Best Honda Pilot Years to Buy
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, the best Honda Pilot years to buy are 2008, 2014 and 2015 — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates among years with enough road time to judge, while 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2025 are the years to skip.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Every Honda Pilot year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 156 | 4 | AVOID |
| 2024 | 99 | 6 | OK |
| 2023 | 114 | 5 | OK |
| 2022 | 129 | 5 | OK |
| 2021 | 400 | 10 | AVOID |
| 2020 | 465 | 11 | AVOID |
| 2019 | 860 | 13 | AVOID |
| 2018 | 425 | 7 | AVOID |
| 2017 | 898 | 4 | AVOID |
| 2016 | 1,661 | 8 | AVOID |
| 2015 | 107 | 4 | BEST |
| 2014 | 116 | 3 | BEST |
| 2013 | 270 | 6 | OK |
| 2012 | 170 | 9 | OK |
| 2011 | 292 | 11 | OK |
| 2010 | 111 | 10 | OK |
| 2009 | 134 | 9 | OK |
| 2008 | 132 | 9 | BEST |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Honda Pilot?
2008, 2014 and 2015 — based on federal NHTSA records, they show the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Honda Pilot model year with meaningful time on the road. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
Which Honda Pilot years should I avoid?
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2025 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by engine issues. The full breakdown is on our Honda Pilot years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Honda Pilot a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 6,539 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Honda Pilot years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Honda Pilot year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Honda Pilot you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).