2017 Honda Pilot Safety Report
2017 Honda Pilot Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2017 Honda Pilot
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2017 Honda Pilot. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (850) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 13 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2015 | Compare against the 2015 Honda Pilot with 105 complaints and 4 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2016 | Check the 2016 Honda Pilot before buying across this generation. |
Honda Pilot Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Honda Pilot years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Honda Pilot | 413 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Honda Pilot | 1608 | 7 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Honda Pilot | 810 | 11 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Honda Pilot | 105 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Honda Pilot | 444 | 9 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Honda Pilot | 369 | 8 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2017 Honda Pilot Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2017 Honda Pilot, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
225 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Honda onlyElectrical System
78 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Honda onlyElectrical System,Engine
76 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Engine issues Honda onlyPower Train
68 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Honda onlyUnknown Or Other
61 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Honda onlyFuel/Propulsion System
47 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Honda onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2017 Honda Pilot
Reliability Score
The 2017 Honda Pilot receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2017 Honda Pilot
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2017 Honda Pilot
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2017 Honda Pilot:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Rod Knock The 2017 Honda Pilot is experiencing a common 'rod knock' issue, which is a symptom of potential internal engine damage. Symptoms include abnormal tapping sounds and a knocking noise from the engine. Honda is currently diagnosing the issue. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Keyless Start System Problem The keyless start system and brake system have reported problems, causing the vehicle to not start and warning lights to illuminate. These issues are frequent and can affect the vehicle's reliability. |
High | Common | 0-100k miles |
| Transmission Failure The 9-speed automatic transmission has failed at approximately 107,593 miles, causing the vehicle to stall and have issues with acceleration. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Collision Mitigation Braking System Failure The Collision Mitigation Braking System camera has failed, causing warning lights to appear in the dashboard control center. This issue is less frequent. |
Low | Occasional | 0-100k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2017 Honda Pilot:
Engine issues, including rod knock and transmission failure, are the most common problems reported.
Electrical system issues, such as keyless start system and brake system problems, are also frequent.
Transmission failures are a significant issue, with the 9-speed automatic transmission failing at approximately 107,593 miles.
Brake system issues are reported but less frequently than engine and electrical system problems.
Recall Details for the 2017 Honda Pilot
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2017 Honda Pilot by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2017 Honda Pilot
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2017 Honda Pilot with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
This vehicle is facing the common "rod knock" issue known with the 2016-2022 Honda Pilots Diagnosis by Honda pending but symptoms present
The vehicle constantly says “ keyless start system problem” I’ve only had the car for a year, it also says “ break system problem and won’t let me start the car often”
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal tapping sound coming from the engine, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The cont...
Internal engine damage was determined by a Folsom Honda Dealer in California. The damage is originating from the primary rod bearings; Replacement of the short block is necessary. Folsom Honda also stated the vehicle will need Cams and Heads of the engine replace. Needless to say, this a major engine failure. The vehicle only has 140K miles mainly freeway. Dealer estimated it will cost from 11K ...
Vehicle: 2017 Honda Pilot Elite VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure: 107,593 The 9-speed automatic transmission failed at approximately 107,593 miles. The repair cost 6,229.91 at an independent shop and included a full transaxle overhaul, replacement of the torque converter, transmission oil pump, and main control valve body. The vehicle previously had fuel injectors replaced under warranty at approxim...
knocking noise from engine, oil light, blinking CEL, no acceleration, vehicle stalled. Brought to mechanic, from noise he said it sounds like a rod knocking and advised to contact Honda because on known issues.
I was driving back from my daughter's tournament in [XXX] and while driving, I heard a loud Crack. It sounded like It came from the top of the car. When we got home I hit the button for the moonroof slide and noticed that the moorroof had cracked. There was no one in front of us and no debris when the loud Crack occurred. Luckily there was no glass shards that fell on the kids. I looked online ...
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was pending an appointment with the dealer. The contact used a handheld scanner and retrieved seventeen different undisclosed diagnostic trouble codes. The contact stated that the warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The manufac...
The rods on my engine seized while I was driving on [XXX] in South Dakota. The car came to rest on [XXX] . The vehicle died on the most-traveled road in Brookings. right off the exit ramp. We had to wait 20 minutes for a patrol officer to park behind us, and we then waited another 20 minutes for the tow truck to take us to a nearby parking lot. The problem was confirmed by an independent servic...
Collision Mitigation Braking System camera failure indictions appeared in the dashboard control center. I took the vehicle to the Honda dealership who stated there is not an active recall and that this was not a covered expense. Out of caution because I have read of the system failues causing brake lock-up related to over 40 vehicular crashes and almost twice that number of injuries, I decided ...
On [XXX], approximately 17 hours after purchasing this vehicle from a licensed dealer, the transmission began violently jerking, shuddering, and hesitating without warning while traveling at highway speed in Alabama. The sudden loss of smooth vehicle control created an immediate risk of collision with other vehicles. Diagnostic evaluation at O'Reilly Auto Parts confirmed fault code P0741 — Torque...
