2016 Honda Pilot Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR LOW SPEEDS THERE IS A NOTICEABLE HESITATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO ACCELERATE. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE VEHICLE IS HUNTING FOR THE PROPER GEAR AND ENGINE RPM BEFORE BEGINNING TO MOVE. ON OCCASION IT WILL ALSO SURGE FORWARD ONCE THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES. IT IS QUITE UNSAFE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC ESPECIALLY ACROSS TRAFFIC.THIS HAS BEEN AN OCCURRENCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT HAD TO DO WITH THE "ECO" MODE BUT HAVE DETERMINED IT HAPPENS WITH OR WITH OUT THIS MODE ON. WE HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER WE PURCHASED FROM AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO RESOLUTION FROM HONDA.
TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. STATIONARY UNTIL TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED. THE CONTACT STATED THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE ACCELERATING, WITHOUT WARNING. POHANKA HONDA OF FREDERICKSBURG (60 S GATEWAY DR, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22406) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.
THE TRANSMISSION HAS SUBTLE BUT CONCERNING JERKING BETWEEN 10-30MPH, ESPECIALLY WHILE ACCELERATING. THIS CAN BE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY, DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE STREET OR GOING UP HILLS. I NOTICED IT IS WORSE WHEN GOING UP A SLOPED SURFACE. UPON HAVING A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST DISMANTLE AND ANALYZE, I WAS INFORMED THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE TRANS WERE FAILING AND FALLING APART. AT UNUSUALLY LOW MILEAGE, THE TRANSMISSION WAS HEATING UP VERY HIGH BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE, DARKENING THE FLUID AND CARRYING ELEMENTS OF THE FAILING CONVERTER ETC INTO OTHER PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS REQUIRES A FULL TRANS REBUILD WHICH COSTS RANGE FROM 4-7K DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU TAKE IT. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT A BASIC MECHANIC MAY MISS, BUT OWNERS WILL NOTICE FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL OVER THE LONG TERM. POTENTIAL DANGERS REPORTED ARE VERY CONCERNING, SO WE CHOSE TO HAVE THE TRANS FULLY REBUILT FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY. BASED OFF MY RESEARCH, HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS EXIST ONLINE FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL DESCRIBING THE SAME EXACT EXPERIENCE. HONDA SHOULD BE RECALLING THEIR TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2016 HONDA PILOT.
I NOTICED THE CAR STARTED JERKING BETWEEN 30-50 MPH. THE RPM'S WOULD ALSO PULSE AT THE SAME TIME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND OF COURSE THE WARRANTY WAS OUT. THEY 'RECOMMEND A TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH AND THE INTAKE NEEDED CLEANING.' SUPPOSEDLY THE INTAKE IS DIGITAL AND IT AFFECTS THE TRANSMISSION. THEY FOUND THE TRANSMISSION OIL WAS BURNT DUE TO HIGH TRANSMISSION TEMP. ALL OF THIS WAS DONE ON MARCH 10 2020. AUGUST 17 2020 I TOOK IT BACK TO HONDA WITH WORSE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THIS TIME WHEN I WOULD PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. MY WIFE SAYS WHILE DRIVING IT JERKS HARD AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS TIME THEY RECOMMEND ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FLUSH BECAUSE 1/3 OF THE OIL WAS STILL BAD. APPARENTLY AFTER READING ON THIS SITE, THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE 2016 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSIONS. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF DEATHS BEFORE HONDA ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 TO 30 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE MUCH SMOOTHER ONCE THE SPEED EXCEEDED 40 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RESEARCH SHOWED THAT DUE TO A CODING ERROR, THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO NOT PERFORM AS NEEDED IN REGULATING THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUGHES HONDA (2260 MOODY RD, WARNER ROBINS, GA 31088, (478)449-3939) AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
