NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
This page covers 11 recalls, 111 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2010 Honda Pilot.
18 mpg combined
13.1 L/100km
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
Complaints about the 2010 Honda Pilot cluster most heavily around airbags, the engine, and suspension. The airbag complaints largely involve warning lights illuminating without an apparent triggering event, along with reports of the system failing to deploy as expected. On the engine side, owners describe vibration at highway speeds, stalling, and loss of power steering accompanied by warning lights, several reports point to oil pressure concerns and issues with the serpentine belt tensioner bolt snapping. Suspension complaints center on shaking and wobbling, particularly when going over bumps or during turns, with some owners describing a side-to-side instability that persists after multiple repair attempts. A smaller number of reports mention the rearview mirror's internal adhesive deteriorating, causing visual obstruction from behind the glass rather than on the surface.
111
Total Complaints
11
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
5
With Injuries
By System
The 2010 Honda Pilot has 11 recalls, the most serious being a passenger-side frontal airbag inflator that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
Nearly all of the remaining recalls also involve the airbag system. On the driver's side, the airbag cover may not be properly secured to the module, which can cause the bag to deploy with an irregular shape or send the cover flying during deployment. There are also several recalls tied to the passenger frontal airbag inflator being incorrectly installed, either at the factory or during a prior repair attempt at a dealership, meaning the bag may not deploy properly in a crash. A separate concern involves missing rivets that attach the airbag module to its cover, which can alter how the driver's airbag performs during deployment. The one non-airbag issue is a seatbelt concern: the stitching that anchors the lap section of the driver and front passenger seatbelts may be incomplete or missing, which can cause the belt to pull free from its anchor in a crash.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during a previous replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the inflator installation and replace the passenger front air bag module assembly if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the passenger air bag and replace the module assembly if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Replacement passenger front air bag inflators may have been incorrectly installed at one dealership, potentially affecting proper deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost when parts become available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's airbag cover may not be securely attached to the airbag module. During deployment in a crash, the airbag could inflate irregularly or the cover could separate, reducing protection.
What the fix does
The dealer will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if the cover attachment is inadequate.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
One or more rivets fastening the airbag module to its cover may be missing, potentially affecting airbag deployment.
What the fix does
Honda dealers will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if necessary at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The stitching that attaches the end of the driver and front passenger lap seatbelt may be incomplete or missing, affecting seatbelt security.
What the fix does
Honda dealers will inspect both seatbelts and replace them if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
