2011 Honda Pilot Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

31Engine complaints

10.6%Of all 292 complaints

#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS68 · 23.3%

SERVICE BRAKES39 · 13.4%

STEERING34 · 11.6%

SUSPENSION33 · 11.3%

ENGINE31 · 10.6%

Share of the 292 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Honda Pilot overview page.

What owners report

“I PURCHASED A 2011 HONDA PILOT IN OCTOBER 2014. FROM THE FIRST DAY OF DRIVING IT, I NOTICED A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN/ENGINE/TRANSMISSION…”NHTSA complaint 10660443 — filed 11/24/2014

“THE TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE IS SHUDDERING OR SHIFTING ABNORMALLY WHEN DRIVING.”NHTSA complaint 10658746 — filed 11/17/2014

“VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW IN 2011. NO ISSUES UNTIL MID 2012. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START CAR, THE STARTING SEQUENCE WORKS BUT ENGINE DOES NOT TURNOVER. THE…”NHTSA complaint 10565487 — filed 02/23/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Honda Pilot have engine problems?

Engine is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Honda Pilot: 31 of 292 complaints on file (10.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Honda Pilot have in total?

292 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 29 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 31 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.