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What 116 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Honda Pilot

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (116)Crash / fire / injury (10)Engine (31)Body & structure (20)Wheels (16)Airbags (9)Brakes (9)Electrical system (9)Suspension (7)Transmission & drivetrain (7)Fuel system (5)Speed control (4)

10 of 116 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Aug 31, 2023EngineCrash

My wife pulled into a diagonal parking space and was ready to put the vehicle into park when the engine rpm increased dramatically and propelled us into a concrete wall. The front end and left front fender are damaged and the two seat belts locked. The airbag indicator light is on but the air bag did not deploy. Thankfully we suffered no injuries. I contacted American Honda who initially seemed interested. I provided much information and then did not hear back from them. After a month I contacted them again and was told there have been no recalls on our vehicle. I relayed that I am very concerned with what may have caused the acceleration and will be very uncomfortable driving the vehicle after repairs are complete. I was told they will send a factory authorized representative to do an unattended acceleration safety inspection at the collision center where the repairs will be made. While sitting in the waiting room at the collision center I spoke to another person who also owns a Honda Pilot. She told me she also experienced engine acceleration while driving her Honda Pilot. I am not sure if I will feel safe again driving the Honda Pilot even if it goes through a successful safety inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11541929

Mar 22, 2021Electrical systemCrash

WE HAVE 2014 HONDA PILOT THAT HAD 68,072 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE BELIEVED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED PARK IN OUR DRIVEWAY. ACCORDING TO THE HONDA OWNER'S MANUEL THERE IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT PREVENTS THE IGNITION KEY FROM BEING REMOVED UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK INTO A TREE CAUSING OVER $3,000.00 IN PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST WITH THE HONDA PILOT (2003-2004) AND THE HONDA ODYSSEY (2003-2004) AND THE ACURA MDX (2003-2006) WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL BY HONDA. PLEASE SEE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE12026. THESE RECALLED VEHICLES AS WELL AS OUR 2014 HONDA PILOT ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THEY HAVE A SAFETY INTERLOCK SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THE IGNITION KEY FROM BEING REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION UNLESS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT IN PARK, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR 2014 HONDA PILOT. I CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY COULD HAVE CARED LESS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PRODUCT DEFECT OBVIOUSLY EXISTS AGAIN IN THE NEW MODEL HONDA VEHICLES. THIS PRODUCT DEFECT POSES A HIGH RISK OF DANGER AND HONDA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT. I HAVE VIDEOS THAT DOCUMENT THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11404202

Sep 25, 2020Seat belts1 injury

CENTER REAR SEAT BELT ENDED UP AROUND 3 YEAR OLDS NECK AND EVERYTIME HE MOVED IT GOT TIGHTER AND TIGHTER. THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR IS NOT EASY TO DETACH INCASE THIS HAPPENS.WE ENDED UP UNBUCKLING HIM AND TURNING HIS WHOLE BODY TO GET IT OFF HIS NECK. BOTH 2ND AND 3RD ROW SEATS USE THIS KIND OF ANCHOR.

NHTSA ODI 11361198

Dec 13, 2018AirbagsCrash

"TAKATA RECALL" UNFORTUNATELY, BEFORE THE RECALL BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODED LEAVING A BURN ON THE PASSENGERS LEG. THE DRIVERS SIDE BAG ALSO EXPLODED AFTER DEPLOYMENT LEAVING A BURN ON THUMB OF RIGHT HAND OF DRIVER. THE DEPLOYMENT WAS DUE TO ACCIDENT INVOLVING A DEER ON A STATE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11161146

Dec 13, 2016AirbagsCrash3 injuries

WE HAD A HUGE BUCK DEER RUN INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGERS SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. THIS IS NOTED IN THE POLICE REPORT AND AT THE AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE DEER HIT US. THE ESTIMATE TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS $9,000.00.

NHTSA ODI 10935042

Apr 17, 2016Engine & coolingElectrical systemSpeed controlCrash1 injury

ON APRIL 17, 2016 AT 3.30 PM WHILE FORWARD PARKING MY VEHICLE, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE IMPACTING THE WALL IN FRONT OF MY PARKING SPOT. THE WALL WAS APX. 20 FT FROM THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE DURING THE LATER STAGES OF THE PARKING MANEUVER AND SPEED WAS MINIMAL <5 KM/H). BEFORE COMING TO A STANDSTILL, THE ENGINE SPRUNG TO MAXIMUM RPM WITHOUT ME EVER TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO CONTROL IT AND THE BRAKES WERE ALSO INEFFECTIVE. UPON IMPACT THE DRIVER FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THE HORN STARTED. I SWITCHED OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVED THE KEYS. SEVERAL WITNESSES CAME FORWARD FOR ASSISTANCE, POLICE, AMBULANCE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE ON SITE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THIS INCIDENT IS VERY CONCERNING; PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED HAD THIS HAPPENED IN ANOTHER LOCATION OR IF PASSERSBY WHERE PRESENT.

NHTSA ODI 10860782

Jan 26, 2016AirbagsCrash1 injury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG UPON HEAD-ON COLLISION. FITCHBURG MASS.POLICE CRASH REPORT # 16-1706-AC. DRIVER CAME INTO MY LANE OF TRAFFIC AND STRUCK FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10822274

May 20, 2015Crash

I HAD PUT MY CAR IN PARK, IT WAS STILL RUNNING, I REACHED IN AND TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO ROLL. I ATTEMPTED TO GET IN THE CAR TO BRAKE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO THIS AND THEN WAS THROWN AWAY FROM THE VVEHICLE, HITTING MY HEAD ON MY ROCK DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCLINE WHERE I PARKED BUT WHEN IT STARTED TO ROLL IT REACHED A STEEPER INCLINE AND ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AND HIT A TREE WHICH CAUSED THE DAMAGE. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP---WHERE THEY FOUND NO REASON FOR THE RUNNAWAY ISSUE?? I THEN CALLED HONDA AND WAS TREATED BADLY, BUT THEY CONFESSED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OF TESTING FOR THIS ISSUE. I FOUND THAT IN THE PAST YEARS THERE WAS A ISSUE "RUNAWAY" VEHICLES------BUT THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDE THIS AS A POSSIBLE CONTINUING PROBLEM?? IF ANYONE HAS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

NHTSA ODI 10717522

Mar 14, 2015Seat belts1 injury

WHEN THE 2ND ROW CENTER SEAT BELT, WHICH STORES ON THE CEILING, WAS RELEASED, IT SNAPPED UP AND STRUCK THE CHILD SITTING IN THE LEFT 2ND ROW SEAT IN A BOOSTER SEAT ON THE RIGHT UPPER CHEEK CAUSING AN ABRASION AND MANY TEARS. THE CHILD WAS SITTING AND STILL BELTED INTO THE BOOSTER SEAT. THE INJURY WASN'T SEVERE BUT COULD HAVE BEEN IF IT HAD STRUCK THE EYE OR CAUSED A LACERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10694254

Dec 3, 2014Fuel systemCrash

THIS CAR WAS WHAT IS DISCRIBED AS "RUN AWAY VEHICLE" THE CAR WAS IN PARK, AS THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF IT STARTED ROLLING, TOOK OUT A TREE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE DAMAGE. I WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE SO IT PROCEEDED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY WITHOUT A PERSON IN THE CAR. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10662110

Working with the data? Download all 116 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Honda Pilot verdict →