2023 Honda Pilot

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

On October 28, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE25-017 to investigate allegations of inaccurate rear seat belt warning status indicators. These allegations concern both false positive and false negative status indications in model year (MY) 2023-2024 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured by American Honda Motor Co. (Honda). A false negative occurs when the occupant’s seat belt is latched and the warning light illuminates, indicating the occupant is not belted. A false positive occurs when the occupant’s seat belt is not latched yet no warning is provided to the driver of this unlatched condition. ODI’s data analysis revealed that nearly all complaints involved false negative alerts. Regardless of the type of failure, there is no effect on the performance of the rear seat belts or on occupant protection during collisions. ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Customer Complaint: Clunking/Rocking noise heard in front end, on both sides near feet from interior, when making turns at low speeds. Noise would go away when driving straight. Correction: Technician found two outer subframe bolts to be loose/not torqued to manufacturer specification causing front sections of the subframe to shift under load. Technician retorqued all bolts to manufacturer specification, reinstalled underbody shield, and test drove. No noise indicated at this time. Miles: 46,075 Repair Order: 456280 Date: Nov 02, 2026

NHTSA ID

11776567

Incident

Nov 2, 2026

The rear passenger seat belt warning system is providing both false positive and false negative input to the driver regarding seat belt usage by rear passengers. Ref. Honda Service Bulletin 26-027.

NHTSA ID

11776533

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

The second-row passenger-side seat belt warning chime activates continuously even though the seat belt is properly fastened and the occupant is seated correctly. The vehicle indicates an unbuckled condition that does not exist. This is an intermittent problem. It does not occur on every trip, but once it starts, the warning chime continues for the entire trip while the vehicle is running or being driven, despite the belt being securely latched the whole time. Stopping and re-buckling does not reliably clear it. I have noticed a pattern in what triggers it: the warning most often begins when the vehicle turns left or right. The lateral movement of the occupant during a turn applies slight shifting pressure to the belt, and this appears to trigger the false unbuckled warning — suggesting a faulty buckle switch, latch sensor, or loose/intermittent wiring connection in the second-row passenger-side buckle assembly that loses contact under minor load changes.

NHTSA ID

11774646

Incident

Oct 21, 2026

The rear 2nd row passenger seatbelt alarm continues to go on when the seat belt is plugged in. I don’t feel safe having my children sit in that seat. I did go to the Honda dealership that I bought the car and they told me that I would have to pay for that part because it’s not recalled I am not paying for the part when I just bought the car brand new off the lot and we had nothing to do with the seatbelt going wrong.

NHTSA ID

11774356

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

Faulty second-row (right) seat sensor causing false seat belt warnings during every turn when a child is seated

NHTSA ID

11773904

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

The car engine shut off while in auto idle stop, prompting me to take to the dealership last year,2025. There, I was informed that the wiring is made from soy, which attracts rats, leading to a repair bill exceeding $1000. Unfortunately, this issue has recurred, as the engine has stalled twice when the vehicle shifted to park during a stop, necessitating a restart.

NHTSA ID

11770310

Incident

Oct 10, 2026

My Pilot is making abnormal sounds (such as clicking, creaking, or popping) when turning left at low speed or while parking.

NHTSA ID

11770008

Incident

Oct 1, 2026

2nd row passenger occupancy sensor failure. Honda Sercice Bulletin 23-018 describes the issue. It does not register passenger is seating in the seat, when seat belt connected it confuses system and throws lights and alarms intermittently. This effects the SRS as is a distraction to the driver and could potentially confuse SRS into malfunctioning in an accident.

NHTSA ID

11767123

Incident

Aug 8, 2024

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2024 Pilots with a sunshade INOP or binding due to a broken roller clip. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Service Bulletin - The driver-information interface may display a warning message when a malfunction in the Auto Idle Stop System is detected due to possible insufficient wire length at the Battery Management System (BMS) connector causing the wires to break.

Over The Air - This update contains various performance enhancements and UI improvements.

Service Bulletin - The seat belt reminder incorrectly indicates that the second-row right passenger seat belt is unfastened even after the passenger has fastened it.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no auto re-start condition after going into an auto idle stop. The push button ignition may or may not restart the engine. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no auto re-start condition after going into an auto idle stop. The push button ignition may or may not restart the engine. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.