Honda Pilot electrical problems, 2016–2026
1,656 of the 5,552 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Honda Pilot 2016–2026 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). The loudest years: 2016 (581), 2017 (267), 2019 (264). Filed under the same heading across these years: 6 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Honda Pilot electrical problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the electrical system | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 43 | 21% | — | 14 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 10 | 9% | — | 15 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 28 | 19% | — | 29 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 37 | 23% | — | 43 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 in depth | 127 | 29% | 44k | 35 TSBs · 2 recalls | the record → |
| 2020 in depth | 214 | 44% | 2k | 59 TSBs · 2 recalls | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 264 | 29% | 6k | 70 TSBs · 2 recalls | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 85 | 19% | 50k | 27 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 267 | 29% | 38k | 47 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 581 | 34% | 50k | 111 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the electrical system. Nothing here is a rate.
When the electrical complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2015: 3 · 2016: 11 · 2017: 13 · 2018: 33 · 2019: 178 · 2020: 239 · 2021: 127 · 2022: 351 · 2023: 179 · 2024: 154 · 2025: 213 · 2026: 155
Across the model years, half of the 558 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 9,000 and 60,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Car is throwing fault codes for transmission, check engine, electrical. The car suddenly goes to "engine limp mode". Hard shifting, shuttering and loss of power. Random occurrences. Has been to dealer 3 times for same issue. Issue occurs from a start or at low speeds 20-35mph while in motion.
Two separate incidents in sacramento, ca where we experienced engine failure with our 2016 Honda pilate elite. The first incident occurred in may 2016 on a busy city street with our three young children in the car.
We live in san francisco and do a lot of urban driving (aka, there's a ton of stop signs). When the A/C is not on, the engine turns off almost every time we stop. After owning the brand new vehicle for about a year, the radio and lights started turning off when the car would start back up at a stop sign/light.
For a while now the car has had an issue with starting after the auto idle engine stop has engaged. It is slow to start, the radio and infotainment screen cut out, and there is a popping noise. When we had the car in for service last, we mentioned this and they said they couldn't replicate the issue and to record it happening.
Apple car play doesn't work with the vehicle. When on the phone, you can hear the other person, they can't hear you. Sometimes there is a screeching noise that the other person hears. Steering controls won't change the radio station at times
What is on file about the electrical system, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 20V440000 ModerateJul 28, 2020 · 499,344 vehicles
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
- 20V439000 ModerateJul 28, 2020 · 607,786 vehicles
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
- 15V668000 ModerateOct 16, 2015 · 35,406 vehicles
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to September 8, 2015 and 2016 Pilot 4WD vehicles manufactured May 7, 2015 to September 4, 2015. In the affected vehicles, when one of the safety systems such as tire pressure monitoring, anti-lock braking or electronic stability control malfunctions, there is potential that the instrument panel will not illuminate the corresponding warning light, however the warning lamps will illuminate when the ignition is turned off and then turned back on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic stability control systems", number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 138, "Tire pressure monitoring systems".
6 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Sep 16, 2026
- Service Bulletin - The driver-information interface may display a warning message when a malfunction in the Auto Idle Stop System is detected due to possible insufficient wire length at the Battery Management System (BMS) connector causing the wires to break.
- Feb 10, 2026
- Over The Air - This update contains various performance enhancements and UI improvements.
- Nov 7, 2025
- Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the phone remains in the correct position on the charger due to software specifications that can cause some phones to have issues charging.
- Oct 4, 2025
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no auto re-start condition after going into an auto idle stop. The push button ignition may or may not restart the engine. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
- Aug 13, 2025
- Service Bulletin - When the vehicle is put into reverse, the rear camera may display a black and white image. This could occur intermittently, and can change between color display to a black and white display.
- Aug 7, 2025
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2025 Passport Blacks, TrailSports & 2019-2022 Pilots with a customer complaint of the taillight and/or brake light being inoperative. Vehicles may also have the A6 10A or C27 7.5A fuse blown. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of
Every one filed under the heading is listed. 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 Honda Pilot
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Honda Pilot problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Honda Pilot years have the most electrical complaints?
2016, 581; 2017, 267; 2019, 264. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2020 (44%).
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the Honda Pilot?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 20V440000 (2021), 20V439000 (2021), 15V668000 (2016). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the Honda Pilot?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 38,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 9,000 and 60,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.