2014 Honda PILOT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2014 Honda PILOT has 151 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: when the variable cylinder management kicks in at 2000 rpm the engine vibrates. it does this constantly when the eco green light comes on. very distracting and annoying. also is a problem in my sisters 2013 pilots. dealer knew it was a problem but would not disclose until after i purchased the c.

9 crash reports 6 injuries

151

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

34 complaints

23%

• WHEN THE VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT KICKS IN AT 2000 RPM THE ENGINE VIBRATES. IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY WHEN THE ECO GREEN LIGHT COMES ON. VERY DISTRACTING AND ANNOYING. ALSO IS A PROBLEM IN MY SISTERS 2013 PILOTS. DEALER KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT DISCLOSE UNTIL AFTER I PURCHASED THE C
• WHEN CRUISING IN MY 2014 HONDA PILOT EX-L AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON RELATIVELY FLAT TERRAIN, THERE IS A LOW FREQUENCY VIBRATION AND RUMBLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO THE VCM FEATURE OF THE ENGINE. IT IS POSSIBLE THIS COULD GET WORSE AND CAUSE SOME ENGINE DAMAGE. *TR
• TWO INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE FIRST ON JANUARY 31, 2014, THE SECOND ON MARCH 25, 2014. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT A VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES PER HOUR. IN BOTH SITUATIONS THE CAR WAS COMING TO A STOP WITH THE BRAKE BEING APPLIED. SUDDENLY, THE RPM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“WHEN THE VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT KICKS IN AT 2000 RPM THE ENGINE VIBRATES. IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY WHEN THE ECO GREEN LIGHT COMES ON. VERY DISTRACTING AND ANNOYING. ALSO IS A PROBLEM IN MY SISTERS 2013 PILOTS. DEALER KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT DISCLOSE UNTIL AFTER I PURCHASED THE C”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

20 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TIRES, SEATS, AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TIRES AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FA
• PAINT IS PEELING OFF DOWN TO BARE METAL ON THE ROOF BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND SUNROOF.
• FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS (LEFT AND RIGHT) WENT AT 60K MILES. SUNROOF NEEDED FULL REPLACEMENT AT 60K (RUST WAS EVIDENT INDICATING SIGNS OF ONGOING LEAK), ENGINE BUSHING NEEDED REPLACED AT 60K MILES. ALIGNMENT NEEDED BECAUSE ENGINE BUSHING AND WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TIRES, SEATS, AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TIRES AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

WHEELS

16 complaints

11%

• ISSUES: 1 - STEERING CONSTANTLY VIBRATES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45MPH. SMOOTH ROADS HIGHER VIBRATIONS. THIS VIBRATION INCREASES TO EXTENT THAT YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE LOOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR AT SPEED ABOVE 70MPH AND YOU CAN SEE THE STEERING VIBRATING. SO EFFECTIVELY, YOU CANT DRIVE YOU CAR BEYOND 70MPH.
• I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT WHEN I BRAKE MY VEHICLE SHAKES - TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES DONE AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKES LOOKED BRAND NEW AND WANTED TO SEND ME ON MY WAY. I ASKED WELL WHY IS IT SHAKING THEN AND I WAS TOLD THAT MAYBE THE ROATERS NEEDED MACHINING A $207 SERVICE. THIS WA
• VEHICLE SHIMMIES, SHAKES, VIBRATES WHEN BRAKING AND PULLS TO THE LEFT. HAD 26,000 MILE ON VEHICLE. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT COULD BE DUE TO BREAKING, CAR WASHES, AND WEATHER. ROSTERS WERE RESURFACED AT MY EXPENSE. NOW VEHICLE HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP SAY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ISSUES: 1 - STEERING CONSTANTLY VIBRATES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45MPH. SMOOTH ROADS HIGHER VIBRATIONS. THIS VIBRATION INCREASES TO EXTENT THAT YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE LOOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR AT SPEED ABOVE 70MPH AND YOU CAN SEE THE STEERING VIBRATING. SO EFFECTIVELY, YOU CANT DRIVE YOU CAR BEYOND 70MPH. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

