These 2 SKUs are Front Left/Front Right lower control arms. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for ball stud nuts with undersized flanges. Stud nuts with undersized flanges may cause the control arm ball stud to slip through the knuckle mount causing loss of vehicle control. The Control Arms have been recalled under NHTSA campaign number 18E037.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Honda Pilot suspension problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
What stands out
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 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 suspension 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.
G7
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗G7
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗THIS TSB CONTAINS AN OWNERS NOTIFICATION LETTER. SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON BELOW. HONDA: FRONT SUSPENSION REAR LOWER ARM BUSHINGS WARRANTY EXTENDED BY HONDA UPDATED 9/10/15
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION REAR LOWER ARM BUSHING THAT CAN CRACK AND LEAK OR BECAUSE OF HEAT EXPOSURE HAVE SUSPENSION NOISE. MODEL 2009-10 PILOT.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Compliance bushing failure dominates complaints on the 2009 Pilot suspension. Owners describe leaking, torn, and cracked front compliance bushings appearing between 36,000 and 100,000 miles—sometimes sooner in used-car purchases. The symptom is consistent: violent shaking or vibration in the steering wheel and front end, especially when braking or at highway speeds. One owner noted a burning grease smell in the cabin due to bushing leakage. Dealers acknowledge this is a known issue; Honda issued a technical bulletin. However, the manufacturer has not issued a recall or warranty extension, leaving owners stuck with $750–$1,000 repair bills out of pocket, even after warranty expiration.
Lower control arm bushings also leak and wear, requiring replacement. Wheel bearing and strut failures occur; one owner reported complete strut wear within the first 100 miles of taking home a used Pilot from a dealership, along with worn control arms. Abnormal wheel humming and vibration appear at 36,000+ miles; dealers perform multiple alignments and rotor replacements, but the vibration returns within weeks—one dealership eventually told the owner the vehicle was performing as designed and nothing could be corrected.
Throughout these complaints, owners express frustration that Honda dealers and the manufacturer knew about the defect but did not proactively notify owners or cover repairs.
Same Honda Pilot suspension reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Compliance Bushing Deterioration
Front compliance bushings (also called lower control arm bushings) leak, tear, and crack prematurely, often on both sides of the vehicle. Owners report Honda dealers acknowledge this as a known issue, and a technical bulletin has been issued, but owners remain responsible for repair costs despite the defect appearing systematic across model years.
When: 36,000 to 100,000+ miles; some failures noted within first quarter-tank of ownership after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Leaking and torn bushings visible during inspection; Excessive vibration in steering wheel and front end during braking; Humming and vibration from wheels after extended running periods; Smell of burning grease from air circulation due to leaking bushings; Violent shaking when braking or driving over 60 mph; Vibration recurs within weeks after dealer realignment and repair attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer quotes around $750–$1,000 for replacement of front compliance bushings and brackets; owners bear full cost out of pocket, even when Honda has issued technical bulletins acknowledging the defect
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued technical bulletin addressing compliance bushing defect; however, manufacturers made no proactive recall or warranty extension, leaving out-of-warranty owners to pay full repair cost
Lower Control Arm Bushing Leakage
Lower control arm bushings leak fluid and show signs of deterioration, diagnosed by dealers as requiring replacement. Distinct from or related to compliance bushing failure, control arm bushings are explicitly mentioned in service records and dealer diagnoses.
When: 50,000 miles; early complaint (within first quarter tank of ownership) documented as well
Symptoms owners cite: Bushings leaking; Violent shaking when applying brakes or during normal operation
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of lower control arm bushings recommended by authorized dealers
Wheel Vibration and Abnormal Humming
Wheels exhibit abnormal humming sound and vibration, particularly after extended running periods. Dealers perform repeated front and rear alignments and rotor replacements, but failure recurs within weeks. One dealership ultimately advised owner the condition was normal operation and not correctable.
When: 36,000 to 42,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal humming from wheels; Vibration from wheels; Failure recurs after dealer alignment and rotor replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Front and rear alignment performed multiple times (four dealer visits); rotors replaced; repairs temporary, lasting only a few weeks before vibration returns
Front Strut Wear and Failure
Front struts show complete wear and become non-operational, creating unsafe driving conditions. One owner reported left strut not operational; another noted both low control arms and struts were completely worn within first 100 miles of ownership after purchase from dealership.
When: Within first 100 miles of ownership (used-vehicle purchase scenario); unspecified mileage in other complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Struts completely worn; Left strut non-operational; Vehicle unsafe to drive
Repairs/costs cited: Strut replacement required; cost not specified by owner
Wheel Bearing Wear
Right front wheel bearing exhibits excessive wear, producing vibration and growling noise from the right front at all speeds.
When: 72,563 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration from right front wheel; Growling noise from right front of vehicle at all speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Right front wheel bearing replaced
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
August 2015 I received the letter about defective compliance bushings. I had mine repaired by my local Honda dealer. I immediately sent in my repair bill and requested information. That was august 2015 and I have not heard one word back from Honda and we are now in december. There once was a time that Honda quality was amazing, but I suppose that even Honda buys inferior products from china…
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2009 Honda Pilot?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 71,312. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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/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.