Honda Pilot: Tailgate

• Precautions for Opening/Closing the Tailgate
• Opening/Closing the Tailgate
• Opening/Closing the Power Tailgate

Precautions for Opening/Closing the Tailgate

Always make sure individuals and objects are clear of the tailgate before opening or closing it.

Models without power tailgate

• Open the tailgate all the way.
  • If it is not fully opened, the tailgate may begin to close under its own weight.
• Be careful when it is windy. The wind may cause the tailgate to close

All models

Keep the tailgate closed while driving to:

• Avoid possible damage.
• Prevent exhaust gas from leaking into the vehicle.

WARNING

Anyone caught in the path of a tailgate that is being opened or closed can be seriously injured.

Make sure that all people are clear of the tailgate before opening or closing it.

Be careful not to hit your head on the tailgate or to put your hands between the tailgate and the cargo area when closing the tailgate.

When you are storing or picking up cargo from the cargo area, or by using a forward and back kicking motion under the center of the rear bumper for hands free access*, while the engine is idling, do not stand in front of the exhaust pipe. You may get burned.

Do not allow any passenger in the cargo space. They may get hurt during hard braking, a sudden acceleration, or a crash.

Make sure cargo or other items do not touch the tailgate support struts.

Opening/Closing the Tailgate

When all the doors are unlocked or you press the tailgate unlock button* on the remote transmitter, the tailgate is unlocked.

Press the tailgate outer handle and lift open the tailgate.

If you are carrying the keyless remote, you do not have to unlock the tailgate before opening it.

To close the tailgate, grab the inner handle, pull the tailgate down, and push it closed from outside.

If you close the tailgate when all the doors are locked, the tailgate locks automatically.

• Do not leave the keyless remote in the vehicle when you get out. Carry it with you.
• Even if you are not carrying the keyless remote, you can unlock the tailgate while someone else with the remote is within range.
• Do not leave the keyless remote inside the cargo area and close the tailgate. The beeper sounds and the tailgate cannot be closed.

■ Using the Remote Transmitter

Press the tailgate unlock button to unlock the tailgate.

If you have unlocked and opened the tailgate using the remote transmitter, when closing, the tailgate locks automatically.

Opening/Closing the Power Tailgate

The Honda Pilot 2023 provides several convenient methods to operate the power tailgate. You can press the power tailgate button on the remote transmitter, use the power tailgate button in the driver's side control panel, or simply press the outer handle on the tailgate. For hands-free access, a forward and back kicking motion under the center of the rear bumper will also activate the power tailgate. Remember, the power tailgate can only be opened or closed when the transmission is in the (P) position.

WARNING

Opening or closing a power tailgate while any part of a passenger is in the tailgate's operating path can cause serious injury.

Make sure all passengers or objects are clear of the tailgate operating range before opening or closing the tailgate.

NOTICE

Do not push or pull on the power tailgate when it is being automatically opened or closed.

Forcibly opening or closing the power tailgate while in operation can deform the tailgate frame.

When operating the power tailgate, make sure there is enough space around your vehicle. People near the tailgate may be seriously hurt if the tailgate hits or closes on their heads. Be especially cautious if children are around.

The power tailgate may not open or close under the following conditions:

• You start the engine while the tailgate is automatically opening or closing.
• The vehicle is parked on a steep hill.
• The vehicle is swaying in a strong wind.
• The tailgate or the roof is covered with snow or ice.

■ Using the Hands Free Access

Use a forward and back kicking motion for about 1 second under the center of the rear bumper to open or close the power tailgate while carrying the keyless remote.

• Some exterior lights will flash and a beeper will sound, then the tailgate will begin to move.

During rain or in other instances when the vehicle becomes wet, the sensor may not properly detect your foot motion.

When performing work on or around the rear section of the vehicle, you may inadvertently open or close the tailgate.

To prevent this from happening, select Customized Features on the audio/information screen and then select OFF for the feature.

If you hold your foot under the bumper for too long or sweep your foot from side to side, the power tailgate does not open or close.

This function will not operate if you don't have the keyless remote on you. Please make sure you have the keyless remote on you.

■ Power Tailgate Walk Away Close

When you walk away from the vehicle while carrying the keyless remote, the power tailgate will automatically close.

1. Carry the keyless remote and press the walk away close button.

• The indicator on the walk away close button will turn green when the walk away close is activated.

2. Walk at least 3 feet (1.0 m) away from the vehicle within 30 seconds of pressing the walk away close button.

• Some exterior lights flash and a beeper sounds, then the power tailgate begins to close.

When auto lock function is set to ON, the vehicle will automatically lock when all doors and the tailgate have closed.

