Gas mileage for the vehicle is not as advertised. I am getting 20 MPG for mixed use driving (mostly highway). The epa estimates are 20/28. *nm
2006 Honda Pilot engine problems
moderate 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 27 engine complaints filed for the 2006 Honda Pilot, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Owners have filed 27 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 20 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2006 Honda Pilot's 3.5L V6 engine has documented issues including sudden unintended acceleration that dealers cannot diagnose, spark plugs ejecting from cylinder heads causing engine fires, persistent misfires across multiple cylinders despite repeated repairs, and catastrophic failures like cracked blocks and blown pistons at relatively low mileage. These are not isolated incidents—they appear across multiple owners' reports with no manufacturer recalls or consistent fixes.
The 2006 Pilot's engine problems fall into two major buckets: unexplained sudden acceleration spikes and internal mechanical failures the dealership network cannot diagnose consistently.
Multiple owners report the engine revving to 5000 RPM without foot on accelerator, foot planted on brake, vehicle in park—and the condition recurring on restart. Dealerships examining the vehicles on video have expressed serious safety concern, yet American Honda determined the Pilots were "operating within normal parameters" and refused further investigation.
Spark plugs are ejecting from cylinder heads, destroying coils, stripping threads, and in at least one case at 256,000 miles, triggering an engine fire. Owners report seeing this problem across Pilots, Odysseys, and Ridgelines with the 3.5L V6, but Honda issued no recall.
Misfire codes (P0301) appear constantly on all six cylinders or single cylinders. Check engine and VTM-4 lights cycle on and off. Dealers prescribe rocker arm replacement, fuel injector replacement, head gasket replacement, software updates, and specific fuel brands—yet owners return three, four, six times for the same complaint with no resolution. Some shops report faulty intake valves; others blame the PCM.
Engine blocks crack at 65,000 miles. Pistons wear and contact cylinder walls. Head gaskets fail and oil freezes inside engine heads. One owner's vehicle overheated and stopped on the highway; a shop quoted $5,000 for head gasket replacement.
Same Honda Pilot engine reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA) at 5000 RPM
Engine revved to approximately 5000 RPM without driver input, with foot on brake and vehicle in park. Occurred multiple times on restart. Braking did not immediately stop the acceleration.
When: Between 20–25 MPH, during normal driving and while parked; incidents reported in February 2010 and March 2011
Symptoms owners cite: Engine roared to 5000 RPM without accelerator input; Continued revving with foot on brake; Tachometer stuck at 5000 RPM; Recurred on restart with same behavior; Vehicle lunged forward even with brake applied
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs performed; dealers could not duplicate the issue or determine a cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: American Honda examined vehicles and declared them operating within normal parameters; stated no safety concern; refused further investigation without in-shop reproduction
Spark Plug Ejection and Cylinder Head Damage
Spark plugs shot out of cylinder heads, destroying coils, damaging threads, and in some cases causing complete engine failure. Occurs at various mileages on the 3.5L V6 engine.
When: Reported across mileage spectrum from 65,000 to 256,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Ticking noise from engine; Spark plug ejected from cylinder head; Damaged coil pack; Stripped cylinder head threads; White smoke from hood; Engine fire (at 256,000 miles)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine block replacement $2,400; spark plug and hose replacement $500; one vehicle deemed total loss after fire
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Care extended warranty denied claim citing spark plug damage as exclusion; no recall issued despite owner reports of widespread issue on multiple vehicle models (Pilot, Odyssey, Ridgeline)
Cylinder Misfire (P0301 and multi-cylinder)
Check engine light and misfire codes (P0301) appearing on one or all six cylinders. Often accompanied by VTM-4 caution light. Persists across multiple repair attempts with inconsistent diagnoses.
When: Ranging from 24,000 to 160,000 miles; one incident at approximately 256,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminated; VTM-4 caution light on; Rough running, especially when cold; Engine stalling; Loss of acceleration; All six cylinders misfiring simultaneously; Lights go off then recur intermittently
Codes mentioned: P0301
Repairs/costs cited: Rear rocker arms replaced; spark plugs replaced; fuel injectors replaced; head gasket replaced; PCM software updated; fuel type change recommended (Chevron only); piston adjustment; one shop found faulty intake valves
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: PCM software updates performed by dealers; inconsistent repair recommendations from Honda dealerships; no cohesive solution offered across multiple visits
Engine Block Cracking
Engine block fractured or cracked, requiring full engine replacement. Occurred at mileage well within normal engine life.
When: Crack discovered at 65,000 miles; replacement cost incurred; no specific failure mileage noted in first report
Symptoms owners cite: Engine block visibly cracked or fractured; Possible overheating preceding the crack
Repairs/costs cited: Engine block replaced at cost of $2,400; also required catalytic converter repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer confirmed failure but did not repair in initial report; later engine was replaced; manufacturer not formally notified in first account
Head Gasket Failure and Overheating
Head gasket failure leading to coolant loss, overheating, and eventual engine shutdown. Occurs at low mileage and causes the vehicle to become undrivable.
When: Reported at 24,000 miles and 84,860 miles; one incident on highway at night at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Overheating when driving less than 30 miles; Check engine light illumination; Engine shutdown on highway; Vehicle stalling
Repairs/costs cited: Radiator replacement; thermostat replacement; head gasket replacement estimated at $5,000; cooling gaskets replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer recommended head gasket replacement; no recall issued despite multiple reports
Oil Freezing in Engine Head
Oil solidified or froze inside the cylinder head, causing loss of power, shaking, and misfire requiring engine replacement.
When: Discovered at 74,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power while driving at any speed; Vehicle shaking; Cylinder #2 misfire; Check engine and oil warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; vehicle towed to dealer
Piston Wear and Cylinder Contact
Engine piston worn, making contact with cylinder wall. Caused abnormal engine noise and required full engine replacement at low mileage.
When: Engine failure discovered at 65,000 miles (current mileage 66,000)
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from engine
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign 13V382000 (Engine)
Camshaft Position Sensor Failure
Camshaft position sensor failed, causing loss of acceleration, brake and steering function seizure, and engine stalling.
When: Failure at approximately 150,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine warning light; Vehicle deceleration; Steering and braking ability seized; Vehicle stalled; Loss of acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Camshaft position sensor replaced by independent mechanic
Power Loss and Acceleration Failure Under Load
Engine losing power, jerking, and failing to accelerate even with depressed accelerator pedal at highway speeds. Multiple repair attempts did not resolve recurring issue.
When: Failure first at 160,000 miles; recurred after repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power at 65 MPH; Jerking motion; Accelerator pedal depressed but vehicle will not accelerate; All warning lights on instrument cluster illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Timing belt replacement; engine oil filter replacement; software upgrade; issue persisted despite both repairs
Transaxle Cooler Failure Causing Cross-Contamination
Internal failure of transaxle cooler allowing transmission fluid to flood the radiator and coolant to enter the transmission, ruining both components.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission fluid in radiator; Coolant in transmission
Repairs/costs cited: Both transmission and radiator required replacement
Premature Catalytic Converter Failure
Catalytic converter replaced at 60,000 miles began showing problems again at 90,000 miles, requiring approximately $1,000 in repairs. Check emission light cycling on and off.
When: Initial replacement at 60,000 miles; failure recurred by 90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check emission light on and off cycling; Catalytic converter malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Catalytic converter replacement at 60,000 miles; secondary repair needed at 90,000 miles, estimated at $1,000
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2006 Honda Pilot?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 27 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 24 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 57,789 and 115,616 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 57,789; a quarter make it past 115,616. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.