Car Yearsto Avoid

2008 Honda Pilot Problems

What owners have reported about the 2008 Honda Pilot, which problems come up most, at what mileage, and which recalls to check.

From NHTSA owner complaints and recalls. Updated Oct 17, 2026.

Is the 2008 Honda Pilot a good year?

It's one of the better years for the Pilot. Owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA, the 14th most of 18 Pilot model years. The most reported problems involve the airbags, engine and body and structure.

133 complaints 9 recalls, 1 crash risk 14th worst of 18 Pilot years

Top 2008 Honda Pilot problems

1

Airbag problems

32 complaints (24%) name the airbags, most often the frontal.

Complaints 32 · Usually at 50,000–109,000 miles · Recall 19V501000, 19V499000, 19V182000, 18V268000, 17V029000, 16V344000, 15V320000

2

Engine problems

17 complaints (13%) name the engine, most often the engine and cooling system.

Complaints 17 · Usually at 54,000–118,000 miles

3

Body problems

16 complaints (12%) name the body and structure, most often the body and door.

Complaints 16 · Usually at 64,000–105,000 miles

4

Transmission problems

11 complaints (8%) name the transmission, most often the automatic transmission.

Complaints 11 · Usually at 82,000–105,000 miles

Which parts fail most

Share of complaints that name each system. One complaint can name several.

Airbags 24%
Engine 13%
Body 12%
Transmission 8%
Lights 8%
Electrical 7%
Seats 6%
Steering 6%
Suspension 6%
Stability Control 5%

Mileage when it failed

Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (70 of 133). The amber line is the middle value, about 88,000 miles.

When problems were reported

Complaints by the year the problem happened.

2008 Honda Pilot recalls

Accelerator pedal may stick and not return

Crash risk

The accelerator pedal can bind, so the engine may not drop back to idle after you release it. That raises the risk of a crash because the car may keep accelerating when you do not want it to.

Fix: A dealer will replace the affected accelerator pedal assembly free of charge.

Recall 19E068000 · Oct 2019

Inflator module

The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.

Recall 19V501000 · Jun 2019

Inflator module

2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.

Recall 19V499000 · Jun 2019

Inflator module

2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.

Recall 19V182000 · Mar 2019

Inflator module

Can stall

The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.

Recall 18V268000 · Apr 2018

Inflator module

S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2009 Acura RL and Honda Element vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles and 2006-2009 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2008 Acura RL, Honda Element and Honda Pilot vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2006-2008 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017.

Recall 17V029000 · Jan 2017

Inflator module

S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2008 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2008 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2008 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling model year 2002-2004 Odyssey and model year 2003-2004 Acura MDX, Honda Element, and Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA0, KA1, KA2, and KA3.

Recall 16V344000 · May 2016

Inflator module

2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well.

Recall 15V320000 · May 2015

Carrier / rack

A pinch bolt exists between the bike arm bracket and the upright assembly of the "hitch" style bicycle rack. When moving the bike arm bracket to its down position, this pinch bolt has the potential of causing severe laceration or amputation to the user's fingertips or hand.

Recall 08E013000 · Feb 2008
Check your VIN for open recalls

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Pilot years to avoid

Total NHTSA complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so their totals will keep climbing. See the full comparison.

Common questions

Is the 2008 Honda Pilot a reliable year?

It's one of the better years for the Pilot. Owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA, the 14th most of 18 Pilot model years. The most reported problems involve the airbags, engine and body and structure.

What are the most common 2008 Honda Pilot problems?

Owners most often report problems with the airbags, engine, body and structure and transmission. 32 complaints (24%) name the airbags, most often the frontal.

At what mileage do 2008 Honda Pilot airbags problems start?

Reported mileage ranged widely, but most complaints fell between about 50,000–109,000 miles, with a middle value near 93,000 miles.

How many recalls does the 2008 Honda Pilot have?

9. Accelerator pedal may stick and not return (19E068000); Inflator module (19V501000); Inflator module (19V499000). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.

Should I buy a used 2008 Honda Pilot?

Ask for service records covering the airbags, confirm the recall work was done, and compare with the 2015, 2010 and 2024 models, which have the fewest complaints.

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Counts include each complaint once per model year.