2017 Honda Pilot Problems

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the engine made a knocking sound while being started and while driving. The knocking sound became louder while driving to the residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the timing belt, timing belt tensioner, idler pulley, and water pump, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was determined that the connecting rod bearing had failed and the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Action Number: PE25008 (Engine). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 56,908.

2026-08-06 ~7:50AM check engine light came on/flashed while entering freeway, car generally ran as normal though felt as if cylinder was not firing (two weeks prior had regular maintanance and all spark plugs were replaced, assumed this was related to that). Dropped daughter off at camp turned off vehicle. 2026-08-06 ~8:05AM restarted vehicle, check engine light did not come on. Engine ran as normal, proceeded to drive towards dealership. 2026-08-06 ~8:25AM entered freeway, check engine light and many other warnings came on (rolling display of errors), engine limited to low RPMs and ~30MPH. 2026-08-06 ~8:30AM called honda dealership to let them know I was coming in. 2026-08-06 ~8:40AM Service manager utilized OBD port which provided initial code of misfire on cylinder 5. 2026-08-06 Dealership subsequently determined the engine had "spun a rod bearing". Honda recommended service "Replace Short Block"

Component/system that failed: The audio/infotainment system (radio), rear DVD entertainment system, and backup camera all fail together while driving. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Description of the problem: While driving, the radio works normally for approximately 10-30 minutes, then begins developing static that gradually worsens until the audio cuts out completely. At the same time, the rear-seat DVD entertainment system stops functioning, and the backup camera also fails. This appears consistent with a known defect in the MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) bus and FAKRA connectors that Honda has already acknowledged and recalled on 2019-2022 Pilot, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2018-2023 Odyssey models (NHTSA Campaign 23V431), but my 2017 Pilot Elite with the same Navigation/rear entertainment head unit is not covered by that recall despite the identical failure pattern. How safety was put at risk: Loss of the backup camera while driving/reversing removes a safety feature I rely on to see behind the vehicle, increasing risk of a collision when backing up, especially around pedestrians or in tight parking situations. This mirrors exactly the safety concern Honda cited in its own recall notice for later model years — that loss of MOST communication causes rearview camera failure.

Component/system that failed: The audio/infotainment system (radio), rear DVD entertainment system, and backup camera all fail together while driving. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Description of the problem: While driving, the radio works normally for approximately 10-30 minutes, then begins developing static that gradually worsens until the audio cuts out completely. At the same time, the rear-seat DVD entertainment system stops functioning, and the backup camera also fails. This appears consistent with a known defect in the MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) bus and FAKRA connectors that Honda has already acknowledged and recalled on 2019-2022 Pilot, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2018-2023 Odyssey models (NHTSA Campaign 23V431), but my 2017 Pilot Elite with the same Navigation/rear entertainment head unit is not covered by that recall despite the identical failure pattern. How safety was put at risk: Loss of the backup camera while driving/reversing removes a safety feature I rely on to see behind the vehicle, increasing risk of a collision when backing up, especially around pedestrians or in tight parking situations. This mirrors exactly the safety concern Honda cited in its own recall notice for later model years — that loss of MOST communication causes rearview camera failure.

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 to 60 MPH, the emission warning light illuminated. The contact was concerned about the vehicle stalling while driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel injector, torque converter, and front and rear catalytic converters needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was contacted and offered goodwill assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

DRIVING HOME FROM CHURCH SUNDAY JUNE 28TH DOWNSLOPE OF A SMALL HILL SMELLED HOT METAL; WASN'T SURE IF THE ODOR WAS FROM US, THE LARGE TRUCK THAT JUST PASSED US OR ENVIRONMENTAL; SUDDEN "POP" WAS HEARD ACCOMPANIED BY A "JERK" IN THE VEHICLE; LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES; DASH WAS LIT AND SHOWED RPM/MPH/ETC THEN BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON SMOKE BILLOWING FROM ENGINE FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY COMPLETE FIRE FROM ENGINGE; ALL 4 PASSENGERS EVENTUALLY GOT OUT; POLICE AND FIRE DISPATCHED; COMPLETE LOSS; TRAUMATIC TO SAY THE LEAST; ONLY LIGHT PREVIOUS WAS SERVICE SOON AS OIL LIFE WAS AT 15%; BELIEVE TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2017 PILOTS RODS BEND AND BREAK BUT NOW WARNING (RESEARCHED AFTER THE FIRE)

my connecting rod bearing wore are ruined my engine. this is addressed in 23v-751 for 2016, 2018, and 2019 Honda Pilots, but not 2017 for some reason. could you please see why this year is not included on the recall.

