I believe that there’s an existing thread related to the very issue, and don’t know if any word from Honda, mine has a similar issue, just not as bad as in your case.

 

Hello,
Thanks for your reply. Please show your photo here if you can. I didn't find the other thread you mentioned about. Do you know the link ?
I am waiting to hear from HONDA. This can't be a coincidence. Same place for everyone.

Thanks

 

sorry I don’t have photo, but found this
Right here:
2016 Pilot - Just noticed a bunch of rust already???

 

My 2018 is starting to rust also on both sides , I purchased the body guard rust protection at the dealer (waste of money) but covers for perforation only.

 

I took a photo of mine, and here it is: near upper right.

 

Without knowing more, I'd guess there's a contact point there where that plastic panel with the license plate lights rubs the paint over time. Pretty unfortunate for sure, and maybe something that someone with a newer Pilot that isn't yet rusting can avoid with some helicopter tape or something like that.

 

I am still in touch with HONDA and so far it looks like they are working on putting out a statement about this issue. I don't know what they will say but in the mean time, I encourage everyone to contact them too. The rust is on practically all Pilots of a certain age that I see.
I had some more photos or pilots I encounter in my area. If this is a defect, HONDA should own up to it.

 

Hi TMPilot,

No progress in your case or concerning a statement about this issue ?

J-F

 

Unacceptable.... 2019 EX-L 42.000 miles

 

Hi!
Same problem for me. Honda Pilot 2018.

 

I'll have to check my '21.

 

Any updates on this? What state do you live in? Wonder if there is any correlation.

 

I inspected our 2022 recently and found no rust there, but I didn't expect to find any. We do live where they salt the roads in the winter, but it's not a heavy duty cycle, and we don't drive our Pilot when the roads are salted (wait for them to dry).

When I was looking at ours, it looks pretty apparent to me that this is a case of that lift gate garnish rubbing on the paint in the license plate area, rubbing through the paint, and then that area starts to rust when you get a bunch of salty spray kicked up and sucked into that area from the back draft as you drive forward.

Though I don't know how difficult it would be to do, I think a relatively low-effort migitation for this, especially for those for whom the rust hasn't yet started, would be to remove that lift gate garnish and cut and install some adhesive clear plastic film behind the garnish where it'd rub the paint. Some call this film "helicopter tape" and many cyclists use it for a very similar purpose: to prevent cable housings from rubbing paint off the bike frame. This should keep the garnish from rubbing through the paint there (and might even protect paint that's rubbed through but not yet started to rust).

I just don't know how easy it'd be to get that garnish off. I presume it'd involve removal of the interior lift gate panels to get at fasteners from the inside. If the fasteners are accessible from below the garnish, from the outside, then it should be pretty easy.

 

Ahh ok. Sounds like a pain to mitigate, but worth the trouble. I live in South FL… I just got into my first Honda.. 2021 Pilot with just 22k miles. I’ll be keeping a close eye. Yikes

 

Same issue for me (2018 pilot in Ontario)

 

I have it for sure on one side, rust coming through. 2018 Pilot in Minnesota. I will check more closely on the other side.

 

Same problem on the right side for my Black 2018 pilot EX. I thing that it's managable with greasing. I'm in eastern Canada, so our winters are rough on cars. I'll call Honda to hear them about this problem.