Total Complaints
155 filings
HONDA PILOT · model year
155 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
New Car Assessment Program
The 2023HONDAPILOT carries 155 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2023 PILOT is electrical system with 23 filings, followed by steering (15) and unknown or other (14). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 77 investigation files overlapping the 2023 PILOT, and 9 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
155 filings
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 23 |
| STEERING | 15 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 14 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 14 |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING | 13 |
| SEAT BELTS | 10 |
| ENGINE | 9 |
| POWER TRAIN | 7 |
| SEATS | 6 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 4 |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS | 4 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 4 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| WHEELS | 3 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Passport and 2023-2025 Pilot vehicles. The fuel filler neck tube and fuel filler pipe may separate, allowing fuel to leak.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.
SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Pilot, and 2024 HR-V, Acura Integra and Acura Integra Type S vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may not have been tightened properly, which can result in an unsecured se
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicl
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Pilot vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the gear box assembly may contain a loose ball bearing, which can result in a loss of steering control or steering lock-up.
Seatbelt sensors for the passenger second row dinging off and on when seatbelt is buckled. Also the light coming on that says emergency brake unavailable.
Seatbelt sensors for the passenger second row dinging off and on when seatbelt is buckled. Also the light coming on that says emergency brake unavailable.
Seatbelt sensors for the passenger second row dinging off and on when seatbelt is buckled. Also the light coming on that says emergency brake unavailable.
3rd row seat headrest stays folded and wonât lock into place.
Car has been serviced at same dealership I purchased from. All service up to date, Gas type shell gas brand used 95% of the time. (Noticed November 2025)issue a month after recommended transmission flush and an engine oil change. Rough idling (especially when temp below 60â°) and almost like a miss fire when driving. No check engine light, and dealership had vehicle for two days but claimed unable to replicate issue suggested these engines are prone to carbon buildup. But recommended I switch to premium gas. SUV drives rough and then randomly reverts to normal smooth driving, also seems to struggle when switching gears, spoke to other owners of same type and a pattern of previous years owners mentioned potential issue with VCM. Major issue: Rattling during start up and driving ( sometimes goes away randomly) Car struggles with gear switching. Engine/transmission hesitation.
The seat belt alarm keeps going off as if the seat belt is not buckled even though it is buckled. The first issue was when I had the car less than a yr. The middle row right side had this problem and the dealer replaced the seatbelt. Now at 38k miles, the middle row middle seat started to have the same issue. Also, the middle row on the right side would occasionally alarm as well but not as constant (this was the same seatbelt that was replaced initially).
The seat belt alarm keeps going off as if the seat belt is not buckled even though it is buckled. The first issue was when I had the car less than a yr. The middle row right side had this problem and the dealer replaced the seatbelt. Now at 38k miles, the middle row middle seat started to have the same issue. Also, the middle row on the right side would occasionally alarm as well but not as constant (this was the same seatbelt that was replaced initially).
The driver seatbelt was soaking wet after a rainstorm. The vehicle does not have a sunroof. Upon further inspection the airbag and its electronics were also soaked in water. It has never been in an accident or had any work done to it. There is a factory installed roof rack(Sport model). I am concerned for the safety in the function of the airbag and seatbelt tensioner in the event of an accident after being soaked in water an unknown amount of times. Secondary, possibly related issue. The rear drivers side door will randomly not unlock/open from the exterior(have to reach through and use the interior handle). Posing a safety issue in the event of child removal in an emergency.
The car is making a knocking sound while driving at low speeds (ex. Pulling into the garage, reversing into a parking spot) while turning the wheel. The 2023 Pilot is currently at the dealership being inspected. I have come across many other posts, with video, confirming this exact sound with the same assessment - all pointing to the steering rack (although some fixes only being temporary so the part itself might be defective). This is a newer lease and I am not convinced it is safe to drive in with this issue.
Rear seat belt indicator and alarm go off continuously when the seat is occupied and when the passenger is buckled by the seat belt. While the passenger is buckled, anytime they shift it causes the indicator light to come on and the alarm to sound. This defeats the purpose of having the indicator.
