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2021 Honda

Pilot AWD

Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L

Honda Pilot: best and worst years
2021 Honda Pilot AWD
2021 photoAlexander MiglCC BY-SA 4.0via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Body
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Transmission
Automatic (S9)EPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026

Engine & performance

Power to weight
0.066 hp/lb
Aspiration
Naturally aspiratedEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026

Efficiency

Smog score
3/10
SmartWay certified
No

Dimensions & capacity

GVWR class
Class 1D (5,001 to 6,000 lb)NHTSA vPIC, from NHTSA vPIC, last updated 10/13/2026

Safety NHTSA record NHTSA, model year

Overall crash rating
★★★★★
Rollover rating
★★★★★
Stability control (ESC)
Standard
Forward-collision warning
Standard
Lane-departure warning
Standard
Recalls
10
Owner complaints
439 See on NHTSA
Reported injuries
8

Feature availability

Cameras & visibility

  • Backup camera
    Standard

Driver assist

  • Adaptive cruise control
    Standard
  • Automatic emergency brakingPart of Honda Sensing.
    Standard
  • Blind-spot monitor
    Standard
  • Lane-keeping assist
    Standard

Convenience

  • Push-button start
    Standard

Reported problems NHTSA record NHTSA owner complaints, model year

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19%
  • ENGINE16%
  • FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE15%
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER12%
  • LANE DEPARTURE7%
  • AIR BAGS5%

Source: NHTSA owner complaints, 672 total.

Honda Pilot: best and worst years

Federal investigations NHTSA record NHTSA defect investigations, model year

  • EA25004Openopened Mar 26, 2025ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

    No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages

Known issues manufacturer service bulletins, model year

79 service bulletins filed with NHTSA for this model year

  • Nov 7, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEMA24-061

    Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the phone remains in the correct position on the charger due to software specifications that can cause some phones to have issues charging.

  • Aug 22, 2025VISIBILITY/WIPERATI&08212025903

    Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2025 Passport Blacks, TrailSports & 2019-2022 Pilots with a customer complaint of the taillight and/or brake light being inoperative. Vehicles may also have the A6 10A or C27 7.5A fuse blown. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

  • Aug 7, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEMATI&08072025902

    Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2025 Passport Blacks, TrailSports & 2019-2022 Pilots with a customer complaint of the taillight and/or brake light being inoperative. Vehicles may also have the A6 10A or C27 7.5A fuse blown. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

  • Aug 1, 2025STRUCTURE:BODYA20-022

    Service Bulletin - One or more accessory running board lights are flickering or not working due to a faulty running board light assembly.

  • Jul 25, 2025VISIBILITY/WIPERATI&07242025904

    Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2025 Passport Blacks, TrailSports & 2019-2022 Pilots with a customer complaint of the taillight and/or brake light being inoperative. Vehicles may also have the A6 10A or C27 7.5A fuse blown. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

  • Jul 7, 2025EXTERIOR LIGHTINGATI&07072025902

    Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2025 Passport Blacks, TrailSports & 2019-2022 Pilots with a customer complaint of the taillight and/or brake light being inoperative. Vehicles may also have the A6 10A or C27 7.5A fuse blown. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

  • Jul 7, 2025ENGINEA23-009

    Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Typically, the customer can immediately restart the vehicle by selecting Park and pressing the ENGINE START/STOP button.

  • Nov 22, 2024STRUCTURE:BODYA24-048

    Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear differential pump motor connector area that corrodes the terminals.

  • and 71 more

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

Warranty manufacturer terms, by make

Basic
3 yr / 36k mi
Powertrain
5 yr / 60k mi
Roadside assistance
3 yr / 36k mi
EV battery
8 yr / 100k mi

Source: www.cars.com as of 2026-06

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.