2018 Honda Pilot: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Jul 26, 2026 · Engine · TX

2018 Honda Pilot – Engine Failed to Restart During Auto Idle Stop I own a 2018 Honda Pilot that has experienced an intermittent Auto Idle Stop restart failure. Approximately 18 months ago, my Honda dealer performed the Honda service bulletin repair related to the Auto Idle Stop restart issue, including replacement of the starter. More recently, I began experiencing intermittent hard starts after driving the vehicle and allowing it to sit for approximately 10–15 minutes. The battery is new and has tested good multiple times, and no diagnostic trouble codes or check engine light were present. Based on the starting symptoms, the EVAP purge solenoid was replaced. Immediately after that repair, the Auto Idle Stop system began functioning normally again. However, two days later, while stopped at a traffic light, the Auto Idle Stop system shut the engine off as designed. When the vehicle attempted to automatically restart, the engine failed to restart and the vehicle remained disabled in the traffic lane. I had to shift the vehicle into Park and manually restart the engine using the Start button. The engine then started immediately and operated normally. Since that event, the vehicle has continued to exhibit intermittent hot-start hesitation after short drives, although it runs normally once started. This is a significant safety concern because a failure of the Auto Idle Stop system to restart the engine can leave the vehicle disabled in an active traffic lane or intersection, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision or other crash. I am submitting this complaint because the vehicle experienced an Auto Idle Stop restart failure despite having previously received Honda’s repair for this issue, and I believe the condition warrants further investigation.

Filed Mar 16, 2026 · Fuel system · MA

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle’s high-pressure fuel pump failed approximately one year after the low-pressure fuel pump was replaced under a manufacturer recall. The low-pressure pump had been identified as defective and replaced accordingly. Because the low-pressure pump is responsible for supplying fuel to the high-pressure pump, it is reasonable to believe the defective component may have placed abnormal stress on the high-pressure fuel pump prior to its replacement, potentially leading to premature failure. The failed high-pressure fuel pump is still in the vehicle. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Failure of the high-pressure fuel pump can result in a sudden loss of fuel pressure to the engine, causing hesitation, loss of power, or engine stalling while the vehicle is in operation. This created a significant safety hazard, particularly as it occurred during highway driving, where sudden loss of propulsion occurred. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The issue was diagnosed and confirmed by a service center as a failed high-pressure fuel pump. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle was inspected by my personal mechanic who indicated fuel pump issues and noted recall then a Honda dealer during diagnosis but recall was for previously replaced low pressure pump and not the High pressure pump the issue has yet to be repaired. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Prior to the failure, the vehicle began experiencing noticeable fuel system performance issues, including reduced engine performance loss of MPG and drivability concerns. No lamps

Filed Oct 17, 2025 · VA

Reporting recall for crankshaft connecting rod bearing and the fuel pump. Notified Jan. and Feb. 2024. Have called many times. "Never had the parts". "Not on the list to be called". "Recall not on list to be called". "No suitable appointment time available. Will call when they have one." Left messages. Have never gotten called! Frustrated. Almost 2 years. What do I do?? Seriously, do I need a lawyer or what. Lately the car seems to hesitate. Kind of a rocking sensation while driving. Is that from the fuel pump that should have been replaced more than a year ago?? Recall issued 11/9/2023

Filed Sep 29, 2025 · Transmission · GA

I am filing this complaint because Honda has acknowledged a torque converter defect in Service Bulletin 23-078 (dated August 31, 2023), which applies to 2017–2019 Pilots and Ridgelines equipped with the 6-speed automatic transmission. The bulletin states that certain torque converters may have been manufactured outside proper specifications, causing cracks in the lock-up piston, pressure bleed-down, and eventual loss of clutch capacity. This failure is associated with diagnostic trouble code P0741 (“Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance / Stuck OFF”) and can result in shuddering, hesitation, loss of power during acceleration, or sudden and irregular transmission behavior — all of which create safety risks in traffic, merging, or highway conditions. My 2018 Honda Pilot meets all the published eligibility criteria: it is within 8 years of the original service date, has fewer than 150,000 miles, and has stored the DTC P0741. Despite this, both my dealership and Honda America have denied coverage, claiming my VIN “does not qualify.” While a goodwill request was filed on my behalf, I was informed that even if approved, I could still be expected to pay part of the repair. This denial is unacceptable given Honda’s recognition of the defect and effectively requires me to cover a repair of a faulty product that is necessary for safe operation of the vehicle. Because Honda has already issued a service bulletin acknowledging this defect and created a warranty extension for some vehicles, I urge the federal safety agency to investigate whether the defect is broader than Honda admits, and whether a recall or expanded coverage is warranted to ensure drivers like myself are not forced to operate unsafe vehicles due to VIN restrictions.

