2008 Honda Pilot Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2008 Honda Pilot has a complaint index of 15, ranking 18th worst out of 21 model years, with a Good verdict capped from higher potential because 2005-2009 records are less complete. Airbags are the top problem area, with 32 complaints and 7 recall campaigns filed.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 15/100
- #18 of 21 Pilot years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 133
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 7
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 11
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 15
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17.5
- 15.5 city / 21 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 15 / 1
Top 2008 Honda Pilot problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags32 (24%)
- Structure & Body23 (17%)
- Engine22 (17%)
- Electrical System17 (13%)
- Brakes13 (10%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain11 (8%)
- Steering8 (6%)
- Other7 (5%)
- Fuel System5 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in frontal and side-impact collisions, including one crash at 30 mph and another rear-end collision at 60 mph.
- Engine developed burning oil smell and white exhaust smoke, in one case leading to a dealer-diagnosed need for engine replacement.
- Owners report engine fires with black smoke filling the cabin, in one case totaling the vehicle.
- A vehicle reportedly rolled backward down a driveway even though the gear selector was in park and the key removed.
- A tire reportedly separated and exploded on the highway after a thumping noise, causing loss of control.
- Low beam headlights went out while driving in dark, wet conditions, described by the owner as a known issue on earlier Pilot models.
2008 Honda Pilot recalls
7 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.
2008 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.
2008 compared with other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Honda Pilot reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2008 Pilot a complaint index of 15, one of the lower complaint totals among the 21 model years tracked, and it ranks 18th worst out of 21. Its verdict is Good, though capped because complaint records for 2005-2009 model years are less complete.
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Honda Pilot?
- Airbags are the top problem area with 32 complaints (24% share), followed by Structure & Body with 23 complaints and Engine with 22 complaints. The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints is 87,000 for the model year overall.
- Does the 2008 Honda Pilot have airbag recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2008 Pilot, and all 7 involve airbags, mainly frontal airbag inflator replacements dating from 2015 through 2019.
- How does the 2008 Pilot compare to other Pilot years?
- The 2008 Pilot's complaint index of 15 is lower than the 2016 (100), 2019 (95), and 2006 (90) model years, all rated Avoid. It compares closely to 2007, which also earned a Good verdict with a complaint index of 20.