Used 2016 Honda Pilot SUV Consumer Reviews

Early review

Some of the review questions could not be adequately answered due to ownership being only 3 weeks. So far, the vehicle has lived up to our expectations. In my opinion a better review would be at the 1+ year mark of ownership. UPDATE 1yr - the Pilot is very nice to drive and comfortable all around. Believe it or not the only issues we have had have been with the services folks. The vehicle itself has far exceeded our expectations.

So far, so good

Have about 500 miles on the car so far. The entire family likes it. It replaced an Infiniti JX35, and everyone likes it better that that car. We have none of the radio, bluetooth or shifting problems mentioned by other 2016 Pilot owners (yet?). The radio is fine; in fact, it is better than average. Ditto for the nine-speed tranny. Works great - and much better than Infiniti's CVT. Adequately powered. Good gas mileage. And it takes regular gas. The car is quiet. Well soundproofed, with acoustic glass. Very little wind noise, engine noise or tire noise. Every seat is comfortable. Plenty of storage, including storage behind the third seats. I was expecting to hate the entertainment system / user interface, but I don't. I wish it had volume knobs, but it has a permanent volume "touch slider" that is relatively easy to find, plus volume knobs on the steering wheel. And it is very easy to program-in favorite programs, which are then readily accessible. HVAC system has separate, permanent, easy to find and use controls. Plenty of USB ports. Steering is much more precise than the Infiniti, which felt like it had a rubber band connected between the steering wheel and front wheels. Infiniti liked to wander everywhere, except in a straight line (and the Infiniti's "loose" steering made it tiresome to keep it going in a straight line). Pilot tracks straight. As for technology, it has virtually everything except 360 degree, bird's eye view cameras. I'm not a big fan of the push-button shifter, but I expect it just takes time to get used to it. I can't speak to reliability of dealer service yet. I will update the review at a later time.

Good but could be better...

Coming from an '09 Expedition Eddie Bauer, I'm somewhat disappointed. Overall performance is great. And Honda reliability and resale are a definite plus. But armrests, seriously, couldn't Honda include a decent center console? And the tech in this Honda is definitely lacking. Voice commands are a joke, it thought Vero Beach Florida was Deer Lake Ohio, really? The Sync in my '08 Focus is way better. I did get a great deal, and this car is very nice overall, and very affordable when compared to similar models. But there are a number of small annoying issues, like no drivers seat memory settings. I'll probably trade back up to an Expedition when I can find a really good deal on one.

2016 Honda Pilot Touring

Drove around 2000 miles, so far so good. Initial gear shifting is little jerky. Touch screen is slow to respond. Quite interior. Steering is little soft, could be little. tighter. 5/31/2016- There were some noise coming from steering column, took to Honda dealer for navigation software update and asked them to look into the noise, I was told they opened the steering column and looked harness/wearing and put back together. That fixed that noise. 8500 miles now. It is OK SUV, nothing great.

Great Car

I traded in my 2010 Toyota Sienna last October. The first thing the 2016 Pilot impressed me is its fuel economy. It is much better than my Toyota van. In the Minnesota winter, I could get average of 20 mpg for mixed local and freeway drivings. The new Pilot is also very quiet, much lower road noise compared to the minivan I had. The ride is so smooth and stable. On a smooth road, you just can't feel the speed you are driving. With the AWD, it handles so well on snow. The car doesn't look big from outside, but sitting inside you feel it's quite roomy. I had 8 adult rides several times and never heard anyone complained. Before I bought the Pilot, I read much about the problems with the same 9-speed transmission on Jeep. But I never had any issue with my transmission. It always shifts smoothly up and down, and reacts swiftly. I guess Honda must have a better software control. The lane keeping technology works very well even with poor road marks, at night, and in rain conditions. I really enjoy driving the 2016 Pilot.

Honda does it again!

Wonderful design, interior is classy, and the Navagation System is much improved. The 2016 Honda Pilot is a winner in every way. If you really want to enjoy this vehicle you should purchase the two top models Touring or Touring Elite....a little pricy but worth it with the upgrades. The 2016 Pilot continues to amaze me with its great features, smooth ride and wonderful interior room. It is fun to drive and looks great compared to other suvs on the road. I have compared this vehicle to other vehicles in this class and this is the best in every way.

2 years. I love it. Better than my wife's BMW.

Great car. No complaints. The tranny takes a little getting used to. But once you are used to it, it's great Take your foot off the accelator and it downshifts.

