2016 Honda Pilot Fuel system Problems

The manufacturer’s defective fuel delivery system (faulty fuel injectors covered under Honda TSB #19-056) causes severe engine cylinder misfires, dropping the vehicle into an immediate, unpredictable, and sluggish 'limp mode' while driving at highway speeds. This sudden loss of power and acceleration creates a severe traffic hazard, preventing the vehicle from keeping pace with traffic or safely merging. The primary fueling malfunction has also led to cascading damage, sequentially melting and destroying both catalytic converters and prematurely destroying brand-new spark plugs in under 5,300 miles due to raw fuel dumping into the exhaust stream.

NHTSA ID

11775893

Incident

Nov 3, 2026

Vehicle experiences a severe 3-to-4 second extended engine crank before starting due to fuel pressure loss. Priming the low-pressure fuel pump manually bypasses the issue, indicating a check-valve bleed-down failure. It is continuously worsening over time. This is identical to the failure mode of the active low-pressure fuel pump safety recalls affecting 2017-2020 Honda models, but my 2016 model is currently excluded.

NHTSA ID

11775538

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

I have been having issues with my 2016 Honda Pilot and I looked on Experian and it stated that there is a recall. There are two different recalls, the first one says Fuel Injector/W Software Update the date is 11/24/2020 and recall # W8V. Also recall for Start/Stop Switch that the recall date was 12/9/2020 and recall # Y93. I bought my car in 2024 but I did not get an extended warranty. The car is having same symptoms for the past 2 years, my husband tries to fix what he can. Even though it is not under warranty they never fixed these issues before selling my car. It started acting up after 3 months of having it. So I am thinking they just took of the system problem and tweaked it so the car would be sold.

NHTSA ID

11774204

Incident

Sep 18, 2024

My 2016 Honda pilots has given me trouble lots of people call it the Christmas lights effect, all the dashboard lights turn on in the middle of the highway and my truck jerks and turned off , they now about this dangerous trouble and has not put any recalls on this matter, had to spend 3,000 dollars had to replace the fuel pump and the fuel injected , will not recommend this truck, I was so stressed and scared

NHTSA ID

11772790

Incident

Oct 7, 2026

I was driving and all of my dashboard lights lit up like a Christmas tree and i was unable to move the car safely without great difficulty in traffic during rush-hour with my children in the car the fuel pump went out was what i was told by Honda and there was a recall for this for several model years but not mine I only had 98,998 miles on the car and it should be covered by the recall like the other model years this is an on going issue for Denso fuel pumps my model year should be covered and i should be reimbursed

NHTSA ID

11771409

Incident

Mar 20, 2024

The contact's company owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that vehicle failed to start after several attempts with the "Emission System Failure", "Trailer Stability Assist", and "Electric Power Steering messages were displayed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test was performed and the mechanic retrieved DTC: P0087. The mechanic associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11769684

Incident

Oct 5, 2026

Mileage

180,000 mi

We have a 2016 Honda pilot. The front fuel rail assembly which included the fuel rail pressure sensor & the high pressure fuel pump had to be replaced in our vehicle and it is currently going to the mechanic shop for the low pressure pump to now be replaced as well. There have been multiple complaints regarding the fuel pump on 2016 Honda pilot and while there was a recall for the pressure one, our VIN wasn’t not on that list. This issue started somewhere between 165-170k miles. This causes sputtering when starting and stalling.

NHTSA ID

11768863

Incident

Sep 21, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to continue driving but at a reduced power. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while the fuel level was near half a tank. However, after refueling the vehicle, the failure was corrected. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the issue by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 251,000.

