2016 Honda Pilot: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Oct 20, 2025 · Electrical · VA

Honda issued Service Bulletin 20-117 regarding a Warranty Extension for the 2016–2017 Pilot and 2017 Ridgeline addressing a Keyless Start System Error with DTC B12C5. Following an the federal safety agency investigation, Honda extended warranty coverage to 9 years or 125,000 miles under this bulletin. My 2016 Honda Pilot currently has 107,000 miles and is only six months past the nine-year time limit. Earlier this year, the Keyless Start System warning indicator began appearing intermittently—illuminating for a few seconds before disappearing for days or weeks. Recently, the warning began to stay on continuously. Per Honda’s initial guidance, I replaced the key fob battery and even swapped fobs with my wife, but the issue persisted. On October 16th, I brought the vehicle to Honda of Chantilly, where technicians diagnosed a faulty start/stop button requiring replacement. I then opened case #15920037 with Honda, but they declined to cover or reimburse the repair, despite it being a known defect covered under the extended warranty for others. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency assist in having Honda honor the warranty extension for this documented issue, given the close proximity to the coverage limit and the long-standing nature of the defect.

Filed Aug 27, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · SD

Car started displaying "Keyless start system problem". I changed both batteries in the key fobs, but it continued. After about 2 weeks of this, the car would not start. Just clicking and flickering of lights and gauges. Would not jump off or anything, so I had to tow it home. After researching it and checking the brake light switch to make sure it was still operational, and after purchasing and installing a new start/stop button, I decided to get a new battery. I took the old battery in and they said it was good, but I still got another one and installed it. The car started up and has been working for about 4 weeks, but now the same message is popping up again. I am worried that my wife will drive it somewhere and get stranded. I have seen that there are recalls on this on some of the Honda sites, but can't find it anywhere else. This needs to be addressed as it seems like a lot of people are reporting the same issue.

Filed Jun 18, 2024 · Electrical · SD

Keyless Start System Problem message has recently started appearing on the screen when I start the vehicle. The key fobs do not appear to work to their proper capability either. The locking feature when walking away does not work. Vehicle has continued to drive properly for now but other reports show the vehicle may shut off while driving. Some research shows a recall but local Honda dealership does not see anything regarding this. This needs attention as it appears to be an ongoing issue.

Filed Jun 17, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · IA

1.Engine connecting rod bearing failed causing engine to seize. 2.Push button start will not work most of time so cannot start car or shut it off at times Safety: Engine locked up while driving down a 2 lane road with no shoulder. Causing an issues with cars traveling in both directions till i could get vehicle towed. Starting/ shutting off issue is on going. Connecting rod bearing failure was confirmed by dealer, but Honda says my Vin is not part of the recall and will do nothing about it. Had to pay for repairs 7K+ out of my own pocket. I got engine replaced and 6 months later start/ stop button issue is happening and they had a recall for this also that they say my Vin is not included. When engine bearing seized happened suddenly. All lights on dash come on and engine stopped. When tried to restart engine would not turn. They start button issue has a message saying electronic start problem.

Filed Nov 1, 2023 · Electrical · GA

On Monday my wife was outside the vehicle with the keys in her pocket. All of a sudden the car alarm went off without anyone touching the vehicle or without her bumping the button on the key fob. Also, on Tuesday morning she walked into the garage and noticed the vehicle’s headlights and taillights were on. The key was not in the vehicle nor did she have it on her. She opened/closed all doors thinking a door was left open. The lights eventually went off. Later that morning she got in the car and it would not start. The battery was jumped and she took it to our mechanic. The battery is fairly knew and after testing it, the mechanic said it had “plenty of juice left” but he did recharge it. While doing other maintenance to the car, he noticed the headlights/taillights coming on sporadically. He could not locate any electrical issue so he suggested I take it to the dealership. This morning (Wednesday) I took it to a Honda dealership and after running some diagnostics, it was determined it was a “keyless entry control unit” issue. The service tech told me he has seen this before in other Hondas and said it is a major safety issue if not repaired. The repair cost me over $1,000, and one I feel Honda should reimburse me for. This was not a normal wear/tear issue (like brakes, transmission, tires, etc.). This is a Honda internal electrical issue that malfunctioned. And as the service tech mentioned, it’s an extremely dangerous issue that causes safety concerns for my family (and other potential Honda owners).

