2018 HONDA PILOT Power Train Problems
71 complaints about Power Train
This Problem Across All Years
All Power Train Complaints (71)
I have taken this vehicle into the Honda dealership on five separate occasions to report a power transfer problem. I first visited the Honda dealership to report this problem on 9/2024. It hasn't been until my most recent visit on 12/18/25, that a customer service representative told me that my vehicle needed a new torque converter. It is available for inspection upon request. The first occasion when the vehicle caused a safety issue, we were preparing to make a left hand turn and the car jerked, the dash lights flashed, and the vehicle completely turned off. This was in the summer of 2024. We have had many smaller incidents leading up to this first occurrence but they haven't resulted in the vehicle completely shutting off. Most of the power transfer problems occur when we first back out of the driveway, put the car into drive, press down on the gas pedal, and there is no propulsion forward. This has occurred on a regular basis since the purchase of the vehicle. After two to three seconds the car jerks forward and then drives. This will also occasionally occur when we are stopped at a stop sign or at a traffic light waiting to propel forward or make a turn. Many of the safety issues occur when trying to make a turn with traffic, and there is no power to propel the vehicle forward. We have been fortunate to have the other vehicles slow to allow the Pilot to pause before moving forward. We now have to ensure there is a large distance before making a turn. We have had the dealership, Continental Honda of Anchorage, reproduce the lag problem, July 2025. Recently, we had a Transmission System Problem warning light come on the vehicle. We have also had a flashing P, R, D indicator light when the vehicle was in those gears. The Transmission System Problem light appeared on December 9th, then it reappeared on the 17th.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50-65 MPH, the vehicle jerked, and the message "Transmission Systems Failure" was displayed on the instrument panel. In addition, the transmission downshifted unexpectedly, and a short while later shifted to normal drive and operated as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the torque converter clutch had failed; DTC: P0741. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had become progressively worse and occurred more frequently. The contact related the failure to TSB: 23-078; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Mileage: 130,000
Issue with Power Train caused car to go into limp/survival mode. Dealer found issue with power train sensor Code, error PO 369 CMP Sensor Interruption CMP Sensor Damaged. Mileage on care was 73,048. Had to replace power train at approx $ 3,646.00.
This car has had numerous transmission issues and a documented torque converter failure. Honda extended the warranty for 2018 pilots with these failures but did not include our vin number even though it’s the sane problem. They are refusing to fix it. This is a widespread issue and they are refusing to help us even though there are known manufacturing problems. The dealer hid this problem from us before the sale even though the code was documented in their system in Dec 2024 and we bought in May of 2025 reassured that it was a great car. Dealer refusing to fix it even with these records and hiding this from us and Honda corporate doesn’t care and said they only have to fix the ones that have certain vin numbers even though it’s the same problem and systemic. Rotten crooks endangering our family and ripping us off!
While accelerating to merge onto the highway at 40-50 mph, the ~50K mile engine lost power and began to abruptly decelerate. All warning lights came on. The car was taken to the dealership where we were informed that the camshaft broke. Fortunately we were not struck or involved in an accident because of this but it was very dangerous and we were very lucky. There were not any warning indicators before this incident, but the car was taken to the dealership recently for a torque converter replacement per a recall. I am unsure if this repair contributed to excessive play that could have caused the camshaft failure.
I am filing this complaint because Honda has acknowledged a torque converter defect in Service Bulletin 23-078 (dated August 31, 2023), which applies to 2017–2019 Pilots and Ridgelines equipped with the 6-speed automatic transmission. The bulletin states that certain torque converters may have been manufactured outside proper specifications, causing cracks in the lock-up piston, pressure bleed-down, and eventual loss of clutch capacity. This failure is associated with diagnostic trouble code P0741 (“Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance / Stuck OFF”) and can result in shuddering, hesitation, loss of power during acceleration, or sudden and irregular transmission behavior — all of which create safety risks in traffic, merging, or highway conditions. My 2018 Honda Pilot meets all the published eligibility criteria: it is within 8 years of the original service date, has fewer than 150,000 miles, and has stored the DTC P0741. Despite this, both my dealership and Honda America have denied coverage, claiming my VIN “does not qualify.” While a goodwill request was filed on my behalf, I was informed that even if approved, I could still be expected to pay part of the repair. This denial is unacceptable given Honda’s recognition of the defect and effectively requires me to cover a repair of a faulty product that is necessary for safe operation of the vehicle. Because Honda has already issued a service bulletin acknowledging this defect and created a warranty extension for some vehicles, I urge NHTSA to investigate whether the defect is broader than Honda admits, and whether a recall or expanded coverage is warranted to ensure drivers like myself are not forced to operate unsafe vehicles due to VIN restrictions.
Driving to work on the freeway, all of a sudden acceleration stopped. Pulled over as warning lights came on due to transmission. Additionally, the check engine light appears randomly due to emission and also the “AWD” light comes on. Within a few days or even weeks it turns off. This has been on and off since we purchased the vehicle from CarMax.
