2023 Honda Pilot Driver assistance Problems

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving with the adaptive cruise control activated, the cruise control became inoperative after being used for a while. The message "Clean Radar Sensor" was displayed on the instrument panel. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact stated that after the vehicle was turned off and restarted, the adaptive cruise control returned to normal operation. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front radar needed to be realigned and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front radar unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.

NHTSA ID

11752649

Incident

Mar 24, 2023

Mileage

19,000 mi

Unintended acceleration / accelerator pedal stuck. Vehicle accelerated uncontrollably (>75 mph) on two-lane road despite heavy braking. Could not regain control for over 1 minute. This is the second incident (first in Nov 2025, reported to Serra Honda Sylacauga with no issues found per service department). Video evidence available.

NHTSA ID

11751137

Incident

Jul 17, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was unexpectedly engaged causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in ongoing traffic with no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front brake sensors had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and multiple cases were opened. The contact expressed concern that the vehicle was hazardous to operate and that the failure could lead to a catastrophic crash. The contact also stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive with the contact and the contact’s child inside. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11737129

Incident

May 11, 2026

Mileage

50,000 mi

Description: While using cruise control at highway speed and winter weather conditions, the cruise control system suddenly and unexpectedly disengaged without adequate warning. The vehicle experienced rapid deceleration and I lost control, resulting in multiple spins, a near collision with a truck, and impact with a curb before coming to stop. The vehicle sustained damage. Fortunately no one was not severely injured. History and safety concern This is not an isolated event. I have experienced similar, unexpected cruise control disengagements multiple times over the past year while driving under varied conditions. Each event has created a significant safety risk. The sudden, uncommanded disengagement at highway speed caused abrupt deceleration and loss of control, which presents a severe hazard to vehicle occupants and other road users. I have reported the issue to the manufacturer and requested a full diagnostic investigation, system data logs, root‑cause determination, and remediation (I am requesting replacement or buyback if a defect is confirmed). I have asked the manufacturer to escalate to a senior case manager/remediation team and to preserve all relevant data and parts. Requested NHTSA actions Open an ODI safety defect investigation into this vehicle model/series and the cruise control/ADAS/cruise‑control module behavior. Request preservation and production of all relevant manufacturer data, including ECU/ADAS event data recorder logs, telematics, software versions, diagnostic records, and any field complaints or warranty claims related to cruise control disengagements. Evaluate whether this is a systemic safety defect requiring recall, remedy, or other actions, and consider requiring manufacturer owner notification and appropriate remedies (repair, replacement, buyback) if a defect is confirmed. Provide guidance on any additional evidence or steps I should take to support the investigation.

NHTSA ID

11729387

Incident

Mar 22, 2026

El carro tiene fallas con el sistema eléctrico de frenos y no arranca.

NHTSA ID

11694899

Incident

Oct 21, 2025

While driving on U.S Highway 521 in South Carolina, the vehicle experienced SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED BRAKING AND VIOLENT SHAKING even though there were no cars or obstacles directly in front of me. The sensation was so strong it felt as if the car had been rear-ended, but there was no impact. The issue has happened MULTIPLE TIMES since I purchased the vehicle new in 2023. Each time, traffic was flowing normally, and no immediate hazard was present. The closest car in front of me was several car lenghts away, yet the PILOT suddenly braked on its own. The problem appears to be linked to the COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM or related driver-assist sensors, which seem to be misreading conditions and triggering false emergency braking. This defect creates a serious SAFETY HAZARD. The abrupt, forceful braking puts me and my family at risk of being rear-ended by following vehicles. It has also caused panic and near-miss incidents in traffic. I am filling this complaint to ensure it is formally documented and investigated as SAFETY DEFECT. This is a serious risk to DRIVER AND PASSENGERS and could lead to accidents. I am requesting NHTSA to investigate whether this defect affects other HONDA PILOT vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11689161

Incident

Sep 23, 2025

Twice in the past week the collision mitigation braking system engaged without reason and the vehicle suddenly braked while I was driving

