CarComplaints.com Notes: It's worrying when the top category for 2016 Honda Pilot problems are transmission problems. Owners report jerking when accelerating. Also as the first model year of the redesigned 3rd generation Pilot, it's not a good sign.

Honda released a TSB on October 29 2016 that's possibly related. The TSB deals with a "a judder from the torque converter lock-up clutch ... while driving between 20 and 60 mph" due to deteriorated transmission fluid resulting from "specific driving conditions". In the TSB, Honda states they are developing a software fix to try to keep the transmission fluid temperature within spec.

We are keeping a close eye on this defect trend because if certain driving conditions can affect transmission shifting in the first year of ownership, we'd hate to think what 10+ years will do.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,653 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Honda Pilot accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2016 Honda Pilot Owner Comments

problem #8

Jan 202020

Pilot

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

There is loud clicking from the driver's power seat while attempting to adjust the height of the seat. The height of the seat cannot be adjusted, which inhibits the driver's ability to see things in front of and around the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected by a Honda dealership. The dealership said that the entire seat must be replaced at a cost of $2600.

- Bentonville, AR, USA

problem #7

Feb 012018

Pilot

  • 35,000 miles
Power drivers seat broke two years ago +. will not go up or down. Honda wants $450 to repair. This should not have broken at 3 years old.

- Kendall Park, NJ, USA

problem #6

May 112019

Pilot

  • 72,000 miles
"takata recall" the passenger's side airbag of our 2016 Honda Pilot spontaneously deployed as my daughter was driving approximately 45 mph straight along route 195 in mansfield, ct on May 11, 2019. At the time of the deployment she had passed over a storm drain that sticks out into the narrow road. The drain causes a slight depression in the roadway, which the wheels rolled over. There was no impact. There was no accident. She managed to keep her wits about her so she didn't get hit on the busy, narrow road. The outside of the car is pristine. The interior is a mess. The side curtain airbag is down, blocking visibility, and the side airbag deployed from the front passenger's seat. The deployment took out the headliner and tore the passenger's seat apart. Our car has been sitting at a Honda dealership and now at a body repair facility for two weeks. Honda tells us it's not their fault. They claim we have a bent control arm on the passengers side front of the car. However, we have felt no pulling, shaking, tremors, bumping or other effects our mechanic assures us would happen with a bent control arm. We were told by the Honda dealer that repairs could cost $5,000 to $10,000 but have no official estimate. We have turned the case over to our insurance company.

- Columbia, CT, USA

problem #5

Jan 172019

Pilot

  • 48,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My vehicle has multiple system error messages that have come on and off when turning on the car and some have became much more frequent and remain on while driving. 1. keyless starting system error- happens frequently when vehicle is turned on and remains on while driving. 2. antilock brake system error- when vehicle is powered on and remains on for about 20 mins after driving vehicle and returns when car is powered on. 3. charging system error- was coming on occasionally and as of today has came on every time the vehicle is powered on and remains on while driving. 4. brake system problem- occasionally comes on when car is powered on and comes off after driving vehicle. Also, the most recent issues I've had was the driver seat does not warm up when seat warmer is turned on and while driving the vehicle at approximately 30mph vehicle begins to jerk as if it is struggling to drive. These problems have become much more frequent and have become a safety concern for me and my children.

- Wilmington, CA, USA

problem #4

Jun 292018

Pilot

  • miles
Drive seat no longer adjusts. Makes clicking noise when trying to push the button for adjustment. Short person can no longer drive because can't see over steering wheel.

- Torrance, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 072017

Pilot

  • 10,100 miles
The 2016 Honda Pilot has a bad headlights being too dimmed during night drives, this is especially true when your windows and windshields are tinted. Secondly, the reverse or backup lights are located in a very low position down at the bumper, wherein it may not be seen by cars from behind when we're reversing. These lighting issues are a safety risk. Third, the front seats are quite uncomfortable, poorly designed for long-drives and is a safety risk especially for hard and tight turns where we slide off to the sides of our seats.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #2

Nov 162016

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 125 miles
We cannot find a comfortable position for driving this car. It hurts our foot and leg every time we drive it.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #1

Aug 152015

Pilot

  • miles
Front seat headrest are angled to far forward and hurt my neck!

- Orlando, FL, USA

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