Used 2016 Honda Pilot SUV Consumer Reviews

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More about the 2016 Pilot
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Great Ride; Extremely Poor Infotainment System

Kenneth Smith, 12/05/2015
updated 12/28/2020
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
68 of 69 people found this review helpful

Update 6/28/19 - The problem with the auto stop-start function has not returned since the battery was replaced. Sometimes on hot days, the vehicle struggles to auto-start, but has not died as it did before the battery was replaced. The A/C went out at 32,000 miles and cost $1,700 for repairs. Fortunately, I had purchased a Honda extended warranty policy and Honda covered the repair. The infotainment system continues to be a point of frustration. It is absolutely the worst system I have ever encountered in a vehicle! My only other issue is the transmission. It is very jerky at low speeds. Update 12/27/2018 - Encountered a problem with the auto stop-start function that shuts the engine off when at a full stop. After several trips to the Honda dealer and after showing several videos of the Pilot stalling out at stop signs and stop lights, they finally determined it was a faulty battery. Regarding the infotainment system, I still feel it is the worst I have ever encountered. Terrible design and very "user unfriendly". Update 06/27/2018 - After almost 3 years of ownership, I still feel the infotainment system is one of the worst on the market. Very user unfriendly and the nav system is very inaccurate. Most recent problem has to do with the auto Idle-stop feature. Often times when I stop at a light or at a stop sign, the engine goes into Idle-stop, but when the gas peddle is pressed, the vehicle just stalls out. You must then put the vehicle in "park", press the brake and then the start button. Very dangerous when in the middle of an intersection making a turn. I have taken the vehicle into Honda, but they have been unable to fix the problem??? So each time I start the vehicle, I disengage the auto idle-stop function (which reduces the gas mileage). I really like the new design and ride of the vehicle, but I have to say, the center electronics stack has a very "user unfriendly" interface. I have owned many vehicles over the past 15 years (Infinity, Acura, BMW to name a few) and all have far superior electronics packages. I am very disappointed in how unresponsive the the touch screen is and how inaccurate the nav system can be. Many well established main stream restaurants do not show up in the database. The voice activation interface is almost useless. You must go through layers of screens to make a call or to utilize the nav system. I have returned to the dealership on two different occasions to have a total of four sales reps agree with me that the electronics interface leaves a lot to be desired. It is impossible to control the rear entertainment system from the touch screen in terms of starting a DVD for a child. I have read several reviews and blogs critical of the design and ergonomics of the electronics user interface. Not sure why Honda would install such a rudimentary system in a $50,000 Pilot Elite??? Update: After a full year of ownership my opinion has not changed. As a matter of fact, I can without reservation say the Honda Pilot Elite Infotainment system is the worse system I have ever used. Cannot access my phone book while driving yet I can go through many screens when using the radio, DVD player, etc. (so safety cannot be the reason I am limited on the phone book access). While driving I can go through several screens to get to "Tech Support" for a call, but when I reach Honda and I am asked to enter 1 for Honda or 2 for Acura, I am locked out of the numeric key pad screen to enter 1 or 2. I must pull off the road and stop the car to enter 1 or 2??? Makes absolutely no sense! There are a hundred other frustrating things about the design of the Infotainment system, but not enough room in this review to address them all. Update: After 2 years of ownership, I am still very dissatisfied with the infotainment system. It is frustrating to use and very user unfriendly. I would say it is the worse infotainment system I have ever used. I have had several friends who have owned the 2016 Honda Pilot and all are very unhappy with the infotainment system. The other problem area is the the 9 speed transmission. It is very "jerky" at low speeds and does not shift very smoothly. As far as design, comfort, mileage and handling, I am very satisfied. Just wish Honda had utilized the Acura infotainment design. Update: After 4 years of ownership, I recently sold my 2016 Honda Pilot. Overall, it was a good experience in terms of design and comfort. My biggest complaint throughout my ownership was the poor design and implementation of the infotainment system. Very user "unfriendly"! I also had problems with the "auto stop-start" feature. Apparently, you must have a strong battery to avoid the vehicle from having to be completely "restarted".

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Solid performer. Distractive, woeful electronics

J. Lawrence, 08/02/2016
2016 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
33 of 33 people found this review helpful

If your a looking for a large, roomy family-orientated SUV that handles well, looks good, is comfortable to travel in and gets surprisingly good mileage for its size, look no further. However, if electronics are your big thing then let me tell you they were designed by people who probably did not have to ever use them- so they let "concept" get ahead of "usefulness" and the result is an electronics package that is distractive to the driver to use, and frankly plain dangerous on the road for that reason. Simply put, you have to look at the large and gorgeous display a few extra seconds (too long) to find anything, taking your eyes off the road for an extra 2-3-4 seconds which is sure to produce some bad accidents. They stuffed everything but the kitchen sink on that display. Too much information crammed in one place. Considering that these geniuses for some ethereal reason put Apple Carplay in their other cheaper vehicles, but not the high end Pilot is beyond bad decision-making, it is just plain dumb. I love the car (IT'S A GREAT VEHICLE), I say that having owned it nearly a year, and it replaced my recent model LEXUS RX which was smaller, got worse mileage, had no 3rd row seats, and cost about $12k more, with a front end that looks like it just sucked on a lemon (the Lexus, not the Honda)-- everything about this SUV is GOOD NEWS- except- this distractive and poorly designed entertainment center.

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2016 Honda Pilot "soft pedal" issue

larry, 06/27/2016
updated 01/10/2025
2016 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV w/Honda Sensing (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
163 of 169 people found this review helpful

As long-time Honda Accord V-6 owners (3 since 1999) and realizing that we wanted something larger, we began to research the 2016 re-designed Pilot a year ago. After visiting dealerships several times and looking at all facets of the SUV, we purchased an EX-L with Honda Sensing in November 2016. The only options we added were color-matched side trim moldings and rear bumper applique, both of which greatly protect from door dings to sides and suitcase scratches to rear bumper....highly recommend. Incidently, we got the dealership to include both in negotiated purchase price, at no extra cost, including labor to install. We did get wheel locks and etched window security ID number, but declined upgraded security system....a $1000 add-on and dealer money-maker. We presently have 4500 miles on the vehicle, including 2 trips of 800 miles each, mostly interstate both times, with gas mileage on those trips of 28.5 miles both. Recently we had a rock, or object, hit the center of our right front fog light lens in the bumper, shattering it. I thought this would be a relatively easy fix....NOT!! The lens had to be ordered, and second appointment scheduled (18 mile round trip) for replacement. The lens (only...not the actual light assembly) was $70 and $120 for 35 minutes labor to replace...a total of $191....outrageous!!! These are available on-line from various sources quite reasonable, and there are how-to videos online showing how to replace them, which I would do next time. While there for replacement, I mentioned to the service advisor that I had noticed for sometime, but more so the past several weeks, that the brake pedal seemed "soft" when coming to stop signs or lights, and that recently, when stopped at a light in a line of traffic, the car would initially stop OK, but the brake pedal would then slowly depress, nearly to the floor, requiring increasing attention and pressure to prevent the vehicle from "creeping" forward....a safety concern. His response was, "yes, Honda is a aware of this, so far terming it a "soft pedal issue", and they are watching it". I indicated to him my concern this is ultimately a safety concern, and he indicated that "it does not seem to be present or happening with all 2016 Pilots, but likely will require a "fix", ie: a recall or software update". If buying a 2016, you need to be aware of this. Our last feature we dislike the most is the Infotainment Center in this particular model. Everything is touch, slide, and as many reviews have indicated, NOT user friendly or intuitive. The hardcopy owners manual gives you very little specific info on the vehicle. Fortunately, there is a CD for use in your computer that gives you detailed info...how to set or adjust outside temperature reading on dash; how to change bass/treble/balance/front-rear balance on radio/sound system....look at it...well worth the time. Overall, a very nice vehicle with some "hiccups" Honda needs to correct. Update: 12,000 miles on vehicles, with no new glitches. Overall, very happy with vehicle, with the exception of the above noted issues. We still hate the info center and digital technology. The radio is "crap' with lousy sound. The "soft pedal" issue continues, maybe slightly better, but still present. On my most recent service visit to Honda I had the service advisor check their tech bulletins to see if Honda was addressing the issue in any way.......NO....."just watching it". Update: 18400 miles now at 19 months since purchased. Still really like the vehicle overall, with the exception of the Infotainment/audio system, which has been described above. The soft pedal issue remains...maybe somewhat improved, but suspect more likely we have "adjusted" to it. We've taken 2 major trips the past several months....one from southern CA to Denver and back, heavily loaded both ways. The other from southern CA to the north end of Vancouver Island and back. Average 28.6 miles per gallon on both trips. Quite happy with mileage and performance. No problems to date with the vehicle. Update: We've now owned this vehicle 25 months, with 23,000 miles driven. No problems of any type except as noted above. We still think the infotainment system is very poor. The "soft-pedal" issue seems to no longer be a problem, but again, suspect we have just "adjusted" to it. We've had no mechanical issues with the car, and it has required only routine service and tire rotations. I've noted many "consumer reviews" on the vehicle note "sluggish to drive" and "under-powered", neither of which has been an issue for us. The V-6 provides more than adequate power and response. Then vehicle is very comfortable on long trips. I would have NO problem recommending it to prospective buyer. Update: We've owned the vehicle 32 months, with 31,000 miles driven, including several lengthy trips. We've had no mechanical problems with the vehicle, other than routine oil changes and tier rotations. Still hate the infotainment center. Update......I've now owned this vehicle soon-to-be 8 years and just turned 80K miles. Great car. No mechanical issues...replaced tires once with Michelins. It still has original brake pads. Routine maintenance and tire rotations, as recommended. Absolutely love the car....except for infotainment center as noted in prior reviews....and would likely buy another, although the Kia Telluride might give me pause. Update....1/9/2025....I have now owned the vehicle 7+ years with NO problems. Soon to need a new set of tires, as the current ones have 50K+. Just turned over 84K on the car. my biggest issue remains the infotainment center, which I hate!! Otherwise, love the vehicle and highly recommend.

