2010 Honda Pilot Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2010 Honda Pilot has a complaint index of 5 and ranks 20th of 21 model years, but its verdict is capped at Caution because it carries 10 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit, mostly for airbags. Top complaint areas are airbags (29%) and engine (27%).
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 5/100
- #20 of 21 Pilot years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 111
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 10
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 11
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16.5 city / 22.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2010 Honda Pilot problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags32 (29%)
- Engine30 (27%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires19 (17%)
- Other11 (10%)
- Electrical System10 (9%)
- Brakes9 (8%)
- Structure & Body7 (6%)
- Steering6 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers5 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the engine surging or accelerating unexpectedly while braking at low speed, sometimes leading to a crash into another vehicle or object.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in a side-impact crash or deployed unexpectedly during minor incidents, in some cases after a prior recall repair.
- Some drivers say the brake pedal went to the floor with no braking response, resulting in a collision.
- One owner described the battery warning light coming on followed by a fire that damaged the front end and cabin.
- A driver reported a steering wheel design flaw where a finger could get trapped in a casing hole, briefly preventing steering.
2010 Honda Pilot recalls
10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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.
- NHTSA 18V661000Sep 27, 2018Airbags1,355,406 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher 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 November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.
2010 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.
2010 compared with other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Honda Pilot reliable?
- NHTSA data gives it a complaint index of 5, ranking 20th out of 21 Pilot model years. Its verdict is Caution, capped from a lower risk level because it has 10 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit.
- What is the top problem area for the 2010 Honda Pilot?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 29% of complaints (32 of 111), followed by engine issues at 27%.
- Does the 2010 Honda Pilot have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag-related recall campaigns for the 2010 Pilot, mostly tied to Takata inflator replacements, part of 10 total recall campaigns for the year.
- How does the 2010 Pilot compare to other Pilot years?
- The 2010 Pilot ranks 20th of 21 years by complaint index, worse than 2013–2015 (rated Good or Best) but better than 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020, which are rated Avoid.
- At what mileage do 2010 Pilot problems typically show up?
- Median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 59,940 miles, though engine complaints show a higher median of 82,900 miles.