2020 Honda Pilot Brakes Problems

Full brake system, Emissions System problem, and Service System malfunctioning, out of the blue. Factory Reset and System Updated performed with no improvement.

NHTSA ID

11751683

Incident

Jul 20, 2026

Almost every day since new the vehicle will alarm 'brake' on dash while driving on 2 lane back roads that have some slight curves (these are all around our house). At least once a month the car will automatically apply the brakes while coming around a curve or over a blind hill. Both of these scenarios occur 50/50 when there is oncoming traffic or no oncoming traffic. It can happen with someone ahead of me in the same lane, but not as often. In all cases throughout the years there has not be a need for braking. In one instance a few years ago we were driving on a divided 4 lane state highway. Cruise control was on and ACC was on. We moved into the left lane to pass a car. When we came within ~20' of the car, the Pilot engaged in automatic braking hard as it detected the car we were attempting to pass as an obstacle in front of us. There was never any danger of hitting the other car. However, a car following us almost rear-ended our car due to the unforseen/not needed hard braking. My wife will no longer use cruise control in this vehicle since this happened. The dash 'brake' warning is easy to replicate if you drive for a while on the roads near my house. The auto braking is not able to reproduced on demand. Now the car is complaining to see the dealer about a CMBS (collision mitigation braking system) error. I'll have to troubleshoot this (or maybe just turn it off), but the entire system has been sub par and accident prone since original purchase new in 2019.

NHTSA ID

11721562

Incident

Mar 2, 2026

Several system failures relates to a faulty multipurpose camera used by the Honda Sensing system from collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control and land keeping assist. Multipurpose camera premature failure leads to loss of several safety features.

NHTSA ID

11659924

Incident

Apr 14, 2025

2020 Honda Pilot Touring was purchased in CT at Honda of Stamford, May of 2023. I started having issues in July pertaining to extreme dust coming into the cabin causing my children and myself asthma conditions to worsen. I took the car to the dealer and they blew out something connected with the system. I than started having issues with the radio system and large popping sounds coming from it. The dealer didn't check this for me. The car also brakes on it's own while driving without warning and nothing is in front of me. The dealer didn't check this. On [XXX] the dashboard lite up with a lot of error messages and the car brake light was on. The car would only go 20mph on the highway. The car was stuck in Greenwich, CT at my son school for 2 days until I got it towed to the dealer. On Feb24th the car was towed to the dealer. I was told the brake switch went out and needed replacement. I was charged 200.00. I picked the car up on Feb25th @1pm and the dealer claimed the repair was done. On [XXX]. I was traveling on the highway in Norwalk, CT and the dashboard lite up with the same errors and he brakes did the same thing and the car was hard to steering. I took it back to the dealer and was told 3 other things was wrong with the car. Code-C0040-62 Brake lamp switch failure stuck. U3000-49 Multi purpose camerawave radar internal electronic failure. B2A60-97. Tech reset camera and the system still gave failure codes. The dealer confirmed the issues, but refused to give me a replacement. I had a DMV investigation and the out was to refund me for the conveyance fee the dealer lied about on the contract. I was also refunded for vin etching the dealer lied about on the contract and refunded for Honda Care. I was in the car with my children when the brake issue happened both times and it was scary. The car was never inspected before it was sold to me. I also never received several documents from the dealership required by CT state law. I left the car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA),

NHTSA ID

11645269

Incident

Feb 26, 2025

Phantom braking from the CMBS collision avoidance system. It occurs randomly and applies brakes when the road is clear. The amount of braking varies from a partial second to more severe. This will cause an accident.

NHTSA ID

11575686

Incident

Feb 19, 2024

There have been a total of 11 (since 2020) incidents when I applied the brakes they did not engage fully and the SUV surged forward 2 feet and the engine was still trying to go forward even with brake pedal to the floor. I have had it looked at the dealership but they say nothing is wrong. They said the battery was not talking to the brakes and I got a new battery but the brakes are still not dependable. When I apply the brakes they still surge forward 1 - 2 feet the engine revs up trying to go forward. The music CD player works sometimes but not all the time. The brakes do not work all the time. The electrical system did not work - it wouldn't show the dash board. The dealership said they fixed it. Both side mirrors never stays where they are set.

