2017 Honda Pilot: start-stop system problems

Filed Oct 22, 2026 · Engine · IN

We just purchased last month a 2017 Honda Pilot Elite. We have had issues with the auto start/stop function. Once at a drive through and once at a stoplight. After letting off break, it failed to restart and had to put it in park and restart. This is a dangerous situation being stalled in the road at a busy intersection. I haven't got it in the shop yet, but planning it next week.

Filed Oct 4, 2026 · CA

The vehicle is not starting after coming to a complete stop with the auto start stop feature at a red light or stop sign. After releasing the brake pedal, the engine does not start up again, which leads me to having to turn off the car and turn it back on manually, which could take up to a minute. The Honda dealer has already updated the vehicle replaced the starter and adjusted the valves two months ago and the issue is still persisting.

Filed Jul 7, 2026 · Brakes, Steering · NC

On XXX, while my wife was driving our 2017 Honda Pilot Elite (VIN: [XXX]) southbound on [XXX], approaching the intersection with [XXX], the vehicle experienced a complete engine stall due to the Auto Idle Stop feature. The engine shut off at a stop but failed to automatically restart when she released the brake to proceed. All dashboard warning lights flashed, and the vehicle became inoperable in the middle of traffic, creating a significant traffic jam at a busy intersection. My wife was able to restart the vehicle manually by shifting to Park and pressing the engine start/stop button. This is part of a persistent safety defect with the Auto Idle Stop (Idle Stop-Start) system. The vehicle has stalled multiple times in traffic and on highways since new. Honda performed TSB 23-008 (PGM-FI Idle Stop software update/product update campaign) on XXX at Autopark Honda in Cary, NC, but the issue was not resolved. I also replaced the battery in November 2024 at the dealership's recommendation, but the no-restart/stall problem continues. I normally keep the Auto Idle Stop feature disabled for safety, but my wife forgot on this occasion. **Cause:** UNKNOWN (per Honda TSBs 23-008 and 23-009, the issue relates to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque after Idle Stop engages; prior fixes have not resolved it). This defect creates a dangerous situation where the vehicle can unexpectedly lose power in traffic, increasing collision risk. I have reported this to the dealership multiple times and am seeking resolution under TSB 23-009 (warranty extension). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 2, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · MD

I was stopped at a traffic light, and my vehicle would not re-start when the traffic light turned green. It stalled because the Auto Idle Stop/Start (AIS) function did not work as intended. The dashboard cluster lights were all on (or many of them, at least). I had to collect myself, put the car in park, and wait a couple of minutes to try to restart the vehicle, all while I had a line of vehicles behind me honking. This isn't the first instance. It has happened several times before, and I am familiar with what the Honda service reps say when I have taken the vehicle in for repair, so I'll cut through the nonsense they have told me. I recently replaced my battery with a quality name brand battery, so it's not an issue with the battery. I have had the PGM-FI Idle Stop Software Update recall service performed twice, one in response to a March 2023 recall notice, and again from a May 2024 recall notice. There is something seriously and obviously wrong with this AIS feature. I have looked on many forums and this is a frequently recurring problem. This shouldn't happen simply because I (or my family member) forget to hit the AIS-disengage button. There should be a permanent fix for this feature if it frequently fails.

Filed Sep 29, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · MD

Auto Start/Stop Issue. I finally experienced what some other members of my family have experienced with this car. My Honda Pilot stalled at a stop light in heavy traffic after the engine was turned off when I stopped at the light using the auto start/stop function. After I released the brake when the light turned green, the car did not start.

Filed Sep 4, 2025 · Engine · NC

When the auto start-stop feature is on (which is automatically on unless manually turned off every time you start the car), at stop lights/signs, my car will auto stop and then when I let go of the break to accelerate, rather than my car auto starting, it will shut down completely. It does not have the power to restart on its own. This happens all the time. I try to remember every single time I start my car to turn off the auto feature, but at times I forget. And for those times that I forget, it likely is going to happen during that ride. Recently it even happened in a parking lot where I had turned my car off, gone into a store and came back, tried to start my car and it took multiple attempts for my car to start because it acted as if it did not have enough power to start.

