Purchased 2011 Honda pilot ex-l new in mid-2010. For the past several months, we felt a shudder in the transmission at/around 25 MPH when accelerating lightly from a full stop. Got progressively worse over time; even passengers noticed it. Car is just under 5.5 years old with 72k miles on it. Dealer checked, said the torque converter had failed and would cost $1,900 to replace. Stated the new…
2011 Honda Pilot powertrain problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
3crashes
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 21 powertrain complaints filed for the 2011 Honda Pilot, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Traveling at approximately 70 MPH with the vsa (vehicle stability assist) off, the automatic transmission suddenly shifted into neutral. I lost power and forward momentum. I was startled and when I looked at the gear selector, the indicator showed the selector in the neutral position. I moved the selector to the drive position and immediately had forward momentum once again. I'm terrified to…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2011 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 2011 Honda Pilot?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 22,500 and 75,760 miles, with the median around 45,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 22,500; a quarter make it past 75,760. 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 $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/2011/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.