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Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 358 complaints per model year about the Honda Pilot and 219 about the Toyota Highlander.

Side by side

Honda PilotToyota Highlander
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints7,5154,608
Complaints per model year358219
Recalls5245
Years to avoid20162017201920192021
Best years201020142015200720092016
Most common problemEngineTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy20-22 mpg combined (2026)24-35 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 Honda Pilot: 2682006 Toyota Highlander: 27920062007 Honda Pilot: 2112007 Toyota Highlander: 1242008 Honda Pilot: 1332008 Toyota Highlander: 40620082009 Honda Pilot: 1342009 Toyota Highlander: 1342010 Honda Pilot: 1112010 Toyota Highlander: 21620102011 Honda Pilot: 2932011 Toyota Highlander: 1822012 Honda Pilot: 1732012 Toyota Highlander: 18220122013 Honda Pilot: 2732013 Toyota Highlander: 2072014 Honda Pilot: 1162014 Toyota Highlander: 13620142015 Honda Pilot: 1092015 Toyota Highlander: 1932016 Honda Pilot: 1,7302016 Toyota Highlander: 11120162017 Honda Pilot: 9432017 Toyota Highlander: 2722018 Honda Pilot: 4432018 Toyota Highlander: 27620182019 Honda Pilot: 9292019 Toyota Highlander: 5112020 Honda Pilot: 4972020 Toyota Highlander: 32320202021 Honda Pilot: 4592021 Toyota Highlander: 5392022 Honda Pilot: 1752022 Toyota Highlander: 26720222023 Honda Pilot: 1512023 Toyota Highlander: 1922024 Honda Pilot: 1192024 Toyota Highlander: 4320242025 Honda Pilot: 2172025 Toyota Highlander: 112026 Honda Pilot: 312026 Toyota Highlander: 42026
Honda PilotToyota Highlander

Problems compared

PilotHighlander
Engine2,417539
Electrical1,826560
Fuel system847336
Driver assistance793195
Transmission791921
Brakes467649
Body310375

Questions about the Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander

Which is more reliable, the Honda Pilot or the Toyota Highlander?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Honda Pilot has 3 years to avoid and the Toyota Highlander 2. The Toyota Highlander has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Toyota Highlander drew fewer complaints per model year (219 vs 358), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Honda Pilot or the Toyota Highlander?

From 2006 to 2026, the Honda Pilot was covered by 52 recalls and the Toyota Highlander by 45.

What years of the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander should you avoid?

Honda Pilot: 2016, 2017 and 2019. Toyota Highlander: 2019 and 2021.

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