Severe Issues

2016 HONDA PILOT Problems

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Honda Pilot. This model year has 1,624 NHTSA complaints β€” top issue: Engine Problems.

1,624
Complaints
22
Crashes
9
Fires
20
Injuries
β€”
Deaths
7
Recalls

Before you buy β€” check the actual VIN

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.

Worst 2016 Honda Pilot Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1
762
complaints

Engine Problems

Crash-related:4
Fires:8
Injuries:1
#2
574
complaints

Electrical Faults

Crash-related:3
Fires:5
#3
284
complaints

Uncategorized Issues

Crash-related:2

Considering a 2016 Honda Pilot?

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Honda Pilot. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Engine Problems76248β€”
Electrical Faults57435β€”
Uncategorized Issues2842β€”β€”
Transmission / Drivetrain1945β€”β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System15721β€”
Structural Problems513β€”β€”
Unintended Acceleration383β€”β€”
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)37β€”β€”β€”
Brake System308β€”β€”
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB22β€”β€”β€”
Steering Defects16β€”β€”β€”
Fuel System15β€”β€”β€”
Gasoline15β€”β€”β€”
Airbag Malfunctions146β€”β€”
Headlight/Taillight Failures14β€”1β€”
Wheel Issues113β€”β€”
Visibility/Wiper9β€”β€”β€”
Suspension Failures8β€”β€”β€”
Lane Departure8β€”β€”β€”
Seat-Related Issues8β€”β€”β€”
Seat Belt Issues6β€”β€”β€”
Door Lock Issues4β€”β€”β€”
Visibility4β€”β€”β€”
Back Over Prevention3β€”β€”β€”
Equipment3β€”β€”β€”
Tire Issues2β€”β€”β€”
Hydraulic1β€”β€”β€”

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 2016 Honda Pilot. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

πŸ”

Showing 400 most recent complaints of 1,624 total. View all on NHTSA β†—

Engine ProblemsApr 27, 2026

Rod bearing failure

Engine ProblemsApr 24, 2026

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 noiseβ€”sort of a growlβ€”and the engine shut off. I keep up with all the maintenance, including regular oil changes. It sou…

Engine ProblemsApr 23, 2026

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…

Engine ProblemsApr 22, 2026

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 …

Fuel SystemApr 16, 2026

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…

Engine ProblemsApr 16, 2026

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…

Electrical FaultsApr 15, 2026

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…

Transmission / DrivetrainApr 11, 2026

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.

Engine ProblemsApr 10, 2026

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…

Engine ProblemsApr 9, 2026

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…

Engine ProblemsApr 6, 2026

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…

Engine ProblemsApr 1, 2026

Based on everything we've documented, here's a tight, factual account written in the style NHTSA expects β€” 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…

Fuel/Propulsion SystemMar 31, 2026

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…

Electrical FaultsMar 30, 2026

Car fails to start and warning flashes, keyless start system problem.

Suspension FailuresMar 28, 2026

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.

Electrical FaultsπŸ”₯ FireMar 26, 2026

Vehicle caught fire and completely burned up. It had no problems, had been serviced and recently inspected for emissions and safety in Virginia.

Engine ProblemsMar 25, 2026

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…

Engine ProblemsMar 23, 2026

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 …

Engine ProblemsMar 21, 2026

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 ProblemsMar 21, 2026

Engine tie rod bearing is worn on cylinder 3, engine is knocking. 119kmi.

Page 1 of 20

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2016 Honda Pilot.

Recalls for 2016 Honda Pilot

7 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2016 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.

17V219000Invalid Date
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

16V417000Sep 6, 2016
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

15V424000Jun 7, 2015
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

15V668000Invalid Date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

21V932000Invalid Date
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

23V751000Invalid Date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

23V858000Invalid Date
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

2016 Honda Pilot β€” FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2016 Honda Pilot reliable?β–Ύ

Severe Issues. The 2016 Honda Pilot has 1,624 NHTSA owner complaints, 22 crash-related, and 7 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (762 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Honda Pilot?β–Ύ

#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?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2016 Honda Pilot?β–Ύ

The 2016 Honda Pilot has 22 crash-related complaints and 9 fire reports out of 1,624 total NHTSA complaints. 20 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2016 Honda Pilot have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes β€” 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2016 Honda Pilot. The largest issue: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

Should I buy a 2016 Honda Pilot?β–Ύ

The 2016 Honda Pilot has severe issues β€” review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems 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 2016 Honda Pilot

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.