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Broken off the lot and in the shop for a month

Michael King, 10/13/2015
2016 Honda Pilot EX 4dr SUV AWD w/Honda Sensing (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
158 of 166 people found this review helpful

Frustrating is the only word I can use to describe my experience with my brand new 2016 Honda Pilot. I don’t know if it was a freak occurrence or maybe I’m just unlucky, but I drove my Pilot off the lot and about 10 miles later the Touch Screen Infotainment system just stopped working. I was ok with that honestly, things break, car manufacturing isn't a perfect process. However the thing that is unforgivable and what warrants a 1 star review for my brand new car is the face that getting Honda to repair it has been an absolute clown show. I’ve owned the car for 25 days and I’ve only had the car to drive for 5 days because the last 17 days the car has been in the shop. So here follow my timeline and make your own decision about whether or not buying a new Honda Pilot is right for you. Day 1: I bought the car and drove it away. The sales process was clean and efficient. I drove 10 miles home and on the way my infotainment touch screen started fading to black. Day 2: Driving the car around town the infotainment screen just stopped functioning entirely. Just a black screen that would show lines. Made an appointment to get the car in the shop the next day. Day 3: After staying at the dealership for 3 hours Honda told me their computers found nothing wrong, and that I should leave the car there and take a loaner while they called Honda Tech support to figure out the issue. This wasn’t immediately possible as I was planning an out of state trip that weekend so I said I would bring it right back on Monday. Day 7: After driving the car all weekend the infotainment system never worked once. It’s a blessing that I could control the radio was from the buttons on the steering wheel. I took the car into the dealership, and drove away with my loaner. All in all I had put about 780 miles on the car (150 miles of which was driving it back and forth to the dealership) They told me they hope to have it fixed in “a few days”. Great. Day 10: Haven’t heard back from the dealership so I give them a call. The tech line said they should just replace the entire infotainment system, it’s on order and they should have the part some time this week. They hope to get me the car in “a few days”. Great. Day 14: The part didn’t come over the weekend. We’re investigating why the part order didn’t go through. We’ll get this cleared up and get the car back to you as soon as we can. At this point Honda has had my car longer than I have. We’re starting to get really upset so we call Honda of America Corporate to see what's the problem. They said the dealership should figure it out and there is nothing they could do about it. They gave us a case number incase there was a problem. Day 16: We’ve ordered the part but it’s on hold. They won’t release it to us yet. At this point we’re wondering if the part even exists. This is where we start pulling our hair out from frustration. Day 17: I get a call from manager for my region at Honda Corporate. He seems just as upset as I am at how this has been handled and assures me that he understands my frustration. He say’s he’ll talk to my dealership's service manager and get the part shipping expedited. He says he’s going to investigate and crack skulls and call me the following Monday Day 21. Day 22: The regional manager from Honda of America calls me back and tells me the part still hasn’t been ordered. That he’ll call me back with an update later this week. This is today. At this point all I feel is silent rage. The car was fun to drive, the features were amazing but how can I feel excited at this point. My brand new car that I paid for now just feels like it's a refurbished lemon. We’ve been given nothing but the run around by Honda and NOTHING has been done. THEY HAVEN’T EVEN ORDERED A REPLACEMENT PART SUCCESSFULLY. I’m exhausted. This was the first new car I’ve ever purchased. It’s been in the shop for 17 days and at this point I hope they keep the car in the shop another 10 days so they will be forced to replace or buy it back via the lemon law. It’s just been a customer service catastrophy so buyer beware and pray if your Pilot breaks that the replacement part actually exists.

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Unbiased Review - Nice Vehicle BUT........

Stephen, 11/01/2015
updated 11/03/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
114 of 121 people found this review helpful

Before purchasing the new Pilot in Elite trim, I was comparing it to the 2016 Kia Sorento Limited trim with the Technology package. Having owned a loaded 2014 Sorento EX, I needed something bigger with newer safety features that the new Pilot offered. Let's start with the good, it's very similar to the look and feel of the current Odyssey; that to me is a good thing. It's no sports car, but handling and response is very good for a vehicle of this size. The seats are comfortable with lumbar support, even better with the ventilation and heating options (Elite only). The Touring only comes with heated seats. Very good visibility all around especially the front A pillar area. The controversial 9 speed transmission has been fine for me. In economy mode, the gears shift quickly and smoothly. Good fuel economy so far; about 23-25 in mixed driving. Low road noise. Plenty of cupholders, plus the ones in the first two rows are illuminiated at night! The Elite has a 12V plug and two usb sockets under the front console area. In the center console storage, there is another 12V plug and more USB sockets. The center console is deep, large enough to hold an iPad plus lots of other stuff. For a family with lots of tech toys, this is wonderful! The Nav system is decent so far, you can search for a place or address using voice commands. Only one hiccup so far; when I searched for a chain restaurant that I knew was a few miles away (and in business for many years), it listed the closest one as being 27 miles away, weird. Now to the not so good. The touchscreen infotainment system on the Pilot is truly a mixed blessing. The screen is bright and colorful with a lot of tech options, but as other reviewers have mentioned, response is mediocre at best. Some options are so slow that you end up touching the same option more than once thinking you missed it the first time. For example, try touching the audio on/off button. There is a two second delay after you touch it before it executes your command. So if you were trying to turn off the sound system and you touch the audio on/off icon, nothing happens and you think you missed the icon so you touch it again. The system will turn off the audio system after two seconds and a couple of seconds after that turn it back on. That's just one example. Also, you need to touch the center of all the touch screen icons with a solid tap, if you don't it is not going to register. All of this reminds me of an old Android phone that I used own from 5 years ago. If you own a modern phone or tablet, the Pilot's touchscreen will feel painfully slow. The touchscreen has another horrible "feature", it's highly glossy. That means it is highly reflective in direct sunlight and a fingerprint magnet. Combining the two makes the screen unreadable at times. My 2014 Sorento had a matte finish so everything was easily readable even in direct sunlight, plus fingerprints weren't nearly as visible compared to the Pilot. It had an excellent touch screen. Many other owners have ordered screen protectors (see piloteers.org) similar to what people put on their phones. I'm doing the same for sure. There are no analog knobs in this vehicle. So if you want to turn down the radio, you have to use the touchscreen or the steering wheel controls. Good luck trying to quickly turn down or mute the sound. To adjust the temperature controls on the A/C, you have to push a spring loaded switch. If you want to change the A/C temp from 72 to say 75, you have to push the switch up three times. Or hold it up until the system increments to the desired temperature. To me this is less convenient than a conventional rotary dial and just invites wear. If you are wondering at this point why I bought the Pilot if I knew about the above complaints, it's because I thought I would get used to it. Some things I have such as the climate controls, but touch screen response is something I haven't gotten used to. I hope Honda listens to Pilot owners and issues a fix soon. Good: Comfortable, Adaptive Cruise Control, spacious interior, plenty of USB slots, driving visibility Neutral: Adaptive Cruise Control (cuts out at 20 mph), push button shifter, mediocre turning radius Bad: No analog dials for audio or A/C, horrible touch screen, no way to permanently disable Auto Stop/Start I purchased the Pilot because of the safety features not available on the Sorento like forward collision mitigation with automatic braking system and LED daytime running lights, and mostly because of Honda's reliability. However, if I had to do it all over again I would probably have purchased the Sorento and waited a few years until Honda fixed the issues with the first year redesigned Pilot. Additionally, Kia is offering some significant rebates at this time, while the hard to find Elites are commanding top dollar. Hope this helps someone make an informed decision.

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I need it, loved it & hate it

Howie, 08/25/2016
2016 Honda Pilot EX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
19 of 19 people found this review helpful

I need this car for haul my growing family around. I knew the good and bad before purchasing & for a while I loved it because it is very functional. Until the transmission (6-speed) gave temperature warning in the middle of a camping trip. I will be taking it in soon to get it checked out. The goods: plenty of seats, MPG is awesome compare to other vehicle in class & all the technology is good even for an EX model. The bads: infotainment screen is useless in direct sunlight, touch screen is very hard to use while the car is moving, armrest is uncomfortable, Bluetooth takes SIX buttons push to change connected phone, voice command is none functional, very hard to jump start because engine cover & placement of the battery. Mother of all problems, the transmission overheats!!!!

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2016 Touring Review- The Ugly, the Bad & the Good.

Zman, 01/13/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
43 of 45 people found this review helpful

