2016 Honda Pilot: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Nov 5, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · AZ

The manufacturer’s defective fuel delivery system (faulty fuel injectors covered under Honda TSB #19-056) causes severe engine cylinder misfires, dropping the vehicle into an immediate, unpredictable, and sluggish 'limp mode' while driving at highway speeds. This sudden loss of power and acceleration creates a severe traffic hazard, preventing the vehicle from keeping pace with traffic or safely merging. The primary fueling malfunction has also led to cascading damage, sequentially melting and destroying both catalytic converters and prematurely destroying brand-new spark plugs in under 5,300 miles due to raw fuel dumping into the exhaust stream.

Filed Oct 14, 2025 · Engine · MD

Broken connecting rod leading to total engine failure on a beltway single lane overpass during rush hour on December 11, 2023. I paid to replace the engine (and matching transmission) with recovered (junk yard) parts from a 2017 (as advertised). The failed engine has been retained in storage since the event and is available for inspection. The vehicle was towed to the dealership for diagnosis where the findings of failed connecting rod. Dealer indicated that the failure was NOT part of the November 2023 recall. Shortly before the catastrophic engine failure the vehicle went into limp mode. The dealer advised attempting to get it to the dealership which was only a few miles further. The vehicle did not make it. The failure occurred on a very dangerous fly-over single lane overpass ramp on I-95 to I-695 WB in Baltimore, Maryland. When the vehicle was purchased, a (7) year / 150,000 mile extended, bumper to bumper warranty was also acquired. This warranty expired (19) days prior to the failure. My concern is that my only option, at the time, was to replace the failed engine with an available 2017 engine from the same vehicle model and trim level. This engine may very well have the same potential issue.

Filed Apr 20, 2025 · PA

While stopped at a busy intersection, the “auto idle” feature turned the car off. When the foot was removed from the break, the car is supposed to turn back on and go. This time the car made a sound like metal grinding on metal, then the car automatically shifted into neutral. It would not shift back into drive. We had to put the car in park, turn it off and restart. Fortunately there was no one behind us at the light, this could have ended very differently since we were unable to move when the light changed.

Filed Mar 29, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · IL

Auto idle restart and transmission is unexpectedly put in Park upon restart. On occasion then car goes into limp mode and powers off.

Filed Mar 20, 2025 · Engine · 121,006 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was shaking, and the engine made a loud knocking sound. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle went into LIMP Mode and was towed to the dealer. The dealer determined that the connecting rod bearings had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to Brannon Honda (300 Gadsden Hwy, Birmingham, AL 35235); who also determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact also related the failure to the federal safety agency Action Number: RQ24013 (Engine). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was under review. The failure mileage was 121,006.

Filed Mar 5, 2025 · Engine · AZ

Was driving car on 3/3/25 with 91,635 miles and lights started flashed saying "Emission System Problem" and "Transmission System Problem." Car slowed down and wouldn't shift gears putting me in danger of being stranded on the street. Screen showing drive mode went blank and wouldn't show if car was in drive or reverse. Luckily was able to get car back to home a few hundreds of feet away but car was very sluggish. Error message on car said engine system problem and not to drive the car and get it to dealer. Ran machine and found DTC code of P0717 Input/Turbine Speed Sensor A Circuit No Signal. On 3/4/25, car was towed to Right Honda dealer. Tow truck driver barely got car on bed since gears were not shifting. Dealer found at drop off that the car was smoking from exhaust. Tech at dealer diagnosed and found input shaft sensor to be "bad" or "faulty." The output had signal but NO signal from input. They proceeded with work to replace input shaft sensor and the DTC code cleared. There was no service bulletin out to cover the faulty part and I had to pay out of pocket, $330.25. Honda needs to have a service bulletin for this faulty part that could cause a loss in power to vehicle and leave driver/passengers stranded or in a collision with no warning! I would like to be reimbursed for my out of pocket expense as well.

Filed Jan 11, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · MT

I was driving down the highway when I started to hear a knocking sound at certain RPM. No check engine light and I was unable to safely pull over. As I continued driving looking for a safe place to park the vehicle, within a few minutes the noise in the engine got worse and then suddenly the vehicle completely lost power and would only drive in limp mode. Luckily I was able to pull off to an offramp and get the vehicle into a gas station parking lot. I called for a tow truck and had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership. At the dealership they inspected the vehicle and found that it was damaged similar to the Safety recall related to the federal safety agency Action Number: RQ24013 and advised me to have it towed Calgary Honda. I called the Honda Dealership and they informed me that it did not qualify for the recall at the time but the issue sounded familiar. I had them and the current dealership quote me the pricing and decided that I would proceed with the repair from Honda directly. It took awhile to get a replacement engine in and I had to wait several weeks but I was finally able to have it replaced at Calgary Honda in November of 2024. It cost me $10,000 to replace the engine as well as have the work done to repair the alignment after the power failure and replace the battery due to the vehicle sitting for weeks in the cold. I believe my vehicle is part of the same issues as: the federal safety agency Action Number: RQ24013 and wanted to submit my report to hopefully get reimbursed by Honda for the engine and all other costs associated with the Recall

