2021 HONDA PILOT Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2021 Honda Pilot. This model year has 379 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Electrical Faults.
Before you buy — check the actual VIN
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 2021 Honda Pilot Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Electrical Faults
Engine Problems
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB
Considering a 2021 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 2021 Honda Pilot. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 106 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 89 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 84 | 4 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 72 | 1 | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 35 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 30 | 5 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 25 | 4 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 23 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 20 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 19 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 16 | 2 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 13 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 6 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other/I Am Not Sure | 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 2021 Honda Pilot. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 379 most recent complaints
The vehicle has routinely had issues restarting from auto idle. When the vehicle turns off in traffic at a stop or stopped at a red light, then it will not restart and the vehicle will essentially be dead for several minutes and unable to be turned on or moved.
Infotainment system doesn't work, including maps, and backup camera. I have read this is a common problem, but Honda isn't doing anything about it.
When driving.car I hear crackling noice. I did research it has to do with electrical wiring under the dash. It effects all information on the display screen can not access maps direction phone calls won't work,effect radio from working,causes panel lights not to work heater & AC …
Engine started knocking and within a couple days my wife was left stranded. The vehicle went into limp mode with check engine light flashing, and would not accelerate. The vehicle stopped completely in the middle of the road and lost all power, which could’ve caused a major accid…
Braking system and cameras defective. Vehicle will flash BRAKE when nothing is in roadway. This will also cause vehicle to hard brake. When on interstate, cruise control no longer functions properly due to camera sensors reading a vehicle is in front of my vehicle when there is n…
Front camera needs to be replaced. According to several Honda forums, this is a very common problem requiring the front camera to be replaced. All safety features requiring the camera no longer work.
My wife was driving at about 40mph and hit a curb while driving straight. The car’s swerved and hit the front right and right rear tire with the curb. The right side curtain airbag deployed. This vehicle was taken to the Honda dealership a few months ago to address the exact same…
There is a problem with the camera that is disabled my brake system features. I am hearing this is a known issue with many of these cars
I am reporting a safety defect involving Continental CrossContact LX Sport tires, size 245/50 R20 used on my 2021 Honda Pilot. These tires are not currently included in the existing Continental recalls, but they are showing the same types of failures described in NHTSA recall 21T…
Auto idle stop activated at a stop light for the 2nd or 3rd time over a few years. Lifted foot off the break and stalled, the car went into Park and I could not put it into neutral or drive. The odometer screen looked like it does when the engine is on. The battery light was on. …
There is an electrical malfunction which causes all of the electrical components to flash on/off, glitch. This has occured while driving but primarily when the vehicle is parked and unattended. I’m afraid it can short and cause a fire. The vehicle will turn istelf on and off repe…
My vehicle has failed to restart several times with the auto idle start feature enabled while stopped at a stoplight. I was in a turning lane the first time it happened, so other vehicles had to make a left hand turn from a lane that was meant to go straight to get around me. …
Auto start-stop feauture turned on at complete stop at traffic light. When light turned green and pressed the gas pedal to accelerate, engine did not turn back on. It had put vehicle into neutral and would not allow vehicle to shift into any other gear. Had to shut off engine …
I am submitting this letter as an official complaint regarding a potential safety defect involving the airbag system in my 2021 Honda Pilot. I was involved in a motor vehicle accident on February 3, 2026 in Atlanta, GA. The collision was a direct frontal impact with another vehic…
auto idle stop stalled at a red light causing my car to not move and having to shut off my car in the middle of traffic. Once i tried to turn back on it wouldnt start at first. i had to do this twice in order for the car to come back on.
The following warning lights: adaptive cruise control problem, lane keeping assist, collision mitigation system, road departure mitigation problem, auto high beam problem
The car engine autorestart causes all sorts of problems. We have repeatedly had the warning come on and the engine stop while at a light or paused in moving traffic. We have replaced the battery and other parts. The safety issue is that the car totally stops while in traffic and…
The auto idle start-stop feature has been failing for many years without being resolved. Honda has done updates and updated the fuel injection software without improvement. I have also replaced the battery as recommended. I continue to get stuck at stop lights and intersections w…
The following warning lights: adaptive cruise control problem, lane keeping assist, collision mitigation system, road departure mitigation problem, auto high beam problem. Honda estimates over $2000 to repair? From what I understand there are many other Honda's with these issues!…
The windshield camera has malfunctioned causing 5 different safety warnings to appear and these functions are unavailable now. It has been evaluated by a dealership and they claim that it has to be replaced at a cost of $2100. This is a pretty widespread issue in these Pilots wit…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2021 Honda Pilot.
Recalls for 2021 Honda Pilot
8 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2021 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.
2021 Honda Pilot — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2021 Honda Pilot reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2021 Honda Pilot has 379 NHTSA owner complaints, 12 crash-related, and 8 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Electrical Faults (106 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda Pilot?▾
#1: Electrical Faults (106 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (89 complaints). #3: Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB (84 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2021 Honda Pilot?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2021 Honda Pilot?▾
The 2021 Honda Pilot has 12 crash-related complaints and 1 fire reports out of 379 total NHTSA complaints. 8 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2021 Honda Pilot have any recalls?▾
Yes — 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2021 Honda Pilot. The largest issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2021 Honda Pilot?▾
The 2021 Honda Pilot has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Electrical Faults 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 2021 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.