I came to a stop at a red light on a busy street. Vehicle turned off due to autorignite feature. When light turned green it no longer would turn the engine on in order to go. All my lights turned on, I couldn't put the car in drive. I couldn't put in neutral, reverse or any feature. It wouldn't allow me to do anything but put the hazards on. It had happened to me 3 times since the same exact way. Only way to get it to go in drive is by turning the vehicle off completely, if it let's you. Then once it is off, starting it and going about your day. Codes do not register as I have taken to dealership before and they say it would note it but it doesn't and have refused to repair under the warranty. It also has an acceleration and deceleration issue that has been documented on my visits that has yet to be fixed as well and is a known problem but because it is is not the correct year and model it won't get fixed. I have had someone take video since then to show what happens on the other occasions as my proof since Honda Corporation themselves wouldn't doing anything either.
Leaking front shock, front differential, and transmission
Transmission hesitates upon acceleration from a stop, intermittently. Yes, available for inspection upon request. When pulling out into traffic it will roll out and then no response...catastrophic results if taking a left turn or pulling on to highway. The transmission will then jerk abruptly when more gas is added while you are trying desperately to get going. No, they deny it every time...at one point they reset the block learn saying it was the way we were driving. Inspected by dealership. CEL comes on with various warning messages and tech confirmed customer concern and scanned for codes. Codes were misfires on 4,5,6...and random. changed injectors etc. under extended warranty... The hesitation from stop has occured many times
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the transmission warning light illuminated while driving above 70 MPH on the highway. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the warranty was extended but was declined due to the vehicle having a Salvage Title and a Rebuilt Title. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
Mileage: 55,000
There is a popping noise when turning and hitting bumps and a slight clicking noise when driving. I am very unsure as to where the issue is coming from (CB axle, steering rack, ball joints, bushings, some say welds or loose bolts). I see many people online talking about this issue online. It needs to be addressed
- Received error when driving that stated "Transmission System Problem." - Took into a service shop and the code P0741 was confirmed as the error. - Took to Honda Service repair, they confirmed the issue with the Torque Converter that needed to be replaced - Proceeded with the repairs at Honda (replacement of torque converter and replacement of 2 studs on catalytic converter that broke during their replacement of torque converter) - Informed there is a Warranty Extension for my Year/Make/Model on this torque converter as it has a known issue, however my VIN is not currently included in the Warranty Extension. My vehicle is in great condition with low mileage (approx 85K miles at time of repair), so I believe given the circumstances my VIN should be included in the Warranty Extension that currently exists for other VINs in my same Year/Make/Model as there was clearly a defect/issue with my torque converter as well. Link to existing warranty extension: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I have had a recall that the dealer has renegged on helping me with. About a couple of years ago we scheduled appointments, we missed work, showed up at the appointments for our two cars, only to be told that the parts are on back order. We keep getting the same response over and over. The last time I called a couple of weeks ago, the service department hung up on me. I called back and asked to have the Service Manager call me. He did not return my call. I have left message for the general manager, and he has NOT returned my calls. I need my recall remedied. My vehicle sometimes hesitates to start and has acceleration issues.
There is an auto start/stop feature on my 2018 Honda Pilot. I’ve owned it new since July 2018. My wife and I have experienced the same issue both together and separately. The auto stop feature will engage with the break depressed, but the auto start function will not always engage when the break is released. This has left us stranded in the middle of intersections in the middle of left turns with oncoming traffic driving around us, stalled on the freeway with cars whizzing by us at 70+ MPH blocking the fast lane, blocking congested one lane roads with no recourse for drivers behinds to get around us, etc. This feature stops the engine but periodically does not allow it to turn back on. With the engine stopped by this feature, but not shifted to park/ neutral, pressing the ignition start/ stop button does nothing. Shifting to park, and pressing the ignition start/stop button significantly delays removing the road hazard now created by the vehicle’s now dangerous location. To further complicate the matter, the engine starting has, on many occasions, taken multiple minutes to start, endangering myself, my wife, my four children, and other family / friends on too many occasions to count. My local dealership recommended replacing the vehicles battery, even though I had no other battery related problems. I did, in fact, follow that recommendation, only to have the same problem persist. I have encouraged my wife to disengage this feature proceeding forward, but the feature automatically resets itself everyone the ignition is started. This becomes problematic if the feature is forgotten to be turned off or, due to placement of the features button, the feature is inadvertently re-engaged.
My transmission failed although it was scanned a few weeks earlier indicating no issues with the transmission. I was lucky that the car failed once I stopped and wouldn't shift back into gear however it could have failed while driving. The car was driving fine and was slightly slow to engage, but I believe that was due to the fuel pump recall, which I could not have fixed because of a shortage of parts. My concern is that the transmission would have failed during my trip while driving over the mountains. It would have been really dangerous. There appear to be problems with the transmission in the 2018 Honda Pilots.