Hi, I had an older Mercury villager that still ran great but lacked the looks. Wife and kids wanted bling bling with Nav, DVD, AWD etc. We test drove the 2016 pilot. I drove an MDX a few times which is owned by a friend. That will be my benchmark. Well, The Honda Sensing package was the ONLY reason I was attracted to the 16 Pilot. The shape and other changes in 16 seemed frivolous to me. I wanted a SUV that works great & safe in Chicago's winters. I wanted to get the EX with sensing. Wife wanted leather (EXL), kids wanted the DVD, friends chimed in and we were looking at the Touring. A south side Chicago dealer quoted 2k below list on the phone. We drove 2 hours in traffic to get it. When we were ready to buy, he raised the price by $1799. When I asked he said there were some useless dealer added options (paint stripes and door molding..). I came home and complained to Honda USA Inc about the false advertisement. They said we hope you buy a Pilot from another dealer. That bothered me a bit that Honda Inc. didn't care about that dealer. The Touring MSRP is 43700. Chicago Tax of 10% and extended warranty put it closer to 50k. I still have a sticker remorse heartburn when I think of the price. This thing was hard to get. Lot of dealers added unnecessary options that bump the price higher and most were selling at the MSRP. A dealer nearby quoted 42k (1700 below list) and we decided to buy it. I came to know later that he made up some money on the overpriced ext warranty. Ahhh car dealers. I have been driving the touring now and these are my observations. THE UGLY: The things that I hate was that even Touring does not have blind spot monitoring and does not have parking sensors on the front bumper. Only on the rear bumpers. No blind spot monitoring on a 2016 SUV that people have to shell out close to 50K? You have to go to Elite for that. Come on Honda - Elite is your greedy option. They should have added the blind spot and the front bumper sensors on lower models. Even Subarus have blind spot detection. There is a camera on the passenger side mirror and not on the drivers side. In case it is counter intuitive to look at the right (console) while you want to go to the left lane, how come the MDX has cameras on both the sides? THE BAD: The steering wheel is light and I do not get a feeling that I am driving such a big SUV. Maybe I will get used to the steering. Navigation: I think google maps on the phone are much better, especially when you want to search. The remote start is disappointing. I have to park a bit away at my work and the range is not enough. There is no indicator on the remote to indicate if the car started or not. My old car has a 2 way remote start. Some times it remote starts and other times it wont. Honda saved $50 by making a 1 way remote start. Great Savings Honda;) Noise : We had a storm recently and it was windy. When I drove, the noise was very loud. Could have been better noise insulated. SNOW...ahh driving in snow. While moving the car from the parking spot, the rear parking sensors beeped. Maybe the bumper sensors think snow is an obstruction. The sensors beeped even when I wiped clean the sensors during snow. I was driving about 45 MPH on a highway during snow. There was no vehicle in front on me. Guess what? The auto brake mitigation was activated for a few seconds and the vehicle slowed down from 45 to about 30 MPH. I was able to push the gas and continue normally. It kinda bothered me that it incorrectly detected snow as an obstruction. What if it stops in the middle of the highway? Hope the ones behind you have good insurance. The sound is OK. They should have had a better sound system. FM radio isn't great. The leather seemed OK compared to the leather on the MDX. Mats - Can't they use weathertech like mats? Lane watch - It has its own mind when there is snow on the roads or if the roads are dirty (winter). I guess the lines are not clear enough for the camera. Warranty: For the price they should have at-least 4 year warranty like some other brands. There are too many electronics and you will be forced to purchase extended warranty. The good: Spacious, enough space in the 3rd row. AWD is good. Drives good. Looks good. Handles well. USB!!! Blue Ray DVD player. My wife thinks it is easy to drive even though it is big. The cameras help. Honda Sensing features are very useful. Bluetooth is good. Phone integration is good and fast. 2 drivers seat settings. auto lights. Fog lights. LEDs. Good family car. Mileage is decent. Regular gas. Heated seats. Lot of options on the steering wheel. Keyless start......and more Load it up and go places!

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Honda Pilot from Hell

Larry Simms, 09/22/2015
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
63 of 67 people found this review helpful

The Honda from hell. Bought a 2016 Honda Pilot Touring. Picked up my new SUV from Morristown Honda and took it on a road trip the next day. It failed me three times on a road trip with computer issues to So Fla. The power steering wouldn't work along with other issues on the dash board. Needless to say, It was left at the dealership in South Fla the following morning. After 12 days left the vehicle in So Fla. It's now day 25 without my new vehicle. Have requested another vehicle since it never worked safely the day after purchase. Honda Motors and Morristown Honda have only just given me lip service on that issue. They plan to ship it to me when repaired. Today I heard from the service department of the So Fla dealership and informed me the part has come in and if the SURGERY goes well I will get a call back. Never happened. Shame on Honda Motors for not stepping up to the plate and get me a replacement Pilot.

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Infotainment system is a disgrace!

Dean Owens, 12/29/2015
updated 01/02/2018
2016 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
64 of 69 people found this review helpful

1. No Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Honda won't even tell owners why their $40,000+ flagship doesn't have these features when their Accord & Civic do. Honda ignores all inquiries regarding this. 2. Incoming or outgoing Bluetooth phone calls are dropped if either right or rear camera is started; as in lane change or reverse gear. 3. Bluetooth voice commands are very unreliable. 4. USB audio fails to start 1 out of 4 times on ignition turn on. 5. USB audio status not saved; restarts at 1st folder if ignition turned off. 6. USB audio has no Pause or Play buttons. Update: Honda has not corrected any of the infotainment system issues. I have been asked several times if I wanted a Honda Rep. to call me regarding these issues and I have indicated that I would; so far, no call or email correspondence. My review stays the same "Infotainment system is a disgrace!" Update June 29, 2017 My review stays the same "Infotainment system is a disgrace!" None of my issues have been addressed. Update Jan. 2018 My review stays the same "Infotainment system is a disgrace!" None of my issues have been addressed. There have been no noticeable improvements.

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2016 Honda Pilot EX

Arthur Roan, 07/26/2016
2016 Honda Pilot EX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful

I brought this car mid of last year and already put 21K miles on this car, recently the emission system failure light turn on and I already sent back to dealer for second time last week because light turn back again. Dealer told me Cata Converter cap needs to be changed, fuel injectors need to be replaced and also fuel line pips need to be replaced too. I am not sure what happened to this car and not sure dealer can fix the issue or not after replaced lots stuffs from car.!!! Tired of to keep bring my car back to the dealer and driving a small loaner car civic.

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Great except transmission and load engine noise

Seth, 09/15/2015
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
24 of 25 people found this review helpful

This is our 3rd Honda Pilot Touring. We jumped on this as soon as they came out. Big mistake! The car is nice except the loud engine noise while idling and the 9 speed transmission. I have taken this in twice to see if it is a problem but it's how it's supposed to be. Slow speed shifting is horrible, very jumpy and your neck goes back and forth trying to accelerate. It's so bad I actually have the car up for sale after 2 months of owning it. This will be the last Honda I will own for a very long time. My suggestion is if you like the car get the 6 speed automatic and skip the 9 speed.

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Buyer beware

Gregg, 03/25/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
52 of 56 people found this review helpful

Beware of the elite and touring 9 speed models. The transmission is terrible. It actually speeds up going down hills. We thought this was a flaw just in our car yet many others have experienced the same problems. It is dangerous and my wife is afraid to drive it anymore. Our $44000 pilot has sat in the shop for a total of 28 days thus far. Honda corporate won't admit that there is a problem although our local dealer admits it is. So much for Honda quality. We are selling ASAP.

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Death Trap

RD, 08/15/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
50 of 54 people found this review helpful

We bought the 2016 Pilot Elite in December since we were expecting twins in July. Due to owing previous Honda's in the past we though this was the route to go. Long story short, my wife was 9 months PREGNANT and pulling the Pilot into the driveway when it lurched forward, avoiding the other car in the driveway she went down our front lawn hitting a curb resulting in all side airbags to deploy. She was rushed to the hospital for testing, luckily nothing happened to the babies but $11k in damage. When we called HONDA to explain, there response was why didn't you have it towed to the HONDA dealership instead of the body shop. We got a case open with a lady named Marion, who is a complete IDIOT, finally after arguing with her for an hour she sent a rep to the dealership near me and he too k it for a test drive with me and driving it himself saw that the car tends to lurch forward, came back to dealership and ran a diagnostics and showed me that there is an computer malfunction that they need to reprogram it, after 4 attempts realized the unit is bad and need to be replaced and as I am leaving tells me "oh we got it to work". Back to American Honda, the rep Marion calls and says we didn't find anything that was wrong from the report that we received other then a software update. I requested a copy of the error code they found at HONDA and the local HONDA rep kept avoiding the question. If anyone has had a similar issue with there new 2016 Pilot, please post so we can build up a case against HONDA, before someone seriously gets hurt in these SUV's. American HONDA refuses to acknowledge these problems until enough people come forward with it.

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Not What I Paid For

Stephanie, 05/10/2016
updated 11/14/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
22 of 23 people found this review helpful

I bought the 2016 Elite in December and right off we had transmission problems. Lots of jerking at low speeds. The dealer flushed the transmission and that went away...for right now. My idle stop stopped working also and dealer said it was fixed..2 days later it stopped working. A week after the idle stop was "fixed" my check engine light comes on. Dealer said it was probably just a loose gas cap. They obviously don't know a thing about their vehicles. The pilot doesn't come with a gas cap. So, now the dealer has it for idle stop not working, engine light, remote start-sometimes it will start, sometimes it wont. If it does remote start then the seat warmers don't work. You have to shut the engine off and restart then they will work. I've owned 4 other Pilots and I've never had a problem. I will be contacting Honda Corporation today. Hopefully this will be resolved. Well it's been almost a year and we still have transmission problems. We were told by the Honda Service Dept that there is no fix for the really bad jerking when going up steep hills at a low speed. When I first made this review I had not driven up in the mountains or any steep hills. All the other non transmission problems seem to be resolved when they replaced the motherboard. I do get different errors that pop up once in awhile and then they go away. I try to take pictures of them when I can.

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clunking on front wheel

Cisco, 06/29/2016
2016 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful

We bought the vehicle almost a year ago and about 2k miles into owning starting getting a knocking sound when reversing. Took to Honda multiple times and no issues found. Took it in today mind you vehicle has 12k miles. Now they are saying brake pads are moving back and forth and thats what the sound is. I asked them to fix and they said there is no fix its not mechanical issue either so wont be covered. Not very happy with it since you buy Honda for reliability and I understand no one is perfect but to not fix the issue is pretty upsetting.

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Do Not Buy This Car!!!!!

Lily, 02/03/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
21 of 22 people found this review helpful

I have only owned 5 cars in my life and I am now 50 Years old. My first car was a Honda Prelude, then a Honda Station Wagon, and two Honda mini Vans to follow. The 2016 Pilot is my 5th car. I am a Honda advocate and normally one of their biggest supporters but the new Pilot has disappointed me immensely and the dealership's ability to help as well. I have now owned the car for 6 months and have been plagued with issues that no one can solve from day one. The first issue is the radio. Regardless of whether I am listening to XM or local radio, periodically a crackling sound will occur and the only thing that will make it go away is turning the car off and then restarting it. This however does not always work. I have even driven the car to the dealership (making me very late to work) to prove to the dealership that this irritating crackling noise does exist. The technicians listened to the noise and tried to determine the source but were unable to give me a definitive answer/solution. I have since been back three times and still no results. I now have the pleasure of listening to music with a loud crackling noise in the background. The second and more serious issue is the acceleration problem. This to me is extremely dangerous and an issue Honda needs to address ASAP, as other owners have also mentioned this problem. it doesn't matter if the car is in the ECO mode or regular mode, when you are at a stop sign or light and go to accelerate there is a distinct delay and abrupt jarring that follows. It is very dangerous because you assume when trying to pull out into a busy intersection that your car will move quickly to avoid getting hit. This however is not the case because your acceleration is delayed and frequently panic ensues because you worry if you can get out of the way in time. Again, I have brought the car into the dealership three times and they tell me the computers have been reprogrammed. The issue has not improved or been corrected. I have now been told to go back to American Honda Motor Company to see what can be done. I am now in the process of seeing what my options are because I do not feel safe driving a car that does not accelerate properly. The third issue is the same as another writer who wrote a review about the Auto Idle Stop is also a problem and will only work sporadically. If you think I'm the only one you better go on line and research the acceleration problems and Honda's denial that they have a problem. Getting ready for battle and hope you don't make the same mistake I made. It's a shame that after 35 years of being a loyal customer they have lost my business.

