Takata recall - we received the initial recall letter from Honda and immediately took our vehicle in for service. We were told that parts would be ordered and it could take 3 months. 6 months have passed and the airbag has not been repaired. With 2 small children who ride in the vehicle each day, this is unacceptable. We ask for your help in getting our airbag(s) replaced.
2010 Honda Pilot airbags problems
severe 30 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
30
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
3crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 30 airbags complaints filed for the 2010 Honda Pilot, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 30 airbags 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.
Airbags accounts for 27% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 9 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2010 Pilot has a serious Takata airbag recall affecting both driver and passenger sides; parts shortages have left hundreds of owners unable to repair the defect for months or years. If you're looking at a used 2010 Pilot, verify that all airbag recall work is complete and documented—incomplete repairs or delayed service suggest ongoing safety risk.
Owners of 2010 Honda Pilots report a widespread Takata airbag recall (NHTSA Campaign 16V346000, and campaign 13V016000 for earlier repairs) centered on defective passenger-side and driver-side airbag inflators. The dominant complaint is a critical parts shortage: nearly every narrative describes being placed on backorder lists in mid-2016 with promised 2-week timelines that stretched into 60+ days, 90+ days, or 6 months without repair completion. Honda advised owners not to place passengers in the front seat pending repair, severely limiting vehicle utility—especially for families with multiple children or elderly passengers.
Owners report that Honda's response to requests for loaner or rental vehicles was denial, claiming rental budgets were exhausted or that owners did not qualify. Multiple owners describe poor or unresponsive customer service, missed callbacks, and case managers who were described as dismissive or unhelpful. One owner reported that an airbag deployed unexpectedly at 20 mph, causing a crash into a concrete barrier; another reported a driver-side airbag failure to deploy in an actual collision, with all other airbags deploying normally. A third owner reported an airbag deploying when struck by windshield debris at 40 mph, causing loss of control and a rollover requiring jaws-of-life extraction. Dealers claimed they were not authorized to disable faulty airbags and that doing so would be illegal.
Same Honda Pilot airbags reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Takata airbag inflator defect (passenger-side and driver-side)
Defective Takata airbag inflators on passenger-side and/or driver-side, subject to recall. Owners instructed not to use front passenger seat pending repair due to risk of improper deployment.
When: Recall notifications issued July–August 2016; some vehicles had prior recall history from campaign 13V016000
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on; Recall notice received; Vehicle unsafe for front-passenger use per manufacturer guidance
Codes mentioned: 31-11
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement airbag units required; critical parts shortage delayed repairs 60–180+ days. Multiple owners report being told 'expect 2 weeks to 2 months' with no parts in stock.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V346000 (Air Bags); prior campaign 13V016000. Honda denied loaner/rental vehicle requests. Dealerships advised customers that disabling faulty airbags would be illegal.
Unexpected airbag deployment at low speed
Airbag deployed unexpectedly while vehicle was in motion at low speed (20 mph or when struck by windshield debris at 40 mph), causing loss of control and collision or rollover.
When: Mileage unknown; two separate incidents reported
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deployed without collision; Vehicle struck concrete barrier or flipped to its side; Loss of vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle was towed and deemed destroyed by insurance; another required jaws-of-life extraction. Police reports filed.
Driver-side airbag failure to deploy in actual collision
In an actual vehicle collision, the driver-side airbag failed to deploy while all other airbags deployed normally. Vehicle was previously repaired under campaign 13V016000 (airbag). Vehicle was deemed destroyed.
When: 50,000 miles; after prior recall repair
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side airbag non-deployment during impact; All other airbags deployed as expected
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; owner sustained minor injuries.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle had been previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign ID 13V016000 (Air Bags).
Synthesized from 30 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I have called the walnut creek Honda service center twice to schedule a safety recall for my vehicle (the last time was 8/26/16). They have not returned my phone call and have not been diligent in getting this recall taken care of. I would like someone to help me get this resolved. I don't want my passengers hurt in case of an accident.
Takata recall
Had airbags trouble with your 2010 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 airbags problem on the 2010 Honda Pilot?
It's a meaningful issue. 30 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 30 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 81,333 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 $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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/2010/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.