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Honda Pilot
Car and Driver says the 2026 Honda Pilot does just enough to stay afloat among three-row SUVs, and that while some three-row rivals have made leaps and bounds forward in recent years with new platforms, hybrid powertrains, and flashy designs, Honda has been content to keep the Pilot in its lane as a solid, dependable, and frankly unexciting choice; it says Honda appears to be chasing the boxy, rugged look of the redesigned two-row Passport, but the Pilot still looks more mall-crawler than mud-brawler. J.D. Power says the 2026 Honda Pilot is available in Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Touring Blackout, Elite, and Black Edition trim levels, calling it one of the most cleverly designed three-row SUVs, with a thoughtfully engineered interior ideally suited to growing families, and that for 2026 the Pilot receives a few technology upgrades, including a larger 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, a larger 10.2-inch digital instrument panel, standard wireless phone integration across all trims, and faster data speeds.
Solid, dependable, unexciting
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 Honda Pilot does just enough to stay afloat among three-row SUVs, and that while some three-row rivals have made leaps and bounds forward in recent years with new platforms, hybrid powertrains, and flashy designs, Honda has been content to keep the Pilot in its lane as a solid, dependable, and frankly unexciting choice in this segment, still looking more mall-crawler than mud-brawler despite chasing the boxy, rugged look of the redesigned Passport.
Seven trim levels
J.D. Power (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 Honda Pilot is available in Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Touring Blackout, Elite, and Black Edition trim levels, calling it one of the most cleverly designed three-row SUVs, with a thoughtfully engineered interior that seems ideally suited to growing families.
2026 tech upgrades
J.D. Power (opens in a new tab) says for 2026, the Honda Pilot receives a few technology upgrades, including a larger 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, a larger 10.2-inch digital instrument panel, standard wireless phone integration across all trims, and faster data speeds.
Questions buyers ask
How many trim levels does the Honda Pilot offer?
J.D. Power (opens in a new tab) says seven: Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Touring Blackout, Elite, and Black Edition.
What's new on the 2026 Honda Pilot?
J.D. Power (opens in a new tab) says a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, a larger 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, standard wireless phone integration, and faster data speeds.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2025 Honda Pilot is built around 3.5L V6, rated at 285 horsepower across its three-row SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2025 U.S. lineup has 6 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe most the 2025 Honda Pilot is published to tow is up to 5,000 lb.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 197 owner complaints for the 2025 Pilot.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2025 Honda Pilot
The 2025 Pilot uses a 285-horsepower V6 and ten-speed automatic. Seating layout, AWD status and capability equipment change across the six-trim range.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
5 indexed Honda Pilot model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Honda Pilot | 1 | 2026 record → |
| 2025 Honda Pilot | 1 | 2025 record → |
| 2024 Honda Pilot | 2024 record → | |
| 2021 Honda Pilot | 2021 record → | |
| 2019 Honda Pilot | 2019 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Honda Pilot.
The Honda Pilot is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating manufactured by Honda since 2002 for the 2003 model year. Primarily aimed at the North American market, the Pilot is the largest SUV produced by Honda. As of 2025, the Pilot is manufactured in Lincoln, Alabama, and the Pilot was produced in Alliston, Ontario, until April 2007.
Source: Honda Pilot (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Honda Pilot at a glance
- Production
- 2002–present
- Model years
- 2003–present
- Class
- Mid-size crossover SUV
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, four-wheel-drive (2003–present), Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (2006–present)
Honda Pilot generations
The Honda Pilot has been redesigned in 2009, 2016, 2023, gaps of 6, 7, 7 years, an average of 6.7 years between generations. The current generation (fourth generation, YG1/2) began in 2023.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | YF1/2 | 2003–2009 | The first-generation Pilot was unveiled in December 2001 and later released for sale on June 3, 2002 for the 2003 model year. |
| Second generation | YF3/4 | 2009–2016 | The larger second generation Pilot was unveiled as a prototype in January 2008 at the North American International Auto Show, and was released for sale on May 22, 2008. |
| Third generation | YF5/6 | 2016–2023 | The third-generation Pilot debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2015, and production began in May. |
| Fourth generation | YG1/2 | 2023–present | The fourth-generation Pilot made its debut on November 7, 2022. |
NHTSA rated the 2025 Honda Pilot overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (8 campaigns across the latest model years)
- July 2026, Suspension:Rear. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2026 Pilot and Passport vehicles. The rear subframe bolts may have been tightened improperly. Consequence: Loose rear subframe bolts can lead to a loss of vehicle stability or rear subframe detachment, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- January 2026, Seats:Critical Fasteners. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, and 2024 HR-V, Pilot, and Acura Integra vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may not have been tightened properly, which can result in a loose seat. As such, these… Consequence: A loose driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- June 2025, Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles… Consequence: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Owners filed 201 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Honda Pilot, most often about forward collision avoidance (55), electrical system (43), steering (38).