Filed May 2, 2025 · Engine · MA

Honda’s Auto Idle Stop (AIS) system fails to restart the engine from a complete stop at traffic lights, road intersection or when stopped in traffic when the Auto Start/Stop function is engaged. This has required the driver to shift the transmission to park to allow the engine to restart, once this did not work requiring a jump start in the middle of a busy intersection. Honda service has stated that a battery replacement was need, which was done, but a new battery has had no effect on the auto start/stop issue. The engine continues to struggle to restart when the AIS system is engaged. The vehicle headlights can be seen flickering when the engine struggles to restart. This is an extremely dangerous defect that puts the occupants of the vehicle in repeatedly dangerous situations. For example when AIS is engaged and making a turn into oncoming traffic, the vehicle will be stuck and inoperable in on coming traffic’s lane. This issue continues to persist with no resolution or solution from the manufacturer.

Filed Apr 3, 2025 · NJ

Issue : Engine Idle Restart malfunction Incident Description: I was driving my Honda [Model, Year] when I encountered a serious safety issue related to the Engine Idle Auto Start-Stop system. While stopped in traffic at a red light, the auto start-stop feature engaged and turned off the engine as expected. However, when the light turned green and I released the brake, the engine failed to restart automatically. I was stuck in the middle of moving traffic, unable to accelerate or move the vehicle. This unexpected failure caused a dangerous traffic obstruction and put me at serious risk of being rear-ended. I had to manually restart the vehicle under pressure, with vehicles approaching behind me, creating a high-stress and potentially crash-prone situation. This issue is especially concerning because this vehicle was previously subject to a Honda recall for this exact problem, and I was informed that the fix had been applied. Clearly, the issue persists and the so-called fix is not effective. This malfunction not only compromises my safety but also that of other drivers. I request immediate attention to this recurring issue and urge Honda to take responsibility by issuing a proper and permanent fix.

Filed Feb 12, 2025 · Engine · SD

The stop/start feature will randomly not restart after a stop at a stop sign in traffic. The defect is totally random so it cannot be replicated by the dealer. I have struggled with this problem for years and have not had a crisis because I usually shut off the stop start feature to avoid this system failure. There are no warning lights or symptoms that indicate a failure is eminent. On February 9, 2025 as my wife and I were driving home from the airport at 2:30 AM on a below zero temperature day in the middle of desolate countryside, my Pilot would not restart after I stopped at a stop sign. I had forgotten to turn off the stop start feature. There was no other traffic on the road to help and no houses or other warm places to find refuge so I hoped that I could figure out who I could call to rescue us before we froze to death. I allowed the Pilot to set for a while and after the fourth try, the vehicle again started. I took the Pilot to the local Honda dealer and they indicated that although the battery passed a regular battery check, when an extreme battery load was placed on the battery it failed the battery test. I asked about the stop start issues reported to the federal safety agency but they would only talk about my need for a new battery. I think Honda dealers are attempting to deflect this design issue by blaming the issue on the batteries and are selling batteries instead of fixing this issue. I tried to explain that this is a chronic issue that was present when my battery was new but they deflected that argument and continued to press the sale of a new battery.

Filed Dec 17, 2024 · Engine · 130,000 miles · MN

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop, the Auto START/STOP feature was activated, but the engine failed to restart after releasing the brake pedal. Additionally, the transmission intermittently shifted to neutral(N) or park(P) while at a complete stop. The Collision Mitigation Braking System warning light was illuminated. The contact depressed the brake pedal and shifted the transmission to drive(D), allowing the vehicle to respond. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the dealer; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Action Number: PE22005 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Filed Jul 27, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · MA

The auto idle stop feature restart did not work properly and instead the car froze in stop and go traffic on a freeway. Not only did the restart, not work properly in addition the car's electronics froze with multiple error messages on the dashboard coming up. I had to turn the car off by pressing the engine start/stop button, waiting and then restarting it like normal.

Filed Apr 29, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · CA

Twice in the past week my 2017 Honda pilot equipped with the auto start/stop feature completely shuts off at traffic lights. Usually it turns back on but it completely shut down and would not restart at very busy intersections. I was very afraid of being rear ended while i was stuck there at the light, and this is a known issue that Honda has yet to address.