YearToAvoid

2021 Honda Pilot Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 25 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2021 Honda Pilot, 6% of its 433 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 20,000 miles. There is no related recall on file, and this share is lower than several earlier Pilot model years.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
25
6% of 433
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
20,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle unexpectedly shifts itself from Drive or Park into Neutral, sometimes while stopped at a traffic signal or intersection, occasionally causing the engine to stall.
  • Sudden deceleration or loss of acceleration on the highway accompanied by a loud whirring or whining noise from the transmission.
  • Vehicle enters limp mode with the check engine light flashing, refusing to accelerate until the engine is turned off and restarted.
  • Long hesitation of several seconds when shifting from Reverse into Drive, followed by a sudden burst of high-speed acceleration.
  • Owners report the pushbutton gear selector cannot be moved into Neutral while the engine is off, which they describe as a safety concern in stalled-vehicle situations.
  • One owner reported the vehicle rolled backward while in Park with the engine idling, resulting in a crash and injury.

When 2021 Honda Pilot transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 9, 2021, latest Sep 22, 2026.

2021 Honda Pilot transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2021May 2023Feb 2024Oct 2024Aug 2025Dec 2025Apr 2026
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Jun 2022 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2021 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 the 2021 Honda Pilot have?
NHTSA lists 25 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2021 Pilot, which is 6% of the 433 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2021 Honda Pilot?
No. The data shows no related recalls tied to the Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2021 Pilot.
At what mileage do transmission problems usually appear on the 2021 Pilot?
The median mileage at failure among these complaints is 20,000 miles.
Did any 2021 Pilot transmission complaints involve a crash?
Yes, one complaint involved a crash and one involved an injury, out of the 25 Transmission & Powertrain complaints filed.
Is the 2021 Pilot's transmission complaint rate high compared to other years?
At 6% share of total complaints, the 2021 Pilot's rate is lower than years like 2013 (20%), 2018 (18%), and 2017 (13%).

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.