HONDA: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, PISTON RINGS FOR CERTAIN CYLINDERS ROTATE AND ALIGN AND CAN LEAD TO FOULING SPARK PLUG AND A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXTENSION HAS BEEN ISSUED. MODEL 2009-2013 PILOT.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Honda Pilot powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2010 Honda Pilot have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Pilot | 7 |
| 2007 Pilot | 13 |
| 2008 Pilot | 10 |
| 2009 Pilot | 10 |
| 2010 Pilot (this page) | 5 |
| 2011 Pilot | 21 |
| 2012 Pilot | 17 |
| 2013 Pilot | 47 |
| 2014 Pilot | 6 |
What stands out
Of the 21 model years of Honda Pilot we track for powertrain problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (5).
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 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 powertrain 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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
2010 Honda pilot exl with approx 100,000 miles with the following issues: check engine light code p3400, very low oil pressure, replaced two oil pressure switches, torque converter beginning to fail causing vibration and shuddering at 45 - 50 MPH with low accelerator pressure. Car is burning excessive oil approx 1qt per 1,000 miles.
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2010 Honda Pilot?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 127,185 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.