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It's OK. Some good. Some bad.

KidHorn, 06/29/2016
2016 Honda Pilot LX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful

I've had my Pilot since March 2016. It replaced a Mazda CX-9 that was hit from the side by a red light runner who totaled it. I wanted to get another CX-9, but no one had any in stock locally and I needed a replacement car immediately, I didn't feel paying an extra $5k for the EX was worth it, so I got an LX. I basically needed AC/heat, power windows, bluetooth for the phone, and a backup camera. Everything else was useless to me. Paid $34k cash bottom line. I needed an 8 seater since I have 3 kids and they have friends who need rides too. I looked at the Traverse, Highlander, etc... . They're all kind of the same. Got the Honda mainly based on reputation. It's an OK vehicle. Gets me from point A to B safely and comfortably. I don't like it as much as my CX-9 though for a few reasons. It doesn't accelerate as well as the CX-9. It doesn't coast well. It downshifts quickly and I find myself having to give it gas when coasting to a red light since it goes from 35 to 20 in 5 seconds on a flat road due to unneeded down shifting. My CX-9 was better at sensing it didn't need HP so it stayed in a higher gear. it also has an issue with the break pedal that others have mentioned. If you stop, after a while, the break pedal will go down like it's losing air. I always fear that if the red light stays red too long, I might hit bottom and not be able to stop. Not sure if it would ever actually happen. It's not a bad car. I'm just not overly impressed at this point in time.

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Loyal Honda Owner

JW, 11/11/2016
updated 05/19/2025
2016 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful

I love my new 2016 Honda Pilot EX-L AWD. It is powerful and accelerates very nicely. It looks great and handles well. It is comfortable and I love having the sun roof or moon roof, or whatever you call it. This is my second Honda Pilot, I traded my 2004 Pilot (180,000 mi) in for the new one. I also own a 2014 Honda Accord (wife's car). I find that Honda's are well built and reliable. I love the amount of room my new Pilot has, and I love the features of raising and lowering the last row of seats. It handles well, has lots of room, and I love driving it. The down sides are the visibility out of the windows for some reason seems difficult when I am checking traffic during freeway driving and changing lanes. I love the side and backup cameras but hate the fact that "objects are closer than they appear". That is certainly a true statement and if you ask me it takes away most of the advantage of having the cameras. I do find it difficult to look at the screen when changing lanes, I have too much around me to watch and keep track of and rarely have the opportunity to safely look at the monitor long enough for it to be a benefit. So it doesn't provide me much advantage while actually driving but I like it at stop lights and situations like that when I am sitting still and want to see my blind spot on that side of the car. I only use the back up camera to see what is behind me before I start rolling backward. If you try to use it to see where you are going while backing up you will most likely run into things because you will close in on stuff terribly fast. However, the back up camera is a big help in parking lots to see if cars are coming down the isles from left or right before backing out of your space. Controls: I hate... hate... hate... the fact that there is no volume control knob. I thought it would just take some getting used to, but no! I WANT IT BACK!!! Instead of glancing at the knob while reaching for it, and returning my eyes to driving while I adjust things by feel and sound, I have to maintain eye contact with the touch screen on my dash far too long to adjust the volume or to mute the radio. The eyes have to watch the screen while adjusting and I find it and unsafe distraction. I hate that with a passion. Huge down-side and should be brought back. I will never buy a future car that has no volume knob and I hope Honda is listening. The other part about that is trying to adjust something on the touch screen when you turn on your right hand blinker. The right side camera view activates and your touch screen disappears in the middle of you tapping on the screen. Very frustrating. This also happens if you are in the process of making a phone call. Blinker on, phone call stops. Frustrating. By maximizing the touch screen technology they've removed some important tactile abilities of driving and overloaded the visual and mental aspects. For the same reason I would never purchase an automobile that removes the gear shift. My version of the pilot has the gear shift, but I noticed the Touring model doesn't. I would never buy a model that removes the tactile sensation of dropping the car into drive without looking at it to make sure it is in "D". I believe the traditional gear lever method that auto stops at "D" when pulling downward (or backward) on the gear shift provides more error-proofing than the simply feeling for buttons and choosing the proper direction like is found on the touring model. The button method relies upon making the correct visual choice every time, whereas the gear shift method is more of an automatic muscle memory process rather than a decision process that the buttons cause. Again, the tactile ability is removed and adds more visual and mental distractions for the driver. Since I made the purchase I have driven a lot of personal trips for pleasure and visiting family. As of May 2017 I have put 14,000 miles on it, in all kinds of conditions including Montana in February and Colorado in April. I've driven it in heavy snow, rain, sleet, fog, wind, etc. Every weather condition that makes driving a challenge and it handles beautifully. It is an AWD and from here on out I will own nothing else. AWD is definitely the way to go. UPDATE: 11/15/2018: I've now driven my Pilot 35,000 miles. I do city driving everyday going back and fourth to work, but on weekends I travel a lot to neighboring downs and states to compete in my past time sport. I still love my Pilot for all the reasons named, and I still have disappointments for all reasons named. My opinion have not changed and experiences have not changed. A very good automobile that suits my purposes greatly, with a few annoyances. I love having an AWD, definitely worth the extra money! 5/17/2024: My pilot now has 115,000 miles on it, and I still love it and have had no problems with it except the moon roof malfunctions and has for quite some time. No problems opening it, but when closing it, it moves all the way forward to engage and latch. When it tries to latch, it reverses course and opens again by itself. I've taken to Honda dealership and their mechanics could not figure out what is wrong, so it didn't get fixed. The way to close it is to watch it while closing. Immediately before it engages the latching mechanism, STOP IT, then start it forward again and it will finish latching. Researching on the internet, apparently this is a common problem. When I reached 100,000 miles I put it into the shop to replace items I know will likely wear out over the next 100,000 miles. It cost me a few grand to put it into the dealership garage and have the belts, hoses, plugs, plug wires, and water pump all replaced, and changed out all fluids. This is when I had the moon roof addressed and they couldn't figure it out, so they left it alone. Still loving the Pilot. I highly recommend this automobile. I love driving it in all kinds of conditions, it's roomy, handles well, and rides well. 05/17/2025: I still have my 2016 Pilot and I still love it. I travel a lot for my hobby which is trapshooting. This SUV is spacious, handles well with AWD, gets decent mileage, and is comfortable and easy to drive. I currently have nearly 130,000 miles on it and have had no issues with it. At 100,000 miles I did put it in the shop and had them replace many of the items that would likely go out, like water pump, belts, hoses, spark plugs, changed all fluids, new brakes, etc. Spent a few $grand$ for the maintenance but doing so makes me very comfortable getting into it and trusting it for road trips across the desert southwest. Rides nice, handles well, and I am still a believer in the Honda brand.

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I used to love Honda! But now ...

Johnson, 05/13/2016
updated 05/15/2017
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
23 of 25 people found this review helpful

I am continually frustrated with my new Honda Pilot, and want to share a brief glimpse into my experience in case it can help someone else… Electronics: -imagine computers in the '90s … -imagine IT department back then ... turn it on/off, and if that doesn't fix it, "that's the way its supposed to work" -I have gone to dealer numerous times with a typed list 2-3 pages long of all the issues. Yes, most are just annoying things, like feeling a $5 radio from Walmart wouldn't have the same intermittent reception issues, or that the navigation on my phone (pick any app!) is 10x better, or the audio for the bluray play just stops working for a couple days every now and then, or that I sometimes have to turn the Pilot off/on to adjust the temperature controls, or that sometimes things just randomly stop working for a while (and then magically work again … and then not …), etc. -the dealer people are nice and mean well, and yes they have had some updates that seemed to fix much of the issues, but not all, and other issues come back after awhile -SERIOUS: situations where Pilot could have caused an accident 1) while turning onto a busy street, my vehicle 100% on its own, went into neutral and the engine revved all the way up, then a second later it was back in Drive, and fortunately the accelerator was not still all the way down on its own 2) car slammed on the brakes, 100% on its own (and I mean slammed, screeching tires, everything in the car going flying), stopping me ~30’ from where a car in front of me had been slowly turning off the road into a parking lot. The thought of self braking is great, but even if the turning car had stopped, worst case a small corner would have been sticking in the road and I would have slowed down/around, or even had plenty of time/room to stop. Other examples: -cup holders in front are made for Big Gulps, so every other drink container bounces around, so my whole middle console is covered with coffee/other stains -front storage is just one monster tub (old Pilots had compartments that let you organize space) -rear seats do not lean back 1/3 as much as in previous Pilots (so kids can't sleep as easily) -had to replace all 4 tires after just ~19,000 miles -stainless steel running boards have rusting screws/or other fastener behind them that are constantly leaking rust out; and because “elbow grease” can remove the leaking rust from the stainless steel, its not a warranty issue (we just need to apply “elbow grease” after it rains every time) -maintenance plan is basically bring it in, and we’ll let you know what’s needed -engine always sounds like its short a few quarts of oil -at random times (independent of outside humidity or dryness) all of the windows will fog up, and I need to blast the defroster -and a laundry list of other annoyances Are there a lot of good to great things about the new Pilot – Yes, absolutely. But I have never had a vehicle that had so many issues and annoyances. I previously owned an older Honda Pilot and LOVED it! Had I known what the new Pilot is like, I would have rather kept my old model and put $40K into it!! I have looked into the lemon laws, but all of the problem above are generally intermittent, and can be rationalized away as subjective opinion (“that’s the way its supposed to work”) For what its worth!