2016 and beyond

This a nice suv to get. had it over 1 month now and the v6 inside is really nice. The down side is they didn't put a cd player in the lower model.

This Pilot was worth the wait....

I was driving a Toyota Highlander and loved that car, sorry Toyota but after driving the new Pilot I had to make the switch. I learned a lot about this SUV through Youtube.com, from the amateur reviewer to the professional I learned what made this SUV a future leader in this segment. I also read reviews on this website and feel that some of the reviewers had issues and I don't doubt that but don't make a decision based on a couple of unfortunate few. In the end it is a Honda and I have been an owner of an Acura in the past and was very impressed with the service that came with the vehicle.

2016 Pilot is head & shoulders above anything else

A leader in the suv market

Shop around you can get a great deal if u look

Love my pilot

Top suv under 40K

Pilot ex-l is a fantastic vehicle. You will not find a comparable suv in this price range (under 40k). The highlander is close but the features of the pilot ex-l are much greater than the comparable trimmed highlander.

Lot's of options for the value!

Really like this 2016 Honda Pilot Elite AWD. Drives really smooth and quiet. Little bumps on the road almost fully observed. Car has more options than my wife's Acura MDX 2014 that cost 3k more. Some people may not like some new options like no transmission lever to change from Parking to Drive or Neutral or rear. I love it, it is very futuristic. Card drives without any issues, sound system is great. I had car for over 30 days and I like everything about it. It looks very manly in Black on Black color. Car is very fast and does not feel big.

Love it!!

Only had this vehicle seven months, hopefully I will feel the same in future months!!!!

New 2016 Honda Pilot

Poor

I could do without heated seats and instead, HEATED MIRRORS! This is New England

my review with short time of pilot

needs some noise reduce while driving when window are open

Nice Car But it Has a Few Design Issues

The 2016 Pilot looks great and runs fantastically. My chief complaint is the fact that the passenger side mirror doesn't have the camera. I assumed the highest end model would have the camera when I ordered my 2016 Pilot. I was extremely disappointed to find it doesn't. I have a 2014 Accord with the camera and have grown to depend on it for safety reasons. I wish Honda would offer an "after market" camera for the passenger side. If I had know this I would have ordered the Touring edition. I am not a happy camper with Honda. Update: the car tends to drift from the driving lane. Probably because it’s a big car and the tires are very wide. It tends to get tiring on long drives.

Fantastic all-around vehicle

I like everything about my 2016 AWD EX Pilot. I've driven it around town, along the snaking Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway, and on a 1,000 mile interstate trip. It's very comfortable/roomy, maneuverable/park-able, and pretty darn peppy. So far so fantastic.

At best an average!!

pilot $7,500 cheaper than MDX

Dark colors look better than light colors. Front armrest stupid. Styling same as other Asian cars

Good to buy

new pilot

Great purchase!! 9 speed transmission shifts rough and high premium for elite trims.

Rides better than m MDX

Honda has it wrong with the way they market... lots of options on EXL but most cars on the lot only come with one.

My son is a Pilot as well.....

Absolutely love this pilot. Very comfortable, excellent safety features, stylish. I went from an Audi to my Honda Pilot and just LOVE it. It's the 2016 model so not boxy and large like it used to be (which I liked as well). I still get it confused with the Mercedes SUV's that are in the parking lot as well as the BMW SUV's. I am surprised on the gas mileage we are getting with our Pilot - averaging 25-28 mph - which is more than we were getting with our Audi A4. This Pilot is everyone in our family's favorite!

2016 EX 2 months review

Purchase for wife who drove 2012 MDX. This is better and less $. Wife loves the how the middle seat slides forward to let the grandkids into the 3rd seat. Bought used with 4K miles for $34K. Fastest car I've ever owned. Electronics are quirky. Radio display drops channels and then they reappear later on the screen. Overall quality seems great. Great ride and easy to drive. Love the 2016 styling. Would recommend. 1/26/18 - this car has about 35K miles and is perfect. The ride is so much better than the MDX. More like a car and very smooth. No new issues.

Bigger than than the CR-V

The Pilot is a lot bigger than the CR-V, it had taken some getting used to when judging parking and such. Very roomy however. The only thing about the car that I don't care for is the keyless start system.

