2009 Honda Pilot Engine Problems

Serpentine belt tensioner bolt keeps snapping and or breaking has been replaced 3 times now. Research shows at least 10 years of part being defective.

NHTSA ID

11709543

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ID

11582445

Incident

Jan 20, 2024

My 2009 Honda Pilot has 188,793 miles, I barely drive the vehicle and it need Piston Rings. I'm aware that this is a common problem with the 2009 Honda Pilots. I do not have $3,000. to just give to these people when Honda knows there is a problem with this vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11546707

Incident

Sep 21, 2023

WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OTHER Honda Pilot OWNERS AS WELL FROM THE DEALER THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS A VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY COMMON ISSUE. IT WILL COST OVER $6,000 TO FIX. THAT IS CORRECT, OVER $ 6,000 !!!!!!!! WE HOPE THE US GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE ACTION. WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT HONDA IS WELL AWARE OF FOR YEARS NOW. PLEASE HELP US COMMON FOLK THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11498297

Incident

Dec 1, 2022

In September of 2021 my mechanic noticed low oil. oil consumption and poor mileage. We have to travel from New Mexico to Houston to see our grandchildren and sometimes we bring them back to our home. The risk is that we can get stranded in the middle of the desert. There have been reports of oil consumption see attached article: https://www.vehiclehistory.com/articles/honda-pilot-excessive-oil-consumption-recalls But when I called Honda customer service they dismiss it because my vin# does not show on their computers of recall of problems of such. I called the dealership and the same thing happened. I am an old timer that changes its oil and does the required maintenance regularly and on time. This should not happen to a very well-maintained vehicle! I hope you can help or at least direct me to someone that could help me. A very dissatisfied customer

NHTSA ID

11481250

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

The contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, there was an odor of burning oil present inside the cabin of the vehicle. In addition, the contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced excessive oil consumption and no oil leaks were present. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11463314

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

A VALVE FELL INTO THE ENGINE AS I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND COAST INTO SAFETY. IT WAS INOPERABLE AFTER THIS EVENT.

NHTSA ID

11351695

Incident

Jun 21, 2020

Mileage

154,000 mi

ON JULY 29, 2020 I PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM CROWN NISSAN OF GREENVILLE. THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SAFETY INSPECTION AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND ALL THAT NEEDED WAS A NEW AC COMPRESSOR THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY WERE NOT TRANSPARENT ABOUT OTHER PROBLEMS THAT SURFACED WITHIN THE FIRST QUARTER TANK OF GAS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND WAS CAUSING ERRORS WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN. BOTH LOW CONTROL ARMS AND STRUTS WERE COMPLETELY WORN AND NOT SAFE FOR VEHICLE OPERATION. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK IN IT. THERE WERE ALSO FAULTY ENGINE MISFIRING. THERE INSPECTION DID NOT ANIMATE ANY OF THESE ISSUES AND SAID THE ONLY THING WRONG WAS THE AC COMPRESSOR, WHICH WAS A LIE. THE LEFT STRUT WAS ALSO WAS NOT OPERATIONAL AND HAS MADE THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 100 MILES AND HAS CAUSED NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND A SAFETY CONCERN FOR THE DRIVER. I USED THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT TWICE AND THEY WERE NOT TRANSPARENT ABOUT ISSUES CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. THEY DID NOT CARE AND BOTH TIMES SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE WHICH WAS NOT TRUE THERE WAS A LOT WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THAT THEY WEREN'T DISCLOSING. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG BECAUSE I NEEDED TO KNOW AND THEY ASSURED ME THE SAFETY INSPECTION WAS DONE AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE HONDA MECHANIC FROM FISHERS GARAGE CLAIMS THE CAR HAS SIGNS OF BEING IN A ROUGH ACCIDENT WITH UNDERNEATH REPAIRS, HOWEVER THE DEALER ASSURED THERE WAS NO ACCIDENTS AND THE CAR FAX WAS CLEAR OF ANY DEFECTS. WHICH ALSO TURNS OUT TO BE A LIE.