Transmission failed suddenly while on the highway. Engine light came on, and could not shift above first gear. Took to the Honda dealership where we purchased the vehicle (purchased new in 2018) and was told transmission failed and needed to be replaced. This is a 2018 Honda Pilot with only 35,000 miles on it with all routine maintenance done.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing engine hesitation while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the transmission fluid and the coolant were flushed. The contact was charged a service fee; however, the failure recurred while driving. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH on the third lane of an interstate with her children in the car seats in the rear seats, the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound. The vehicle decelerated to 35 MPH abruptly, causing the driver's and passengers' seat belts to retract. The contact immediately depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH, nearly causing a crash. The contact activated the hazard lights and drove to her husband's shop. The contact's husband cleared the diagnostic trouble codes, and the vehicle accelerated as needed while driving; however, the vehicle shuddered, made abnormal sounds, the engine had a misfire, and the vehicle stalled while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the message "Emission System Problem" was displayed. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Mileage: 58,000
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and hesitating with the transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 64,000.
Mileage: 64,000
In regards to TSB 23-078 Honda states that my VIN does not meet the parameters for service even though the dealer service techs are stating this is the issue. Since it is not a recall there is nothing they can do but recommend what the service dept wants to do, which is temporarily fix the problem. Which is bring the vehicle in for a transmission service every 20000 to 30000 mile for service at a cost of $500-600 to me. Which is less than half of the recommended interval. They have been treating the transmission with an additive up until this point.
The components of my vehicle that were affected is from the power train and emissions.Honda issued an TSB on August 2023 for this. The warning light on my vehicle is now illuminated. I have a DTC code P0471 stored on my vehicles computer and can no longer pass a smog chech without the problem being repaired. This issue has impacted my vehicles torque converter. When I drive at high speeds my car shakes and I get a warning that says transmission system problem. Also the transmission slips and has poor fuel mileage. Honda extended the warranty for this part because it is prone to failure. My vehicle was diagnosed at Gardena Honda on Sep 4,2024. The service advisers confirmed that my vehicle has the issue that the warranty was extended on. However, due to my vehicle having a salvage title they will not honor that warranty. This issue should have been recalled instead of extending the warranty. Other pilot owners may pose a serious risk to themselves and others as Honda failed to notify myself and other about the risks of having a defective part on the vehicle. I can no longer drive my vehicle because of the risk involved. The dealer quoted me $5000.00 to repair. Federal law requires car manufacturers to repair any issues that arise from emissions regardless of bad title. Honda refused to repair on 9/4/2024.
While driving my 2018 Honda Pilot I stopped in an intersection to make a turn and when I came to a complete stop my vehicle stopped running. Assuming it was the auto start/stop I released the brake and attempted to accelerate to complete my turn the vehicle failed to re-start and shuttered / stalled. I then could not get my vehicle to restart and had multiple warnings on my dash along with check engine light being lit. 1 of the errors showed "Emissions System Problem" as well as "Move vehicle to side of road and park". I could not get the vehicle to do anything even though it was already in parked from stalling out. I had to press Start/Stop button to turn my vehicle off completely for approx. 2 minutes and then was able to get vehicle restarted and then shifted to Drive to clear intersection. This has happened multiple times in different circumstances. I have had the vehicle back to Honda dealership twice and they said the do not see any issue or cannot get issue to repeat.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the message stated that the transmission was overheating was displayed. The contact pulled over to the nearest exit to park the vehicle and allowed the engine to cool off. The contact then continued to drive; however, the message displayed after driving for a while, caused the contact to pull over and allow the engine to cool off again. The failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to East Coast Honda (8756A US Highway 17 Bypass South, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588); where it was diagnosed and determined that the rotors needed to be replaced and the transmission fluid needed to be flushed and refilled. The rotors had been replaced and the transmission was flushed and refilled. Approximately two weeks after receiving the repair, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine revved with an abnormally loud sound. The vehicle was taken to another dealer where the contact was informed that the failure was related to the recall; however, the part for the recall repair was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 66,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Mileage: 66,000
Sitting stopped at a red light. These messages with the check engine light start scrolling on the dashboard: TSA, Emissions system problem, stability control, EPS, etc. it kept changing. When trying to go in drive to he engine had reduced power and I had to get out of the intersection quickly. The code to show up when scanned was P0369 camshaft sensor. Had the vehicle towed to Honda dealership to find out that other pilots in my same year model have this issue but my specific VIN was not included in the recall LVM or the service bulletin 19-045 even though the same year model is included.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle shuddered and hesitated while responding. Additionally, the power train warning light was illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the fuel injectors were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Mileage: 150,000
my car is 2018 with 54k mile .now the car has check engine light on . the code is P0430 . this code relate with fuel pump recall . i went to Honda dealer at Fremont but they said . they need to back order part . but my car now has a problem could not pass smog . please could you help to us how to do . Thank you so much .
I have been waiting since March for the fuel pump recall replacement and am now experiencing transmission issues. Vehicle lurching repeatedly and all light indicators came on. Honda is recommending replacement of cam shaft, thrust cover, and position sensor but still has yet to replace fuel pump recall. Vehicle only has 68k miles on it and has all required maintenance completed at dealer.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had started to become a recurring failure. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that she was no longer driving the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number: 23-078 torque converter lock-up clutch (Power Train). The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.
