2021 Honda Pilot: engine stalls while driving

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Engine · PA

I am filing this complaint as a proactive safety measure regarding my 2021 Honda Pilot EX-L, equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 engine. I am deeply concerned about the severe manufacturing defect involving connecting rod bearing failures that cause sudden, catastrophic engine stalling and total loss of motive power while driving. This exact defect was the subject of the federal safety agency Recall Campaign 23V‑751. However, Honda arbitrarily restricted that recall to select 2016, 2018, and 2019 model years. As a current owner of a 2021 model year vehicle utilizing the exact same J-Series V6 engine architecture, my vehicle is suffering from the exact same underlying vulnerability but is entirely excluded from safety protections and repair remedies. A sudden engine failure at highway speeds poses an extreme and immediate safety risk to myself, my passengers, and other drivers on the road. I am submitting this to formally urge the federal safety agency to expand its current investigation into Honda’s V6 engine failures and force American Honda Motor Co. to expand Recall 23V‑751 to include the 2021 Honda Pilot fleet before a catastrophic failure occurs.

Filed Aug 27, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · FL

My 2021 Honda Pilot has repeatedly failed to restart after the Auto Idle Stop system shuts the engine off while the vehicle is stopped. When the system activates, the engine can fail to restart when I need to move, leaving the vehicle stalled in active traffic. This has happened multiple times and creates a serious safety risk, particularly at busy intersections. Honda previously performed the software update intended to address the Auto Idle Stop failure-to-restart condition, but the problem continued after the update. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Honda dealership because the problem persisted. The dealership has now diagnosed the starter as the cause of the failure-to-restart problem and recommended starter replacement. The vehicle and affected components are available for inspection. Honda has acknowledged Auto Idle Stop failure-to-restart problems on Honda Pilots and has extended warranty coverage for starter replacement on certain affected vehicles. However, American Honda has informed me that my specific vehicle is not included in the starter warranty extension, despite experiencing the same failure-to-restart condition, despite Honda's software update failing to correct it, and despite the Honda dealer diagnosing the starter as the cause. American Honda is considering partial goodwill assistance toward the starter repair but has told me that the repair will not be covered at 100%. I am reporting this because the Auto Idle Stop system can intentionally shut off the engine and the vehicle can then fail to restart, leaving the driver unable to move out of the way of traffic. I am concerned that Honda's existing remedy and the VIN population included in the starter warranty extension may not adequately address all vehicles experiencing this safety-related failure.

Filed Aug 21, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CA

The vehicle won't start, electrical system failure. Sometimes the electrical system fails when the car is driving/it will stall on the road. It was predicated by the alarm going off intermittently and without provocation (in the middle of the night/etc).

Filed Aug 8, 2026 · Engine · NE

Ive had about 5 times my car Honda pilot 2021 stall at a stop light, a stop sign. The first it took a minute to go and the light was green. I was honked at and yelled at. It finally kicked on and we went, the next time it went into accessory mode at a stop sign, then into N then off…. All while in drive to start. The rest were times I was in auto start stop and it just wouldn’t start. Each 5 times it gave an error code that disappeared right after I had to try snd restart by pushing the button. I went to Honda 2 times now, first time they said they did the program… that didn’t stop the issue, I then took it again after the 4th time and they said it was a bad battery… replaced it mind you $400 later… and it did it the next day.. they won’t cover a free inspection and when I said there’s a bulletin about this they said they did id already but still doing it. I am very frustrated and j drive 3 kids under 7 this is very very unsafe especially someone who already has a brain injury from aka c I dent.

Filed Jul 24, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NY

My current 2021 Honda Pilot (purchased used May 2024) is stalling out in live traffic - the most recent on XXX creating a massive safety hazard. (In addition, the engine is making the same exact clicking noise that the 2015 Honda VIN:[XXX] made right before the engine catastrophically seized on my way to work. That 2015 Honda Pilot seized due to a defective Variable Cynlinder Management (VCM) system. This defect was covered by a court-ordered federal class-action settlement warranty extension (Alex [XXX] v. American Honda, Case No. XXX), extending coverage to 10 years/150,000 miles. While that vehicle was fully within this window - Honda of [XXX] wrongfully denied this legal warranty.) The CURRENT 2021 Honda Pilot (Purchased Used) VIN: [XXX] suffers from intermittent engine stalling in live traffic. The dealership has failed to resolve this issue across three separate visits, while exploiting the emergencies. The timeline of failed repairs includes: 2/14/25: The vehicle stalled in live traffic. The dealership charged me $420.48 for diagnostics and a failed repair. 8/13/25: The dashboard lit up and the vehicle suffered engine failure leaving my family stranded for 9 hours waiting for Honda Assist. It was brought to the Honda of New Rochelle service center where they exploited this emergency to charge me an exorbitant $1,300.00 out of pocket for unrelated work financed via Sunbit loan. 9/24/2025: The vehicle stalled in live traffic for a third time. The dealership charged me an additional $572.00 for another failed repair. They reguse to give me the RO's and the car has 29 active codes including U3006-16 (ECU Power Source Failure), proving a severe electrical or fuel delivery hazard remains completely unresolved. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 22, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NJ