My son was driving the car and the engine started knocking and engine shut off.

The back up camera every so often will be blank. Other times the dashboard warning lights will go on effecting the cruise control, lane assistance, and break assistance. According to the Honda dealership it is the back up camera that is causing all of these problems because there are some parts that are defective because of heat and weather. There are thousands of complaints by Honda owners claiming to have the same issue. The solution is a part that costs over $2000 with a high chance of the part needing repair in a few years. Honda knows about this issue for cars 2015-current. There is a current class action lawsuit as well. We just want it fixed without further issues.

Lane keeping assist problem light on, collision mitigation system problem light on, road departure mitigation system problem light on, adaptive cruise control problem light on. brake sy stem light on. The vehicle’s multiple camera has failed and it is a common occurrence with this vehicle. Honda has not recalled this and is charging customers upwards of $2500 to replace the camera behind the windshield and recalibrate it. This isn’t an issue based on miles there have been incidents with it happening as early as 30,000 miles. I bought my vehicle used and about 113,000 this started happening

Lane keeping assist problem light on, collision mitigation system problem light on, road departure mitigation system problem light on, adaptive cruise control problem light on. brake sy stem light on. The vehicle’s multiple camera has failed and it is a common occurrence with this vehicle. Honda has not recalled this and is charging customers upwards of $2500 to replace the camera behind the windshield and recalibrate it. This isn’t an issue based on miles there have been incidents with it happening as early as 30,000 miles. I bought my vehicle used and about 113,000 this started happening

On XXX, while my wife was driving our 2017 Honda Pilot Elite (VIN: [XXX]) southbound on [XXX], approaching the intersection with [XXX], the vehicle experienced a complete engine stall due to the Auto Idle Stop feature. The engine shut off at a stop but failed to automatically restart when she released the brake to proceed. All dashboard warning lights flashed, and the vehicle became inoperable in the middle of traffic, creating a significant traffic jam at a busy intersection. My wife was able to restart the vehicle manually by shifting to Park and pressing the engine start/stop button. This is part of a persistent safety defect with the Auto Idle Stop (Idle Stop-Start) system. The vehicle has stalled multiple times in traffic and on highways since new. Honda performed TSB 23-008 (PGM-FI Idle Stop software update/product update campaign) on XXX at Autopark Honda in Cary, NC, but the issue was not resolved. I also replaced the battery in November 2024 at the dealership's recommendation, but the no-restart/stall problem continues. I normally keep the Auto Idle Stop feature disabled for safety, but my wife forgot on this occasion. **Cause:** UNKNOWN (per Honda TSBs 23-008 and 23-009, the issue relates to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque after Idle Stop engages; prior fixes have not resolved it). This defect creates a dangerous situation where the vehicle can unexpectedly lose power in traffic, increasing collision risk. I have reported this to the dealership multiple times and am seeking resolution under TSB 23-009 (warranty extension). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Component/system that failed: The audio/infotainment system (radio), rear DVD entertainment system, and backup camera all fail together while driving. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Description of the problem: While driving, the radio works normally for approximately 10-30 minutes, then begins developing static that gradually worsens until the audio cuts out completely. At the same time, the rear-seat DVD entertainment system stops functioning, and the backup camera also fails. This appears consistent with a known defect in the MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) bus and FAKRA connectors that Honda has already acknowledged and recalled on 2019-2022 Pilot, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2018-2023 Odyssey models (NHTSA Campaign 23V431), but my 2017 Pilot Elite with the same Navigation/rear entertainment head unit is not covered by that recall despite the identical failure pattern. How safety was put at risk: Loss of the backup camera while driving/reversing removes a safety feature I rely on to see behind the vehicle, increasing risk of a collision when backing up, especially around pedestrians or in tight parking situations. This mirrors exactly the safety concern Honda cited in its own recall notice for later model years — that loss of MOST communication causes rearview camera failure.

