YearToAvoid

2009 Honda Pilot Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2009 Honda Pilot has a complaint index of 25 and ranks 16th out of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict capped by 9 recall campaigns. Engine (31% of complaints) and airbags (22%) are the top problem areas, with engine failures showing a median mileage of 90,000.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
25/100
#16 of 21 Pilot years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
134
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
9
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
9
reported in complaints
Fires
4
Injuries
12
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2014
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16.5 city / 22.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
12 / 0

Top 2009 Honda Pilot problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine42 (31%)
  2. Airbags29 (22%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires22 (16%)
  4. Brakes17 (13%)
  5. Structure & Body14 (10%)
  6. Steering13 (10%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain12 (9%)
  8. Electrical System6 (4%)
  9. Other5 (4%)
  10. Seat Belts5 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Some engines caught fire under the hood while driving at low speed, with smoke and flames appearing suddenly.
  • Owners describe sudden loss of engine control while braking at low speeds, in one case leading to a crash into a storefront.
  • Frontal airbags failed to deploy in some crashes at highway speed, resulting in occupant injury.
  • Passenger airbags deployed with metal fragments striking occupants, tied to the Takata inflator recall.
  • Steering columns produced an abnormal winding or grinding noise that persisted even after dealer repair.
  • Rear cameras reportedly disengaged unexpectedly while backing up, raising concern about visibility near pedestrians.
2009 Honda Pilot complaints: complaints filed per quarter132008 Q42010 Q42013 Q22015 Q12017 Q22019 Q42022 Q4
134 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q4 to 2026 Q1; peak 2016 Q4 (13).

2009 Honda Pilot recalls

9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V502000Jun 27, 2019Airbags9,555 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot 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 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 F5F and Q5E.

  2. NHTSA 19V378000May 16, 2019Airbags19,138 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

    Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.

  3. NHTSA 18V268000Apr 26, 2018Airbags1,335 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

    Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.

See all 9 recalls for the 2009 Honda Pilot →

2009 Honda Pilot fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
22.5 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,500
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.

2009 compared with other Pilot years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Good20211717.5
2008Good15133717.5
2009Caution25134918.5
2010Caution51111018.5
2011Caution552931118.5

All Honda Pilot years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Honda Pilot reliable?
NHTSA data give the 2009 Pilot a complaint index of 25 and a Caution verdict, ranking 16th of 21 Pilot model years. The verdict is capped at Caution mainly because of 9 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit, even though the complaint index alone is moderate.
What is the top problem area for the 2009 Honda Pilot?
Engine complaints make up 31% of all reports for this year, the largest share of any category, with a median failure mileage of 90,000.
Does the 2009 Honda Pilot have an airbag recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag-related recall campaigns tied to Takata inflators affecting the 2009 Pilot, and airbags account for 22% of owner complaints for this year.
How does the 2009 Honda Pilot compare to other Pilot years?
The 2009 Pilot's complaint index of 25 is worse than the 2014 and 2015 model years, which score 0 and 10 and carry a Best verdict, but better than the 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020 Pilots, which are rated Avoid with complaint indexes of 100, 80, 95, and 75.
How many recalls affect the 2009 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2009 Honda Pilot, mostly related to Takata airbag inflators.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.