NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Honda Pilot. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
MY 2018 HONDA PILOT ELITE TURNS ON THE "AUTO IDLE STOP" FEATURE EACH TIME I START THE VEHICLE. BASICALLY, THIS MEANS THAT THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN I'M AT A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE STARTS AGAIN. HOWEVER, THERE IS LAG TIME BETWEEN THE TIME I RELEASE THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATION. THIS HAS NEARLY CAUSED A DEATHLY ACCIDENT ON MORE THAN A DOZEN OCCASIONS DURING THE PAST 6 MONTHS AT INTERSECTIONS. I'VE NEARLY BEEN T-BONED EACH AND EVERY TIME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL SIMPLY NOT ACCELERATE AT THE PRECISE MOMENT WHEN I NEED IT TO. THERE IS OVER A 1 SECOND LAG BEFORE ACCELERATION OCCURS. PERHAPS THIS IS MEANT TO BE AN EMISSIONS CONTROL FEATURE, BUT IT COMES AT THE PRICE OF SAFETY. THIS "AUTO IDLE STOP" FEATURE MAKES THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE FOR FAMILIES. THERE SHOULD BE A PERMANENT ON/OFF SWITCH RATHER THAN HAVING TO TURN THIS FEATURE OFF EACH AND EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE. COMPLETELY UNSAFE!
VEHICLE AUTO LOCKED WITH KEYS IN CAR AND COULD NOT UNLOCK. FORTUNATELY, CAR WAS IN MY GARAGE AND DID NOT CREATE A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, HAD THIS OCCURRED IN THE SUMMER WITH A SMALL CHILD OR PET INSIDE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD, POSSIBLY LEADING TO FATAL CONSEQUENCES. THIS VEHICLE IS NEVER SUPPOSED TO LOCK WITH KEYS IN THE CAR.
When attempting to accelerate the vehicle does not respond and experiences a three to five second delay. The delayed response began occurring shortly after purchasing the vehicle in 2018 and has only increased in frequency. This issue appears to be systemic with this model and year and the dealership has no remedy to mitigate this safety issue / concern.
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT IN "DRIVE" WITH THE AUTO-IDLE FEATURE IN USE. CAR WOULD NOT RE-START WHEN FOOT TAKEN OFF BRAKE. RADIO CUT OUT BRIEFLY AS WELL. DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH MANY ERROR MESSAGES - ONE OF THEM WAS "COLLISION MITIGATION PROBLEM" OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. PLACED CAR IN PARK AND PUSHED START BUTTON NUMEROUS TIMES. ONLY GOT CLICKING SOUNDS, WITH OCCASIONAL ENGINE TURNOVER NOISE, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. TURNED OFF A/C AND RADIO. CAR FINALLY STARTED AFTER SEVERAL MORE MINUTES OF PUSHING START BUTTON WHILE IN PARK WITH FOOT ON BRAKE.
HIGHWAY DRIVING, APPARENTLY A SMALL STONE HIT THE WINDSHIELD. (PICTURE ATTACHED) AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE STONE IN BARLEY 1/4 INCH IN SIZE. THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL SITUATION, A WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT CRACK, THIS IS A NORMAL DRIVING SITUATION. THE ISM'S WINDSHIELD IS ON BACK ORDER, AND WILL TAKE 4 WEEKS TO RECEIVE, AS ONLY HONDA CAN RECALIBRATE THIS AT THIS TIME, THEY WILL ONLY RECALIBRATE AN OEM WINDSHIELD.
WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY, TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, I HEARD A LOUD 'POP' AND SAW DEBRIS FLY IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A TIRE, BUT FOUND MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO ROCKS, PROJECTILES, ETC, AND NO OVERHEAD STRUCTURES WHERE SOMETHING COULD HAVE FALLEN. THE GLASS BLEW OUT AS IT MAY HAVE BEEN UNDER STRESS AND NOT IN AS IF SOMETHING MAY HAVE HIT IT.
Just saw the article concerning the automatic braking in Honda CR-V's and Accords. Since purchasing my 2018 Pilot, in September 2018, this has occurred multiple times. While driving "Brake" will flash on my dash screen and a momentary braking action, along with a shimmy in the steering wheel will occur. I have never had a complete stop happen. I went to my local Honda dealers in Modesto and Stockton, CA. Spoke to their service personnel and they both had no idea what might cause this to happen. I then called Honda customer service and they hadn't heard of this problem. After it happened a few more times I called them again. I voiced my concerns of it happening and causing me to be involved in an accident. Laura, the rep I spoke to, gave me a case number (09698440) to reference should I call again. She could provide no explanation for this happening. This does not happen on a regular basis. I can go for long periods of time and nothing will happen. Then it can happen multiple times in a week.