NHTSA ID

11540418

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

My husband was getting off the highway when a car ahead of him braked suddenly. He attempted to hit the brakes, but the car did not stop. The automatic stop crash feature did not turn on. The abs did not work. Ultimately, crashing into the car ahead of him. Manufacturer Safety-related recall issued NHTSA #23V-174 Recall #FE5 2020-22 Multi-Model Door Mirror Glass Safety Recall Status: Remedy Available

NHTSA ID

11530802

Incident

Jul 7, 2023

While driving with auto-idle on the car, I stopped at the red light on the left lane by stepping on the break and Auto-idle comes on and the engine stopped while continue to step on the break. When the green lights comes back on, I release the break, but the car completely shut down and require me to power off the car completely and push the start button on the car again. It took a few tries for the car to start. All while there were trucks passing by and cars behind me are honking at me for stopping at a Green light, by the time I got the car to start again, the light turned RED again. I feel like it is very dangerous for me as all the cars behind had to go around me to continue their way, as result, accidents can easily cause because cars on the right side are driving faster than the left lane and cars in the left lane had to move to the right lane in order to continue. With more blind spots on the right of all cars, it is more dangerous to shift lanes where right lane are going faster.

NHTSA ID

11502483

Incident

Dec 29, 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. Upon purchase of the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal, screeching noise emit from the front driver-side tire. The contact's husband took the vehicle to a dealer where they found no defect with her rotors or tires. The contact stated that while in stop and go traffic, the brake warning light appeared on the instrument panel as the vehicle independently came to a sudden stop; the contact was able to resume normal operation after the failure. On a separate occasion while traveling downhill at approximately 20 MPH, the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard without warning. The contact panicked and pumped the brake pedal but to no avail. The contact steered the vehicle into the grass to avoid oncoming traffic. The contact hit a neighbor's mailbox and then a tree, which stopped the vehicle. The airbags did not deploy upon impact. The contact nor her daughter were physically injured by the accident but both have suffered traumatic mental anguish due to the failure. A police report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to an independent tow yard and was later towed to an independent body shop for repair by insurance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

NHTSA ID

11471305

Incident

Jun 19, 2022

Mileage

28,000 mi

The automatic collision avoidance system continually gives false warnings, shaking the steering wheel and beeping, while flashing a brake warning. This occurs even if there is no other traffic on the road, which could cause an accident by startling the driver when it unexpectedly activates. The automatic brakes are also overly aggressive, which could cause a rear end collision.

NHTSA ID

11454864

Incident

Mar 1, 2022

The contact owned a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 55 mph the brake pedal was applied however failed to respond the vehicle crashed into a fence. The wheel assembly detached. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The driver sustain muscle injuries and medical attention was provided. A police report was filed. The air bags deployed. There was no reported fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss.

NHTSA ID

11439838

Incident

Oct 11, 2021

Mileage

18,000 mi

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle at the local dealer and leaving the parking lot, the brake sensor message was illuminated, and the wheels began to vibrate and jerk slightly to the left and right. The contact also stated the radio was resetting independently. The contact took the vehicle back to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the camera sensor to be refocused and to replace the audio system. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience failure daily. The contact took the vehicle back to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the camera sensor to be refocused and the audio system replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience a failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,700.

NHTSA ID

11436757

Incident

Oct 7, 2021

Mileage

11,700 mi

The large amber Brake warning indicator on the dash and the associated buzzer comes on giving a false positive indication periodically in two way traffic even on straight roads with adequate traffic separation. There is no specific pattern to getting this false indication and it is very annoying. I am concerned that it could also automatically apply the brakes when it is not necessary. In my normal commute of 20 miles it may occur five or more times. I have read online that other 2020 Honda Pilot owners are having the same problem and that dealers have been unable to correct it.

NHTSA ID

11429887

Incident

Jul 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED AS THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. EACH TIME, THE CONTACT WOULD COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESUME NORMAL DRIVING SOON AFTER FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT UPON APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD AS THE BRAKE MADE AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HONDA OF TOMBALL (22727 TX-249, TOMBALL, TX 77375) ON THREE OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME THE MECHANIC WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11413076

Incident

Mar 30, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH WHILE TURNING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE LOST FUNCTIONALITY IN THE BRAKES, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONTACT CRASHING THE VEHICLE INTO A WALL. 1 PERSON WAS INJURED (THE CONTACT) AND SUSTAINED SORENESS TO THE BODY BUT MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS NOT SOUGHT. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000.

NHTSA ID

11403712

Incident

Mar 17, 2021

Mileage

2,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRANK FLETCHER HONDA (2921 MOBERLY LN, BENTONVILLE, AR 72712) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOUND WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,100.

