Problems · by component

2016 Honda Pilot electronic stability control (esc) problems

37 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2016 Honda Pilot cite electronic stability control (esc), 2% of all 1,725 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
37
2% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electronic stability control (esc)

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that there was an abnormal engine knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There were recurring oil leaks and a misfire coming from the engine. The engine warning light was flashing. Additionally, the ESC, hill start assist, VSA, EPS, and steering low warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the codes. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was not contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 5, 2026Engine and engine cooling, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11708799
“I'VE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH MY 2016 HONDA PILOT IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I CURRENTLY HAVE 110K MILES ON MY VEHICLE BUT MY PROBLEMS BEGAN AT AROUND 80K. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SEVERAL OTHER LIGHTS ILLUMINATE CONSTANTLY. AT FIRST THEY WOULD LIGHT UP AND GO AWAY. BROUGHT IT TO SERVICE. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THEY CHANGE MY SPARK PLUGS AND TOLD ME TO DRIVE MY CAR ON AT LEAST A HALF TANK OF GAS. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THEN MY CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND IDLING ROUGHER. I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY FUEL INJECTORS. THAT WAS TAKEN CARE AND I STILL HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES ALONG WITH EMISSIONS SYSTEM PROBLEM WARMING AND MY CAR STILL RUNS ROUGH AND HAS TROUBLE ACCELERATING. SONG WITH ALL OF THESE ISSUES I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY IGNITION AND KEY FOB AND MY AUTO START IS NOT WORKING. I HAVE OVER A100K ON THE CAR WHICH I UNDERSTAND CAN CAUSE WEAR AND TEAR BUT ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS FAR EXCEED THE DEFINITION OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON ANYTHING AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REMEDY THESE SITUATIONS. MY CAR IS AT SERVICE YET AGAIN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO RUN SO ROUGH.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2020Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11363548
“WHEN STOPPED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION ON A CITY STREET, THE AUTOMATIC STOP-IDLE FUNCTION DID NOT RESTART AND MY CAR STALLED WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED AT ATTEMPTS TO RESTART VEHICLE. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, AS I HAD 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL. WE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN REAR ENDED AS WE WERE BLOCKING TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR A REPAIR. AT THIS POINT, I QUESTION THE REPAIR, AS MY CAR HAS COME CLOSE TO STALLING AGAIN 3 TIMES SINCE THIS OCCURRENCE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2020Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11361248
“WAS AT A LIGHT ELECTRONICA STOP AND GOAL CONTROL KICKED IN THE CAR WENT OFF WHEN I WENT TO HIT THE EXCELERATOR TO GO THE CAR DID NOT RESTART JUST THE ELECTRONICA STAYED ON SHUT THE CAR TOTALLY OFF TRY TO RESTART IT WOULD NOT START TURN THE CAR OFF AGAIN TRIED TO RESTART IT THE CAR STARTED AND DROVE FINE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2020Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11355417
“INTERMITTENTLY RECEIVE DASH ERROR CODE "'KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ' " IT COMES AND GOES. ALSO VEHICLE STRUGGLES TO RESTART WHEN THE A ENGINE IDLE ENGAGES AT A STOP LIGHT. THIS HAS CREATED SAFETY ISSUES IN THE WINTER WHEN I CAN'T GO AT A GREEN LIGHT OR OTHERS AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION AND MY VEHICLE WON'T START. THERE IS NO WAY TO FULLY DEACTIVATE THIS FEATURE EXCEPT TO SHUT IT OFF AFTER TURNING IN CAR EVERY TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SERIOUSLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2020Unknown or other, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11343581
“#1 KEYLESS REMOTE ENTRY HAS NOT WORKED FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $300. AUTOMATIC LOCK FEATURE IS NOT WORKING ANY MORE. BASED ON MY RESEARCH IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT HONDA KEEP GUESSING ON AND CHARGING FOR REPLACING, WITH NO REAL FIX. #2 WHEN DRIVING, ALL OF THE SUDDEN ALL ENGINE LIGHTS START COMING ON, BREAK, POWER STEERING, VEHICLE STABILITY...ALL OF THEM ONE BY ONE. AT THE TIME MY PILOT STARTED "PULLING", AND RPM GAGE WAS JUMPING UP AND DOWN. A FEW DAYS LATER TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THIS TIME, IT ONLY HAD THE ENGINE LIGHT ON AND A CODE P0304 WAS DETECTED. CHANGED ALL SPARK PLUGS AND COILS, ENGINE LIGHT WENT AWAY FOR A WEEK. AGAIN, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL LIGHTS START COMING UP AGAIN AND THE SAME "PULLING" HAPPENS. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVING ON. OTHER HONDA PILOT SAME YEAR DRIVERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2020Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11338018

Showing 6 of 37 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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