Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| At 160,000 mi | Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 Pilot.
The 2009 Honda Pilot is an SUV paired with a five-speed automatic transmission, EPA-rated at 17/23/19 mpg city/highway/combined and specified for 4.5 quarts of 5W-20 API engine oil. Its reliability record shows 134 owner complaints spread across nine recalls, with air bags standing out as the top complaint area. Against the 2003–2025 model span, in which complaints peaked at 1,665 for the 2016 Pilot and bottomed at 101 for the 2024 model, the 2009 edition sits far below that peak and much closer to the range's low, marking it as one of the more settled years in the nameplate's history.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 550 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
| Overall length | 190.9 in |
| Overall width | 78.3 in |
| Overall height | 72.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 109.4 in |
| Curb weight | 4336 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 66.9 / 66.9 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 55/45 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 17 / 23 / 19 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Regular Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Pilot of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Touring 3.5L V6 | 7.90 sec | 16.30 sec | 250 hp | AWD |
| 2009 | EX-L 3.5L V6 | 8.10 sec | 16.40 sec | 250 hp | AWD |
| 2011 | Touring 3.5L V6 | 7.80 sec | 16.20 sec | 250 hp | AWD |
| 2011 | Touring 3.5L V6 | 8.30 sec | 16.50 sec | 250 hp | AWD |
| 2011 | Touring 3.5L V6 | 8.50 sec | 16.60 sec | 250 hp | AWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 94 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 3.5 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 3.6 |
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 5.5 Pints |
| Engine Oil | 5W-20 · API |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.5 qt |
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | 54 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | 16 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 23 ft-lbs |
| Main Bearings | 11MM Bolts: 54 ft-lbs, 10MM Bolts: 36 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 29.0 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs | 9 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 94 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Fill Plug | 33.0 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Drain Plug | 33.0 ft-lbs |
| Automatic Transmission Drain Plug | 36.0 ft-lbs |
| Front Wheel Hub | 242 ft-lbs |
| Rear Wheel Hub | 181 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-4-2-5-3-6 |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | 700 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 50 rpm |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | NGK |
| Spark Plug Gap | 0.039-0.043 in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 16 ft-lbs |
| Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance | 2 degrees |
| Ignition Timing Reference RPM | Idle rpm |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.32-1.43 lbs |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46 |
| Oil Capacity | 4.22 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 24F |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 550 cca |
| Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum) | 57.0 |
| Engine Compression | 135 Minimum PSI. 28 Maximum variation PSI |
| Engine Oil Pressure | 10 psi @ idle, 71 psi @ 3000 rpm psi |
| Intake Valve Lash | 0.008-0.009 in |
| Exhaust Valve Lash | 0.011-0.013 in |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | 53 ft-lbs / 27 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 101 ft-lbs / 65 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.063; Rear: 0.063 in |
| Minimum Shoe Thickness | 0.039 in |
| Rotor Runout Limit | 0.0016 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness From | 1.098 in / 0.429 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness To | 1.102 in / 0.437 in |
| Rotor Discard at or Under | 1.024 in / 0.354 in |
| 1 | 14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 | 14 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 47 ft. lbs, step 2: 60 | 47 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| At 160,000 mi | Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
From 2006 to 2008 the Pilot’s complaints fell sharply from 266 to 132, recalls hovered between 9 and 10, and investigations dropped from 4 to 1. In 2009 complaints rose slightly to 134, recalls remained at 9, investigations reached zero, and technical service bulletins increased to 73—levels essentially unchanged from 2008 and comparable to 2010’s 111 complaints, 10 recalls, and zero investigations. This places the 2009 model at the low‑point of the early‑generation complaint curve, with no open NHTSA investigations that year, indicating a period of relative stability before the complaint count began to fluctuate again after 2010. The data show that 2009 does not exhibit a spike in any specific defect category; the top complaint areas (Air Bags, Engine, Suspension, Seats) reflect modest counts typical of the era. Consequently, based on its low complaint and investigation figures, the 2009 Honda Pilot represents a comparatively reliable choice among used Pilots from this generation.
All 134 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer…
Showing 5 of 73 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| A18-066 | 2026-06-30 | Air Bags | Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's… |
| A21120A | 2023-06-13 | Electrical System | Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS… |
| A13-082 | 2022-07-19 | Engine And Engine Cooling | "Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a… |
| A21120A | 2022-01-25 | Equipment | ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited… |
| A07-030 | 2021-01-23 | Equipment | "Service Bulletin - There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4.5 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined mpg.