Filed Jul 12, 2023 · Engine · TX

i have a 2016 Pilot touring (69k miles on it now) and have now had this problem 5 times in the past 4 months where, I stop at a signal, the idle stop will engage and shut off the engine, but then it won't start for almost 20 seconds when i keep pressing the start button. Once the engine gets to start, it wont happen all the time but when it happens it creates a safety risk. I tried to get inspected and there is no issue with battery or the remote key fob. Considering the panic it creates for the passengers on the road, appreciate some action is taken to prioritize the fix or recall the parts that might contribute to this shut off.

Filed Jun 19, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · AR

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The auto stop idle feature in my 2016 Honda Pilot Touring failed to operate correctly. This feature automatically turns off the engine while keeping the electrical systems on. I can make the vehicle available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The malfunction of the auto stop idle feature jeopardized my safety and the safety of others. When I stopped at a red light, the engine turned off as expected, but when I pressed the gas pedal to resume driving, all the vehicle's systems shut down. I attempted to start the car by holding the key fob to the Start/Stop button, but it would briefly start and then turn back off. The sudden loss of power and inability to restart the engine left me in a precarious situation. As a result, I was unable to activate the hazard lights, putting me at risk of being involved in a collision or not being visible to other drivers. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? At the time of filing this complaint, the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. However, I strongly recommend conducting a thorough investigation by a certified technician to replicate the issue and address it appropriately. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by the police who responded to the incident when it occurred at the red light. However, no inspections have been conducted by the manufacturer, insurance representatives, or other parties at this point. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms indicating a problem prior to this failure. The feature had been working.

Filed Sep 4, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · WI

When auto stop/start engages the vehicle occasionally will experience a complete engine and electrical shut down when auto start is supposed to engage; the is often leads to a dead vehicle in traffic at an intersection. Occasionally it will have extreme difficulty with a restart, often only starting after several attempts at push button starting. Fuel injectors and battery have all been replaced recently, fuel injectors under recall/manufacturer issue and battery at replacement lifetime. Is often unpredictable when it will cause issues and when it will operate correctly. Has occurred intermittently for several years with a somewhat unpredictable pattern.

Filed Aug 21, 2022 · Electrical · PA

The auto engine idle feature malfunctions. When stopped in traffic and at intersections the auto engine idle feature turns off the engine; however fails to restart. I can put the car into park, but the brake remains engaged and the ignition button blinks white. I have attempted many different things to 'reset' the computer. Putting the car in park, waiting, unlocking seatbelt, open/shut door. The last time, i had to walk away from the vehicle with the key fob in traffic. Locking and unlocking the car seemed to reset the computer. This placed me in dangerous traffic. It has happened in a construction zone on interstate, at intersections several times, during rush hour when it was impossible to leave the vehicle due to high speed traffic, and once while towing. Each episode has generally taken about 15 minutes for computer to shut down/reset. There is no message on the dash before , during or after. I now disengage the auto engine idle button when driving due to fear of being stranded in dangerous traffic situations. If I forget to turn it off, it is likely to malfunction. I have contacted the dealership about this problem before. There was no code, so the problem was deemed a mystery and remains unresoved by Honda.

Filed Jul 14, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · FL

While stopped at a red light, with the auto start enabled, the car would not turn back on and placed the car in “neutral”. The dash info message prompted me to put the car in “park”. I did. It then instructed me to depress the brake and hit the “start” button to turn the car on. It did not after I tried a few times. Finally to get it started I pushed the “start” button with the key fob. It then turned on and allowed me to put it in “drive”.

Filed Apr 15, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · NY

Auto idle system fails. Auto idel turns off engine at stops and fails to restart engine when foot is removed from brake. Must restart car. Errors on dash which may be associated with issue: charging system error auto engine idle stop system problem key fob error

Filed Oct 7, 2021 · Electrical · FL

At 40,000 miles the vehicle was receiving the following WARNING message when started:Keyless System Start Problem. For 3 years it has consistently gone on and off for days. Honda states it’s a key fob battery change need - when this does NOT fix the problem. I am now being repeatedly referred back to their service dept. to pay for diagnostic when they know that this is a manufacturer issue.