Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Pilot.
The 2020 Honda Pilot is a three-row SUV that pairs a 5.7‑qt oil capacity engine (requiring 0W‑20 viscosity) with an automatic (S9) transmission, achieving EPA ratings of 19 city, 26 highway, and 22 combined mpg. With 469 total owner complaints and 11 recalls, the 2020 model year sits between the model’s historical peak of 1,668 complaints in 2016 and its lowest point of 101 complaints in 2025, indicating a notable improvement from earlier years but still above the most recent low.
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 (S9) |
| Overall length | 196.5 in |
| Overall width | 79.9 in |
| Overall height | 70.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 111 in |
| Curb weight | 4259 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 66.1 / 66.1 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 57/43 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 19 / 26 / 22 mpg |
| Drivetrain | All-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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Black Edition 3.5L V6 | 6.20 sec | 14.80 sec | 280 hp | AWD |
| 2020 | Black Edition 3.5L V6 | 6.20 sec | 14.70 sec | 280 hp | AWD |
| 2019 | Elite 3.5L V6 | 6.30 sec | 14.80 sec | 280 hp | AWD |
| 2017 | Elite 3.5L V6 | 6.00 sec | 14.80 sec | 280 hp | AWD |
| 2016 | Elite 3.5L V6 | 6.00 sec | 14.60 sec | 280 hp | AWD |
| 2016 | Elite 3.5L V6 | 6.10 sec | 14.80 sec | 280 hp | AWD |
| 2016 | Elite 3.5L V6 | 6.20 sec | 14.80 sec | 280 hp | AWD |
| 2016 | EX 3.5L V6 | 6.20 sec | 14.80 sec | 280 hp | FWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 5.7 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil, Honda DPSF-II in the differential, Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 94 ft-lbs.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 6-Speed |
| Brake Fluid | Dot 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil | Honda DPSF-II |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 3.8 qt |
| Engine Coolant | Honda Type 2 antifreeze/coolant |
| Engine Coolant Capacity | With 6 Speed AT |
| Engine Oil | 0W-20 · API |
| Lug Nuts | 94 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 94 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R1234yf |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.33-1.60 lbs |
| Oil Type | RL85HM POE oil or equivalent. |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 24F |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 550 cca |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 48 Must use a AGM VRLA Battery. |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 650 cca |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 48 |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Front: 53.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 25.0 ft-lbs |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | Front: 101.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 65.0 ft-lbs |
| ABS Sensor Torque | Front: 6.0; Rear: 6.0 |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: 1.024; Rear: .354 |
| Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation | .0006 |
| Maximum Rotor Runout | .0016 |
| Maximum Drum Diameter | Parking Brake: 8.307 |
| 1 | 48.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60° | 48 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90° | |
| 3 | 90° | |
| 4 | Turn an additional 90° if using new bolts. | |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Federal data places the 2020 Honda Pilot at 470 complaints, a significant drop from 867 in 2019 yet still above the 404 seen in 2021, positioning it on a descending path from the heightened activity that peaked at 1,668 complaints in 2016 and remained volatile through 2019. With 11 recalls, 4 investigations, and 149 TSBs, the 2020 model carries elevated federal exposure relative to pre-2016 years but marks a measurable improvement over the 2016–2019 window; its top complaint areas are Electrical System and Engine, though the data does not specify root causes, alongside 10 crash and 5 fire complaints. Across the dataset, the trend arcs sharply upward in 2016 before moderating in stages, meaning 2020 falls in a transitional zone—cleaner than the worst years but not yet as quiet as 2022 through 2024, when complaints range from 101 to 132. That positioning implies a buyer gets meaningful distance from the peak problem years without reaching the most settled later production. Consequently, the 2020 Pilot is a defensible used purchase within this model run, though shoppers who can stretch to the 2022–2024 range will find a materially quieter federal record.
All 469 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 11 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay… 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…
Showing 5 of 149 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| A24-061 | 2025-11-06 | Electrical System | Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops… |
| ATI&08212025903 | 2025-08-21 | Visibility/Wiper | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2025… |
| ATI&08072025902 | 2025-08-07 | Electrical System | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2025… |
| A20-022 | 2025-07-31 | Structure | Service Bulletin - One or more accessory running board lights are flickering or not… |
| ATI&07242025904 | 2025-07-24 | Visibility/Wiper | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2025… |
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.
5.7 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.