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2018 Honda Pilot

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
57 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls1 critical 7
Complaints9 crash · 2 fire · 11 injured reported 440
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Honda Pilot is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Pilot FWD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 440 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Honda Pilot — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Honda Pilot · Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Pilot FWDGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl202723$2,900
Pilot AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl192622$3,050
Pilot FWDGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl192722$3,050
Pilot AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl182621$3,200

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39793, 39795, 39794, 39796.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Pilot AWD, Pilot FWD3 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III ULEV125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Pilot AWD3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors5
GVWR classClass 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement3.5 L
Engine configurationV-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower280 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows3
Seating capacity8 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain4x2
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds6

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: EX, EXL, EXL SENSING, Elite). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length194.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)79.9 in
Height69.7 in
Wheelbase111.0 in
Track, front66.1 in
Track, rear66.1 in
Curb weight4,103–4,255 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear57/43 to 58/42

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door SUV AWD, 4-door SUV FWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Honda Pilot is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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Recalls (7)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Structure

AOU, AOT
965,561 vehicles
Problem 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. Risk Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Fix Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) in
NHTSA campaign 26V365000 reported Jun 4, 2026 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

98,892 vehicles 32% reported repaired
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash. Risk Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
NHTSA campaign 26V332000 reported May 21, 2026 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

KGC, KGD
2,490,460 vehicles 79% reported repaired
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Risk Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
NHTSA campaign 23V858000 reported Dec 18, 2023 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

XG1, GG0
248,999 vehicles 78% reported repaired
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine. Risk A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury. Fix Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early Apr
NHTSA campaign 23V751000 reported Nov 13, 2023 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Structure

PBV
724,826 vehicles 93% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PBV.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V932000 reported Nov 29, 2021 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

L4M, Z4L
93,946 vehicles 94% reported repaired built Jun 27, 2018 – Jul 16, 2018
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt. Risk Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash. Fix Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge. Vehicles receiving a replacement timing belt will also have the engine inspected and any damaged components will be replaced for free. The recall began June 7, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is L4M. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is Z4L.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V298000 reported Apr 12, 2019 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seats

D0S, T0T
5,810 vehicles 87% reported repaired built Jan 2, 2018 – Jan 18, 2018
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles and 2018 Acura MDX vehicles. The front driver and passenger powered seats in the Honda vehicles and the driver powered seats in the Acura vehicles may have been assembled with improperly manufactured rivets. In the event of a crash, the rivets can break causing the seats not to be secured to the floor. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages." Risk In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the floor, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury. Fix Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat frame assembly in Acura MDX vehicles, and replace the driver and front passenger seat slide rail frames in Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is D0S, and T0T.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V221000 reported Apr 5, 2018 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine — Engine failure open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline.  The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013).  It was determined that these engine failures are outside the scope of Honda Recall 23V-751. Further, evidence gathered in conjunction with RQ24013 does not suggest this failure is caused by the same crankshaft manufacturing defect that is addressed by Honda in Recall 23V-751.  Based on analysis of data from RQ24013,

Opened Aug 20, 2025 · action PE25008 · the investigation’s page →

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine — No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages open

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020

Opened Mar 26, 2025 · action EA25004 · the investigation’s page →

Engine — Engine failure closed

On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016–2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine. Honda recalled these vehicles due to a crankshaft manufacturing defect that caused premature connecting rod bearing wear and engine seizure. While the out-of-scope failures involved in these complaints appear to have a very similar failure mechanism as the recalled engines, a thorough analysis of

Opened Nov 8, 2024 · closed Aug 20, 2025 · action RQ24013 · the investigation’s page →

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine — No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages closed

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020

Opened Jun 3, 2022 · closed Mar 26, 2025 · action PE22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Pilot

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Honda publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2018 Honda Pilot, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2018 Honda Pilot

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Pilot →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
440complaints filed

9 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 11 injuries · 0 deaths reported

41 per 10,000 built · Honda reported 107,340 Pilot built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2018: 13 · 2019: 20 · 2020: 17 · 2021: 27 · 2022: 97 · 2023: 46 · 2024: 119 · 2025: 68 · 2026: 33

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Since the transmission was replaced at 12,181 miles in june 2019 on a 2018 Honda Pilot elite, other issues have popped up. The forward collision system has gone off twice on a 2 lane state highway.
Electronic Stability Control at 13,350 miles Jul 19, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11233482
6/13 5:10 PM on I-95 n 30 minutes south of fredericksburg, va was going 78 MPH when all of the sudden 'blind spot sensor error' appeared on dash and within 10 seconds transmission error - see owners manual - get somewhere safe appeared on the dash.
Power Train at 12,181 miles Jul 19, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11233393
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle accelerated without warning. The contact applied the brakes, but the vehicle lunged forward violently and made a loud noise. Also, the rpms increased. The dealer stated that they would notify the manufacturer. The vehicle was being repaired under the warranty.
Vehicle Speed Control at 14,200 miles May 8, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11206293
2018 Honda Pilot. Consumer writes in regard to malfuncations with the vehicle that prevents it form start up
Electrical System May 7, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11206670
The sunroof shattered/exploded while driving down the highway at 65mph. There was a loud noise. No explanation for why
Structure at 22,000 miles Mar 4, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11183897
The driver's side seat belt is considerably shorter than the front passenger seat belt. The driver's seat belt is so constricting that you can't turn to look when changing lanes. So the need to drive without using the seat belt is an issue of safety.
Seat Belts at 139 miles Feb 16, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11180553

