2016 Honda Pilot Review: Redesigned SUV Loaded With New Engine & Transmission Problems

Lebow on January 16, 2025

Great 3 row SUV.. Drives a bit heavier in feel than my Honda CR-V. good performance. comfortable seats, quiet while driving, 25 mpg on highway..

Hope on April 7, 2024

Bought a nicely used Honda Pilot SUV at Honda of Reseda, Reseda, CA, make sure you speak to Amir-sales and/or Tony-mgr. Great set of nice professional folks. You can tell everyone likes working there. They will give you the best price, too.

SQUAREBOMB on January 12, 2024

I love our 2016 Pilot EXL AWD. We bought it as a one year old CPO coming off a lease. It has had its share of the first year model blues. Not as reliable as I want it to be, but once the bugs were fixed, it's been pretty smooth sailing. I love how it's always ready for any adventure. The extra room is always welcome as we drive up and down the East cost between FL and NJ. We get to bring everything we needed and never worried about the weather. The AWD is great not just in the snow, but in any weather. Best AWD I've driven in the snow. The VTM4 AWD works so well, you'd think you're driving a full time 4WD vehicle in the snow. It also helps in the rain as well. Accelerating with this much weight and a powerful engine requires a lot of traction. Coming out out of a corner in an incline, most front drive vehicles would spin their tires before the stability control stops the spin to regain control. The VTM4 senses the incline and automatically applies power to the rear wheels adding significant traction. Never spun the wheels of our pilot in the rain. Our FWD Passport, on the other hand, looses tracking during acceleration in the rain specially if it's on an incline. One regret for buying that AWD SUV. We thought we won't miss the AWD in the south. Now the 2016 Pilot certainly had so many bugs that would deter a lot of people from buying it used. We had the CPO warranty. And on top of that, we bought an extended warranty just because. Turned out to be a good idea. Most the the quirks happened during the warranty periods. From an expensive evap failure to transmission problems to sunroof issues to battery replacement. We had the famous transmission judder that required multiple visits until they finally had a permanent fix. Multiple fluid flushes and a software reprogramming took care of it. The sunroof didn't want to close at times. Weird considering we don't even use it often. Warranty covered everything. After the warranty expired, I learned that resetting the sunroof was an easy task. There were a few problems that I couldn't remember or not technical enough to understand, but they were all fixed under warranty. Now driving it without warranty. So far it's been good. Just keep up with the maintenance schedule and it should be fine. Replaced the OEM tires with Michelins CrossCimate2. It feels like it can go anywhere. Wet driving was further enhanced. The OEM tires had good traction, but wore out too quickly. Silly me bought a second set before going to Michelins. Overall, it's a really nice SUV that's fun to drive. It has plenty of power to haul 7 people easily or 3 people, one small dog, and everything needed for long distance traveling. It has an awesome AWD system that can get you anywhere. It helped us navigate around flooded areas on our way back home after Hurricane Irma. Where smaller vehicles couldn't pass, we went through. The things we went through would have stranded a less capable SUV. Only thing missing really is CarPlay. We missed it my a year. Oh well.

Roy on August 13, 2023

This is the best car I've owned. The Touring includes a third row and backseat entertainment (dvd player). Perfect for a family. Never had a problem with it and still going strong in 2023.

Xray6 on July 13, 2023

My 2016 pilot died with no warning. Fuel pump broke, cost me $1800 plus tow. Only 120000km on this thing. Honda used to mean quality but not anymore.

Daniel on June 13, 2023

I purchased a 2016 Honda Pilot, I owned three pilots prior all great cars then the nightmare began. First the key goes out and when we replace the battery it does not recognize it, 100.00 to the dealer and we have a working key, to buy a second key, why who knows why they did not have two keys was 195.00. then we use it to tow a small one axle less than 3500 lb trailer and the transmission overheats. this is the new Honda warming system on the Transmission to help it run better-no it never does. We have to have a coolant system installed on the transmission to use it tow. Then the wiring in the ingnition goes out 490.00 later the ignition switch is out so another 250.00. My wife hits a bump in the road and wow the radio gps goes out, 100.00 to be told broken do not know why, 1000.00 to replace then it needs a code noone can provide and then we get the black screen of death so 1000.00 flushed down the toilet. The new fuel injector system is a joke we have had to replace three fuel injectors 1500.00 and then the wiring again on the fuel system 195.00 again. WE have had to put new brakes, tires and now the catalytic convertor is out so who knows hoe much for that. no radio or gps, sometimes back up camera works. besides the engine I cannot think of anything we have not had to replace. This car is a joke and I do not recommend anyone buy this vehicle. After this experience I will never buy another Honda, my money can go somewhere else where customer service cares and the car at least works for a while.

Alecia Moore on May 10, 2023

Honda Pilot is Durable, with outstanding all-season performance. Great for family road trips. Owning a Honda Pilot is a great adventure. It's worth the price.

Mike Mack on August 13, 2022

Honda knows there's a problem with the key less ignition switch ,but won't recall the problem. We Googled the problem. Keyless start system problem. I took it to the dealer, the light went off. They said the light had to be on. That's a lie, the computer stores all codes.

Csanchez on March 12, 2021

I have always wanted this vehicle so purchasing it has been a dream! It is smooth and comes with all the bells a whistles! I highly recommend a Honda Pilot if you have a big family!

Mama Rose on February 26, 2021

"Grace", rides, handles the road, great on gas, low maintenance, seats 8, compact storage space, best view of road all angles. Affordable, beautiful a long time.