2021 Honda Pilot Visibility Exterior Recall (23V174)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · 339,404 vehicles · Reported March 16, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling 339,404 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey; 2021-2022 Honda Passport; 2021 Honda Pilot; 2021 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V174 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V174000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | FE5 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 16, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey; 2021-2022 Honda Passport; 2021 Honda Pilot; 2021 Honda Ridgeline |
| Units affected | 339,404 |
| Component | Visibility > Rearview Mirrors / Devices > Exterior |
| Safety risk | Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Honda Pilot in recall 23V174?
The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Pilot with recall 23V174?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Pilot shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the exterior, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V174?
Recall 23V174 covers 339,404 vehicles: 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey; 2021-2022 Honda Passport; 2021 Honda Pilot; 2021 Honda Ridgeline.
NHTSA lists 339,404 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Honda | Odyssey |
| 2021-2022 | Honda | Passport |
| 2021 | Honda | Pilot |
| 2021 | Honda | Ridgeline |
What is the fix for the Pilot visibility exterior recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge.
Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.
When was recall 23V174 announced?
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) reported recall 23V174 to NHTSA on March 16, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 16, 2023 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V174000. |
| January 17, 2024 | Letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 43 months ago. If your Pilot was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Pilot is part of recall 23V174?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V174 is open on your Pilot, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 23V174000 is open on your Pilot, it will be listed there, along with Honda recall number FE5. You can also ask any Honda dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Pilot owners do about recall 23V174?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V174000 applies to your Pilot.
- Call a Honda dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any exterior symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Pilot owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,017 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 38 of them about the lighting and visibility.
Since recall 23V174 was reported on March 16, 2023, owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 5 of them (23%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the lighting and visibility and were received on or after March 16, 2023, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related lighting and visibility issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,017 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 38 of them involve the lighting and visibility. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Honda Pilot: 435 complaints in total, 8 about the lighting and visibility
- 2021 Honda Passport: 142 complaints in total, 5 about the lighting and visibility
- 2021 Honda Odyssey: 142 complaints in total, 4 about the lighting and visibility
- 2022 Honda Odyssey: 135 complaints in total, 5 about the lighting and visibility
- 2021 Honda Ridgeline: 101 complaints in total, 14 about the lighting and visibility
- 2022 Honda Passport: 62 complaints in total, 2 about the lighting and visibility
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
Headlights were replaced under the 3yr/36k mile warranty just prior to the 3 yr mark due to the clear coat peeling and headlights showing excessive wear and scratching.
2021 Honda Pilot owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11648807, filed March 17, 2025
LED Headlight burned out and is not possible to change or remove, dealer indicated it is not something that normally goes out, and wants to charge $2,000…
2021 Honda Pilot owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11659394, filed May 6, 2025
There is an electrical malfunction which causes all of the electrical components to flash on/off, glitch. This has occured while driving but primarily when the vehicle is parked and unattended. I’m afraid it can short and cause a fire. The vehicle will turn istelf on and off repeatedly and rapidly while unattended.
2021 Honda Pilot owner, UT, NHTSA complaint 11726753, filed March 24, 2026
Can recall 23V174 make my Pilot a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this exterior recall means their Pilot qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A headlight, wiper or visibility defect on the 2021 Honda Pilot can make night or rain driving unsafe, and repeat repairs for the same problem count toward a lemon law claim.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Honda Pilot has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Pilot been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Honda Pilot recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V174
Did the recall 23V174 fix work?
Since recall 23V174 was reported on March 16, 2023, owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 5 of them (23%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 23V174000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Pilot is part of recall 23V174000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V174000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Honda. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.