2017 Honda Pilot complaints

Honda has a 2 TSBs for all Pilots on all VINs having a transmission juddering issue. They are making us pay out of pocket for a known issue on all 2017 VINs. I was quoted a minimum of $700 due to the labor involved. We, as customers, shouldn't have to pay for a known issue with all VINs of 2017 Honda Pilots. It caused issues with cruise control and keeping speed on the road especially uphill. Sometimes it will shift extremely hard. It happens at all speeds when partially on the accelerator. It has been reproduced at Honda dealerships but they will not fix it unless the vehicle produces a code. I fear driving this in the wintertime with the pulsating accelerations possibly causing me to slide. It is unknown if the manufacturer has looked at this actual park on this vehicle.But they do know about it on all 2017 Honda Pilots. There is no warning prior to failure and it appeared over a year ago.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while searching on Carfax ,it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 85,000, and at the time of searching on Carfax, it was discovered that the mileage was 184,753.

Possible rod bearing, leading to engine failure.

Rear subframe damaged with no reason. Vehicle has been garaged and in moderate climate since it was purchased. Confirmed by dealer and insurance adjustor.

My engine randomly loses power and makes grinding noises. The vehicle is very well taken care of and serviced regularly.

When the auto start-stop feature is on (which is automatically on unless manually turned off every time you start the car), at stop lights/signs, my car will auto stop and then when I let go of the break to accelerate, rather than my car auto starting, it will shut down completely. It does not have the power to restart on its own. This happens all the time. I try to remember every single time I start my car to turn off the auto feature, but at times I forget. And for those times that I forget, it likely is going to happen during that ride. Recently it even happened in a parking lot where I had turned my car off, gone into a store and came back, tried to start my car and it took multiple attempts for my car to start because it acted as if it did not have enough power to start.

Vehicle: 2017 Honda Pilot VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure: 111000 Summary of Issue: My 2017 Honda Pilot suffered a sudden engine failure diagnosed by a Honda dealer as internal damage due to a failed connecting rod bearing. This is the same failure mode documented in Honda TSB 23-097 / Safety Recall for other Pilot model years (2016, 2018–19), but my 2017 VIN was excluded. Circumstances of Failure: While driving, I first noticed a loud knocking/tapping sound from the engine, followed by reduced power and rough running while getting on the freeway. Within a very short time, the vehicle became difficult to drive and stalled. It had to be taken to a Honda dealership. The technician confirmed a failed rod bearing causing internal engine damage. The failure occurred without warning lights or prior indications, and if it had happened at highway speed, it could have led to a sudden loss of power and increased crash risk. Details: Dealer diagnosis: rod bearing failure requiring engine replacement. Repair estimate: over $13,000 (engine replacement + related service items). Vehicle has been maintained meticulously (full synthetic oil every 5–7K miles, AT fluid every 20K miles, recommended timing belt service). Honda America declined goodwill assistance, citing lack of Honda-dealer service records, even though independent/self-service maintenance records are available. Safety Concern: Rod bearing failure is a serious safety defect that can cause sudden loss of engine power while driving,

I drive a 2017 Honda Pilot Touring 9-speed and I’ve been dealing with some frustrating issues for last 3 years. The car has sudden loss of power, jerking, harsh shifting, and acceleration problems. I’ve done all the dealer-recommended maintenance (timing belt + water pump, spark plugs, valve adjustment, fuel injector cleaning, regular oil and transmission fluid changes), but the problem still hasn’t gone away. I feel unsafe to drive the car on freeway due to sudden loss of power and then sudden acceleration. Sometimes it feels like the gears don’t shift when they should, I am not a mechanic and not sure if it’s an engine issue or a transmission issue. I checked for recalls but didn’t find any. First I thought it has to do with driving on ECO mode but it seems like it does not matter which mode I drive. It still gives me the same issue.

Transmission and torque converter blew at 77k miles.

