Head-to-head reliability
Honda Pilot vs Honda FIT
How the Honda Pilot and Honda FIT compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Honda Pilot vs Honda FIT: The Pilot averages 349 complaints per year with engine stalling and phantom braking, while the Fit averages 32 per year with fuel system and electrical issues. The Fit has 14 recalls, the Pilot 65. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Pilot or Honda FIT more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot, a three-row SUV, has a high complaint rate averaging 349 per year, dominated by engine and electrical system issues. Owners report sudden stalling at intersections, failure to restart, and even engine fires. The idle stop feature is a frequent culprit, causing complete power loss. While crash-related complaints are relatively low, the sheer volume of reliability complaints suggests a demanding ownership experience.
Honda FIT
The Honda Fit, a subcompact hatchback, has far fewer complaints (32 per year) but still notable issues. Electrical system and fuel/propulsion problems are most common, with owners reporting stalling, misfiring, and inoperability. Paint peeling on white models is a unique cosmetic concern. Overall, the Fit appears more reliable than the Pilot, but specific defects can be serious.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Pilot | Honda FIT |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,490 | 320 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 65 | 14 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 71 | 14 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 349.0 | 32.0 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 67 | 14 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Honda Pilot
- 01ENGINE1,053
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM990
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER601
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE405
- 05POWER TRAIN389
Owners report the engine stalling at stops or intersections, failing to restart, and in one case catching fire. The idle stop feature is often implicated, causing sudden shutdowns.
The auto idle stop system causes complete power loss when coming to a stop, leaving the vehicle unable to restart. This is a safety hazard in traffic.
Phantom braking events occur when adaptive cruise control or collision mitigation braking system misinterprets shadows or hills as obstacles, causing sudden deceleration.
While fewer specific complaints are detailed, the powertrain category includes transmission and drivetrain issues that contribute to the overall reliability concern.
“On three occasions, my car has not started as expected. Twice I was at busy intersections at a stop, and when I started to go, the car shut off and would not allow me to restart the engine. The third time I had not been driving and was in a parking lot, tryin…”
“recall has been open since December of that year I have documentation that I took it last year to get this recall fix and your web site is stating that it is incomplete. today 11/12 at 7:30am my engine caught on fire there was a lot of witness at the elementa…”
Honda FIT
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM97
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM83
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER54
- 04ENGINE53
- 05STRUCTURE27
Owners report the vehicle becoming inoperable, with dealerships refusing to repair under recall. Electrical issues may prevent restarting after shutdown.
Carbon buildup on fuel injectors causes misfiring and stalling while driving. A warranty extension exists but some owners still experience problems.
Engine stalling and hesitation are reported, sometimes accompanied by fluid leaks under the dashboard. The fuel pump recall may address some issues.
Paint peeling on White Orchid Pearl models exposes bare metal, leading to rust. This is a cosmetic and durability concern, not a safety issue.
“My vehicle has been inoperable since 2023. The dealership refuses to repair the fuel pump and all other issues, per the manufacturers recall. Steve Allain at Honda of Covington reported to me that the vehicle would not re-start if turned off. The leadership a…”
“Honda of Covington , Honda Corporate, Louisiana Secretary of State, St Tammany Parrish court system and Trey Lape (attorney for Honda of Corporate has bullied / discriminated and harassed the owner of this vehicle. The owner of this vehicle reported electrica…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Honda Pilot — 65 recalls
The defect: 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.
The risk: A loss of steering control or steering lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers 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.
The defect: 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…
The risk: An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers 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.
The defect: 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.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers 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 r…
The defect: 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.
The risk: An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers 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.
Honda FIT — 14 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of…
The risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 13, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is 6DW. This recall has…
The defect: 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,…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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 expansi…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles that were previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 23V-046. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit.…
The risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are TIQ and DIR. Vehicles previou…
The defect: 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…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, O…
Buyer analysis
Honda Pilot or Honda FIT: which should you buy?
The Honda Fit has far fewer complaints per year (32 vs 349) and fewer recalls (14 vs 65), making it the more reliable choice statistically. However, the Pilot's issues are more safety-critical (stalling, phantom braking), while the Fit's problems are often related to fuel system and electrical gremlins. In practice, the Fit offers lower risk of major incidents.
Key differences
- The Pilot has 10x more complaints per year than the Fit, with engine and electrical failures causing sudden stalling.
- The Fit's main issues are fuel injector carbon buildup and electrical problems, while the Pilot suffers from phantom braking and idle stop failures.
- The Pilot has 65 recalls vs 14 for the Fit, indicating more widespread manufacturing issues.
- The Fit has paint peeling on white models, a unique cosmetic defect not seen on the Pilot.
- Test the idle stop feature repeatedly; if the engine fails to restart or power cuts out, it's a known issue.
- Check for any open recalls, especially for steering, fuel system, and brakes, as these have been subject to recalls.
- Inspect the paint on white models for peeling, especially on the roof and panels.
- Ask about fuel pump recall completion and whether the fuel injector carbon buildup warranty extension has been applied.
Before you buy
- Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles using the VIN.
- On the Pilot, test drive with adaptive cruise control to see if phantom braking occurs.
- On the Fit, verify the fuel pump recall has been performed and ask about injector cleaning history.
- Inspect the Fit's paint for peeling, especially on white models.
- Review service records for any stalling or electrical issues on either vehicle.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Honda Pilot | Honda FIT |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 150 | 0 |
| 2024 | 93 | 0 |
| 2023 | 111 | 0 |
| 2022 | 122 | 0 |
| 2021 | 394 | 0 |
| 2020 | 460 | 34 |
| 2019 | 847 | 132 |
| 2018 | 423 | 112 |
| 2017 | 890 | 42 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Honda Pilot or Honda FIT in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Pilot vs Honda FIT
- Honda Pilot total complaints
- 3,490
- Honda FIT total complaints
- 320
- Honda Pilot total recalls
- 65
- Honda FIT total recalls
- 14
- Honda Pilot avg complaints/year
- 349.0
- Honda FIT avg complaints/year
- 32.0
- More reliable overall
- Honda FIT
- Honda Pilot top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda FIT top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM