2024 Honda Pilot

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 6 complaints, and multiple Early Warning Reporting (EWR) field reports alleging inaccurate rear seat belt warning status. These allegations concern both false positive and false negative statuses in model year (MY) 2023-2024 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured by American Honda Motor Co. (Honda). The complaints state that the rear passenger seat belt warning system is displaying inaccurate information to the driver for both second and third row seating positions. This can lead to the driver dismissing warnings regarding rear seat belt status. The inaccurate information can also cause the driver to believe rear occupants are buckled when they are not. This reliance on false information presents concerns for the safety of children and child seats located in the rear rows, especially in the third row where the buckled status is more difficult for the driver to visually confirm. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to determine the scope and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

The second row passenger side seat belt warning sensor repeatedly pings even when the seat belt is connected anytime the passenger shifts in his or her position. It's as if the seat belt is not connected but it is. Not only is this annoying but it also means the driver is uncertain as to whether the seat belt is plugged in properly and has to manually check each time. Safety is therefore a concern. This happens whenever the vehicle is in operation and someone is using the second row passenger side seat belt. No other seats are affected. There has been no inspection of the problem but I plan to take the vehicle to a Honda dealer. My research online suggests this is an problem consistent with NHTSA investigation PE25017

NHTSA ID

11756267

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Seatbelt warning system INCORRECTLY indicates with persistant and distracting chime and lights, that middle row right seatbelt is unbuckled, when it is in fact buckled. This has happened over 25 times over a 6 week period. It becomes a significant distraction to the driver, and forces the driver to ignore the seatbelt warnings all together, because while it is happening, it happens every 2-3 seconds continuously. Child passengers could very well be unbuckled ( Dangerous) and the driver wouldnt know it, due to the defective system. It is also extremely difficult to concentrate on safely driving while the chime is continuously going off. I urge the NHTSA to instruct HONDA to issue a safety recall and fix this dangerous issue.

NHTSA ID

11754429

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

The back seat seat belt warning malfunctions when someone is sitting in the back seat, causing the alarm to sound as if the passenger is not buckled in. The red seat belt notification also indicates that someone in that seat is unbuckled, which is incorrect. The seat belt is fastened the entire time. The notification alerts mid- trip while driving. This is extremely dangerous as a driver I thought our child unbuckled her seat belt while driving. This problem has been occurring for over 2 months. The problem has been inspected by a Honda dealership and diagnosed-Honda Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) A26-027 for certain 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The bulletin addresses a condition where the vehicle incorrectly indicates that the second-row right passenger seat belt is unfastened, even when it is buckled.

NHTSA ID

11752570

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

In an accident where car collided with a concrete barrier on the highway at high speed, front drivers side, airbags did not deploy. Vehicle is available as of now, problem has not been reproduced, insurance representatives totaled the car but did not check the airbags, no warning lights or symptoms prior.

NHTSA ID

11751915

Incident

Jul 12, 2026

The right rear seatbelt keep’s going into alarm over and over like someone is unplugging it and plugging back in. The alarm is persistent no matter who sits in the seat. It flashes on the dashboard and the audible alarm sounds most if not the whole car ride every day.

NHTSA ID

11751804

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

While running errands, the A/C compressor abruptly stopped pushing cold air. The air was pushing out cold before vehicle engine was turned off, then wouldnt cool when vehicle was turned back in. Honda dealer states need new compressor.

NHTSA ID

11751504

Incident

Jul 16, 2026

The rear passenger seatbelt warning system beeps constantly when someone is buckled into the seat saying it’s not buckled, when it is.

NHTSA ID

11750093

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

MIDDLE ROW WINDOW SEAT BELT IS ENGAGED, BUT STILL CHIMEING AND RED "X" APPEARS ON DASHBOARD SEATING CHART MIDDLE ROW- WINDOW SEAT.

NHTSA ID

11749750

Incident

Jul 11, 2026

Over The Air - This update contains various performance enhancements and UI improvements.

Service Bulletin - The seat belt reminder incorrectly indicates that the second-row right passenger seat belt is unfastened even after the passenger has fastened it.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no auto re-start condition after going into an auto idle stop. The push button ignition may or may not restart the engine. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no auto re-start condition after going into an auto idle stop. The push button ignition may or may not restart the engine. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no auto re-start condition after going into an auto idle stop. The push button ignition may or may not restart the engine. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Service Bulletin - Customers have experienced rattle or vibration noise coming from behind the center display area of the dashboard while defrost is on high fan speed due to vent duct parts moving and contacting each other when defrost fan speed is on high, making a rattling noise. This condition happens most frequently when ambient temperatures are at or below freezing.