2021 Honda Pilot Engine Problems

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

93Engine complaints

23.2%Of all 401 complaints

#2Most-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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM112 · 27.9%

ENGINE93 · 23.2%

Unspecified / other78 · 19.5%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING56 · 14%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS48 · 12%

Share of the 401 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2021 Honda Pilot overview page.

What owners report

“The issue is with a restart after the car engaged the auto idle stop feature. Outside temperature was about 43F, Car had been driven earlier…”NHTSA complaint 11496885 — filed 12/10/2022

“My 2021 Honda Pilot's Idle-Stop System has been failing at random and dangerous times. The engine shuts off when Idle-Stop is engaged and as expected…”NHTSA complaint 11491937 — filed 11/02/2022

“My car, a 2021 Honda Pilot, has a feature called "Idle-Stop" where the engine stops when the break is depressed, when the break is released…”NHTSA complaint 11485404 — filed 09/20/2022

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Honda Pilot have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2021 Honda Pilot: 93 of 401 complaints on file (23.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2021 Honda Pilot have in total?

401 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 12 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 8 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.