ON 3/15/2020, MY FAMILY AND I WERE IN OUR 2016 AWD HONDA PILOT ELITE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION GETTING WORSE SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA (APPROX. 25 MPH), THE CAR SUDDENLY "LURCHED/JERKED" FORWARD WITH SOME FORCE WHEN WE WERE SLOWING DOWN TO A POSTED STOP SIGN. THIS WAS A HUGE ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT PEOPLE WERE CROSSING RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. AFTER THIS, WE PROCEEDED TO HEAD HOME. AGAIN THE CAR BEGAN TO "JERK/LURCH" FORWARD WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM A SLOW SPEED NORMAL STOP, CAUSING US TO ALMOST REAR END THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF US. LASTLY, BEFORE GETTING HOME, DURING THE PILOT'S ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED POSITION, BETWEEN THE 1-4 GEARS, THE CAR AGAIN WOULD EITHER JERK FORWARD UNPREDICTABLY OR NOT EVEN SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY, LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO POWER TO GET MOVING. NOW IF THIS WASN'T ENOUGH TO WANT SOMEONE TO TAKE THEIR CAR IN, ON 3/16/2020, MY WIFE WAS BACKING THE CAR OUT OF OUR GARAGE. WHEN SHE SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE, THE ENTIRE ENGINE/FRONT END OF THE CAR VIOLENTLY SHUTTERED (ASSUMED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION DRIVE ASSEMBLY) AND WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY TO REVERSE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN TO LIGHT UP THE DASH ALONG WITH OTHER ELECTRICAL WARNING LIGHTS. WE EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT AND THEY ARE INDICATING TO US THAT IT IS A TRANSMISSION MODULE REPAIR/RE-CALIBRATION THAT NEEDS SOFTWARE UPDATES AS WELL. NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT THESE REPAIRS AS WE HAVE BEEN INDICATING TO OUR HONDA DEALERSHIP THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR, BUT THEY ASSURED US OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR FIND ANYTHING WRONG, UNTIL NOW, WHEN OUR WARRANTY EXPIRED. SEEN A TON OF INTERNET POSTS ABOUT FAULTY 2016/2017 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSIONS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE YET.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK FORWARD. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER NORM REEVES HONDA SUPERSTORE CERRITOS LOCATED AT 18500 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703, (562) 345-9100 AND MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO INCREASE IN SPEED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE SHUDDERING IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRISWELL HONDA 19525 AMARANTH DR, GERMANTOWN, MD 20874, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR CALLED FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND TO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY PERIOD BEING EXCEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
I BOUGHT A CPO 2016 HONDA PILOT EX 3/23/2019. I HAVE A TRANSMISSION JERKING ISSUE AND BRING BACK TO FREEWAY HONDA, SANTA ANA, IN SEP 2019. THEY FLUSH THE ATF AND THE SITUATION TURNS BACK DAYS LATER. I BRING IT BACK IN 1/29/2020 AND ASK FOR SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE. BUT THEY SHOW TIRE PRESSURE CHECK ON THE INVOICE. I REALLY WONDERED THEY TRY TO HIDE THE DEFECT AND WON'T FIND OUT ANY PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE BY SEARCHING ITS VIN NUMBER. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS HARD TO SHIFT WHEN 3RD TO 4TH, 28-32 MPH; HARD TO SHIFT WHEN DOWNSHIFT 3RD TO 2ND IN AROUND 22 MPH. NOW I AM THINKING TO FILE THE LEMON LAW BUT THEY WON'T LET ME BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T TELL THE TRUTH.
HONDA PILOT 2016 JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING THAT CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO BURN SO IT REQUIRES MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHES FROM THE BURNT OIL. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES AND SOMETHING HONDA SHOULD BE FIXING SO THEIR CARS DON'T KEEP OVERHEATING FLEQUENTLY AND DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION.
WHILE UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION AT A RANGE OF SPEEDS (10-40MPH), THERE IS A SURGING RPM AND A SHUDDER SEEMINGLY FROM THE POWER TRAIN. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MORE APPARENT WITH LIGHT TO HEAVY LOADING AN AN INCLINE. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. TWO DEALERSHIPS HAVE NOT WANTED TO ATTEMPT TO FIX PROBLEM IF NOT COVERED BY FACTORY WARRANTY IN SPITE OF A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 17-014 THAT DESCRIBES MY SYMPTOM ACCURATELY. THERE SHOULD BE A MANDATED RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BELIEVE THE CUSTOMER AFTER REPEATED DESCRIPTIONS OF EXPERIENCING THE KNOW MANUFACTURING PROBLEM.
1. KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM ERROR WARNING 2. TRANSMISSION OR THROTTLE ISSUE: JERKY OR CHOPPY ACCELERATION WHEN AT LOW OR MODERATE ACCELERATION BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 20 TO 50 MPH OR DURING CRUISING AT SPEEDS OF 20 TO 50 MPH. BROUGHT IT TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR ISSUE, FIRST TWO TIMES UNDER WARRANTY, AT WHAT TIME THE SOFTWARE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WAS UPDATED WHICH RECTIFIED ISSUE FOR 3 MONTHS. THE THIRD TIME, SOFTWARE WAS AGAIN UPDATED BUT WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT OF THE ISSUE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE WARRANTY ON POWERTRAIN LAPSED BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD REQUEST FOR REPAIR AND ISSUE IS NOT BEING TREATED AS A CONTINUATION OF A KNOWN PROBLEM.
WHEN SHIFTING FROM R TO D, THE VEHICLE WOULD PERIODICALLY SHIFT TO PARK AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT WOULD BE ON DURING THIS TIME. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, IT WOULD RESET AND YOU COUPDNDRIVE IT AGAIN. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT SAID THAT HONDA HAD THIS KNOWN ISSUE AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AFTER THIS AND OWNERS DEEMED THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THE DEALER AGREED TO PURCHASE IT FOR CASH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOUR TIMES TO MILLENNIUM HONDA (286 FRANKLIN ST, NY 11550, (516) 481-2800) WHERE THE SOFTWARE UPDATED WAS COMPLETED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A FIFTH TIME, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
MY CAR IS SHIFTING HARSHLY AND DANGEROUSLY WHILE ACCELERATING BETWEEN 20-30 MPH AND DECELERATING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 2016-2019 PILOTS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER! 2016 HONDA PILOT (52,000 MILES)
THE VEHICLE IS JERKING WHEN BEING PUT IN GEAR. RATHER IT IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVE PADGETT'S DANVILLE HONDA (4050 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, DANVILLE, VA 24541, (866) 981-4298) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE MAY BE CORROSION AT THE GEAR SHIFTER AREA, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE WIRES TO SHORT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER, BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER SHIFTED INTO PARK WHEN REVERSING, AND SHIFTED INTO PARK WHEN THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,536. *BF
THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING SPORADIC SURGES OF ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 20 TO 50 MPH ON CITY STREETS AND WHILE CLIMBING GRADUAL HILLS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 TO 70 MPH. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PERFORMED A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. NOTES FROM THE DEALERSHIP SAY IT WAS CAUSED BY FLUID DETERIORATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD FORCEFULLY AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN TWO MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOWDY HONDA (LOCATED AT 5519 E BEN WHITE BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78741, (512) 686-1544), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING 30 TO 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND JERKED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH OR LESS, THE VEHICLE JERKED. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR, ESPECIALLY ON AN INCLINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED HONDA OF CONCORD AT 704-774-4538 (LOCATED AT 7650 BRUTON SMITH BLVD, CONCORD, NC 28027) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.
JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING (USUALLY HAPPENS AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30MPH AND 50MPH) OR HEADING UP A HILL AT LOW SPEEDS ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AND TURNING IN CURVES. THE TAC WILL JUMP WHEN THIS IS OCCURRING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS MODEL YEAR (THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DETERIORATES QUICKER THAN IT'S SUPPOSED TO). I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 18 MONTHS SO NOW I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AND WHAT DAMAGE IF ANY THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED AND IF I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED, LUNGED, AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DICK BROOKS HONDA (14100 E WADE HAMPTON BLVD, GREER, SC 29651, (864) 877-9090) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND A TRANSMISSION UPDATE WAS NEEDED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED EVERY 1,500 MILES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 10161287 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, IT WAS EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
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Quick Summary
The 2016 Honda Pilot has 84 Power Train complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.