On April 30, 2024, while sitting at a traffic light waiting to turn, my Honda Pilot experienced a catastrophic engine failure. The driver heard a loud knocking sound and the engine failed. The driver was left to navigate to a safe area through traffic. The vehicle was towed to a nearby auto mechanic for evaluation. It was determined that a connecting rod had penetrated the engine block and that engine would not be salvageable. The vehicle was towed again to another auto mechanic, where the engine was removed and replaced with a used engine of the same make and model with other required support equipment (timing belt, water pump, miscellaneous belts and hardware) at a cost of $8656.00 Given the passage of approximately 15 months since the engine was replaced, the catastrophically failed engine is no longer available to be inspected. Thankfully the vehicle was stationary when the failure occurred or the driver may have been at greater risk. He did need to walk through a busy intersection to get to safety. The engine failure and replacement was performed and documented by an independent service center. The failed engine was not inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance carrier’s representatives. Only observed by the two independent service centers. There were no warning lamps, or no messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. This issue appears to be related to NHTSA investigation: PE25008

So i have a Honda pilot and have been seeing a light saying that my collision mitigation system is broke so i took it in for a diagnostic which i was charged for which is fine and normal i guess but they told me that the system was broken possibly from just driving through construction zones and this causes phantom braking so i have to get it fixed but they want to charge me for the repairs which from my perspective the customer i shouldn't have to pay for a defect like that that can cause injurie or much worse

Symptom: Knocking noise coming from engine. Diagnosis: Honda dealer removed oil pan and found connecting rod bearing material. Removed all connecting rod bearings and found cylinder 1 bearing had excessive wear and found bearing was bent. Engine replacement recommended as bearing material may have went through the entire engine and could cause engine failure.

Honda has a TSB for all Pilots on all VINs under TSB 17-014. They are making us pay out of pocket for a known issue on all 2017 VINs. I was quoted a minimum of $700 due to the labor involved. We, as customers, shouldn't have to pay for a known issue with all VINs of 2017 Honda Pilots. It caused issues with cruise control and keeping speed on the road especially uphill. Sometimes it will shift extremely hard.

(1)My local Honda Dealership (Herson's Honda, Rockville, MD), has diagnosed a knocking sound coming from my engine as a rod bearing failure, and they say I need a new engine. My 2017 Honda Pilot has only 56,755 on it, and I am aware my model car is now currently under NHTSA investigation as a part of the expanded probe of an earlier 2023 recall. It is available for inspection. (2)Your agency has identified this as a widespread problem among my model year, which could lead to complete engine failure. This event would put me as the driver, and any passengers I may be carrying at very serious risk. Other drivers could be at risk of injury if the engine were to fail and I were to lose control of the car. (3)Yes, I had the problem replicated by both my independent service center, and the Herson's Honda Dealership. I will upload the confirmation document in my report. (4)The car has not been inspected by a manufacturer to my knowledge (yet). Right now, the car is at the Herson's Honda dealership. Technicians have told me it is unsafe to drive the vehicle. (5)No lights appeared on the dashboard. I first noticed a slight knocking noise about a month ago, and then heard it again after returning from vacation, prompting us to take it into the dealership. It was quickly diagnosed as a rod bearing failure. -- Herson's let us know they would file a report with American Honda. Ricardo Benitez (Herson's) told us we were not the first to come in with this issue, and "would not be the last".

The Engine completely died and refused to start in the middle of a busy road. We had to call 911 and have a police car stop and re-reroute traffic to ensure that the stalled car didn't cause an accident. We thad the car towed to the dealer and they were able to confirm that the Engine was dead and needed to be replaced. We filed a ticket with Honda (Case #15428329) to have them cover the cost of the repair and they refused. We have since replaced the Engine and the car is back in service. Since they refused to pay, we didn't have much of a choice at the time so we paid out of pocket.

We have a 2017 Honda Pilot Touring with the 3.5L V6, and it developed a tick when running, and it turned into a rod knock. Found out about the crank and rod recall, but realized our 2017 is not included. Tore the engine down to find the #6 rod bearing destroyed. I still have the bearing if it is requested. The vehicle left us stranded in the middle of the highway with kids on board. The rod bearing and crank have not been inspected by anyone but me, as I cannot afford to take it into a shop or dealer. There were no warning lights or other symptoms besides the tick that turned into a knock.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that upon retrieving the Carfax report history of the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 85,174; however, the Carfax report history displayed that the mileage was 184,073 on August 22, 2023, but was reported as 66,137 on November, 2023.

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. While the contact’s wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

I have a 2017 Honda Pilot manufactured at their Alabama Plant. It has White Diamond Pearl. The paint is de-laminating from the car around the roof, and rear panels. This is ultimately structural problem that will allow rust formation. The paint pealing started in 2023 and has continued. It is apparent Honda is aware of the paint problem for White Diamond Pearl and other white paint from this plant that covers Pilots, Civics, Fits, and HRV models starting in at least 2015 through 2017 (not sure if beyond that manufacturing time frame). Honda is not responsive to this costly problem. This is finally a safety issue if the body panels rust and weaken the car in a collision. The NHTSA should address this issue with Honda. Please advise about warranty extensions or class actions against Honda.

