2021 Honda Pilot problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
33% of relevant owner complaints on the 2021 Honda Pilot are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 64% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 34 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 31%).
Does the 2021 Honda Pilot have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 135 of 404 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Pilot concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%), and the largest group is filed under engine (107). For comparison, the 2020 scores 33% and the 2022 scores 30%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Honda Pilot
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Honda Pilot said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 135 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Honda Pilot?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Honda Pilot involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 10 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD.…
9 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Honda Pilot? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2021 Honda Pilot have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 135 of 404 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Pilot concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Honda Pilot?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Honda Pilot involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 10 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Honda Pilot years are better?
Among the Honda Pilot years we track, the 2023 (22%), the 2011 (27%) and the 2022 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (33%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2021 Honda Pilot?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2021 Honda Pilot has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.