2020 Honda Pilot Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the radio made an abnormal crackling and popping sound, and the instrument cluster flickered with the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), and the cruise control became inoperable while driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. The contact associated the failure with TSB: 20-058 and 21-012, and NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V431000 (Back Over Prevention). The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the contact was informed that there would be a charge for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 10.

NHTSA ID

11755856

Incident

Oct 17, 2020

Mileage

10 mi

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message that the radio was shutting off was displayed. Additionally, the speakers made a crackling sound before the radio shut off, and the main screen became inoperable. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V431000 (Back Over Prevention); as a possible cause for the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer times; however, the technicians were unable to duplicate the issue. During the final visit, the dealer diagnosed the vehicle with an amplifier failure and replaced the part; however, the issue persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000.

NHTSA ID

11754784

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Mileage

58,000 mi

I am reporting a severe safety defect regarding the automatic transmission on my 2020 Honda Pilot AWD (VIN: [XXX]). The vehicle experiences a violent and constant transmission vibration/judder under light throttle acceleration. On XXX, at 127,073 miles, an authorized Honda dealership officially diagnosed the vehicle under Repair Order # XXX, confirming the presence of "shudder at light throttle". Despite changing the transmission fluid as required by maintenance schedules, the issue persists. This failure causes unexpected vehicle hesitation and jerky shifts while driving at highway speeds, creating a high risk of rear-end collisions and posing an immediate safety hazard to my family and other drivers on the road. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11754200

Incident

Mar 5, 2026

Summary of safety defect and failed recall repair: Vehicle: 2020 Honda Pilot EX (Clean California Title) Core Issue: Persistent, catastrophic failure of the MOST Bus fiber-optic communication network, resulting in complete blackout of the federally mandated rear backup camera (FMVSS No. 111 violation), total infotainment reboot loops, loud audio cracking/popping, and instrument panel system failure during active vehicle operation at 65+ mph highway speeds. RECALL REMEDY FAILURE CHRONOLOGY: 1. IN-WARRANTY ANCHOR: On April 20, 2022 (34,201 miles) at Tracy Honda, initial network cracking/popping and communication faults were logged under factory warranty. Display head unit was replaced, but underlying MOST Bus backbone issues persisted. Fakra connectors replaced to attempt to fix the issue. 2. RECALL ATTEMPT: On July 17, 2025, at Lompoc Honda, the vehicle was presented specifically under Safety Recall Campaign 23-047 / NHTSA 23V-431. Dealer technicians installed FAKRA connectors and connector jumpers per official remedy instructions. 3. REMEDY FAILURE: The recall remedy failed to correct the defect. The vehicle continues to experience "Network Communication Lost" and "Check Tuner" system collapses, completely disabling the rear backup camera display without warning - all while being in a 10-minute reboot loops. SAFETY HAZARD: The sudden, unannounced loss of rear visibility and screen blackout creates a direct backover and collision hazard in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111. Furthermore, total network reboots at highway speeds cause severe driver distraction. REMEDY REQUESTED: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. has been notified (Corporate Case #XXX), but has failed to remedy this known federal safety defect after statutory repair opportunities. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11753899

Incident

Jul 25, 2026

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

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who examined the engine and discovered metal shavings inside the oil pan and there was engine rod bearing damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed of NHTSA Action Number: PE25008 (ENGINE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the NHTSA Action Number. The failure mileage was 46,500.

NHTSA ID

11751571

Incident

Jun 30, 2026

Mileage

46,500 mi

Engine start/stop function fails to restart after automatically shutting off at a light or in traffic. It falters and fails to start, then the dashboard lights up with errors, and I have to put it into park before restarting. Sometimes it takes a few tries before restarting. The battery has been replaced twice in the last year and the starter motor within the last year too, but the issue persists.

NHTSA ID

11750995

Incident

Jul 16, 2026

When the vehicle is at a stoplight or stop sign, the engine regularly shuts off. The engine does not automatically restart and sometimes it takes several minutes to restart the engine, leaving the car blocking traffic at a light. This happens REPEATEDLY and often.

NHTSA ID

11750637

Incident

Jul 14, 2026

Lots of crackling noises via the audio system. Display reboots itself many times before it finally went BLANK. Radio / DVD DEAD. Blind Spot warnings DEAD. Back up camera DEAD. Navigation DEAD. Eventually the battery goes DEAD and the car will not start. Got Stranded a few times. Changed the battery. But hopeless and reliability is DEAD. Definitely disappointed with HONDA.