Year by year
The Honda Pilot across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Honda Pilot | 20–22 | $2,950–$3,250 | 4 | 1 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Honda Pilot | 20–22 | $2,850–$3,100 | 4 | 4 | 194 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Honda Pilot | 20–22 | $2,850–$3,100 | 4 | 6 | 109 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Honda Pilot | 20–22 | $2,850–$3,100 | 4 | 5 | 137 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Honda Pilot | 21–23 | $2,700–$2,950 | 3 | 5 | 148 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Honda Pilot | 22–23 | $2,700–$2,850 | 2 | 10 | 424 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Honda Pilot | 21–23 | $2,700–$2,950 | 4 | 11 | 483 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Honda Pilot | 21–23 | $2,700–$2,950 | 4 | 13 | 892 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Honda Pilot | 21–23 | $2,700–$2,950 | 4 | 7 | 437 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Honda Pilot | 21–23 | $2,700–$2,950 | 4 | 4 | 915 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Honda Pilot | 21–23 | $2,700–$2,950 | 4 | 8 | 1,691 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Honda Pilot | 20 | $3,100 | 2 | 4 | 108 | 4 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Honda Pilot, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 to 2023 | 3 to 4 | 22.0 to 21.0 | Labels: Pilot AWD Touring/Elite/Black; Transmissions: Automatic (S10); Size classes: Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Transmissions: Automatic (S9); Size classes: Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| 2021 to 2022 | 2 to 3 | 22.5 to 22.0 | Labels: Pilot AWD TrailSport | |
| 2020 to 2021 | 4 to 2 | 22.0 to 22.5 | Transmissions: Automatic 6-spd | |
| 2016 to 2017 | Labels: Pilot AWD, Pilot FWD | Labels: Pilot 2WD, Pilot 4WD | ||
| 2015 to 2016 | 2 to 4 | 20.0 to 22.0 | Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (S9), Automatic 6-spd | Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl; Transmissions: Automatic 5-spd |
Buying used
What the Honda Pilot recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | suspension (rear) | None |
| 2025 | 4 | fuel system, gasoline (storage); fuel system, gasoline (fuel injection system); seat belts (rear/other); 1 more | None |
| 2024 | 6 | steering (rack and pinion); seats (critical fasteners); fuel system, gasoline (storage); 2 more | None |
| 2023 | 5 | steering (rack and pinion); seats (critical fasteners); fuel system, gasoline (storage); 2 more | None |
| 2022 | 5 | back over prevention (display function); service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); air bags (sensor); 1 more | None |
| 2021 | 10 | electrical system (software); back over prevention (sensing system); tires; 6 more | None |
| 2020 | 11 | structure (body); equipment (other); back over prevention (sensing system); 7 more | None |
| 2019 | 13 | structure (body); engine and engine cooling; back over prevention (sensing system); 6 more | None |
| 2018 | 7 | seats; engine and engine cooling; structure (body); 3 more | None |
| 2017 | 4 | structure (body); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); air bags (sensor); 1 more | None |
| 2016 | 8 | seat belts (rear/other); electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); fuel system, gasoline (storage); 4 more | None |
| 2015 | 4 | air bags (frontal); fuel system, gasoline (delivery) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 1,928 | 35% | 2016 (767) |
| electrical system | 1,654 | 30% | 2016 (579) |
| unknown or other | 958 | 17% | 2016 (290) |
| power train | 618 | 11% | 2016 (200) |
| fuel/propulsion system | 501 | 9% | 2016 (170) |
| forward collision avoidance | 455 | 8% | 2019 (121) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Honda Pilot trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | AWD | 3.5-liter V6 | 285 | 262 | 4,513 | 5,000 | 21 | $43,690 |
| EX-L | AWD | 3.5-liter V6 | 285 | 262 | 4,528 | 5,000 | 21 | $45,990 |
| TrailSport | AWD | 3.5-liter V6 | 285 | 262 | 4,722 | 5,000 | 20 | $51,890 |
| Touring | AWD | 3.5-liter V6 | 285 | 262 | 4,658 | 5,000 | 21 | $52,590 |
| Touring S | AWD | 3.5-liter V6 | 285 | 262 | 4,658 | 5,000 | 21 | $53,790 |
| Elite | AWD | 3.5-liter V6 | 285 | 262 | 4,678 | 5,000 | 21 | $54,990 |
| Black Edition | AWD | 3.5-liter V6 | 285 | 262 | 4,678 | 5,000 | 21 | $56,490 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Honda Pilot model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 3.5-liter V6 | 285 | 4,513–4,722 | 5,000 | 18.5 |
| 2025 | 6 | 3.5-liter V6 | 285 | 4,488–4,685 | 5,000 | 18.5 |
| 2024 | 6 | 3.5-liter V6 | 285 | 4,202–4,685 | 5,000 | 18.5 |
| 2023 | 6 | 3.5-liter V6 | 285 | 4,202–4,685 | 5,000 | 18.5 |
| 2022 | 7 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,202–4,321 | 5,000 | 19.5 |
| 2021 | 7 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,158–4,321 | 5,000 | 19.5 |
