2021 Honda Pilot Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 114 engine complaints for the 2021 Honda Pilot, 26% of all 433 complaints for the year. Most center on the auto stop/start system failing to restart the engine and unintended acceleration reports. Median mileage at failure is 47,395 miles, and no related recalls are listed.
- Engine complaints
- 114
- 26% of 433
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 47,395 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners report the auto idle start/stop system fails to restart the engine after stopping at a light or in traffic, leaving the vehicle stuck in park or neutral.
- Some drivers describe the engine cutting out and the transmission dropping into neutral briefly while driving, with the engine revving but the vehicle not moving.
- Several complaints describe unintended or independent acceleration while braking, in some cases leading to a crash into property.
- One owner reported sudden engine failure caused by a broken rod bearing while driving on a highway, with no prior warning.
- One complaint describes a vehicle catching fire spontaneously while parked in a driveway.
When 2021 Honda Pilot engine complaints were filed
First complaint May 25, 2021, latest Sep 13, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2021 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are engine complaints for the 2021 Honda Pilot?
- NHTSA lists 114 engine complaints for the 2021 Pilot, which is 26% of the 433 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2021 Honda Pilot engine?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the 2021 Pilot engine complaints.
- At what mileage do 2021 Honda Pilot engine problems typically occur?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 47,395 miles.
- What is the main engine complaint for the 2021 Honda Pilot?
- The most frequently described pattern is the auto stop/start system failing to restart the engine after coming to a stop, sometimes in traffic or at intersections.
- Are the 2021 Pilot's engine complaints worse than other model years?
- The 26% share for 2021 is lower than 2016 (49%) and 2017 (54%), but higher than 2023 (12%) and 2024 (13%), based on NHTSA complaint data.