■ Using the Remote Transmitter

Press the power tailgate button for more than one second to operate when the power mode is in VEHICLE OFF.

• Some exterior lights flash and the beeper sounds.

If you press the button again while the power tailgate is moving, it will stop. Press the button for more than one second, and the power tailgate will reverse direction.

Customizing when to open the tailgate

Anytime: The power tailgate unlocks and opens at the same time. This is the default setting.

When unlocked*1/When Unlocked*2: The tailgate opens when all doors are unlocked.

*1: Models with 7-in. Color Touchscreen
*2: Models with 9-in. Color Touchscreen

If you close the power tailgate when all the doors are locked, the power tailgate locks automatically.

If you replace the battery or the power tailgate fuse while the tailgate is open, the power tailgate may be disabled. The power tailgate resumes once you manually close the tailgate.

Installing aftermarket components other than Honda genuine accessories on the power tailgate may prevent it from fully opening or closing.

Make sure the power tailgate is fully open before you transport your cargo in and out.

The beeper sounds when you start driving while the power tailgate is still open, or closing.

Do not touch the sensors located on both sides of the tailgate. The power tailgate does not close if you touch either sensor when you are trying to close the tailgate.

Be careful not to scratch the sensors with a sharp object. If scratched, they can be damaged, and the power tailgate closing feature malfunctions.

If the power tailgate meets resistance while opening or closing, the auto reverse feature reverses the direction. The beeper sounds three times.

■ Using the Power Tailgate Button

To open or close the power tailgate, press the power tailgate button for about one second.

• Some exterior lights flash and the beeper sounds.

If you press the button again while the power tailgate is moving, it will stop. Press the button for about one second, and the power tailgate will reverse direction.

The auto reverse function stops sensing when the tailgate is almost closed to make sure that it fully Power Tailgate closes.

■ Using the Tailgate Outer Handle

If you press the outer handle of the tailgate for no longer than one second, the tailgate opens automatically.

• The beeper sounds.
• If you want to open the tailgate manually, press the outer handle for more than one second.

If you are carrying the keyless remote, you do not have to unlock the tailgate before opening it.

If you press the outer handle again while the power tailgate is moving, it will stop. Press the outer handle, and the power tailgate will reverse direction.

• Do not leave the keyless remote in the vehicle when you get out. Carry it with you.
• Even if you are not carrying the keyless remote, you can unlock the tailgate while someone else with the remote is within range.
• Do not leave the keyless remote inside the cargo area and close the tailgate. The beeper sounds and the tailgate cannot be closed.

You can change the power tailgate operation setting on and off.

■ Using the Tailgate Inner Button

Press the tailgate inner button on the tailgate to close the power tailgate.

• The beeper sounds.

If you press the tailgate inner button again while the power tailgate is moving, it will stop.

Press and release the tailgate inner button again, and the power tailgate will reverse direction.

■ Programming Tailgate Positi

The extent to which the power tailgate automatically opens can be programmed.

To program:

1. Open the tailgate to the desired position.

2. Press and hold the tailgate inner button.

You will hear one long beep, followed by two short beeps.

If the tailgate is only slightly opened, the position cannot be programmed, even if you push the tailgate inner button.

If you want to reprogram the power tailgate to open all the way, manually raise the tailgate to its upper most position and follow the directions in step 2.

■ Auto-Closer

If you manually close the power tailgate, it latches automatically.

Keep your hands away from the tailgate when you manually close the tailgate and let it latch automatically. It is dangerous to put your hands around the tailgate as it starts to latch itself.

The auto-closer feature does not activate if you press and hold the tailgate outer handle while the power tailgate is closing.

NOTICE

Do not put any force on the tailgate while the power tailgate is latching.

■ Power Tailgate Fall Detection

Automatically lowers the power tailgate when there is a possibility that the fully opened power tailgate can fall down by its own weight (for example, by snow on the tailgate). The beeper sounds while the power tailgate lowers.

If you try to manually close the power tailgate immediately after it fully opens, the power tailgate fall detection may activate.

Once the power tailgate fall detection activates, wait until the power tailgate fully closes. Keep away from the power tailgate when it is in motion.

If the power tailgate fall detection constantly activates, consult a dealer.

With the Honda Pilot 2023, accessing the rear of your vehicle has never been easier. Whether you choose to press the power tailgate button on your remote transmitter, use the driver's side control panel, or press the outer handle on the tailgate, you'll find it effortless to operate. Additionally, for those times when your hands are full, you can simply use a forward and back kicking motion under the center of the rear bumper to open the tailgate hands-free. Just ensure the transmission is in the (P) position to utilize these features.