NHTSA ID

11750225

Incident

Jun 26, 2026

First of, there are a LOT of Honda Pilot owners online who have the same exact complaints in honda forums and social media. Windshield Lane Keep Assist camera is malfunctioning. Adaptive cruise control, Emissions systems, Road departure system, Auto high beam problem, Lane keeping assist, Collision mitigation system warning lights all come on. No previous warnings or failures prior. This started out of the blue and has been happening everyday for a few months now. This malfunction puts driver and passengers at risk.

NHTSA ID

11749829

Incident

May 16, 2026

The problem on our Honda Pilot is related to the starter. We have had four instances now where the auto start/stop function has failed to restart the car after sitting at a stop light. This has happened at very busy intersections resulting in difficulty restarting the car and the car temporarily disabling the auto start/stop functions. I just had this happen for the fourth time on 7/9/26 at approximatlely 6:00 PM. I am planning on taking it into the dealership to have it looked at since it has happened multiple times. I also see on the Internet that other owners are having this issue and NHTSA is looking into it. I feel this is a significant safety issues since this happens in traffic and could result in people being rear-ended when their car won't start. This problem started for me about two months ago but I thought it was just a fluke but apparently it is not. The battery and electrical system has been checked and are working properly.

NHTSA ID

11749553

Incident

Jul 9, 2026

On two separate occasions this vehicle has died when stopped at a traffic light. First time was in February and the second was in June, both times were in 2026. Both times had to push the off button and do a restart.

NHTSA ID

11747427

Incident

Feb 19, 2026

Engine Auto off/ on when stopped for signal light. Routinely, when stopped at a light, the engine will fail to turn back on and the car will go off but will not turn itself completely off. This leads to a delay for the engine clicks into neutral and in order to restart, I must turn the vehicle completely off and then restart. This issue occurs when I release the brake to begin my acceleration after the light turns green. And the vehicle stalls so that the traffic behind me which was prepared to move forward is stuck. The amount of time it takes to get the vehicle turned completely off and back on generally takes much of the light change time.

NHTSA ID

11746131

Incident

Jun 23, 2026

My air conditioning system has gone out for the third time in 6 years. First one was at 38k miles and was the compressor, which contaminated the system, requiring a system replacement. Second time was at 98k miles and was the condenser, which required a whole system replacement. Third time happend at 148k miles and is the compressor, which will result in another full system replacement. The compressor is locked up which will cause the serpentine belt to fail, unless I keep the AC off. I have not yet had this fixed, however I'm very frustrated that this has happened 3 times. A serpentine belt failure can potentially cause a safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11745867

Incident

May 16, 2026

At every vehicle startup, multiple warning messages appear on the dashboard indicating failure of the driver assistance safety system. The warnings include Collision Mitigation System Problem, Lane Keeping Assist System Problem, and Auto High Beam System Problem. The issue occurs immediately upon ignition while the vehicle is stationary and resets each time the vehicle is turned off and restarted. The problem is persistent and has not resolved over time. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized dealership and diagnosed with a diagnostic trouble code indicating an internal failure of the forward-facing camera unit used for the driver assistance system. The repair recommendation was replacement of the camera module and calibration. This malfunction affects the vehicle’s advanced driver assistance safety systems, which are designed to support collision avoidance and lane keeping. The failure may result in reduced or non-functioning safety features while driving, increasing the risk of unsafe operation without full driver assistance functionality. No windshield replacement or external impact has occurred that would explain camera damage. The issue began without any known external cause and continues consistently at every startup.

NHTSA ID

11745381

Incident

Jun 10, 2026

The vehicle suddenly made audible and visual warnings stating critical error. All of the safety features handled by the forward-facing multipurpose camera stopped working. Honda stated the camera has failed (common issue based on research), and is a costly repair. Vehicle less than 6 years old, all maintenance completed timely by Honda, mileage 81k

NHTSA ID

11744604

Incident

Jun 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with failures of 4 of the 6 fuel injectors. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

NHTSA ID

11744159

Incident

May 28, 2026

Mileage

99,000 mi

Warning lights for Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Collision Mitigation, Road Departure, and Auto High Beam all came on simultaneously. From reading several Pilot forums, this seems to be very widespread and dealerships want anywhere between 1500 and 1900 to replace and calibrate the camera system which controls these functions. If it’s widespread, the vehicles should be recalled.

NHTSA ID

11743577

Incident

Jun 10, 2026

The car makes a popping/static sound weather turned off or on . The infotainment center and screen has shut off while driving and using GPS leaving me to scramble with my phone to get a GPS on and this happens without any warning so I don't have any time to pull over to a safe place . I have taken the vehicle to 2 different mechanic shops and they did not find anything when hooked up to their computer . This is a random problem that happens at different times ,there is no telling when it will happen .when the popping/ static sound starts it is difficult to hear the music and the GPS on the car is not always correct it leads to the wrong places.