Component/system that failed: The audio/infotainment system (radio), rear DVD entertainment system, and backup camera all fail together while driving. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Description of the problem: While driving, the radio works normally for approximately 10-30 minutes, then begins developing static that gradually worsens until the audio cuts out completely. At the same time, the rear-seat DVD entertainment system stops functioning, and the backup camera also fails. This appears consistent with a known defect in the MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) bus and FAKRA connectors that Honda has already acknowledged and recalled on 2019-2022 Pilot, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2018-2023 Odyssey models (NHTSA Campaign 23V431), but my 2017 Pilot Elite with the same Navigation/rear entertainment head unit is not covered by that recall despite the identical failure pattern. How safety was put at risk: Loss of the backup camera while driving/reversing removes a safety feature I rely on to see behind the vehicle, increasing risk of a collision when backing up, especially around pedestrians or in tight parking situations. This mirrors exactly the safety concern Honda cited in its own recall notice for later model years — that loss of MOST communication causes rearview camera failure.

Rear subframe damaged with no reason. Vehicle has been garaged and in moderate climate since it was purchased. Confirmed by dealer and insurance adjustor.

The vehicle was driven by my [XXX] daughter and at @ 6 pm on [XXX] the engine was making a noise and that the car was starting to slow down and stall,so she called me. She pulled over and shut the car off and then all the dashboard lights started to blink really fast. The car started to smoke from the engine, she got out and called 911. 911 said they would send a tow truck. within a few minutes sparks were coming from underneath the engine and then the fire started. she called 911 and myself again to report the car was on fire. Thank God she was away from the car. The tow co. arrived first, then first responders, then myself. The highway was shut down to put out the fire. Our daughter was hysterical and the car is a total loss. We waited until the car fire was extinguished. The first responders offered medical attention, but she just wanted to go home. There is a current recall for this make and model, but not the year. What my daughter described, sounds like the current recall from Honda for other makes including the Pilot. I posted on social media and a few people reached out to say their 2017 honda pilot had a similar issue, but thankfully no fire. This recall is very serious because they are replacing the engine for owners. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Driver seat belt is too short especially when compared passenger seat belt. It's not safe.

The contact owns a Maxi Cosi Magellan Max installed in a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the harness strap detached from the T-bar in the rear of the safety seat. The contact stated that the child was in the safety seat during the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact how to re-attach the strap. The safety seat was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 63,623.

For no reason the Alarm is going off randomly the dash lights, interior lights, driving lights and headlights are flashing and loud clicking noises come from the dash. This happens frequently and has been going on for some time. I have had to remove the fuse from the Horn to keep it from waking us up at night which creates a potentially dangerous situation if I forget to plug it back in. Also this keeps running down the battery and when it is doing this, it sometimes won't start. I worry about it damaging other electronic parts and causing a dangerous situation. Honda must be aware of this issue with the Pilots. You can search online and find hundreds of others that have experienced the same issue. The Honda Ridgeline has the same issue and they have issued a TSB for it. I find it totally irresponsible that they would try to correct the Ridgeline but not also the Pilot. They know the TPMS Control Units are the problem and they need to fix them.

When parked, the car anti-theft alarms will honk loudly waking up everyone noisily; the headlights will be turn on & keep running (even if it is manually turned off); the dashboard lights will be flickering; relays clicking; and sometimes the car will turn itself on. The noise & lights can't be turned off from the keyfob. The only way to silence it is to disconnect the battery and leave the car unlocked which is not safe when parked in the street or anywhere.

On XXX, while my wife was driving our 2017 Honda Pilot Elite (VIN: [XXX]) southbound on [XXX], approaching the intersection with [XXX], the vehicle experienced a complete engine stall due to the Auto Idle Stop feature. The engine shut off at a stop but failed to automatically restart when she released the brake to proceed. All dashboard warning lights flashed, and the vehicle became inoperable in the middle of traffic, creating a significant traffic jam at a busy intersection. My wife was able to restart the vehicle manually by shifting to Park and pressing the engine start/stop button. This is part of a persistent safety defect with the Auto Idle Stop (Idle Stop-Start) system. The vehicle has stalled multiple times in traffic and on highways since new. Honda performed TSB 23-008 (PGM-FI Idle Stop software update/product update campaign) on XXX at Autopark Honda in Cary, NC, but the issue was not resolved. I also replaced the battery in November 2024 at the dealership's recommendation, but the no-restart/stall problem continues. I normally keep the Auto Idle Stop feature disabled for safety, but my wife forgot on this occasion. **Cause:** UNKNOWN (per Honda TSBs 23-008 and 23-009, the issue relates to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque after Idle Stop engages; prior fixes have not resolved it). This defect creates a dangerous situation where the vehicle can unexpectedly lose power in traffic, increasing collision risk. I have reported this to the dealership multiple times and am seeking resolution under TSB 23-009 (warranty extension). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The vehicle was sold to us with pre-existing major damage to the control arms, bearings and a brake rotor. We heard a metal on metal scraping noise when turning left and immediately took it to a certified Honda dealer who then provided us details of the extent of the damage. The damage to the brake rotor could have caused brake failure and damage to the control arm could have caused on accident. I can't imagine the guilt I'd feel if my [XXX] wife and my [XXX] son got into an accident. This vehicle is their daily driver. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the hood started vibrating violently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V932000 (Structure, Latches/Lock/Linkages). The VIN was included, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,000.