2018 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO MALFUNCATIONS WITH THE VEHICLE THAT PREVENTS IT FORM START UP. *AS *JS
DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT BELT IS DRASTICALLY SHORTER THAN PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT. I AM RESTRICTED IN ABILITY TO LOOK AROUND AND MAKE SURE THERE IS NO OTHER VEHICLE IN MY BLIND SPOT. THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PER THE DEALER AS HONDA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE AN ERROR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
HONDA IS SAYING THE POOR PAINT FINISH ON TAILGATE IS NOT DEFECTIVE MATERIAL OR WORKMANSHIP NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY PAINT FINISH HAS TWO SPOTS WHERE PAINT IS LIGHTER AND CLEAR COAT IN PROXIMITY HAS FAILED CAUSING PAINT BUBBLED AND CHIPPED. NORMAL DRIVING, NO DAMAGE.
THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT ON MY 2018 HONDA PILOT IS NOT THE STANDARD SIZE AND IS SHORT. IT DOES NOT EXTEND LIKE THE PASSENGER SEATBELT AND PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM LEANING FORWARD TO CHECK OUT IT IS SAFE TO TURN. THE DRIVER SEATBELT DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE.
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS SHORT LOCKS. IN ADDITION, IT PROHIBITS AND RESTRICTS DRIVER FROM LEANING FORWARD. THIS CAUSES AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION.
DRIVER'S SEAT SINKS AND CHANGES THE SEAT/MIRROR FIELD OF VISION OF THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS. THIS "SINK" HAPPENS SLOWLY (AND WITHOUT NOTICE) CAUSING DANGEROUS BLIND SPOT SITUATIONS WHILE DRIVING AND PARKING. THE "SINK" BEGAN ON FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE IT AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN SEAT VS REAR VIEW MIRROR POSITION. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER OF SUV. MALE, 69 YEARS OLD. 180 LBS. DRIVER'S SEAT SLOWLY SINKS OVER TIME. APPROXIMATELY 2-5" PER DAY. WHILE DRIVING, IN ALL INSTANCES. ALSO WHEN THE SUV IS SITTING PARKED AND EMPTY OF PASSENGERS, BUT SINK IS SLOWER. DEALER AND HONDA MAIN PHONE COMPLAINT SITE SAY IT IS NORMAL. SERVICE WOMAN AT LOCAL BETTEN-BAKER HONDA SAID SHE HAS 2016 PILOT WITH THE SAME SEAT AND ISSUE. SAID THE SINK IS NORMAL. I BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLY A LEAKING AIR BLADDER. CAUSE UNKNOWN. LX MODEL WITH 5000 MILES.
THE MOONROOF SHATTERED EXPLODING GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 60MPH. THERE WAS JUST A LOUD NOISE AND BOOM. WE OWNED THE CAR JUST FOUR MONTHS AND IT HAS ONLY 6,200 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT.
ON MY 2018 HONDA PILOT - EXL, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED TWICE (SHATTERED). THE FIRST TIME WAS ON FEB 2018 AND THE SECOND TIME WAS ON JULY 2018.
Auto idle system is faulty. I repeatedly experience a failure when this system is not turned off. It causes my engine to shut off when I step on the gas - or (mostly) it causes my car to almost shut off (the dashboard shuts off and flashes back on when I step on gas at a stop sign or other stops, also when I’m driving and accelerate there is a lag of nothing like the car almost turns off followed by a big jerk or jolt when it turns back on again. I’ve asked Honda dealer in town about this and they said it’s just the transmission and could get it replaced but now I see (via a class action suit I read about) that this is a big problem and it’s not just my personal issue with the car. I’m concerned someone will get hurt if these problems are not recalled and fixed by Honda.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS TOO SHORT. IT IS TIGHT ACROSS MY CHEST AND THE LEFT SIDE OF MY NECK. THE DEALER OFFERS NO FIX FOR THE OTHER THAN A SEAT BELT EXTENDER WHICH HONDA DOES NOT SELL. I AM 5'2' TALL AND 220 LBS. YES I AM OVER WEIGHT BUT I'VE OWNED 8 OTHER HONDA'S AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A BRAND NEW VHICLE I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING.
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IS TOO SHORT, NOT AS LONG AS PASSENGERS SEAT BELT. IT PROHIBITS / RESTRICTS LEANING FORWARD TO CHECK ONCOMING TRAFFIC (BOTH LOOKING LEFT AND RIGHT) AT INTERSECTIONS AND MERGING SITUATIONS. I BELIEVE THIS CAUSES AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION.
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IS MUCH SHORTER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. UNLESS YOU ARE AN EXTREMELY SMALL PERSON IT IS DIFFICULT TO MOVE OR CLEARLY LOOK AT YOUR BLIND SPOTS WHEN DRIVING. THE SEAT BELT SITS ACROSS YOUR NECK AND BREAST WHICH WOULD CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. THIS SEAT BELT WAS MADE TOO SHORT.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026