2016 Honda Pilot: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2016 Honda Pilot? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 1,624 complaints, with Engine Problems as the top reported area.
2016 Honda Pilot Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 4 2016 Honda Pilot trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 4 trims analysed.
2016 Honda Pilot Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Program2 variants tested — showing 2016 Honda Pilot SUV AWDOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
16.4% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
16.4% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2016 Honda Pilot has 1,624 owner complaints, 22 crash-related complaints, and 7 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Engine Problems. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- Pilot
- Model year
- 2016
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 1,624
- Crash-related complaints
- 22
- Safety recall campaigns
- 7
- Top reported component
- Engine Problems
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 22
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 19 / 26
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2016 Honda Pilot Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Engine Problems
Electrical Faults
Uncategorized Issues
Complaint patterns center on Engine Problems, Electrical Faults, Uncategorized Issues. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2016 Honda Pilot?
The 2016 Honda Pilot shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2016 Honda Pilot
Inspection Focus
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine and electrical systems before purchase.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for reported components, especially engine and transmission.
- Test drive to check for transmission shifting issues and unintended acceleration.
Before You Close the Deal
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine and electrical systems before purchase.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for reported components, especially engine and transmission.
- Test drive to check for transmission shifting issues and unintended acceleration.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2016 Honda Pilot, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Complaints for the 2016 Honda Pilot are heavily concentrated in the Engine Problems and Electrical Faults categories, which together account for the majority of the 1,624 total complaints. The data also shows a notable number of transmission/drivetrain and fuel system issues. However, with only one model year analyzed and a low confidence level, these patterns should be interpreted cautiously.
- Engine Problems account for 762 complaints, the highest of any component.
- Electrical Faults are the second most reported issue with 574 complaints.
- Transmission/Drivetrain complaints total 194, indicating a recurring theme.
- Engine Problems
- Electrical Faults
- Transmission / Drivetrain
All 2016 Honda Pilot Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Honda Pilot. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 762 | 4 | 8 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 574 | 3 | 5 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 284 | 2 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 194 | 5 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 157 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 51 | 3 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 38 | 3 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 37 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 30 | 8 | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 22 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 16 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 15 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 15 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 14 | 6 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 14 | — | 1 | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 11 | 3 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Honda Pilot. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Rod bearing failure
My engine of the 2016 Honda Pilot can suffer a thrown rod (catastrophic engine failure) due to a defect in the connecting rods, I was driving when I heard a noise—sort of a growl—and the engine shut off. I keep up with all the maintenance, including regular oil changes. It sou…
My wife was driving the car on the freeway, it started losing power and a loud knocking noise came from the engine. She was in the center lane of the interstate and was barely able to pull safely to the side of the road. We had the vehicle towed to our home as it is no longer a…
My 2016 Honda Pilot has been diagnosed with engine failure caused by an issue known as "rod knock" by Hudson Automotive in Toledo, OH despite having been cared for quite well. This failure occurred outside the warranty window and there were NO relevant symptoms or warning lights …
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop and driving approximately 10-15 MPH, the vehicle shut off, but it was restarted. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that DTC: P0087 was retrieved and assoc…
My vehicle has about 92000 miles on it. Recently I am hearing engine knocking noises. I hear the sound mostly when I start the car and drive. When the vehicle warms it the sounds goes away. I also noticed my torque converter is not shifting well. You heard grinding noises when sh…
The component that failed in both incidents was the vehicle’s wiring system, specifically wiring insulation that appears to be vulnerable to rodent damage. In the first incident, squirrels chewed through wiring connected to the fuel injector system, which triggered a check engine…
Engine has rod bearing knock noise. Transmission has a torque converter issue, acts up once in a while when shifting from park to drive or reverse.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal sound coming from under the hood. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an i…
I noticed the vehicle was making a noise while driving which was diagnosed by an independent Honda service center. They said this noise was because of a rod bearing breaking. This issue creates a situation where the vehicle could break down anytime, and is therefore not drivabl…
My wife was driving our 2016 Honda Pilot and making a right turn when she lost most of the power on the vehicle. She noticed an immediate rattling/knocking sound and drove home with reduced power. We took it to the Honda dealership on the week of March 30 to have it evaluated and…
Based on everything we've documented, here's a tight, factual account written in the style NHTSA expects — first person, chronological, no fluff: "I own a 2016 Honda Pilot Touring AWD, VIN [XXX] , with 89,962 miles. The vehicle began producing a clunking noise from the engine. I…
We were on the way home from a soccer tournament in [XXX] on rt. XXX and 4 hours into our trip the car's fuel pedal stopped responding and our speed started descending rapidly. The engine light was on with the vehicles stability system, Hill assistant, emission system, power sys…
Car fails to start and warning flashes, keyless start system problem.
Drive to work suddenly engine show emergency issues many symbols appearing in front of screen and break is not controlled and car is stop running.
Vehicle caught fire and completely burned up. It had no problems, had been serviced and recently inspected for emissions and safety in Virginia.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled and failed to return to normal functionality. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and de…
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine was knocking. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with rod bearing failure. The vehicle was not …
My vehicle was recently serviced at the local Honda dealership within the last 6 weeks for an oil leak at the oil filter. We had the work done and everything seemed fine until 3 days ago when the check engine light started flashing and the car couldn’t accelerate properly. I drov…
Engine tie rod bearing is worn on cylinder 3, engine is knocking. 119kmi.
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2016 Honda Pilot.
2016 Honda Pilot Recalls
7 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2016 Honda Pilot. 7 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
2016 Honda Pilot Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2016 Honda Pilot reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 1,624 owner complaints, 22 crash-related complaints, and 7 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2016 Honda Pilot shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Honda Pilot?▾
#1: Engine Problems (762 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (574 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (284 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Honda Pilot?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2016 Honda Pilot?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2016 Honda Pilot, NHTSA complaints include 22 crash-related reports and 9 fire reports out of 1,624 total complaints. 20 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2016 Honda Pilot have any recalls?▾
Yes. 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2016 Honda Pilot. A major recall area is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE. 7 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2016 Honda Pilot?▾
The 2016 Honda Pilot shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Engine Problems during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
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.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2016 Honda Pilot based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.