The auto idle malfunctioned; the vehicle did not restart when the break was released and/or moving steering wheel. It was in the middle of a busy intersection so that is definitely putting my safety as well as my daughter's and others safety at risk. It took at least a minute to restart the vehicle, by putting the gear in park and restarting the vehicle (which took several attempts). Those steps were produced on the dashboard when it didn't restart after being idle. It has happened several times over the last four months. I've taken it to my local car shop, but they are not able to find anything wrong; however, the manager of the car shop did experience the malfunction when driving on 10/10/2026. It was suggested to report the malfunction as an incident.
2016 Honda Pilot electrical problems
583 complaints (34% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 49,000. 3 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 583
- of this car's complaints
- 34%
- typical mileage
- 49,000
- crashes
- 3
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Starter assembly3
- Software2
- Alternator/generator/regulator2
- Instrument panel: speedometer/odometer1
- Instrument cluster/panel1
- Ignition: coil: high tension/spark plug wires1
- Ignition1
- Horn1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Honda Pilot electrical problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Honda Pilot electrical
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Start-stop 99Warning lights 74Key fob 57Fire or smoke 16Battery drain 15Screen failure 12Backup camera 6
Related recalls
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to September 8, 2015 and 2016 Pilot 4WD vehicles manufactured May 7, 2015 to September 4, 2015. In the affected vehicles, when one of the safety systems such as tire pressure monitoring, anti-lock braking or electronic stability control malfunctions, there is potential that the instrument panel will not illuminate the corresponding warning light, however the warning lamps will illuminate when the ignition is turned off and then turned back on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic stability control systems", number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 138, "Tire pressure monitoring systems".
- Risk
- If a safety system cannot immediately warn the driver when needed, the driver may be at increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's number for this recall is JV7.
Recall number 15V668000 · Recall details
What 2016 Honda Pilot owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I have been having issues with my 2016 Honda Pilot and I looked on Experian and it stated that there is a recall. There are two different recalls, the first one says Fuel Injector/W Software Update the date is 11/24/2020 and recall # W8V. Also recall for Start/Stop Switch that the recall date was 12/9/2020 and recall # Y93. I bought my car in 2024 but I did not get an extended warranty. The car is having same symptoms for the past 2 years, my husband tries to fix what he can. Even though it is not under warranty they never fixed these issues before selling my car. It started acting up after 3 months of having it. So I am thinking they just took of the system problem and tweaked it so the car would be sold.
My 2016 Honda pilots has given me trouble lots of people call it the Christmas lights effect, all the dashboard lights turn on in the middle of the highway and my truck jerks and turned off , they now about this dangerous trouble and has not put any recalls on this matter, had to spend 3,000 dollars had to replace the fuel pump and the fuel injected , will not recommend this truck, I was so stressed and scared
I was driving and all of my dashboard lights lit up like a Christmas tree and i was unable to move the car safely without great difficulty in traffic during rush-hour with my children in the car the fuel pump went out was what i was told by Honda and there was a recall for this for several model years but not mine I only had 98,998 miles on the car and it should be covered by the recall like the other model years this is an on going issue for Denso fuel pumps my model year should be covered and i should be reimbursed
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal dinging sound coming from the vehicle, and the ignition control, stability control, power steering, and hill-start assist warning lights were illuminated. The warning lights initially turned on and off simultaneously but eventually remained illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no coverage under Technical Service Bulletin: A18-010 / the federal safety agency 10128893. The approximate failure mileage was 222,000.
Vehicle flashing warning signs for multiple system functions including battery and mechanical, forcing driver to pull over, unable to put vehicle in neutral to tow. Took vehicle to Honda dealership in Phoenix, AZ dealership unable to recreate issue. Stated it was cleared as a certified used Honda. Continued to have reoccurring issues, less than 2 months later vehicle engine completely seized. Honda refused to take responsibility for engine failure despite documented recurring issues with this make and model.
The contact purchased a 2016 Honda Pilot. The vehicle was a dealer sale on July 7, 2026. At the time of the sale, the odometer reading was 89,991. The contact later purchased an Auto Track and Carfax report, which indicated that in April 2026, the odometer reading was 198,387.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the battery became drained. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was taken to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the spool valve was leaking on the alternator, and damaged the alternator and the spool valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,891.
Car has shut off while driving. Check engine light, traction control light, hill assist light, power steering light, and vehicle stability light have all come on causing me to have to pull over on the side of the road.
The component that failed in both incidents was the vehicle’s wiring system, specifically wiring insulation that appears to be vulnerable to rodent damage. In the first incident, squirrels chewed through wiring connected to the fuel injector system, which triggered a check engine light and was repaired. In the second incident, squirrels again accessed the engine compartment and chewed through wiring affecting the braking system. This resulted in a sudden and unexpected loss of braking function. Yes, the damaged components should be available for inspection through the repair shop or service records, although I would need to confirm the exact location of the retained parts. Safety was significantly put at risk. During the second incident, the vehicle was occupied by multiple passengers, including minors. While approaching a red light, the driver attempted to brake and found that the brakes were not functioning properly. The driver had to shift the vehicle into park and use the emergency brake to stop, narrowly avoiding a serious collision. This created a high-risk, potentially life-threatening situation. The first incident was addressed by a mechanic after the check engine light appeared, confirming damage to the fuel injector-related wiring. The second incident was formally confirmed by a mechanic that the brake line was leaking from damage from, what they highly suspected and have seen in the past, a rodent . In the first incident, a check engine light appeared, prompting immediate attention. In the second incident, there were no warning lights, messages, or prior symptoms before the brake failure occurred.
Questions about the 2016 Honda Pilot electrical
Does the 2016 Honda Pilot have electrical problems?
Owners have filed 583 complaints about the electrical of the 2016 Honda Pilot, 34% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 Honda Pilot electrical problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 49,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Honda Pilot electrical?
Yes, 1 recall: 15V668000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Honda Pilot have the most electrical problems?
The Honda Pilot model years with the most electrical complaints are 2016 (583 complaints), 2019 (267 complaints) and 2017 (266 complaints).
Other 2016 Honda Pilot problems
Engine 826Transmission 202Fuel system 195Driver assistance 71Body 54Acceleration 39Brakes 31Steering 18Airbags 15Lights 14Suspension 14Visibility 13Wheels 11Seats 8Seat belts 6Locks 4Tires 2
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