NHTSA ID

11343816

Incident

Jul 30, 2020

Mileage

159,510 mi

2009 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PISTON RING FAILURE. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID

11290550

Incident

Dec 30, 2019

WE PURCHASED THE 2009 HONDA PILOT FROM IN MID-SEPTEMBER IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - ONE PREVIOUS OWNER, SERVICED REGULARLY, TIMING BELT REPLACED AND TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACED AT 100,00 MILES.IN NOVEMBER 2018,AS AGREED UPON WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WE BROUGHT THE PILOT INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR FOR THE BACKUP CAMERA, A TEAR IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT ARMREST AND WE ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE EMISSIONS AND ENGINE BE CHECKED AS THE ENGINE AND EMISSIONS LIGHTS WERE ON. THE BACKUP CAMERA AND TEAR WERE REPAIRED AND GRACE'S ASSURED US THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT AND EMISSIONS LIGHT WERE OKAY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CARED, FOR (OIL CHANGED ETC) AND LESS THAN AVERAGE MILES HAVE BEEN PUT ON IT AS I WORK LOCALLY. HOWEVER, ON SUNDAY, MARCH 24 AT 11:40 AM, I WAS DRIVING EAST ON 64 IN VIRGINIA AND SUDDENLY THE PILOT SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF 64. AS I DID, SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND I COULD SMELL GAS, SMOKE AND OIL AND I GOT OUT QUICKLY AS I WAS AFRAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE - I HAD NO IDEA WHAT COULD BE WRONG OR WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AS WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH, IT AND IT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND AGAIN, GRACE'S LOOKED AT IT IN NOVEMBER. AS THE CAR BEGAN TO COOL OFF A STATE TROOPER AND MY HUSBAND ARRIVED AND WE WERE ABLE TO CHECK THE OIL AND THE COOLANT - THERE WAS OIL IN THE CAR AND COOLANT BUT IT WAS QUICKLY LEAKING ALL OVER THE GROUND AND THE STATE TROOPER COULD NOT PUT UP FLARES DUE TO FEARS OF FIRE. WE CALLED TRIPLE A AND WE EVEN FOUND A PIECE OF THE MOTOR THAT HAD BROKEN OFF (WE HAVE THE PICTURE AND THE PIECE) AND TRIPLE A TOWED THE VEHICLE A MECHANIC. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE MOTOR/ENGINE SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY BROKE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH IS RIDICULOUS AND EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO ALL. WE ARE CONTACTING HONDA AS WELL AS THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING ENGINES IN 2009 HONDAS.

NHTSA ID

11193055

Incident

Mar 24, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

"EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL BURN" VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE OIL LIFE MINDER AND MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS THE OIL CHANGE WHEN THE OIL LIFE DROPS TO 15% AND BELOW. BUT VEHICLE NEVER MADE IT FOR AN OIL CHANGE WITHOUT ADDING/TAPPING OFF TWO 1 QUARTS OF ENGINE OIL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAD CALLED THEM ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THEY HAD THE OIL CHANGE DONE AND SAID TO RETURN BACK AFTER 1000 MILES TO CHECK THE OIL. RESULT TO THAT THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE OIL BURN IS WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE. BUT THE REMAINDER OF THIS OIL CHANGE RESULTED TO ME TAPPING OFF TWO 1 QUART ENGINE OIL WITH 30% OIL LIFE LEFT. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT A LOT OF SIMILAR MODEL IS EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE OIL BURN AS WELL. THE DEALER MENTIONED THAT THE COST TO FIX THE ISSUE IS AROUND $3,800! I WANT THE MANUFACTURER TO RELEASE THIS ISSUE TO THE PUBLIC AS A RECALL AND TO OFFER TO FIX THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN/MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THIS BRAND WAS SAID TO BE KNOWN FOR RELIABILITY BUT NOT REALLY AND I DON'T THINK SO. I CONSIDER NOT BUYING THIS BRAND AGAIN AND DEFINITELY WILL WON'T RECOMMEND.

NHTSA ID

11176422

Incident

Dec 15, 2018

Mileage

88,000 mi

DESDE EL AO PASADO COMO EN JULIO O AGOSTO MI CARRO ME HA ESTADO GASTANDO DEMASIADO ACEITE Y TIRA DEMASIADO HUMO, YA ME HAN DICHO VARIOS MECNICOS QUE ES PROBLEMA DEL MOTOR EL LTIMO MECNICO ME DIJO DEL PROBLEMA QUE TIENEN LOS MOTORES V6 DE HONDA Y ME RECOMEND QUE HICIERA UN RECLAMO ACA CON USTEDES, Y YO ESTUVE LEYENDO LO QUE SALE EN INTERNET SOBRE EL PROBLEMA DE ESOS MOTORES Y PIENSO QUE MI AUTO EST DENTRO DE UNO DE ESOS DAADOS

NHTSA ID

11091435

Incident

Aug 5, 2017

ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO THE ENGINE STARTED BURNING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OIL. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CHECK THE OIL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ENGINE WON'T SEIZE ON ME. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST HONDA ABOUT THIS. BEING THAT I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR AND IT WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO ME AND AM NOW TASKED WITH FINDING OUT IF HONDA WILL FIX IT. JUST WANTED TO PUT THIS PROBLEM OUT THERE.

