Honda decided to offer a more affordable version of the Acura MDX, specifically for the US market, and introduced the Pilot, which became quite a success too. Reliability is one of Honda’s fortes and the Pilot justifies it in a decent manner. The 2014 Honda Pilot’s list of complaints and recalls is not as big as its cabin, with the numbers standing at 88 for complaints and 3 for recalls to date. The standard V6 powertrain on the current vehicle has been carried forward from the previous year’s model and has faced the highest number of complaints from the owners. Apart from that, the Pilot has been facing complaints regarding the paint peeling issue and it has been there in the last model year too, showing that Honda is yet to address it. Apart from these issues, other areas of the 2014 Pilot have been trouble-free for most of the owners to date. In its class, the Pilot rivals the Ford Explorer, the Nissan Pathfinder, and the Kia Sorento.
Honda Pilot user complaints and problems
Engine problems
- Vibration from engine: The fuel-saving variable cylinder management system of the 2014 Honda Pilot troubles a lot of owners. All the owners report consistent vibration problems in their vehicles while driving. The vibrations are present even when the vehicles are driven at speeds of 50-60 mph as well.
- Sudden acceleration: A single case mentioning this issue has been reported. The owner stated in the report that he experienced a sudden surge in acceleration while the vehicle was at a standstill.
- Blown head gasket: A single report of the blown head gasket is there with the NHTSA against the 2014 Pilot. The owner mentions that the head gasket of his vehicle’s engine blew prematurely.
- Excessive oil consumption: This issue has been reported alongside the vibration issue caused by the variable cylinder management system. A couple of owners have faced this problem and the report states that the engines of the vehicles burned through engine oil at an abnormal rate.
- Intermittent misfiring: A few cases of intermittent misfiring of the engine came up against the 2014 Pilot. The owners complain that they experienced intermittent misfiring on their Pilot's engine and in one case, even after replacing the ignition coils and the spark plugs, the issue recurred.
Safety problems
- Brake failure: A few cases of brake failures have been reported. In some instances, the brake failure occurred multiple times while driving.
Miscellaneous problems
- Paint peeling: Several owners have complained about abnormal paint peeling on their SUVs. This issue was present on last year’s model too, showing no improvement from the brand. The paints of the affected vehicles would peel away in certain spots, compromising the appeal of the vehicles.
2014 Honda Pilot recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
September 27, 2018 |
18V661000 |
Passenger Frontal Airbag Inflator May Explode |
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. |
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on November 6, 2018. |
|
2 |
May 16, 2019 |
19V378000 |
Improperly Installed Passenger Airbag Inflator |
An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal airbag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal airbag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 5, 2019. |
|
3 |
June 27, 2019 |
19V502000 |
Passenger Frontal Airbag Inflator May Explode |
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. |
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2019. |
Should you buy a used Honda Pilot?
The Honda Pilot is among the most preferable options in its class for the value it offers as a proper family mover. The SUV also holds up pretty well in terms of reliability when compared to its peers, apart from a few niggles such as the paint peeling issue, which seem to be ignored by the brand. However, the standard variable cylinder management system of the Pilot doesn’t seem to be working as intended as per the complaints but the brand hasn't taken any corrective measures for it yet. Getting a used example of the Pilot makes sense when compared to its rivals with lesser reliability, but a thorough inspection for the possible paint-peeling issue and the variable cylinder management issue is a must.