Rear seat belt indicator and alarm go off continuously when the seat is occupied and when the passenger is buckled by the seat belt. While the passenger is buckled, anytime they shift it causes the indicator light to come on and the alarm to sound. This defeats the purpose of having the indicator.
The car seat snug lock feature in the forward facing position does NOT create a snug fit and becomes loose over time. BOTH of my turn2me seats do this. Purchased on the same day. We recently forward faced my daughter due to maxing out the rear facing limits. We have installed with the seat belt due to being over the limit for the latch. With the seat belt, when installed per the manual, it comes loose almost immediately after install. I noticed the seat starts to wiggle within a couple days and being over the âone inch ruleâ. I will submit videos of me installing per manual and how it comes undone with the slightest pull on the belt. This is what happens after a couple days of use. Iâm a cpst and have discussed with numerous cpst about this seat. This is a âknown issueâ and nothing we have tried will keep it secure. Extremely unsafe to be using this seat and it needs to be recalled due to this not being the first complaint. I have also made a report with graco with no re
The car seat snug lock feature in the forward facing position does NOT create a snug fit and becomes loose over time. BOTH of my turn2me seats do this. Purchased on the same day. We recently forward faced my daughter due to maxing out the rear facing limits. We have installed with the seat belt due to being over the limit for the latch. With the seat belt, when installed per the manual, it comes loose almost immediately after install. I noticed the seat starts to wiggle within a couple days and being over the âone inch ruleâ. I will submit videos of me installing per manual and how it comes undone with the slightest pull on the belt. This is what happens after a couple days of use. Iâm a cpst and have discussed with numerous cpst about this seat. This is a âknown issueâ and nothing we have tried will keep it secure. Extremely unsafe to be using this seat and it needs to be recalled due to this not being the first complaint. I have also made a report with graco with no re
Rear/third-row seatbelt warning activates repeatedly even when passenger is properly buckled. Issue has been present shortly after vehicle purchase. Dealer refuses inspection without charging diagnostic fee. Safety system is unreliable and distracting while driving.
Multiple false "unbuckled seatbelt warning" regarding the rear seat belt being unbuckled when it was not. Alarm sounds and lights up warning on drivers display board. This alarmed the driver during movement on multiple occasions, causing unnecessary distraction. Driver sometimes ignores the signal because of the frequency of the false alarm and missed an actual moment where teenager was unbuckled. This is very dangerous. Please look into this please.
A few moments after I purchased my 2023 Honda Pilot I noticed that I began getting car sick while driving. I purchased the car at night and it was a long drive home, so I figured it was due to dehydration or something else. During the day however, I noticed it again. Upon careful inspection I noticed the entire windshield had a distortion, it appeared as if one was looking through a pair of eyeglasses that had a very strong prescription. I am in the process of creating an incident with Honda and have already contacted my local dealership, who was not very helpful in this matter. I am still driving this vehicle as well as my wife because we have no other choice but I do feel that this situation poses a safety hazard for us and our family, as the windshield is a distraction and can cause the driver to lose focus on objects while driving.
El carro tiene fallas con el sistema eléctrico de frenos y no arranca.
El carro tiene fallas con el sistema eléctrico de frenos y no arranca.
El carro tiene fallas con el sistema eléctrico de frenos y no arranca.
While driving on U.S Highway 521 in South Carolina, the vehicle experienced SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED BRAKING AND VIOLENT SHAKING even though there were no cars or obstacles directly in front of me. The sensation was so strong it felt as if the car had been rear-ended, but there was no impact. The issue has happened MULTIPLE TIMES since I purchased the vehicle new in 2023. Each time, traffic was flowing normally, and no immediate hazard was present. The closest car in front of me was several car lenghts away, yet the PILOT suddenly braked on its own. The problem appears to be linked to the COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM or related driver-assist sensors, which seem to be misreading conditions and triggering false emergency braking. This defect creates a serious SAFETY HAZARD. The abrupt, forceful braking puts me and my family at risk of being rear-ended by following vehicles. It has also caused panic and near-miss incidents in traffic. I am filling this complaint to ensure it is formally
Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status
Loss of Motive Power
Inadvertent Deployment of Side Air Bags
Engine failure
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.