2016 Honda Pilot
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2016 models.

- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV AWD, 4dr SUV FWD
- Engines
- 3.5L 6-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 23 combined · 20 city / 27 hwy
- Length
- 194.9 in
- Curb weight
- 4,103–4,255 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 8 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
Watch out for
- Many owner complaints1,720 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 161 for similar models — most often about the engine.
- 8 recallsMore than similar models (about 4). Confirm repairs with the VIN.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 21 similar 2016 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2016 Honda Pilot is a small SUV offered with a 3.5L 6-cyl engine and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 195 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 111-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,255 lb (4dr SUV AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 23 MPG combined (20 city / 27 highway), 7% worse than the 2016 small SUV average of 24.6 MPG, for an estimated $2,900 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 8 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 1720 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the engine.
What changed for 2016
- New body dimensions: 3.6 in longer, wheelbase +1.6 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
- Best combined MPG up from 20 to 23
Compared with 2015; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2015 Pilot →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV AWD | 194.9 in | 79.9 in | 69.7 in | 111 in | 66.1 / 66.1 in | 4,255 lb | 57/43 |
| 4dr SUV FWD | 194.9 in | 79.9 in | 69.7 in | 111 in | 66.1 / 66.1 in | 4,103 lb | 58/42 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot 2WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic (S9) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 27 / 23 | -7% | $2,900 | 388 |
| Pilot 2WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | -11% | $3,050 | 405 |
| Pilot 4WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic (S9) | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 22 | -4% | $3,050 | 406 |
| Pilot 4WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 21 | -9% | $3,200 | 423 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2016 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2016 Honda Pilot.
Similar 2016 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Honda Pilot (this car) | 23 MPG | Not rated | 8 |
| 2016 Toyota 4Runner | 19 MPG | Not rated | 8 |
| 2016 Ford Explorer | 22 MPG | Not rated | 14 |
| 2016 Toyota Highlander | 28 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 25 MPG | Not rated | 8 |
| 2016 GMC Yukon | 19 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe | 19 MPG | Not rated | 10 |
Recalls (8)
Structure › Frame And Members · Jun 4, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V365000 · 965,561 vehicles
- Problem
- American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
- Risk
- Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump · Dec 18, 2023
NHTSA campaign 23V858000 · 2,490,460 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical · Nov 13, 2023
NHTSA campaign 23V751000 · 248,999 vehicles
- Problem
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
- Risk
- A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch · Nov 29, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V932000 · 724,826 vehicles
- Problem
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.
- Risk
- A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PBV.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage · Mar 30, 2017
NHTSA campaign 17V219000 · 136 vehicles
- Problem
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and AWD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that may leak.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KE8.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly · Jun 9, 2016
NHTSA campaign 16V417000 · 39 vehicles
- Problem
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura MDX 2WD and MDX 4WD vehicles, 2016 Acura MDX 4WD vehicles, 2015-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles, and 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were manufactured with insufficient welds which may separate and allow fuel to leak out.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
- Fix
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda/Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall began on July 29, 2016. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA9 (Honda vehicles) and KB0 (Acura vehicles).
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel · Oct 16, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V668000 · 35,406 vehicles
- Problem
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to September 8, 2015 and 2016 Pilot 4WD vehicles manufactured May 7, 2015 to September 4, 2015. In the affected vehicles, when one of the safety systems such as tire pressure monitoring, anti-lock braking or electronic stability control malfunctions, there is potential that the instrument panel will not illuminate the corresponding warning light, however the warning lamps will illuminate when the ignition is turned off and then turned back on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic stability control systems", number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 138, "Tire pressure monitoring systems".
- Risk
- If a safety system cannot immediately warn the driver when needed, the driver may be at increased risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JV7.
Seat Belts › Rear/Other · Jul 6, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V424000 · 1,358 vehicles
- Problem
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to June 5, 2015. Due to an assembly issue, the third row seatbelt may be trapped between the rear seat and the rear sideliner.
- Risk
- If the third row seatbelt is trapped, the occupants may not be restrained properly, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the rear third row seat belt, free of charge. The recall began on August 6, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's number for this recall is JS7.
Not every 2016 Honda Pilot is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2016 Honda Pilot buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 8 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Engine — 778 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Electrical System — 571 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Power Train — 201 owner reports. Test-drive through all gears, including reverse; note slipping, harsh or delayed shifts.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 38,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2016 Honda Pilot. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Pilot years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Pilot | 22 | 200 in | Not rated | 1 | 27 |
| 2025 Pilot | 22 | 200 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 216 |
| 2024 Pilot | 22 | 200 in | ★★★★★ | 6 | 116 |
| 2023 Pilot | 22 | 200 in | ★★★★★ | 5 | 146 |
| 2022 Pilot | 23 | 196.5 in | ★★★★★ | 5 | 169 |
| 2021 Pilot | 23 | 196.5 in | ★★★★★ | 10 | 450 |
| 2020 Pilot | 23 | 196.5 in | ★★★★★ | 11 | 492 |
| 2019 Pilot | 23 | 196.5 in | ★★★★★ | 13 | 920 |
| 2018 Pilot | 23 | 194.9 in | ★★★★★ | 7 | 440 |
| 2017 Pilot | 23 | 194.9 in | Not rated | 4 | 936 |
| 2015 Pilot | 20 | 191.3 in | Not rated | 4 | 108 |
| 2014 Pilot | 20 | 190.9 in | Not rated | 3 | 105 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Honda. How we calculate this →