Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after shifting into reverse to reverse out of the driveway, the contact had forgotten an item on the outside of the vehicle; the contact opened the door; however, while reaching outside the vehicle to retrieve the item, the contact released the brake pedal unintendedly and the vehicle rolled backwards, causing the contact to fall out of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle continued rolling backwards and struck the sidewalk and the neighbor's garden wall. The contact stated that the vehicle then rolled forwards and rolled over the right feet to the right shoulder of her body and then struck the garage door and garage door frame to her residence and came to a stop. There were damages to the garage door and garage door frame. The contact became immobilized and yelled for help and a neighbor ran over to assist. …
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had become a recurring failure. Additionally, the transmission warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle was jerking into gear and the vehicle hesitated before responding as needed. The vehicle was driven to a local dealer and was being diagnosed. …
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that an ABS message was frequently displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the contact was informed that there was a miscommunication error with the front camera, which caused the failure. The contact was informed that the failure was not a safety issue and was given an estimate for the repair; however, the contact declined the repair. Since the failure, the contact received various messages on the instrument panel, with one message related to the transmission. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who confirmed the miscommunication error and that if not addressed, the failure could lead to other major safety issues. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled; the vehicle returned to normal operation several minutes after the failure had occurred. No warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission fluid needed to be flushed and refilled. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 35,987. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. The vehicle was able to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that the failure ceased; however, the message "Emissions Problems" was displayed, and the AWD warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,300.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 30 MPH, several unknown warning lights flashed on the instrument panel and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact stated that the message "Pull Over When Safe" was then displayed and the contact's wife pulled over, restarted the vehicle, and drove to the residence. The following day, the vehicle was taken to a dealer who discovered a misalignment between the 4th and 5th gear, causing the transmission failure. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the transmission was replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle shifted into park independently. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while restarting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated to restart for approximately 90-seconds, and then operated as intended. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where was it diagnosed, and the dealer determined that the the front camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure, and informed the contact that the failure was not covered under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.
I am experiencing recurring issues with my vehicle that closely mirror the problems described in complaints with NHTSA IDs 11565876, 11490438, and 11489885. In July 2023, while driving through an intersection after stopping at a traffic light, I heard a loud clunking noise. Over the next 45 minutes, I noticed at least six additional clunk sounds at low speeds. I took the vehicle to the dealership at 51,244 miles, where I was informed that the transmission fluid was both dark and low. The dealership inquired if I had used the vehicle for towing, despite there being no tow hitch assembly. They recommended a transmission flush service, but within 2 to 3 weeks, I began experiencing transmission juddering at constant speeds and harsh shifting during acceleration. …
The auto stop/start idle function does not re-engage after stopping the engine. This has happened at least 4 times in the last 3weeks with my vehicle. When stopped in traffic or at a light and stop sign the engine idle engages and stops running the engine, when releasing the brake pedal the engine does not turn on as it should and the car stalls. This requires the operator to engage hazard lights, shift into park and repeatedly try the push start button to turn on the vehicle to proceed. The passenger safety of myself and children are of concern. While having to wait on a car function, that is the core operation of the vehicle, it is dangerous to shut off a vehicle while in operation. …
On three separate occasions, after stopping at a traffic light or in a parking lot, I was unable to move my car. The first time, the transmission dropped into neutral and I was unable to get it to any other gear . I had to turn off and restart the car multiple times to get it into gear. I was on a heavily trafficked road with multiple cars behind me at the light. Turned my flashers on and prayed to not get hit. The second time. I was in a parking lot and was leaving. I pulled into a space to look for something and got a message to put the car in park. I was unable to do so. Had to turn off and restart the car twice before It would go into park. I then turned it off and back on and was able to get it into gear. Happened again on a 55 MPH road with my grandkids. Very scary. …
Transmission complaints in other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2020 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2020 Honda Pilot, 7% of the model year's 492 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2020 Honda Pilot transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2020 Honda Pilot, though it has 11 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 2020 Honda Pilot transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 40% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain 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.