Driving down the highway started having the check engine light start flashing and a loud clunking noise started in engine. Pulled over and shut off vehicle and tried restarting and it wouldn't. Tried again about 1 hr later and same noise came back. Stuck on side of highway for est 3 hrs. Had it towed to local Honda dealer (70 miles away) and it has a connecting rod/bearing failure and the engine is shot. No indication of the problem until the check engine light starting flashing. Car ran fine. This happened on 7/24/25 and has been at dealership since then because it cannot be driven.

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that there was an abnormal smoke odor coming from the vehicle, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the following day, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

Teenage daughter was driving in rush hour traffic and the car seemed at have stalled out. She pulled over on the shoulder and manually turned off the car. When she tried re-starting it, it would not start. Electrical came on, but no power to the engine. Something then seemed to have overheated because when fire department was called, they extinguished something that had melted the plastic covering underneath the car. Fire department called due to smoke. No flames seen. We believe the smoke was from the melted plastic under car from something (a fluid) that was leaking. Insurance was called, car was towed to a Honda repair shop and then towed to a local Honda dealership. They say engine seized and is locked up and will not re-start. Other noted repair needed they say is torque converter. No other problems with this vehicle in the past. One of the best cars we have owned. No warnings prior to this happening on the highway. Disappointed that Honda did not have a cause and origin expert determine what happened to the car.

Emission Code P0430. Changed everything related using OEM Parts and still showing the same code. O2s Sensors changed, Fuel Injectors by the dealer under warranty and Catalytic Converter change and still P0430 Permanent Code.

Electrical System – Body Control Module The BCM in my 2017 Honda Pilot fails intermittently, causing the alarm to activate randomly, warning lights to flicker, and battery drain. The issue occurs without warning, even while parked or driving, creating distraction and reducing confidence in the vehicle’s safety. Numerous other owners have reported identical issues online and with NHTSA, indicating a systemic defect. Honda should issue a recall to address this problem.

While driving on Interstate 4 in Orlando, engine suddenly seized and all components shut off. We were able to navigate to the shoulder, but vehicle was completely dead. We needed to use an auto transport to bring the vehicle back to Clearwater area where dealership confirmed the engine completely seized with an inability to crank, even manually. Please find Courtesy Palm Harbor Honda's findings attached to this report.

Noisy Fuel pump and difficulty to start the car.

Auto idle stop system has left this vehicle stranded at intersections on multiple occasions. The auto idle stop is not reliable and has been a continuous problem for years. The only way to not have a problem is to manually disable the feature each time I start the car. There is no way to permanently disable and this feature is causing hazardous conditions. My car has been almost hit multiple times due to being stranded at an intersection when the light changes.

Unresponsive and delayed acceleration when pressing the accelerator at highway speed. There is no reaction once the accelerator is pressed, engine does not increase rpm and no increase in speed for 1-2 seconds. This lag in any acceleration has caused multiple dangerous situations and needs to be investigated.

Failure occurred at highway speed. A host is warning light came on and the car lost power. Lights that came on included emissions, traction control, power steering, all wheel drive and towing (I wasn’t towing anything). No lights were on before the incident. The vehicle lost power and could not maintain any speed. I was able to roll into the breakdown lane. The vehicle was brought to a local Honda dealer who preformed the diagnosis and determined the issue to be a failure of the high pressure fuel pump. Seems this has been the source of several recalls including the 2017 pilot but not my vin. It seems like the recall my need to be expanded

ACC, LKAS, collision avoidance, and other safety features lights all came on at once.

After fixing a few of the recalls, the alarm on my 2017 Honda Pilot would start going off at random times. After several attempted fixes - replacing the key fob batteries, replacing the car battery - the issue has persisted and we noticed a clicking noise coming from the dash. Essentially the car would attempt to turn on without anyone near it. There are no warning messages present. Thus far, it has not replicated while driving. We have just taken the issue to the Honda dealer and they have come back with a $1400 charge to replace the Smart Power Control Module. In researching the issue, I've seen a number of owners have this issue with 2016-2018 Pilots and even seen some complaints in your database.

The engine fails to restart on its own after a complete stop at a traffic light or intersection with the auto idle mode on.

I feel the engine is failing

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently jerked with the transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 45,480.