NHTSA ID

11766869

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

Mileage

251,000 mi

My vehicle's fuel injectors failed, triggering a check engine light with code P0430. This matches a known manufacturing defect described in Honda's Technical Service Bulletin 20-100, which states injectors on affected vehicles may not have been manufactured to proper specifications, causing internal wear or clogging. The problem was confirmed and repaired by an authorized Honda dealership. The manufacturer extended the warranty for this defect to 10 years from original purchase or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first, due to the scope of the issue. My vehicle fell outside that window by approximately 15,000 miles despite showing the identical, factory-acknowledged defect. I paid out of pocket for a repair the manufacturer's own documentation attributes to a manufacturing defect, not normal wear. I am filing this complaint because owners with vehicles exhibiting this same documented defect are being denied coverage based on an arbitrary mileage/date cutoff, even though the defect originates in manufacturing and symptoms (a triggered check engine light) may not appear until after that cutoff has passed. This means the extension does not protect all owners of vehicles containing the defective part, only those whose symptoms surface within an arbitrary window. There was no impact to vehicle control or immediate safety when symptoms appeared, but the underlying condition stems from a part Honda has already documented as defective.

NHTSA ID

11762648

Incident

Sep 5, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine and ABS warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and an OBDII scan retrieved DTC: P0087 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure - Too Low) and U0401-68 (Engine Control Module). The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, and it was confirmed that the low and high-pressure fuel pumps needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the VIN was not included NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed of Technical Service Bulletin: 24-010, which might cover the repair of the vehicle. The contact was later informed that the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The vehicle was repaired out-of-pocket. The failure mileage was 100,901.

NHTSA ID

11761977

Incident

Jul 25, 2026

Mileage

100,901 mi

A critical failure in the direct fuel injection system caused severe engine misfiring, sudden loss of drive power, and a cascade failure that disabled safety systems during vehicle operation. Diagnostic scan confirmed DTCs P0172 (fuel system rich) and P0301 (cylinder 1 misfire). In response to the misfire, the vehicle's computer automatically disabled the Electronic Power Steering (EPS), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), and SH-AWD systems (diagnostic codes U0401-68, U0416-68). This is a known manufacturing defect involving internal injector wear and high-pressure fuel pump debris (detailed in Honda TSB 20-100). The sudden loss of engine responsiveness paired with the simultaneous disengagement of traction and steering assists while driving creates an immediate crash hazard. Because Honda currently limits this repair to a 10-year warranty extension rather than a mandatory safety recall, vehicles with low mileage are experiencing sudden safety-assist shutdowns on the road without manufacturer remedy.

NHTSA ID

11761766

Incident

Aug 22, 2026

Unknown

NHTSA ID

11759754

Incident

Aug 26, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving on a cross-country trip, the vehicle stalled on four separate occasions. The contact stated that on one occasion the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. On several occasions, the vehicle restarted after approximately 45 minutes. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failures, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 198,000.

NHTSA ID

11758452

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

Mileage

198,000 mi

The vehicle sputtered and stalled on the highway. I was able to restart after a few minutes and then it stalled again. I was able to get it to a repair shop after stalling about 3 times on the way. The diagnostic code was for the high pressure fuel pump. This was replaced. Four weeks later the same problem occurred. This time I stalled on a major freeway. I was able to restart and get it off the freeway. It stalled so frequently that I had to call a tow. The vehicle is throwing the same diagnostic code but the shop suspects the low pressure fuel pump may be the source of the issue.

NHTSA ID

11758040

Incident

Jul 26, 2026

Smells gas while driving.

