior lighting3
  14. Forward collision avoidance3

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 3, 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
20131
201410
201512
201616
20178
201814
20199
202010
20215
20225
20239
20245
20255
20267

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

31 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2014 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a loud pop coming from the engine department. The contact became aware of a severe drop in the oil level while driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that there was a misfire in cylinder #4, and that the engine needed to be rebuilt. The engine was rebuilt. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the engine sputtered with the check engine and several other warning lights illuminated. The failures persisted. The vehicle was towed to another dealer, Friendly Honda of Fayetteville (534 E Genesee St, Fayetteville, NY 13066); and was diagnosed with piston rings failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the spark plugs, and alternator were also replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer opened a case regarding the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2026Engine and engine cooling, EngineODI 11744773

Structure

20 reports
“My paint is peeling. I never had a vehicle with the paint peeling like this. Its color is white. What can be done about this? I have bought touch up paint to help stop the peeling but that didnt do so well.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2025StructureODI 11676027

Wheels

16 reports
“LEAKS IN TWO OF 4 PIRELLI SCORPION VERDE TIRES WERE DIAGNOSED BY MECHANIC AS PLY DELAMINATIONS CAUSING MULTIPLE PINHOLE LEAKS AND INDICATING A NEED FOR IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. I FOUND MULTIPLE REPORTS OF DESTRUCTIVE DELAMINATIONS IN SERVICE ON THE NHSTA SITE, BUT NO RECALL. TIRES ARE 235/60 R18, DATE CODES 4217 AND 4717 TOTAL MILEAGE UNKNOWN (IN PLACE WHEN VEHICLE PURCHASED USED, PURPORTEDLY NEW BUT MORE THAN A YEAR OLD BY DATE CODE, LESS THAN 20,000 MILES THAT I KNOW OF, PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT.) HAVE LEAKED SLOWLY FOR A WHILE, ASSUMED IT WAS VALVE STEM SEALS, ASKED MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT. TIRES ARE PRESENTLY INTACT, LEAK SLOWLY WHETHER PARKED OR DRIVING ON STREETS OR HIGHWAYS, WILL BE REPLACED ASAP, BUT ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2020WheelsODI 11351315

Electrical system

9 reports2 crashes
“Component Involved: Engine Lubrication / Cylinder Head / Variable Valve Timing (VVT) Spool Valve (Solenoid Assembly) and Electrical Charging System (Alternator). Vehicle Affected Example: Honda vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 (J35 Engine Series) with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), including the Honda Pilot. Description of the Safety Defect & Failure Mechanism: The rear (bank 1) variable valve timing spool valve assembly is mounted directly above the vehicle's alternator. Due to thermal cycling and material degradation, the molded rubber gasket on the upper portion of this spool valve assembly experiences premature compression set and fails, resulting in a pressurized engine oil leak. Because of the physical packaging and architecture of the J35 engine, the oil dripping from this failed gasket falls directly into the open housing of the alternator located immediately below it. The engine oil contaminates the alternator's internal brushes, slip rings, and diodes, leading to a catastrophic electrical short circuit and total failure of the charging system. Description of the Safety Risk: When the alternator fails due to oil contamination, the vehicle…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 24, 2026Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11746124

Air bags

9 reports3 crashes3 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V661000 (AIR BAGS). STEVE PADGETT'S DANVILLE HONDA (877-293-5660, LOCATED AT 4050 RIVERSIDE DR, DANVILLE, VA 24541) PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2019Air bagsODI 11204485

Power train

7 reports
“2014 Honda pilot touring--ENGINE-is running through oil faster than it should. The spark plugs/coil packs have all been replaced now. Starting with 1 an 3.I was driving down the road and it started stalling out while I was in traffic about 8 mo.ago . The vehicle didn't want to go anywhere an when it would get some power to go it was slow an the engine was shaking so hard the whole time even at idle. So I pulled over, turned car off an then on trying to get it home since I wasn't far at all. Finally the check engine light came on as I pulled in the drive. Put a code reader on it to find out that plugs 1.and 3 were misfiring., Fixed that problem and 2 months later it did the same thing. Checked codes again and seen now we needed to replace the rest of the spark plugs and all coil packs. Which made it run normal again. Dates are unknown at this point. Best guess it started about between 6 months an a year ago. We have had problems every since though. The check engine light came on again an the car was shaking and idling up an down an the code was- low transmission fluid. Transmission fluid doesn't leak unless something's wrong. There was none leaking and when we…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2026Power train, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11711134
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

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