The drive side power seat will not raise above a certain height, and compromises a shorter drivers visibility and proper driving potion (someone under ~5'"6'). This is a know problem caused by a part failure and is documented in Honda Service Bulletin 18-034 (Clicking from the Driver's Power Seat While using the Height or Tilt). As a result of Service Bulletin 18-034, this voids the extended warranty that was purchased with the vehicle and Honda USA will not cover the repair as it is out of original warranty. This is a safety concern as stated above and the need to place a cushion under the drive to raise their height puts the seatbelt at an unsafe position. The cost of repair is excessive at $2,400 but regardless of cost this is a known problem and a safety concern for both driving and in a crash.

Around 52,000 miles, my front lower control arms started cracking. Around 57,000 miles, my front left strut assembly failed and started leaking oil. Based on a review of other complaints, these are known issues.

The vehicle was sold to us with pre-existing major damage to the control arms, bearings and a brake rotor. We heard a metal on metal scraping noise when turning left and immediately took it to a certified Honda dealer who then provided us details of the extent of the damage. The damage to the brake rotor could have caused brake failure and damage to the control arm could have caused on accident. I can't imagine the guilt I'd feel if my [XXX] wife and my [XXX] son got into an accident. This vehicle is their daily driver. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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I was driving on highway and hit a deer going approximately 45mph. Significant front end damage. Airbags attempted to go off as car filled with smoke. Some of the areas where airbags are located like the steering wheel appear to have separated but not far enough for deployment. Seat belts locked up. Although my family is safe in this accident, I feel that this should be looked into. We may not be so lucky next time.

STEERING WHEEL JERKING LEFT OR RIGHT. JERKING OCCURS ERRATICALLY AND UNPREDICTABLY; STEERING WHEEL JERKS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH COULD EASILY CAUSE THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND IS VERY DANGEROUS AND STRESSFUL SINCE IT IS NOT CLEAR WHEN THE WHEEL JERKING WILL OCCUR WHILE DRIVING. IT DOES TEND TO OCCUR WHILE ON CURVED ROADS, APPEARING TO TRY TO JERK THE WHEEL STRAIGHT WHEN THE CAR STEERING NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED TO STAY IN ONE'S LANE; RED AND AMBER MALFUNCTION LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF FREQUENTLY. IN PARTICULAR, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF REGULARLY EVEN WITHOUT THE JERKING STEERING WHEEL. THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT ALSO OFTEN FLASHES AT THE SAME TIME AS THE JERKING STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SUCH AS AROUND 50 MPH. RED DISPLAY OF BRAKE LIGHT WARNING AND AMBER DISPLAY OF BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING OFTEN OCCUR, SOMETIMES PAIRED WITH THE JERKING STEERING WHEEL. THE JERKING OCCURS TYPICALLY ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS SUCH AS 50 OR 55 MILES PER HOUR. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, HILL ASSIST, VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST, AND TRAILER STABILITY ASSIST WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HONDA VILLAGE (371 WASHINGTON ST, NEWTON, MA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling at a stop light and attempting to proceed to drive, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact shifted the vehicle to park(P) and restarted the vehicle. The failure only occurred whenever the Auto START/STOP function was activated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the fuel injector failed and needed to be replaced. The failure persisted. The contact returned the vehicle to the dealer who then diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the torque converter and converter clutch failed and needed to be flushed or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after starting to drive at an unknown speed, the transmission shifted down a gear independently. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,225