2008 Honda Pilot Problems, Recalls & Reliability

165 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2008 Honda Pilot, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 10/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 93,000 miles.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2008 Honda Pilot has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

165Complaints
10/100Trouble index
9Recalls
88,000Typical trouble mileage

Better year

Where 2008 sits among all Pilot years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Airbags 32 complaints (19%) · typically ~93,000 miles
“Takata recall have contacted classic honda of 4000 w colonial dr, orlando, fl 32808 more then 4 months ago and was told the airbag would have been there in 2 weeks. Still have not had a call back and the part is still not in. Service isnt open on sundays and thats my only day off also.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Pilot
Electrical 20 complaints (12%) · typically ~80,250 miles
Engine 17 complaints (10%) · typically ~88,000 miles
Body & structure 16 complaints (10%) · typically ~77,000 miles
Other 15 complaints (9%)
Transmission & drivetrain 11 complaints (7%) · typically ~101,842 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 84 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 88,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 59,000 and 135,950 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (9)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 19E068000 2019

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda…

Fix: 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…

AIR BAGS 19V499000 2019

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, 2003-2008…

Fix: 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…

AIR BAGS 19V501000 2019

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, 2003-2008…

Fix: 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…

AIR BAGS 19V182000 2019

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 Civic,…

Fix: 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…

AIR BAGS 18V268000 2018

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 2012…

Fix: 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…

AIR BAGS 17V029000 2017

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 Pilot…

Fix: 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.…

AIR BAGS 16V344000 2016

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, or that…

Fix: 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…

AIR BAGS 15V320000 2015

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 Acura…

Fix: 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…

EQUIPMENT 08E013000 2008

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. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY OF THE "HITCH" STYLE…

Fix: 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…

Federal defect investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture EA21002 opened 2021 · still open

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2008peak 20 in 20162026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2008 Honda Pilot reliable?

The 2008 Honda Pilot drew 165 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 10/100, scored against the model's worst year (2016).

What are the most common 2008 Honda Pilot problems?

The top reported problems for the 2008 Honda Pilot are airbags (32 complaints), electrical (20), and engine (17).

At what mileage do 2008 Honda Pilot problems show up?

Owners most often report 2008 Honda Pilot problems around 88,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 59,000 and 135,950 miles.

Does the 2008 Honda Pilot have recalls?

9 recall campaigns apply to the 2008 Honda Pilot. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.