2016 Honda Pilot maintenance schedule

The 2016 Pilot is part of the 3rd Gen (2016-2022), sold as an SUV. Below: its service intervals with the source behind each one, the fluids it takes, the problems owners report for this year, and the NHTSA recalls issued for it.

Service schedule

What the 2016 Pilot needs, and when

Manufacturer rows link to Honda's own schedule, Independent rows to a service shop or parts retailer's published guide.

ServiceIntervalSource
Engine oil and filter

Maintenance Minder A1/B1

7,500 mi / 1 yearIndependent
Engine air filter

Maintenance Minder sub-code 2

30,000 mi / 2 yearsIndependent
Cabin air filter

Maintenance Minder sub-code 2

30,000 mi / 2 yearsIndependent
Tire rotation

Maintenance Minder sub-code 1

7,500 miIndependent
Brake fluid

Replace every 3 years regardless of mileage

3 yearsIndependent
Engine coolant

Initial replacement at 120k/10yrs, then every 60k

120,000 mi / 10 yearsIndependent
Transmission fluid

50k for 9-speed ZF trans; 30-45k for 6-speed

50,000 miIndependent
Spark plugs

Replace between 90,000 and 100,000 miles

90,000 miIndependent
Timing belt

Timing belt on V6 engines only; replace belt and inspect water pump

100,000 mi / 7 yearsIndependent
Serpentine belt

Inspect/replace with timing belt service

100,000 miIndependent
Differential and transfer case fluid (AWD)

Maintenance Minder sub-code 6 (30k-45k)

30,000 miIndependent
12V battery

Test lifespan / inspect connections

15,000 mi / 3 yearsIndependent

Intervals are for normal driving; towing, short trips, extreme heat or dust shorten them. Services we could not find an interval for are left off rather than guessed.

Fluids and engines

What goes in it

Engine oil
0W-20
Coolant
Type 2
Transmission fluid
ATF DW-1 (6AT) / ATF Type 3.1 (9AT)

Powertrains in this generation

  • 3.5L 6-cyl (J35Y6), 280 hp, 6AT, 9AT, FWD, AWD

Confirm the exact spec against the owner's manual or the label under the hood; capacities vary by engine and drivetrain.

Known problems

What 2016 Pilot owners run into

Problems reported for this model year, with the mileage they tend to show up at. Buying past a window is not automatically a pass - it just needs to be priced in.

9-Speed Transmission Jerk

high severity

From about 53,600 mi · $166-$4,500 to fix

Harsh shift mapping, shudder

Source: pulscar.io

Auto Idle Stop / Starter Failure

medium severity

$571-$988 to fix

Starter grinds or refuses to turn

Source: pulscar.io

Safety recalls

8 NHTSA recalls for the 2016 Honda Pilot

From NHTSA's recall database, matched by model and year. Recall repairs are free at Honda dealers, and a given car may already be fixed or fall outside a campaign, so check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.

Suspension

NHTSA 26V365000

June 2026

American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.

Fuel system, gasoline

NHTSA 23V858000

December 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Engine and engine cooling

NHTSA 23V751000

November 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.

Latches/locks/linkages

NHTSA 21V932000

November 2021

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.

Remedy: Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PBV.

Fuel system, gasoline

NHTSA 17V219000

March 2017

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and AWD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that may leak.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KE8.

Fuel system, gasoline

NHTSA 16V417000

June 2016

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura MDX 2WD and MDX 4WD vehicles, 2016 Acura MDX 4WD vehicles, 2015-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles, and 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were manufactured with insufficient welds which may separate and allow fuel to leak out.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda/Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall began on July 29, 2016. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA9 (Honda vehicles) and KB0 (Acura vehicles).

Electrical system

NHTSA 15V668000

October 2015

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to September 8, 2015 and 2016 Pilot 4WD vehicles manufactured May 7, 2015 to September 4, 2015. In the affected vehicles, when one of the safety systems such as tire pressure monitoring, anti-lock braking or electronic stability control malfunctions, there is potential that the instrument panel will not illuminate the corresponding warning light, however the warning lamps will illuminate when the ignition is turned off and then turned back on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic stability control systems", number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 138, "Tire pressure monitoring systems".

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JV7.

Seat belts

NHTSA 15V424000

July 2015

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to June 5, 2015. Due to an assembly issue, the third row seatbelt may be trapped between the rear seat and the rear sideliner.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the rear third row seat belt, free of charge. The recall began on August 6, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's number for this recall is JS7.

Running costs

What maintenance typically costs

A typical year of maintenance
$900

Typical US independent-shop estimates for this generation; they vary by region and condition.

Other Pilot model years

4th Gen (2023-2026)

3rd Gen (2016-2022)

2nd Gen (2009-2015)

Shopping new? The Honda Pilot guide covers the current model, with what it costs to keep for 1 to 15 years.

Sources

Researched 2026-09-16. Modeling, not mechanic advice - always confirm against your car's owner's manual and service records.

Running a Pilot for income?

Carlyle scores the exact listing on cost per remaining mile and projected Turo income, so you know what a 2016 Pilot earns before you buy it.

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