NHTSA ID

11677888

Incident

Aug 1, 2025

7/25/2025 i was driving my wife’s pilot between 55 and 60 mph when the vehicle alerted me to several warnings and the braking system stuck at the top of the pedal not allowing the vehicle to slow in a construction zone. I was able to limp the vehicle home but the vehicle was extremely difficult to slow at red lights. The vehicle was towed from residence after sitting and the tow truck driver said the vehicle was not showing any warning signs. The dealership in paducah test drove the vehicle and did not see anything wrong with it. They subsequently checked and there was a diagnostic for brake booster failure. The vehicle has 41,000 miles on it. In addition it went to the dealership at 9,981 miles for electronic parking brake sticking and the ike dealership said there was nothing wrong. There are other reports of woners on youtube who have had this failure or similar with one member having to ditch the vehicle. I almost wrecked and hit a vehicle that slowed in front of me. The system thew error codes to include failure in electronic steering, transmission, hill descent, electronic braking, and others. I recorded the errors on the dash. This vehicle has also thrown airbag error with only a few thousand miles. The vehicle has side panels that have fallen off and and seals on the panoramic sunroof that have failed.

NHTSA ID

11677041

Incident

Jul 25, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11672012

Incident

Jun 26, 2025

Continued from previous submitted complaint: Driver window will not stop when trying to stop it forcibly with hand. I was told that the window will not stop until the window is almost closed at the top. Hope a 4 year old's arm isn't in it. Front passenger window will raise 1/4 of the way up, then fall back down and rock on it's cradle. I took a video of it happening but Charlie's Honda, Augusta, Maine did not want to see it. The Key Fob is a nightmare. It tells me it won’t lock because key is in vehicle. The key is in my pocket as I walk away. It also tells me that “No Key Detected” I’m sitting in the driver’s seat with the vehicle’s engine physically running. Rear Hatch will not open when physically pushing release button. Much more reported but Charlie's Honda has an excuse ready at all times. I bought this Pilot on 10/02/2023 and have nothing but problems with it up to date 6/20/2025. Previous owners kept it for 4 months then traded because they felt very unsafe in it. Which I didn't know this info until 6-15-2025

NHTSA ID

11668155

Incident

Oct 2, 2023

While driving the pilot warning alerts popped up that none of the collision detection, lane assist, cruise control, and seemingly all radar related systems were working. Additionally, the headlights turned off. We have brought this to the Honda dealer on now three occasions, and there doesn’t seem to be any understanding of why this is happening. On the evening of March 11 this issue happened again after the dealership having the car for a week to “fix “this problem and the lights turned off on an unlit road almost causing an accident. The car is again back at the dealer, who apparently is working with Honda again. I have seen this type of problem reported for other 2023 Honda vehicles, including the pilot, passport, and CRV on various Internet forums.

NHTSA ID

11647933

Incident

Mar 11, 2025

Slow acceleration at the speed between 0 to 30 mpg. Doesn’t shift smoothly and hesitate. Not enough power on the highway

NHTSA ID

11643062

Incident

Feb 15, 2025

Automatic Braking System (ABS) automatically applied brakes when I was 2 car lengths behind a vehicle that was turning and the sensor detected the vehicles brake lights. There was enough space between my vehicle and the one in front of me that was turning for me to stop if needed.

NHTSA ID

11641765

Incident

Feb 4, 2025

If there is rain, snow, fog, moisture or salt from the roads builds up or collects on the emblem of my pilot, I get a warning saying something to the effect of “ Some Driver Assist Systems cannot operate clean area shown”. This is quite dangerous when you live in the Midwest snowbelt. You can’t always pull over and clean it. The system will repeat the message even after acknowledging the issue, if it clears itself or improves, which is equally alarming.

NHTSA ID

11638566

Incident

Jan 25, 2025

I have a 2023 Honda Pilot Elite. I have noticed a few times that the driver assist system doesn't work as intended during driving in snow or just rain. I will get an error message on my dash, "some driver assist systems cannot operate, clean area shown." Honda wants the driver to pull over and clean the snow off of the H in front of the SUV. This also happens when it's raining and no snow. The driver assist sensors must be located there. What happens if I should get in an accident when this malfunction goes off and I get hurt or even kill someone? I see this complaint all over the internet from us owners on different forums. The dealerships are doing nothing. I paid a lot of money for this SUV. I expect it to work at all times, especially the safety features..

