2006 Honda Pilot Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2006 Honda Pilot ranks 3rd worst out of 21 model years, with a complaint index of 90 and 268 complaints, largely tied to airbags, engine, and brakes. It carries 8 recall campaigns, all airbag-related except one unrelated document correction, earning it an Avoid verdict relative to other Pilot years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 90/100
- #3 of 21 Pilot years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 268
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 8
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 23
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 7
- Injuries
- 119
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17.5
- 15.5 city / 21 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 119 / 99
Top 2006 Honda Pilot problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags61 (23%)
- Engine48 (18%)
- Brakes46 (17%)
- Structure & Body38 (14%)
- Electrical System30 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires30 (11%)
- Other21 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain13 (5%)
- Seat Belts9 (3%)
- Fuel System6 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during moderate-speed crashes, leaving occupants without protection.
- Some owners describe airbag inflators rupturing and releasing chemicals that caused burns.
- Engines are reported to surge or increase RPM unexpectedly at low speeds, leading to collisions with objects or buildings.
- Brakes are described as failing to stop the vehicle in time during emergency stops, including one case where ABS reportedly did not engage.
- One owner reported the parking brake failed to hold the vehicle on a steep hill, causing it to roll and flip.
- A fuel system issue was linked to smoke and fire in the engine compartment following a minor rear-end collision.
2006 Honda Pilot recalls
8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V501000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,657,752 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
- NHTSA 19V499000Jun 27, 2019Airbags3,947 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
- NHTSA 19V182000Mar 6, 2019Airbags1,101,534 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
2006 Honda Pilot fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15.5 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 17.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Honda Pilot reliable?
- Compared to other Pilot model years, the 2006 ranks poorly, with a complaint index of 90 out of 100 and the third-worst ranking among 21 model years tracked. NHTSA records 268 complaints for this year, concentrated in airbags, engine, and brakes.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2006 Honda Pilot?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 61 complaints (23% of the total) and tied to 10 crashes. The median mileage at failure for airbag issues was 95,822 miles.
- Does the 2006 Honda Pilot have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2006 Pilot, seven of which involve airbag inflators, plus one unrelated recall about incorrect NHTSA hotline information in the owner's manual. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2006 Pilot compare to other Pilot years?
- The 2006 Pilot's complaint index of 90 is much higher than nearby years like 2007 (20) and 2008 (15), both rated Good. Only 2016 (100) and 2019 (95) score worse among all Pilot years.
- What mileage do 2006 Pilot problems typically show up at?
- Across all reported issues, the median mileage at failure was 100,000 miles, with brake problems appearing around 99,700 miles and airbag problems around 95,822 miles.