Service Bulletin - Corrosion of the frame rail that supports the rear subframe may occur on some vehicles that are commonly driven in harsh environments. The subframe mounts may pull away from the body of the vehicle (see images below), but extensive testing has concluded that vehicle stability will be maintained. As an alternative to a complete frame replacement, a frame repair kit has been developed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Honda Pilot body problems
severe 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 19 body complaints filed for the 2006 Honda Pilot, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 19 model years of Honda Pilot in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
FRONT INNER FENDER RUBS ON THE TIRE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Water leaking into the passenger cabin is the dominant complaint across these 19 reports. Owners describe soaked carpets, musty smells, and standing water appearing within the first 8,000 miles on new vehicles, intensifying in rain and freezing into ice in winter. Honda issued Service Bulletin 07-010 in February 2007, yet dealerships struggle to stop the leaks—water enters through unsealed roof seams near the windshield and through the firewall, and multiple repair attempts often fail.
Equally serious: rear subframe corrosion at higher mileage. Several owners report extensive rust that mechanics describe as unusually severe for a 12-year-old vehicle, with large sections completely rusted through. Honda recalled the CR-V and Ridgeline for the same defect under Campaign 23V228000, but the Pilot was excluded. One owner notes a patch kit exists but no shop will install it.
Additional structural issues include rear hatch latches disconnecting from the frame and remaining held only by plastic trim, fractured liftgates, clear coat failure, a spare tire cable fraying and falling off, and two separate sudden-acceleration incidents during low-speed maneuvering despite brake and steering input.
Same Honda Pilot body reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Water intrusion into cabin from roof seams and firewall
Water enters the passenger compartment through unsealed roof seams near the windshield and/or through the firewall area, saturating front floor carpets and mats. Occurs during rain, wet/snow-covered roads, and car washes. Owners report musty odors, sloshing sounds, and water pooling that freezes in winter.
When: Evident within first 8,000 miles on new vehicles; persists throughout ownership if unfixed
Symptoms owners cite: Soaked, wet carpeting in front floorboard; Musty odor in cabin; Sloshing sound and visible water waves on floor mats; Frozen water underneath seats in winter; Mildew and mold development risk
Repairs/costs cited: Honda Service Bulletin 07-010 issued Feb. 8, 2007. Dealers have attempted removal and resealing of factory-installed body plugs, removal of blower motor assembly, removal of inner fender walls, and sealing of roof body seams. Dealerships reporting difficulty locating all leak entry points; multiple invoices/multiple visits often required.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service Bulletin 07-010; Honda aware of issue per owner research; some dealers declining responsibility if work falls outside 3-year window despite active extended warranty
Rear hatch latch mechanism disconnection
The rear hatch/liftgate latch mechanism becomes disconnected from the frame and moves freely, held only by plastic paneling. Causes inconsistent latching—hatch may not latch, latch partially, or latch but move slightly. Raises safety concern if hatch opens unexpectedly during driving.
When: Occurs during normal use; one complaint noted at 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rear hatch fails to latch properly; Rear hatch latches partially; Rear hatch latches but still moves or rattles; Latch mechanism visibly loose and moving
Repairs/costs cited: Latch mechanism itself not defective; fastening/mounting to frame is the issue. Repair requires reattachment of mechanism to frame.
Severe subframe and suspension corrosion
Extensive corrosion and rust affecting the rear subframe, rear sub-frame mounts, trailing arms, and junction between frame and body. Large sections can rust completely through. Corrosion is unusual for vehicle age and can cause structural failure and suspension collapse.
When: Observed at 170,000–175,000 miles; noted as unusually severe for a 12-year-old vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Advanced corrosion on rear subframe; Large sections of subframe completely rusted out; Corrosion between frame and body; Subframe separating or pulling away from body; Rear suspension failure risk
Repairs/costs cited: Owner research references Honda recall Campaign 23V228000 (Structure) affecting CR-V and Ridgeline; Pilot not included. One owner notes a 'patch kit' exists but no dealership or auto body shop willing to perform repair. Some vehicles deemed unsafe to drive and irreparable.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda did not include 2006 Pilot in Campaign 23V228000 recall despite similar corrosion issues in other model lines; no recall or TSB identified in complaints
Spare tire cable fraying and failure
The cable securing the spare tire to the undercarriage becomes frayed and fails, causing the spare tire to fall off the vehicle during normal driving.
When: Occurred at approximately 15 mph on city streets
Symptoms owners cite: Spare tire falls off vehicle; Cable found frayed at the end
Repairs/costs cited: No repair cost or parts mentioned.
Power window regulator/actuator failure (rear driver side)
Rear driver-side window stops rolling up after being rolled down. A popping noise heard during attempt to raise window indicates internal actuator failure.
When: At 86,912 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Window will not roll up after rolling down; Popping noise from window mechanism
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed as actuator failure. Vehicle was not repaired.
Liftgate structural fracture
The rear liftgate structurally fractures, likely due to a material or design defect.
When: At approximately 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate fractures
Repairs/costs cited: Out of warranty; owner responsible for repair cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware but did not offer assistance
Clear coat peeling and failure
Clear coat finish fails across most of the exterior, flaking off with hand contact. Vehicle is white, making the defect very visible.
When: Observed during normal use
Symptoms owners cite: Clear coat non-existent on most of vehicle; White paint flakes off with hand contact when wet or dry
Sudden unintended acceleration in confined spaces
Engine suddenly revs to full throttle while vehicle is turning slowly in a garage or driveway, causing loss of control and collision. Occurs even with brakes fully depressed and steering inputs applied. Two separate incidents reported.
When: At approximately 170,000 miles and during normal low-speed maneuvering
Symptoms owners cite: Engine suddenly revs to full throttle; Loss of braking control despite brake pedal depressed; Loss of steering control despite steering wheel input; Vehicle accelerates into obstacles/other vehicles
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The rear door/hatch of our 2006 Honda pilot has an issue with the latching mechanism. The actual mechanism on the rear hatch has become disconnected from the frame and is able to move freely about. This causes the rear hatch to not latch, latch partially, or latch but still allow the rear hatch to slightly move. The latching mechanism is only being held in place (in a confined area) by the…
While moving slowly in a private drive and turning steering wheel to the right the car suddenly accelerated to full throttle causing the car to crash into another parked car and a support post of a carport
Had body trouble with your 2006 Honda Pilot?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2006 Honda Pilot?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 85,800 and 175,000 miles, with the median around 120,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 85,800; a quarter make it past 175,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Honda/Pilot.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.