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, 290 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 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.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The most notable pattern in 2011 Honda Pilot complaints centers on the airbag system, which draws the highest complaint volume by a wide margin. Owners most commonly report airbag warning lights illuminating and staying on, along with concerns about whether the airbags would deploy correctly in a crash. A recurring thread involves the passenger seat sensor, with owners describing the system misreading occupancy status. Suspension complaints follow, with owners describing worn or failed front suspension components, ball joints and control arm bushings come up repeatedly, often paired with reports of clunking noises and handling changes. Brake complaints typically describe a soft or low pedal, reduced stopping confidence, and brake fluid or caliper issues. A cluster of odometer fraud reports also appears, where buyers discovered significant mileage discrepancies after purchasing the vehicle through private sales.
290
Total Complaints
29
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
17
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 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.
The airbag issue runs through multiple recalls. Beyond the rupture risk, some vehicles may have had replacement passenger airbag inflators installed incorrectly at a dealership, meaning the airbag could fail to deploy properly or deploy in an unexpected way in a crash. There is also a separate concern about the driver's airbag module, where one or more rivets attaching the module to its cover may be missing, which can alter how the airbag deploys. On the seatbelt side, the stitching that anchors the lap section of the driver and front passenger seatbelts may be incomplete or missing, allowing the belt to pull free from its anchor in a crash. Rounding out the list is a suspension concern: front axle spindle nuts and damper bracket bolts may not have been properly tightened during assembly and can loosen and fall out, causing the front suspension to collapse and the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
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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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
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
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.
At a glance
What can fail
Front axle spindle nuts and suspension damper bracket bolts may not be tight enough. If they loosen and fall out, the front suspension can collapse, causing loss of control.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace bolts that weren't tightened to the correct specification.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
