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:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,959 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 body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2016 Honda Pilot Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #39

Oct 232023

Pilot

  • miles

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

My vehicle had a recall on my car hood because its lose. When you drive it when its windy it moves. I had recall fixed at a Honda dealership in Hutchinson Ks. Now my hood is lose again. I had to pull off the interstate yesterday to try to get it to latch because it was moving, and it was very windy, and I was afraid it was going to blow open on me. I wanted a whole new hood, and I was told I'd have to pay for that myself. I really think a new hood and latch system should be included in recalls with this type of vehicle. Im honestly afraid to go over 65mph in my cars current condition.

- Great Bend, KS, USA

problem #38

Jul 052023

Pilot

  • miles
Roof molding comes loose and flies off while car is in motion on roads. Imposing risk to other drivers on roads. Once removed area is exposed which can result in increase in deterioration of vehicle.

- Lexington , NC, USA

problem #37

May 212023

Pilot

  • miles
roof molding that runs along the top flat part of the roof from front to back, one on both sides right & left of the car. It is in place to connect and/or cover where the roof & body/ sides come together & were welded. safety issue is that it falls off while the car is moving. Mine flew off on a major highway, while driving, which creates a risk to others on the road driving behind the vehicle. *Honda and my vin search is stating it is not recalled. However, there was a 2018 Honda Service Bulletin stating the front end caps are loose & that this was a known issue. My vehicle falls under the: 2016 Pilot, All Trim models & all vin ranges was included. But Honda is not honoring this because the vin# is not pulling up a recall. The updated notice from Honda is stating some vin#s but mine flew off due to the issues with the clips & the other side that-??s still intact is actually loose in the front & I have to be mindful & remember to keep Che king to press it down & back in place or possibly tape it down. * dealership looked at the vehicle and confirmed that they were simple clipped on and known (2016-2017) to be an issue of them falling off. Advised me to cover until I can repair it, to prevent moisture, rust & possible future internal water damage.

- Great Meadows, NJ, USA

problem #36

Jul 232022

Pilot

  • miles

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

Hood - flutters and wobbles significantly at highway speeds. Per recall check, this vehicle is not included. Seat belt - more of a personal thing, but the driver's seat belt cuts into the driver's neck, even when high of shoulder strap is adjusted. When using a device to help control where the shoulder strap lays, it was found that the driver's seat belt is MUCH shorter than all other in the vehicle. Therefore not allowing the driver to use something to adjust the shoulder portion and still safely check blind spots.

- Bemidji, MN, USA

problem #35

Jul 152022

Pilot

  • miles
I have a 2016 Honda Pilot, color, Pearl White. The paint started to peel appointmently one month ago. The area is on the roof in front of sunroof behind the front windshield. There is a recall on the same color, make, year and model. Peeling in the same area. I was told by Honda of America that it was only for Honda that were painted at a certain factory that are covered by the recall. I did have the vehicle inspected by Honda and a body shop that they sent me too. Total estimate is around $1200. They both confirmed that it's the same area as the recall. I do have the email with pictures that they took to send to Honda. Honda is only willing to cover 25% and told me to put a complaint into your department. PER Honda they said if there is enough complaints. There would be a recall for the other vin numbers to cover the paint job. We find there response unacceptable based on pass practice and previous recalls.

- West Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #34

Sep 162021

Pilot

  • miles
A roof moulding flew off my vehicle on the expressway. Apparently there is a Honda Service Bulletin that came out to the dealership that indicates these mouldings need to be secured better. However, they listed only some of the VINs and mine wasn't one of them, but the moulding ended up flying off anyway. It sounds like is a problem for other VINs that Honda didn't indicate.

- Lisle, IL, USA

problem #33

Apr 092022

Pilot

  • miles

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

On the highway I can see the hood is vibrating and air is getting under it. I had a recall for the hood latch and believe I completed that service but am concerned that it-€™s still not safe.

- Casselberry, FL, USA

problem #32

Feb 172021

Pilot

  • miles
Molding trim on roof of the vehicle is lifting and not secured. Molding trim around windshield is not secured and a plastic screw deteriorated and fell out. Trim won't stay in clips on the roof or on the windshield. I noticed the trim around the windshield was lifted while driving on a city street. I noticed the roof trim lifted when I arrived home and the screw on the windshield by the vent.

- Kingston, PA, USA

problem #31

Feb 112021

Pilot

  • 42,000 miles
The paint near the moon roof is peeling and exposing the vehicle body to corrosion. Honda previously issued a service bulletin (19-057) that extends the warranty to 7 years from purchase date for 2013-2016 Honda Pilot wihth moonroof and painted white diamond pearl. I brought this to the dealership and they said this vehicle is not covered, even though it's clear there is a paint defect that is covered under the service bulletin, for the prescribed vehicle make, model, and year.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #30

Jun 212019

Pilot

  • 55,000 miles
Roof moldings have been popping off without having anything damaged them or affected then in any way. They are coming off on their own.

