Used car safety, rank #36 of 181
Honda Pilot 4WD Safety Rating (2019-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2019-20 Honda Pilot 4WD, a midsize SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2019-20 Honda Pilot 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 13 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize SUVs average of 24.9, which is 48% below the class average. That places it #36 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 79.2/100.
What the Honda Pilot death rate means
At 13 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Honda Pilot 4WD beats the midsize SUVs average of 24.9 by 48%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 30, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 20 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Honda Pilot. It is higher than the Honda Pilot's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest midsize SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Honda Pilot 4WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Nissan Pathfinder 2WD at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Pathfinder 2WD | 2018-20 | 0 (0 to 22) | 93.2 | 3.5/5 | $16,000 to $26,000 |
| Nissan Murano 2WD | 2018-20 | 4 (0 to 12) | 90.8 | 3.5/5 | $16,000 to $25,000 |
| Chevrolet Traverse 4WD | 2018-20 | 6 (0 to 13) | 88.1 | 3.0/5 | $18,000 to $30,000 |
| Subaru Ascent | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 16) | 88.1 | n/a | $22,000 to $32,000 |
| Ford Edge 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 15) | 88.1 | 3.5/5 | $17,000 to $28,000 |
| Honda Pilot 2WD | 2019-20 | 7 (0 to 20) | 84.2 | 3.5/5 | $20,000 to $32,000 |
| GMC Acadia 2WD | 2017-20 | 10 (2 to 19) | 81.9 | 3.0/5 | n/a |
| GMC Acadia 4WD | 2017-20 | 11 (3 to 20) | 81.1 | 3.0/5 | n/a |
| Honda Pilot 4WD (this page) | 2019-20 | 13 (0 to 30) | 79.2 | 3.5/5 | n/a |
Class average for midsize SUVs: 24.9 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Honda Pilot
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Honda Pilot we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Honda Pilot | No award | 85.2 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 79.2 used-car score above.
Reliability and cost of ownership
Reliability: 3.5 out of 5
RepairPal rates the Honda Pilot 3.5/5, 13th out of 26 in its category. Owners spend about $542 a year on repairs and maintenance, visiting the shop 0.5 times a year for unscheduled work, and 13% of those repairs are severe.
RepairPal detailsSafety recalls for the Honda Pilot 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
11 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering structure, air bags, fuel system, gasoline, back over prevention, visibility, tires, electrical system, equipment.
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Structure: frame and members
Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
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.
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Air bags: sensor, occupant classification, front passenger
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.
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Air bags: sensor, occupant classification, front passenger
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.
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Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024.
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Back over prevention: display function
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge.
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Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices, exterior
Risk: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024.
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Tires
Risk: Overcured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation, which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four tires and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2021.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020.
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Electrical system: software
Risk: A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020.
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Equipment: other, labels
Risk: If the operator is unable to refer to the label information, the vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2020.
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Structure: body
Risk: In the event of a crash, incomplete body welding may provide inadequate protection to occupants, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing welds, free of charge. If the vehicle is identified as missing welds, the dealer will offer to repurchase the vehicle or provide a similar replacement vehicle. Owner notification began November 6 2019.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Honda Pilot 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Honda Pilot 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 13 per million registered vehicle years for the 2019-20 Honda Pilot 4WD, 48% below the class average (24.9 for midsize SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 79.2 out of 100 and rank #36 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Honda Pilot 4WD driver death rate?
13 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 30. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Honda Pilot died at a rate of 20 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2019-20 models.
How does the Honda Pilot 4WD compare with other midsize SUVs?
The midsize SUVs class averages 24.9 driver deaths per million; the Honda Pilot 4WD sits at 13. Among the 9 midsize SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Nissan Pathfinder 2WD with a death rate of 0.