2018 Honda Pilot: complete transmission failure

Filed Jul 27, 2026 · Transmission · CA

2018 Honda Pilot Transmission Failed at Only 34,726 Miles I want to share my experience so other Honda owners are aware of a very premature transmission failure. I am the original owner of a 2018 Honda Pilot with only 34,726 miles. My family has trusted Honda for many years, and my wife also drives a Honda HR-V. We believed Honda vehicles were reliable. While driving, my Pilot suddenly showed a “Transmission System Problem” warning. The vehicle became very slow and later was unable to engage into gear. I had to tow it to Capital Honda in San Jose. Capital Honda diagnosed a complete transmission failure requiring a full replacement. The repair cost was about $11,800. I appreciate that American Honda provided goodwill assistance and covered a large portion of the repair. With that assistance, my out-of-pocket cost was reduced to $3,500. However, I am frustrated and disappointed that a Honda transmission could fail completely at only 34,726 miles. This is unacceptable for such a low-mileage vehicle, especially from a company known for engineering quality and reliability. All maintenance was completed on time at Honda dealerships. About six months before the failure, the transmission fluid service was also performed at a Honda dealer. I did not neglect this vehicle. Because of the low mileage, I asked American Honda to review my case for additional goodwill assistance. Unfortunately, that request was declined. Again, I appreciate the assistance already provided, but as a loyal Honda customer, I am deeply disappointed that I still have to pay $3,500 for a major transmission failure that happened far too early. I am sharing this so other Honda Pilot owners can watch for warning signs such as warning messages, delayed engagement, slipping, jerking, or abnormal shifting. Please keep your service records and report serious issues if they occur. Honda built its reputation on reliability, but this experience has made me question that reputation.

Filed Dec 18, 2024 · Fuel system, Transmission · MD

My transmission failed although it was scanned a few weeks earlier indicating no issues with the transmission. I was lucky that the car failed once I stopped and wouldn't shift back into gear however it could have failed while driving. The car was driving fine and was slightly slow to engage, but I believe that was due to the fuel pump recall, which I could not have fixed because of a shortage of parts. My concern is that the transmission would have failed during my trip while driving over the mountains. It would have been really dangerous. There appear to be problems with the transmission in the 2018 Honda Pilots.

Filed Dec 17, 2024 · Transmission · CA

Transmission failed suddenly while on the highway. Engine light came on, and could not shift above first gear. Took to the Honda dealership where we purchased the vehicle (purchased new in 2018) and was told transmission failed and needed to be replaced. This is a 2018 Honda Pilot with only 35,000 miles on it with all routine maintenance done.

Filed Mar 3, 2024 · Transmission · NM

I own a 2018 Honda Pilot (VIN number ending in [XXX] ) which was purchased from Perfection Honda on July 14, 2018. I am the only owner of the car and have taken the car to the dealer for all required maintenance services at the recommended time intervals. The car began stuttering after a stop on [XXX]. I took the car immediately to Perfection Honda and they stated that the issue was the front engine mount despite my concerns about the transmission. They replaced the front engine mount and flushed the transmission fluid and returned the car to me on [XXX]. The car had the same issue on [XXX] and I had to return the car to the dealer. Approximately one week later they stated that there was no issue and returned the car to me. On [XXX] the car had the same issue and had to be towed to the dealer. This time they stated it was the fuel pump, which had been recalled. They replaced the fuel pump and returned the car to me on [XXX]. On [XXX] the car had the same issue of stuttering upon acceleration from a stop and had to be towed again to the dealer. On [XXX] the service personnel called to inform me that a new transmission was needed. When the car first began experiencing the issue, I had had the car for five years and three months, three years of which had restricted driving due to the COVID shutdown in 2020 and in three months during 2021 when I was out of the country for travel. The car now has 57,380 miles. The issue began when the car had 54,079 miles. While there was fortunately no accident, the stalling after a stop and continued stuttering of the transmission is a significant safety issue. Each time I had my two children in the car with me and had to pull to the side of the road to avoid being rear ended. While other 2018 Honda Pilots have active transmission and engine recalls, my specific vehicle is not covered by those TSBs. Honda has stated that there are no active recalls on my vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 19, 2019 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 13,350 miles · NC

Since the transmission was replaced at 12,181 miles in june 2019 on a 2018 honda pilot elite, other issues have popped up. The forward collision system has gone off twice on a 2 lane state highway. In both cases, I was on a 2 lane highway going about 50 miles an hour with no cars in front of me for at least a mile or two, no vehicles coming the other way, on a straight part of the road, nothing in the road and nothing on the side of the road. The dealer said that it didn't happen to them when driving the car, so there's nothing to fix & honda corporation said the dealer couldn't find anything to fix. One night when driving on the interstate it it stopped raining but was very muggy and there was moisture on the windshield the automatic wipers did not come on and the defrost did not work - this was over the course of several hours of driving trying different temperatures on defrost and nothing helped. Even with the wipers on manually, visibility was poor. Also, one day after the car had been sitting all day I drove it 20 miles and the car did not cool down - I had to run the air conditioner on full blast the whole time. The car is not cooling like it should! Of course, when they tried it out it had actually already been driven 20 miles to the dealership with the air in early morning and then the honda service department tested it out, there was cool air and said it's blowing just fine now.