Dealer Message - On August 29, 2019, American Honda launched five revised and one new Warranty Extension paint bulletins. Please review the following summary of requirements within these bulletins and share with the appropriate staff to ensure proper claim submission.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Honda Pilot body problems
moderate Owners of the 2014 Honda Pilot have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 80,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Pilot | 16 |
| 2012 Pilot | 8 |
| 2013 Pilot | 42 |
| 2014 Pilot (this page) | 17 |
| 2015 Pilot | 7 |
| 2016 Pilot | 46 |
| 2017 Pilot | 15 |
| 2018 Pilot | 13 |
When does it fail?
Of the 17 body complaints filed for the 2014 Honda Pilot, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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 body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 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 body 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.
Service Bulletin - This warranty extension only applies to 2013 Odyssey and 2013-15 Pilot vehicles painted NH-578 Taffeta White. The exterior paint on the roof and/or tailgate may peel off. American Honda is extending the warranty on the paint of the affected vehicles to 7 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limit. This warranty extension does not apply to other paint issues like rock chips, scratches, bird droppings, sap, wraps, dents, collision damage, customer-induced damage, etc.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - This warranty extension only applies to 2013-14 Odyssey and 2013-16 Pilot vehicles that are painted NH-603P White Diamond Pearl. The exterior paint on the roof and/or tailgate may peel off. American Honda is extending the warranty on the paint of the affected vehicles to 7 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limit. This warranty extension does not apply to other paint issues like rock chips, scratches, bird droppings, sap, wraps, dents, collision damage, customerinduced damage, etc.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Owner Notification Letter - On some 2013-14 Odyssey and 2013-16 Pilot models, the exterior paint on the roof and tailgate may peel off. To ensure your confidence in your vehicle, American Honda is extending the warranty on the paint in these areas to 7 years from the original date of purchase.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Owner Notification Letter - On some 2013 Odyssey and 2013-15 Pilot models, the exterior paint on the roof and tailgate may peel off. To ensure your confidence in your vehicle, American Honda is extending the warranty on the paint in these areas to 7 years from the original date of purchase.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Paint peeling and adhesion failure is the dominant complaint across these 17 reports. Owners consistently describe clear coat and base color failure on white 2014 Pilots, with peeling starting on the roof near the sunroof and windshield, then spreading to the hood, tailgate, and doors. Multiple owners report their paint wearing through to primer or bare metal, and several have had the same panels repainted by dealers in 2017-2021 only to see fresh peeling develop on adjacent panels. Honda collision experts have confirmed this as a manufacturing defect—specifically insufficient paint application. Owners report Honda acknowledged the problem is nationwide and affects the same model and color, yet corporate refuses to cover hood repairs in many cases, citing warranty limits that exclude certain VINs. One owner received only 70% coverage and paid $550 out of pocket. Honda issued a 2019 extended warranty for white 2014 Pilots but with contradictory coverage: one owner was told it covers roof and tailgate only, while another's VIN was deemed ineligible despite matching the coverage criteria. One complaint also describes a power liftgate that failed to stay up, with both hydraulic lift supports requiring replacement.
Same Honda Pilot body reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Paint peeling and chipping on hood, roof, and other body panels
Factory paint adhesion failure resulting in peeling, chipping, bubbling, and flaking primarily on hood, roof, and tailgate. Owners report the clear coat and base color wear away, exposing primer or bare metal. Multiple owners describe this as a widespread defect affecting the same year, model, and white paint color. Honda collision experts have confirmed this as a manufacturing defect.
When: 2-10 years after purchase; complaints describe ongoing issues as early as the roof in 2017-2018 and progressing to hood and other panels afterward
Symptoms owners cite: Paint peeling in chunks or flaking; White paint showing color change or wearing through to primer/bare metal; Bubbling and chipping paint; Clear coat failure; Progressive peeling spreading to multiple panels
Repairs/costs cited: Hood repainting quoted around $550-$850 plus tax; roof and tailgate repainting performed at dealerships; both lift supports on power liftgate were replaced by one owner but that was unrelated repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued a 2019 extended warranty covering some 2014 Pilots with white paint, but covers only roof and tailgate in some cases; coverage is vehicle VIN-specific and many owners report their VINs are excluded; Honda offers partial coverage (70% in one case); some owners report Honda acknowledged nationwide issue but refused repair on hood unless limited to roof or tailgate; TSB APAS09282017903 referenced by one owner
Power liftgate lift support failure
Hydraulic lift supports for the power liftgate failed to maintain pressure, causing the tailgate to not fully open or stay elevated. One owner reports both lift supports required replacement; the driver's side support showed no resistance when removed, indicating pressure loss.
When: No mileage or age stated; incident occurred during routine power liftgate operation
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate failed to fully lift; Tailgate began closing while still beeping obstruction warning; Lift support progressively lifted tailgate shorter distances with each attempt; Tailgate extremely difficult to open by hand without support; Tailgate would not stay elevated
Repairs/costs cited: Both lift supports replaced by owner at home
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I have a pearl white 2014 Honda pilot touring that has had paint issues that Honda refuses to fix on the hood. I came outside one day to get in my car and noticed that pint was peeling. I took the vehicle in to the local dealership in colorado springs, co and was directed by them to take it to their collision center to have the paint tested. After the test, the report stated that the paint is…
My paint is flaking. Honda refuses to fix it due to my VIN number not being part of their warranty extension. This is weird since my year, make, model, and paint color match the warranty extension but my VIN does not.
Paint peeling from the roof in large chunks. Seems to be related to tsb apas09282017903.
Had body trouble with your 2014 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 body problem on the 2014 Honda Pilot?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 65,000 and 108,000 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 65,000; a quarter make it past 108,000. 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 $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2014/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.