Wheel welds are faulty. The vehicle has been driven under normal driving conditions since the date of purchase. However, a hairline fracture appears in the wheel weld causing the tire to deflate. The vehicle was originally purchased in january of 2014 and three wheels have been replaced to date because of this issue. While this is obviously a manufacturing defect, my concern is with…
2014 Honda Pilot wheels problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $400 · see wheels across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
When does it fail?
Of the 14 wheels complaints filed for the 2014 Honda Pilot, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Of the 5 model years of Honda Pilot we track for wheels problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 14.
No new NHTSA wheels complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple 2014 Pilot owners report factory wheel-weld cracks that cause slow tire leaks and tire-pressure warnings in normal driving conditions, with some vehicles experiencing three or four rim failures. Honda covers the first failure under warranty but refuses further coverage, leaving owners to pay for subsequent replacements.
The dominant failure across these complaints is cracked welds on factory wheels. Owners describe slow air leaks triggered by hairline fractures at the weld joint, detected by tire-pressure warning lights. Most report normal city-street and highway driving with no curb strikes or pothole impacts. Several owners have had three wheels fail out of four, with failures spreading over months or years after purchase.
One owner documented three sequential failures at 29,000 miles (July 2015), 35,400 miles (April 2016), and 42,800 miles (July 2016), each time at the weld joint. Another owner had three rims crack between August and October 2017. One complaint notes the defect may stem from over-heated welding that penetrated the rim barrel, causing tiny air channels to develop under road stress.
Honda replaced the first failure under warranty in most cases; subsequent failures landed on owners' dockets at dealer cost or out-of-pocket. One dealership refused further responsibility; another acknowledged a welding defect but stopped warranty coverage after the first replacement. One owner reported Honda Corporation refused to inspect the vehicle despite three failures.
A separate complaint involved two Pirelli Scorpion Verde tires with ply delaminations and multiple pinhole leaks, though these appear to be original-equipment tires from the used-vehicle lot rather than a manufacturing defect tied to the Pilot itself.
One brief complaint mentioned brake vibration and hydroplaning in rain but provided no detail on root cause or resolution.
Failure modes owners describe
Cracked/leaking wheel welds
Factory welds on aluminum or steel rims crack and develop hairline fractures, allowing slow air leaks that trigger tire-pressure warning lights. Owners report the defect occurs after normal driving on city streets and paved roads with no curb hits or pothole strikes. The cracks consistently appear at the weld joint itself, with some complaints suggesting over-heated welding that penetrated the rim barrel. Multiple owners have had 3 or 4 out of 4 wheels fail over time.
When: Between 29,000 miles (July 2015) and regular driving; defects appear months or years after purchase; one complaint noted first crack around one year after purchase, second/third failures months later within a couple-month window
Symptoms owners cite: Tire-pressure warning light on dashboard; Slow air leak in tire; Water applied to weld joint confirms leak at crack location; Hairline fractures visible at weld joints; Leak persists whether vehicle is parked or driven
Repairs/costs cited: First failure often replaced by Honda dealer at no cost under warranty; subsequent failures owners paid for at dealer cost or out-of-pocket. Dealers offered to sell replacement rim at cost with mounting labor in some cases. One complaint noted dealer refused to acknowledge responsibility for rims after warranty period.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda replaced first rim failure on some vehicles under warranty; after second or third failure, dealers refused further replacement or warranty coverage. One owner reported Honda Corporation refused to further inspect the vehicle despite three rim failures. One dealer acknowledged a welding issue causing the crack and leak.
Tire ply delamination (Pirelli Scorpion Verde)
Two Pirelli Scorpion Verde tires (235/60 R18) developed multiple pinhole leaks from ply delaminations. The tires reportedly came with the vehicle when purchased used and had date codes indicating they were more than one year old. The defect caused slow leaks that persisted whether parked or driving.
When: Unknown total mileage; less than 20,000 miles since purchase; date codes 4217 and 4717; still had plenty of tread remaining
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple pinhole leaks; Slow leak whether parked or driving; Ply delamination visible to mechanic; Plenty of tread remaining despite defect
Repairs/costs cited: Owner planned immediate replacement; repair cost not stated. Mechanic diagnosed as ply delaminations requiring immediate replacement.
Brake vibration during braking
Vehicle shakes or vibrates when braking. Dealership inspection found brakes looked brand new but suggested $207 rotor machining service. Complaint also noted hydroplaning in rain at speeds above 45 mph, suggesting possible wheel/tire balance or alignment issue tied to brake work.
When: Within past week relative to complaint filing
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration/shaking during braking; Hydroplaning in heavy rain above 45 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership offered $207 rotor machining service but did not complete work; owner did not pursue repair due to scheduling issues and dissatisfaction with dealer service.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Both front tire rims on my 2014 Honda pilot have had to be replaced due to cracked rims. The left front rim has been replaced twice. The right front is now cracked. This car is driven under normal conditions. Left front first crack was in 2017. Left front second crack 13 months later. Right front cracked rim nov 2018.
Three rims are leaking and I've taken them to Honda on multiple ocasiones and the only thing they've would tell me is the it needed air in them. When I took the pilot to discount tires for a tire repair they advise me that it was a rim problem.
I have been noticing that when I brake my vehicle shakes - took it in to have the brakes done and the dealership told me that my brakes looked brand new and wanted to send me on my way. I asked well why is it shaking then and I was told that maybe the roaters needed machining a $207 service. This was after they did not bother to call me to tell me my vehicle was ready I just happened to show up…
Had wheels 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 wheels problem on the 2014 Honda Pilot?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $400 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most wheels failures cluster between 35,000 and 58,000 miles, with the median around 46,765. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 58,000. 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 $400 for wheels 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 wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels 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.