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2016 Pilot is a Winner!!

Dustin, 07/20/2016
2016 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD w/Honda Sensing (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful

We have had our Pilot for a little over a month. We've taken it to Lake Tahoe, and around town of course. It climbed the mountains and handled the corners with ease on the way to Tahoe. I'm anxious for winter to come so I can test the AWD system as I head to the ski resorts. The vehicle is incredibly comfortable (I suppose that's subjective based on each person's comfort level), and the interior is very nicely laid out. I actually look forward to road trips since we have more room to spread out. We will probably have the 3rd row folded down 99% of the time. With that, there is a lot of cargo space in the back. There is even a fair amount of room with the 3rd row up. My wife and I have two young boys, and they it is nice that their car seats are far enough away so that they cannot reach each other. No more fists flying back and forth between the two of them as was the case in our '06 CRV, which we kept since it is a great vehicle in its own right. The touchscreen radio takes a little getting used to, but it is easy to navigate once you get the hang of it. We were considering purchasing a Tahoe or Explorer, but are very happy we went with the Pilot. We are looking forward to having the Pilot as our family car for many years to come.

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Have everything you need, missing some wants

K Shah, 01/14/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Overall a great buy. Excellent mileage for a vehicle this size. I consistently track 23.5 mpg on city roads + interstate commute. Very roomy. Longer than regular SUVs and hence need a full garage length to park it. Great exteriors. Highway lights could be a little better in rainy conditions. The interior has everything you would want, but a few items one may want are missing. Navigation has active traffic - estimated time of arrival and best route are not always correct. I have learnt to rely on apps such as Waze if i am in a traffic situation as opposed to the navigation. Bluetooth connection is awful - I have an iPhone 6S and bluetooth connection does not always 'transfer' to the in car system despite the display showing a successful connection. Make sure you buy a model with the honda sensing package. The leather in the elite model is much better than the touring model. Pros: Roomy, comfortable, mileage, everything i need is there. Parking, Lane keep assist and ACC are absolutely fantastic Cons: Interior finish could be more 'elite', bluetooth navigation could be more reliable

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Wish I never bought it

Robert S, 06/12/2018
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful

This car has been nothing but problems. 38k miles and just found out I need a new transmission (a $9000 replacement on a $46k vehicle after two years of ownership). They said the clutch was burnt and tried to blame it on towing (I have a towing package but haven't towed anything). All freeway miles and all maintenance done (more on that in a minute). It started chirping at 10k miles and finally, after two service visits, I finally schedule a ride along to replicate it. 2 minutes in, it was confirmed. I have also had problems with the stereo randomly having massive feedback (again, they replicated it but wouldn't do anything about it). Brakes are also started to shutter and I don't drive hard (again, all freeway miles). On top of this, the "recommended dealer service" is a full transmission fluid change, radiator flush, and major service at $1200 every 30k miles. Really? This is a Honda, not a Jaguar. Honda really blew it on the engineering on this one and have lost a customer for life.

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Don't Buy if you want to pull the 5,000lb limit

Debbie, 09/15/2015
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful

We bought the 2016 Pilot Touring thinking it would be a good upgrade from our 2013. However, even though they advertise that it will pull 5000lbs, all the towing equipment is extra, unlike our 2013. (We only had to put a electric harness on it.) First our salesman told us that the hitch, and harness are all separate add-ons now. Then we get a call telling us that the radiator has to have a special cooler installed for another $500. Guess what folks, they haven't made the cooler yet. We have been waiting since July for our new Pilot. It finally came on Sept. 3, but we are still waiting for Honda to develop a cooler for it. Of course the warranty would be void if you pulled without it. We love our Honda's but this ridiculous. Very disappointed with Honda this time around

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Transmission getting replaced as I type on touring

Amanda P, 06/14/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful

I heard a chirping sound in my car the last 2 weeks & made an appointment at the dealership. They didn't know what it was, but thought it could be the transmission. They put me in a rental car & called today to tell me that they have to order a whole new transmission for the car!!! I just bought the car in October & this is such a disappointment! Do not recommend!

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Concerned About Safety

Diane Larkin, 12/13/2015
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful

After 6 weeks of driving the Honda Pilot Elite, I have a growing concern that the user interface to the electronics package may be a safety concern for drivers. I am very confident that Honda builds a safe vehicle in terms of physical structure, air bags and collision avoidance technology, but there is a "huge" distraction issue with the center stack of electronics (nav, audio, RES, cell phone). My concern is the drive must spend an inordinate amount of time interacting with the center stack touch screen. Is is very cumbersome and has many layers to accomplish simple tasks. To make it worse, after several touches on the screen, the finger prints show and if the sun hits the screen a certain way, you cannot see or read the information on the screen. I spend way too much time interacting with the screen when voice commands would accomplish the same thing in a more efficient and "safe" manor. The same principle applies to the RES (rear entertainment system). In order to play a DVD for a child, you must put the DVD in the center console, stop the vehicle, get in the back seat and use the rear control remote to start the movie playing. You cannot do this from the "Rear Audio" screen that shows on the center console. How inconvenient and dangerous (stopping on the side of an interstate highway) is this? What little voice activation has been provided by Honda is really useless. It is very slow and you usually end up using the touch screen which is not organized very well. I am really shocked at how little effort was put into the design of the electronics package. Again, this is a very "unsafe" system given the amount of time and effort the drive must expend at the expense of paying attention to the road!

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Smooth, spacious, safe and satisfying

Hunter, 10/15/2015
updated 04/19/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
21 of 23 people found this review helpful

This is not a perfect car, but it has pleased my family of 5 for the three months and 4,000 miles we've owned it. Here's my opinion: The Negatives: * 9-speed transmission (found on touring and elite versions) can lurch when the foot begins to press on the brake in certain situations (around 30mph?), giving a surprising feeling of acceleration instead of deceleration. It feels like the transmission is going through neutral in these situations, thus the lurch, but I'm still testing (and less alarmed about it because it has always happened with my foot at the brake and passes quickly). The transmission also may feel jumpy to some in the first few gears as it quickly moves through them upon acceleration. I don't know if the 6-speed transmission has these issues. * Touchscreen is a bit slow, shows fingerprints, but even worse for us - scratched after using the cleaning pad provided. This was most likely due to fine dust/sand in the car from a river outing so it's probably our fault, but with gorilla glass these days I expected more resilience, not sure what the honda screen is made of but beware- a protector of some sort is probably wise. * Tailgate (rear) window does no open like the previous generation, just the whole tailgate which fortunately is shorter than before. * Keyless ignition requires one to cycle through power off when wanting to turn off the engine but leave on auxiliary power. * The new tech and sensing still feels a bit young The Positive: * The ride is smooth, quiet and solid feeling. Yes it does feel bottom heavy but to me that is a good thing, better than a top heavy vehicle. The Pilot honkers down while braking hard, and tracks well on corners, sure it's not a Delorean nor even an Accord in that regard. * Good space with excellent headroom. Earlier this year I would have purchased an Odyssey but the limited headroom ruled out the second and third row for me. I can sit in every seat of the Pilot. The elite level trim has the two captain chairs in the second row which eases access to the third row, but third row access is easier in general with the one button fold and the slightly lower/wider access. In addition the reversible floor behind the third row seats adds some usable extra cargo room and does handle coolers well. * The improved small frontal overlap safety, better visibility (particularly A pillar), and the optional sensing help further evolve the attention to safety detail that Honda has. The cross-traffic sensor on the elite works so well it can get annoying, like when it picks up the opposite lane when you are trying to back-out. Not a bad thing to know about it's just one doesn't want to depend on the sensing tech solely. I think of them as guardians that can help a driver out, but the driver must still do the normal driving safety checks. A nice thing is the sensing systems are highly configurable whether it's turning them off entirely, desensitizing them or turning the sound off (and keeping visual feedback). * Gas mileage feels a bit improved over the previous generation even with a noticeably more powerful engine. The engine has no problem passing and getting on the freeway where we've experienced 27mpg with mountain passes involved according to the trip computer, but I need to yet verify the accuracy of the trip computer at the gas tank. * The navigation works real nice, but then we've never had navigation before. Notes: * The sound system is configured with a "neural" setting by default. I found turning that off to improve the sound drastically. * Adaptive cruise control (ACC) works pretty well on the highway, not so well at slow speeds (trouble following appropriately) * Lane Assist needs well painted lines to work reliably, but when it does it's almost scary. * Idle off gets less annoying with experience. For example, pressing the brake lightly will prevent the engine from shutting off or pumping the brake will re-start the engine when stopped (see the manual). Summary: There is a lot of new tech to this car, and I would not recommend buying it for the new tech as it's still a bit rough around the edges. In addition, the 9-speed transmission could probably stand some tuning. I suspect the 2017 or 2018 Honda Pilot will improve upon these weaknesses. However for space, AWD, decent mpg, and safety the 2016 Honda Pilot is a solid choice that both my wife and I enjoy to drive.

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Dont buy the hype!

