2011 Honda Pilot: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jun 16, 2026 · Airbags · AK

On XXX at approximately 6:04 PM, the vehicle was being driven on a highway in [XXX] — after dark, during an active snowstorm, on slick roads, at approximately 40 MPH — when the front passenger-side airbag deployed spontaneously with no collision, no impact, and no warning of any kind. There were no prior warning lamps or symptoms. The deployment cracked the windshield and caused interior damage. The component is available for inspection upon request. This vehicle had the Takata recall performed in 2019. The failure is believed to be related to the federal safety agency Recall 19V502000 (Honda Recall Nos. F5F/Q5E), covering 2009-2015 Honda Pilots with passenger frontal airbag inflators that may explode due to propellant degradation from humidity and temperature cycling. A spontaneous deployment with no crash is consistent with this defect. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Honda dealership. Technician findings included: blown fuses 9 and 11, diagnostic system crashing repeatedly, complete loss of SRS/ABS/gauge communication, burning smell from the airbag inflator, copious F-CAN malfunction codes, and DTC U0151. Technician concluded: "ADVISE replacing deployed passenger airbag and inflator assembly." The dealership confirmed the component needs replacement but could not determine the cause. A spontaneous airbag deployment at highway speed during a snowstorm with no crash poses extreme risk to the driver and public. This incident warrants investigation to determine whether recall remedy parts from prior Takata campaigns are continuing to fail in other vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 16, 2018 · Body, Fuel system · 78,000 miles · VA · fire

Driving onto on ramp of highway from prior highway at approximate speed of 30 MPH. Driver noticed a lurch from front of vehicle. Unknown part that was involved. Possibly transmission or fuel line but only suspicion with no evidence left to investigate (see pictures included). Acceleration no longer engaging. Driver pulled vehicle over to side of highway. Driver and passenger exited the vehicle. After a few minutes, noticed a stream of smoke emitting from under hood of vehicle. Small fire noticed at bottom of car. Within minutes the car went up in flames. Ems extinguished fire eventually. Total time of incident 10-15 minutes.

Filed Jan 17, 2018 · Body, Electrical · 2 miles · MA · fire

Got a new battery 36 mins later the car was on fire

Filed Jul 26, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 66,000 miles · GA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 honda pilot. Half an hour after the contact parked the vehicle in the garage, it caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was awaiting inspection. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.

Filed Apr 23, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 37,000 miles · FL · fire

On july 19, 2014 I had an oil appoinmentat 1:30 to have my free oil change. Of course the dealership has to make money some how, so my service advisor offered that I have the transmission serviced. Since I was getting the free oil I felt as though I needed to buy for some service. So the did both oil and transmission service. Left the dealship no more than ten minutes later on my way home,my pilot started smoking on the right side as I stopped and was praying the light turn gree n so I could go I turned and more smoke come up. I jumped out of the car and ran to my house which was not far away and got my husbanc to come back with me only to find my car completly engulfed in flames. My car was a total loss. I believe that this was something that occured from the dealership. I never had problems with my car. Now the fire inspector that was hired by my insurnce company stated that on the first inspection there was no transmission oil in the car it had all leaked out. Transmission is very flamable. I would could have died in that car. Nothing was salvagable. I would like very much for someome to check about this. I filed a claim with myt insurance comapny. I have also filed a claim against honda directly and of course I have not been in contact with. This was a devastating accident/fire what ever that I have had to deal with. I know in my heart that this was something done at the dealership level and this has really put a scary situation for me. I am very hesitate about a lot of things now. I have lots of pictures that I took that you can see that my car was a total loss. Fire totally burnt my car. Please contact me [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).