2011 Honda Pilot Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
53/100
#8 most-complained of 16 Pilot years
The 2011 Honda Pilot has 293 NHTSA complaints and 11 recalls, with a complaint index of 53, ranking 8th worst of 16 model years. Airbags are the top problem area, drawing a Caution verdict relative to other Pilot years.
- Complaints
- 293
- Recalls
- 11
- Crashes / fires
- 29 / 5
- Injuries / deaths
- 31 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16.5 city / 22.5 hwy
Top 2011 Honda Pilot problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags68 (23%)
- Engine52 (18%)
- Brakes44 (15%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires43 (15%)
- Steering34 (12%)
- Structure & Body30 (10%)
- Electrical System28 (10%)
- Other24 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain21 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers16 (5%)
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in low- and moderate-speed crashes, including head-on and side impacts.
- Seat belts reportedly failed to retract or hold tension during collisions, allowing occupants to strike the steering wheel or windshield.
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while stopped or moving slowly, including incidents while braking.
- Engine surges were reported at parking-lot speeds, causing the vehicle to jump curbs or strike objects.
- Brakes reportedly failed to stop the vehicle effectively during a crash sequence at highway speed.
2011 Honda Pilot recalls
11 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.
2011 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.
2011 compared with other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Honda Pilot reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2011 Pilot has a complaint index of 53 and ranks 8th worst of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict relative to other Pilot years.
- What is the most common problem with the 2011 Honda Pilot?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 68 of 293 complaints (23%), with a median failure mileage of 72,500 miles.
- Does the 2011 Honda Pilot have airbag recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2011 Pilot, and several, including campaigns 19V502000, 19V378000, 18V268000, 18V042000, 17V545000, and 17V030000, involve replacing or inspecting the passenger frontal air bag inflator or module.
- How does the 2011 Pilot compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 53 is worse than 2010 (0), 2012 (20), 2013 (27), 2014 (7), and 2015 (13), but better than 2016 (100), 2017 (80), and 2019 (87), which carry Avoid verdicts.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Honda Pilot?
- EPA rates the 2011 Pilot at 18.5 mpg combined (16.5 city / 22.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,500.