YearToAvoid

2011 Honda Pilot Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 21 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 Honda Pilot, 7% of that year's 293 total complaints. Owners describe shuddering, hesitation, and unexpected shifts to neutral around a median 45,000 miles. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
21
7% of 293
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
45,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a shudder or vibration in the drivetrain felt through the gas pedal or floor at speeds between 25 and 50 mph.
  • Some describe the automatic transmission jerking, hesitating, or stuttering during gear shifts, especially at low speeds and light acceleration.
  • One owner reported the automatic transmission suddenly shifted into neutral at 70 mph, causing a brief loss of forward momentum.
  • A new vehicle owner reported a transmission fluid leak appearing after only 60 miles of driving.
  • One owner reported sudden unintended acceleration at low speed with the brake unable to stop the car.
  • A torque converter failure was reported at 72,000 miles, with owners noticing a shudder around 25 mph that worsened over time.

When 2011 Honda Pilot transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 22, 2010, latest May 24, 2023.

2011 Honda Pilot transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2010Jan 2012Apr 2014Apr 2015Jun 2017Feb 2019Jan 2020
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2010 to May 2023; peak Jun 2014 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2011 Honda Pilot

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Pilot model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20106 (5%)
  2. 201121 (7%)
  3. 201220 (12%)
  4. 201354 (20%)
  5. 20147 (6%)
  6. 201511 (10%)
  7. 2016200 (12%)
  8. 2017122 (13%)
  9. 201878 (18%)
  10. 201992 (10%)
  11. 202035 (7%)
  12. 202125 (6%)
  13. 202215 (10%)
  14. 202310 (7%)
  15. 202412 (11%)
  16. 202520 (10%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA lists 21 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 Honda Pilot, which is 7% of the 293 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2011 Honda Pilot?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this Transmission & Powertrain problem area.
At what mileage do 2011 Honda Pilot transmission problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 45,000 miles.
What kind of transmission problems do 2011 Honda Pilot owners report?
Owners report shuddering and vibration at certain speeds, jerky or hesitant gear shifts, a case of the transmission unexpectedly shifting to neutral, and a fluid leak on a nearly new vehicle.

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.