Larry Pines, 12/18/2015
updated 01/03/2019
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
21 of 23 people found this review helpful

Short version of my review: Honk the horn, if you have no problem with the horn (as it is too small for a moped) then look at what is involved in jump-starting this vehicle. If the procedure for jump-starting isn't an issue… then buy the Pilot, as you most likely won’t notice the issues I noted below. If you take exception with the horn or the need to disassemble the car to jump start it……well the rest of the car like that. It’s way over Hyped - Over Promised and Under Delivered. It’s like a bowl of good sour cream. Nothing More - Nothing Less. Long version of my review: I have wanted to write this review for some time now, and today is just that day. I am one who got sucked into the hype of this vehicle, and I wish I didn’t. My 2016 Honda Elite (“The PIG” - the name just fits) has just under 4,500 miles on it, and it is for sale. The Good --Honda has spent a ton of effort getting the this car perform in the new overlap IIHS crash test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMtOcKK6I4o. The result of this test is a true work of art. Especially when compared to others vehicles in the class. Size –this is a big car there is plenty of room in it. The Sunroof is huge. The size of the rear doors are larger than other SUVs, it makes getting into the third row easy, and the auto tumble of the second row captain seats are very helpful for getting in the third row. USB charging stations – are all over the vehicle. Maybe even in the third row! Great job Mileage – At one point I was getting 28 MPG on the freeway in this car. That may be due to a recall that fixed a small problem where the car would “add” miles to the odometer I currently get 23 MPG on a tank of gas….Winter gas? Software update….i don’t know, but it’s not what it used to be. The Bad The car drives around corners/ Auto braking systems – Well it just follows the lines on the road, when it gets confused, or mistakes the sealant on the road for the painted road….well you get to fight the car, and pray that the auto braking doesn’t kick in. (Just imagine if you and your spouse both had access to steering and the pedals.) For me, when I first experienced it I was traveling about 70 MPH on the interstate and in an instant I was doing 45 then the system “recalculated” and I was able to drive again. As a result, we were almost rear-ended. The Ugly The 9-Speed transmission – Holy Hannah, will this thing take a chill pill!? For example, at low speeds it’s like an amusement park ride. 5th gear at 20MPH, no now its 4th gear no upshift to 6th. It’s crazy! At low speeds the transmission is like a Jack Russel Terrier. Auto Start feature –This feature simply shuts off the car’s engine when you come to a stop. When this activates you will need about a second or a second and a half to feel like the car is ready to go again. This is unreasonable at busy intersections. You can turn this “feature” off but you have to do it every time you start the car. I have tried to get the dealer to disable this “feature” but they say they can’t. Trust me it’s a pain in the rear. The Premium Stereo – This is a HUGE disappointment. This stereo is just strange. I have the bass and treble settings maxed, and on the best of times it sounds ok. But, most of the time it leaves me wondering where is the other half of the song. For example, you can be listening to XM radio and one song sounds “ok”, then the next song sounds like the stereo doesn’t know how to decode signal. The vocals are very weak and fade in and out. Subwoofer is nonexistent. The Touch Screen –Disappointment. The Very glossy glass (or plastic) shows fingerprints very easily very the system is very complex to use. No way to set a priority on phones To change what phone is connected from the main screen is no less than 5 button pushes and takes 40 seconds to accomplish. Voice Command – Useless. Instrument gauges –The lack of information/customization of the gauges can’t be ignored. Talk about just under delivering. The placement of buttons in the car – are Just wrong, you have to hunt and search for buttons in this car. It’s just wrong. Resale value – (Update sold to a Honda dealership for $43,700 on 3-1-16) I was hoping to have sold this car before reviewing it however; I just can’t sit back and keep reading reviews from folks who say it’s a perfect vehicle. I often question the legitimacy of some of the reviews, like they were written by those with an interest in selling these cars. Sold after 6500 miles. couldn't take it any more It is 12/28/18 and the above hasnt been addressed. Check the Pilot forums. Love my 16 Durango RT

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A great car BUT TERRIBLE Infotainment system

Nick, 08/01/2016
updated 08/06/2018
2016 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful

I've had Hondas for 17 yrs now. Our family are on our 5th and they've all been superb, reliable cars. The Honda Pilot is my last car and as a car it is fantastic. Totally lives up to Hondas reputation. EXCEPT for their infotainment system. It's ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL. Forget about trying to hook up your iPhone to it too. The accord and civic, the cheaper cars in their lineup have CARPLAY but the Pilot? NO. CarPlay is an amazing feature supplied by Apple to all car manufacturers. It hooks the iPhone to the infotainment system as if it were a 2nd screen. It is beyond me that Honda don't equip it on the Pilot. Sure, you can connect through Bluetooth but it's dreadful. Useless. It's the most frustrating thing ever. I have to ask for directions MANY TIMES before it gets it right. Volume keeps randomly going loud and quiet. You can't even tell what you can select on the screen and the selection areas are too small making it hard to press and distracting when driving. Honda. Get it together and get CarPlay working on the Pilot. If you're thinking of buying a Pilot, seriously think about one of their competitors if they haven't got CarPlay on the Pilot and you have an iPhone. UPDATE: I've had the car for three years and still love it. I collapsed the back row of seats and put a cage barrier up. Then added a dog bed back there. My dog has a palace...😊. Still totally hate the entertainment system and crappy phone hook up. I'll make calls and only about 1/3rd of the time will the phone transmit the conversation through the car audio system. So have to spend the first 15 seconds of a phone call constantly pressing the 'Transfer' button until it works. But the car itself is great. Thinking of upgrading because the latest pilots have CarPlay working. I will probably consider getting the 4 wheel drive version but really there's nothing wrong with the 2 wheel version. Or maybe look at the Acura, Hondas more upmarket brand.

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WATER LEAK IN TRUNK AREA

GISELA, 09/29/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful

When it rains the water entering and builds up between inside panel and exterior body parts and leak in trunk area when open. Can press the rear pillars and water will drip out and be wet,

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Love that Honda is concerned with safety!!

Ohio Momma, 05/27/2016
updated 05/31/2018
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful

We love our Pilot, except when we don't!... updated - our DVD screen in the back keeps going black. Then we have to reach in the back and close the screen and open it again and sometimes it comes back on and sometimes it doesn't Even when the screen comes back on, it usually only stays on for a few minutes before turning black again!.... so frustrating! We also had a lot of problems with the radio. We had it in to be looked at multiple times and they "updated" things, but it still didn't fix the problem. Finally, we complained enough, I guess, and they replaced the who radio/computer. The problem does seem to be fixed now. It is sporty and stylish. If comparing it to our 2012 Honda Odyssey, it has less leg room in each row and less cargo room in the back. I am short and can easily climb into the back of the Odyssey to get an item that has rolled (b/c our 3rd row is folded) to right behind the 2nd row. With the Pilot, I have to get a running start and jump into the back of it b/c it sits so much higher. Compared to other SUVs on the market (in it's class) there is no comparison!! The Pilot is the best! We also considered a GMC Terrian or Acadia, but the safety features on the Pilot (with Honda Sensing) pulled us away from those options. The Acadia wasn't even "small overlap" crash tested!... This momma isn't going there... if you aren't crash testing, I am not buying! The Toyota Highlander looks nice also as well as the Nissian options, but we felt the Pilot was for us! We love our Honda Odyssey, so that probably aided in our decision. Pros- -Roomy front seats -lots of small areas for storage and cup holders -love the body style -Love the Touring details... like that the Pilot knows where I want my seat. I am 5 ft tall and my hubby is 6'1", so we are constantly trying to find that sweet spot, where the seat is in just the right place, so I love that with my key the car knows it's me and puts the seat right back where I like it!! -kids love the built in blue ray player -smooth and comfortable ride (a little more road noise than I expected for a decked out touring option) -lots of safety features Cons- -One of my biggest complaints would be that compared to our Honda Odyssey, there are very few air vents in the 2nd and 3rd rows. On a hot summer day those little, sweaty peeps back there want some air pouring on them! My poor baby, who is rear facing, gets no air vents pointed in his direction due to where they are located. -When "Eco" is on the pick-up from stopped to going is SOOOO slow! Don't pull out unless you have a lot of time to get moving. BUT, if you turn "Eco" off the pick-up is GREAT! -we have had a couple minor electrical/tech issues (rear tailgate and audio/radio) dealership has fixed them because they are under warranty, but it was a pain to make appointments and wait hours to have a NEW vehicle fixed. -adaptive cruise control is not smooth and makes me motion sick. I wish there were two settings for cruise.... adaptive cruise and traditional cruise. Overall we love our 2016 Pilot and it's sidekick, the 2102 Honda Odyssey. Safety is my #1 concern when buying a vehicle and Honda seems concerned about safety too!

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DO NOT BUY THIS CAR WITH THE 9 SPEED TRANSMISSION!

Teri, 06/07/2016
updated 12/08/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
20 of 22 people found this review helpful

We traded in our 2011 Honda Pilot, and went for the top of the line this time. While the interior and amenities are very nice, they don't make up for the problems with the transmission. Two months after purchasing the car we noticed a whining sound while accelerating. Took them 2 months and me being very insistent on getting a fix, which was a new wiring harness. Recently the vehicle started having transmission problems, similar to other reviews. Transmission was glitchy, lurching, missing gears, this was most notable when climbing a hill. The vehicle then started with some sort of belt squeaking noise, engine then started overheating while idling. Back to Honda Service...."somehow" transmission fluid had gotten into the radiator, and the Honda service verified the transmission problem, the fix replacing the entire transmission. Found out at the Honda Service desk that they had to replace a transmission on another Elite just a few weeks before mine. After doing extensive research on this 9 speed transmission, it seems this transmission is not reliable. I too like other Elite owners, am EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH HONDA. Why would they put this transmission in their most expensive vehicle? I have called American Honda to open a case, with the hopes of getting out of this car and into a Pilot EX-L with the tried and true 6 speed transmission. Of course the dealer with "let" me trade my car in and accomplish this, and then I can loose twelve grand. SHAME ON YOU HONDA!!! Thank Goodness we were able to get out of this car...Went to an Acura dealer this December and they helped us dump this lemon of a car..I'm in an ACURA RDX and love it...this is what a car should do when you bring it home:)

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Beautiful Death Trap

B Smith, 07/08/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
36 of 41 people found this review helpful

I just about died due to acceleration on braking. Car thrust out into traffic when stopping at end of our street. Others barely swerved in time crossing into opposing traffic to avoid us. Have now read others reports of identical issues. Sudden acceleration even when brakes applied. Sudden deceleration with steady accelerator pressure at slower speeds. Only 3 months with car and have had growing concern and increasing experiences with these issues. After today's incident this car has to go back. It is not safe.

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Great vehicle. Technology could be better.

Paul Cupo, 07/14/2015
updated 01/16/2017
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
25 of 28 people found this review helpful

The vehicle drives great (in fact it does a lot of the effort for you). The quality is very good. The only complaint is the technology. They still have some bugs to work out with the tech. Overall I love the vehicle. The just need some better programmers.

