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Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 781 complaints per model year about the Ford Explorer and 358 about the Honda Pilot.

Side by side

Ford ExplorerHonda Pilot
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints16,3937,515
Complaints per model year781358
Recalls10452
Years to avoid20132014201520162017201620172019
Best years200720192022201020142015
Most common problemSteeringEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy19-24 mpg combined (2026)20-22 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Ford Explorer: 6302006 Honda Pilot: 26820062007 Ford Explorer: 2082007 Honda Pilot: 2112008 Ford Explorer: 1482008 Honda Pilot: 13320082009 Ford Explorer: 332009 Honda Pilot: 1342010 Ford Explorer: 1152010 Honda Pilot: 11120102011 Ford Explorer: 1,1982011 Honda Pilot: 2932012 Ford Explorer: 8312012 Honda Pilot: 17320122013 Ford Explorer: 2,2392013 Honda Pilot: 2732014 Ford Explorer: 1,6842014 Honda Pilot: 11620142015 Ford Explorer: 1,8202015 Honda Pilot: 1092016 Ford Explorer: 2,4672016 Honda Pilot: 1,73020162017 Ford Explorer: 1,7062017 Honda Pilot: 9432018 Ford Explorer: 7362018 Honda Pilot: 44320182019 Ford Explorer: 3032019 Honda Pilot: 9292020 Ford Explorer: 1,2542020 Honda Pilot: 49720202021 Ford Explorer: 4562021 Honda Pilot: 4592022 Ford Explorer: 2762022 Honda Pilot: 17520222023 Ford Explorer: 1132023 Honda Pilot: 1512024 Ford Explorer: 212024 Honda Pilot: 11920242025 Ford Explorer: 1112025 Honda Pilot: 2172026 Ford Explorer: 442026 Honda Pilot: 312026
Ford ExplorerHonda Pilot

Problems compared

ExplorerPilot
Steering3,532258
Body3,203310
Engine2,5322,417
Transmission1,979791
Electrical1,2631,826
Driver assistance845793
Fuel system756847
Brakes438467

Questions about the Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot

Which is more reliable, the Ford Explorer or the Honda Pilot?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Ford Explorer has 5 years to avoid and the Honda Pilot 3. The Honda Pilot has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Honda Pilot drew fewer complaints per model year (358 vs 781), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Explorer or the Honda Pilot?

From 2006 to 2026, the Ford Explorer was covered by 104 recalls and the Honda Pilot by 52.

What years of the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot should you avoid?

Ford Explorer: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Honda Pilot: 2016, 2017 and 2019.

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