2011 Honda PILOT
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Honda PILOT has 389 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: i make reference to 2011 honda pilot recall from nhtsa: 10v640000 of 12/16/2010. since i bought a similar vehicle on 12/11/2010, i would like to find out if my car is included in this recall. i wrote to the manufacturer address in california several weeks ago requesting information about this matt. ⚠️ 10 fire reports filed.
389
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
4.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
68 complaints- • I MAKE REFERENCE TO 2011 HONDA PILOT RECALL FROM NHTSA: 10V640000 OF 12/16/2010. SINCE I BOUGHT A SIMILAR VEHICLE ON 12/11/2010, I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I WROTE TO THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESS IN CALIFORNIA SEVERAL WEEKS AGO REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MATT
- • PURCHASED BRAND NEW PILOT IN JUNE 2011. AROUND NOON I WAS DRIVING DOWN ON STRETCH OF ROAD AT ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN I SAW A VEHICLE WITH A TRAILER MOVING AHEAD OF ME. AS I APPROACHED TO PASS THE VEHICLE IT APPEARED TO SLOW DOWN AND STARTED TURNING LEFT AHEAD ON THE ROAD. THE TRAILER IT WAS HAULING DID NO
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES TO THE ENTIRE FRONT END
“I MAKE REFERENCE TO 2011 HONDA PILOT RECALL FROM NHTSA: 10V640000 OF 12/16/2010. SINCE I BOUGHT A SIMILAR VEHICLE ON 12/11/2010, I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I WROTE TO THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESS IN CALIFORNIA SEVERAL WEEKS AGO REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MATT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
41 complaints- • WHEEL SENSOR WIRES ON 2011 HONDA PILOT ARE EXPOSED AND UNPROTECTED UNDER THE VEHICLE WHICH WHEN DAMAGED, DISABLE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS), VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA), AND THE VARIABLE TORQUE MANAGEMENT (VTM-4) SYSTEMS. EXPOSED WIRES ARE PRONE TO BE CUT OR DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS AND HAZAR
- • A FEW WEEKS AGO, I BEING TO NOTICE THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND WOBBLES UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE AT 60+ MPH ON OUR NEW HONDA PILOT WE PURCHASED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY MENTIONED THE FORWARD ROTORS NEEDED TO BE MACHI
- • NOTICED THE CARS STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MILES PER HOUR WHICH IS VERY SCARY. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE ROTORS NEED TO BE RE-SURFACE. I ASK WHY BECAUSE IT'S A BRAND NEW CAR WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE AND RESPONSE WAS IT COULD BE THE PROBL
“WHEEL SENSOR WIRES ON 2011 HONDA PILOT ARE EXPOSED AND UNPROTECTED UNDER THE VEHICLE WHICH WHEN DAMAGED, DISABLE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS), VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA), AND THE VARIABLE TORQUE MANAGEMENT (VTM-4) SYSTEMS. EXPOSED WIRES ARE PRONE TO BE CUT OR DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS AND HAZAR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
36 complaints- • 2011 HONDA PILOT EX-L, ENGINE IS HUMMING WHENEVER THE SPEED IS UP TO 50 MILES/HOUR. *TR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 87 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AFTER EXHIBITING A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- • WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 20 MPH ON LOCAL ROAD, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR CAME UP AND ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. TOWED TO HONDA DEALER AND AFTER THROUGH CHECKUP, THROTTLE BODY & THROTTLE GASKET WERE REPLACED. *TR
“2011 HONDA PILOT EX-L, ENGINE IS HUMMING WHENEVER THE SPEED IS UP TO 50 MILES/HOUR. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SUSPENSION
34 complaints- • MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 2ND, 2010 AND WERE TURNING ON THE STREET WE LIVE ON WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL JUST LAID OVER. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT EITHER THE BOLTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AT THE FACTORY OR POSSIBLY THEY
- • I MAKE REFERENCE TO 2011 HONDA PILOT RECALL FROM NHTSA: 10V640000 OF 12/16/2010. SINCE I BOUGHT A SIMILAR VEHICLE ON 12/11/2010, I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I WROTE TO THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESS IN CALIFORNIA SEVERAL WEEKS AGO REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MATT
- • NOTICED THE CARS STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MILES PER HOUR WHICH IS VERY SCARY. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE ROTORS NEED TO BE RE-SURFACE. I ASK WHY BECAUSE IT'S A BRAND NEW CAR WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE AND RESPONSE WAS IT COULD BE THE PROBL
“MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 2ND, 2010 AND WERE TURNING ON THE STREET WE LIVE ON WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL JUST LAID OVER. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT EITHER THE BOLTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AT THE FACTORY OR POSSIBLY THEY”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
34 complaints- • 2011 HONDA PILOT EX-L, ENGINE IS HUMMING WHENEVER THE SPEED IS UP TO 50 MILES/HOUR. *TR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO ONE SIDE WITHOUT EXPLANATION. IN ADDITION, WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND STEERING TO THE LEFT HE WOULD MOMENTARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERF
- • A FEW WEEKS AGO, I BEING TO NOTICE THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND WOBBLES UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE AT 60+ MPH ON OUR NEW HONDA PILOT WE PURCHASED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY MENTIONED THE FORWARD ROTORS NEEDED TO BE MACHI
“2011 HONDA PILOT EX-L, ENGINE IS HUMMING WHENEVER THE SPEED IS UP TO 50 MILES/HOUR. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 389 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: I MAKE REFERENCE TO 2011 HONDA PILOT RECALL FROM NHTSA: 10V640000 OF 12/16/2010. SINCE I BOUGHT A SIMILAR VEHICLE ON 12/11/2010, I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I WROTE TO THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESS IN CALIFORNIA SEVERAL WEEKS AGO REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MATT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: WHEEL SENSOR WIRES ON 2011 HONDA PILOT ARE EXPOSED AND UNPROTECTED UNDER THE VEHICLE WHICH WHEN DAMAGED, DISABLE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS), VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA), AND THE VARIABLE TORQUE MANAGEMENT (VTM-4) SYSTEMS. EXPOSED WIRES ARE PRONE TO BE CUT OR DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS AND HAZAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: 2011 HONDA PILOT EX-L, ENGINE IS HUMMING WHENEVER THE SPEED IS UP TO 50 MILES/HOUR. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SUSPENSION: MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 2ND, 2010 AND WERE TURNING ON THE STREET WE LIVE ON WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL JUST LAID OVER. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT EITHER THE BOLTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AT THE FACTORY OR POSSIBLY THEY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Honda PILOT — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 389
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 10
- Crash reports
- 28
- Injury reports
- 37
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Honda PILOT