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2016 Pilot electrical issue, possible keyless control unit, panel / relays flicker, alarm goes off unexpectedly

29927 Views 79 Replies 45 Participants Last post by  gabrielaserrano
Our 2016 Pilot has an annoying issue. When it is turned off, the panel lights flicker. You can hear the relays clicking behind the panel. The headlights come on. Often the car alarm randomly goes off. The dealership has had it 3 times. This 3rd time around they want to charge us $800 to replace the Keyless control unit. The dealer has had it 2 other times (Cost us $80 first time and $250 the 2nd time) and nothing was resolved with this issue. It seems they are just throwing darts at possible solutions. They won't guarantee this will fixe the issue. They will not refund us the $800 if this part isn't even a problem ;-( To our knowledge, we don't think we have had the issue occur when the car is unlocked. It doesn't happen every time the car is locked. It is definitely sporadic. Anyone else have similar issues?
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Same thing with my 2016 EX - dealer replaced ignition switch (so they said) and it still does same thing.
This is BS! Have you taken it back to the dealer yet?
I am having exactly the same problem with our 2016 Pilot. The dealer replaced the start/stop switch, but that did not work.
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And then mine all of a sudden fixed itself…for now. For the heck of it, Even though the issue went away, i replaced the original battery with the top of the line one from autozone. Fingers crossed as otherwise we absolutely love the car!!
I took the car to a local Honda shop. They said the IG1 code sets immediately and recommend replacing the keyless access / Tpms control unit. Estimated $1254.
Update on our 2016 Honda Pilot. After the battery tested good, Honda replaced the start/stop on the extended warranty and the issue persisted. They kept the vehicle for a week, observed the issue but no error codes were triggered. The agreed the next step was to replace the keyless control unit for $750. We’ve had the vehicle back for 6 weeks with no issues. I’m keeping all records and hopefully they will realize a recall needs to be done.
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Update on our 2016 Honda Pilot. After the battery tested good, Honda replaced the start/stop on the extended warranty and the issue persisted. They kept the vehicle for a week, observed the issue but no error codes were triggered. The agreed the next step was to replace the keyless control unit for $750. We’ve had the vehicle back for 6 weeks with no issues. I’m keeping all records and hopefully they will realize a recall needs to be done.
There have been a few of these Keyless control units failing so there may be some sort of warranty extension or recall in the near future. Wise to keep all the documents just in case.
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Looking to keep this thread active as i am AGAIN having this issue with the alarm randomly going off. I had about one month of normal activity and then all of a sudden out of the blue in the middle of the day the alarm started going off. Trying to determine if the best course of action is replacing the keyless control unit and if it’s anything that can be done DIY. If not what is the average cost of the unit and the dealer install?
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I’m having the same issues with my 2016 Honda Pilot - random alarm going off (even when unlocked), lights turning on, flickering dash with clicking sounds. I’ve had it to the dealer 3x and they never found errors but they replaced the car battery & key fob batteries, and the start/stop button from the keyless remote issue.
still having issues…..
Is the keyless control unit the fix? Has anyone had issues since that was replaced?
We are having the same issue with our 2016 Pilot, starting yesterday morning. It's exactly like the pp's video. Removing all of that black plastic [email protected] that covers up access to the battery while I'm at work and re-attaching everything in the Texas summer heat is not an option. I am worried that it is going to run the battery down, so we are keeping it unlocked and have turned off the lights, radio, and AC when we're not in the vehicle. I can't get it in to the Honda Dealership until next week, as they are swamped with a recent unrelated fuel system recall. I did find that civic owners were having similar problems and had the BCM replaced. Is that the same thing as the keyless control unit in the Pilot?
I bought a 2016 Pilot EX-L in January 2020, and love it! However, in May 2020, I had the same problems as described above- clicking noises and flickering dashboard lights for no apparent reason. Took it to a dealer, and they found nothing. It happened again in Feb. 2021, and I was able to record what was going in. This past Monday I took it to another dealer, and they replaced the Start/Stop unit free of charge due to the warranty extension. They tested my battery and it’s fine as are both of my key fob batteries. Today, it starTed doing the same thing- clicking and flickering dashboard lights- HELP? Now what?
It was not covered under warranty. We paid $700 for part and labor.
Has anyone tried replacing this module themselves? Honda dealer can't get the vehicle in for 2 weeks just to look at it. Based on the comments on here I believe I need a new module but I am sick of unhooking the battery everywhere I go.
I would love to but was scared off in reading that after replacing the module, your keys have to be reprogrammed before you can operate your vehicle. I ordered the OEM part of the internet and am having my Honday dealership replace it in the next 2 weeks. I've got half a mind to have the dash already all disassembled so they can't charge me their ridiculous number of hours they claim it will take. I'll update all with the results and the cost when it is complete.
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This issue with the dash panel flicker, relays clicking, and alarm going off unexpectedly started for me last fall. I already replaced the faulty start/stop switch last spring.
I replaced the battery, but the problem returned in February. It gradually got worse and the alarm was going off about every 5 days.
I found that the alarm could be disabled by disconnecting the sensor wires to the hood release, and turning off the auto headlight feature so the headlights wouldn't turn on intermittently. The problem still caused the interior lights to go on when the dash lights and relays went crazy.
I took it to my Honda dealer and told them to replace the keyless control module. This is the module part number for a 2016 EX-L (Control Unit, Smart Power - Honda 38320-TG7-A32).
It has been 3 weeks after replacing the module and no issues.
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This issue with the dash panel flicker, relays clicking, and alarm going off unexpectedly started for me last fall. I already replaced the faulty start/stop switch last spring.
I replaced the battery, but the problem returned in February. It gradually got worse and the alarm was going off about every 5 days.
I found that the alarm could be disabled by disconnecting the sensor wires to the hood release, and turning off the auto headlight feature so the headlights wouldn't turn on intermittently. The problem still caused the interior lights to go on when the dash lights and relays went crazy.
I took it to my Honda dealer and told them to replace the keyless control module. This is the module part number for a 2016 EX-L (Control Unit, Smart Power - Honda 38320-TG7-A32).
It has been 3 weeks after replacing the module and no issues.
Selfishly I’m happy to hear that someone else had the same issues AND that the control unit resolved the issue. It stinks that Honda isn’t coming forward to say they obviously have a flawed part.
Can I ask how much you paid in labor at the dealer? I’m most interested in how many hours they charged you. Did they have to reprogram your key fobs and did they charge you for that as well?

