Before You Buy

Honda Pilot: Buy Score, Reliability & Ownership Costs

Midsize 3-Row SUV · SUV

MSRP Range$42,395–$55,195
A dark gray 2026 Honda Pilot parked outside a youth sports field in late-afternoon daylight, shot candidly with a soccer bag visible nearby.
Engine3.5L V6, 285 hp, 262 lb-ft
Transmission10-speed automatic
Fuel Economy (FWD)22 mpg combined
Fuel Economy (AWD)21 mpg combined

Our Verdict

Based on model-specific reliability data, ownership costs, and longevity signals.

Buy
80/100

Buy Score™

Pros

  • Research doc flags it as one of the cleanest long-term family-SUV bets alongside the Highlander and 4Runner
  • Standard 285-hp V6 with a 10-speed automatic — no failure-prone CVT
  • Roomy 3-row seating and one of the largest cargo holds in the class

Cons

  • 3.5/5.0 RepairPal score trails Honda's own CR-V and Civic
  • AWD fuel economy (21 mpg combined) lags hybrid 3-row rivals
  • TrailSport's off-road tuning cuts mpg further without much real off-road use case for most buyers

Can this car reach 300,000 miles?

Likely

iSeeCars ranks the Pilot among Honda's strongest utility vehicles for reaching 250,000+ miles, on par with the brand's reputation for long-life SUVs.

First-Time Buyer Friendly

68/100

Approachable overall, though a first-time buyer should budget a little extra for insurance or upkeep.

Reliability Timeline

What tends to need attention, and when — based on model-specific reliability data.

RoutineModerateMajor

30,000 miles

Oil changes, tire rotations

60,000 miles

Warped front brake rotors causing vibration under braking — RepairPal's most-reported Pilot issue
Battery replacement

100,000 miles

10-speed automatic transmission fluid service
Occasional headlight wiring harness fault causing low beams to fail

150,000 miles

Suspension bushings and wheel bearings

200,000+ miles

Commonly still on the road with routine maintenance — the current V6/10-speed drivetrain has no relation to the failure-prone 5-speed automatic in 2003-era Pilots

What It Actually Costs to Own

RepairPal's 3.5/5.0 model score is below Honda's own brand average, driven mostly by brake-rotor and minor electrical complaints rather than powertrain failures — the V6/10-speed combo in the current generation has no relation to the notorious 2003 5-speed automatic.

Estimated Annual Fuel Cost$1,940
Estimated Annual Insurance$1,560
Estimated Annual Maintenance$480
Estimated Annual Repairs$542
Estimated Annual Registration$220
5-Year Depreciation~45% of purchase price

Full Specifications

Engine3.5L V6, 285 hp, 262 lb-ft
Transmission10-speed automatic
Fuel Economy (FWD)22 mpg combined
Fuel Economy (AWD)21 mpg combined
DrivetrainFWD or AWD (i-VTM4 on TrailSport)
Seating7-8 passengers, 3 rows

Check for open recalls before you buy

We don't yet have a live recall feed wired up for the Honda Pilot, so we won't guess at a number here. Before you buy any specific Pilot, run its VIN throughNHTSA's free recall lookup tool— it takes about 30 seconds and confirms whether that exact vehicle has any open, unrepaired safety recalls.

Similar Vehicles

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Sources: RepairPal model score (3.5) and annual repair cost ($542), plus the family-SUV “buy” recommendation: deep-research-report-car-buying-guide.md, best-bets-by-segment section. iSeeCars longevity context for Honda utility vehicles: deep-research-report-car-buying-guide.md, reliability-and-recall-patterns section. 2026 MSRP by trim ($42,395-$55,195), 285-hp 3.5L V6/10-speed powertrain, and EPA fuel economy (22 mpg FWD / 21 mpg AWD combined): supplemental web research, verified July 2026 (automobiles.honda.com, fueleconomy.gov). Common-problem history (warped front rotors, headlight harness fault, historic 2003 5-speed transmission issue): supplemental web research, verified July 2026 (RepairPal Honda Pilot problems page).