The Honda Pilot is a compact SUV built from 2003 to 2026 over 4 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 83.2% of those on record. Between 2003 and 2026 it grew 30 cm longer and gained 110 kg. Engines offered: V6. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Pilot is
The Honda Pilot is a compact SUV that Honda built from 2003 to 2026 — 24 model years. Our measurements put it at 4 generations, the current one starting in 2023. It has been offered with V6 power. Its closest sibling in the Honda range: Crosstour.
Where the Pilot is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 8,511 Pilots on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 5FN, 1HG | 2004-2026 | |
| Canada | 2HK | 2003-2015 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Honda VIN decide which of these 4 lines your Pilot belongs to. What every character in a Pilot VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Honda Pilot adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Pilot generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Pilot's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Pilot that gives 4 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-2008 | 478 cm | 269 cm | 2007 kg | - | - |
| 2009-2015 | 485 cm | 278 cm | 1967 kg | +7 cm | -40 kg |
| 2016-2022 | 495 cm | 282 cm | 1896 kg | +10 cm | -71 kg |
| 2023-2026 | 508 cm | 289 cm | 2117 kg | +13 cm | +221 kg |
Between 2003 and 2026 the Pilot gained 30 cm in length (+6.3%) and 110 kg in weight (+5.5%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Pilot that is 110 kg against 30 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Honda Pilot tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Pilot owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Honda Pilot have? Power & range
The Honda Pilot is offered with 1 powertrain — 3.5L 6-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Honda Pilot, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.5L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S10) | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Honda Pilot tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Honda Pilot is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Pilot's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Pilot by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Honda Pilot. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Pilot | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 197 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 9,216 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,020/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 4,062 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Honda Pilot?
The Pilot is a compact SUV, built from 2003 to 2026 across 4 generations. Engines offered: V6.
Where is the Honda Pilot made?
Across 8,511 cars in our records the split is: the United States (83.2%), Canada (16.8%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Pilot have?
4 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2023. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Pilot grew 30 cm longer and gained 110 kg.
What is the Honda Pilot warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Pilot reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Pilot?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Honda
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 1981–2026 | 412 | 49 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Accord | 1981–2026 | 415 | 48 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda CR-V | 1997–2026 | 177 | 40 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Odyssey | 1995–2026 | 206 | 22 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Fit | 2007–2020 | 94 | 118 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Prelude | 1981–2026 | 63 | 44 mpg | 3.5/5 |
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