Filed Jul 29, 2025 · Transmission · PA

Transmission hesitates upon acceleration from a stop, intermittently. Yes, available for inspection upon request. When pulling out into traffic it will roll out and then no response...catastrophic results if taking a left turn or pulling on to highway. The transmission will then jerk abruptly when more gas is added while you are trying desperately to get going. No, they deny it every time...at one point they reset the block learn saying it was the way we were driving. Inspected by dealership. CEL comes on with various warning messages and tech confirmed customer concern and scanned for codes. Codes were misfires on 4,5,6...and random. changed injectors etc. under extended warranty... The hesitation from stop has occured many times

Filed Feb 7, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · CA

I have had a recall that the dealer has renegged on helping me with. About a couple of years ago we scheduled appointments, we missed work, showed up at the appointments for our two cars, only to be told that the parts are on back order. We keep getting the same response over and over. The last time I called a couple of weeks ago, the service department hung up on me. I called back and asked to have the Service Manager call me. He did not return my call. I have left message for the general manager, and he has NOT returned my calls. I need my recall remedied. My vehicle sometimes hesitates to start and has acceleration issues.

Filed Feb 6, 2025 · Acceleration, Airbags · 26,000 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH during traffic, the vehicle hesitated, jerked, and suddenly accelerated. Multiple unknown warning lights illuminated. As a result, the vehicle rear-ended a U-Haul trailer that was in front, then crashed into a wall and from the impact into the trailer where it came to a stop. None of the air bags deployed. The contact suffered injuries to the head when she impacted the steering wheel, the right leg near the hip, and the right arm. The contact was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the sensors on the vehicle malfunctioned weeks before the crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where unknown repairs were completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The insurance company was contacted and pending results. The failure mileage was 26,000.

Filed Jan 7, 2025 · Fuel system · ME

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal on several occasions, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Dec 16, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · 58,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing engine hesitation while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the transmission fluid and the coolant were flushed. The contact was charged a service fee; however, the failure recurred while driving. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH on the third lane of an interstate with her children in the car seats in the rear seats, the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound. The vehicle decelerated to 35 MPH abruptly, causing the driver's and passengers' seat belts to retract. The contact immediately depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH, nearly causing a crash. The contact activated the hazard lights and drove to her husband's shop. The contact's husband cleared the diagnostic trouble codes, and the vehicle accelerated as needed while driving; however, the vehicle shuddered, made abnormal sounds, the engine had a misfire, and the vehicle stalled while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the message "Emission System Problem" was displayed. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Nov 26, 2024 · Engine · NC

I purchased this 2018 Honda Pilot in spring of 2024. Two months after driving it, it started hesistating to restart after idling. At the end of July an emissions warking appeared on the dash and the car would not restart after idling a few times and I would literally have to restart the vehicle by putting it back in park. I took it back to the dealership and they said it was a gas fuel shutter and they repaired that. For a while it still hesitated to restart but it didn't completely shut off until this week week (Nov 2024). This fuel saving feature is a safety defect. It will hesistate to restart when it idles or it won't restart and the red error message to put it in park and restart shows on the dash which is a serious safety concern that I believe Honda knows about that I discovered today is currently in a lawsuit.

Filed Nov 21, 2024 · Fuel system · OH

My car hesitates during acceleration, I received the recall for the fuel pump in February, called the dealer, they say they do not have parts, I called again in early November, and they say the same thing. I am afraid the pump isa going to go out when we are driving in Traffic, so I do not trust the vehicle. I can take the car to any repair shop and they will replace it in a day. Why can't the dealer replace it? They are slow-walking this recall while we take the risk. What can I do?

Filed Nov 14, 2024 · Transmission · 64,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and hesitating with the transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 64,000.