NHTSA ID

11743006

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

I took my vehicle in due to a recall on the coaxial cable that was causing the electronic to malfunction and make a constant electrical popping sound. Shortly after that was replaced, the multipurpose camera started to malfunction and eventually gave out completely. I have warning lights constantly and cannot use any safety features in the vehicle, not even the cruise control. After much research this is an issue for thousands of Honda owners and is absolutely a safety issue. I’m scared to death to drive this car.

NHTSA ID

11742398

Incident

Apr 1, 2024

The issue that I am having is very serious if I forget to hit the off button which disables the energy saving my car will shut off. This happens if I am at a stop sign or stop light. I literally have to restart my car all over again. Cars behind me have almost hit me. At first I thought this is a new vehicle it is normal for this happen but quickly rode cards similar to my vehicle features and their cars would not stop like mine does. I have called the dealer several times to report this incident but the managers never return my phone calls. I do fear my safety and my children's safety.

NHTSA ID

11740614

Incident

Apr 21, 2026

If I leave the auto idle engine stop on,and come to a complete stop, the auto engine stop turns on, but as I release the brake to drive, the vehicle stalls in drive and engine shuts down. I will have to manually turn the car back on and restart the whole system before being allowed to continue. All while at a green light and a ton of traffic waiting behind me to move! Its very disappointing and embarrassing. The failure happened about 5 days after purchase. I just assumed it was a bug, and always turn it off before starting my drive.

NHTSA ID

11739590

Incident

May 6, 2022

The multipurpose front camera (Honda Sensing camera unit) failed internally, triggering diagnostic trouble code U3000-49. Multiple warning lights activated simultaneously on the dashboard, disabling all Honda Sensing safety systems including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Road Departure Mitigation, and Automatic High Beams. The failure occurred spontaneously with no prior accident, impact, or windshield replacement. The vehicle has low mileage and the failure appears consistent with a known design defect affecting Honda Sensing camera units in 2016–2020 Honda models. The failure was confirmed by a Honda dealership using Honda Diagnostic System (HDS), which identified internal electronic failure of the camera unit. Safety is at risk because the collision mitigation braking and lane keeping systems — relied upon for highway driving — are completely non-functional. This issue is widely reported across Honda Pilot, Odyssey, CR-V, HR-V, and Ridgeline forums, suggesting a systemic manufacturing defect. Honda has not issued a recall despite the safety-critical nature of these systems. The cost of replacing the multipurpose camera is very high and prohibited for many families.

NHTSA ID

11739442

Incident

Mar 2, 2026

MOST Network problems continue to persist even after MOST FAKRA Service Cables Safety Recall work was performed. Typical progression: Radio goes silent, Infotainment Screen displays error message, "Network Communication Lost / MOST Net Off", Driver Information Interface Display goes blank, then 3 error messages cycle, "Blind Spot Info System Problem", "Emissions System Problem", "Transmission System Problem", and vehicle enters limp mode (stuck in 3rd gear). Multiple safety issues: Rearview camera does not function, vehicle speed is not displayed, vehicle gas gauge is not displayed, blind spot system does not operate, reduced vehicle power.

NHTSA ID

11738554

Incident

Apr 13, 2026

When starting vehicle after leaving the grocery store, there were multiple fault messages displayed on the dash cluster. They were showing five fault areas, the Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assistance and Parking Collision Warning. When arriving at the Honda dealer service department I was advised that this is a common issue and would most likely be a front camera failure. After the Honda service department diagnosed the issue they confirmed it was a camera failure. I contacted American Honda asking for goodwill assistance and after giving all of my information, I was sent an email to reply to with the same information. Two days later I received a call and had to go over the same information a third time. I was advised this process would be 2-3 days. Three days later I receive a call and was requested to give the same information a fourth time and the told it would be 3-5 days from then to evaluate and I would receive a call. Four days later I called American Honda for status and was offered a partial goodwill assistance that I would be need to pay $955 for the repair instead of $2200+ which was originally quoted. From working for Acura for 17 years it is obvious that American Honda assisted minimally as the warranty rate is around the same cost. They made the dealer take the cut in pay and endured minimal cost to American Honda and a major cut ended by the dealer. Being this is a common issue with a $2000+ cost, there should be more consideration allowed for this failure.

NHTSA ID

11737997

Incident

May 4, 2026