NHTSA ID

11757561

Incident

May 14, 2026

I am filing a safety and defect complaint regarding my 2016 Honda Pilot (3.5L V6 Engine). In Dec 2025, the "EMISSION SYSTEM PROBLEM" warning light ocationally illuminated on the dashboard. On 5/26/26.while driving, the vehicle suddenly began to shake violently and experienced a severe loss of acceleration—when I stepped on the gas pedal, the vehicle hesitated and would not speed up (loss of motive power). In June I let a certified Honda dealership scanned the vehicle and pulled diagnostic trouble codes P0430, P219A, and P219B, confirming that the fuel injectors have failed. This is a well-documented manufacturing defect explicitly detailed in Honda’s Technical Service Bulletin TSB 20-100. The defect causes uneven fuel delivery and cylinder misfires, which poses a severe driving hazard, including sudden engine stalling, loss of motive power while driving, and acceleration hesitation in traffic. Although American Honda previously extended the warranty for this specific injector defect to 10 years or 150,000 miles, my vehicle was DENIED coverage by American Honda corporate customer relations solely because it has just passed the 10-year mark (the vehicle was purchased on November 30, 2015), despite having only 140,000 miles (well under the mileage limit).This is a critical safety and environmental hazard inherent to Honda's manufacturing design. An expiration of time does not make a known manufacturing flaw any less dangerous on public roads. I request NHTSA to investigate this persistent issue and upgrade the current warranty extension to a mandatory safety recall so that affected consumers are not left driving hazardous vehicles or forced to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for an acknowledged factory defect.

NHTSA ID

11752278

Incident

May 26, 2026

My 2016 Honda Pilot Touring repeatedly stalls and shuts off while driving, including at lower speeds in traffic. When it happens, the engine and all electrical power shut off; the vehicle then has to be jump-started, and it will sometimes only restart after sitting for an hour or more. This is a serious safety hazard because the vehicle can lose power unexpectedly while in motion, creating a risk of a crash and of being stranded in a travel lane. The failed component is the fuel delivery system (fuel pump / fuel system pressure). The condition has been diagnosed repeatedly with trouble code P0087 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure — Too Low). It was first documented on July 18, 2025 at 144,303 miles by an independent service center, which diagnosed a failing fuel pump. On March 13, 2026 a Honda dealer again retrieved code P0087 and diagnosed a failing fuel pump. In April 2026, a second Honda dealer could not reproduce the code, replaced the fuel injectors instead, and the stalling returned within about 670 miles. In May 2026 that same dealer documented the problem as a "reoccurring issue" and now recommends replacing the in-tank fuel pump. The warning symptom prior to failure was the check-engine/malfunction-indicator lamp, which set code P0087; the stalling followed. The problem has been confirmed and reproduced by both an independent service center and a Honda dealer, and the vehicle is still owned and available for inspection upon request. No crash, fire, or injury has occurred. This stalling/loss-of-power failure mode is the same one described in NHTSA recall 23V-858, in which the in-tank fuel pump can fail and cause the engine to stall while driving. This vehicle is exhibiting exactly that failure mode but is not currently included in that recall population. I am reporting it so the agency is aware, and I request that this vehicle be considered for inclusion in recall 23V-858.

NHTSA ID

11748988

Incident

Jul 18, 2025

Check engine light for fuel emissions and pulled codes. Codes included in known Honda service bulletin 20-100. My car was not included in the VIN search.

NHTSA ID

11744812

Incident

Feb 9, 2026

On [XXX] at 106,266 miles, Brandon Honda (Brandon, FL) diagnosed my 2016 Honda Pilot with DTC P0219A (Air/Fuel Ratio Variation, Cylinders #1 & #2). The dealer quoted $2,637.99 to replace fuel injectors. This is a known manufacturing defect documented in Honda Service Bulletin A20-100 (issued 11/24/2020). Honda acknowledged that debris from the high pressure fuel pump or fuel injector machining process causes internal wear and clogging of the fuel injectors. Honda extended the warranty on this repair to 10 years / 150,000 miles from the original in-service date. My vehicle is approximately 5 months past the 10-year time limit but 44,000 miles UNDER the 150,000-mile limit. Honda denied my goodwill warranty request solely based on the time expiration. This defect affects hundreds of 2016 Pilot owners. Forum threads on [XXX] have accumulated 280,000+ views with 75+ participants reporting the same failure. Many owners received $0 repairs under the bulletin while others — unaware of the bulletin or slightly outside the window — paid $750-$2,600+ out of pocket for a defect that is Honda's manufacturing responsibility. This issue was never issued as a full recall despite being a widespread manufacturing defect. The warranty extension is insufficient — it allows Honda to avoid accountability for vehicles just barely outside an arbitrary time window while the defect is clearly mileage-related (my vehicle is well within mileage limits). Honda should recall this defect or extend coverage for all affected vehicles regardless of the time limitation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11739921

