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2023 Honda Pilot

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
53 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical5
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA137
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA22 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2023 Honda Pilot is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize or large SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Pilot FWD, is EPA-rated at 22 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 137 complaints, most often about the seat belts. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Pilot FWDGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl192722$2,850
Pilot AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl192521$2,950
Pilot AWD Touring/Elite/BlackGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl192521$2,950
Pilot AWD TrailSportGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl182320$3,100

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 46374, 46422, 46423, 46424.

Factory warranty running out?

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Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FLX, XLY
259,033 vehicles
ProblemHonda (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 Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."RiskA brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.FixDealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.
NHTSA campaign 25V391000reported Jun 12, 2025Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

EL1, AL0
294,612 vehicles
ProblemHonda (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.RiskAn engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.FixDealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EL1 and AL0.
NHTSA campaign 25V031000reported Jan 23, 2025Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

OKM
205,760 vehicles
ProblemHonda (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.RiskA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.FixDealers will inspect and repair the fuel filler neck tube and pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is OKM.
NHTSA campaign 24V900000reported Nov 27, 2024Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
▲high

Seats

121 vehicles
ProblemHonda (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 seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 207, "Seating Systems."RiskAn unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.FixDealers will replace the driver's seat cushion frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
NHTSA campaign 24V859000reported Nov 14, 2024Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
▲high

Steering

FFX
519 vehicles
ProblemHonda (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.RiskA loss of steering control or steering lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.FixDealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FFX.
NHTSA campaign 23V735000reported Nov 2, 2023Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

NHTSA defect investigations

Seat Belts:Status Indicator Switch — Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 6 complaints, and multiple Early Warning Reporting (EWR) field reports alleging inaccurate rear seat belt warning status. These allegations concern both false positive and false negative statuses in model year (MY) 2023-2024 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured by American Honda Motor Co. (Honda). The complaints state that the rear passenger seat belt warning system is displaying inaccurate information to the driver for both second and third row seating positions. This can lead to the driver dismissing warnings regarding rear seat belt status. The inaccurate information can also cause the driver to believe rear occupants are buckled when th

Opened Oct 28, 2025 · action PE25017

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 �eld 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

Opened Mar 26, 2025 · action EA25004

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
137complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2023: 27 · 2024: 22 · 2025: 37 · 2026: 51

Most-cited components

Seat Belts30
Electrical System27
Forward Collision Avoidance23
Unspecified22
Steering17
Service Brakes15

What owners describe

“The warning light came on saying that there is a problem with the AWD system, and that only the front wheels may be powered. I then lost all power to all wheels. I hit the gas, RPMs just went up, and the wheels had no power. Eventually, the power came back. This is with a new car that I have had other problems with inc…”Nov 3, 2023 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“Car wouldn't go more than 25-30 miles/hour and rpm was at 5-6, had to use blinkers on highway. Luckily there weren't any injuries, i was scared of the situation as I was travelling with my toddler and newborn. After reaching home, car wouldn't reverse. I had shutdown and started the car multiple times before i could re…”Sep 27, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the stability, traction control, ABS, brakes, Lane Departure, and speedometer warning lights were illuminated. The "Anti-lock Brake System, Brake Performance Reduced", "Parking Sensor Failure", "All-Wheel Drive System Fa…”Sep 7, 2023 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

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.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆14%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other Pilot model years

A

2026 Honda Pilot

1 recalls · 18 complaints

D

2025 Honda Pilot

4 recalls · 195 complaints

F

2024 Honda Pilot

6 recalls · 109 complaints

D

2022 Honda Pilot

5 recalls · 149 complaints

F

2021 Honda Pilot

10 recalls · 426 complaints

F

2020 Honda Pilot

11 recalls · 484 complaints

F

2019 Honda Pilot

13 recalls · 898 complaints

F

2018 Honda Pilot

7 recalls · 437 complaints

D

2017 Honda Pilot

4 recalls · 918 complaints

F

2016 Honda Pilot

8 recalls · 1,697 complaints

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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

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

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