The car had a piston rod failure and is available for inspection at the Springfield Honda dealership. The car was traveling at 63 mph when the check engine light started flashing along with 6 system errors including the power steering. I had to make an emergency stop on the side of the road. The dealership has confirmed and recommended an engine replacement. They have a video recorded of the sou...
I own a 2017 Honda Pilot. The vehicle has been stalling and losing power while driving. The loss of power creates a serious safety risk, especially in traffic and at highway speeds, as the vehicle hesitates and struggles to accelerate. The High-Pressure Fuel Pump was replaced at my expense after the vehicle began stalling and losing power. Despite this repair, the problem has persisted. I am now ...
Alarm randomly goes off when parked and locked without doors being open. Unplugged hood latch sensor and it stopped but security system is not armed (absence of blinking light).
My Pilot only had 46,942 miles when it failed due to a camshaft thrust cover surface roughness being out of spec causing excessive camshaft movement. This was confirmed by the mechanic at Honda that worked on my Pilot. The pilot was checked for the engine light concern and the technician reported the following: CONFIRMED DTC P0369 CMP SENSOR INTERMITTENT INTERRUPTION. FOUND CMP SENSOR TO HAVE WEAR...
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was not notified of the failure...
I am the original owner of a 2017 Honda Pilot and bought the car new. It has 142,549 miles and been well maintained and adult driven. The engine started making a knocking noise. I took the car to the Honda dealer and they told me the engine needs to be replaced. Needless to say, they told me it would cost around 10 thousand dollars and was not covered under warranty. I opened a case with Hon...
While driving my vehicle it begin making a rattling/clacking sound. The sound became more louder as we drove it home. The emissions system problems message appeared. We had a mechanic come to check it. He discovered the a rod bearing was damaged and we needed to replace a piston and other parts as well. We have been unable to drive it since due to safety issues.
Transmission and torque converter, were effected on my car. Safety concerns were witness when wife was driving on freeway with our 4 kids and car was jerking and not going like it’s was suppose to. We drove to slow lane were we proceeded to destination slowly . Problem was detected when transmission light came on when my wife and sister in law were driving on freeway. America Honda didnt want to...
The vehicle started to Make loud clinking sound coming from engine. Went to dealership for diagnostic and high pressure fuel pump failed. Was quote 2000 .
Showing 20 of 850 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2017 Honda Pilot
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Engine
Opened 2024-11-08 · Closed 2025-08-20
On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016–2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine. Honda recalled these vehicles due to a crankshaft manufacturing defect that caused premature conne...
Component: Engine
Opened 2025-08-20
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline. The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013). It was determined that these engine failures are outside the scope of Honda Recall 23V-751. Further, evidence gathere...
Component: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor
Opened 2022-06-03 · Closed 2025-03-26
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, ...
Component: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor
Opened 2025-03-26
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, ...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2017 Honda Pilot
Has the 2017 HONDA PILOT been recalled?
Yes, the 2017 HONDA PILOT has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2017 HONDA PILOT have?
The 2017 HONDA PILOT has 850 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 9 involved crashes. 6 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 HONDA PILOT?
The 2017 HONDA PILOT received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 HONDA PILOT?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2017 HONDA PILOT involve engine (225 complaints), electrical system (78 complaints), electrical system,engine (76 complaints). Other affected components include power train, unknown or other, fuel/propulsion system.
How many crash reports does the 2017 HONDA PILOT have?
There are 9 crash reports associated with the 2017 HONDA PILOT out of 850 total complaints (1.1% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2017 HONDA PILOT have?
There are 4 fire reports for the 2017 HONDA PILOT out of 850 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2017 HONDA PILOT?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 HONDA PILOT.
How many injuries are reported for the 2017 HONDA PILOT?
6 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 HONDA PILOT. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2017 HONDA PILOT?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 HONDA PILOT is proceed with caution. It has 850 complaints, 2 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2017 HONDA PILOT?
The components with the most failures on the 2017 HONDA PILOT are: 1. ENGINE (225 complaints), 2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (78 complaints), 3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE (76 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN (68 complaints), 5. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (61 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 225 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2017 HONDA PILOT?
Be aware of potential engine and transmission issues, and regularly check the keyless start system and brake system for problems. The 2017 HONDA PILOT has 850 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2017 HONDA PILOT?
The 2017 HONDA PILOT receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 850 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 13 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Rod Knock and Keyless Start System Problem.
What are the known issues with the 2017 HONDA PILOT?
Known issues with the 2017 HONDA PILOT include: Engine Rod Knock, Keyless Start System Problem, Transmission Failure, Collision Mitigation Braking System Failure. These are based on patterns found across 850 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2017 Honda Pilot?
The most common issues are engine rod knock, transmission failure, and keyless start system problems.
How often do these issues occur?
Engine rod knock and transmission failures are moderate in frequency, while keyless start system problems are more common.
What should I do if I experience these issues?
Contact a Honda dealership for diagnosis and repair. Regular maintenance can help prevent some of these issues.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential engine and transmission issues, and regularly check the keyless start system and brake system for problems.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2017 Honda Pilot
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2017 Honda Pilot. The data includes 850 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 9 reported crashes, 4 fire incidents, 6 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2017 Honda Pilot an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16