YearToAvoid

2014 Honda Pilot Engine Problems

Engine complaints make up 34 of 116 total complaints (29%) for the 2014 Honda Pilot, centered on vibration during cylinder deactivation, sudden unintended acceleration, and reports of stalling or hesitation. Median mileage at failure is 28,500, and NHTSA lists no related recalls for this issue.

Engine complaints
34
29% of 116
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
28,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a low-frequency vibration or rumble felt during cruising, tied to the variable cylinder management (VCM) system switching between 3 and 6 cylinders.
  • Some owners describe sudden unintended acceleration or lunging forward while braking or parking at low speed, in some cases resulting in a crash.
  • A subset of owners report stalling or hesitation while driving, including stalling during a turn and hesitation around 45 mph.
  • One owner reported a head gasket failure at 23,000 miles with no warning lights.
  • Some owners describe rough or shaking sensations linked to VCM combined with high oil consumption.
  • One owner reported a cylinder misfire caused by a piston ring failure.

When 2014 Honda Pilot engine complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 20, 2013, latest Jun 17, 2026.

2014 Honda Pilot engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2013May 2016Aug 2018Nov 2020Aug 2022Aug 2023Mar 2025Jun 2026
34 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2013 to Jun 2026; peak Jan 2026 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2014 Honda Pilot

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Pilot model year

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

  1. 201030 (27%)
  2. 201152 (18%)
  3. 201256 (33%)
  4. 201391 (34%)
  5. 201434 (29%)
  6. 201525 (23%)
  7. 2016838 (49%)
  8. 2017501 (54%)
  9. 2018183 (42%)
  10. 2019266 (29%)
  11. 2020119 (24%)
  12. 2021114 (26%)
  13. 202236 (23%)
  14. 202317 (12%)
  15. 202415 (13%)
  16. 202544 (22%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2014 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA lists 34 engine-related complaints out of 116 total complaints for the 2014 Pilot, or 29% of all complaints filed for that year.
Is there a recall for the 2014 Honda Pilot engine?
NHTSA shows no related recalls listed for this engine issue on the 2014 Pilot.
At what mileage do 2014 Honda Pilot engine problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure among reported engine complaints is 28,500 miles.
What kind of engine issues do owners describe most?
Owners most often describe vibration tied to the variable cylinder management system, along with reports of sudden acceleration, stalling, and hesitation.
Were there any crashes linked to engine complaints on the 2014 Pilot?
NHTSA data shows 2 crashes and 1 injury among the engine complaints filed for the 2014 Pilot.

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.