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.

8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
8,600 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
2016 Honda Pilot brakes problems

brakes problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Honda Pilot:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2016 Honda Pilot Owner Comments

problem #3

Aug 192017

Pilot LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

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

2016 Honda Pilot surging/unexpected acceleration/lunging when brakes are applied. I was coming out of my neighborhood to a three-way stop. I moved my foot off the gas to press the brake. When I placed my foot on the brake the vehicle lunged forward for a second as if it was given gas and then coasted. This entire time I had my foot pressing hard on the brake to get the vehicle to stop, but it was locked in place and would not push down. The Honda Pilot went through the stop sign and I turned it left up a slight hill. When the vehicle slowed to a stop in the middle of the intersection, I turned off the car and restarted.

This is my father's car and has happened to him about 10 times since he purchased the vehicle. We took all the necessary steps to complete the lemon law, but we were notified this week that our case was denied. There will be no repurchase or replacement of the vehicle because American Honda could not reproduce the event and believe it is misplacement of the foot on the pedal & brake at the same time. I wear a child's shoe size so that is impossible. We are forced to trade it in so beware of a 2016 Honda Pilot.

- Megan S., Frankfort, US

problem #2

Jun 212016

Pilot Touring 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86 miles

I almost read every comment in this forum, but imagine my one is absolute blunder from HONDA !!!!!!!!!

I booked a new Honda pilot 2016. Took paint and interior protection, gap protection, Protect plus for tires and key and spent additional about 10000/ aed to protect myself for this expensive top of the range touring model. But guess what ???? I took the car out of the showroom of DIFC at 11:30 pm, drove towards my home near Sharjah Clock Tower and found Low Brake oil sign flashing in the dashboard, then steering sign abd traction off sign.???

It took some time to realize that what is happening with my beautiful brand new top of range 2016 Honda Pilot. Assuming that may be they forget to fill up the brake fluid up to full, but seriously was confused on the other hand. What could happen with a new car driven less than 50kms? Anyway, the happiness of buying the new car was spoiling, so I thought I will check with the showroom tomorrow morning .

In the morning headed towards the showroom. The moment I reached near financial center, the brakes which were already spongy, now even on full pedal were responding even less. I was afraid of an accident so put the hazard light on. I showed them the car and they confirmed that there is almost no brake fluid. The technician put some brake fluid in order to take the car in the Service area.

They gave courtesy car and told me to go to work and will update me. In the afternoon I went to the Service center and found the technician dealing with other IMPORTANT CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDING BEST CUSTOMER SERVICES. He told me there is leakage. I went to the service manager and asked him he gave the technical details, that the ABS modulator is seeping the fluid they have TAKEN THE PICTURES AND ARE WAITING FOR INVESTIGATING TECHNICAL TEAM TO CONFIRM AS THEY CAN NOT TOUCH A NEW CAR LIKE THAT >

- drwaqarkazmi87, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

problem #1

Mar 212016

Pilot EX-L 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 600 miles

I was moving my car out of a friends driveway about 9:15AM so his wife could leave the garage. I backed out fine and started to pull back into the driveway. I did not use the accelerator since I just wanted the car to ease into the driveway as I applied the brakes. The car failed to stop. I pushed hard on the brakes as we neared my friends car and it finally stopped when I hit his car and put the car in PARK. My car pushed his Toyota Avalon several feet and almost into his garage wall. I then put my car in REVERSE and the same thing happened. I could not stop the car. Immediately behind my car was another driveway with a couple of trucks. I turned the wheel to avoid the cars but hit his mailbox and broke my tail light and made a large scrape the full left side of my car including my left side mirror which was turned. Once again only PARK stopped this vehicle. The guy who lived across the street saw and heard this while he was standing in the yard drinking some coffee and getting ready to go to work.. He told me he heard a clicking sound as I backed up and tried to stop the car with the brake. I do not remember if I heard it or not since I was concentrating on trying to stop the Pilot.

I called a Honda dealer and told him I was bringing it in and a little bit about the accident. I called for a tow truck since I was not going to drive it. The tow truck driver said he thought there was something wrong with the car as he backed it out of the garage. He used the emergency brake to put it on the street and stop it. He then pulled it on his carriage with his chain hoist and dropped it off at the Honda dealer.

My friend and I went to the dealer to talk to service person. He said he would check it out. When I told him what the tow truck driver said, he replied that " he is just a tow truck driver".

The Honda dealership had the car until late Tueaday afternoon, 1.5 days. They could not find anything wrong with the brakes and ran it through diagnostics and found a code for an AC problem. The area service rep was there on Tuesday afternoon and drove the car and reviewed what had been done. She said the car was safe to drive. The service tech told me the same thing that the car was safe to drive.

I did drive it home from Myrtle Beach to Raleigh and then back to Chantilly, Virginia. I have not had any other problems but I am very careful as I apply the brakes and especially as I approach a red light or any stop.

Honda says there is nothing wrong but they only react to their tests.

- Rich L., Chantilly, VA, US

Not what you are looking for?