Started having a problem with the transmission on our 2018 Honda Pilot after 70,000 miles. The car would surge (rpm jumping up and down) while accelerating slowly. We had a 2013 CR-V which experienced a similar issue, so we were pretty sure it was the transmission fluid. We had the transmission serviced and the problem went away. Honda dealer said that they now recommend changing fluid every 30k miles instead of 30 to 45k as the manual states. Since we had a similar problem with another Honda, I'm suspecting that the Honda transmission fluid is substandard.

I have a 2018 honda pilot EXL, AWD, 6 speed transmission. I had an issue with the transmission or it felt like a transmission issue. When I would accelerate slowly I felt like the car would go and then stop suddenly, I noticed that the gauge would go up, the RPM, it would go up or down. It didn’t matter if I accelerated fast or slowly, it would do that. It didn’t always do this but it would sometimes. At a higher speed, after 50mph, it would not do that though, I didn’t feel that. At 29,675 miles, I changed the oil fluids, I changed transmission and rear and front differential fluids. They recommend Honda fluid only, the fluid has to be from them. Honda dealers recommends to change transmission fluid at 30K miles and when new, the rear differential fluids they recommend at the first 15K miles, then after every 30K miles. I skipped the first change, the rear differential at 15K miles. After I did those changes, 9K miles ago everything has been working fine. That resolved the issue, so I hope this can help someone.