Mileage: 71,000
“Transmission system problem” message is displayed. Vehicle still runs fine, but reverse camera becomes disabled.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving from a complete stop, nearly causing a crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated, and the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was determined that the failure could be related to the fuel injectors and the transmission. The TCM software was updated, and a transmission flush was performed; however, the failure persisted. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), and related the failure to the recall; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,155. Parts distribution disconnect.
Mileage: 44,155
for months Honda dealer has not yet resolved the two recalls indicating parts and instructions from Honda are not availalbe. Thus, the dealer is unable to resolve the recalls. This has been going on for months and is unacceptable. When the NHTSA issues a recall, why can't consumers get their recalls fixed ?
Shortly after 60k warranty expired, check engine light came on. We went to dealer right away and were told the torque converter needed to be replaced to prevent permanent damage. The repair was quoted at over $2000.00. We left the car with service and contacted Honda corporate. They paid half, but still left us with bill over $1000.00. I have heard of this issue with other 2018 Pilots. We had the repair done and have not had any other problems, but we were told that, if this became a recall in the future, we could get our money back. There needs to be a recall done for torque converters on 2018 Pilots. Thank you.
I own a 2018 Honda Pilot (VIN number ending in [XXX] ) which was purchased from Perfection Honda on July 14, 2018. I am the only owner of the car and have taken the car to the dealer for all required maintenance services at the recommended time intervals. The car began stuttering after a stop on [XXX]. I took the car immediately to Perfection Honda and they stated that the issue was the front engine mount despite my concerns about the transmission. They replaced the front engine mount and flushed the transmission fluid and returned the car to me on [XXX]. The car had the same issue on [XXX] and I had to return the car to the dealer. Approximately one week later they stated that there was no issue and returned the car to me. On [XXX] the car had the same issue and had to be towed to the dealer. This time they stated it was the fuel pump, which had been recalled. They replaced the fuel pump and returned the car to me on [XXX]. On [XXX] the car had the same issue of stuttering upon acceleration from a stop and had to be towed again to the dealer. On [XXX] the service personnel called to inform me that a new transmission was needed. When the car first began experiencing the issue, I had had the car for five years and three months, three years of which had restricted driving due to the COVID shutdown in 2020 and in three months during 2021 when I was out of the country for travel. The car now has 57,380 miles. The issue began when the car had 54,079 miles. While there was fortunately no accident, the stalling after a stop and continued stuttering of the transmission is a significant safety issue. Each time I had my two children in the car with me and had to pull to the side of the road to avoid being rear ended. While other 2018 Honda Pilots have active transmission and engine recalls, my specific vehicle is not covered by those TSBs. Honda has stated that there are no active recalls on my vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Transmission is jumping between first and second gear randomly.
The transmission does not transmit consistent power to the wheels to ensure the car moves forward at consistent speed. This intermittent transmission of power to the tires causes a safety concern when driving, especially during a rainfall with stop and go traffic or when joining roads. The car is unresponsive or very slow to respond when moving forward from a stop position. Any attempt to force the car to move results in a lunge or aggressive acceleration which usually causes the tires to screech. The unnatural acceleration results in forward motion not consistent with the flow of traffic. This issue is further compounded when there is rainfall with a little slop. Any forward motion results in the tires screeching forcing the driver to take his/her foot off the accelerator. This results in a stop and go situation which is confusing to other drivers especially when joining a road.
Purchased and next day warning light came on for transmission problem. Took it to Honda and was told it was the torque converter. This part is on back order due to multiple installs on other Honda’s.
Failed Torque converter at 80, 000 miles leading to dangerous underperformance
While stopped at an intersection, the vehicle's Auto Start/Stop technology engaged. When driver attempted to drive, the Auto Start/Stop wouldn't disengage, as a result the car would not start. The vehicle prompted the driver to put the car in park and push the ignition button to start the car, however nothing happened, meaning the car would not start. After about 2 minutes, the car was able to start and the driver was able to continue driving. An immobilized vehicle at an intersection put its passengers at risk, including 2 children under the age of 3. Dealer will be notified of this occurrence.
Powertrain: The transmission has problems engaging, where I have had several near misses due tot he car not moving in the delay of the transmission engaging. This has been going on for some time and the dealer tells me there is nothing wrong, that it is a special transmission and I need to get used to the shifting mode. I have 36,300 miles and have complained several times over the past five years, this is a real safety issue since the car will not move and when it dose it lunges forcefully. Idle shut-off: the engine shuts off and will not restart, it has also shut-off on the freeway at random times.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while approaching a stop, the contact attempted to accelerate however, there was a delay in responding. The contact stated that after a while the vehicle accelerated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who admitted knowledge of similar failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 10,000. The consumer stated the vehicle now has 52k and still exhibits the 2-3 second hesitation when depressing the accelerator. The contact stated the vehicle has started to roll backwards on a hill. The vehicle has just less than 60k miles and has always been serviced by a dealership.
Mileage: 10,000
When the idle stop feature is active the vehicle can stop, ceasing all functions, including steering and engine. The entire electrical system does not function, and the vehicle cannot be restarted. In order to restart the vehicle you are required to jumpstart the vehicle. This issue was not common during early ownership of vehicle, but has become more frequent with age. This is a safety issue as the vehicle can become inoperable in busy intersections.
