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The 2005 Honda Pilot has 8 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 679 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2005 Honda Pilot has 679 NHTSA owner complaints and 15 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 146 complaints, typically surfacing around 99,300 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Pilot (this page) | 679 | 15 |
| 2006 Pilot | 266 | 10 |
| 2007 Pilot | 211 | 9 |
| 2008 Pilot | 132 | 9 |
Significant reliability concerns on file. Read the trouble spots before buying.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the brakes was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 122,538 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 15 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 2.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
When I am going in a speed range about 35 MPH I get like shudder/grinding sound coming out of the bottom of the pilot. I am getting very concern because I've driven other pilots and they all do the same and they shouldn't be doing this noise. *js
Heard a weird noise while driving home from work. When I pulled over to see what it was, tranny fluid was bubbling out of the radiator overflow. Had the transmission and radiator replaced by aul, the extended warranty co. They sent a used tranny and within a week it was shaking…
My wife lost control , 2 lane paved road 45 MPH (car damage from bumper till rear end) coming to stop in a ditch to her left. No other vehicle/involved, report was filed with insurance, car repaired ( over $10,000 ) I arrived as police officer was interviewing my wife @ our…
I am the owner on a 2005 Honda pilot ex. I was driving down the interstate and the glass in my sunroof shattered. It made a large pop and then we were showered with shards of glass. There are no signs that an object impacted the glass. *tr
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA15001 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 2.0 out of 10 based on 679 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Honda Pilot has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2005 Honda Pilot is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the brakes was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: Brakes: 73 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 60,000–115,900 mi; Electrical system: 50 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 75,000–152,000 mi; Reliability score 2.0/10 — below the segment average; 15 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 146 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 99,300 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 2.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 679 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 99,300 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 146 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 99,300 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 99,300 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 679 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.