KnownCarProblems2009 Honda Pilot Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Honda Pilot, most often about the engine (28% of complaints, typically around 90,000 miles). It is 18th of 24 Pilot model years by number of complaints and has 9 recalls.
Most common 2009 Honda Pilot problems
Engine
38 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
My engine has started knocking at low acceleration and disappears after speed is attained. The knock appears to be from the valves and may include the timing belt. This is not covered under the warranty since it is an adjustment and not a failure which means that it is an incurred cost which Honda did not share when…
The contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, there was an odor of burning oil present inside the cabin of the vehicle. In addition, the contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced excessive oil…
Air bags
29 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
The contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at speeds between 40-60 MPH, the vehicle crashed into another vehicle and the frontal air bags did not deploy upon impact. One injury was reported by one of the vehicle occupants. The vehicle was towed to a local body shop where the contact was…
The warning sign.... Side air bag off... Turns on automatically or blinks various times....so I stop the vehicle and put in park and turn off vehicle and the warning light for the air bag is no longer there. The warning indicator shows it turns off on its own the side air bags
Suspension
19 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
Took my 2009 Honda Pilot in to the Honda dealer for maintenance schedule and front brake pad replacement and was told that 1. Front lower control arm bushing & brackets $750.00 + tax the bushings inside the bracket are cracking. Just purchased the car from ourisman Honda in laurel, md in november 2011. Did not replace…
At 72,563 miles I experienced vibration and a growling noise from the right front of the vehicle at all speeds. The right front wheel bearing was replaced to fix the problem.
Brakes
14 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock.
The contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the brakes were depressed and the vehicle began to shake abnormally. After the contact removed his foot from the brake pedal, the shaking stopped. The failure recurred consistently. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or repair shop…
When brakes are applied at almost any sped vehicle shakes violently. Took it in for service was advised by dealer that the bushing on a suspension component needs to be replaced as it has cracked. I did a bit of research and was told that Honda was aware of the initial flaw on the design and redesigned it for the…
Steering
13 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles.
The vehicle vibrates very violently when going over 60 MPH. New tires, balanced and then road force balanced and same results. Starting happening maybe after 15k.
When brakes are applied at almost any sped vehicle shakes violently. Took it in for service was advised by dealer that the bushing on a suspension component needs to be replaced as it has cracked. I did a bit of research and was told that Honda was aware of the initial flaw on the design and redesigned it for the…
Transmission
12 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission cooler piece fractured internally, which caused the transmission fluid to leak into the radiator without warning. The dealer replaced the…
Pulled 2009 Pilot into my slopping driveway I put the car into park and engine running. Noting rear camera was disengaged. My husbad and infant in his arms were 5 feet away from the rear SUV. Once the reverse light came off he went walked behind the to front of passenger door. I opened the door of the car and spoke to…
Seats
7 complaints · 5%Tl contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the driver's seat was falling off the track and squeaking. He was concerned that the seat would fail while driving and cause a crash. The manufacturer was notified and is currently working on a remedy. The failure and current mileages were less than 15,000.…
2009 Honda Pilot - issue with power motor on driver and now passenger seat. Motor grinds, seat does not move with ease, occasionally seat feels like it's moving on the rails (when it shouldn't be). Honda states 'technicians are working on it'. Problem was first reported over 18 months ago, Honda is aware of issue.
Body and structure
7 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 65,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Tailgate would not stay open and when coming down would not stop even if you were leaning in to retrieve something. The rear hatch struts failed and there is no safety mechanism to prevent the tailgate from closing when the struts fail.
