2022 Honda Pilot: What to check before buying

Both the instrument cluster and the center screen go black while driving, from seconds to a few minutes, hiding the speedometer. A failed front windshield camera triggers lane keep assist, adaptive cruise and automatic braking warnings, with repair quotes over $2,000 and no warranty help. Weak or drained batteries leave the car dead or shut it off at stops, and dealers often replace the battery. The alarm sounds at random and the head unit cycles on and off. One crash report describes the car moving on its own in a parking lot despite the brakes and Park.

The automatic emergency braking system brakes hard when nothing is ahead. Common triggers are oncoming cars on two-lane roads, curves, and train tracks. False braking at interstate speeds nearly causes rear-end collisions, and one report lists an injury. False BRAKE warnings can show up several times a day. Dealers often cannot reproduce the problem or call it normal. In a separate pattern, the multipurpose camera fails and every driver aid shuts off at once with a row of warning lights, in one case at 48,000 miles. Adaptive cruise also brakes harshly or misses slower cars on hills.

Unwanted brake application is the main complaint. The vehicle stops hard from around 30 mph, the brake lights flash at random, and some cars have sticking brakes within their first 1,000 miles. Replacing the antilock brake module or the battery did not fix it in the reports that mention those repairs. One highway stop at 35,000 miles came with warnings for stability assist, power steering and the transmission. Other owners describe a soft, spongy pedal that has to travel too far, along with vibration and squeaking. Dealers frequently cannot verify the problem.

The transmission drops into neutral and shows a "Transmission problem" message, which leaves the car unable to move until it is restarted. It happens most often on cold starts after remote start, with the car sitting in Drive. In other reports the car will not shift out of Park, or a transmission leak appears in the first 500 miles. Several owners needed a full replacement transmission. Others report a 2 to 5 second loss of power during acceleration followed by a lurch forward, and sudden deceleration on the freeway with warning lights on.

Some engines suffer bearing failure. Owners describe a knocking noise behind the glove box around 1000 to 2000 rpm or under load, and teardowns find metal shavings in the oil pan and a damaged or seized crankshaft that calls for a short block or a replacement engine. One affected VIN was not covered by a recall. Auto Idle Stop that fails to restart the engine at lights is the other repeated complaint. Owners also report stalling on the highway with a check engine light and power limited to about 30 to 35 mph.

Sunroofs and moonroofs shatter while the car is being driven, and owners find no debris or impact to explain it. A rear window also broke when the power liftgate was opened. On the highway, lower door trim on both front and rear doors has come off and flown into traffic, which is a hazard to other drivers. A separate leak lets water collect inside the hatch door through its seals. The water then pours into the cabin behind the rear trim panels.

A failing steering rack makes a clanking noise from the front when driving over speed bumps or braking while turning left. The wheel may shake and the steering feel loose. Onset appears between about 35,000 and 58,900 miles. Shops sometimes blame the shocks or sway bar links first, and a rack replacement cures the noise. Other reports describe clicking and squeaking from the steering column with a stiff wheel. One owner was told the car fell outside the related extended coverage.

These reports describe unintended acceleration with brakes that do not respond. They include one crash and 2 injuries. In one case the vehicle left an upper parking structure level and fell to the floor below. A state investigator's report describes speed climbing above 100 mph until a police cruiser forced the car to stop. A separate complaint involves repeated engine stalls and loss of acceleration in traffic that continued after the dealer replaced the transmission.