NHTSA ID

11081375

Incident

Oct 3, 2016

Mileage

160,000 mi

WE WERE NORTHBOUND ON A LOCAL ROAD NEAR RETURNING FROM OUR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH. WITH NO WARNING THE CAR MADE A NOISE, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AS ALL ACCELERATION, STEERING, BRAKING, ET CETERA, CEASED OPERATION. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER BUT WAS STILL IN THE ROAD, WHERE I PUT ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND WITH MY CHILDREN CLIMBED OUT OF THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AAA TOWED THE PILOT TO THE TAMERON HONDA DEALERSHIP IN HOOVER, ALABAMA. THEY CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, TO SAY THAT THE REAR CAM ON THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED, CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO SLIP AND CAUSING IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE RECOMMENDED FIX: REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A USED ENGINE, PLUS THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT, AT A COST OF $6,914.50 IT WAS SHEER LUCK THAT I WASN'T TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED; THAT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER NEARLY OFF THE ROAD; THAT NO COLLISION OCCURRED WITH OTHER VEHICLES; AND, ULTIMATELY, THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN FALL OF 2014 WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. MAINTAINED THE CAR WITH (AND HAVE RECORD OF) OIL CHANGES, RECALLS, BATTERY, BRAKE AND TIRE REPLACEMENT, ALL AT LICENSED REPAIR SHOPS. THIS VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 89,109 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED WITH REPLACING THE ENGINE WITH ANOTHER USED ENGINE OF THE SAME TYPE, AS RECOMMENDED, AS THE SAME SITUATION COULD OCCUR. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS THE IMPETUS FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, THE HONDA MISFIRE ENGINE SETTLEMENT , SETTLED IN MARCH 2014, PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE OF THE CAR. IT INVOLVED SEVERAL CLASSES OF HONDA VEHICLES OVER A RANGE OF YEARS, INCLUDING MINE, THAT HAVE V-6, VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT (VCM) ENGINES. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS & FRIGHTENING.

NHTSA ID

11066708

Incident

Jan 11, 2018

Mileage

89,109 mi

I HAVE TO ADD SEVERAL QUARTS OF OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES.

NHTSA ID

11055134

Incident

Sep 14, 2016

Mileage

142,000 mi

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. 1 QT PER WEEK, TERRIBLE

NHTSA ID

10986257

Incident

Sep 15, 2016

VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT (VCM) EXCESS OIL CONSUMPTION, WHICH HAS PROMPT TO AN ENGINE LIGHT "P3497 CYLINDER DEACTIVATION SYSTEM BANK 2" I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND I AM WAITING FOR A RESOLUTION/S. THE CAR IS A THE DEALERSHIP AS I AM WRITING THIS... I WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS I KNOW MORE. THANKS.

NHTSA ID

10935980

Incident

Dec 13, 2016

ON 7/20/16 DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON HIGHWAY. LOST POWER AND HEARD CLICKING. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD, CALLED POLICE (NO REPORT), CALLED MY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. I HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED 1 YEAR EARLIER ON 1/19/15. I ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER AT EACH SERVICE INTERVAL. THE DEALER REPLACED MULTIPLE ITEMS IN ENGINE (ATTACHED DOCUMENT) AND CHARGED ME $1453 FOR THE WORK&PARTS WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER THEN TESTED VEHICLE AND NOTED LOW COMPRESSION AND ENGINE DAMAGE. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUINED. THEIR TERMS: INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO TIMING BELT PULLEY BOLT FAILURE. DEALER SERVICE SAID BOLT SHEARED OFF AND IT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I TRADED VEHICLE AS IS FOR APPROX. $1600 INSTEAD OF REPLACING ENGINE FOR THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF APPROXIMATELY $10,000+. *TR

