Problems · NHTSA complaints

2021 Honda Pilot problems

Owners filed 452 complaints about the 2021 Honda Pilot with NHTSA between Nov 2020 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (137).

Complaints
452
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system137
  2. Engine112
  3. Forward collision avoidance98
  4. Lane departure44
  5. Air bags32
  6. Service brakes26
  7. Power train25
  8. Fuel/propulsion system23
  9. Visibility/wiper21
  10. Back over prevention19
  11. Tires13
  12. Visibility10
  13. Vehicle speed control8
  14. Suspension6

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 2, 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
20201
202141
202238
202361
202477
2025128
2026106

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

Electrical system

137 reports1 crash2 fires1 related recall
“The car alarm goes off on its own,and the dashboard lights flash even when the car is turned off ,this continues until the battery dies and the car won’t start. I’ve taken it to the mechanic several times and no codes come up; I’ve replaced the battery with a new one twice.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2026Electrical systemODI 11774343

Engine

112 reports1 crash1 fire
“On four occasions, my 2021 Honda Pilot SE AWD (VIN [XXX]) has shut off at a stop under the Auto Idle Stop system and then failed to restart, leaving the driver stranded. The incidents happened on XXX, XXX, XXX, and XXX in and around [XXX]. Component: The starter system and the Auto Idle Stop engine restart function. Honda has acknowledged this exact condition in Service Bulletin 23-009 and Warranty Extension 23-009/23-010 (“Engine Does Not Auto Restart After Entering Auto Idle Stop”). The listed remedy is a software update, a valve adjustment, and replacement of the starter assembly and starter relays. The vehicle and the original starter are available for inspection on request. Safety risk: The engine shuts off at stops as designed, then will not restart. The vehicle is left disabled at intersections and in traffic with no warning, which puts the driver and passengers at risk of being rear-ended and stranded. My wife has been stranded four times. Idle Stop turns itself back on every time the car is started, so the driver’s only protection is remembering to switch it off manually on every trip. The fourth failure happened when she forgot. Dealer confirmation:…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2026EngineODI 11773521

Forward collision avoidance

98 reports4 crashes
“The entire ADAS suddenly failed. the vehicle started cycling through all warning indicators (adaptive cruise control problem, abs problem, lane keep assist problem, brake mitigation system problem etc) brought it to Honda today and they confirmed that the "multi purpose camera/millimeter wave radar unit with aiming" had failed and needed to be replaced. Honda charged $1764.14 for all work to fix this on 9/15/2026”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2026Lane departure, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11764401

Lane departure

44 reports1 crash
“Vehicle has multiple safety system failures. After extensive online research and multiple diagnostics, repair technicians indicating safety camera failure due to heat. Technician indicating significant increase specific to this vehicle of late. Excessive environmental temperature “frying” ADAS camera. This causes failure to HondaSense safety features such as collision mitigation, lane keeping, and road departure mitigation - features touted as industry leading by Honda. Matter has been diagnosed and duplicated by service technicians. Extensive online research indicates potential widespread issue that requires highly expensive replacement/repair and calibration.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2026Lane departure, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11763127

Air bags

32 reports6 crashes2 related recalls
“Airbag Failure Report – 2021 Honda Pilot (Incident Date: April 10, 2026) I am reporting a critical failure of the supplemental restraint system (SRS) in my 2021 Honda Pilot. On April 10, 2026, while traveling at approximately 40–45 mph, our vehicle was struck on the driver’s side by a white commercial van. The severe impact caused over $9,000 in structural damage—including the driver-side door, fender, wheel, mirror, and radiator support brackets—yet the side/curtain airbags failed to deploy. As a result of this failure to protect occupants during a significant collision, the driver sustained permanent, non-repairable neck trauma (aggravating a prior surgical site), and the passenger sustained newly diagnosed bulging cervical discs. I request that this failure be documented and investigated as a potential safety defect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2026Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11770136

Service brakes

26 reports4 crashes
“Vehicle: 2021 Honda Pilot NHTSA Recall: 26V-365 Honda Recall: AOU Recall Status: Incomplete/Unrepaire I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious motor vehicle accident involving my 2021 Honda Pilot. At the time of the accident, my vehicle had an open and unrepaired safety recall, NHTSA Recall 26V-365, Honda Recall AOU. I was driving my Honda Pilot downhill when the vehicle began gaining speed in a manner that felt abnormal and uncontrollable. I attempted to slow and stop the vehicle by applying the brakes, but I was unable to stop the vehicle. Despite my efforts to brake, the vehicle continued moving forward and I ultimately collided with another vehicle, resulting in a multi-vehicle accident involving approximately three to four vehicles. The collision was severe. The front of my Honda Pilot sustained extensive damage and the airbags deployed. The vehicle has not been repaired since the accident and remains in its post-collision condition. After the accident, I checked my VIN through the NHTSA recall system and discovered that my vehicle has an incomplete safety recall, NHTSA Recall 26V-365. The recall concerns corrosion at the rear subframe suspension…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2026Suspension, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11768137
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 2, 2026

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