There is no doubt that Honda is known for its reliability and the Honda Pilot has been their high-selling midsize SUV. The 2015 Honda Pilot has managed to sell 6-figure units of the car and even after so much of sales, the car just records 71 complaints and 3 recalls on NHTSA so far. The Honda Pilot compares really well in terms of the complaints against its rivals like the Chevrolet Traverse, the Ford Explorer, and the Mazda CX-9. The car has had very few repetitive complaints but the airbags were found to be faulty in many cases, which was addressed by Honda multiple times.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Ignition – The car was reported to turn off by itself after a long drive and when trying to start the car back again, it just wouldn’t happen and the users could hear a clicking noise. The dealers inspected and found the starter motor to have been damaged.
- Screen – The media screen was reported to go blank at random times and resetting the system didn’t solve the issue. The dealers weren’t able to help but after some research, it was found that this issue happens due to a software malfunction that Honda hasn’t addressed yet.
- Headlamps – The users were facing issues with the low beam as it failed to work but what was surprising is that the high beam and other lights were functional. Dealers performed all the troubleshooting and were able to conclude that the wiring had to be replaced.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – Users noticed the car misfire while driving and the dealers immediately knew what the issue was as it was common among the owners. They informed that a piston was damaged and needed to be replaced. There were other instances where the car would stall abruptly while driving and this was linked to a failed variable valve timing switch.
- Transmission – The users reported the gearshifts to be very harsh and it was found that the car shudders every time the gas pedal was depressed. The dealers stated that the transmission fluid needs to be flushed thrice a there was a lot of grim caught up in the transmission.
- Brakes – Users noticed the brakes to feel spongy and it takes multiple attempts before the brakes can engage.
- Suspension – The owners could hear a noise from the front suspension and the car wasn’t able to take on the bumps as well as it usually does. Users noticed a fluid leaking on the front end of the car and the dealers found it to be coming from the front control arm bushing. The dealers stated that both the lower control arms had to be replaced as they had developed a bend.
Equipment Problems
- Tire jack – the jack that came with the car was noticed to provide less lift to the vehicle making it impossible to remove the wheel. Users had to utilize additional wooden blocks to get the wheel out.
Safety Problems
- Airbags – The users reported that the airbags never deployed during a crash, leading to serious injuries to the occupants. Honda later recalled the cars for a faulty airbag that was installed in numerous other vehicles.
Interior Problems
- Seats – It was stated that the seats felt very uncomfortable due to the forward-positioned headrests that cause strain to the neck.
Exterior Problems
- Paint – Multiple users stated that they found the paint to peel off right near the windshield. There were no definite reasons but most of the users who complained regarding this issue had a car in the shade of Pearl White.
2015 Honda Pilot recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
27th June 2019 |
19V502000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode |
An inflator explosion can result in sharp metal objects striking the driver or the passenger, resulting in an injury or even death. |
|
|
2. |
16th May 2019 |
19V378000 |
Improperly installed passenger airbag inflator |
This may cause the airbag to not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of an injury. |
The inflator installation will be inspected and if necessary, replace the airbag module assembly. |
|
3. |
27th September 2018 |
18V661000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode |
This can result in sharp metal objects shooting at the driver or passenger, increasing the risk of injury or death. |
The passenger frontal inflator will be replaced. |
Should you buy the 2015 Honda Pilot?
This segment comprises great options but Honda has set the benchmark for reliability with the 2015 Honda Pilot. There isn’t a single reason to avoid this SUV and the $29,870 price tag makes it over $1,000 dollars cheaper than the Chevrolet. Having a low number of registered problems suggest that the Honda Pilot is a very reliable vehicle and with multiple recalls on the airbags, it shows the determination towards keeping the cars as safe as possible. One suggestion that we would make is to avoid the Pearl White shade for this car as users have reported the paint peeling off on the roof.
