2014 Honda Pilot Electrical Problems

Component Involved: Engine Lubrication / Cylinder Head / Variable Valve Timing (VVT) Spool Valve (Solenoid Assembly) and Electrical Charging System (Alternator). Vehicle Affected Example: Honda vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 (J35 Engine Series) with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), including the Honda Pilot. Description of the Safety Defect & Failure Mechanism: The rear (bank 1) variable valve timing spool valve assembly is mounted directly above the vehicle's alternator. Due to thermal cycling and material degradation, the molded rubber gasket on the upper portion of this spool valve assembly experiences premature compression set and fails, resulting in a pressurized engine oil leak. Because of the physical packaging and architecture of the J35 engine, the oil dripping from this failed gasket falls directly into the open housing of the alternator located immediately below it. The engine oil contaminates the alternator's internal brushes, slip rings, and diodes, leading to a catastrophic electrical short circuit and total failure of the charging system. Description of the Safety Risk: When the alternator fails due to oil contamination, the vehicle experiences an immediate drop in system voltage, resulting in a sudden and un-warned loss of electrical power while the vehicle is in motion. This triggers a cascade of safety hazards: Loss of Power Steering Assist: The sudden loss of electrical generation drops the vehicle into battery-reserve power, frequently causing the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) to shut down immediately, drastically increasing steering effort and the risk of a crash. Engine Stalling: Total depletion of the battery occurs rapidly without alternator output, leading to sudden engine stalling in active traffic without the ability to restart. Loss of Safety Systems: Reduced system voltage disables critical safety components, including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), supplemental restraint systems (airbags).

NHTSA ID

11746124

Incident

May 1, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2014 Honda Pilot. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 176,362. The vehicle became disabled two weeks after purchase, and was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was discovered that the mileage was 176,629. The mileage was verified by a Carfax Report.

NHTSA ID

11724652

Incident

Mar 2, 2026

Mileage

176,629 mi

On [XXX], the Pilot auto-braked without cause while driving on the highway in Maryland. All dash lights were illuminated so [XXX] pulled over. The car seemed to be functioning including the brake system (which was one of the lights illuminated during this occurrence) so the lights on the dash were assumed to be a computer glitch as was the auto-brake that caused the lights to illuminate in the first place. At this time, the center dash did not indicate low oil. [XXX] attempted to make an appointment with DARCARS while she was in town but being a holiday weekend, no appointments were available. [XXX] scheduled the next available appointment at CMA Valley (July 5, 2023). While parking the car on [XXX] the center dash indicated low oil, however, this was perceived as a glitch due to the fact that it only occurred while parking and not when the car was started or while driving. The same occurrence was experienced [XXX] but no days in between. Therefore, it is still seen as a computer glitch. These two instances are what led to the events on [XXX]. When she was halfway home with her two children and the car began to become unresponsive, she pulled off of the highway and added oil herself in an attempt to get her children home and have the car inspected (appointment scheduled for July 5, 2023). She was unable to get the oil cap off herself in order to add the oil and had to ask for assistance. The gentleman who provided said assistance dropped the oil cap. Mrs. Palumbo properly added the oil with a funnel and no oil was spilled. A new oil cap was purchased and properly replaced by an AutoZone employee before continuing on to Virginia and documentation of receipts and time-stamped texting conversations regarding the cap being replaced can be provided. Upon the appointment on July 5, 2023 it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to not having enough oil which was unknown due to the glitch INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11623947

Incident

Jun 28, 2023

WE HAVE 2014 HONDA PILOT THAT HAD 68,072 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE BELIEVED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED PARK IN OUR DRIVEWAY. ACCORDING TO THE HONDA OWNER'S MANUEL THERE IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT PREVENTS THE IGNITION KEY FROM BEING REMOVED UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK INTO A TREE CAUSING OVER $3,000.00 IN PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST WITH THE HONDA PILOT (2003-2004) AND THE HONDA ODYSSEY (2003-2004) AND THE ACURA MDX (2003-2006) WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL BY HONDA. PLEASE SEE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE12026. THESE RECALLED VEHICLES AS WELL AS OUR 2014 HONDA PILOT ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THEY HAVE A SAFETY INTERLOCK SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THE IGNITION KEY FROM BEING REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION UNLESS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT IN PARK, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR 2014 HONDA PILOT. I CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY COULD HAVE CARED LESS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PRODUCT DEFECT OBVIOUSLY EXISTS AGAIN IN THE NEW MODEL HONDA VEHICLES. THIS PRODUCT DEFECT POSES A HIGH RISK OF DANGER AND HONDA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT. I HAVE VIDEOS THAT DOCUMENT THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

11404202

Incident

Nov 22, 2020

Mileage

66,072 mi

THE 2014 HONDA PILOT AND POTENTIALLY ALL OTHER YEARS WITH A SIMILAR DESIGN POSE AN UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK TO OCCUPANTS SEATED IN THE THIRD ROW, AS THE REAR TAILGATE CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. TWO SPECIFIC SCENARIOS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BUT NOT LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THIS CONCERN INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1) THE INTERIOR OF THE TAILGATE DOES NOT HAVE AN ACCESSIBLE HANDLE FOR OCCUPANTS SEATED IN THE THIRD ROW TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH AND EXIT THE VEHICLE IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME IN THE EVENT OF A POWER LOSS. 2) ANY DOOR LOCK FAILURES ON THE SAME CIRCUIT AS THE TAILGATE WILL CAUSE THE REAR HATCH TO BECOME INOPERABLE AND NOT OPEN AS INTENDED.

