Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2016 Pilot Tourings or Elites with a customer complaint of a no auto re-start condition after going into an auto idle stop. Customer should have been able to re-start the vehicle by placing the gear into the Park position and pressing the Start button. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Honda Pilot cruise control problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
8injuries
What stands out
Among the 17 model years of Honda Pilot in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 Honda Pilots describe a range of drive-control failures. Several report the collision mitigation system activating when the road is clear, applying hard braking that can cause rear-end collision risk. Others describe sudden and complete loss of engine power on the highway—sometimes dropping from 75 mph to 25-40 mph in seconds, with warning lights flooding the dash. A few incidents involve unintended acceleration with unresponsive brakes in parking areas, resulting in collisions and a pedestrian strike.
Many complaints center on acceleration response: the engine revving drops, speedometer blanks, and the vehicle slows when the driver expects to speed up. This happens while passing or changing lanes and reoccurs across multiple incidents per owner. Some report the stability control system cutting power repeatedly when the accelerator is pressed, requiring a full restart to clear.
Fuel injector failure appears in several narratives, with misfiring, rough running, and multiple warning lights (check engine, emissions, power steering, stability assist). One owner notes Honda issued an extended warranty for injector replacement but some vehicles missed the deadline window. Others describe RPM hesitation and jerking during acceleration, starting in the 20k-mile range. Dealers frequently cannot duplicate issues during diagnostic visits, leaving problems unfixed.
Same Honda Pilot cruise control reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Collision Mitigation System (CMS) False Activation / Phantom Braking
The collision mitigation system engages brake warnings and applies hard braking despite clear road ahead. Occurs when vehicle is already stopped or moving slowly and obstacle has cleared the path. System appears to misinterpret road features (cement curbs, lane markers) or ghost-detect non-existent obstacles.
When: Various speeds; one instance at ~10 mph after vehicle had already stopped
Symptoms owners cite: Brake warning light flashing; Audible warning sounding; Hard autonomous braking despite clear road; Braking overrides driver acceleration input
Sudden Loss of Power / Engine Stall on Highway
Engine suddenly loses all power or drops to idle while driving at highway speed. Tachometer drops to 0. Power returns after 1-2 seconds or after releasing and re-engaging accelerator. Multiple warning lights may illuminate (transmission, emissions, AWD). Some reports indicate transmission goes to neutral or limp mode.
When: At speeds 55-75 mph on interstate/highway; one instance at 30k miles with repeated occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine power loss; Tachometer drops to 0 RPM; Transmission warning lights; Emissions warning lights; AWD system warning lights; Vehicle forced into neutral or 3rd gear max; Brake failure or reduced braking; Burning or gasoline smell
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer kept vehicle for week, said fixed but stalled again within 30 minutes on highway
Unintended Acceleration / Loss of Braking
Vehicle accelerates suddenly and forcefully while driver has foot on brake. Driver unable to stop vehicle with brake pedal. Occurs at low speeds in parking lots and on roadways. Brakes become unresponsive. In one incident, phenomenon repeated twice—second time vehicle hit pedestrian after crossing curb and walkway.
When: Low-speed parking maneuvers (~5 mph) and low-speed driving situations
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden full-throttle acceleration while on brake; Brake pedal becomes unresponsive; Vehicle accelerates to full RPMs; Engine noise increases dramatically; Both front airbags deployed in one collision
Repairs/costs cited: Incident #3 involved pedestrian strike and two collisions; wife experienced severe chest pain and rapid heartbeat
Fuel Injector Failure / Misfiring
Fuel injectors fail, causing engine misfiring and rough running. Reduced engine speed, disabled safety features, and multiple warning lights (check engine, emissions, power steering, stability assist). One owner reports Honda issued extended warranty to cover injector replacement, but some vehicles missed deadline eligibility.