ENGINE NOISE COLD START

2016 Honda Pilot engine woodpecker noise at cold star and at idle.It was first noticed the morning after vehicle was acquired new in November 2015.The noise increases with slight acceleration. Noise similar to woodpecker rattle sound or diesel engine sound when accelerating. Noise also noticed when vehicle sitting for a few days in cold temperature. A/C Compressor noise or grind when turning on after vehicle being parked for a couple of days. At at cold start. Radio display malfunction. Noise from steering wheel during slight turning. 11,000 MILES

Just bought it and luv it

It feels much wider than our previous SUV (probably is) and my wife is a little skittish driving and parking it. I think it will just take time to adjust.

Pilot Excellence

I was told to be wary of this new Pilot but it is EVERYTHING it was supposed to be. Nine speed is awesome and ride across country was a dream. All of the safety features are a big plus and ACC worked great.. Great job Honda

Worst Purchase EVER!

I bought my Pilot in November 2015. Out the gate I have had problems with the entertainment system. Problems consist of hands free button not recognizing my voice, dropped calls, people saying it sounds like I'm in a wind tunnel (even though all the windows are up and A/C is off), radio stations not showing on the display, voice recognition system not being able to distinguish what name is being said, system randomly re-booting while driving, calls not being transferred to car system. There are more problems but I think you get the idea. I have an Iphone 6S (IOS 10.2.1). I have also tried paring a Samsung and LG phones to the system and still the problems exist. In the last 6 months I have had the entire info system replaced, the FM receiver replaced, and 2 software updates. Problems still exist. I have a case open with Honda USA and now (as of February 24th the dealer is saying that I have to live with the problems with the info system. I will be contacting Honda USA again. No one should have to live with a problem with a new vehicle especially after spending >$35k for the vehicle. In addition to the info system problems I am experience problems with the vehicle locking (or lack there of) while walking away. The dealer has replaced a sensor in the drivers door and a proximity sensor in the car but the problem still exists. Other issues include the wipers malfunctioning and the spin control system kicking in when the vehicle isn't spinning. I have owned Honda's in the past but they did a poor job on the new Pilots. Update 3/13/17 On March 9, 2017 I was parked in a parking lot waiting for my daughter. As I started the vehicle I received 3 warnings which stated the following: 1) Brake system problem; 2) charging system problem; and 3) Anti-lock brake system problem. I had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealer through the Honda Emergency Road Service. The dealer is still working on the vehicle to figure out the problem.

Loving our 2016 Pilot Touring AWD!

**Update as of 3-29-18. We've now had our Pilot for more than a year and have put about 24,000 miles on it. We still love this car, and I wouldn't change anything about the review I wrote in early 2017, below. The transmission hasn't given us a single problem and is still the smoothest shift I've ever experienced in a car. We've also driven the Pilot in the snow and it performs wonderfully. We've packed it to the max inside and had car top carriers on it for long trips, have taken it camping, and have used it to shuttle kids around. Great, reliable SUV that hasn't had a single mechanical glitch or problem. The bluetooth connectivity is still a little frustrating, but i think we're used to how it works. It's not very intuitive, and so I'm hoping Honda will have a software update in the future. For example, figuring out how to switch from one phone to another is nearly impossible. But that's the only complaint that i still have. My wife and I read a lot of reviews prior to purchasing our 2016 Honda Pilot at the end of December, 2016. There were so many reviews/complaints about the 9-speed transmission that comes standard in the Touring and Elite models, that we were completely scared off of those trim levels, at least initially. We test drove a Pilot EX model, which has the old 6-speed transmission that we'd had in our older Pilot. We didn't even want to test drive the Touring model because of the 9-speed transmission. But then we did. And we loved it. And after three months and trips through the mountains, on flat terrain, in city traffic, sitting on highways in traffic, and etc... there is absolutely not a single complaint that we have about the 9-speed transmission. In fact, i can say with all honesty that it is the smoothest transmission I've ever experienced. Up-shifting and downshifting is smooth and nearly imperceptible, no matter what the terrain. The tranny is very smooth and responsive as well. My brother in law, who knows cars well, drove our car (and knew nothing about the transmission complaints in the reviews), and the first comment he made was that the transmission was incredibly smooth and quiet. That was totally unprompted (I didn't ask him, "so what did you think of the transmission" or anything to that effect). The Pilot has loads of room for our family of five and the dog, on long trips, and has plenty of power for the mountains. The Touring model has a number of bells & whistles that we like that just don't come on the EX (including that very quiet, smooth transmission). One thing that we appreciate the most is the extra sound proofing material in the Touring that doesn't come on the EX model. It's makes our Pilot noticeable quieter than the cheaper model. Test drive both in succession and I'm sure you'll agree. The Honda Sensing takes some getting used to, but it's really handy, especially on long trips. The braking on the adaptive cruise control can jolt if a car cuts in front of you, but i don't understand why people would complain about that. Of course the brakes will apply if someone cuts in front of you! In any event, three months and counting and we love our pilot and haven't had a single issue with it, except for some Bluetooth connectivity weirdness. When my wife's and my phones are in the car at the same time, we sometimes having trouble connecting to the phone of our choice. Who know's whether that's more user error than technical glitch. As for the absence of a radio volume knob - that' s no big deal. We love having what is in effect an iPod in the dash rather than some old analog knobs. Great SUV. We highly recommend.

