2005 Honda Pilot: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 954 complaints
954
Total Complaints
103,500mi
Median Mileage
Power Train
Top Issue
61
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
73,500
25th Percentile
103,500
Median Mileage
140,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Power Train
133
Air Bags
115
Service Brakes
98
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
96
Electrical System
54
Engine
48
Vehicle Speed Control
46
Automatic Transmission
39
Steering
35
Engine And Engine Cooling
35
Severity Assessment
61
Crashes
10
Fires
68
Injuries
2
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"HEADREST OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS ARE REALLY FAR AWAY. THIS CAUSES SERIOUS NECK STRAIN AND PAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE HEADREST OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT IS A DOUGHNUT HOLE TYPES HEADREST. THIS HEADREST ..."
"WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED PASSENGER FRONT SHOULDER BELT WOULD LOCK UP UNTIL RELEASED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE IT. *AK THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPEN, CONSUMER DROVE TO THE DEALER WITH PASSENGER LOCKED IN FRONT SEAT SHOULDER HARNESS. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD A PROB..."
"VEHICLE: HONDA PILOT 2005 EX-L, PURCHASED ON 12/2004 WHENEVER I DRIVE MY HONDA PILOT I HAVE PAIN IN MY RIGHT EAR. A WEEK FROM TODAY, I STOPPED BY MY DEALER AND TEST DROVE THE EXACT SAME MODEL FROM THE DEALER, AND I DID NOT HAVE NAY PAIN IN MY EAR.*AK I WENT TO SEE AN (EAR, NOSE AND THROAT SPE..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Power Train
133 complaints
25th: 77,673 mi
Median: 105,000 mi
75th: 127,825 mi
Air Bags
115 complaints
25th: 93,250 mi
Median: 124,000 mi
75th: 155,000 mi
Service Brakes
98 complaints
25th: 79,161 mi
Median: 104,000 mi
75th: 143,000 mi
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
96 complaints
25th: 71,925 mi
Median: 111,000 mi
75th: 150,000 mi
Electrical System
54 complaints
25th: 80,000 mi
Median: 119,000 mi
75th: 152,000 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 123
NY: 71
PA: 56
VA: 52
FL: 51
TX: 45
OH: 45
MA: 41
NJ: 41
MI: 35
Who Files Complaints?
6.1%
Original Owners
93.9%
Second+ Owners
Honda Pilot — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (15)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V182000 | 06/03/2019
An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer serv
Accelerator Pedal
Campaign 19E068000 | 10/10/2019
If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using option 5. Dorman's number for this recall is AS1019XXXX.
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V501000 | 27/06/2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V499000 | 27/06/2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
Inflator Module
Campaign 18V268000 | 26/04/2018
An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
Inflator Module
Campaign 17V029000 | 10/01/2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KD9 and KE0.
Inflator Module
Campaign 16V344000 | 23/05/2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA0, KA1, KA2, and KA3.
Air Bags
Campaign 14V700000 | 04/11/2014
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Inflator Module
Campaign 15V320000 | 28/05/2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that
Air Bags
Campaign 14V353000 | 20/06/2014
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Switch
Campaign 12V136000 | 30/03/2012
IF THE TERMINAL ENDS MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL HARNESS OR REPLACE THE LIGHTING SWITCH AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE ORIGINAL RECALL BEGAN IN APRIL 2012. OWNERS OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE SEPTEMBER 2012 EXPANSION WILL BE NOTIFIED IN SEPTEMBER 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT
Control Unit/Module
Campaign 13V092000 | 14/03/2013
Sudden inadvertent braking, especially without illumination of the brake lights, may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Owners will be notified and instructed to take their vehicles to a dealer of their respective brand. The dealer will install a partial wiring harness containing a capacitor for the VSA modulator, free of charge. The affected model year 2005 Pilots will have their ground connection tightened. The
Carrier/Rack
Campaign 08E013000 | 05/02/2008
WHEN MOVING THE BIKE ARM BRACKET TO ITS DOWN POSITION, THIS PINCH BOLT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING SEVERE LACERATION OR AMPUTATION TO THE USER'S FINGERTIPS OR HAND.
OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391) TO OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS OR OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Column
Campaign 05V039000 | 03/02/2005
LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL CAN CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.
OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON JANUARY 25, 2005, AND ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES TOWED TO THEIR DEALERS AND HAVE THE REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2005.
Tank Assembly
Campaign 04V541000 | 18/11/2004
IN A CRASH, THE FUEL TANK COULD BE DAMAGED AND LEAK FUEL. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS REPLACED THE FUEL TANK. ALL OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON NOVEMBER 10, 2004.
Extend Your Transmission Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Change transmission fluid at manufacturer intervals — not 'lifetime' fluid
- Come to a full stop before shifting from reverse to drive
- Don't ride the brakes on hills — use a lower gear
- Check transmission fluid level and color monthly — dark fluid needs changing
- Address slipping, hard shifts, or delayed engagement immediately
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28