2006 HONDA PILOT Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Honda Pilot. This model year has 266 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Airbag Malfunctions.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2006 Honda Pilot Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbag Malfunctions
Brake System
Engine Problems
Considering a 2006 Honda Pilot?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2006 Honda Pilot. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 61 | 10 | 1 | — | |
| Brake System | 33 | 3 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 32 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 26 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 22 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 20 | 4 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 18 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 16 | — | 3 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 16 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 13 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 12 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Tire Issues | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 9 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 6 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Firerelated | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2006 Honda Pilot. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 266 most recent complaints
Suspension is rusted out and falling apart
Unknown
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2006 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was an auction sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 74,009 and at the …
The Vehicle Stability Assit (VSA) system in activating inappropriately causing the vehicle to brake unexpectedly. There is a Honda Service Bulletin (13-026) for this problem for 2005 Honda Pilots. Well, the same problem is happening to my 2006 Pilot.
When I got into the vehicle this morning, I opened the door and smoke came out from inside, then I noticed in the driver's seat there was fire from the control panel of the driver's seat. Where the fire affected the seat, the seat belt and the interior panel of the driver's door.
Rear suspension cradle attachment points at the frame corrode. This is common on all pilots in northern climates. Honda has recalled both the Ridgeline and CRV models for corrosion issues related to suspension attachment point corrosion but refuses to recall the pilot. Whi…
While driving, the seat came off the base and something was loose, the seat basically will fall back if you just lean back, while stop and go the seat will also move back, something is loose or broken, this is a defect from Honda. Yes this can be inspected upon request this is d…
The contact owns a 2006 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that following a State Safety Inspection, the vehicle failed due to extensive corrosion to the rear suspension and to the rear trailing arm. The contact was advised by the State Inspector not to drive the vehicle due to the …
Hi Honda pallet is completely rusted out and corroded on the back underneath. My mechanic said it is dangerous. The left-hand side could literally fall out while driving and this is not something normally seen even with the car being older
I just purchased a 2006 honda pilot 4 wheel drive....i did not get under the suv to look at the frame structure, i had the differential fluid changed, the suv was put on a lift and noticed there is extreme rusting going on under the vehicle. in reading some complaint from …
2006 Honda Pilot Subframe rust which is causing the subframe to pull away from the body of the vehicle. Known issue with a patch kit, but no dealership or auto body shop willing to fix it. Honda has recalled the Ridgeline and CRV for the same issue, but not the Honda Pilot. Vehic…
The car was making a lot of noise, so we took it to the shop. Upon investigation, they told us we were lucky we hadn't had a catastrophic failure as the frame was rusted through. We were told not to drive it further. The car has been well taken care of.
235/70R16 I purchased 4 Michelin defender LXT tires, on 02/06/2024. I had to have all the tires rebalanced. The tire shop. Said said all tires were 1 1/2 to 2 oz off. This problem should not be occurring in such a short period of time. Repair was made on 02/20/2024
While driving at night, with rain and fog, the low beam headlights became extremely dim which made it impossible to see the road. Surprisingly both low beam headlights went dim, not effective at all, I had to depend on my fog lights for a bit of visibility. Could it be the headl…
Dave at Beard Auto Repair in downers grove, Il told me: Whole rear subframe rotted away from the main frame Shock support rotted away Suspension completely detached - not safe to drive AT ALL. Not even for 5 minutes. Subframe holds all your suspension One severe bump cou…
About 9 days ago our Honda Pilot (parked, off, keys out of ingnition) had a malfunction in the drivers side heated seat and caught fire burning half the seat and the door, this could have happened while driving which makes this a massive safety issue, I had previously had my car …
When I had taken my vehicle in to the dealership for power steering issues and other routine maintenance, I was told that my rear bumper was extremely rusted out as well as the frame on the driver side. I was advised this is a major safety concern and that the frame cannot be fix…
Car keeps going into limp mode. The VTM and VSA light flash on and the car will not accelerate. Happens at different occasions. It has happenstance while driving on highway and I’m traffic. The only way to reset is to cut car off and turn on. Sometimes, it doesn’t work with that …
The car's rear subframe has rusted to the point where the suspension no longer correctly mounts to the frame causing an unstable ride and handling issues. Yes, the car can be inspected. This is a safety issue because other parts of the suspension system or brake system could beco…
Rear steel bumper totally corroded rendering bumper protection deficient. Significant rusting on rear bumper beam.
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2006 Honda Pilot.
Recalls for 2006 Honda Pilot
10 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2006 Honda Pilot. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2006 Honda Pilot — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2006 Honda Pilot reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2006 Honda Pilot has 266 NHTSA owner complaints, 23 crash-related, and 10 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Airbag Malfunctions (61 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Honda Pilot?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (61 complaints). #2: Brake System (33 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (32 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2006 Honda Pilot?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2006 Honda Pilot?▾
The 2006 Honda Pilot has 23 crash-related complaints and 7 fire reports out of 266 total NHTSA complaints. 119 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2006 Honda Pilot have any recalls?▾
Yes — 10 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2006 Honda Pilot. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2006 Honda Pilot?▾
The 2006 Honda Pilot has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Airbag Malfunctions issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Honda Pilot reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2006 Honda Pilot
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.