Audio system is a nightmare

I purchased a used 2016 pilot touring AWD from our local Toyota dealer- it had everything I was looking for in a Highlander, but was a cheaper option. Got an extended (expensive) warranty, thank goodness. The Bluetooth has never worked. It has been in the shop 6 days. So frustrated. They replaced the audio unit which they said was 1,000 bucks. It didn't fix the problem, now it's actually worse. The radio will just start skipping around and has frozen twice- I had to shut it off completely. Can't talk on the phone hands-free, which is a terrible problem for me. I love the car, but I can't keep it if the infotainment system does not work. So frustrated and just sad.

Piloting our life's journey

We had traded it in their 2012 Honda CRV for a 2015 Honda Pilot and we're traveling through life just fine for a year. Then one day stopping by the Honda dealership there it was the 2016 pilot. Before I knew it I was in talking to my salesman they gave me a fantastic deal on a trade in three and a half months later are 2016 Honda Pilot touring all wheel drive arrived. This vehicle is so much more than the 2015 pilot was. Smooth, quiet, very powerful, and all the options that one could will it. I must say the button shifting was something to get used to but now I'm very accustomed to it and wouldn't go back to a regular manual shifter. I can't say enough about the way the pilot Drives, handles, and once in awhile I must say I am guilty of disappointing kids and their little rocket cars as I ease into the gas pedal and deposit them in my rearview mirror. Handling is great visibility is good and I'm very happy with the vehicle. As we passed 38,200 miles the Pilot has taken us to Orlando and back as well as Mackinac Bridge, Chicago, Ohio, Detroit, and various points of interest, to include daily activities. All completed without a hitch. 30k service was a sticker shock with this fancy German ZF9 tranny accounting for $400.00 of the service bill. The Pilot is still wonderful to drive. Honda sent us a warranty extension on the ZF9 tranny extending it to ten years unlimited miles. We got a second letter requesting we bring the Pilot in for so the can replace the transmission fluid heater which has been failing causing motor and transmission failure. Yikes!!! I hope Honda's new ten speed and the standard ZF9 in all the new Odyssey vans have this shorted out. Love my Pilot, but I ordered a Ridgeline RTL-E in Obsidian blue three months ago. Rides even better than the Pilot, has the good old reliable six speed that only cost $100 to service as well as 18" tires that are going 50k or more rather than my 20" that were replaced at 31k! Just wish the Ridgeline made for the USA had all the Canadian Touring options. Despite the tranny the Pilot Touring AWD is far and away still my choice over the new Traverse and the much smaller Highlander. Our road trip to Florida was outstanding! Thanks Pilot!!! The Ridgeline will be a worthy replacement for our family of four.

Terrible transmission

2016 Honda Touring! Will be trading in this fairly new care as the transmission is horrible. $45,000 and you get a transmission that is stuttering, slow to respond and a car that is jerking at low speeds. May others with the same problem....look it up. Loved Honda until this.

Pilot of your dreams ?? May be May be not.

This is a good solid car and good value for the money. However the infotainment is not very intuitive and user friendly. The acceleration is ok but in the ECO mode is very feeble. Merging on to oncoming traffic in ECO mode is not pleasant. The interior on the EX-L with RES is well done. The ride quality is very good. Over all we like the car.

Problems with blue tooth connectivity

Vehicle works well overall. The biggest nuisance as u probably have read is the infotainment system which is not as user friendly. The blue tooth works ok using Siri to connect for phone calls, but for my music it is staticky and I have not been able to connect to Pandora for a long time no matter what I do. Taking it in to se if they have a patch to fix it and will update rew again later. Wish honda would take notes from the uconnect system in my grand Cherokee; Works way better and very user friendly.