2017 FWD Honda Pilot, Current miles 67k. In June 2025, Morning start, car makes whining noice when idle and gets louder while driving. Pilot then loses power, poor acceleration, starts to stall and steering wheel jerk. NO WARNING LIGHT / CHECK ENGINE ON DASHBOARD. (Common for light not to come on) Not putting my family and others at risk Pilot was taken to nearby dealer for diagnostics. I was told high pressure fuel pump needs fail / need replacement. Advisor at dealer sent out Goodwill request for replacement and was denied any repair. This is known problem on "2017-2020 Acura and Honda vehicles" Part #16790-RLV-305 - PUPM ASSY IS COVERED under Emission Warranty 84month / 70k miles. Why did Honda denied repair(?) Called American Honda Motor co., Inc. recall line Center and submit another request for repair. waiting for call back.

I believe my vehicle is impacted by the Honda/Acura related to recall 23V751000(Engine Damage from Connecting Rod Bearing Wear A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving). Ticking noise in engine. 2017 Honda Pilot 40,028 miles on it. Dealership has advised that this is not part of the VIN recall, the connecting rod bearing is spun and I now need to replace the engine.

The car began making a grinding noise, shimmied and surged. Independent mechanic found documentation online that Honda reported that if this occurred in 2017 Honda Pilots the problem could be the Fuel Pump Direct Injection High Pressure part. To correct problem this part must be replaced. Mechanic did replace this part which corrected the problems.

Around 52,000 miles, my front lower control arms started cracking. Around 57,000 miles, my front left strut assembly failed and started leaking oil. Based on a review of other complaints, these are known issues.

Auto Idle Stop System continues to be a problem even after new battery as well as computer update from Honda. My safety continues to be put at risk due to car not restarting after idle at stop light in traffic. People have almost rear ended my car as well as the stress it puts on driver because car totally dies and can't restart for several minutes. This is a one car owner since new in 2017 and continue to replace battery, but nothing helps. Car has been serviced by Honda dealer since purchased in 2017. No warning and you have to remember every time you restart the car to turn this feature off.

The engine developed bottom end knock. We brought it into the Honda dealership and they opened the engine from the oilpan to conduct an inspection. The dealership confirmed that the crankshaft bearings have scoring and the engine short block or whole engine needs to be replaced. This is the same issue that is being investigated under NHTSA Action Number: RQ24013. There is a recall for this exact same issue for Honda Pilots model years 2016, 2018, 2019, but ours is a 2017 -- the active recall is Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-751. The dealership contacted Honda, who is only willing to issue a courtesy discount, so that the cost to fix is $8,000 to $9,000. The car only has 115,000 miles and has been regularly serviced by the dealership for oil changes and all other recommended repairs and service when due, so this is likely a defect with the crankshaft. The dealership that conducted the examination is Muller Honda at 550 Skokie Valley Rd, Highland Park, IL 60035

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the contact heard a chirping sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road and waited for tow assistance. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 96,400.

Connecting rod bearing failure at 118,000 miles. Followed all recommended Honda service schedules at authorized Honda dealerships. Need to replace crankshaft, main bearings, #2 cylinder connecting rod and connecting rod bearings and all related gaskets, o-rings, seals, etc. Could have been major safety issue if I was driving when the engine failed. Vehicle is at a Honda dealership and Honda corporate told me, sorry, but out of warranty. Worse customer service experience in my lifetime. No vehicle regardless of manufacturer and regular servicing should require this type of repair, ever at this mileage. There is a manufacturing defect since model years on both sides of the 2017 model are currently involved with engine recalls per the information below. Quite the coincidence that my Pilot experienced the exact same failure. No warning lights became illuminated. Engine and engine cooling: Engine: Hard parts internal/mechanical Recall date 2023-11-12 Recall no. 23V751000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.

At times, when I attempt to accelerate, the fuel pump malfunctions, causing the vehicle to stall. This has almost caused accidents in the middle of intersections on multiple locations. When I attempt to cross intersections with other cars, my car is almost hit when it suddenly stops. The car has been inspected by a Mossy Honda of Lemon Grove and the fuel pump problem has been confirmed. There are no warnings or indications that this will happen. It doesn't happen all the time but it does happen every day. I am available at any time for an inspection.

The alarm kept going off randomly/intermittently. Honda recalled the control unit/alarm/tpms control unit on Honda Ridgeline bit not on Honda Pilot.