NHTSA ID

11374528

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

Mileage

3,100 mi

2020 HONDA PILOT TOURING 1,156 MILES - 3 MONTHS OLD. VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHEN PULLING INTO GARAGE AND APPLYING BREAKS. LOUD SOUNDS COMING THROUGH SPEAKERS AS IF YOU'RE DRIVING THROUGH HAIL. TUNER LOST, NETWORK CONNECTION FAILED, DASHBOARD BLACK. VEHICLE CAN ALSO APPLY BREAKS WHEN NO OTHER CAR IS AROUND. LATEST SYSTEM FAILURE CAR STALLED WHEN APPLYING BREAKS AT AN INTERSECTION. ALSO DRIVER PASSENGER MIRRORS INDEPENDENTLY MOVE WHILE DRIVING. SOFTWARE UPDATE TO CONTROL BOX AND GAUGE CONTROL MODULE WITHOUT FIX. NOW TIGHTENED WIRES BEHIND BLU-RAY PLAYER. SENSING/BREAK ISSUES ARE UNKNOWN TO HONDA AND HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11372846

Incident

Oct 31, 2020

Mileage

1,156 mi

THE CMBS (COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM) IS TOO SENSITIVE. MULTIPLE TIMES, THE CMBS HAS ACTIVATED WITHOUT A VALID REASON. 1 EXAMPLE, I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE PASSING A SLOW MOVING 18 WHEELER IN THE RIGHT LANE. I WAS PASSING THE 18 WHEELER IN A CURVE AND MY SUV SUDDENLY BRAKED BECAUSE IT THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO CRASH INTO THE 18 WHEELER. I WAS IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THE ENTIRE TIME AND I CAN ONLY THINK THE SYSTEM WAS CONFUSED BY THE SPEED DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND THE TRUCK IN A TIGHT CURVE. SEVERAL OTHER TIMES ON TWO LANE ROADS, THE SYSTEM WILL FLASH "BRAKE" EVEN IF I AM NOT CROSSING THE CENTER LINE. I THINK THE CMBS IS TOO SENSITIVE.

NHTSA ID

11362656

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Mileage

1,000 mi

BRAKES ARE TOO LOW AND SOFT.IDLING IS ROUGH DURING COLD START.I BROUGHT TO THE DEALER LAST SEPTEMBER 28,2020 BUT DEALER DID NOTHING.TECHNICIAN SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.THE DEALER IS HOLLER HONDA IN ORLANDO FLORIDA.THIS IS MY FOURTH HONDA AND ONLY EXPERIENCE THIS.BRAKES ARE LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME.ALWAYS STOPPING TOO CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ID

11362286

Incident

Sep 28, 2020

Mileage

4,100 mi

EVER SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES. FIRST STARTED WITH CRACKING AND POPPING SOUNDS WITH THE SPEAKERS, EVEN WHEN ALL AUDIO WAS OFF IN THE CAR IT WOULD STILL MAKE THE NOISE. THEN THE DVD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING. NEXT THE CRACKING AND POPPING STARTED ALL THE TIME AND IT WAS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE PHONE CALLS WITH BLUETOOTH IN THE CAR. FINALLY AFTER THE 3RD TIME BACK THE SPEAKERS WERE 80% FIXED AFTER A HONDA REPRESENTATIVE CAME OUT FROM CORPORATE. THEN MY AUTOMATIC BRAKING STARTING HAVING SIGNIFICANT ISSUES. AT FIRST IT WAS A RANDOM OCCURRENCE AND ONLY ONCE IN A BLUE MOON. NOW, LIKE THE OTHER ISSUES, IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. I HAVE ALREADY HAD IT IN ONCE AND THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE IT BUT WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT IT HAD BEEN TRIGGERED. SINCE I HAVE HAD MY CAR BACK IN LESS THAN TWO FULL WEEKS IT HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 12 TIMES ON DIFFERENT ROADS (OPEN HIGHWAY, PLACES WITH NO CARS OR TREES, AT NIGHT OR DAY IT DOESN'T MATTER). I AM NOW AWAITING ANOTHER CALL BACK ABOUT GETTING THIS ISSUE FIXED. OH AND THERE WAS THAT TIME THAT MY BACKUP CAMERA STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY, CAN'T FORGET THAT. OVERALL, INCREDIBLY UPSET ABOUT HOW MUCH WE SPENT ON A BRAND NEW LEMON.