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Honda itself: 72 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 91 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 67 per 100,000 built. Every Pilot model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 50k

miles, typically

Half the 103 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 17,000 and 84,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 12
10k–20k 16
20k–30k 12
30k–40k 5
40k–50k 6
50k–60k 10
60k–70k 8
70k–80k 3
80k–90k 7
90k–100k 4
100k–150k 12
150k + 8

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Fuel/Propulsion System2880,0002.51×
Engine26102,0002.04×
Power Train2252,0001.5×
Electrical System1852,5002.33×
Vehicle Speed Control1225,0001.79×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2018-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: fuel/propulsion system (2.51×), engine (2.04×), power train (1.5×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2021 model years the Honda Pilot ranks 39 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 1.06× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 19,099 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆18%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 3 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Honda warranty extension (66) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 140
Most recentmanufacturer date 2025-07-07
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 139 service bulletins, 1 other

Most often about: Engine, Fuel/Propulsion System, Electrical System, Equipment, Power Train.

  • A23-009 Service bulletin
    2025-07-07 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Typically, the customer can immediately restart the vehicle by selecting Park and pressing the ENGINE START/STOP button.
  • A23-078 Service bulletin
    2025-05-21 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the transmission indicator flashing “D” and set DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Performance or Stuck
  • A23-078 Service bulletin
    2025-05-21 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the transmission indicator flashing “D” and set DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Performance or Stuck
  • A23-078 Service bulletin
    2025-04-18 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the transmission indicator flashing “D” and set the DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Performance or Stuck OFF.
  • 2025-04-18 · Engine
  • Dealer Message - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the MIL not illuminating. “D” flashes and “Transmission Overheat” message appears setting DTC P0741 Torqu
  • A24-048 Service bulletin
    2024-11-22 · Structure — Body
  • 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.
  • A24-085 Service bulletin
    2024-07-20 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power. After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around 2 hours) and accelerating while cornering.
  • A24-085 Service bulletin
    2024-06-19 · Engine
  • Service Bulletin - The MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power. After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around 2 hours) and accelerating while cornering. Moisture accumulation in the intake manifold during long dr

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0741
P0741 on Honda →
The torque converter clutch is not locking up when commanded.Power Train7 bulletins · 6 owner reports
P0430
P0430 on Honda →
The catalytic converter on bank 2 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.Engine · Catalytic converter →6 bulletins · 2 owner reports
P219A
P219A on Honda →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →5 bulletins
P2422
P2422 on Honda →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →5 bulletins
P0369
P0369 on Honda →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine3 owner reports
P0300
P0300 on Honda →
Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Fuel/Propulsion System · Ignition coils →2 bulletins
P0420
P0420 on Honda →
The catalytic converter on bank 1 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.Equipment · Catalytic converter →2 bulletins
P0441
P0441 on Honda →
The evaporative purge is not flowing the way it should.Equipment · EVAP purge valve →2 bulletins
P219B
P219B on Honda →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Honda Pilot failed the emissions check on 2.0% of first inspections — lower than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%).

New York inspections 2.0%

failed emissions

4,720 initial inspections of 4,636 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2018 PilotEvery 2018 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.0%3.0%4,707
Failed the safety inspection1.7%1.9%4,720
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.28%0.22%4,720
Miles driven a year11,11510,002odometer at inspection
Average odometer92,29082,833odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Common questions about the 2018 Pilot

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Honda Pilot have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 7 recall campaigns for the 2018 Honda Pilot, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 21V932000, covering Structure. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Honda Pilot?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Honda Pilot 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (57/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Honda Pilot?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Honda Pilot, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Honda Pilot?

Transport Canada measured it at 194.9 in long, 79.9 in wide (body, without mirrors), 69.7 in tall, on a 111.0 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,103–4,255 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Honda Pilot?

Owners have filed 440 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Pilot, most often about engine, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. Of those, 9 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 11 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2018 Honda Pilot?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Honda Pilot is 3 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Honda Pilot?

The manufacturer has filed 140 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Honda Pilot, most often covering engine, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2025-07-07. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2018 Honda Pilot do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Honda Pilot failed the emissions check on 2.0% of first inspections — lower than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations4 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates4 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls7NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints440NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins140NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations4NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA13 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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