Today my 2018 Pilot EX-L suddenly started displaying these warnings: - Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) Problem - Hill Start Assist Problem - Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) Problem - Power Steering System (EPS) Problem Looking at Honda Pilot Forums, it seems like it is a very common problem and has to do with Fuel Injectors as described by: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10187289-0001.pdf Many people have complained of this issue, here is one such blog of many many more: https://www.piloteers.org/threads/multiple-warning-lights.127665/ This should be a recall and not just an extension of warranty which shifts the burden of proof to the consumer. Please help Honda honor this warranty for my 4 year old pilot with only 47,463 miles on it.
I was stopped at a red light, the engine cycled down because of the environmentally friendly option. My foot was on the break. The transmission shifted to neutral and turned orange. I could not get it to shift back to Drive. I had to turn the car off and restart it. At that point I was able to put it in drive and move the car. This was very dangerous because I was on a busy highway and could have been rear ended by a driver not noticing the car was stopped and off.
Vehicle will randomly stall after the auto stop-start has kicked in. Car starts then stalls immediately in the middle of an intersection. Shift selector would switch to neutral when this happened requiring the driver to shift into drive even further delaying the ability to get out of traffic. Have since had to replace the shifter switch (PRNDL) to the tune of $750 and have the same random problem. My wife wants to get rid of this car as she afraid to drive it.
On multiple occasions the idle stop feature will engage and upon re-engage it will stall my vehicle. When I place the vehicle in park, press the brake and press the ignition start, nothing happens. Upon multiple attempts to restart the car it will either do nothing or making a chug without restarting. Continuing my attempts to restart the vehicle it will finally restart. During these times I will be stalled at a stop sign or traffic light with impatient drivers going around me. All the dashboard lights come on. I have taken it to the dealership, they stated they couldn’t duplicate the problem. This is unsafe for motorists or pedestrians. If this happens while I'm in an intersection or other location with moving traffic it could be very unsafe for myself, other motorists and/or pedestrians.
Was in the middle of an intersection and pressed the button to turn off Engine Idle Mode as I have had instances where it was very slow to go when this mode is on and it delays getting out of the way of other drivers. When I pressed the Idle Off button - the car “shut down” and went into neutral. I could not get it out of neutral. Pressed D, R, P. Multiple times. Didn’t work. Had to press the turn off car button twice to turn off car then it finally restarted. I was stranded in the intersection and almost got hit by several cars. Once it started I pulled into a gas station and the radio stopped working. I turned off the car and restarted. Then the engine wasn’t shifting properly. Shut off the car again and went to the dealer. Dealer ran diagnostics and couldn’t find a problem. Checked the battery and all other items - no issues. Somebody is going to get killed and now I’m scared to drive my car.
While driving, the transmission would not gear up to any higher gears and could only drive 40mph with 3000+ RPMS. The MIL lights showed "Check Engine," "Emissions System Problem," "Transmission System Problem," and "Blind Spot Info System Problem," all at once. When pressing the "P" button for Park, it did not always want to engage in Park. The engine would sometime stutter on acceleration. The "P" and "D" for Park and Driver on the MIL would constantly blink. This action placed the driver and occupants at risk of injury because of the stutter and slow speeds on the highway. Also, when the "Park" button did not engage, the car was at risk of rolling into person or property. Currently, service has been scheduled for the dealership to diagnose the issue. There were no warning signs prior to all of these warning lights showing up all at once.
This has happened to me about 10 times in this vehicle: I am at a stoplight or stopsign and my "Idle-Stop" system in the Honda shuts down my engine and then when my foot comes off the brake it does not restart like it is supposed to leaving me stranded in the middle of traffic with a non moving vehicle. I think this is extremely dangerous and I am scared this will cause a terrible accident if not fixed. The only way the engine restarts is after about 30 seconds to a minute it finally is able to power back on. Please have Honda issue a recall for this issue.
On multiple occasions over the past month or so, my wife has experienced engine issues associated with what we believe is the Auto Start/Stop function on our 2018 Honda Pilot (Touring Edition). Upon coming to a complete stop, the Auto Stop function disables the engine. Upon releasing the brake, the system is supposed to restart the engine. However, on at least five occasions the engine has not restarted, and it has required her to turn the vehicle off and completely restart it as if starting from cold. This has occurred at stop lights, which obviously could cause safety issues/implications. On at least a couple of the occasions, she had to attempt to restart the vehicle multiple times by applying the brakes and pressing the main start/stop button). I frequently drive the vehicle and always turn off the Auto Start/Stop function. I have never run into these issues whatsoever. The vehicle is scheduled for routine maintenance at a Honda dealership in two days; the vehicle is serviced solely at this same dealership. The issue will be brought to their attention as well.