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Transmission issues and temperature issues

frustratedminnesotan, 02/04/2016
2016 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful

I purchased my 2016 Honda Pilot in September 2015 and did not notice transmission issues or temperature issues at first but they have steadily increased over the months. I now have owned it for almost 5 months and have brought it in to be serviced twice due to transmission and temperature gauge issues. I am so disappointed with the lack of support from Honda regarding their transmission issues. My Pilot does not accelerate properly, in fact I have to push hard on the pedal for it to accelerate and it shifts at the incorrect times and causes me major issues when driving up hill or on the interstate. My local Honda dealer had a tech drive it and he said he felt the issue but could not fix it since the "computer" found no issue with the transmission. That is completely unacceptable. I am also having issues with my Pilot not properly warming up on cooler days and the heated seats are a joke. The heated seats do not warm up properly and the temperature is no different for the Low or High setting. Again, this was reviewed by my local Honda dealer but was told once again that they could not fix it because the "computer" could not find anything wrong. Again, unacceptable. I now have another appointment scheduled next week to have my cruise control fixed since that has now stopped working as well. I plan to turn in my Pilot next month if all of my issues cannot be resolved.

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Glad I didn't pay attention to the 9 speed Reviews

jacks, 08/23/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful

Okay, I get it. Some here hate the 9 speed transmission, and I almost settled for the EX-L as a result of those reviews, but I am happy to report that I ignored those folks, did my own investigation and I am glad I did. The 9 speed is different, and it takes some getting used to, but it is very, very smooth. The sport mode is fantastic for movement down steep mountain grades and combines nicely with the new suspension that allows for sharp cornering without feeling top heavy. It actually corners better than many of the cars I have owned. On the highway, the 9 speed transmission is as smooth as butter and really delivers an awesome ride. In town, the 9 speed transmission performs well too. When I drove the car home from the dealer, I did notice a difference during the stopping, slowing down process. What I concluded is that the sound of the transmission differs from the normal 6 speed in that it does an audible "rev" that in my opinion fools the driver into thinking the car is speeding up. After a few days of really paying attention, I tried to manufacture a "rev" or lurch but just couldn't. I am not saying the issue is in everyone's head, but what I am saying is that the transmission behaves differently and that the behavior takes some getting used to--just like anything new. It may also require some adjustment of driving habits too. I am still feeling it out, and by no means want imply that others' impressions are incorrect. But I will say, had I relied entirely on some of the negative views here, I would have gotten an EX L, and I would have missed out on the Touring, which in my opinion is a hands down winner. Not to mention the value gained by stepping up one model! Just my thoughts.

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Dissapointed to say the least

Jim, 10/13/2015
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
19 of 21 people found this review helpful

After having 2010 Pilot Touring we have been waiting for this to come out. With the excitement of it we bought it soon after dealership received them. We noticed the different feel of the transmission from the start but the salesman said they use this same transmission in the Acura's so I thought it was normal and would adapt to our driving habits. But after owning it for a couple months it never did adapt but actually got worse. I had the vehicle looked at to see if there was a new update for the transmission but they said it is normal. I cant believe Acura owners would accept a transmission like this. Needless to say this will be the last Pilot I ever own, looking at trading it in on a Toyota as my wife and I hate this car.

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It Has It All

Brian Hall, 04/07/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Great vehicle. Drives like a small truck, just like all other SUV's I've driven. The 9-speed transmission is very smooth and responsive. The push-button gear shift takes a little getting used to. Wish there was more leg room in third row, but it's better than most of it's competitors. No problems with any of the tech in the car. Wife does conference calls for work while traveling and has nothing but praise. Kids love the heated captain's chairs. Despite my frugal nature, this vehicle is worth every penny and will be enjoyed long after the payments are done.

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Auto-Idle is a dud!

Jim, 04/08/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Purchased 2016 Honda Pilot Elite in September, 2015 and now has 6,700 miles on it. The auto-idle quits working and I have had it in for repair 4 times. The last two times I have been told that the system thinks my battery is low but when the battery is checked I am told it is excellent. They then have to reset it and it then works fine for a short while. Dealer said they cannot do anything about it until Honda does a software upgrade to fix the problem.

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Good. Still room for improvement

Bobbie Smittie, 04/27/2016
2016 Honda Pilot EX 4dr SUV AWD w/Honda Sensing (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful

I buy cars every decade or so. I seen many reviews that gave the redesigned 2016 Pilot rave reviews. To me? Most SUVs in this class are very close to each other. I decided on the Pilot due to the safety features found in the Honda Sense. As far as I know, Chevy/GMC, Toyota don't offer same options and Ford is only in the higher Limited edition. Had a few moments where these "Sense" options don't work as expected. One example, going around a curve in the car pool lane where the other lanes of traffic are stopped. The car sensed there was a car in front and slowed down, even though the car pool traffic was not slowing. The slow downs are not soft. No blind spot warning in the EX model w/ sense... just a right side camera. Seems like a short coming now. Adaptive cruise control works nice. Volvo's implementation (albeit in a sedan not a SUV) is much nicer in terms of lane keep and braking. The engine is strong in the Honda. Good acceleration. "Harsh" downshifts, not very smooth between 2nd and 1st. The touch screen navigation is horrible and the connectivity with phones are limited. iLink is designed for iPhones, and even then they cripple the interface so you can not display the navigation on the touch screen. Apps are very limited. You can connect Bluetooth with an Android, and listen to music. That's about it. 3rd row access is "OK". I think the Highlander and Explorer design is bit better. However, it's not used often so not a deciding factor The plastic in the rear storage scratches easily. Sound system is very "Flat" sounding, even with separate tweeters and (supposedly) a separate subwoofer. FM Radio reception is absolutely horrid. Good fuel economy for a mid sized SUV. On the highway, I seen 28 to 29 MPG. 23 mixed.

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touch screen sucks

edward smith, 09/21/2015
2016 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful

The touch screen is bad. Would be better to have a dial to change channels. The rear climate control doesn't work all the time. Sometimes it is blowing hot air when the front is blowing cool air. Easy to scratch the paint when putting items in the back of the pilot. Overall, I like it, but have a couple concerns. A lot quieter than my previous pilot. Rides good.

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Embarrassing FM stereo quality, customer service

Rochelle Webb, 02/12/2016
2016 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Similar reports have shown up in many varied places concerning the embarrassingly horrible sound quality of the FM radio on several 2016 Honda Pilot models. Despite this, what is more troubling is that Honda seems to be giving owners with this issue terrible customer service, ranging from denying there could possibly be an issue, to assigning case managers who eventually deliver a message that nothing can apparently be done about the issue. This type of services is unacceptable. Had we been aware of this issue and the lack of concern for it from Honda, we would most certainly have looked at other brands. Our 2008 Odyssey had a better radio! Regardless of speed or setting, including the SVC setting, the volume fluctuates up and down randomly every 5 to 60 seconds on any FM station. The sound is great while using a bluetooth connected device or SiriusXM. It is only the FM radio sound quality and volume that is terrible, regardless of station, radio setting, or speed of the vehicle.

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Not ready for Prime Time...

Thedogpack, 02/22/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
18 of 20 people found this review helpful

Wait another year until they figure out the quirks. There are some serious issues with the 9 speed transmission as well as a creaking issue the car has been back to the dealer for twice. I wanted so much to love this SUV but unfortunately there are some serious issues with the vehicle -Honda Engineering know about the creaking -The transmission accelerates when you are slowing (What the heck?) - Technology (radio) is very buggy - We have the Tech package. -Poor design when third row is folded - there is a big gap that makes loading difficult - No third row floor mat? Really, even on the touring? I paid 40K plus for a vehicle and I am treated as if I just walked off the street. I should have purchased the Infiniti! Buyers Remorse

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Honda's Reputation is Based on Historical Results!

J. Perk, 06/28/2016
2016 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
22 of 25 people found this review helpful

I bought a brand new 2016 Honda Pilot EX-L. I had the SUV for 8 months before trading it in. The vehicle drove very well and was very comfortable - great for a growing family / large family. I traded the Pilot in as the vehicle was frequently emitting a gas/oil odor through its front vents. I bought the Pilot in several times for diagnostic and repairs but the dealer was unable to 'replicate' the issue and therefore did not have a resolution to the problem. Honda stated they would no longer look at my vehicle given the inability to replicate the issue and suggested I go through arbitration if I was still unsatisfied. I unfortunately went through the arbitration process and lost badly given Honda's experience in dealing with these matters. Honda changed its position regarding the issue, stating it was a common issue and the car should be emitting such disgusting/hazardous fumes - noting this was not a defect, but normal. (The change in Honda's position was a result of me getting a 3rd party mechanic to verify the issue.) I was very disappointed with my ownership experience and have realized that companies don't care about their customers, just their bottom line (should have known!). Also, the radio is terrible on the Pilot (I think the company is working on resolving this issue). The touch screen doesn't have a volume button, which I didn't think would bother me, but became pretty annoying over time.

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Owned my Honda Pilot Touring for 33 days

Shawna, 10/25/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
40 of 47 people found this review helpful

I purchased a 2016 Pilot Touring after my 2014 Pilot Touring had electrical problems. It was the worst decision that I have made. After 33 days, while backing out of my garage, I noticed a large puddle of fluid and drops leading out of the garage. I took the vehicle to the dealer the next day. On my way to the dealer, the transmission started slipping and there was a squealing noise. I was terrified, and knew that it was the transmission. After 2 hours at the dealer, they determined that it was the transmission, and that they would need to order a part. It would take 3-4 days to get the part and fix the car. Yes, FIX THE CAR, that I had owned for 33 days, and had paid $45,000 for. I told them that I did not want the car, and that they needed to give me my money back. They offered $39,500. So, I was going to be out $5,500 for a defective vehicle. I demanded to speak with the manager. After nearly 6 hours at the dealer, with my two kids, the manager offered $44,000. In total I was out $1,300, but was too tired to fight. Chalk it up to lesson learned. I now have no car, a stained garage, am out $1,300 and have to start the car shopping process again. Shame on you Honda.

