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2021 Honda Pilot
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2021 Honda Pilot — Safety Summary
The 2021 Honda Pilot has 10 NHTSA safety recalls and 401 owner complaints on record. Transport Canada separately lists 10 Canadian recalls for this model. The most frequently reported complaint area is unknown or other. It earned an NHTSA overall safety rating of 5 out of 5. Based on this public data we rate its risk profile as high. Enter your VIN above to confirm which of these apply to your exact vehicle, then get the Smart Buyer Report for AI analysis of this model's reliability, common issues by mileage, and a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
NHTSA Safety Ratings
Government crash test results
NHTSA Recalls
10 recall(s) for this year/model
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
28/07/2020Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Remedy: Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
28/07/2020Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.
TIRES
20/11/2020American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain 2021 Pilot vehicles equipped with Continental CrossContact LX Sport 245/50R20 102 H tires with DOT serial number A376 D3K9 2920 and mold numbers S-421920 and S-421921. The tires may have been cured for a time beyond the specification limits.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four tires and replace the tires that have the affected DOT serial number and mold number, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is U8Y.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
16/03/2023Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
15/06/2023Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
29/06/2023Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
01/02/2024Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
18/12/2023Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
21/05/2026Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
04/06/2026American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.
Transport Canada Recalls
10 Canadian recall(s) from the official Transport Canada database
Visual System
2020-07-28Issue: On certain vehicles, there is a programming error in the instrument panel control module. This could cause the instrument panel not display certain information, such as the vehicle speed, engine oil pressure, and gear selector position. This can also cause the rearview camera image not to display. Safety Risk: An instrument panel that does not work or a rearview camera image that does not display could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Honda will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to reprogram the instrument panel control module.
Visual System
2020-07-28Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause a delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display within 2 seconds of shifting the transmission into reverse gear. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that is delayed or that does not display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Honda will notify owners by mail and include instructions on how to download and install a software update to correct this problem. Alternatively, an owner can take their vehicle to a dealer to have the software update installed.
Tires
2020-11-20Issue: One vehicle may have been built with tires that may have been cured too long. As a result, the sidewall could crack or the tread and belts could separate. This could lead to a sudden loss of air pressure and could cause a tire failure. Note: This recall only affects vehicles equipped with certain Continental CrossContact LX Sport tires, with specific date codes and mold numbers. Safety Risk: A tire failure could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: As the vehicle was not sold, Honda has inspected it and determined that the tires were not affected by this problem.
Visual System
2023-03-16Issue: On certain vehicles, the side mirror glass may not be attached properly. As a result, the mirror glass could vibrate or fall off. Safety Risk: A missing mirror will reduce rear visibility and could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Honda will notify owners by mail. Due to a parts supply issue, Honda advises that you should only take your vehicle to a dealership if the mirror is loose, vibrating or has fully detached. Honda will send you a second notice when the replacement parts are available, and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the glass on both side mirrors.
Visual System
2023-06-15Issue: On certain vehicles, the terminals on the coaxial cable for the audio display unit may not have been manufactured correctly. As a result, the audio display unit could lose its connection, and the rearview camera image may not display when the transmission is shifted into reverse gear. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Honda will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the media oriented systems transport (MOST) cable harness, and install a cover over the audio display unit connector.
Brakes
2023-06-29Issue: On certain vehicles, the brake master cylinder could separate from the brake booster. If this happens, braking could be reduced or you could experience a complete loss of brakes. Safety Risk: Reduced braking or a loss of brakes can increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Honda will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the brake master cylinder and brake booster. The dealer will inspect for any missing nuts and damaged brake booster parts and replace them as necessary.
Airbag
2024-02-01Issue: On certain vehicles, the weight sensor for the front passenger seat may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the passenger-front airbag and knee airbag could deploy in a crash that doesn't require them to. Note: If the weight sensor fails, the SRS warning light would turn on in the instrument panel. Safety Risk: An airbag system that doesn't work properly could increase the risk of injury in a crash. Corrective Actions: Honda will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership for an inspection if the SRS warning light is on. If the SRS warning light is on due to a faulty weight sensor, the weight sensor will be replaced. When repair parts are available, Honda will send you a second letter. They will advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the passenger-front seat weight sensor.
Visual System
2024-12-13Issue: Under certain conditions, a software problem could cause the wrong view mode to display when the transmission is shifted into reverse. As a result, the rearview camera image may not appear correctly on the display screen. Canadian regulations allow only certain view modes to be displayed when the vehicle is reversing. Note: Vehicles that received a software update previously under a Honda product update, campaign no. P01 - 'Incorrect Rear View Camera View Mode', don't require this repair. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display the correct view mode could reduce a driver's field of view behind the vehicle. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Honda will notify owners by mail and have sent a wireless over-the-air software update to eligible vehicles to update the vehicle software. Alternatively, you may schedule an appointment to have the update performed at a Honda dealership.
Seats And Restraints
2026-05-21Issue: On certain vehicles, the weight sensor for the front passenger seat may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the passenger-front airbag and knee airbag could deploy in a crash that doesn't require them to. Note: This recall is an expansion of Transport Canada recall no. 2024-059. If the weight sensor fails, the SRS warning light would turn on in the instrument panel. Safety Risk: An airbag system that doesn't work properly could increase the risk of injury in a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the passenger-front seat weight sensor.
Structure
2026-06-04Issue: On certain vehicles, the suspension mounting points on the rear subframe could rust. As a result, rear suspension components could fail. This could lead to poor handling and a loss of vehicle control. Safety Risk: A loss of control could create the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Honda will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit or replace the subframe, as necessary.
Contains information sourced from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database, licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Data is provided "as is" from Transport Canada's monthly release and may not reflect real-time updates. Transport Canada does not endorse this service. Always confirm open recalls with the manufacturer or Transport Canada before purchase.
Owner Complaints
401 complaint(s) filed with NHTSA
Top complaint categories:
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