Vehicle stalls when the car shuts off from the auto engine idle shut off feature. The concern was allegedly resolved twice with an update but the issue persists. My battery died in December 2025, when asked if it was a result of the recall causing repeated start failures, the dealership denied. Recently my vehicle shut off from the auto engine idle stop feature and completely died, I had to push to start my vehicle several times to start it back up and this was after replacing my battery 7 months ago. A heavy duty battery was purchase to meet my vehicle needs.

Filed Jun 28, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · VA

While operating with the Auto Shut Off enabled, vehicle stalled. Warning lights came on directing the driver to put into Park. Vehicle would not turn off/on, could not take out of park. At the time, vehicle was in bumper to bumper traffic in a construction zone causing a very dangerous situation for the driver. Vehicle was towed and 10 minutes after the incident, the vehicle could be restarted. This is the second time this has happened in the last 9 months. Unfortunately the first was not reported. This is completely unacceptable. Honda knows this is an issue and refuses to address it.

Filed Jun 11, 2026 · Engine · MD

In November 2025, my 2021 Honda Pilot started experiencing stalling while driving, hesitation when accelerating, and sudden power loss while idling. I took the vehicle to my local Homda dealership and each time they dismissed the problem, indicating that they could not find any issues. On 4/24/26, the vehicle experienced sudden engine failure in the middle of moving traffic. There were no warning lights or dashboard messages leading to the issue. The vehicle was towed to the local Honda dealership, where they kept the vehicle for a month and charged over $20,000 for a repair (not replacement). Ten (10) days after picking up the vehicle from the dealership, the engine locked and seized again on 6/9/26 in the middle of traffic and nearly caused a serious accident with 3 other vehicles.

Filed Mar 26, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CT

Auto idle stop activated at a stop light for the 2nd or 3rd time over a few years. Lifted foot off the break and stalled, the car went into Park and I could not put it into neutral or drive. The odometer screen looked like it does when the engine is on. The battery light was on. I tried to turn down the radio and the volume didn't work. I tried pressing the ignition button to turn off the car entirely but it didn't work the first couple of tries. Once I was able to completely turn it off, it struggled to turn over when I tried to start the engine, which I've never had happen, but did turn over. Dealership wanted to charge $325 for a few hours of diagnostics which we declined.

Filed Mar 18, 2026 · Electrical · MS

auto idle stop stalled at a red light causing my car to not move and having to shut off my car in the middle of traffic. Once i tried to turn back on it wouldnt start at first. i had to do this twice in order for the car to come back on.

Filed Feb 8, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · IN

The Honda Pilot completely lost power on my husband's way home from work in a snow storm. It would not start but it did yesterday. It sounds like clinking/clunking when started but stalls out if you try to put it in drive or reverse. It has a brand new battery. But otherwise it had to be towed and is now sitting. It didnt give any warning signs or lights on the dash until after it completely broke down. It has the engine light on when started. It has not be confirmed by a dealership as times are really rough right now with a new baby and not having the extra funds to have it looked at. And not to mention the closet dealership to look at it is almost an hour away. It seems that the rods/engine area are at fault.

Filed Feb 2, 2026 · Fuel system · NJ

I believe I have a fuel pump issue. My car has stalled on multiple occasions while trying to pull out of my driveway. There is at least a quarter tank of gas. I have had to get gas in a gas can and add it to the tank and then it would start. I now make sure I always have at least a half a tank of gas. On three separate occasions when the auto idle stop turns the car off at a light, the car does not restart when the brake is released and it slips the car into neutral (very dangerous at an intersection) There was a recall on Pilots Fuel system, gasoline: Delivery: Fuel pump Recall date 2023-12-17 Recall no. 23V858000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Hide details Recall consequence Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. As you can see it covers Pilots from 2015-2020, however I am having this problem with my 2021 Pilot. Please consider extending the recall to 2021 Pilots