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Transmission/Radio Issues

Erock, 02/11/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Read up on the 9 speed transmission in the touring and elite models. Acura has a TSB supposedly addressing these but none has been release for Pilot, which is frustrating since they are the same transmission. Low gears are "jerky", acceleration when stopping (DANGEROUS!) The radio; plain and simple, AWFUL. The fade that is all over the forums for FM is absolutely ridiculous. Reminds me of a "jambox" from back in the day that had old batteries - sound fades in and out. Many on the forums have said Honda has stated it has to do with cycling back and forth between stereo and mono; really Honda. In a 40+K car in 2016 you have issues with FM???!! First Honda I've owned and unless they get these issues corrected quickly, definitely my last. Very disappointed so far.

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Mostly love

Steve, 07/24/2016
2016 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful

The whole family really likes the Honda Pilot. I had to replace another 2016 pilot after I was hit by an inattentive driver and rolled my car two times. I was able to walk away from it. So I'm a believer in the safety of the car. Bought another right after the check came.

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From Tahoe to Pilot

John Hauser, 04/01/2016
updated 04/16/2025
2016 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful

After seven months of driving I am very pleased with our decision to purchase a 2016 Pilot. After two Tahoes' I found the price point excessive and so began to shop. Initially the redesign of the Pilot appealed to us so we signed up for a test ride, and we were sold. This vehicle is economical to operate, comfortable and offers a very well designed cabin that is more than adequate for two seniors who like to travel and have many grand kids. We have the EX-L model which is responsive on acceleration, and braking, easy on gas and a comfortable ride. My one disappointment is the lack of a CD player, although I managed to import my music on to a thumb drive. It's not the same but works for me. A lot of thought has been given to the interior layout , which is positive and rear passengers remark how comfortable the back seats are vs. our previous Tahoe's which were not. We own a Toyota Solara, Subaru Outback and the Pilot. You really can't go wrong with any of these cars but so far the Toyota and the Honda Pilot are the most economical to maintain. Yes, I would recommend a Pilot for a young family, older folks like us who desire some elbow room and a great travel vehicle. We haul Kayaks on top. Folks seem to complain about the more expensive Pilot models and their transmissions, we have no complaints at 7K miles. UPDATE: I still enjoy this vehicle after 21000 miles, excessive dealer maintenance costs have motivated me to find a qualified Honda mechanic who is not employed/commissioned by the dealer. Update: I'm now up to 45K miles and still very satisfied with our Pilot. The vehicle is comfortable, runs well, is gas efficient and just a dependable and reliable SUV. I stay away from the service at the dealer, they like to drive up the bill. I use a local service provider and I'm very satisfied. Update: At 50K miles the vehicle still delivers a high degree of satisfaction. One thing I've experienced is that after fuel fill-ups, not always, the dash indicator indicates an emission system failure while the vehicles runs fine. This typically goes away after about 50 miles. Other than that I'm still very pleased with this vehicle. Update at 65,000 miles. This Pilot still delivers very good gas mileage, given its size, and is still a pleasure to drive. I maintain the vehicle locally < not at a dealer> and really have no complaints. I did replace the ignition button switch myself, you-tube is your friend, other than that it still runs well. I'm a bit disappointed HONDA is pushing the CVT transmission, my mechanic tells me they are a problem. My Pilot is the EX-L model and has a gear shift while the more expensive models do not ,with the CVT. This may make me switch to Toyota for the next vehicle. I still enjoy the PILOT! At 70,000 miles the Pilot is still going strong, albeit travel has been restricted due to COVID. Regular oil land consistent maintenance ( not performed by HONDA Dealers) performed by a local reputable mechanic seem to make this a well performing SUV. I've replaced tires and still have the original brakes. Gas mileage is very good and I find that using premium gas increased miles per gallon by 5 to 10 percent. This vehicle , in terms of gas mileage, is very good. We are still pleased with the PILOT. Update: October, 2022, At 75.000 miles this Pilot keeps on going with normal maintenance. I would buy another PILOT, except that HONDA has now included the CVT transmission, which my mechanic tells me to stay away from, on their mid to high end models. I discontinued any dealings with my local Honda dealer a long time ago simply because I have an aversion to getting ripped off, they are a den of thieves! Fortunately there are honest mechanics out there who can service this vehicle. This Pilot is a very reliable SUV and gets good gas mileage, if you are gentle on the accelerator. UPDATE: April 2024 - The PILOT now has 88,000 miles and really has been trouble free! Beyond normal maintenance, I have only have to replace the Ignition On/Off switch previously mentioned and have a heat shield welded to stop it from being loose. I finally replaced the original brakes at 86000 . So I have no complaints. Based on this we recently purchased our second PILOT EXL and it has a lot more electronic wizardry to become familiar with. One additional attractive feature of the PILOT is the 6 cylinder engine as opposed to a 4 that is supercharged, which other manufacturers seem to gravitate to. Update: October 2024. Still below 90,000 miles since this is now our secondary vehicle, replaced by a 2024 PILOT. The 2016 Pilot remains a solid performer, good gas mileage and economic to run. No repairs only routine oil changes. Next maintenance at 90K, major one.

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8 Honda's and this will be our last..

Tony Calandra, 01/24/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful

The good: Safety features, interior space / cargo volume, engine power The bad: Infotainment is slow and buggy, floaty handling. The ugly: Honda quality (or lack there of). Jerky 9 speed transmission that "surges" in certain down hill driving conditions - Safety issue! The vehicle has a highway vibration issue that the dealer can't figure out. Honda could care lees and claims it's "normal". Paint quality - my dealer bought back the first one we purchased from them because of 30+ "spots" in the clear coat. Honda was going to pay to have 75% of the vehicle repainted, but we refused. The first vehicle didn't have the vibration problem and still Honda tells us they all do it, so it's a "normal characteristic of the vehicle." I'm guessing it's VCM related, but It's hard to say when Honda wont help. We had "normal" vibration issues on both a 2009 and 2012 and both ended up requiring engine work at under 70k miles. Should have known better.

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Made the right decision

Mike, 06/15/2016
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful

We considered the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Subaru Outback, the later being considered largely because of it's mileage. I think we would have been happy with any of the three but we LOVE the Pilot. I read all the reviews on here and elsewhere panning the touch screen entertainment system and complaining about the 9 speed transmission and while I think I understand the reasons I don't agree. We have found the touchscreen to be responsive and easy to use, after you get used to it. It's not extremely intuitive but unless you're just renting the car for a day or two, read the manual. Once you become familiar with it, it's responsive and easy to use. It does have a glossy screen and fingerprints can readily be seen which is a little annoying to my wife. I would say we chose the Pilot over the Highlander for 3 reasons; the AWD system is superior, there's more space in the 3rd row seats and it gets better gas mileage. Mileage was part of the reason we only considered the 9 speed but I really stressed over going with that transmission given all the negative comments. I will say this, it does hunt for gears but it seems that should be expected, I mean it has 9 speeds, all of which are probably passed through before you get to 60 mph. I don't mean its particularly noticeable accelerating to highway speed, quite the contrary, it's smooth as silk accelerating. When it's somewhat noticeable is when it is shifting down at lower speeds, more so going down hill. I don't consider it to be a big issue and I'm satisfied with our choice of the 9 speed. As for my hoped for mileage advantage, so far we are satisfied there. We recently went through the better part of a tank of gas on two trips, mostly highway miles. Over 369.3 miles we averaged 27.02 mpg and no, I'm not relying on the trip computer, said computer claimed 25.5 mpg. Honestly I expected something more like 24 mpg. As for the two trips measured; the first was 120 miles from an altitude of 3,500 ft to around 1,200 ft (trip computer listed 29.5 mpg for that leg) and the second was a round trip for the remainder of the miles. While our average speed for most of the trips was in the 70-75 mph range a good 10 miles was in stop and go traffic (one hour). We kept the vehicle in ECON mode for most of these miles and I do think that makes a significant difference. I don't expect this kind of mileage on all our trips but I do think the 26 mpg hwy rating is fair. I'll let you know what I find in city and combined driving sometime later. Things I'm not crazy about are the Collision Mitigation system which as others have said is a little touchy, especially if you are a somewhat aggressive driver. For my wife it's probably perfect but for me it's too sensitive, especially if I'm in heavy traffic. On the other hand it does have an on/off switch. Same with the lane keep assist system which at times misreads heavy tar lines as road paint (not frequently but sometimes). Also, if you forget you have the system on and go to switch lanes without signaling the system will fight you a little.....as I said, it has an on/off switch too. Overall I like both systems but they can be improved. Finally, the auto-engine-stop system works fine but if you're somewhat aggressive pulling into traffic from a stop you need turn it off or be aware it's on because there is a slight lag if you're quick off the brake to the gas. This system had an on/off switch but unlike the other systems mentioned it must be turned off each time you start the car. Again, this will never be a problem for a cautious driver and it's not very intrusive when it's working but for me, I have to be very aware. All in all, this is a VERY fine piece of machinery that has really impressed us. So far, my wife and I are extremely happy with our choice. We love the car and would recommend it to anyone considering a suv/cross-over AWD.

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Third Pilot

Michael Funk, 09/24/2016
updated 03/27/2017
2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Navigation and Rear Entertainment System (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful

This is our third Pilot. One of each body style. This is by far the most comfortable with more driver and passenger leg room. The rear passenger space is much more comfortable also. The rear cargo space isn't quite as wide or as tall as my 2009 Pilot but it seems adequate. My wife misses the lower shelf storage area the 09 Pilot had but overall she is very happy. The one feature I dislike the most is the Auto idle Stop feature. I wish they had it default to off instead of on. Every time I start the car I have to disable it because I don't like the slight hesitation there is when you start from a stop sign or signal. Maddening quite frankly. One problem we have with the car is the plastic face of the navigation screen. It scratched easily. We have always used the supplied microfiber cloth to wipe away fingerprints. Recently we used it and it scratched the face of the unit. The face isn't replaceable and you would have to buy a entire new unit at great expense. Honda should have used a glass face or have a replacement screen available. I have since used several scratch removers that have partially removed the scratches. I then purchased a screen protector that cuts some of the glare and hence the scratches aren't as visible.

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