When vehicle comes to a stop, vehicle start/stop feature engages, then vehicle stalls. Vehicle then indicates that it should be shifter into park before it can be re-started. This has happened numerous times. Vehicle was brought into dealer, they are aware an investigation is underway with Honda but had no known solution besides updating the main computer program. They also recommended replacing the batter which tested ok. The fact that the vehicle stalls when you come to a stop is a very big safety concern.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving in stop-and-go traffic, the vehicle would engage the engine STOP/START fuel-saving feature while stopped. The contact stated that whenever she depressed the accelerator pedal the message "Place Vehicle in Park" displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact attempted to start the vehicle using the Push to Start button. The vehicle was restarted but failed to respond after shifting into drive. The vehicle was restarted several times before resuming normal operation. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Mileage: 50,000
Transmission kind of jerks when accelerate especially when you do it nice and easy(more like fluctuating up and down) I did some research on line a lot of people having same issues on this year model vehicles
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, however, the brake pedal was not fully depressed; the contact then depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact restarted the vehicle soon after the failure and resumed normal driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic test was performed; however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure or determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 52,500.
Mileage: 52,500
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that occasionally the vehicle would hesitate while driving. Additionally, the vehicle occasionally lost motive power and stalled without warning. The contact stated that while idle at a stop light and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle independently shifted to neutral and stalled. The contact shifted into park(P) and restarted the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Mileage: 80,000
We bought the Honda Pilot to tow a NuCamp 2019 Tab 320 Bookdock Trailer, which has a gross dry weight of 1,848 pounds (well below the 3,500-pound Pilot published towing capacity). We tow the trailer dry, which is without water in the black, gray and fresh tanks. We do not load any items of significant weight in the trailer (two lightweight camp chairs, a 3-inch thick foam mattress topper and pillows). We have towed the trailer from Akron, Ohio, to Twentynine Palms, CA, in 2020 and to Glacier National Park, MT, in 2021. We have also towed it to several Ohio state parks. In the fall of 2021, the vehicle’s transmission began to exhibit unusual performance that manifested itself as gear shifting hesitation in the range of 1,500 – 2,000 RPMs. With that issue, we took it to Great Lakes Honda which changed the transmission fluid (Great Lakes did not flush the transmission) at 28,000 miles. On April 3, 2022, the transmission hesitation began again. I took it to Apple Tree Honda in Arden, NC, (we had moved to Waynesville, NC, in late 2021) on April 5, 2022, a technician found no error codes, but performed a transmission flush and fill.. My issue with this is that the transmission fluid should not degrade in 7,000 miles of normal driving, causing transmission malfunction. The vehicle does seem capable of towing a weight near the published owner's manual maximum of 3,500 pounds. With this interval, I am concerned that the Honda stated operational guidelines are false, and the vehicle’s transmission might continue to degrade as many other Honda Pilots’ transmissions have as reported by many owners. The Apple Tree Honda technician who worked on the Pilot, advised me to add an auxiliary automatic transmission cooler, which is necessary if towing more than 3500 lbs. Since the April service, I have not towed the trailer. I am fearful that the transmission will fail when I am towing the trailer.
When stopped in traffic the car will switch to neutral by itself. It will turn off and will have to be restarted. This has happened about 12 times since last July. After the first time it happened I brought the car to the dealership. They were not able to replicate the issue and it has continued since then with greater frequency. (2x last week in 3 days) This has happened when in econ mode, regular mode, right after a tune up, no pattern detected. Sometimes before it happens there would be a spluttering sound of the engine, sometimes a clicking sound, sometimes a collision warning sign flashes right before it happens, sometimes no warning- the car just shuts off and needs to be restarted. When the car is idling there are frequent reminders about pressing the break to shut off the engine. Googling this issue shows other people have the same problem with their 2018 Honda Pilots and other models as well. I believe these incidents are related to ODI Investigation PE 22-005 just opened on 06/03/22.
Engine misfires randomly causing car to go into limp mode. Car was unable to go pass 40 mph on while trying to merge highway. It was very dangerous and scary as cars came very close to my bumper. Honda is aware of an injector issue and has extended the warranty, but this should be a safety recall.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate and then lunged forward. The contact sustained whiplash from the vehicle lunging forward abruptly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the independent mechanic could not duplicate the failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
Mileage: 43,000
My transmission is having problems. During acceleration the car will jolt forward, also when using the brakes. The dealer did recognize the problem but said it is not covered by warranty and that transmission needed to be flushed.. which was going to cost $500. He said had it been flushed before they may cover it, yet Honda doesn’t recommend a flush before 45000 per my owners manual. Very dangerous.. could cause an accident with Speed going up and down at a moments notice without you doing it
While stopped at a stop light/sign the engine stalls, dies, shifts to neutral (push button shift) leaving me disabled in the middle of the road. This issue has also occurred while slowing to take a sharp corner. The engine died at approximately 25 mph while slowing for the corner. I had taken it to the dealership and they claimed they could not reproduce the problem. I took the vehicle home, then later that day I drove it approximately 17 miles to a racetrack that I work at part time. At 12:30 am, I was leaving to head home, and while idling in the parking lot, it had died yet again and took several minutes to restart. Once it did restart, I had no throttle response in park, neutral or in drive. I shut the vehicle off and restarted it with no other issues for the 17 mile trip back home. The dealership suggested that I take picture/video when it happens, which poses another safety concern to do that in the event I am driving when this event occurs. This is a severe safety concern as there is the potential for the engine to die/stall during a hard braking event in which I could lose power brakes. Only the dealership has inspected the vehicle, and the only lights that have been illuminated on the dash was the battery light and the caution light. This issue has been going on for approximately a month and a half. After completing some research, I have noticed there is a large collection of this or very similar complaints.