| 2020 | 7 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,217–4,319 | 5,000 | 19.5 |
| 2019 | 6 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,217–4,319 | 5,000 | 19.5 |
| 2018 | 9 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,220–4,317 | 5,000 | 19.5 |
| 2017 | 9 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,220–4,317 | 5,000 | 19.5 |
| 2016 | 5 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,220–4,317 | 5,000 | 19.5 |
| 2015 | 5 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 250 | 4,489–4,608 | 4,500 | 21 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Honda Pilot.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0W-20 (5.8 qt) | – | 94 lb-ft | R-1234yf | CR2032 |
| 2025 | 5.8 qt | – | 94 lb-ft | R-1234yf | CR2032 |
| 2024 | 5.8 qt | – | 94 lb-ft | R-1234yf | CR2032 |
| 2023 | 5.8 qt | – | 94 lb-ft | R-1234yf | CR2032 |
| 2021 | – | – | 94 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2019 | – | – | 94 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2017 | – | – | 94 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2016 | – | – | 94 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2015 | – | – | 94 lb-ft | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Honda Pilot: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
Fewer recalls than this model’s own average
- 2026 Honda Pilot : 1 recall on file (average across published years is 6.5).
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2020 Honda Pilot : 11 recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera and structure.
- 2019 Honda Pilot : 13 recalls on file, most commonly affecting structure and backup camera.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | not available | suspension |
| 2025 | 4 | 194 | fuel system, seat belts, brakes |
| 2024 | 6 | 109 | seats, fuel system, steering, brakes |
| 2023 | 5 | 137 | fuel system, steering, seats, brakes |
| 2022 | 5 | 148 | airbags, backup camera, brakes, structure |
| 2021 | 10 | 424 | backup camera, airbags, electrical system, tires |
| 2020 | 11 | 483 | backup camera, structure, airbags, electrical system |
| 2019 | 13 | 892 | structure, backup camera, fuel system, engine cooling |
| 2018 | 7 | 437 | structure, engine cooling, seats, fuel system |
| 2017 | 4 | 915 | structure, fuel system, airbags |
| 2016 | 8 | 1691 | fuel system, structure, seat belts, electrical system |
| 2015 | 4 | 108 | airbags, fuel system |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Honda Pilot model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Honda Pilot?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2026 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average, while 2020, 2019 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Honda Pilot model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2020 Honda Pilot has 11 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera, structure, airbags; The 2019 Honda Pilot has 13 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting structure, backup camera, fuel system. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03Which Honda Pilot model years have the cleanest federal recall record?
The 2026 Honda Pilot has 1 recall on file: below this model's own average of 6.5. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.
Q04What are common recall-related problems on the Honda Pilot by model year?
2026: suspension. 2025: fuel system, seat belts, brakes. 2024: seats, fuel system, steering, brakes. 2023: fuel system, steering, seats, brakes. 2022: airbags, backup camera, brakes, structure. 2021: backup camera, airbags, electrical system, tires.
Q05Why do some Honda Pilot model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Honda Pilot model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Engine and cooling, Climate and electrical, Brakes, tires and steering.
2020 Honda Pilot owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls.
2019 Honda Pilot owners specifically: see Buying, records and recalls and Climate and electrical and Engine and cooling.
Trim ladder
2 Honda Pilot trims, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Honda Pilot is most often compared with.
Nearest Honda models
Other Honda models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Pilot come in?
The 2025 Honda Pilot (three-row SUV) comes in 6 trims: Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, Black Edition.
Q02What are the 2025 Pilot trims?
The 2025 Honda Pilot trims are Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, Black Edition, listed from the entry Sport up to the top Black Edition.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Pilot use?
The 2025 Honda Pilot is built around 3.5L V6, rated at 285 horsepower across its three-row SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 Pilot have?
The 2025 Honda Pilot is rated at 285 horsepower (3.5L V6).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Pilot?
The 2025 Honda Pilot is offered with FWD / AWD.