NHTSA ID

11351137

Incident

Aug 25, 2020

Mileage

13,800 mi

I GOT THIS CAR ONLY 1 WEEK; I HEARD THE NOISE FROM STEERING WHEEL AND THE PROBLEM WHEN I HIT GAS AND SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION. ON JULY 13, I DROP THE CAR TO FIX FOR 2 DAYS. THEN, ONLY 2 WEEK AFTER I HAVE EXPERIENCED CANNOT HIT GAS AND I CANNOT HIT THE BRAKES. THE ALL ENGINE LIGHT, BREAK LIGHT, TSA LIGHT AND OTHER 3 LIGHTS IS COMING. I HAVE TO TOW MY CAR TO DEALER SHOP. THIS CAR IS BAD CAR

NHTSA ID

11344095

Incident

Aug 7, 2020

Mileage

3,000 mi

THE FORWARD COLLISION SYSTEM IN OUR 2020 HONDA PILOT WILL ALERT US TO BRAKE, SHAKE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND BEEP WITH NOTHING IN FRONT OF US OR WILL DO IT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE ALERT ZONE IN THE OPPOSITE LANE. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO OUR LOCAL DEALER AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND AN ISSUE. WE CAN BE ON BACKROADS, MAIN STREETS AND RECENTLY ON EMPTY BRIDGES.

NHTSA ID

11343361

Incident

Jul 21, 2020

Mileage

2,279 mi

1. CAR FLASHES BRAKE AND SOMETIMES BRAKES ON ITS OWN WHEN IT DETECTS AN OBJECT ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR WHEN A CAR MAY BE APPROACHING IN THE OPPOSITE LANE OR IN A CENTER TURNING LANE. THIS HAS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. EACH TIME THE LANE WE ARE IN IS CLEAR AND USUALLY DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. 2. WHEN IN CRUISE CONTROL THE ACC WILL DETECT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US GOING MAYBE 2 MHP SLOWER THAN OUR SET SPEED AND OUR CAR WILL ABRUPTLY SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MPH BELOW THE ACC SET POINT. THEN IT DETECTS THERE IS CLEAR DISTANCE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT AND WILL ABRUPTLY ACCELERATE TILL IT AGAIN DETECTS THE VEHICLE AND THEN REPEATS THE SAME ACTIONS - ABRUPT SLOWDOWN - ABRUPT ACCELERATION AND SO ON VS. A GRADUAL SLOWDOWN TO MATCH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT SPEED AND HOLDING STEADY AT THAT SPEED. I HAVE SET THE DISTANCE DETECTION TO EACH SETTING AND IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. 3. LANE KEEP ASSIST IS PLAIN DOWN DANGEROUS. TRIED TO MERGE ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH TURN SIGNAL ON AND THE LKA WOULD NOT LET US MERGE AND JERKED THE WHEEL BACK TO THE RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY HIT THE BRAKES WHEN THERE WAS NOTHING IN FRONT OF US. NEARLY CAUSED TRAFFIC BEHIND TO REAR END US. 4. HANDS FREE CELL FEATURE IS NOT HANDS FREE IF CONNECTED TO APPLY CAR PLAY. THIS WAS NOT WHAT WE WERE LEAD TO BELIEVE AT THE TIME OF SALE. HONDA HAS SOME SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THE HONDA SENSING AND A RECALL IS A MUST AS THESE ISSUES WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND I HAVE TO ASSUME ALREADY HAVE. TO DATE THE CAR IS UNSAFE WITH THE SENSING ON AND IF I TURN IT OFF I RISK LIABILITY WITH MY INSURANCE AS THEY PROVIDE DISCOUNTS BECAUSE OF THE HONDA SENSING SAFETY FEATURES.

NHTSA ID

11337254

Incident

Jul 2, 2020

Mileage

6,000 mi

I BEEN HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE 2020 HONDA PILOT BLACK EDITION THE BRAKE ALERT ON THE DASH COMES ON OUT OF NO WHERE WITHOUT ANYONE OR ANYTHING AROUND ME. THE INFOTAINMENT, DASH AND SPEAKERS WITH SHOTTING OFF N MAKING POPPING NOISES. THIS SUV I USE IT WITH MY FAMILY AND THAT CAN CAUSE A REALLY NASTY ACCIDENT BC ALL THAT HAPPENS ALL OF SUDDEN AND IS REALLY SCARY. I HAD MY SUV ALREADY TWICE IN THE DEALER N NOW IS GOING TO BE 3RD TIME. SOMETHING HAVE TO BE DONE. THIS A 50K+ SUV AND DRIVING WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAVE DOES TYPES OF ISSUES IS A BIG RISK ESPECIALLY WITH OUR KIDS.

NHTSA ID

11308272

Incident

Dec 20, 2019

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY , HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET . 75 NO OTHER CARS AROUND WHEN IS SLAMMED THE BREAKS AND THE SCREEN FLASHED A BIG RED BRAKES BOX . SCARED THE LIFE OUT OF ME . AT RANDOM TIMES THE RED BRAKES BOX WITH POP UP

NHTSA ID

11306908

Incident

Jan 15, 2020

Mileage

1,000 mi