2015 Honda Pilot — Known Issues & Recalls

Your 2015 Pilot has experienced complete engine failure after a period of oil burning and multiple spark plug replacements. You received misfire error codes (like P0304) before the failure occurred, and the engine died while you were driving without warning lights—you narrowly avoided a crash. The repair will likely require a full engine replacement or rebuild, and you may want to check if Honda's VCM Warranty Extension applies to your vehicle.

Your engine is making a loud ticking or knocking noise at startup that goes away once you reach about 2,500 RPM. Two independent mechanics found that the connecting rod bearings in cylinders 2 and 5 are failing, with metal shavings and a piece of rod found in the oil pan. Your engine will need to be rebuilt or replaced, as continuing to drive it risks the engine seizing up completely.

Your engine has sputtered and lost power multiple times while driving, with the check engine light flashing on the dashboard. This has happened three times since October 2023, and each time oil was found in the spark plug chamber — the first two times required spark plug and coil pack replacement, and the second occurrence also needed piston ring replacement and major engine work. Honda sent you a notice in July 2025 acknowledging this as a known defect and offering a repair under an extended 10-year/150,000-mile warranty, but your original 10-year warranty had already expired; the third failure occurred just 15 days after you requested inspection at your dealership, which refused service because no warning light was active at that moment. The repair will likely involve inspecting and replacing spark plugs, coil packs, piston rings, and gaskets to stop oil from entering the spark plug chambers.

Your check engine light came on while driving, with a message telling you to pull over immediately. The dealer diagnosed the problem as failed piston rings in cylinder #1, causing engine misfires. The piston rings will need to be replaced to fix the issue.

Your engine's valve cover gasket is leaking oil, which is dripping onto the alternator and causing it to fail. This is a known issue affecting 2009-2015 Pilots according to Honda's service bulletin 20-023. Honda has declined warranty coverage, citing your VIN and expired warranty status.

Your engine suddenly lost power while driving, limiting your speed to 35 mph, and the check engine light came on with no warning. Your spark plugs burned out much faster than normal, and a mechanic diagnosed problems in cylinder 2 that require valve repairs, gasket replacement, water pump, timing belt tensioner, power steering pump, bushings, and VTEC spool valve replacement. The repair will likely involve a major engine overhaul to address the failing cylinder and related components.

Your 2015 Pilot's rod bearing connector has failed, causing a serious engine problem. This is the same issue reported in later model years with the 3.5L V6 engine, and your vehicle has the same engine type despite being an older model year. Fixing this will likely require engine repair or replacement of the rod bearing connector.

After five years of ownership, your engine's cylinder head cracked and required a $6,000 repair at the dealership. Now you're experiencing a problem with the fuel injection control module, and you've found that there's a recall for this part — but your dealer says your vehicle's VIN isn't included in that recall. The fuel injection control module may need to be replaced or reprogrammed to restore proper fuel delivery.

Your airbag warning light came on and off intermittently. When you took it to the dealership, they found a possible problem with the passenger side airbag and told you not to drive the vehicle. The dealership ordered a replacement airbag, which took over six weeks to arrive and install. They told you airbags aren't covered under recall or warranty, which may seem surprising for a safety component.

Your air bag warning light is on, and the service department found that your passenger side air bag is faulty. While your 2015 model year doesn't have an official recall, Honda has recalled the same issue in other model years of the Pilot. The fix will likely involve replacing the faulty air bag module or sensor.

Your car was leaking gasoline, which created a strong gas smell throughout your garage and home—a serious safety concern with children in the house. The repair cost $1,500. This type of fuel leak requires inspection of the fuel system components to locate and seal the source of the leak.

You noticed a strong gasoline smell coming from your car in the garage, and both you and your son experienced headaches and lightheadedness. A Honda dealership diagnosed a leaking fuel pump as the cause and quoted $1,250 for repair. This is a serious health hazard that requires immediate attention, as gasoline fumes in an enclosed space can be dangerous.

Your car's interior has developed a persistent mold and mildew problem that creates a musty odor and requires repeated cleaning. This growth may pose health concerns, especially for young children riding in the vehicle. The issue appears to be related to moisture accumulation inside your cabin, and resolving it typically involves identifying the source of excess moisture, inspecting and cleaning the HVAC system and cabin air filter, and potentially addressing any water leaks or drainage problems.

Your 2015 Honda Pilot's white diamond pearl paint is peeling off on multiple body panels, including the roof and tailgate. Honda dealership initially repaired some peeling paint under warranty extension SB19-057, but now other panels are showing the same problem. When you requested repair of the additional peeling paint, Honda Corporate denied your claim. The fix would likely involve repainting the affected body panels.

Your steering wheel completely detached from the steering column while you were driving, which resulted in a crash. This is an extremely dangerous failure that left you unable to control your vehicle's direction.

Your catalytic converter is failing prematurely because the vehicle's fuel management system is sending excess fuel into it, causing damage. This same issue is also pushing oil out of your car, creating both a mechanical problem and an environmental concern. The owner reports this is a design flaw rather than a maintenance issue. Fixing this would likely require diagnosing the fuel system settings and potentially replacing the catalytic converter and addressing the oil leak.

Your vehicle shakes or shimmers between 55 and 70 MPH. Your repair shop found that two of your tire sidewalls are flattening out, which they consider unsafe to drive on. The sidewalls of tires support the weight and structure of the tire, so deterioration here needs prompt attention. You'll likely need to replace the affected tires.

Your steering wheel shakes when you brake at high speeds. Even after replacing the brake pads and rotors multiple times, the shaking returns. This appears to be a recurring issue affecting multiple vehicles of this model year.

Your headlights aren't providing enough light at night because both headlight covers have become foggy and cloudy. When you took your car to the dealer, they found that the headlight assemblies have failed and need to be replaced. This will likely require replacing one or both complete headlight units.

See attached document for complaint.