YearToAvoid

2015 Honda Pilot Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 25 engine complaints for the 2015 Honda Pilot, 23% of its 109 total complaints for the year. Owners most often describe shuddering or misfiring tied to the cylinder deactivation (VCM) system, oil consumption, and engine stalling, with failures reported at a median of 51,000 miles. No related recall is listed in NHTSA data.

Engine complaints
25
23% of 109
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
51,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe shuddering or shaking between roughly 35 and 50 mph that dealers linked to the VCM (variable cylinder management) system.
  • Some drivers report engine stalling or hesitation while merging or accelerating, including a delay before the engine restarts.
  • Multiple complaints mention cylinder misfires, sometimes tied to spark plug replacement, oil burning, or a check engine light for cylinder 2.
  • Owners report a valve cover gasket spool valve leaking oil onto the alternator, and a loud ticking or knocking noise from the engine at idle.
  • Some drivers describe hesitation or unresponsive acceleration specifically when turning, most often while turning right.
  • One owner reported total engine failure after ongoing oil burning and spark plug issues, and referenced a VCM warranty extension they were not notified about.

When 2015 Honda Pilot engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 28, 2015, latest Jul 29, 2026.

2015 Honda Pilot engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2015Dec 2016Oct 2018Jan 2020Nov 2021Nov 2024May 2025Mar 2026
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2015 to Jul 2026; peak Sep 2025 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2015 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

Are engine problems common on the 2015 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 25 engine complaints for the 2015 Pilot, which is 23% of all complaints filed for that model year, with a median failure mileage of 51,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2015 Honda Pilot engine?
The data provided lists no related recalls for the 2015 Pilot's engine complaints, though some owners mention a VCM warranty extension that applied to earlier model years.
What is the most common engine complaint on the 2015 Honda Pilot?
Owners most frequently describe shuddering or shaking at highway speeds linked to the VCM cylinder deactivation system, along with misfires, stalling, and oil leaks or oil burning.
How does the 2015 Pilot compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 2015 Pilot's 23% engine complaint share is lower than the 2016 (49%) and 2017 (54%) Pilot model years, which show much higher engine complaint rates.

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.