thanks!
Selfishly I’m happy to hear that someone else had the same issues AND that the control unit resolved the issue. It stinks that Honda isn’t coming forward to say they obviously have a flawed part.
Can I ask how much you paid in labor at the dealer? I’m most interested in how many hours they charged you. Did they have to reprogram your key fobs and did they charge you for that as well?

thanks!
The control module was $427 and the labor including reprograming both key fobs was $225. I don't know the labor per hour charge. I watched from a distance the key fobs being reprogramed, and it took a few minutes per fob.
Good luck with your repair.
I just got my control unit replaced and fingers crossed that my beloved Pilot’s random car alarm issues are gone!!

For others, I bought the part myself online for $295 and the dealer only charged me for 1.5 hours of labor at $124 / hr which included the reprogramming of two keys. Still hated having to pay $500 for a faulty part that Honda should really have on a recall list!!!
It was not covered under warranty. We paid $700 for part and labor.
how is your car now? I have to get this fixed now at $770 from the dealer. I hope this is the problem
Hello! Do you have an update on the issue? Was it ever fixed? My 2017 Honda pilot is doing the exact same thing. My kids left one of the lights on in my car, and I had my battery jumped what are you doing. Then my alarm started blaring randomly and my dash flickering just like yours.
We purchased our certified used 2016 Honda Pilot EXL AWD 1.5 years ago. I’m having an issue with the dash lights flickering and the anti-theft going off repeatedly the last two evenings. We had to unplug the battery last night for it to stop. Any suggestions on where to start?
2016 Pilot Touring, 56K trouble-free miles until now.

Similar thing happened to me this morning: Went to start the car, and nothing. Power tailgate wouldn't even generate the normal beep when I pressed the button on the outside. Multimeter to the battery + and ground read 6 volts! Figured I am an idiot and left the ignition on all night by accident.

Removed the battery, replaced with a brand new Duralast from AutoZone. Put it in, car started as normal. Drove it a few miles, everything seemed okay. Pulled into the garage and shut the engine off. Was gathering up stuff inside the car and all the lights on the dash come on, just as if I had pushed the start button without my foot on the brake. Then the lights all went off. Sat there and watched it for a few minutes, and I could hear clicking coming from the dashboard, sometimes with the lights flashing, sometimes not. Sometimes the lights would come on for a split second, other times for a few seconds.

Very busy week for me this week, and I won't be able to take my car into the dealer for several days.

(I had originally posted this in another thread here, but this thread seems to be more similar to my problem.)
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not sure what’s going on here, but a week ago my car wouldn’t start. push the pedal down, hit start button and all I hear is clicking and the dash lighting up like an Xmas tree. Try to restart, pedal is firm and just get clicking from starter. jump the car and take to dealer next day. They test battery and charging system, all good. Last night, happens again, jump it. This morning happens again, my multimeter reads it at 11.7v, but the jump starter I use reads just 9.8v. It’s at the dealer now, 2019 exl…still under warranty. Hoping it’s just the battery thats bad. They did not do any diagnostics on a potential drain last time, doing that now. When you try to offer them possible causes, they look at you like you don’t know wtf you are talking about. I did mention the keyless ignition module, he said that would be related to the push button and would throw a code, I’m not so sure about that.

i do have the VCM tuner II installed, which I have removed Before going to the dealer. Hoping that’s not causing the issue, but I really don’t think it is as even without it, the battery drained overnight.

edit: dealer replaced battery, will see what happens.
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