15 complaints

10%

• I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW HONDA PILOT-NAVI 2014 ON JULY 3 2014. 1 WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE THERE WAS A MAJOR WATER LEAK INSIDE THE NEW 2014 VEHICLE!.. WATER WAS LEAKING INSIDE FROM A BIG RAIN STORM AND I DO HAVE A VIDEO AND PICS TO SHOW YOU. THE NEXT DAY SPACE COAST HONDA WAS CALLED WHERE I PURCHASED T
• WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT,VEHICLE FAILS TO STOP, EVEN WITH FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE. (AS IF THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE WERE APPLIED SIMULTANEOUSLY) ENGINE SPEED DOES NOT FALL BELOW APPROXIMATELY 2,000 RPM.
• I HAD PUT MY CAR IN PARK, IT WAS STILL RUNNING, I REACHED IN AND TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO ROLL. I ATTEMPTED TO GET IN THE CAR TO BRAKE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO THIS AND THEN WAS THROWN AWAY FROM THE VVEHICLE, HITTING MY HEAD ON MY ROCK DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCLINE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW HONDA PILOT-NAVI 2014 ON JULY 3 2014. 1 WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE THERE WAS A MAJOR WATER LEAK INSIDE THE NEW 2014 VEHICLE!.. WATER WAS LEAKING INSIDE FROM A BIG RAIN STORM AND I DO HAVE A VIDEO AND PICS TO SHOW YOU. THE NEXT DAY SPACE COAST HONDA WAS CALLED WHERE I PURCHASED T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

10 complaints

• LEASED BRAND NEW PILOT LX ON MARCH 15, 2014. IT APPEARED TO BE IN PERFECT WORKING CONDITION. THEN, SUDDENLY ON 3/30/14 WHILE DRIVING HOME, IT LOST ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF ITS BRAKES. TO STOP IT, YOU MUST HAVE FOOT TO FLOOR ON BRAKES. IF THIS HAD BEEN AN EMERGENCY STOP, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN ACTIVATING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. TH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“LEASED BRAND NEW PILOT LX ON MARCH 15, 2014. IT APPEARED TO BE IN PERFECT WORKING CONDITION. THEN, SUDDENLY ON 3/30/14 WHILE DRIVING HOME, IT LOST ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF ITS BRAKES. TO STOP IT, YOU MUST HAVE FOOT TO FLOOR ON BRAKES. IF THIS HAD BEEN AN EMERGENCY STOP, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 151 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHEN THE VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT KICKS IN AT 2000 RPM THE ENGINE VIBRATES. IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY WHEN THE ECO GREEN LIGHT COMES ON. VERY DISTRACTING AND ANNOYING. ALSO IS A PROBLEM IN MY SISTERS 2013 PILOTS. DEALER KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT DISCLOSE UNTIL AFTER I PURCHASED THE C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TIRES, SEATS, AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TIRES AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
WHEELS: ISSUES: 1 - STEERING CONSTANTLY VIBRATES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45MPH. SMOOTH ROADS HIGHER VIBRATIONS. THIS VIBRATION INCREASES TO EXTENT THAT YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE LOOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR AT SPEED ABOVE 70MPH AND YOU CAN SEE THE STEERING VIBRATING. SO EFFECTIVELY, YOU CANT DRIVE YOU CAR BEYOND 70MPH.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW HONDA PILOT-NAVI 2014 ON JULY 3 2014. 1 WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE THERE WAS A MAJOR WATER LEAK INSIDE THE NEW 2014 VEHICLE!.. WATER WAS LEAKING INSIDE FROM A BIG RAIN STORM AND I DO HAVE A VIDEO AND PICS TO SHOW YOU. THE NEXT DAY SPACE COAST HONDA WAS CALLED WHERE I PURCHASED T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)