Honda Pilot problems
890 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. No active recalls — patterns come from the complaint record.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Reliability score 6.8/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Traveling about 70 mph on the interstate using cruise control. I don’t think there was a change in steepness/grade, but if there was it was mild. Suddenly, the rpm’s were erratic and the engine and gears seemed out of sync. Pressing the gas pedal didn’t seem to effectively…
We drove from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Alexandria, Virginia on 12/27. About 20 minutes from our destination, we exited the highway onto the parkway and as we were going about 15-18mph on an exit ramp, the closed sun roof imploded. There were no trees, bridges, or even other…
I purchased my 2017 Pilot new from Honda. Around 10,000 miles a code appeared and said Emissions problem and a picture of my engine. I immediately called Honda and took in to service dept. They said my fuel injectors need to be replaced and gave me an extended 150,000 warranty…
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond, rattled, jerked, and shuddered. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure mainly…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Under investigation 2 open at NHTSA
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. PE25008 on NHTSA →
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA25004 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
Common questions
Is the 2017 Honda Pilot reliable?
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.8 out of 10 based on 890 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Honda Pilot has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2017 Honda Pilot?
The 2017 Honda Pilot is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 6.8/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2017 Honda Pilot?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 275 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 75,904 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 75,904 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Honda Pilot has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2017 Honda Pilot?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 890 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.