I was driving and a car went around me on the road. It had just started freezing rain, and when she went around me she lost control of her car and hit the concrete wall on the right side of roadway, and I was on left lane, going about 40 MPH and once she hit the wall it slung her right in front of me and I t-boned…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2009 Honda Pilot recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began august 12, 2019. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are f5f and q5e.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 acura tsx, 2011-2014 tsx sport wagon, 2010-2013 zdx, 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2011 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic and civic hybrid, 2008-2010 civic gx ngv, 2012-2015 crosstour, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2009-2013 fit, 2014 fit EV, 2010-2014 insight, and 2009-2015 pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began july 5, 2019. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are m4o, p4r, t4q, and w4p.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 acura tsx, 2011-2013 tsx sport wagon, and 2010-2012 zdx and 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2011 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic, civic hybrid and civic ngv, 2012-2014 crosstour, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2009-2013 fit, 2010-2013 insight, and 2009-2015 pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began june 22, 2018. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are k1p, and m1o.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 honda accord and pilot, 2010 accord crosstour, 2001-2011 civic, 2002-2011 cr-v, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 element, 2007 and 2009-2013 fit, 2010-2012 insight, 2002-2004 odyssey, and 2012 ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began february 16, 2018. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are b0k and l0j.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 acura tsx, zdx, honda accord crosstour, fit, insight and pilot vehicles, 2011-13 acura tsx sportswagon, 2010-2012 honda accord,, 2010-2011 honda civic, civic ngv, civic hybrid and cr-v vehicles and 2013 honda fcx clarity and fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 acura tsx, honda accord, accord crosstour, fit and pilot, 2010-2011 honda civic, civic ngv, civic hybrid and cr-v, and 2010 acura zdx and honda insight vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri,
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began october 30, 2017. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are o07, y0a, n06, g05, m04, y01, and o09.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 accord, 2010-2012 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2009-2012 fit and pilot, 2010-2012 insight, and 2009-2012 acura tsx vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are ke1 and ke2.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 acura tsx, 2011-2012 acura tsx wagon, 2010-2012 acura zdx, 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2012 honda accord crosstour and honda insight, 2009-2012 honda fit, 2009-2012 pilot, 2007-2011 honda cr-v, 2012 honda fcx clarity and 2006-2011 honda civic, civic hybrid, civic ngv vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, if not included in "zone a" above, honda is recalling certain 2009 acura tsx, honda fit and pilot, 2008-2009 honda accord, 2006-2009 civic, civic hybrid and civic ngv, and 2007-2009 honda cr-v vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, i
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began march 2017. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is ka4, ka5, ka6, and ka7.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 acura tsx, 2011 tsx wagon, 2010-2011 acura zdx, 2008-2011 honda accord, 2010-2011 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic, civic hybrid, and civic gx, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2010-2011 fcx clarity and insight, and 2009-2011 fit, and pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless already included in "zone a" above, honda is recalling certain model year 2008 honda accord, 2006-2008 civic, civic hybrid and civic gx, and 2007-2008 cr-v vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, neb
Air bags
Risk: The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a honda dealer. The dealer will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on march 14, 2013. Owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Full defect summary
Honda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 pilot and 2011-2013 odyssey passenger vehicles manufactured from march 13, 2008, through december 21, 2012. One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing.
Seat belts: webbing
Risk: If the stitching is incomplete or missing, the seatbelt may detach from the anchor webbing, increasing the risk of personal injury in a crash.
Fix: Honda dealers will conduct a specialized inspection of the driver and front passenger seatbelts, and if necessary, replace the seatbelts, free of charge. The safety recall began on october 5, 2011. Owners may contact honda automobile customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Full defect summary
Honda is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 pilot vehicles manufactured from march 13, 2008, through august 30, 2011. There is a possibility that the stitching that secures the end of the driver and front passenger lap section of the seatbelt may be incomplete or missing.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2009 Honda Pilot
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Honda Pilot?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (38 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles); air bags (29 complaints, typically around 89,000 miles); suspension (19 complaints, typically around 71,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Honda Pilot have?
- 9 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 27, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2009 a bad year for the Honda Pilot?
- It is 18th of 24 Pilot model years by number of complaints, with 134 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.