2015 Honda Pilot parts and specs

What changed for the 2015 Honda Pilot

• 2015Final year of the 2nd generation before the all-new 2016 redesign

Known problems with the 2015 Honda Pilot

4 of the 4 issues we track for the 2012–2015 generation are documented against the 2015 model year, and 2 carry a recall or service bulletin.

• VCM oil consumption, piston-ring wear, and spark-plug fouling / misfires

  majorClass-action settlement extending powertrain warranty to 8 yr/unlimited mi (2009–2013 models); separate 2025 piston-ring warranty extension to 10 yr/150k mi (2013–2017 Pilot/Odyssey VCM engines)

  The J35Z4's Variable Cylinder Management deactivates three cylinders under light load to save fuel, but in practice it causes excess oil consumption and, on many engines, accelerated piston-ring wear. Oil gets past the rings, fouls spark plugs, and triggers misfire codes (commonly P0301/P0303/P0305 on the deactivated bank). Honda settled a class-action lawsuit (Bost et al. v. American Honda) that extended the powertrain warranty to 8 years/unlimited miles for 2009–2013 Pilots with the VCM V6, and in 2025 Honda separately extended a piston-ring-specific warranty to 10 years/150,000 miles for 2013–2017 Pilot and Odyssey VCM engines. If oil consumption or fouling shows up out of warranty, the only permanent fixes are new piston rings (engine-out job) or a VCM-disable tune, which trades some fuel economy for reliability.

  Typical cost: $150–$400 to clean/replace fouled plugs; $3,000–$6,000 for piston-ring work if out of warranty

• Takata airbag inflator recall

  majorNHTSA Takata recall program (Honda campaign 18V-661 and earlier/later phases, VIN lookup required for your specific phase)

  Like most Honda products of this era, 2012–2015 Pilots are covered by the industry-wide Takata airbag inflator recall: the ammonium-nitrate propellant can degrade over time and heat/humidity cycles, causing the inflator to rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin during deployment. Honda has run multiple recall phases since 2014 as replacement parts became available; check your VIN on NHTSA.gov, as unrepaired vehicles remain in the field. Repair (inflator/airbag module replacement) is free at any Honda dealer.

  Typical cost: Free under recall

• Front lower control arm compliance bushing wear

  minor

  Owners and independent shops report the front lower control arm's compliance (rear) bushing wearing out and going soft well before other suspension components, producing clunks over bumps and vague steering feel. It's a known wear item on this platform rather than a defect, and most shops replace the whole control arm assembly rather than pressing in a new bushing.

  Typical cost: $150–$350 per side (control arm assembly, labor included)

• Warped front brake rotors / pedal vibration

  minor

  A frequently reported owner complaint is a vibration felt through the brake pedal or steering wheel under braking, traced to warped or out-of-spec front rotors, often from overheating during towing or aggressive stop-and-go driving, or simply undersized rotors for the vehicle's weight. Resurfacing rarely lasts; most owners end up replacing rotors and pads together.

  Typical cost: $200–$450 (front pads and rotors)

Full detail, costs and sources on the Honda Pilot problems and years to avoid guide.