- Fountain, CO, USA

problem #29

Sep 302020

Pilot

  • 93,000 miles

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

While driving on the highway, in strong winds, or passing larger vehicles or semis, the hood flexes as if it is going to unlatch and fly off the car. This is not a minor flex, the hood can bounce 2-3 inches. It is extremely unnerving and after time, the latch on the hood will fatigue and eventually break. It is becoming loose. There are currently no recalls by Honda. This is a serious oversight. The dealerships have tried to fix it, but never with success. Please look into this. Thank you.

- Fairfield, IA, USA

problem #28

Apr 012020

Pilot 6-cyl

  • miles
Noticed paint peeling off the roof, between the windshield and the moonroof for no reason while my car was parked in my driveway. No dings or dents in the area. Called Honda headquarters to report the problem and they said they can't help. Then I want to go wash the car so I could apply some touch cup paint to seal it up and it starting to peal off ever more. Just pealing way and spreading. Also noticed a small patch of rusting under the rear trunk.

- Westbury, NY, USA

problem #27

Feb 032020

Pilot

  • 44,500 miles
We were hit on the drivers and passengers sides of the vehicle by another vehicle that was travelling at an estimated 90-100 mph, and the airbags did not deploy. My vehicle was travelling at about 50 mph on an interstate when it was struck on the driver's side first. The force of that impact pushed my vehicle into a large box truck on the passenger's side. The police stated that the airbags should have deployed with the extreme force of the impact.

- Apollo Beach, FL, USA

problem #26

Dec 092019

Pilot

  • miles
The rear lift gate has been malfunctioning periodically since we purchased this vehicle new in 2016. It has been repaired several times but keeps malfunctioning. The issue is that the lift gate starts to open, but then closes itself for no reason and does not stop closing even if a person or obstacle is underneath. Sometimes the lift gate also will not reopen. Our ongoing concern is that a child or other person will be crushed beneath the malfunctioning lift gate. This has happened in all types of scenarios - when the car is parked flat, on an incline, inside, outside, etc. And there does not seem to be a consistent cause. Also, our Honda dealer is often unable to identify the problem using their computer system - they have told us nothing is wrong with the lift gate until they have watched this happen.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

problem #25

Jul 142019

Pilot

  • 36,500 miles
I bought this vehicle as a "certified pre owned by Honda" and four days after the purchase the car was parked in my driveway, in "park" when I hit the start/stop engine button and the vehicle didn't start. Alarms started to go off so I assumed it was the key was still inside the house. As I went inside to check, maybe a few seconds, when I went back outside the vehicle was gone. I found it in my front yard. It had rolled off while in park without engine on. After getting it towed to Honda, days later I was informed that there was a problem with the start/stop engine system and that it also needed the entire A/C system replaced. Attached you will find the photo I took of the vehicle still in park when I found it in my front yard.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #24

Jun 122019

Pilot

  • 26,000 miles
The back liftgate is holding water inside of the liftgate. Not sure if it came from rain or washing the vehicle. We opened the liftgate & water came pouring out.

- Charleston, SC, USA

problem #23

May 012016

Pilot

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle lunged forward and the contact smelled fumes. Also, the vehicle stalled while driving various speeds. The contact pulled over and it took numerous attempts to restart the vehicle. While driving various speeds, a piece of the fender on the front driver and passenger sides fractured and struck a person in the head. All the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired by multiple unknown dealers and independent mechanics and the catalytic converter was replaced four times and two injectors were installed; however, the failures continued. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 83,000. The VIN was invalid.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #22

Apr 292019

Pilot

  • 62,000 miles
The hood flexes in the wind when driving at higher speeds on a windy day. Unnerving to see it pop up and down. Took to dealer and they adjusted the "knobs" on each side. Didn't help. Then logged a ticket with them and they replaced the latch. Still a problem. We've tried adjusting the knobs again, but if on the highway on a windy day, it still flexes. We've seen others' complaints on the internet of the same problem. Afraid the hood is going to pop up if a gust catches it and kill someone. It has happened multiple times over the time we've owned it (3 years). The latest was on April 29, 2019.

- Stillwater, OK, USA

problem #21

Feb 182019

Pilot

  • miles
Drivers side window. When the button is pressed it brings the window down. However this feature is automatic for rolling the window up and down. This is not working. Keyless start stopped working, and the most important concern is the ignition for button start is acting up. Today it worked in the morning but later in the afternoon the car would not start. Dash board lights were flickering. This evening tried again and it worked fine now. This is an important safety concern.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

problem #20

Dec 012018

Pilot

  • 38,000 miles
I had two big issues (some small issues as well) for my 2016 Honda Pilot. First is the paint issue, the paint on the door was off and the doors were rusted pretty bad. I spent a lot to time go back and forth with the dealership, both of us were tired of this issue. Another issue just happened to me today, "keyless start system problem" showed up today, the walk away auto-lock feature does not work anymore, after couple of drives, the error message goes away, but the walk away feature still does not work. I have searched online and I believe a lot of owners have this issue. My car just went out of warranty at about 38K miles, and I saw online a lot of owners saw this message around this mileage. I have been a long time Honda owner, but this new Pilot makes me very upset all the time. A lot of issue. A lot...

- Columbus, IN, USA

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