Honda Pilot Excessive Oil Consumption Recalls

Dec 6, 2020

In the world of full-size, three-row SUVs, the Honda Pilot is a popular choice. This large SUV debuted in 2002, it seats up to eight passengers and has plenty of cargo space, making it a top pick among growing families.

Has the Honda Pilot had any recalls for excessive oil consumption?

Technically, no (as of September 2020). However, Honda lost a class-action lawsuit regarding issues with the Pilot’s oil consumption in 2013. This lawsuit was specific to the 2009-2013 Honda Pilot model years.

If you own a 2009-2013 Honda Pilot, be aware of possible oil consumption issues. Check out summaries of some related complaints below to get a better feel for what to look for. And if your Pilot is experiencing excessive oil consumption, learn what steps you should take next.

2009 Honda Pilot: Excessive Oil Consumption

NHTSA Complaint ID: 10920430

In a 2006 NHTSA complaint, the owner of a 2009 Honda Pilot reports that starting August 2016, their Pilot began consuming an excessive amount of oil.

Specifically, the owner mentions that they were checking the oil on the vehicle and added three quarts after noticing that the oil level was very low. After checking again two weeks later, another quart needed to be added. This issue continued over the next several months.

Eventually, the owner brought the vehicle to the dealer for an inspection. However, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the excessive oil consumption.

2010 Honda Pilot: Excessive Oil Consumption

NHTSA Complaint ID: 11056116

The owner of this 2010 Pilot reported to the NHTSA in 2017 that their vehicle (which had +/- 100,000 miles on it), had low oil pressure and a check engine light.

The owner also claims that the vehicle is burning an excessive amount of oil, at approximately one quart per every 1,000 miles driven.

2011 Honda Pilot: Leaking Oil

NHTSA Complaint ID: 10404424

In this June 2011 complaint, the owner of a 2011 Honda Pilot reported to the NHTSA that his or her Pilot EX-L began leaking oil on the day it was brought home from the dealership.

The owner brought the vehicle back to the Honda dealership, where an oil leak was discovered. However, the dealer was not able to pinpoint the exact location of the leak.

2011 Honda Pilot - Photo by Honda

The owner reports that he or she is still waiting on a decision from Honda as to whether the leak will be found and patched or the entire transmission will need to be replaced.

2012 Honda Pilot: Excessive Oil Consumption

NHTSA Complaint ID: 11003562

In this July 2017 complaint filed with the NHTSA, the owner of a 2012 Honda Pilot reports that the vehicle is suffering from excessive oil usage. The owner also speculates that this increased fuel consumption has led to a decrease in fuel economy.

Other issues noted in this complaint include fouling plugs and a fault code, which reads “DTC 3400.” A quick online search reveals that low engine oil level is a common cause of this fault code, so it may be related in this case.

2012 Honda Pilot - Photo by Honda

In a possibly related Vehicle History review posted in December of 2019, a 2012 Pilot owner named Crystal B. reports that she has also experienced issues with the vehicle’s oil consumption.

Specifically, her vehicle had an issue with the spark plugs and engine cylinders filing with leaked oil.

2013 Honda Pilot: Excessive Oil Consumption

NHTSA Complaint ID: 11319225

In this NHTSA complaint, which was filed in March of 2020, the owner of a 2013 Honda Pilot states that the vehicle has been burning a quart of oil approximately every 20 miles.

In addition, the vehicle has been experiencing issued with accelerating, and smoke has been seen coming from the engine compartment on occasion.

2013 Honda Pilot - Photo by Honda

The “check engine” light also illuminated, and the vehicle was taken to a Honda dealership, where it was diagnosed with piston ring failure. This all occurred with approximately 161,000 miles on the vehicle, according to the owner.

What to Do if Your Honda Pilot is Using Excessive Oil

If your 2009-2013 Honda Pilot is burning excessive amounts of oil, or if you’ve experienced spark plug failure or related issues related to oil consumption, you might be able to have repairs done at no charge as part of the class action settlement.

Specifically, Honda agreed to extend its powertrain limited warranty for up to eight years after the original sale or lease of a 2009-2013 Pilot — which means you may still be able to have repairs done under warranty.

What Should You Do if Your Honda Pilot Has a Recall?

Now is also a good time to check your Honda Pilot for any outstanding recall notices. You can do this by visiting the NHTSA recall page and entering your 17-digit VIN where prompted. From there, you can see a list of all open recalls on your vehicle.

If you have any recalls on your Pilot, reach out to Honda’s customer service at 1-800-999-1009 to get the ball rolling on repairs. It’s always better to address a safety recall sooner rather than later.

Photos: Honda

Owner Reviews

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J Rosingana on November 28, 2022

2011 Pilot using excessive amounts of oi

I bought my 2011 pilot second hand in 2017 with 100K on it. The excessive oil consumption has grown continually worse over the 5 years of ownership. It doesn't get driven hard - ever. I am now using a half quart of oil every 500 miles. I change my full synthetic oil and oil filter every 5K miles religiously as well as perform all maintenance on time or early. Even though the spark plugs were changed at 100K, the pilot began throwing codes for a misfire on cylinders #2 and #5 around 148K. When I changed these out, the spark plug tips for those two cylinders were nearly white in color. The remaining 4 other plugs looked normal. The pilot runs smoothly except for the 50 miles before changing out plugs 2& 5. Even then, the misfire was very slight and most people wouldn't have detected it. Going to contact my dealer and ask what they will do knowing that there has been a warranty extension.

Kaye Herpin on November 22, 2021

Kayemk@cox.net

My 2012 Honda Pilot Ex has been burned excessive oil and I drive under 100 miles per week. It only has around 72,000 miles on it. I get regular oil changes and service done. There is no sign of burning oil exterior, no smoke, no trace on the pavement, etc. I have had my vehicle towed on Nov 3, Nov 9 and fortunately I was within blocks from the mechanic shop on Nov 17. Engine light came on every time and was running extremely rough and surging.

Allen Brooks on February 28, 2022

Oil consumption

Love the 09 Honda pilot , but at139,600 miles 2nd time on a trip used 3 quarts of oil,each time, what's going on here???? Never would have thought that this would happen, never Driven hard

Danielle S

Danielle S. is a writer with more than 10 years of experience covering the automotive industry. She lives in Indiana ("The Crossroads of America") but enjoys road-tripping around the country whenever she gets the chance.