YearToAvoid

2016 Honda Pilot Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 62 Structure & Body complaints for the 2016 Honda Pilot, 4% of its 1,703 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 30,500 miles. Two related recalls cover hood latch strikers and rear subframe reinforcement.

Structure & Body complaints
62
4% of 1,703
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
30,500 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Hood bounces, shakes, or vibrates violently at highway speeds and especially when passing large trucks or in strong wind, sometimes to the point owners feared it would fly open.
  • Tailgate rusts through near the handle and around the taillight due to faulty seals letting water inside, with owners noting a related recall exists but not for their vehicle.
  • Power driver's seat stops moving up or down after a few years of use.
  • Vehicle lunges or stalls at various speeds while driving, with a fender piece reported to have fractured and struck a person.
  • Vehicle failed to start and set off alarms while parked in the owner's own driveway shortly after purchase.

When 2016 Honda Pilot body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 14, 2015, latest Jun 2, 2026.

2016 Honda Pilot structure & body complaints: complaints filed per quarter42015 Q32016 Q42018 Q12019 Q32022 Q12023 Q42025 Q4
62 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q3 to 2026 Q2; peak 2016 Q3 (4).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2016 Honda Pilot

  1. NHTSA 26V365000Jun 4, 2026Structure & Body880,514 vehicles

    Structure:frame and members

    American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

    Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 21V932000Nov 29, 2021Structure & Body724,826 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.

    Risk: A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PBV.

Structure & Body complaints by Pilot model year

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

  1. 20107 (6%)
  2. 201130 (10%)
  3. 201210 (6%)
  4. 201356 (21%)
  5. 201420 (17%)
  6. 201512 (11%)
  7. 201662 (4%)
  8. 201719 (2%)
  9. 201823 (5%)
  10. 201915 (2%)
  11. 202011 (2%)
  12. 202111 (3%)
  13. 20227 (4%)
  14. 202316 (11%)
  15. 20245 (4%)
  16. 20255 (2%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Structure & Body complaints does the 2016 Honda Pilot have?
NHTSA lists 62 Structure & Body complaints for the 2016 Pilot, which is 4% of the 1,703 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Honda Pilot's hood or body?
Yes. Recall 21V932000 covers a hood latch striker that may separate from the hood, and recall 26V365000 covers rear subframe reinforcement for certain 2016-2022 Pilots.
At what mileage do Structure & Body problems typically show up on the 2016 Pilot?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 30,500 miles at the time of failure for this problem area.
Have Structure & Body issues on the 2016 Pilot caused crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records 3 crashes and 5 injuries tied to Structure & Body complaints for the 2016 Pilot, with 0 fires.
Is the hood shaking issue on the 2016 Pilot covered by a recall?
Sample complaints describe hood shaking or vibrating at highway speed, but the listed recalls address the hood latch striker and rear subframe, not the hood-shaking complaint specifically.

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.