Filed Mar 26, 2024 · Engine · 115,000 miles · IA

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact was able to get the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for a diagnostic test, and it was discovered that the crank bearing lock had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was unable to repair the vehicle due to a staffing shortage. The vehicle was repaired by a local mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, however informed the contact the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

Filed Nov 28, 2023 · Electrical, Fuel system · NH

After driving without incident, Pilot would not start 20 minutes after parking. Jumped and replaced battery. After replacing battery, car lost power while moving. Dash lights include hill start assist, traction control, AWD system, etc. Car goes into "limp mode", throwing code P0087 (loss of pressure to the rail). Visited Planet Honda dealer and was told to replace fuel pressure sensor, fuel rail and injectors. Replaced all, car still in limp mode. Back to dealer, told to replace low pressure fuel pump. Replaced, still in limp mode. Phone call to dealer told us to replace high pressure pump. Car comes out of limp mode. Continues to stall unexpectedly while in motion. Will not restart for several hours. Engine will turn over but will not ignite. When it does start it is a rough start, growling and sputtering. Stalls when driving or idling. Before stalling throws all original codes and all dash lights come on. Warranty extension on fuel system does not include P0087 code. After a second and third opinion we were told car is throwing multiple ECM/Wiring/voltage drop loss codes. Will run and drive as normal until it stalls. Will not restart after parking, engine cranks and sputters. CAN NOT SAFELY OR RELIABLY drive, especially with our kids in the car! Newest Honda recall on engine, causing stalling issues, does not cover this VIN. Just dropped off at a different dealer, hoping for solution.

Filed Aug 14, 2022 · Acceleration · MI

5 times we have experienced P2135 code. 4 times this year, causing the dash warning lights to flash numerous warnings and the vehicle goes into immediate limp mode. Unable to accelerate normally and unable to drive faster than 30-35 mph on the freeway causing us to drive on the shoulder until we are able to safely exit the freeway . This has occurred while on a hill going up to an intersection not allowing me to accelerate to get through intersection safely. Unable to recreate the situation at the dealership, they see the code but unable the diagnose the root cause. We had the throttle body replaced at our expense per dealership recommendation. It reoccured again within 200 hundred miles. Dealership has had it for 2 days and they are unable to reproduce or diagnose the problem.

Filed Sep 14, 2021 · Engine · IN

I have reported this problem before, all the warning lights on dashboard light up and car loses power. The first time I was driving on a highway at 70 mph and the car completely shut off, the second time, my wife was driving, with my daughter, and the car shut off while she was going 40 mph. She almost cause a chain reaction accident because she panicked when the car would not respond to her acceleration. In both instances, all the warning lights on the dashboard light up and the car goes into limp mode. The first incident, Honda updated the transmission software, after about 8-months later, Honda service found a DTC P0369 code and now want $2500 dollars for repairs. They want to replace the CMP sensor, Cam Shaft, Cam Shaft Thrust Cover, Valve Cover Gasket and Camshaft Seal! Why would a 2016 need a new Camshaft? There has to be a design issue with the engine, I would call this a premature failure of a critical part. Since this causes the engine to shut down, at any given time, the car cannot be driven until the camshaft is replaced. All I want is to have Honda make things right, a car with 76,000 miles should never have engine surgery like this, period! I render the Honda Pilot from 2016 to 2021 unsafe to drive, the engine has not changed, I wonder if they fixed the camshaft problem on later models? If so, they know there is a design issue.

Filed Jul 1, 2020 · Driver assistance, Steering · 80,000 miles · CT

Driving at 35 MPH on my way home on a side street and my car jolted and stalled and several (5)warning lights came on. Vehicle stability, brake, trammision warning, and a couple other lights. I turned the vehicle off and restarted the car. I tried to drive it in a parking lot so I was able to get safely out of oncoming traffic . And it would not shift properly and I couldn+t drive it at all as I would try to start and it wojld rev to 4000-5000 rpms and would pop in and out from gear to park.. I had it towed from the parking lot I was in to my machanic . My concern is that I don+t feel safe driving on the highway with shifting issues, stalls and jolts that have happened if I were on the highway when that happened, going at 65 MPH, it would have caused unnecessary accidents. It+s extremelyndangerous with my children in the car as well as innocent bystanders still no recall for my vehicle.