2023 Honda Pilot problems
Owners have filed 224 complaints about the 2023 Honda Pilot with NHTSA. Seat belts account for 15.2% of them, narrowly the most common, ahead of electrical system at 12.5%.
Complaints224
Crashes5
Fires3
Injuries3
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Seat belts 15.2% · 34
Electrical system 12.5% · 28
Forward collision avoidance 10.7% · 24
Unknown or other 10.3% · 23
Steering 8.5% · 19
Service brakes 7.6% · 17
Engine 5.8% · 13
Power train 4.5% · 10
Severity
Of those complaints, 5 describe a crash, 3 describe a fire and 3 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 23 model years of the Honda Pilot in this data, 2023 sits 17th by complaint volume. 2016 draws the most.
Filings are rising, 181 in the last three years against 43 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 17,263 miles.
In owners' own words
The 2nd row passenger side seat belt buckle sensor begins to report "un-buckled" status that cannot be remediated by re-buckling the belt. Honda replaced the same belt buckle twice already for the same issue. First defect manifested and was corrected by Honda 18 months from purchase, the second one - manifested and corrected 17 months after first one. NHTSA bulletin 26-027 describes this exact issue in detail. Seat belts
Passenger side 2nd row Seat belt indicates unbuckled when passenger is buckled in and seated. Started as an intermittent indication, now the warning lamp continuously indicates the passenger is unbuckled when seated with seat belt buckled. Dealer has confirmed the concern, aligns with OEM service bulletin, OEM has redesigned service parts but will not service under warranty due to mileage on vehicle (80K). Seat belts
â23 pilot will signal an alarm stating I have an unsecured passenger in my middle row (while my passenger is properly secured via the seatbelt). If my passenger pushes or jiggles the seatbelt at the clasp (where is latches together at the seat), it will turn off for a moment and then begin again. Iâm not sure if this is a wiring issue, sensor issue or defective part, but this seems like a safety issue. Seat belts
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Honda Pilot years
2019 1,477 complaints · 18.0% electrical system 2020 814 complaints · 26.4% electrical system 2021 756 complaints · 20.9% forward collision avoidance 2022 292 complaints · 22.3% forward collision avoidance 2024 179 complaints · 14.0% seat belts 2025 375 complaints · 20.3% forward collision avoidance