When: One report at approximately 30k-40k miles; another after 3 years of ownership with low miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine misfiring; Car not running correctly; Reduced speed; Safety features disabled; Flashing check engine light; Hill start assist problem light; Emissions system problem light; Power steering system problem light; Trailer stability assist light; Vehicle stability assistance light
Repairs/costs cited: Ken Vance Honda Eau Claire WI confirmed fuel injector failure; replacement cost cited as $1500
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda America issued extended warranty to cover fuel injector replacement for affected units; some owners outside eligibility window
Throttle / Accelerator Pedal Hesitation or Unresponsive
Accelerator pedal does not respond normally to driver input. Vehicle hesitates or fails to accelerate when pedal is pressed. Speed drops significantly when acceleration is attempted. Issues occur especially when passing or lane changing on highway. One instance required throttle body replacement that did not resolve issue.
When: At highway speeds 55-75 mph; one instance at 30 mph; throttle body replacement at dealership recommendation; reoccurred within 200 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No acceleration response when pedal pressed; Vehicle speed drops when accelerating; Vehicle enters limp mode (max 30-35 mph); Engine cannot accelerate normally; Unable to safely pass other vehicles; Unable to accelerate through intersections
Codes mentioned: P2135
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replaced at dealership recommendation at owner expense; issue recurred within 200 miles; dealership unable to diagnose root cause despite seeing code
Power Loss / Engine Revs Drop During Acceleration
While depressing accelerator, engine revs drop suddenly, speedometer goes blank, and vehicle decelerates instead of accelerating. Revs then pick back up and vehicle resumes normal speed. Occurs multiple times over years of ownership. First dealership visit resulted in software remap; second visit dealership had no solution. Dangerous when attempting to pass or change lanes.
When: While on highway at 65+ mph; occurs approximately 30 times over five years; one report 4 times in one year
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs drop unexpectedly; Speedometer goes blank; Vehicle slows instead of accelerates; Revs recover after few seconds; Loud clink or clicking noise on recovery
Repairs/costs cited: First Honda dealer performed software remap; second dealership unable to diagnose or fix
Stability Control Activation Cutting Engine Power
While accelerating, stability control symbol flashes on dash and engine power is cut. Vehicle slows significantly. Releasing accelerator pedal stops the cutting. Pressing accelerator again repeats cycle. Occurs repeatedly; vehicle must be turned off and restarted to clear condition. Extremely dangerous at highway speeds surrounded by traffic.
When: While driving on freeway; multiple repeated cycles
Symptoms owners cite: Stability control symbol flashes; Engine power cuts while accelerating; Vehicle forced to slow; Rapid power cycling when accelerator engaged; Can only be reset by turning vehicle off and on
Repairs/costs cited: Pulling over and putting into Park/Drive does not correct issue
Spontaneous Acceleration After Service
Vehicle begins spontaneously accelerating at low speeds following scheduled maintenance at dealership. Did not occur prior to service. Failure repeated at least ten times after initial service visit.
When: Two weeks after scheduled maintenance; approximately 31k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden spontaneous acceleration; Occurs at low speeds (~45 mph)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership wanted to charge for diagnostic testing; vehicle was not repaired
RPM Variation / Hesitation / Spluttering
Continuous RPM variation, hesitation, or spluttering in the 1500-2500 RPM range during normal driving. Appears suddenly with no prior issues. More evident at moderate acceleration; always present under normal driving load. Occurs regardless of eco mode setting.
When: Appeared suddenly after 65k miles; has occurred for last 10k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Continuous hesitation or spluttering of RPMs; RPM variation between 1500-2500; More evident during moderate acceleration; Does not occur under no load (neutral); Comfort and safety issue
Jerking / Rough Acceleration
Vehicle jerks or roughens when accelerating, particularly between 20-60 mph. Appears as transmission problem. Began at approximately 20k miles and persists as mileage increases. Owner reports concern about long-term reliability.
When: Starting around 20k miles; continues at 50k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking during acceleration; Occurs between 20-60 mph; Feels like transmission issue
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2016 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 cruise control problem on the 2016 Honda Pilot?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 16,000 and 40,000 miles, with the median around 31,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 16,000; a quarter make it past 40,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2016/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.