NHTSA ID

11631917

Incident

Dec 3, 2024

When I filled up on gas and I used 88 instead of regular 87 fuel so a day after I filled up with gas I turn on the vehicle all of the lights came on warning that the awd system didn’t work and the lane departure didn’t work and cruse control didn’t work. And when I went to the dealer they couldn’t figure it out until the pulled the gas out saying we put the wrong gas in the car

NHTSA ID

11601453

Incident

Jul 11, 2024

The vehicle emergency braking kicks in for no reason, there were no other cars in sight and I was driving, in my lane when the vehicle flashed BRAKE and slammed on brakes for me. That is going to cause me to get into an accident when I am cruising and in my lane, no other vehicles around and it slams on brakes, very startling. Also, if it is raining to hard all safety features stop functioning and it says I have to Clean the emblem, the emblem is clean it is just raining to hard and the “safety” features can’t function

NHTSA ID

11587876

Incident

May 8, 2024

When driving down both highways and interstates on several occasions my vehicle has slammed the brakes on prompting the warning of emergency braking. This when there are no vehicles directly in my lane or path. It often occurs when passing a tractor trailer on the interstate so much so that I hover my foot on the gas pedal to counteract this braking.

NHTSA ID

11583713

Incident

Apr 12, 2024

Failure Brake System, Failure Anti-lock Brake System, Failure Hill Start Assist, Failure Adaptive Failure Cruise Control, Failure Lane Keep Assist, Failure Collision Mitigation, Failure Breaking System, Failure Road Departure Mitigation System, Failure Low Speed Braking, Failure Auto High Beam, Failure Parking Sensor and No AWD only FWD. I have picture of dashboard with each failure listing when changes. We live in NY we had big snowstorm and car failed on road. Dealer refuse to send loaners and also back order to end of March. Car is defective

NHTSA ID

11566857

Incident

Jan 15, 2024

our family was driving on the interstate at 70mph, when the electronic system malfunctioned. The car said every system was failing and to see dealer immediately. The car immediately stopped accelerating, steering wheel shook, and car was difficult to control on the busy, holiday weekend interstate traffic. We had to be towed to Honda dealership, where they "fixed" the problem and we were good to go. 30 minutes later on the busy interstate, the same problem occurred again. Electrical, braking system, brakes started smelling hot. We had to drive on the interstate shoulder at 20 mph for 2 miles to an exit with our family of 5 and our dog. A second tow on Thanksgiving Eve. There were absolutely no warnings from the vehicle before the issue began. The car was bought with 320 miles on the odometer on November 20, and this occurred on November 22 with 570 miles on the odometer. From what we keep reading, we need 4 repairs for the same issue in order for the car to be considered "not operable" or "not safe." Are we supposed to drive on the interstate a few more times , get towed 2 more times, and just hope that we aren't hit and killed by a semi truck after our car suddenly stops accelerating? From looking online, there have been a large number of complaints with exact or similar issues. Does someone have to get killed for something more to happen?

NHTSA ID

11556570

Incident

Nov 22, 2023

The Pilot emergency braked on its own as I was driving 30mph on a rural road, throwing myself and my children forward in our seats as the vehicle came to a stop. It was a violent action. No other vehicles or people were around us and no reason for the braking should have occurred.

NHTSA ID

11553929

Incident

Oct 30, 2023

When traveling on the road I live, the Pilot will slam its breaks on, I assume this is the automatic breaking system, but the issue is, there will be nothing on or near the road. No cars, pedestrians , nothing. Just my pilot. The speed limit is about 45MPH and it will slam the breaks on. It has become so problematic I avoid traveling that direction on my road. It has happened to my spouse while driving as well. And again, it’s not every time, but sometimes. It has happened about 10+ times. Makes me nervous that while driving it will do it, and I will be rear ended.

NHTSA ID

11531019

Incident

Jul 8, 2023

1st incident: I was traveling on country road. I was approaching two bicyclists on the right. With no oncoming traffic, I began to move into the other lane to go around the bicyclists. The warnings appeared on my dash, and the steering wheel pulled the car back towards the bicyclists. 2nd incident: I was traveling on a country road, goin over a hill. The cameras must have lost sight of the lane markers, dash flashed the lane departure warning and the steering pulled the vehicle towards the oncoming lane. There was a motorcycle approaching & I steered the vehicle back to the appropriate lane position. 3rd incident: My husband was driving on a country road. A tractor and farm implement was approaching in the oncoming lane. My husband slowed down & moved to the right of his lane to give the tractor more room. The lane departure warning flashed & the steering pulled the vehicle back towards the tractor/implement. We returned to the dealership & had them shut this feature OFF.

NHTSA ID

11527338

Incident

May 5, 2023