Head-to-head reliability
Honda Pilot vs Honda Odyssey
How the Honda Pilot and Honda Odyssey 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 Odyssey: The Pilot averages 287 complaints per year with 0 deaths, while the Odyssey averages 309 with 3 deaths. Both have frequent issues with forward collision avoidance and auto idle stop, but the Odyssey also has more electrical and lane departure complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Pilot or Honda Odyssey 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, shows a high volume of complaints concentrated in the engine and electrical systems. Owners report sudden warning light cascades, steering lock-ups, and unexpected deceleration, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous. The forward collision avoidance system also draws criticism for false activations, including unwanted braking. While no deaths are reported, the frequency and severity of these issues suggest a vehicle that may require frequent dealer visits.
Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey minivan has even more complaints, with electrical system and forward collision avoidance issues dominating. Owners describe auto idle stop failures that strand the vehicle, and the CMBS system slamming on brakes unexpectedly. Engine problems include fuel odors in the cabin and ignition coil failures. With 3 deaths reported, the Odyssey's safety systems and drivetrain reliability are a significant concern for families.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Pilot | Honda Odyssey |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,870 Better | 3,092 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 66 Better | 81 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 58 | 46 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 287.0 Better | 309.2 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 52 Better | 118 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
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
- 01ENGINE795
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM736
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER473
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE406
- 05POWER TRAIN303
Owners report engine failure, oil leaks, and gas leaks, sometimes at low mileage. One 2025 Pilot had all warning lights illuminate at 47,503 miles, indicating a major electrical/engine control issue.
Sudden dashboard warnings, steering lock-ups, and unexpected deceleration without codes are reported. These can create dangerous driving situations and are hard to diagnose.
The Collision Mitigation Braking System can activate without reason, causing the car to stop unexpectedly, as one owner described when it failed to stop in a parking lot.
Auto Idle Stop can fail to restart the engine properly, causing lurching or stalling, which is a safety hazard in traffic.
“Vehicle: 2026 Honda Pilot – Mileage 20,847 Issue: Engine Failure, oil leaks, wheel alignment, air conditioning, major gas leaks from the engine, safety electronics alerts on front dash display are saying the vehicle is not safe to drive. History of issues: 03…”
“On June 25, 2026 my 2025 Honda Pilot Elite (47,503 miles) upon ignition had every warning light in the system illuminate sequentially without any prior incident. I had never experienced any indication of malfunction, including warning lights or messages. The…”
Honda Odyssey
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM922
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE662
- 03ENGINE619
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER507
- 05LANE DEPARTURE420
Auto Idle Stop can shut down the engine and shift into Park, leaving the vehicle immobile. Infotainment glitches with Apple CarPlay and rear entertainment are also common.
CMBS can slam on brakes unexpectedly on highways, creating a rear-end collision risk. Owners describe it as a design flaw in the 'smart' safety features.
Strong fuel/exhaust odors in the cabin cause dizziness, and ignition coil failures lead to acceleration issues and check engine lights.
Lane departure warnings and interventions can be overly sensitive, causing the vehicle to veer or brake unexpectedly, as noted in complaints about automated safety features.
“My 2026 Honda Odyssey was stopped at a traffic light with Auto Idle Stop engaged. When traffic was ready to move, the engine appeared to restart for about half a second and then shut down. The vehicle then shifted itself into Park and would not resume normal…”
“I own a 2026 Honda Odyssey Elite equipped with the factory rear entertainment system and Apple CarPlay. When using Apple CarPlay navigation (Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze) while passengers are watching a movie on the factory rear entertainment system, ever…”
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 — 66 recalls
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.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2026 Pilot and Passport vehicles. The rear subframe bolts may have been tightened improperly.
The risk: Loose rear subframe bolts can lead to a loss of vehicle stability or rear subframe detachment, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rear subframe bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 24, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for…
The defect: Honda (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 Vehic…
The risk: A 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.
The fix: Dealers 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 ar…
Honda Odyssey — 81 recalls
The defect: Vantage Mobility, LLC (VM) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey, 2021-2025 Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
The risk: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters was mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Vantage Mobility customer service at 1-800-488-9082.
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 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,…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The second row outboard seats can slide sideways to one of two positions. If a seat is placed between either of the two positions when attaching the seat to the vehicle floor, the seat will not latch properly to…
The risk: If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the second row outboard floor strikers, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2018. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.…
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…
Buyer analysis
Honda Pilot or Honda Odyssey: which should you buy?
The Honda Pilot has fewer complaints per year (287 vs 309) and no reported deaths, while the Odyssey has more injuries and deaths. In practice, the Pilot may be slightly less problematic, but both have significant safety system and engine/electrical issues that warrant careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Pilot has more engine complaints (795 vs 619) but fewer electrical (736 vs 922) and forward collision avoidance (406 vs 662) complaints.
- The Odyssey has more recalls (81 vs 66) and more injuries (118 vs 52) and deaths (3 vs 0).
- Both have auto idle stop issues, but Odyssey owners report the vehicle shifting into Park, while Pilot owners report lurching.
- The Pilot's steering lock-up is a unique and dangerous electrical issue not highlighted in Odyssey complaints.
- Inspect for any history of warning light cascades or steering lock-ups, as these indicate electrical gremlins.
- Check for oil or gas leaks around the engine, and verify the auto idle stop functions smoothly without lurching.
- Test the auto idle stop at a stoplight to ensure it restarts reliably and doesn't shift into Park.
- Check for fuel odors in the cabin and ask about ignition coil replacements, as these are common issues.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic scan for stored diagnostic codes, especially related to engine and electrical systems.
- Test drive at low speeds and on the highway to see if forward collision braking activates unexpectedly.
- Check the vehicle's recall status and ensure all recalls are performed.
- Inspect the engine bay for signs of oil or fuel leaks.
- Ask for service records, particularly for auto idle stop, ignition coils, and any electrical repairs.
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 Odyssey |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 23 |
| 2025 | 172 | 288 |
| 2024 | 106 | 85 |
| 2023 | 128 | 91 |
| 2022 | 134 | 127 |
| 2021 | 412 | 131 |
| 2020 | 475 | 442 |
| 2019 | 500 | 915 |
| 2018 | 433 | 951 |
| 2017 | 500 | 39 |
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 Odyssey in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Pilot vs Honda Odyssey
- Honda Pilot total complaints
- 2,870
- Honda Odyssey total complaints
- 3,092
- Honda Pilot total recalls
- 66
- Honda Odyssey total recalls
- 81
- Honda Pilot avg complaints/year
- 287.0
- Honda Odyssey avg complaints/year
- 309.2
- More reliable overall
- Honda Pilot
- Honda Pilot top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Odyssey top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM