2008 HONDA PILOT Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Honda Pilot. This model year has 132 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 2008 Honda Pilot Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbag Malfunctions
Engine Problems
Structural Problems
Considering a 2008 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 2008 Honda Pilot. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 32 | 4 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 17 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 16 | — | 1 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 11 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 9 | — | 1 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 6 | 4 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 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 2008 Honda Pilot. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 132 most recent complaints
Referring to my 2008 Honda Pilot, as I was pulling into my driveway I heard a very loud bang in the rear area of my vehicle. When I looked underneath the vehicle I could see the rear subframe had rusted through and detached. This is my main vehicle that I use on a daily basis t…
I could hear a loud grinding noise while driving and the rear of the truck felt like it was driving without any type of suspension. Any bump or slight imperfection in the roadway felt like metal banging and a severe thump could be felt inside the vehicle. The front of the vehicle…
the VSA and danger triangle lights are on
Rear Subframe Body Mount Rust
Had vehicle in for state inspection and was told the rear crossmember where the rear wheel assembly bolts into was rusting and should be fixed immediately.
Failure of Honda Pilot OEM jack. On 11/04/24 I was jacking up the right rear wheel of my 2008 Honda Pilot when the OEM scissor jack I was using suddenly and loudly broke, allowing the wheel to come down violently. Note that I was jacking the vehicle on a firm, level surface…
Hello, I have a set of 4 Bridgestone Dueler LX tires that have been cracking for the past 8 months and now appear to be separating in between the treads. I’ve had America’s Tire Company look at them within the past 6 months and they always seem to state that it’s normal, but the …
Left headlight went out in July 2023 while traveling in Oklahoma. I had it replaced at a NAPA shop in Kansas shortly after. The headlight went out again while home in Charleston, SC in November 2023. I had it replaced again. 2 weeks later around roughly November 15th 2023 the lig…
When in the service garage for a noise, our independent service mechanic confirmed that the body of the Pilot has rusted from the frame.
Driving 2008 Honda Pilot with Firestone WeatherGrip P235/70R16 at 70mph on the interstate, the rear driver tire failed causing almost instant and complete deflation. The tires have been maintained properly, to include rotation and proper inflation. The tires have less than 10k mi…
UNKNOWN
Passanger seatbelt will not retract. Took to dealership and was told there would be a $150 inspection fee before they would even look at it. Because it is a safety item no third parties are permitted to sell them. Understand that the part eventually wears out, but the dealership …
My car accelerated on its own and when I applied the brakes, they didn’t work. I hit a tree on my property and damaged my property and my car.
STATE INSPECTION FAILD, check engine light, bank 1 Catalytic Converter Internal Failure and bank 2 Catalytic converter Internal Failure, passenger side axle to be leaking, power steering pump to be leaking, power steering reservoir tank to be leaking, front and rear brake pad
2008 Honda pilot Rear subframe on both sides rotted out! horrible design! Lots of Honda pilots with this issue!! you could've killed my family due to this!! This is a known issue now take care of your buyers!!!
I was starting my car and the steering column started smoking and smelling burnt. It was able to start up but started up rough. Car then turned off and when tried to turn on it would no longer start up again or even when key turned to start position was unable to move the car o…
WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY IN ANY CONDITION THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING WILL MAKE A BANG NOISE, SHUDDER AND BRAKE WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VSA LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY UNTIL AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MAN…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE SHIFTED GEARS TO NEUTRAL AND CONTINUED TO DE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND WAS PULLED OFF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDE…
HEATER AND AC HAS WORKED JUST FINE SINCE I BOUGHT THE SUV. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY FRONT CABIN HAS STOP BLOWING HOT AIR WHEN HEATER IS ON. IT WORKS JUST FINE IN THE BACK CABIN. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING IN TO THIS AND CAME TO FIND OUT THIS HAS BEEN A ISSUE WITH EVERYONE I HAVE INQUIRED THAT…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2008 Honda Pilot.
Recalls for 2008 Honda Pilot
9 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2008 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.
2008 Honda Pilot — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2008 Honda Pilot reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2008 Honda Pilot has 132 NHTSA owner complaints, 11 crash-related, and 9 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Airbag Malfunctions (32 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Honda Pilot?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (32 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (17 complaints). #3: Structural Problems (16 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Honda Pilot?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2008 Honda Pilot?▾
The 2008 Honda Pilot has 11 crash-related complaints and 3 fire reports out of 132 total NHTSA complaints. 15 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2008 Honda Pilot have any recalls?▾
Yes — 9 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2008 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 2008 Honda Pilot?▾
The 2008 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 2008 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.