The 2021 Honda Pilot with the 3.5L V6 is largely solid but has significant transmission cooling issues and a disturbing pattern of premature engine failures requiring major internal rebuilds—unusual for a vehicle this new.
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure Leading to Trans Contamination
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission slipping or harsh shifting, Milky or discolored transmission fluid, Check engine light with trans codes, Loss of forward gears in severe cases
Fix: Replace transmission oil cooler, flush entire transmission system multiple times to remove coolant contamination, replace fluid and filter. If contamination reached clutch packs, full transmission rebuild required (18-24 hours labor). Critical to catch early before internal damage.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,500 for cooler/flush; $4,500-7,000 if rebuild needed
Premature Piston Ring and Bearing Failure Requiring Engine Rebuild
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (quart per 1,000 miles or worse), Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Knocking or ticking noises from engine block, Loss of power and check engine light with misfire codes
Fix: Full engine teardown to replace piston rings, pistons, and often rod/main bearings. Some cases require complete short block replacement. This is catastrophic for a vehicle under 100k miles. 25-35 hours labor depending on approach.
Estimated cost: $6,000-12,000
Rear Camera System Failures
Common · medium severity
Symptoms: Intermittent or complete loss of backup camera display, Distorted or frozen camera image, Guidelines not displaying correctly, System error messages on infotainment screen
Fix: Usually requires camera replacement or wiring harness repair at liftgate. Occasionally software update resolves it (covered under recall for some VINs). 1.5-2.5 hours labor for camera replacement.
Estimated cost: $400-800
Transmission Mount Deterioration
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive vibration during acceleration, Visible sagging or cracking of rubber mount, Drivetrain feels loose or sloppy
Fix: Replace transmission mount(s), most commonly the upper mount. Straightforward job but requires supporting transmission. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $350-650
Fuel Pump Premature Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start condition with adequate battery, Engine dying while driving, Rough running or hesitation under load, Fuel pump noise or whining from rear
Fix: Replace in-tank fuel pump assembly. Some units covered under recall/warranty extension. Requires dropping fuel tank. 3-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Master Cylinder Internal Seal Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Brake pedal sinking to floor with steady pressure, Soft or spongy brake pedal feel, Intermittent loss of braking power, No visible external fluid leaks but reservoir level drops
Fix: Replace master cylinder and bench-bleed before installation. Full brake system bleed required. Some units under recall for specific production dates. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $500-900
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid every 30k miles (not 'lifetime') and inspect for coolant contamination—catch the oil cooler issue early
Monitor oil consumption religiously from day one; if burning more than 1 quart per 3k miles, document and escalate to Honda immediately
Check all recall status by VIN before purchase—several safety-critical items have extensions
Keep detailed service records; Honda has quietly extended coverage on some engine/trans failures under 'goodwill' if you push hard with documentation
Avoid unless you get an extended powertrain warranty—too many catastrophic engine/transmission failures for a 2021 model year; Honda's J35 was bulletproof in previous generations but something went wrong here.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER · 24V064000
2024-02-01
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Consequence: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER · 23V458000
2023-06-29
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
Consequence: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION · 23V431000
2023-06-15
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.
TIRES · 20V725000
2020-11-20
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain 2021 Pilot vehicles equipped with Continental CrossContact LX Sport 245/50R20 102 H tires with DOT serial number A376 D3K9 2920 and mold numbers S-421920 and S-421921. The tires may have been cured for a time beyond the specification limits.
Consequence: Over-cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four tires and replace the tires that have the affected DOT serial number and mold number, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is U8Y.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 20V439000
2020-07-28
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence: Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · 20V440000
2020-07-28
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence: A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.
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