There was a knocking noise from the engine. I took it in for repairs and I was told that it is due to an abnormally worn rod bearing. I looked into this problem and found that there is an open investigation for the Honda Pilot 3.5L V-6 and abnormally worn rod bearings leading to possible engine failure. I mentioned this to the Honda dealership and he informed me that it does apply to my vehicle because there is not a recall on my vehicle. The gentleman in the service department is now denying that he said that the rods are worn, but now he’s stating the rods are bent. I have the text message from yesterday where he was explaining what’s wrong with my vehicle and that the rods are abnormally worn. The Honda dealership in Enterprise, AL is the dealership that I’m working with. They informed me today that they are working on getting my engine replaced with an engine from a junkyard from a totaled vehicle. This doesn’t seem ok due to the issue at hand with the problems with the 3.5 L V-6 engines and my concern is that it will have the same problems. I’ve read that Honda Pilot owners are having these same issues even though there isn’t a recall on their vehicles either. I’m very concerned and I’m not sure what can be done about this. I would appreciate any assistance or advice. Thank you for your time

Engine failure due to connecting rod bearings wearing prematurely.

Honda has put us in a very difficult and dangerous situation that we have tried to get fixed with two local Honda dealerships and have not been able to get this fixed This relates to "Warranty Extension: 2017–19 Multi-Model 6AT Torque Converter - DTC P0741 Stored." We own a 2017 Honda Pilot that we are still making payments on. We believe in Honda vehicles because our 2007 Honda Odyssey has over 300,000 miles and we can still drive it. For several months prior to December 2024, our Pilot has made a strange knocking noise when we turn it on. We did some research and found the torque converter recall notice. Sierra Honda in our town of Monrovia, Calif. would not even look at our car even though we mentioned the recall. They wanted to charge us just to inspect the vehicle. In December 2024, Pasadena Honda did examine our car but they said there was no code coming up on the computer indicating that anything was wrong with the car. We told them that if they drove the car, they could hear the issue but they said they couldn't drive it. The situation with our 2017 Honda Pilot has worsened and we are asking for Honda to deal with this situation immediately by fixing our car AND providing us with a rental car while our car is being fixed. I have a video from March 2025 that demonstrates that the noise continued to be an issue. The noise has gotten worse. I have videos from today that demonstrates this as well. I could not upload these videos here but can share them with you. We are lo

I owned the referenced 2017 Honda Pilot vehicle. I was having transmission issues, which there were recalls for. I went to an authorized dealer to have the recall addressed. 6-8 months later same issue or I thought. Honda Dealer told me that the car was no longer in warranty, now I had to pay. What tripe! 6 months later engine blows up. Took car to a non-Honda repair shop. They tell me that there was an issue with the crankshaft and that the rod bearing went through the engine block. NICE. I pay for a used Honda engine over $8,000, NICE! I pick up the car now they tell me the transmission is shot. I take the car back to another Honda dealer complaining about a blown engine and previous trips to the other Honda dealer about transmission issues. Now after a new engine, which this dealer tells me there were no bulletins or recalls, that they'll push back on Honda about the transmission. They get Honda to pay for roughly 60% of a new transmission. Which cost's me another $3,600. Fantastic! I spend almost $12,000 on, at that time a 6 year old vehicle with just 80,000 miles, that I purchased used, in 2019 with just over 13,000 miles. I decided not to push my luck and sold the car to a dealer in 2023. I AM CONTACTING THE REPAIR SHOP THAT REPLACED THE ENGINE FOR A COPY OF THE INVOICE. Now, after almost 2-years, I find out Honda had issued recalls for the same issue I paid for. Do I have any recourse? Can the NHSTA assist with this issue? Anything you can offer would be greatly apprec

Honda’s Auto Idle Stop (AIS) system fails to restart the engine from a complete stop at traffic lights, road intersection or when stopped in traffic when the Auto Start/Stop function is engaged. This has required the driver to shift the transmission to park to allow the engine to restart, once this did not work requiring a jump start in the middle of a busy intersection. Honda service has stated that a battery replacement was need, which was done, but a new battery has had no effect on the auto start/stop issue. The engine continues to struggle to restart when the AIS system is engaged. The vehicle headlights can be seen flickering when the engine struggles to restart. This is an extremely dangerous defect that puts the occupants of the vehicle in repeatedly dangerous situations. For example when AIS is engaged and making a turn into oncoming traffic, the vehicle will be stuck and inoperable in on coming traffic’s lane. This issue continues to persist with no resolution or solution from the manufacturer.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 144,8000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 360,000.