2023 Honda Pilot: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
135 NHTSA owner complaints · 5 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The second-generation Pilot (2009–2015) is one of the quieter three-row SUVs in the dataset. The third generation arrived for 2016 with a nine-speed automatic on the upper trims, cylinder deactivation on the V6, and a new infotainment system — and 1,688 complaints: harsh and delayed shifts, warning-light cascades, and the engine idling roughly under cylinder deactivation. Read the full note on the model page. 2023 specifically: a year the record favours — 135 complaints, score 73/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Honda Odyssey and Pilot: the transmission years to avoid, including 2023 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 135 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 45.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Known design defect under Special Coverage for some vehicles, but does not include my VIN for a 2020 Chevy Traverse. Full details are provided in the attachment, including photos of the broken exhaust weld bracket and costs incurred so far. Additional expenses are expected to be incurred in the coming days when parts are available to prevent exhaust emissions from entering the vehicle during operation while doors and…
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.
Rear 2nd row seats give false warning when the kids car seats are buckled but constantly give warning that seat belts are not buckled properly. Haven’t received any recall & dealer won’t fix the issue under warranty
Recalls: 5 campaigns (4 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 23V735000 | Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Pilot vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the gear box assembly may contain a loose ball bearing, which can result in a loss of steering control or steering lock-up. |
| 25V391000 | 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. |
| 24V859000 | Seats:Critical Fasteners | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Pilot, and 2024 HR-V, Acura Integra and Acura Integra Type S vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may not have been tightened properly, which can result in an unsecured seat. |
| 25V031000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power. |
| 24V900000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Passport and 2023-2025 Pilot vehicles. The fuel filler neck tube and fuel filler pipe may separate, allowing fuel to leak. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 21 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,950
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Seat Belts30 complaints · typical job: Pretensioner or retractor replacement (1.5 h labour + parts)$360–$800
- Electrical System27 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other21 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Forward Collision Avoidance18 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Steering16 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Service Brakes15 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
Other Honda Pilot years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Honda Pilot?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Seat Belts (30 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2023 Honda Pilot a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 73/100, computed from 135 NHTSA complaints and 5 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2023 Honda Pilot's most common problem?
30 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2023 Honda Pilot sit in the Seat Belts group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is pretensioner or retractor replacement: about 1.5 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $360–$800 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2023 Honda Pilot cost to run per year?
About $4,895 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $24,475 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2023 Honda Pilot have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for the 2023 Honda Pilot, 4 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 02/11/2023. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2023 Honda Pilot really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 135 complaints, 5 recalls on record
- 135 NHTSA complaints on record (45.0/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (54.5/yr)
- 5 recall campaigns, 4 touching safety-critical systems