Honda Pilot Complaints

1,017 consumer complaints on file.

#11676179July 25, 2025
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse, there was an abnormal popping and cracking sound coming from the driver’s side roof. The failure became worse over time. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the struts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that there were improper welds underneath the third-row seats on the cross member, and that the cross member needed to be properly welded. The vehicle was taken to a body shop and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675967July 24, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic signal, the vehicle independently shifted into neutral(N). The contact shifted vehicle into park(P) and turned off and restarted the vehicle and shifted into drive(D). There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a faulty brake switch and determined that the 12-Volt battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred, and the vehicle independently shifted into neutral(N). The contact stated that the failure had occurred while stopped with the vehicle still in drive(D). The vehicle was taken to the same dealer however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure or determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675835July 24, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Vehicle when entering traffic hesitates for 2 to 3 seconds and then surges forward real fast. No warning lights or or messages. Very scary and dangerous . feels like you do not have control of vehicle....This has happened only twice since I have owned the vehicle. I purchased the vehicle new from a dealer...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675194July 21, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Vision is severely impaired by optical distortion in the windshield, directly in the driver's field of vision. It is also noticeable from anywhere inside or outside of the vehicle. Some areas magnify the view so it looks as though the road is coming up towards the driver. Other areas warp the view horizontally or vertically. It is unsafe because it changes the way the road and other vehicles appear to the driver. The driver feels as though they are wearing strong prescription glasses. Causes dizziness and disorientation to the driver. Visible rippling/warping of the glass of the windshield. One photo is attached showing warped letters through the windshield. (Video is easier to see the other types of warping from inside the vehicle.)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674883July 20, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
As I was driving, I had to press on my break fairly firmly for about two seconds due to a car in front of me making a left-hand turn. I released the break, and the car in front of me was completely out of my lane. There was about a 2 to 3 second span of time ,after I released the break and in which I was coasting, before the automatic breaking system pressed hard on the break for at least one second and then it released. I had not placed my foot near the brake or accelerator at that time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674835July 20, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
All I did was simply change my battery. Up until this point the car had run perfect and no issues or warnings. Now after placing the correct AGM battery the dash has lit up like Christmas. I am getting ACC, LKAS, Auto Head light, forward collision and Brake System warning lights. I was informed that this is a very costly repair, a camera needs to be replaced and recalibrated, $2000 estimate. This should be a recall based on the other numerous complaints I'm seeing. I reached out to Honda with no response as of yet.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674708July 19, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
screen stopped working suddenly. will randomly flash bright blue or a gray static, then go back to black.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674586July 18, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V391000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake pedal assembly had failed and needed to the replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and a case was opened. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674235July 17, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2024 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH in a drive-through and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was stiff and the vehicle failed to respond on two occasions, and rear-ended the same vehicle twice. The contact stated that both vehicles sustained scratches. The air bags did not deploy. There was no injury sustained. No police report was filed. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall inspection for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V391000(Service Brakes, Hydraulic) was performed, and the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle had passed the inspection. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and sent an engineer, who inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that no failure was found. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674108July 16, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 12 MPH, the vehicle shifted into park independently. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while restarting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated to restart for 90-seconds and then the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where was it diagnosed and determined that the front camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure, and informed the contact that the failure was not covered under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674070July 16, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving our 2024 Honda Pilot Touring, I came to a full stop at a red light. When the light turned green and I attempted to accelerate, the vehicle completely shut off without warning. There was no sputtering, no warning lights, and no error messages. The engine shut off instantly, and all systems—including both screens, air conditioning, horn, and hazard lights—were completely unresponsive. The vehicle was entirely disabled. It remained unresponsive for 5–10 minutes before showing any sign of power. It took four attempts to restart the vehicle. This happened in an active intersection, creating a serious safety risk. I could not move or signal to other drivers, and the car gave me no way to handle the emergency safely. The vehicle was taken to a Honda dealership for inspection. They ran diagnostic tests but were unable to reproduce or identify the issue and called it a “fluke.” No repairs were made, and the root cause was not identified. I was told to take the vehicle home and monitor it. This issue has not recurred yet, but I am concerned it could happen again at any time. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The problem has not been confirmed by the manufacturer or a third-party inspector. No warning lights or other symptoms appeared before the failure
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673790July 15, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
As I understand it from a law firm, other Honda Pilot owners have filed complaints with the NHTSA the following which is an EXACT description of what is occurring on our Pilot. Ref: 25V-031. Our problem is that there is about a “2-5 second hesitation” or “delay in acceleration” where the engine seems to “bog down for a few seconds before it ‘kicks in’ and then there is a ‘surge of power.’” This surge of power causes a rapid acceleration where the vehicle “jumps forward at a rapid rate.” I took this to Honda two years ago after we first purchased it and they said that "All vehicles are made this way now." This has proven "very dangerous" when trying to do a 3-point turn or a u-turn in traffic. I'd be happy to demonstrate this with someone if they want to ride along so they can see for themselves. I checked your site but it says there aren't any recalls for my vehicle. Problem is, Honda told me the same thing two years ago so if it isn't on your site, appears that it isn't a problem for them. Please help look into this before someone in my family or someone else's gets hurt.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672945July 11, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
The Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on my 2021 Honda Pilot intermittently causes the engine to shut off at a stop and fail to restart. When this happens the vehicle remains completely unresponsive until I shift into Park and manually restart the engine.This has happened multiple times in traffic and at intersections, creating a huge safety risk. I have already replaced the battery and had the latest software update installed at my local Honda dealership, but the issue persists. The problem is intermittent and difficult for the dealership to replicate. The auto idle stop issue is a known problem with Honda even extending a warranty coverage for the starter assembly and starter relays. The NHTSA number EA25004 addresses this yet the local dealership will only update the software and change the battery. They are failing to honor the second stage of the repair calling out specifically replacing the starter assembly, starter relays and adjusting the valves.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672924July 11, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
I have photos, but unable to up load at this time. Suddenly, 9 different consecutive warning messages with bell associated with each, appeared on the instrument panel. The barrage of these 9 messages continued until I shut the engine off. I was in a very congested parking lot when this began. The Pilot was subsequently checked for codes and battery condition. The evidence suggests the VSA Modulator. The Messages continue when powered up with or without the engine running. Lane keep assist problem. LKAS All wheel drive system problem. VSA problem. ACC Adaptive cruise control problem problem. Road departure mitigation system problem. Collision mitigation system problem. Collision mitigation system problem. TSA trailer stability assist problem. Hill start assist problem. Power steering system (EPS) problem. Plus: AWD, Brake System and steering caution lights remain on continuously. I am very glad we were not towing our travel trailer this week.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672012July 8, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I wanted to share a very scary incident that occurred while I was slowly creeping into a parking space in a parking garage. With my foot over the brake, as there were children in the area from a car that had parked to the right of mine, my car suddenly surged forward at a high rate of speed. It ultimately crashed into the 3-foot safety wall with tension wires of the parking garage. Clearly there is an issue with the propulsion system that accelerated my car forward. It's unknown to me if there was also an electrical issue involved in this propulsion failure. The car is available for inspection. The Honda dealer examined the vehicle but was unable to reproduce the issue, indicating that there was nothing wrong with the car, no codes stored of any relation to this incident, and that it was safe to drive. Additionally, I would like to mention that there was no warning lamps lit up on my dashboard before the incident and none appeared after the crash. My insurance was notified, and they deemed the car undrivable. The insurance representative is scheduled to inspect the car tomorrow. This is the first time my car accelerated on its own at a high rate of speed.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671467July 6, 2025
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
I purchased a brand-new 2025 Honda Pilot Elite, and within the first 1,000 miles of driving, I began noticing multiple concerning noises and performance issues: Steering Noise: At low speeds, particularly while turning, the steering system emits a subtle but persistent creaking noise/noises from the steering wheel area. The creaking is especially noticeable when making slow turns in parking lots or driveways. It appears to worsen in warmer temperatures and is consistent regardless of road condition. I brought the issue to the dealership's attention, and they kept the vehicle for approximately three weeks. They replaced the clock spring and airbag, claiming the noise was resolved. However, the creaking noise returned shortly after I resumed driving the vehicle. Brake Popping: There is also a popping/clicking noise coming from the front left brake area, especially when braking or shifting between drive and reverse. The dealership lubricated the brake hardware but did not resolve the issue. Despite Honda service attempts, the noises persist. Numerous other 2023–2025 Honda Pilot owners have reported similar symptoms online, many citing steering rack/pinion defects or unresolved brake component issues. These defects appear widespread and unresolved by standard dealership repairs. Safety Concern: While the issues may currently present as mechanical noises, I am deeply concerned that they may signal underlying defects in critical safety systems—such as steering control and braking performance. Unaddressed, these could potentially lead to steering failure, brake failure, or loss of control, especially during low-speed maneuvers where driver response time may be compromised due to mechanical unpredictability. Request for Investigation: I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate these issues, as they appear to be affecting a growing number of new Honda Pilot vehicles across the 2023 to 2025 model years, the dealership do not know what to do.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671325July 5, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Vehicle stopped at a stoplight for about two minutes. It shut itself off and would not restart wouldn’t go into neutral or do anything. There had been zero issues with this vehicle to date until this occurred. This happened in a very busy intersection my wife had to scramble to get the children out of the vehicle and up on the bank before they got rear ended by somebody. The police had the vehicle towed to our friends residence as the dealership couldn’t get it towed for several hours. The vehicle was towed from our friends residence on the morning of [XXX] The tow truck driver and my wife both tried starting the vehicle before it was towed to the dealership, it would not start. Only july 5th at Honda of turnersville , technician Mike said he hopped in the vehicle and it started right up and that there were no error codes. I believe he disconnected the battery and waited for the codes to clear before starting the vehicle and driving it into the shop. Where he plugged it in and found no error codes. The dealership technician then claimed he found and old error code in the memory that showed a bad battery. They replaced the battery. The dealership technician story makes no sense. If the battery was bad, the vehicle wouldn’t have started in the parking lot , I feel like I’m getting the run around and that they didn’t diagnose the actual problem. I currently have no faith that this is a safe vehicle and am scared to drive it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670854July 2, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving, the display on the instrument cluster was registering 75 MPH while in a 35 MPH zone. While the contact’s husband was driving on the highway, the speedometer registered 75 MPH in a 50-55 MPH zone. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case regarding the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670830July 2, 2025
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while temporarily stopped at a traffic light or a stop sign, the vehicle occasionally shifted into neutral, or the vehicle shut off unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670634July 1, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
We were exiting the off ramp heading North on [XXX], exit [XXX] and when we slowed to about 5 mph the car shut off completely. No electrical power and the car would not re-start. Heavy traffic was bearing down on us and we could not move. About 20 minutes later the power returned. It was the auto idle restart that malfunctioned, we believe. There was no warning. The situation was dangerous. We took it to the dealer in Vancouver, WA and they found no warning messages. They told us to take the car back and drive it and always manually turn off the auto idle restart and it would be safe. They said Honda temporarily suspended the engineering request until July 7, 2025 and until then we just wait. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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