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Honda Pilot won't shift problems

81 of the 9,458 owner complaints about the Honda Pilot describe stuck in gear or won't shift, most of them for the 2016 model year.

owner complaints
81
worst model year
2016
typical repair cost reported
$4,800
typical mileage
70,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

Often reported together

Check engine light 13Transmission failure 12Loss of power 12Stalling 9Jerking 8Warning lights 6Misfire 5Start-stop 4

Trouble codes mentioned

P0369 3P0087 2P2135 1P0841 1P0780 1P0730 1P0717 1

What owners say

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 30, 2026 · Engine · KY

Vehicle went into limp mode. Engine had P0369 code for the camshaft position sensor. Timing belt kit is now getting serviced. The camshaft position switch needs replaced. Lastly the bank 1 camshaft needs to be replaced due to excessive play. Seems to be a manufacturer issue and is a safety issue because the vehicle went into limp mode up a hill in traffic.

Filed Oct 19, 2026 · Fuel system, Transmission · GA

Took Pilot to Reilly's for FREE diagnostic reading. Showed misfires in cylinders 4 & 5 & random misfires. Then took to Son's Honda and PAID for the same diagnostic readings which were the same. The Pilot drives in a "limp mode" due to the issue. This issue is a known Honda issue for this year and make model. They have granted some Pilots an extended warranty to resolve the known issues. They say mine doesn't qualify even though it is the exact same issue. Defects with their fuel injector system. A secondary issue is the Transmission. We were traveling 2 hours away on the highway when we got a warning to pull over. Our Transmission fluid was too hot. This is another issue I have found to be a common problem with the 2019 Honda Pilot's and their redesign transmission system.

Filed Jul 29, 2026 · Engine · TX

I was with my mother in law coming home from shopping. Car jerked and went into limp mode. We pulled over and restart the car and we were still in limp mode. We could past 2k RPM. We pulled in to the autozone that was near by, had them check the code and we have p0369 which indicates a camshaft sensor. I notified the deal where I always get my service done and they couldn’t take in the Pilot. I called multiple places but lead time was fair. I took it to a master mechanic and he states that he had ran into multiple problems about the camshaft has a play and hit the sensor. Sure enough he was right! Older vehicle has a recall on this. I called Honda customer service about the problem I have and they don’t a recall for this year make and model. They couldn’t help nor steer in the right direction. So we are now out of pocket for the issue that is known.

Filed Jun 4, 2026 · Fuel system · TX

While driving down a freeway, my car shuddered and my engine suddenly lost power and was put into limp mode. Mechanic determined it was the high pressure fuel pump that failed. This vehicle was part of the recall for the low pressure fuel pump that was completed. It also had to have fuel injectors replaced under Honda’s extended warranty over faulty injectors.

Filed May 18, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NY

MOST Network problems continue to persist even after MOST FAKRA Service Cables Safety Recall work was performed. Typical progression: Radio goes silent, Infotainment Screen displays error message, "Network Communication Lost / MOST Net Off", Driver Information Interface Display goes blank, then 3 error messages cycle, "Blind Spot Info System Problem", "Emissions System Problem", "Transmission System Problem", and vehicle enters limp mode (stuck in 3rd gear). Multiple safety issues: Rearview camera does not function, vehicle speed is not displayed, vehicle gas gauge is not displayed, blind spot system does not operate, reduced vehicle power.

Filed Apr 8, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · CA

Engine started knocking and within a couple days my wife was left stranded. The vehicle went into limp mode with check engine light flashing, and would not accelerate. The vehicle stopped completely in the middle of the road and lost all power, which could’ve caused a major accident. Scheduled maintenance and oil changes has been kept up by me. I had the vehicle towed to a trusted shop and was informing that there were metal shavings in the oil filter. They inspected the top end of the engine and everything was normal. The only indication is that the problem is internal to the engine. There is a recall for Honda Pilots up to model year 2020 but I believe this issue is affecting vehicles up to 2022.

Filed Mar 19, 2026 · Transmission · 99,500 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was restarted; however, the advanced safety features remained inoperable. The vehicle remained in LIMP Mode and failed to properly accelerate while driving. The contact referenced TSB: 23-0780 (Torque Converter); however, the vehicle was not associated with the TSB. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,500.

Filed Feb 2, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · MN

After driving the vehicle for a few hours during a very cold day, as we got off an exit ramp. We then turned onto the next road in our travels and the check engine light went off and blinked. The vehicle went into limp mode. Pulled the vehicle over, turn the car off and then back on and everything worked just fine. Had an oil change already scheduled for 2 days later. Brought the vehicle in for it oil change and we told the Honda Mechanic (dealership) what just happened. His response was: That is a common honda problem. "You did what we would have told you to do. Turn the car off and then back on. When the engine compartment gets really warm when driving for long periods of time with the cold weather, something tells it to misfire and throws a check engine code. We tell people to do what you did and turn the car off and then back on". Meanwhile we had to go out of town again the following weekend. As soon as we got near our destination the same thing happened again. This time in an intersection! Thankfully nobody was coming at the time of the limp mode to avoid a potential serious accident. I have put a lot of research into this and there are a lot of forums online that state this issue with no solution by Honda. I do not see how that is safe to have your car randomly throw a code and be forced to pull over immediately.

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.

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmissionReported April 15, 2004 · 1,099,796 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On some mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage.
Risk
Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
Remedy
On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission to identify gears that have already experienced discoloration due to overheating. If discoloration exists, the transmission will be replaced if discoloration is not present, the dealer will perform the revision to the oil cooler return line. The recall began on april 21, 2004, for pilot, odyssey, and mdx owners. Owners of the accord vehicles will start receiving letters on june 28, 2004, and on june 29, 2004, for owners of the tl and cl vehicles. Owners should contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009 or acura at 1‑800‑382‑2238.

Recall number 04V176000 · Recall details

Questions about the Honda Pilot won't shift

Which Honda Pilot years have stuck in gear or won't shift problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2016 (22 complaints), 2003 (14 complaints) and 2017 (13 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix stuck in gear or won't shift on the Honda Pilot?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $4,800 (median of 9 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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