Honda Pilot Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Pilot car check
Is the Honda Pilot reliable? We analysed 1,207 real MOT tests across 313 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Pilot? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Pilot is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include direction indicator incorrect colour, position lamp(s) incorrect colour and fog lamp missing. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Pilot.
Honda Pilot Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Pilot. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Pilot MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Pilot to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Pilot Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Pilot fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Pilot Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Pilot owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Pilot MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Pilot year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 70 | 82.9% | 48,712 | 62,862 | 102,767 |
| 2013 | 89 | 74.2% | 47,842 | 70,038 | 115,231 |
| 2012 | 70 | 75.7% | 55,187 | 92,019 | 121,143 |
| 2011 | 101 | 80.2% | 61,974 | 87,101 | 113,764 |
| 2010 | 64 | 78.1% | 66,444 | 98,938 | 143,650 |
| 2009 | 51 | 82.4% | 77,666 | 90,560 | 113,854 |
| 2008 | 60 | 78.3% | 63,942 | 96,124 | 137,390 |
| 2007 | 139 | 82.0% | 51,207 | 83,726 | 116,424 |
| 2006 | 77 | 85.7% | 44,846 | 91,098 | 122,873 |
| 2005 | 97 | 72.2% | 51,310 | 66,407 | 82,557 |
| 2004 | 122 | 77.9% | 52,614 | 85,390 | 150,261 |
| 2003 | 86 | 74.4% | 40,124 | 65,502 | 111,004 |
How Long Does a Honda Pilot Last?
Based on 313 Honda Pilot vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Pilot Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Pilot MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Pilot
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
85.7% MOT pass rate from 77 tests
72.2% MOT pass rate from 97 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Pilot is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.7% across 77 tests. The 2005 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda Pilot Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Pilot THIS CAR | 79.5% | 1,207 | 74,892 mi | 23 yrs |
| Honda Civic | 73.7% | 9,391,580 | 74,987 mi | 34 yrs |
| Honda Jazz | 81% | 5,740,892 | 48,635 mi | 24 yrs |
| Honda Cr-v | 78.5% | 4,177,643 | 80,499 mi | 29 yrs |
| Seat Cordoba S | 64.6% | 604 | 76,669 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Pilot sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Pilot you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Honda PilotShould you buy a used Honda Pilot?
The Honda Pilot has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.5% across 1,207 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Honda Pilot are direction indicator incorrect colour (31 recorded failures), position lamp(s) incorrect colour (20), and fog lamp missing (19). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Honda Pilot owner drives around 9,639 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Honda Pilot models stay on UK roads for around 23 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.