NHTSA ID

11241601

Incident

Jul 18, 2019

ON APRIL 17, 2016 AT 3.30 PM WHILE FORWARD PARKING MY VEHICLE, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE IMPACTING THE WALL IN FRONT OF MY PARKING SPOT. THE WALL WAS APX. 20 FT FROM THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE DURING THE LATER STAGES OF THE PARKING MANEUVER AND SPEED WAS MINIMAL <5 KM/H). BEFORE COMING TO A STANDSTILL, THE ENGINE SPRUNG TO MAXIMUM RPM WITHOUT ME EVER TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO CONTROL IT AND THE BRAKES WERE ALSO INEFFECTIVE. UPON IMPACT THE DRIVER FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THE HORN STARTED. I SWITCHED OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVED THE KEYS. SEVERAL WITNESSES CAME FORWARD FOR ASSISTANCE, POLICE, AMBULANCE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE ON SITE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THIS INCIDENT IS VERY CONCERNING; PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED HAD THIS HAPPENED IN ANOTHER LOCATION OR IF PASSERSBY WHERE PRESENT.

NHTSA ID

10860782

Incident

Apr 16, 2016

Mileage

31,000 mi

MAJOR ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION, MOST OF THE DASH ELECTRONICS WON'T WORK. THE REAR HATCH IS LOCKED AND CANNOT BE OPENED. NO A/C AND NO GAUGES OPERATING. MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT FOR A 2014 HONDA PILOT TOURING EDITION WITH ONLY 6000 MILES. HOPE THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP FIXES IT TOMORROW 3/31/15. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702719

Incident

Mar 30, 2015

Mileage

6,000 mi

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW HONDA PILOT-NAVI 2014 ON JULY 3 2014. 1 WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE THERE WAS A MAJOR WATER LEAK INSIDE THE NEW 2014 VEHICLE!.. WATER WAS LEAKING INSIDE FROM A BIG RAIN STORM AND I DO HAVE A VIDEO AND PICS TO SHOW YOU. THE NEXT DAY SPACE COAST HONDA WAS CALLED WHERE I PURCHASED THE NEW 2014 TO GET FIXED. THE SERVICE DIRECTOR SAID THAT I OPENED THE MOONROOF WHICH IS NOT TRUE!. HE THEN TOLD ME LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A TECHNICIAN TO LOOK WHERE THE WATER WAS COMING FROM. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP OFFERED ME A LOANER AT THERE COST FOR THE DAY. THE SAME DAY THE HONDA WAS TAKEN THERE I WAS CALLED AROUND 5 PM TO COME PICK UP THE NEW HONDA. THE SERVICE DIRECTOR TOLD ME HE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AND HEADLINER INSIDE AND TOOK ALL THE WATER OUT FROM THE LEAKING RAIN STORM!!.. I DID NOT GET A COPY OF THE SERVICE RECORD AND WAS TOLD I HAVE 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES WARRANTY. 2 DAYS LATER IT WAS TAKEN BACK FOR MORE REPAIRS! THE NEW 2014 WAS STALLING OUT,ENGINE HESITATING,RIDING RUFF,ENGINE FAN KEEPS RUNNING,DRIVERS DOOR LIGHT NOT WORKING AND PULLING TO THE RIGHT!.. AGAIN THE SERVICE DIRECTOR TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND FAILED!.. I HAVE CALLED AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CORP IN CALIFORNIA AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEMS!. THEY TOLD ME GO IN MY HONDA PILOT HANDBOOK AND FILL OUT THE FORM FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS!.. THIS NEW HONDA HAS MANY ISSUES AND NO 1 WANTS TO HELP OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE ME A NEW 2014 HONDA OR REFUND. AUGUST 28 2014 IT WAS TAKEN TO SPACE COAST HONDA AGAIN FOR THE WATER LEAK AND STALLING OUT!.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10637663

Incident

Jul 13, 2014

Mileage

50 mi

45 MILES ON A BRAND NEW 2014 PILOT EX-L THE IGNITION DOES NOT ENGAGED CONSISTENTLY. WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY AND THE ENGINE CRANKS, IT DOES NOT TURN OVER, RATHER IT CONTINUES TO MAKE CRANKING SOUND, EVEN WHEN KEY GOES BACK TO RUN/ON POSITION. YOU NEED TO TURN KEY OFF TO GET CRANKING TO STOP. 50 MILES ON BARAND NEW 2014 PILOT EX-L A CONTINUOUS CLICKING SOUND COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. IT DOES IT WHEN YOU TURN RIGHT, BUT MORE PREDOMINANT WHEN TURNING LEFT. FROM ONSET - THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN AND CLOSE SMOOTHLY - THOUGHT AT FIRST IT WAS JUST THE HINGE CATCHING, FURTHER INSPECTION DEMONSTRATES THE LEFT FRONT FENDER AND DRIVER'S DOOR SEEM IS NOT UNIFORM. THEREFORE THE BOTTOM OF THE FENDER AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ARE RUBBING AGAINST EACH OTHER AND PAINT IS RUBBING OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10560599

Incident

Jan 14, 2014

Mileage

45 mi