Should I buy a 2009 Honda Pilot with documented body problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented body issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2009 Honda Pilot body problems

moderate Owners of the 2009 Honda Pilot have filed 3 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$1,500

body complaints on the Honda Pilot, by model year
Model year	body complaints
2005 Pilot	16
2006 Pilot	19
2007 Pilot	11
2008 Pilot	11
2009 Pilot (this page)	3
2011 Pilot	16
2012 Pilot	8
2013 Pilot	42

What stands out

Of the 19 model years of Honda Pilot we track for body problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (3).

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.

Service Bulletin SVC-13-003 Jun 2014

HONDA: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THE TAILGATE AND CHROME TRIM CORROSION, RUST SPOTS OR STAINS. MODEL 2009-2011 PILOT.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

What owners are reporting 0 most recent

Had body trouble with your 2009 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 2009 Honda Pilot?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the body typically fail?

Based on the 3 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 70,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.

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.

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/2009/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.