Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that shortly after refueling, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration, causing the speed to increase to approximately 45 MPH while approaching stopped traffic. While pressing the brake pedal to avoid a collision, the vehicle continued to accelerate and crashed into the rear of a second vehicle. During the air bag deployment, the air was deflated, causing the driver's head to contact the steering wheel. Also, the contact indicated that metal fragments were present during the air bag deployment. The contact sustained a lacerated left wrist and lacerations to the chest area. The driver also sustained contusions and bruised to the head, ankles, and legs, along with neck and back stiffness, which will all require medical treatment. No other injuries were known regarding the second vehicle occupants. …
Travelling on interstate w/ cruise speed set @ 70 mph. VSA (vehicle stability assist) engaged with a brief grinding noise & pulled to the right. Very startling event. VSA activation indicator triangle light came on, as well as, the VSA system indicator light. Have experienced the event a dozen or so times on both the interstate and roads with a speed limit of 35/40 mph, without use of the cruise control. We are original owners of the vehicle and it has been diligently worked on throughout & currently has 230,000 miles on it. Awaiting delivery of a new vehicle, but intend for my newly licensed son to drive the vehicle. Took it to my repair shop, but they couldn't replicate the issue. Replaced both front speed sensors, but the issue occurred on the interstate drive home immediately after. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably and crashed into a stationary police cruiser. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The driver and the front passenger sustained injuries that did not require medical attention. The contact's vehicle was damaged and was towed to a tow yard. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. Two weeks earlier, while driving approximately 10 MPH, the brakes seized momentarily and released when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.
I was parking , when the car jolted forward, I hit the brake, but the car accelerated going onto the pavement of the shopping centre, breaking two sides of a brick pillar. Both sides of the front of the car doors were destroyed and the main front, the car was a total loss. The airbags, never came out.
Sitting in a parking lot and the vsa light came on. Looked it up and saw the recall on the vsa so intended to get it checked out. A couple days later I'm tooling along at freeway speed and for a brief second it felt like someone slammed on the brakes and released, and the vsa light came on. Took it to the dealership and the codes they found were for some sort of a power drop and blamed it on a possible power outage or drop at some point. Maybe alternator, battery or something, but they didn't find anything wrong with any of those, but it cost me $125.00 to be told they don't know. The vsa recall was completed in 2012 for the wiring harness. Today (a week later) I'm going about 25 on a surface street and the exact same thing happened, so I took it to the dealership without turning off the engine and possibly clearing any codes. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Honda Pilot. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The driver lost control of the vehicle, crashed into a parked vehicle, and then crashed into a brick wall. The driver and front passenger suffered internal injuries, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 09042928. The dealer was not contacted. The failure was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that upon stopping and shifting into park, the vehicle suddenly accelerated while the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle continued to accelerate until crashing into a cement median and another vehicle, resulting in extensive damages. No injuries were reported, but a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an insurance company, where it was awaiting repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Vehicle stability assist control module is malfunctioning and the brakes are activating by themselves... Vehicle stability assist warning light is on and cannot turn the vsa light off... Honda doesn't list this VIN number as under recall that it has the same problem as the vehicles under recall. Unibody rear under frame and suspension mount corrodes and rust do to water collecting under vehicle inside the unibody. There is no weep holes for water to drip out and the suspension mounts corrode and have come off the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. While driving at 10 MPH, the speedometer dropped down to zero. The contact stated that the vsa warning light illuminated and the brakes activated independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Hace un tiempo tuve un accidente y mientras conducia solo en mi Honda Pilot y lo bolsa de aire del lado del pasajero exploto aun cuando no habia nadie en el asiento del pasajero y la bolsa de aire del lado mio, del conductor siendo la mas importante no abri poniendo mi vida en riesgo.
Acceleration complaints in other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2005 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 46 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2005 Honda Pilot, 7% of the model year's 679 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2005 Honda Pilot acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2005 Honda Pilot, though it has 13 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Honda Pilot acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 109,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 7 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.