Is the 2006 Honda Pilot reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2006 Honda Pilot is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Honda Pilot?

The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2006 Honda Pilot have?

10 recalls on file for this model year.

2006 Honda Pilot

● Typical for this model

2006 Honda Pilot
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints: 267
Recalls: 10
Investigations: 3
Top problem: Air bags

Complaints per year

2006: 267 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
2003	720
2004	544
2005	679
2006	267
2007	211
2008	133
2009	134
2010	111
2011	293
2012	171
2013	271
2014	116
2015	109
2016	1,706
2017	929
2018	439
2019	905
2020	491
2021	435
2022	161
2023	144
2024	115
2025	204
2026	23

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

23% · 61 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Show complaint excerpts

Takata inflators: after hitting a roadside object at a county road turning into a community, the steering wheel airbag was deployed. That can be accepted, but the airbag was not inflated.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-03-03

Takata recall - my VIN # is showing 0 recalls, however, I have had to go in twice for a recall on my vehicle. Why is your website recording 0 recalls?

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-12-04

Purchased vehicle 2009 odometer 35818. 2013 2013 the odometer read 70827 operator hit a deer resulting to front and side damage, the air bags did not deploy. Have there been any recalls regarding the failure with the SRS sensor?

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-02-27

Service brakes

12% · 33 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHINJURY

Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle exhibited a loud squeaking noise.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-01-18

Structure

10% · 26 reports

Most commonly citing body and hatchback/liftgate.

CRASH

Engine

8% · 22 reports

CRASHFIRE

Electronic stability control (esc)

8% · 22 reports

Safety timeline

10 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

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2006-08-02Equipment06V270000 On certain passenger vehicles and motorcycles, the owner's manuals contain incorrect contact information for the national highway traffic safety administration's (NHTSA) vehicle safety hotline.

Remedy: Honda will send a postcard to dealers and owners with the correct NHTSA vehicle safety hotline information and with instructions to insert the card into the "Reporting safety defects" Section of the…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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2015-07-01Air bags15V320000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2016-06-29Air bags16V344000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold,...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2017-02-27Air bags17V029000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KD9 and KE0.

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2018-06-22Air bags18V268000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2019-04-10Air bags19V182000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 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...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2019-08-12Air bags19V499000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 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,...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2019-08-12Air bags19V501000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey,...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2019-12-09Vehicle speed control19E068000 Dorman Products, Inc.

Remedy: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using option 5.

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2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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Date not on fileEquipment08E013000 Honda is recalling 2,032 hitch style bike racks sold as aftermarket for use on my 2003-2007 and some my 2008 Honda Pilot, ridgeline, and Acura mdx vehicles.

Remedy: Owners should contact thule at 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391) to obtain a free repair kit along with repair instructions or owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 or Acura at 1-800-382-2238 for further information.

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Buy-smart checklist

2006 Honda Pilot — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

Air bags: 61 reports on file for this year.
Service brakes: 33 reports on file for this year.
Structure: 26 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

Recall 08E013000 · Equipment
Recall 06V270000 · Equipment
Recall 15V320000 · Air bags
Recall 16V344000 · Air bags
Recall 17V029000 · Air bags
Recall 18V268000 · Air bags
Recall 19V182000 · Air bags
Recall 19V499000 · Air bags
Recall 19V501000 · Air bags
Recall 19E068000 · Vehicle speed control

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2006 Honda Pilot reliable?: Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2006 Honda Pilot is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Honda Pilot?: The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2006 Honda Pilot have?: 10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.