There is a noticeable 'Chirp' Noise when taking curves when i slow for the curve and accelerate out of the curve. Yes, it is available to be inspected. Had this in my 2016 Honda Pilot Touring AWD and we had to replace the entire transmission due to failure with the gears. Unsure if will be a risk other than being stranded somewhere if it fails. No police. No system errors or warnings.
1. WHEN ACCELERATING GRADUALLY ON THE 2018 HONDA PILOT TOURING AWD FROM COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR JERKS HARD AFTER THE CAR STARTS MOVING - PROBABLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE CAR IS IN AUTOMATIC DRIVE MODE. 2.THE 2018 HONDA PILOT TOURING AWD TURNS OFF ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TRAFFIC, SOMETIMES THE CAR TURNS OFF THE ENGINE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN ON A UPHILL AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, CAUSING PANIC. THE SUDDEN ENGINE STOPS ALSO HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY WHEN STOPPING TO SHIFT TO REVERSE INTO MY GARAGE- THIS CAUSES A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS CARS ARE COMING AND CAN GET INTO T-BONE COLLISION.
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM AN IDLE POSITION THERE IS A 2-3 SECOND DELAY. VERY SLOW TO BET MOVING AND VERY DANGEROUS IN HIGH VOLUME TRAFFIC. THE CAR OFTEN TIMES JERKS WHEN I AM ACCELERATING IN TO A HIGHER GEAR.
THE SUV JOLTS AND DECREASES SPEED . IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO TAKE OFF AGAIN. THE JOLTING CAN BE STRONG AND IT HAS DECREASED ON THE FREEWAY. THIS IS NOT SAFE FOR A FAMILY VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALER I JUST NEEDED A NEW BATTERY I DID CHANGE IT AND IT STILL DOES IT THEN I WAS TOLD THEY FOUND NOTHING.
Mileage: 52,000
FIRST WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW AFTER ONE MONTH A MESSAGE POPPED UP SAYING 'TRANSMISSION PROBLEM' ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE CAR ONLY HAD 2,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO HONDA DEALER. THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AND SAID DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPED AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE MESSAGE WITHOUT DOING ANY REPAIR. NOW THE 2018 HONDA PILOT HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT , THE VEHICLE JERKS AND I FELT THE TRANSMISSION FLARED AND HARD SHIFT IN GEAR 2ND TO 3RD. IT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT KEEPS ON JERKING WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT 30 MILES OF HOUR.
Mileage: 24,000
ON 11/2/19, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOWED THE MESSAGE "TRANSMISSION PROBLEM" ON THE DASHBOARD. AFTER THIS MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY STAY IN FIRST GEAR. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PARK THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST UNDER 16 MONTHS OLD AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON, I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE GEARS ONCE AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED HONDA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST HONDA DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS OURISMAN HONDA IN TYSON'S CORNER VIRGINIA. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A SERVICE ADVISOR AT OURISMAN HONDA ON 11/4/19. HE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND NO REPAIR WAS MADE. WHEN I TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED, THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT IT IS LIKELY THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A "COMPUTER GLITCH" AND THAT SIMPLY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM IF IT HAPPENED IN THE FUTURE. I TOLD HIM THAT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE TO RESTART A VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE TRANSMISSION OFTEN EXHIBITS A "STICKY CLUTCH", DELAYED GEAR SHIFTING (SOMETIMES AS MUCH AS 2 SECONDS OF DELAY BEFORE THE GEAR IS SHIFTED), AND OFTEN TIMES A "CLUNK" IS HEARD WHEN THE GEAR IS CHANGED. THE PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS IN EARLY GEARS (3RD, 4TH, AND 5TH GEAR) WHEN I LIFT MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AT APPROXIMATELY THE TIME THE TRANSMISSION IS READY TO SHIFT TO THE NEXT HIGHEST GEAR.
