I make reference to 2011 Honda pilot recall from NHTSA: 10v640000 of 12/16/2010. Since I bought a similar vehicle on 12/11/2010, I would like to find out if my car is included in this recall. I wrote to the manufacturer address in california several weeks ago requesting information about this matter and as of this date, I have not received an answer. *tr the consumer stated he was told it…
2011 Honda Pilot suspension problems
severe 26 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 26 suspension complaints filed for the 2011 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
Owners have filed 26 suspension 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.
Among the 17 model years of Honda Pilot in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2011 Pilots show a documented pattern of suspension failures—especially cracked compliance bushings—starting around 45K miles, causing steering vibration and dangerous braking issues. Honda issued an extended warranty and service bulletin acknowledging the defect but has not recalled it; expect $750–$1,200 in out-of-warranty repairs if you buy one past the covered period.
Owners report widespread failures of compliance bushings—rubber components that support the front suspension—appearing as early as 20K miles and commonly by 45-75K miles. Failures manifest as clunking or thumping noises over bumps, steering-wheel vibration when turning, knocking sounds, and severe shuddering when braking at highway speeds. Some owners describe loss of control over road irregularities or the vehicle diving forward under hard braking. Multiple narratives indicate Honda issued a service bulletin and extended warranty for this part, acknowledging the problem internally. Dealers have reportedly quoted $750–$1,200 for replacement; Honda occasionally subsidized costs after customer pushback.
Secondary suspension complaints include premature rotor warping at 20–30K miles causing steering-column vibration—traced by one owner to Honda using softer material rotors—strut failure within six weeks of replacement, uneven tire wear from bent suspension rods, and one account of a front wheel laying over (bolts either under-torqued or broken at factory). Rear suspension leaking at 21K miles and rear trailing-arm replacements that failed to resolve noise are also cited. One narrative describes a loss-of-control incident at highway speed resulting in a crash, though causation to suspension is not established in that report.
Same Honda Pilot suspension reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Cracked/leaking compliance bushings (lower-arm control-arm bushings)
Rubber suspension bushings crack and leak, losing damping function. Honda internally acknowledged the problem via service bulletin and extended warranty coverage, indicating design deficiency. Owners note this as a widespread issue on 2010–2012 Pilots.
When: 20K–75K miles; commonly reported 45–55K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking or thumping noise when driving over bumps; Knocking noise when turning steering wheel; Severe vibration in steering wheel and steering column during braking at highway speeds; Shuddering and shaking when braking above 30 mph; Vibration in gas pedal; Unsteady handling on irregular road surfaces
Repairs/costs cited: $750–$1,200 for replacement; some owners report Honda subsidized partial costs after complaint; covered under Honda's extended warranty in some cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service bulletin issued; extended warranty program implemented; Honda allegedly in process of redesigning bushing; partial cost subsidies granted in some cases after owner complaints
Premature rotor warping
Rotors warp and cause brake vibration at early mileage. One Honda technician attributed this to Honda switching to softer-material rotors (to reduce squealing on previous models) that cannot withstand the weight of newer Pilots without excessive wear and warping.
When: 20K miles, recurring by 30K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Severe vibrations through steering column at highway speeds; Vibration in gas pedal; Shuddering and vibration when braking
Repairs/costs cited: Initial resurfacing as courtesy service; subsequent replacement required at owner cost (~$340 for full brake job reported); one owner replaced with third-party rotors at 55K miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Initial dealer resurfacing offered as courtesy; Honda refused to cover replacement under warranty despite problem reported before 36K-mile factory warranty expired
Strut/shock absorber failure
Shock absorbers and struts fail prematurely, often with uneven wear between left and right sides. One narrative reports struts failing twice within six weeks of initial replacement.
When: Under 70K miles; one case within 6 weeks and 6,500 miles of replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking sound from front driver's side over bumps; Bottoming-out sounds from suspension
Repairs/costs cited: Covered under extended Honda warranty for one owner; Honda refused to cover right shock when left was replaced under warranty despite obvious defect pattern
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Left shock covered under extended warranty in one case; right shock replacement refused despite uneven wear pattern
Rear trailing-arm and suspension leaking
Rear suspension components leak and fail; rear trailing arms replaced without resolving underlying noise and bottoming-out issues. One owner reports rear suspension leaking at very low mileage.
When: Less than 3 years old / 21K miles for leak; bottoming-out sound issue present on recently purchased vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Bottoming-out sounds from rear suspension; Fluid leak from rear suspension; Jarring vibration through floor
Repairs/costs cited: Rear trailing arms replaced on one vehicle without resolving the problem; dealer refused shock absorber replacement
Bent suspension rod / uneven tire wear
Suspension rod bending causing uneven rear-tire wear. Owner disputes Honda's claim that damage was accident-related, noting the bend appeared isolated and corrosion-marked, inconsistent with impact damage.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Uneven tire wear on rear tires
Repairs/costs cited: Honda classified as accident damage and denied coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda classified failure as impact-related and refused warranty coverage
Loose suspension bolts / spindle nuts
Lower front damper-bracket bolts and spindle nuts loosen, creating noise and causing steering misalignment. One narrative describes a front wheel laying over, with bolts either under-torqued at factory or broken.
When: Early ownership; factory manufacture issue
Symptoms owners cite: Noise from front suspension; Steering off/misaligned; One case: front wheel laying over while driving
Repairs/costs cited: One wheel-over incident resulted in vehicle being towed; cause suspected to be factory under-torquing or bolt breakage
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
During highway driving and braking from highway speeds a significant vibration is felt in the steering column. It does not lead to a loss of control, however it renders the vehicle less stable under braking. The vehicle has 75,000 miles on it. We brought it in for service and the lower arm compliance bushings required replacement. Honda had issued an extended warranty for this item - a clear…
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2011 Honda Pilot?
It's a meaningful issue. 26 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 23,000 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 45,731. A quarter of owners report trouble before 23,000; a quarter make it past 75,000. 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/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.