Incident

Apr 28, 2026

In May 2026, the Emission Warning Light unexpectedly illuminated on my 2016 Honda Pilot. I immediately sought an inspection, and repairs were completed on 5/9/2026. Failed Component: The fuel injection system failed. Specifically, the injectors for cylinders #4 and #5. The replaced parts [are / are not] available for inspection. Safety Risk: This defect caused the engine to run dangerously rich, dumping raw fuel into the exhaust. This poses two severe safety hazards: 1) Sudden loss of motive power, hesitation, or stalling while driving in traffic, drastically increasing crash risk. 2) Extreme overheating of the catalytic converter, creating a significant under-vehicle fire hazard. Confirmation & Symptoms: The issue was confirmed by a professional service center. They pulled diagnostic code P0430 (Front Bank Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 2). Following Honda’s Service Bulletin 20-100, the technician performed a software update and a cylinder A/F test. Cylinders #4 and #5 failed the test (running rich), requiring immediate injector replacement to make the vehicle safe to drive. Inspection by Others & Manufacturer Awareness: The vehicle was inspected by the repairing facility. Honda is fully aware of this widespread defect, as evidenced by SB 20-100 and a related warranty extension. However, Honda chose to handle this severe defect via a limited warranty extension rather than a mandatory safety recall. My extended warranty expired in October 2025. When this known safety hazard manifested in May 2026, I was forced to pay for the repair entirely out of pocket. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this known stalling and fire hazard and compel Honda to issue a formal safety recall so consumers are not left at risk.

NHTSA ID

11739584

Incident

May 8, 2026

I was driving and I was crossing a major intersection and the vehicle started loosing power and stalled in the middle of the intersection. I had to power the vehicle off and power on again and then it drove. It usually happens when my gas is under half. It has happened multiple times. This is extremely dangerous. I was told it is a fuel pump issue.

NHTSA ID

11739209

Incident

Apr 12, 2026

no incident : recall that was done on hood. gas cap/lid doesn't close tightly Hood looks like it going to open , left side front end lifts when driving on freeway, Honda of the Desert replaced latch but it did not solve the problem

NHTSA ID

11735564

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

Car has shut off while driving. Check engine light, traction control light, hill assist light, power steering light, and vehicle stability light have all come on causing me to have to pull over on the side of the road.

NHTSA ID

11734399

Incident

Apr 28, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop and driving approximately 10-15 MPH, the vehicle shut off, but it was restarted. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that DTC: P0087 was retrieved and associated with the failure. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,550.

NHTSA ID

11731495

Incident

Apr 14, 2026

Mileage

150,550 mi

The component that failed in both incidents was the vehicle’s wiring system, specifically wiring insulation that appears to be vulnerable to rodent damage. In the first incident, squirrels chewed through wiring connected to the fuel injector system, which triggered a check engine light and was repaired. In the second incident, squirrels again accessed the engine compartment and chewed through wiring affecting the braking system. This resulted in a sudden and unexpected loss of braking function. Yes, the damaged components should be available for inspection through the repair shop or service records, although I would need to confirm the exact location of the retained parts. Safety was significantly put at risk. During the second incident, the vehicle was occupied by multiple passengers, including minors. While approaching a red light, the driver attempted to brake and found that the brakes were not functioning properly. The driver had to shift the vehicle into park and use the emergency brake to stop, narrowly avoiding a serious collision. This created a high-risk, potentially life-threatening situation. The first incident was addressed by a mechanic after the check engine light appeared, confirming damage to the fuel injector-related wiring. The second incident was formally confirmed by a mechanic that the brake line was leaking from damage from, what they highly suspected and have seen in the past, a rodent . In the first incident, a check engine light appeared, prompting immediate attention. In the second incident, there were no warning lights, messages, or prior symptoms before the brake failure occurred.

NHTSA ID

11731338

Incident

May 11, 2025