Short answer
Among Honda Pilot model years through 2024, 2014 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (3) and 2003, 2005 and 2019 have the most (13). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Honda Pilot: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 24 (2003–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 62
- Fewest recalls
- 2014 (3)
- Most recalls
- 2003, 2005 and 2019 (13)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (101)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2016, 2017, 2018 and 8 more years
Honda Pilot Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | 5 stars | Structure |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 4 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline, Seat belts |
| 2024 | 6 | 5 stars | Seats, Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline, Seats |
| 2022 | 5 | 5 stars | Air bags, Back over prevention, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2021 | 10 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2020 | 11 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Air bags, Equipment |
| 2019 | 13 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2018 | 7 | 5 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2017 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2016 | 8 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2015 | 4 | 4 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2014 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags |
| 2013 | 6 | 4 stars | Air bags, Engine |
| 2012 | 9 | 4 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2011 | 11 | 4 stars | Air bags, Seat belts, Suspension |
| 2010 | 10 | Not rated | Air bags, Seat belts |
| 2009 | 9 | Not rated | Air bags, Seat belts |
| 2008 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2007 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2006 | 8 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment |
| 2005 | 13 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2004 | 12 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2003 | 13 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20254 recalls
- 20246 recalls
- 20235 recalls
- 20225 recalls
- 202110 recalls
- 202011 recalls
- 201913 recalls
- 20187 recalls
- 20174 recalls
- 20168 recalls
- 20154 recalls
- 20143 recalls
- 20136 recalls
- 20129 recalls
- 201111 recalls
- 201010 recalls
- 20099 recalls
- 20087 recalls
- 20077 recalls
- 20068 recalls
- 200513 recalls
- 200412 recalls
- 200313 recalls
Honda Pilot: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Honda Pilot recalls are air bags (101), fuel system, gasoline (15), back over prevention (10), suspension (8) and electrical system (6). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 16 of these 24 model years, and 2016, 2017, 2018 and 8 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Honda Pilot Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Honda Pilot?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2014 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 3 each.
Which Honda Pilot model years have the most recalls?
2003, 2005 and 2019 have the most, with 13 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Pilot", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy