Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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. …
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 25-35 MPH, the vehicle slowed down unexpectedly, and the brake pedal was hard and slow to respond when depressed. The contact stated that the steering wheel was pulling to the left, and it was difficult to correct the steering wheel. The vehicle was difficult to control. The VSA light was illuminated. There was a triangle with an exclamation mark symbol displayed on the instrument cluster. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the VSA module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 173,273.
Unfortunately, our each vehicle has been targeted and caused car accident from 2010 to present day. In 2012, our Mazda mpv 2006 engine was destroyed or replaced at the work place during working at hilton hotel. Our Acura mdx 2002 VIN # [redacted] and current Honda Pilot 2005 VIN # [redacted] were under controlled and involved car accident in 2017 and 2018 because of targeting. I have noticed and reported to local police and insurance behalf of this cases which can stop suddenly or slowly. Its depend on how they controlled and pre-arranged accident to be happened on a pointing time. Surely, many life and vehicles are very dangerous. We desperately need safety cars and people in our community in order to avoid crushing cars and people from now and future. Please help.
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.
Driving at around 45-50 MPH on a busy highway in the morning rush hour, as I pressed my brake suddenly to avoid another vehicle coming on to my lane, I lost control of the car. It swung violently from side-to-side as I tried to steer it away from vehicles around me so as not to hit them. It finally came to a halt after slamming on to the vehicle that came on to my lane causing me to brake suddenly in the first place. The person whose car I hit and who watched me from a close range told me later that he was worried that the car was going to turn over. For me, the scary part was when I could not control the car by steering it. I swerved it left & right so as not to hit others but felt as if something else was controlling the sideways movement of the car. I suspected it was some kind of computer malfunction and thought about reporting it to Honda but did not get a chance to do that. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact received a recall repair remedy from mcgrath city Honda (6720 w grand ave, chicago, il 60707, [phone]) to address the vsa, but the remedy failed to provide a solution. The contact later experienced abnormal involuntary braking with the steering pulling to the right for a brief moment and then the vsa warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who stated that the code was for the yaw rate sensor and that it was not related to the recall. The dealer stated that further diagnostic testing was needed. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V092000 (service brakes, hydraulic, traction control system), and NHTSA action numbers: dp12002 (electronic stability control), pe12028 (service brakes, hydraulic), and ea13002 (electronic stability control). …
1st incident-I was traveling at a slow rate of speed (approx. 25-30 MPH). Heard a growling sound & car suddenly braked on its own. I also felt as if I had lost steering ability. The vsa light flashed on then off during the incident. 2nd incident- same as above only a week later. 3rd incident- about 2 weeks later. My wife was driving the car. Had slowed down to enter the ramp to get on the highway. Again the car made a grinding sound, the vsa light came on momentarily while the car applied the brakes on its own. All of these incidences occurred after the car was serviced for the vsa recall(13-026) on May 6, 2015. Previous to this service, we had never had any issues with the vsa. We believe that by having this recall performed, has caused another malfunctioned as a result. I have read some much more frightening incidences than ours on your site. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle slighty swayed from the left and the right with a shuttering sensation. The vsa system warning indicator illuminated. The contact turned off the vehicle to disengage the warning indicator; however, the failure recurred. The contact found in the owner's manual that the vsa warning was an indication that the brakes and stability controls were experiencing a malfunction. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and several failure codes appeared; however, they were not able to completely indicate what the nature of the repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact was driving approximately 55 MPH and engaged the brakes. The vehicle came to a abrupt stop and then began to accelerate uncontrollably. The contact was unable to maneuver the uncontrollable vehicle and crashed into two cement barriers. The contact sustained minor back injuries. A police report was filed of the incident. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a salvage facility. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number:13V092000 (service brakes, hydraulic: antilock: control) and stated that the recall notification was received after the consequence of the recall had been experienced. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000.
NHTSA investigations
Vehicle Stability Assist Malfunction
The Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system in the model year (MY) 2005 Honda Pilot vehicles integrates braking control strategies for anti-lock braking, traction control, electronic stability control and brake assist functions. The system consists of a VSA modulator (an electronic control unit and electronic/hydraulic actuator) that receives data from an integral brake pressure sensor and from wheel speed sensors…
Brake complaints in other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2005 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 134 complaints about the brakes of the 2005 Honda Pilot, 20% of the model year's 679 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Honda Pilot brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes 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 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 101,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 0 fires and 12 injuries to brakes 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.