Mileage: 20,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED, LUNGED, AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. DCH HONDA OF TEMECULA (26755 YNEZ RD, TEMECULA, CA 92591, (951) 268-9197) WAS CONTACTED AND SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 31,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Mileage: 31,000
6/13 5:10 PM ON I-95 N 30 MINUTES SOUTH OF FREDERICKSBURG, VA WAS GOING 78 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN 'BLIND SPOT SENSOR ERROR' APPEARED ON DASH AND WITHIN 10 SECONDS TRANSMISSION ERROR - SEE OWNERS MANUAL - GET SOMEWHERE SAFE APPEARED ON THE DASH. THE 2018 HONDA PILOT ELITE IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND WENT FROM 78 MPH TO 60 MPH IN 10 SECONDS. IT WAS A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT TOOK THEM A WEEK TO PUT IN THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND SINCE THAT TIME, THE FOLLOWING HAS HAPPENED: 7/1 NIGHT TIME ABOUT 8 PM WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN I WENT TO GO IT STARTED THEN STUTTERED - IT SEEM LIKE IT TRYING TO FIND THE GEAR' THEN FINALLY SEEM LIKE IT WENT INTO THIRD GEAR' IT DID THE SAME THING ON THE WAY HOME IN A DIFFERENT AREA. 7/2 ON THE WAY TO DEALER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN -SLOW DOWN TO MAKE THE TURN, AND WHILE MAKING THE TURN I HIT THE GAS AND IT STUTTERED AGAIN 7/2 IN VIRGINIA AFTER FREDERICKSBURG AND BEFORE MANASSAS ON 95 N. I TURNED OFF AN EXIT AND STARTED TO DO A U-TURN... I CAME TO A STOP TO WAIT ON TRAFFIC AND WHEN I STARTED UP AGAIN, IT STARTED AND THEN STUTTERED AND THEN WENT 7/3 AT ABOUT 1030 PM ........13106 WAS GOING ABOUT 10-15 MPH PUSH THE ACCELERATOR DOWN AND THE ENGINE JUST REVVED AND DIDN'T GO SO I HIT THE BRAKES SO THAT I WOULD STOP AT THE LIGHT AS IT WAS YELLOW AT THE TIME 7/4 IT STUTTERED SEVERAL TIMES. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN COASTING THEN HITTING THE GAS IT WOULD STUTTER, SOMETIMES JERK AND SOMETIMES MAKE A NOISE IT HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER 3 TIMES SINCE THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ONE DAY I SAT AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR OVER 4 HOURS AND WAITED ON THE DISTRICT REP - HE DID SHOW UP BUT WOULD NOT SPEAK TO ME AND WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE THE CAR WHEN HE RODE IN IT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.
Mileage: 12,181
SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 12,181 MILES IN JUNE 2019 ON A 2018 HONDA PILOT ELITE, OTHER ISSUES HAVE POPPED UP. THE FORWARD COLLISION SYSTEM HAS GONE OFF TWICE ON A 2 LANE STATE HIGHWAY. IN BOTH CASES, I WAS ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR WITH NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME FOR AT LEAST A MILE OR TWO, NO VEHICLES COMING THE OTHER WAY, ON A STRAIGHT PART OF THE ROAD, NOTHING IN THE ROAD AND NOTHING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN TO THEM WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, SO THERE'S NOTHING TO FIX & HONDA CORPORATION SAID THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING TO FIX. ONE NIGHT WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IT IT STOPPED RAINING BUT WAS VERY MUGGY AND THERE WAS MOISTURE ON THE WINDSHIELD THE AUTOMATIC WIPERS DID NOT COME ON AND THE DEFROST DID NOT WORK - THIS WAS OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL HOURS OF DRIVING TRYING DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES ON DEFROST AND NOTHING HELPED. EVEN WITH THE WIPERS ON MANUALLY, VISIBILITY WAS POOR. ALSO, ONE DAY AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY I DROVE IT 20 MILES AND THE CAR DID NOT COOL DOWN - I HAD TO RUN THE AIR CONDITIONER ON FULL BLAST THE WHOLE TIME. THE CAR IS NOT COOLING LIKE IT SHOULD! OF COURSE, WHEN THEY TRIED IT OUT IT HAD ACTUALLY ALREADY BEEN DRIVEN 20 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE AIR IN EARLY MORNING AND THEN THE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT TESTED IT OUT, THERE WAS COOL AIR AND SAID IT'S BLOWING JUST FINE NOW.
Mileage: 13,350
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD VIOLENTLY AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. ALSO, THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HEADQUARTER HONDA (17700 FL-50, CLERMONT, FL 34711, (407) 395-7500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN PART ATTACHED TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,200.
Mileage: 14,200
TRANSMISSION JERKS, HESITATES AND/OR CLUNKS WHEN CHANGING AND/OR ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE TO NEXT HIGHER GEAR, HESITATES AND/OR REVERTS TO NEXT LOWER GEAR WHEN IT SHOULD SHIFT TO NEXT GEAR. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON LEVEL SURFACES AND DOWN HILLS CAUSING PASSENGERS TO JERK FORWARDED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT EXPECTATION. HONDA DEALER KEPT VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS AND DID NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN APRIL 2018, HAD SAME PROBLEM SINCE WEEK #1. WHEN SHIFTING MANUALLY DOES NOT EXPERIENCE HESITATION OR GEAR HUNTING BUT CLANKING STILL EXISTS. THESE EVENTS HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF ROAD SURFACE TYPE, SPEED OR INCLINE OF ROAD. I NOTICED A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AT THE TRANSMISSION GASKET DURING 1ST OIL CHANGE AT 7500 MILES, UNDECIDES TO , (I.E., FROM PARK TO / FROM DRIVE; INTO/OUT
Mileage: 100