2015 HONDA PILOT Complaints and Recall Information
The 2015 Honda Pilot has 12 complaints and 37 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report peeling paint issues, oil leaks damaging components, steering problems, airbag concerns, engine knocking noises, tire damage, wheel detachment, and mold growth inside the vehicle.
Common Issues
- Peeling paint. Multiple body panels including roof and tailgate show paint peeling, with repair claims sometimes denied by Honda corporate despite warranty extensions.
- Oil leaks. Valve cover gasket spool valve leaks oil onto alternator causing it to short out and fail; repairs may not be covered if warranty expired.
- Airbag malfunction. Passenger side airbag light activates intermittently, requiring replacement which is not covered by warranty or recall in some cases.
- Steering vibration. Steering wheel shakes when braking at high speeds even after repeated replacement of brake pads and rotors.
- Engine knocking. Loud ticking or knocking noise at low RPMs, caused by faulty connecting rod bearings and metal shavings in oil; engine rebuild or replacement needed without warning lights except for tire pressure system.
- Wheel shimmy. Vehicle vibrates at speeds of 55 to 70 MPH due to tire walls flattening, deemed dangerous to drive by repair shops.
- Steering wheel detachment. Steering wheel has completely detached during driving in multiple reported incidents.
- Mold accumulation. Persistent mold growth inside the cabin creates musty odor and possible health risks, with repeated cleaning required and little assistance from Honda.
There are 37 recalls covering various systems including fuel pumps and airbags. The recalls affect large numbers of vehicles and address defects with potential safety risks such as engine stalling and airbag inflator explosions.
Recalls
- Fuel pump failure. NHTSA recall 23V858000 affects 2,490,460 vehicles including the 2015 Pilot. The fuel pump inside the tank may fail causing engine stall while driving, increasing crash risk. Dealers will replace the fuel pump module free of charge.
- Passenger airbag inflator explosion risk. Recall 19V502000 covers 9,555 vehicles. Inflators assembled as recall remedy parts may explode due to propellant degradation after exposure to moisture and temperature changes, causing serious injury or death. Dealers replace inflators free of charge.
- Incorrect airbag inflator installation. Recall 19V378000 affects 19,138 vehicles including the 2015 Pilot. Incorrectly installed passenger airbag inflators may fail to deploy properly in crashes, increasing injury risk. Dealers inspect and replace inflators if needed at no cost.
- Airbag inflator propellant degradation. Recall 18V661000 involves 1,355,406 vehicles. Aging inflators may explode due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature cycling, posing a serious hazard. Honda will replace inflators free of charge.
Owners with repeated repairs, unresolved safety defects, or outstanding recall issues related to the 2015 Honda Pilot may have protections under state lemon laws. Consulting a qualified attorney specializing in consumer protection and lemon law can help determine available remedies.
2015 HONDA PILOT Summary
2015
Model Year
12
Total Complaints
4
Total Recalls
3874559
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2015 HONDA PILOT
2490460 vehicles affected
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
2015 HONDA PILOT
19138 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
2015 HONDA PILOT
9555 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2015 HONDA PILOT
1355406 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Complaints
2015 HONDA PILOT
ID: 2128479ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:COIL:SPARK PLUGS
See attached document for complaint.
2015 HONDA PILOT
ID: 2128478ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
See attached document for complaint.
2015 HONDA PILOT
ID: 2124432UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Constant mold accumulates inside my car, creating an unpleasant, musty odor that fills the air. Over time, this persistent growth not only detracts from the vehicle's interior appearance but also poses potential health risks for anyone who enters. I have had to clean the car and remove mold repeatedly. This situation is extremely dangerous, especially since I have two small children who are being exposed to mold and mildew, which I believe is affecting their health. I reached out to Honda for assistance, but received no results, concern, or solutions regarding this issue. I have multiple receipts that can verify the mold growth is still ongoing.
2015 HONDA PILOT
ID: 2119159SUSPENSION
My whole steering wheel detached while driving
2015 HONDA PILOT
ID: 2119158STEERING
My whole steering wheel detached while driving
2015 HONDA PILOT
ID: 2119157AIR BAGS
My whole steering wheel detached while driving
2015 HONDA PILOT
ID: 2101200TIRES
My vehicle started shimmying at 55 MPH up to 70 MPH. My repair show told me that two of the tire walls are flattening out and it's dangerous to drive.
2015 HONDA PILOT
ID: 2090058ENGINE
Started hearing a loud ticking/knocking noise, but it would get quiet once the car was running over 2500rpm. Noise was overheard by a pedestrian while dropping my kids off at school and he let me know he was a mechanic and that I should not be driving the car with that noise as the engine sounded like it could be on the way to seizing up. After inspection by 2 independent service center mechanics, it was found that there are 2 faulty connecting rod bearings. The Rod bearings to cylinder 2 and 5, specifically. There were metal shavings in the oil and a piece of a rod was found when the bottom pan was dropped. We either have to rebuild the engine or replace it. No warning lights other than the Tire Pressure Management System light. Checked VIN to recall list after hearing that this is a common issue with 2016 Pilots, but our VIN is not on the list.
2015 HONDA PILOT
ID: 2086837SERVICE BRAKES
Steering is shaking when braking at high speed. Replaced pads and rotors multiple times but problem keeps coming back. Lots of complaints also about this issue so please help
2015 HONDA PILOT
ID: 2063374AIR BAGS
Airbag lift would come on intermittently. Upon dealership inspection it was learned that it could be a possible issue with the passenger side airbag and instructed to not drive vehicle. Airbag was ordered and took over six weeks to receive and repair. Dealership said airbags are not covered by any recall or warranty. Is, should, this be correct?
2015 HONDA PILOT
ID: 2058001ENGINE
The valve cover gasket spool valve is leaking oil. Oil appears to be leaking on the alternator causing it to short and die. There is a Honda service bulletin 20-023 which shows 2009-15 pilots having this problem. However, Honda has declined to cover my repair saying my VIN is not covered and my warranty is expired. Sad
2015 HONDA PILOT
ID: 2057405UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Honda Warranty Extension: White Diamond Pearl Paint SB19-057. Affected vehicle - 2015 Honda Pilot. Issue - peeling paint. Corrective action performed by approved Honda dealership as stated in SB19-057. Now experiencing other body panels that are peeling paint. Went back to Honda dealership to request repair of peeling paint. Repair claim denied by Honda Corporate. What recourse do I have since there other body panels that have exterior paint peeling besides the roof and/or tailgate peeling off.