2016 Honda Pilot body and structure problems
54 of the 1,709 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Honda Pilot name the body and structure (NHTSA’s “Structure” heading — body panels, frame, roof rails, trim and glass as fitted). Filed under the same heading: 34 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the body and structure
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 54 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 4 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 2 · 2016: 13 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 3
Half of the 27 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the body and structure problem between 3,000 and 55,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,709 complaints in all about the 2016 Honda Pilot, 3 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Structure” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Honda Pilot body and structure problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the body and structure. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The hood vibrates violently in speeds of 60+ miles an hour. When a large truck or vehicle drives passes the car the hood vibrates violently. When on a two lane road and on coming traffic goes by the car the hood vibrates violently. This issue has been present since I purchased the car in june 2016.
My family was in our 2016 Honda Pilot touring. We stopped our vehicle and started to get out. My eleven year old niece was sitting in the middle seat of the second row. She was in between my two sons, both in carseats. When she removed her seatbelt the belt quickly snapped back and the buckle hit my three year old in the head.
I AM experiencing the same issues others mentioned of the hood flexing when driving. Under certain conditions when driving down a two lane highway and a semi goes by in the other direction or when passing a semi on the interstate you can see the movement of the hood from the front to the back as the air flows underneath.
We were driving down the street, veering left and the rear passenger door attempted to open. A warning went off on the instrument panel showing which door was "open". Because the door was locked it didn't open all the way. In order to close it the driver had to push the unlock button.
When's next motion going about 50 MPH or above, traveling on a two lane road, and a large truck passes US going the opposite direction, the hood flexes quite a bit. Also flexes and bounces when going through the drying stage at a car wash. It is extremely noticeable and concerning.
What is on file about the body and structure
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 26V365000 HighJun 4, 2026 · 880,514 vehicles
- American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
- 21V932000 CriticalNov 29, 2021 · 724,826 vehicles
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.
34 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- A24-048 Service bulletinNov 22, 2024
- Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear differential pump motor connector area that corrodes the terminals.
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Honda Pilot
Source: the same files- engine problems 816 complaints
- electrical problems 581 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 201 complaints
- fuel system problems 189 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre body and structure problems common on the 2016 Honda Pilot?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 54 owner complaints naming the body and structure on this model year (3% of everything owners filed about it), and 34 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the body and structure on the 2016 Honda Pilot?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 26V365000, 21V932000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do body and structure problems show up on the 2016 Honda Pilot?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 15,000 miles; half of them between 3,000 and 55,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Structure" heading cover?
Body panels, frame, roof rails, trim and glass as fitted. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.