2016 Honda Pilot "check engine" light

Not sure why but I just dropped my 2016 Pilot EXL off for a check engine light again. In June, while driving in "econ" mode, I accelerated smoothly and the light came on. The dealer replaced the catalytic converter. Yesterday, same driving conditions, same smooth acceleration to enter ramp for freeway and light came on again. This is 2X in 35 days!!! What is going on? Is the sensing system detecting unburned fuel when accelerating in "econ" mode? This could make me a last time Honda owner....

Two things

The idle stop should defalt to off. With two car seats in the second row, the 3rd row is not accessable.

Honda Pilot EXL 2016

I brought this car in a new condition happily because it seemed really good. After a few months of driving it the engine light kept going on and there was a problem with the emition system. The dealer fixed it and told me it was an injector problem. 2 months later the sign came back with the emition system. The dealer said it was the catalytic converter. They cleaned it and said it was okay but after one week the sign had returned. This really changed my mood and I only drove for 50,000 miles so far. I'm wondering as to what should I do but I do not recommend Honda. Hope they do better next time.

Perfect Pilot

It’s perfect for a larger family. It has all the perks. Even the kids love it!

Falling apart. Nothing is built to last anymore

2016 pilot is literally falling apart. I rarely drive it and trim fell off and now got a message about keyless remote starter? Really???? Come on Honda!

Bought brand new and has died twice while driving!

We purchased a 2016 Honda Pilot Touring model in May 2016. A week after purchasing, the car completely died on us while at a stop light. We could not even get the car into neutral to move it out of the intersection. The dealership said to tow the car to them, and provided us with a rental. The car was in the shop for about a week. The service department said it was a bad alternator that was draining the battery. They replaced the alternator. Fast forward to last week and the same thing happened. The car died while at a stop sign. We towed to the nearest Honda service center and they said a couple errors codes were cleared and at one point the battery wasn't working, but after resetting codes, it appeared to drive fine. This incident is on top of the multiple times we have had it in for a glitchy display (the sound will go off while listening to the radio and the touch screen buttons freeze). The service center replaced part of the computer display and we are still having the same problems. Also, this car has a kick back when accelerating from a stop, not all the time, but often enough to feel unsafe. I owned a 2004 Honda Pilot prior to this and had no problems until it was about 9 yo and the transmission went out with less than 100K miles. I will not buy another Pilot.

Honda cuts corners/cheap

Top of the line Pilot has a cheap, cheap remote key fob. Good luck trying to change the battery. Also, Honda puts a cheap 12V car battery in it. Cheap. Mileage for an 8 seat model is about 20 mpg city driving.

Looks like a Mini Van - I dont like It

My neighbor has a honda van and I have the honda pilot (SUV) and they are identical !!! the only difference is the sliding doors on the mini van !! The road noise is horriable Take a lenthy trip in one also I want a SUV that looks like one not a VAN !! If honda is not changing the looks back like the 2014 2015 I am going with a Chevy tahoe it make be bigger but it looks like a SUV

Pilot

Make sure you know what options you want/need. Dealers tend to equip floor models with everything and many option you don't need. Trailer hitch is critical for transporting bikes and I recommend the dealer installed option as the fit and finish is much better than other after market installs.

Honda Pilot

Fuel injection problems

Our 2016 Honda Pilot has a fuel injection problems. Bought it used in 2019 with 37,000 miles on it. Shortly thereafter the check engine light came on. Turns out the fuel injectors needed to be replaced. Honda motor company would not cover any of the cost. Some $1,800 later it is somewhat fix...the RPMs still jump around a lot when driving at highway speeds. Wouldn't recommend this purchase unless you know the injectors have been replaced or its a Honda Certified.

does not downshift well when you want to pass

Shifting problems but seems better after a software fix. It was only a little better, Hard to pass from 55 mph, it does not downshift well at that speed. Huge problem with electronics. Center gps/radio display broke twice. It was replaced. Odometer reset at fill-up does not reset every 3 fill-ups. Driver door does not unlock often. have to press fob to unlock door. Touch screen for radio difficult. Have to take eyes off of road. What ever happened to knobs? Passenger cannot set navigation with car moving. That sucks. On the good side, the car is very quiet and comfortable. Has really good seats. Good acceleration most of the time. The economy is amazing compared to my 3 other pilots.