Used 2016 Honda Pilot Consumer Reviews
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Need new transmission, engine, drive train
Bill Michaels, 04/15/2016
updated 04/18/2018
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
We had the same issues with the 9 Speed transmission. Honda advised there was a software upgrade to address the problem so we made an appointment. The day before the appointment, the car overheated. Problem was the transmission cooler leaked coolant into the transmission. Honda is now installing a new transmission and flushing the cooling system. According to the mechanic, there have been other instances where coolant was slowly leaking into the transmission. So we'll see what happens. Honda installed a new transmission under warranty. However, when I asked if the new transmission was improved to eliminate the defects leading to the transmission failure, the Honda service department could not guarantee that the new transmission would not have the same failure in the future. Since the manufacturer warranty on the Pilot is only 60K miles, we purchased an extended warrantee (100K Miles). The new transmission does not shift smoothly and we'll need to have this diagnosed by Honda during our next service.
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Brand New 2016 Lemony Pilot! Check Owner Reviews
Lanie, 12/05/2016
updated 12/11/2017
2016 Honda Pilot LX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
Worst mistake I ever made was buying a brand new 2016 Honda Pilot! My 2016 Pilot was purchased new in March 2016. I Drive about 30k a year so I wanted comfort and a brand that wouldn't leave me stranded as I ran up the miles. Little did I know that the issues would start at 5-7000k miles and by 18,000 mile I would just trade it in for a lose to get out of it and rental cars. May of 2016 my records show...No backup lights! Corrected lights and oil changed. Then the major issues started. First problem was the transmission searching for gears, "that's normal, just v-tec". Second was the AC only blows out of vents at a humid 67 degrees, 55 when they "fixed" it but in the South, that makes the air temp of the car a sticky 87+ depending on the weather, but "that is normal" and leaves you with a sweating butt, back, underarms and forehead. Fuel economy, that's a joke! 13.1 average but "that is my driving style". Fourth, popping in the front end, "cannot duplicate" although it's on safercar.gov as a reported issue. Fifth, put the car in drive and it won't go! Well "that's downhill assist and normal". Sixth, car won't start but that "can't be duplicated and it might have been because the driver didn't press the brake". Seven, no HEAT! So NO AC during the summer and now NO heat during the winter, that is "just the new normal with these new EPA regulations". Eight, the radio may or may not pickup local channels but "that's normal". Nine, the radio and camera dim to where you can't see it, but "can't be duplicated". Ten is when you press the gas to go while rolling and the transmission doesn't catch a gear, that my friends is why I traded this car today. Think turning left and car not going with traffic coming at you. Now I know why people sit at Left on Green when clear traffic lights! So I traded it in for a 4Runner. Info added per Edmunds email for update 6/6/2017: I lost the safety aspect of the survival cage that the Pilot has, my gas mileage is about 5 mpg better in the 4Runner, I lost the roomy comfortable interior and the awesome room of the cargo area and the storage tray in the rear. Other than those items, I have icy AC in a dark Toyota still in the same city and state that Honda said was "normal", I had heat this winter, and best of all....seven months in and I haven't had O.N.E. problem or issue with the 4Runner. Amazing huh? Especially since Honda said it was just me....Run and don't buy a Pilot or at least get a 2008-2015. I have friends who are still rocking theirs at 300k. Update! I’m now 12k into my used 4Runner and it’s been a gem!!
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2016 Honda Pilot for sale near you
Showing 3 of 86 listings
- EX-L 4dr SUVMSRP: $16,49711 mi away
- EX-L 4dr SUV w/Honda SensingMSRP: $16,9979 mi away
- Elite 4dr SUV w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment SystemMSRP: $22,99821 mi away
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2016 pilot Elite transmission is crap
Glenn Kim, 09/02/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
15 of 17 people found this review helpful
Loved the Elite. Great car. Took it to Telluride and San Diego from El Paso during the summer both about 9 hour drives. Splurged for the AWD, top of the line. Last week when I was driving it , I noticed the transmission jerking and not shifting appropriately. Mind you I did two summer cruises in this car. Few days later my wife tells me the car is accelerating in a jerking way. I told her I noticed it too and suggested we take it to the dealer. Guess what, the computer found nothing. The car is not the same. They have a new fancy 9 speed transmission and it has PROBLEMS! I did a quick Google search and I am not alone. Honda is not addressing it , like the Takata air bag issues. BTW I have a 2009 Ridgeline waiting for new air bags to arrive on recall. I will open up a case with Honda North America and take it back to the dealer if the problem persists. I am sure they will say it's my imagination. My options are burn the car, sell the damn thing or trade it in for a lower level pilot with the old 6 speed transmission. I should have known a new model with new this, that new fancy transmission might have new PROBLEMS. My Mercedes CLS 500 the first year they made it has been in the shop more times than I can count. I thought Honda was different than the fancy German cars but I was wrong. It was the Pilot, Audi Q7, Toyota Highlander, and several others with 3 rd row of seats my wife looked at. Honda had the best reviews, picked 2016 SUV of the year. That's why we bought it. Now I am ready to crash the damn thing into the dealership and set it on fire. Buyer be ware. The new fancy 9 speed transmission has problems. Others might not notice it . It can be a subtle difference, but we did because of our summer road trips. I guess a few dozen people have to die for Honda to wake up. Just like the air bags.
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Honda Pilot 2016 Touring Transmission Issues!!!
Reddy King, 08/17/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
31 of 37 people found this review helpful
We got Honda Pilot 2016 Touring spending $45K and drove the car for 8 months with 8k miles on it and started making chirping sound when shifting from 3 to 4th gear. Took it to the dealer and had it inspected to find out that transmission went bad and had to be replaced!!!! wow really Honda? on a 45k car the transmission went bad with in 8k miles...!!!! Please don't buy pilot it has lotta issues, this is the 3rd time i had to take my car to dealership with issues, spend your money on something worth not on a pile of junk!!! i am a long term owner of Honda cars but this pilot pissed me off and i am not buying Honda's any more!!!! for future owners... please don't buy Honda Pilot 2016, read comments on edmunds, there are lot of owners with the same kinda issue and they had to replace transmissions. I can't believe Honda is making such a pile of junk!!!!
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crap entertainment and touch screen
Dank, 07/25/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
Do not buy this unless if you can live with crap entertainment system. Very poor metal cone like sound, smudge touch screen. Biggest issue is entertainment turns off when we stop engine from running. When starting engine, all blue ray unit will start the track from beginning. These vehicles are use for long trips. when having a break and starting again, blue ray also start running from beginning. My family hate this thing. Also would you believe it can only play USB drive when only engine is not running. Soon as engine starts, it says cannot read. Very poor quality.
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