NHTSA ID

10923930

Incident

Jul 20, 2016

Mileage

128,248 mi

EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING BETWEEN OIL CHANGES

NHTSA ID

10920608

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. STARTED BACK IN BEGINNING OF AUGUST 2016. JUST CHECKING OIL AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE IN THERE. SO ADDED 3 QUARTS. I REMEMBERED THAT WE JUST RECENTLY HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE TOO. ANYWAY, I CHECKED IT AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER AND HAD TO ADD ANOTHER QUART. THIS OCCURRED OVER AND OVER AGAIN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS. NOW WE BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. NOW THEY HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD TO US OVER THE YEARS, BUT TOLD US THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS BURNING OIL. I LOOKED UP ON LINE AND FOUND A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. I THOUGHT GREAT I AM COVERED! LAWSUIT MENTIONS MY EXACT CAR TOO! WELL WHEN I CALLED THEY SAID I WAS NOT! I HAVE NO IDEA WHY I AM NOT COVERED! SAME PROBLEM, SAME YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, ENGINE, EVERYTHING! I AM LOST AT HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID

10920430

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE. PROBLEM STARTED SLOW WITH OIL BEING A QUART LOW AT OIL CHANGE. THE GOT WORSE WITH OIL NOT EVEN SHOWING ON DIP STICK AT OIL CHANGE. NOW I NEED TO ADD OIL ABOUT EVERY 1000 MILES. THIS IS NOT NORMAL.

NHTSA ID

10918025

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

IN AUGUST, SETEMBER OF 2015 THE ECO LIGHT WOULD PERIODICALLY GO OFF THEN BACK ON. WEATHER CITY OR HIGHYWAY AT A STEADY SPEED. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THIS WAS CYCLING BACK AND FORTH FOR QUITE SOME TIME. WE NOTICED OIL CONSUMPTION BETWEEN OIL CHANGES HAD INCREASED AND GAS MILEAGE HAD DROPPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY NOW. I CONTACTED A DEALER AND THEY HAD MENTIONED NOTHING ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION SUIT.

NHTSA ID

10916290

Incident

Sep 9, 2015

WHEN YOU ARE GOING 47 TO 48 MPH, THERE IS A VIBRATION COMING THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. IF YOU SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN, IT STOPS. WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC. HE TEST DROVE THE CAR, CHECKED IT OUT, THEN CALLED A LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP. HE WAS TOLD THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOTIFY US WHEN THEY FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. IT WAS NOT DOING THIS WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR BUT HAS BEEN DOING IT AT LEAST A YEAR. IT REALLY GETS AGGRAVATING WHEN IT VIBRATES. WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED A ASAP.

NHTSA ID

10885647

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

WITH NO WARNING, THE ENGINE ON MY 2009 HONDA PILOT BLEW UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CROSS SEVERAL LANES WITHOUT BEING HIT TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. THEN A GOOD SAMARITAN TOLD ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE SO LUCKILY I GOT OUT BEFORE I WAS HURT OR KILLED. I CALLED HONDA ABOUT THIS SITUATION. EVEN THOUGH THE 2009 PILOT IS KNOWN TO HAVE AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE -- THE MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS THE CAUSE -- LOSS OF OIL -- WHEN I CALLED I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED. NO WARNING LIGHT EVER CAME ON. THE BILL TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WAS $7100 WE DO NOT HAVE. LUCKILY I AND MY FAMILY WERE NOT HURT OR KILLED.

NHTSA ID

10876395

Incident

Oct 11, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

OUR HONDA PILOT IS BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY AND HAS BEEN SINCE 2012 ABOUT A YEAR AFTER WE PURCHASED IT. FEW DAYS AGO WE PURCHASED TIRES AND ALSO HAD A LICENSED MECHANIC CHANGE THE CV JOINTS A DAY BEFORE SCHEDULED TO GO IN THE CAR LOSES POWER AND DIES OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAVE CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC SHOP HE SEES THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PLUGGED ACCORDING TO HIM IT'S BECAUSE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS BAD DUE TO THE BURNING OF OIL. HE CHANGES THE CADALIDIC CONVERTOR TELLS US A FEW DAYS THE SENSOR WILL RESET ITSELF - UNFORTUNATELY THE CAR STARTS SMOKING EXCESSIVELY UNDRIVEABLE.

NHTSA ID

10861913

Incident

Apr 15, 2016