"Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al.v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Case No. 3:12-cv-1377-SI (N.D. Cal.). The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align, which can lead to spark plug fouling. This can set DTCs P0301 No. 1 cylinder misfire detected, P0302 No. 2 cylinder misfire detected, P0303 No. 3 cylinder misfire detected, P0304 No. 4 cylinder misfire detected, and cause the MIL to come on."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Honda Pilot engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2010 Honda Pilot have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 95,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Pilot | 27 |
| 2007 Pilot | 16 |
| 2008 Pilot | 13 |
| 2009 Pilot | 29 |
| 2010 Pilot (this page) | 17 |
| 2011 Pilot | 18 |
| 2012 Pilot | 24 |
| 2013 Pilot | 42 |
| 2014 Pilot | 25 |
When does it fail?
Of the 17 engine complaints filed for the 2010 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
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 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 engine 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.
These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no longer be sold as they do not meet CARB standards, but parts on vehicles are not effected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no longer be sold as they do not meet CARB standards, but parts on vehicles are not effected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - The front rocker arm oil control valve is leaking.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al.v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Case No. 3:12-cv-1377-SI (N.D. Cal.). The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align, which can lead to spark plug fouling. This can set DTCs P0301 No. 1 cylinder misfire detected, P0302 No. 2 cylinder misfire detected, P0303 No. 3 cylinder misfire detected, P0304 No. 4 cylinder misfire detected, and cause the MIL to come on. American Honda is extending the powertrain warranty to cover repairs related to engine misfire (that triggers DTCs P0301 through P0304) to 8 years with unlimited mileage from t
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2010 Pilot engine cluster centers on two overlapping issues: misfire and excessive oil consumption, with catastrophic failures on some vehicles.
Misfire complaints describe a check engine light (steady or blinking) paired with loss of power, hesitation, and rough idle. Owners replaced spark plugs multiple times with no lasting fix. A 2010 Pilot recall for misfire ran through October 2017, but dealers minimized the issue during the recall period—one owner got spark plugs swapped as a "quick fix" when the underlying problem required piston ring replacement ($2,448 + tax). Owners who bought after October 2017 received no recall notice and were denied coverage.
Oil consumption is the second thread. Owners report burning 1–2 quarts per change interval or emptying the dipstick between services. Some see no visible leaks or smoke. When they complained, Honda and dealers said this consumption rate is normal. One mechanic told an owner it's routine to burn a quart per 1,000 miles; another advised an owner to "just let it break."
Catastrophic failures follow: one engine failed twice from premature oil consumption; another threw piston rings at 114,000 miles during highway driving; a third lost the timing belt at 145,000 miles. An engine weld tank bolt separated at 11,000 miles. Full engine replacement runs $12,000+ out of warranty. Honda has denied assistance on most claims outside the misfire recall window.
Same Honda Pilot engine reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Cylinder Misfire / Fouled Spark Plugs
Engine misfires causing check engine light illumination and power loss, often attributed to spark plug fouling. Owners report recurring misfire faults despite spark plug replacement. Some dealers replaced piston rings as part of troubleshooting.
When: Reported from 40,000 miles through 114,361 miles; complaints span vehicles purchased from 2015 onwards
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light (steady and blinking); Engine hesitation and loss of power; Difficulty maintaining speed on highway; Engine putting and decelerating; Cylinder-specific misfire codes
Codes mentioned: Misfire fault, P0300 or cylinder-specific codes (implied)
Repairs/costs cited: Spark plugs replaced (often multiple times); piston rings replaced on at least one vehicle (cylinder 1-3); dealership attempted gas treatments and air filter changes
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall for 2010 Pilot misfire issued; recall period ended 10/2017. Honda refused to cover repairs outside this window. Settlement mentioned by one owner. Some dealers honored warranty claims despite formal policy denials.
Premature Oil Consumption
Engine burns or consumes excessive oil between service intervals, far exceeding normal consumption rates. Owners report oil levels dropping from full to empty, or burning 1-2 quarts per oil change interval (3,000-5,000 miles). No visible leaks or smoke in many cases. Honda acknowledged the issue as 'normal' to some owners (1 quart per 1,000 miles).
When: Reported across vehicles with 40,000 to 145,000 miles; ongoing for years on some vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level dropping between service intervals; No external leaks visible; No smoke or burning smell reported in some cases; Decreased fuel economy (reported on at least one vehicle); Faulty rocker arm oil pressure switch warning (triggered by low oil)
Codes mentioned: Oil pressure switch fault (secondary indicator)
Repairs/costs cited: No factory repair provided; owners advised by dealership and Honda that this is 'normal' consumption and no action warranted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda stated excessive oil burning is normal; refused to offer repairs or replacements
Engine Failure Due to Oil Starvation / Piston Damage
Catastrophic engine failure caused or accelerated by premature oil consumption leading to inadequate lubrication. One engine failed twice due to premature oil consumption; another experienced piston failure after excessive oil burn. Timing belt detachment and camshaft failure also linked to oil starvation in narrative #3 and #5.
When: Reported at 85,000 miles (first failure, then again on replacement); 145,000 miles (timing belt detachment); mileage not stated in piston failure complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning; Engine power loss during driving; Abnormal engine noise; Smoke from engine; Engine will not restart
Codes mentioned: None explicitly stated in narratives
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required; at least one owner had replacement engine fail again. Repair costs exceeded $12,000 on at least one vehicle; another owner paid $2,448 + tax for piston ring replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer denied assistance in multiple cases; some repairs performed outside warranty with owner cost
Timing Belt Detachment
Timing belt separated from its mounting, causing immediate engine failure. Occurred at 145,000 miles; contributing factor may be oil starvation or lubrication failure.
When: 145,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise (described as if tire deflated); Smoke from engine; Loss of engine function
Codes mentioned: None stated
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified per narrative
Engine Weld Tanker Bolt Failure
Bolt securing engine weld tank came loose, causing engine stall. Catastrophic structural failure at very low mileage (11,000 miles) suggests manufacturing defect.
When: 11,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stall during highway driving (65 mph); Vehicle not drivable after failure
Codes mentioned: None stated
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated no recalls or warranties addressed the failure; manufacturer offered no assistance
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Excessive oil consumption cause engine pistons to blow. Seems to be a common issue. No check oil light came on or any indication that the car was low on oil. Received oil change 2k miles prior. Mechanic said this is a common issue he has seen with my year and motor. I owe $12k on a car worth nothing that I can no longer drive.
We were told by several service technicians at the wolfchase Honda in bartlett, tn that there was a recall on all 2010 Honda pilots, (ours is a touring FWD), due to a miss-firing issue. We purchased our pilot 9/2015 and repeatedly reported that the car was miss-firing, which caused the check engine light to appear. When we took it in for oil changes, the techs would tell us to do a gas treatment,…
Engine burns excessive oil and engine hesitates from time to time
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2010 Honda Pilot?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 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 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 72,000 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 95,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 72,000; a quarter make it past 120,000. 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 $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/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.