2024 Honda Pilot Seat Belt Problems

Mileage when the problem started

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2024 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2024 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle with the second-row passenger's side seat occupied and the seat belt buckled, there was an audible chime indicating that the seat belt was not securely buckled. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and the manufacturer were contacted about the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed of NHTSA ACTION Number: PE25017 (SEAT BELTS). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the investigation. The failure mileage was 59,000.

The contact owns a 2024 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the second-row passenger's side seat belt became inoperable while buckled and a passenger was seated in the seat. The contact stated that there was a loud chime while the was occupied and the seat belt was buckled; however, the warning sound failed to turn off. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,000.

Component/System Failure: The right rear passenger seatbelt buckle/sensor appears to be malfunctioning. It intermittently registers as unbuckled even when the seatbelt is securely fastened. The component is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: This defect creates a safety concern by causing continuous distraction to the driver due to repeated seatbelt warning chimes and alerts. It may also lead to uncertainty about whether the passenger is properly restrained, potentially compromising occupant safety. Reproduction/Confirmation: The issue has been consistently reproduced during normal driving conditions. It occurs frequently, even when the seatbelt is properly latched. The issue has not yet been formally confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. …

Second row, right side seat belt sensor is malfunctioning. It started about 6 weeks ago. Occasionally, when going around a turn, an alarm would chime and a red X would appear on the affected seat on the dash screen. It was very quick, and sometimes I just heard the chime and did not see anything on the dash. The issue has become more frequent over time, so that it went from happening a couple times a week to multiple times in one trip, not always when going around a turn. Just a few days ago, the passenger got in and buckled, yet the system showed that it was not buckled. The seat belt was securely latched. The alarm continued to sound and the dash showed a red X on that seat plus a red picture of a person wearing a seat belt. It was a short (about 1 mile drive) and the alarm went off the whole time. We had to reconfigure the vehicle so that seat is no longer being used. …

In the last few months, two of the rear seats in my 2024 Honda Pilot (one in the second and one in the third) started giving false alerts that someone in unbuckled. At first, it would just occasionally ding, but now, if someone is sitting in those seats (and they ARE buckled in) the alert will go off basically the entire car ride and the dash will show that they are NOT buckled in...even though they are. Not only is this VERY frustrating, as it's left 2 seats in my car not useable, but it's also a massive hazard as a driver because I can't confirm is my passengers are properly buckled or not. I couldn't figure out why this would've randomly happened to me...and after some poking around on the internet I read that this seems to be a massive issue with these cars and that there is currently an investigation on this. I am begging you please take this seriously. …

While driving in the city a warning came up on the dash stating "Supplemental restraint system problem. See your dealer." and the red seat belt/air bag symbol turned on and remained on for the remainder of the drive home (about 45 min at variable speed). As soon as I got home I turned the car off and back on and the warnings disappeared. I drove the vehicle for another 30 minutes and the warnings did not re-appear. However, I noticed that the seat belts used to tighten / lock while the vehicle was in D (drive) but they no longer do. I also tried performing a hard stop in a safe area to see if the belt would lock while my body was jolted forward but it did not. The vehicle had 6 passengers when the warning first came on and all of us experienced loose belts. This makes me concerned about the functionality of the restraint system, especially in the event of a crash.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Rear passenger seat belt, yes. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Can't use rear passenger seat belt Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, Poway Honda Dealer Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No, only dealer Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? The seatbelt keeps making noise and the light comes on saying that the passenger is not buckled, while the passenger is buckled. This happens non stop, making it impossible to use the seatbelt. This has been going on for a few months.

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.

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.

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 investigations

Seat Belt complaints in other Pilot years