Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2025 | 33 | 15% | 10,000 miles |
| 2024 | 13 | 11% | 25,000 miles |
| 2023 | 17 | 12% | — |
| 2022 | 20 | 12% | 19,000 miles |
| 2021 | 28 | 6% | 10,000 miles |
| 2020 | 26 | 5% | 4,000 miles |
| 2019 | 43 | 5% | 5,000 miles |
| 2018 | 10 | 2% | 14,000 miles |
| 2017 | 27 | 3% | 22,000 miles |
| 2016 | 31 | 2% | 15,000 miles |
| 2015 | 12 | 11% | 6,000 miles |
| 2014 | 9 | 8% | 37,000 miles |
| 2013 | 42 | 15% | 26,000 miles |
| 2012 | 29 | 17% | 36,000 miles |
| 2011 | 41 | 14% | 30,000 miles |
| 2010 | 9 | 8% | 58,000 miles |
| 2009 | 14 | 10% | 48,000 miles |
| 2008 | 7 | 5% | 72,000 miles |
| 2007 | 21 | 10% | 43,000 miles |
| 2006 | 34 | 13% | 89,000 miles |
| 2005 | 134 | 20% | 101,000 miles |
| 2004 | 22 | 4% | 42,000 miles |
| 2003 | 25 | 3% | 127,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle did not slow down as intended. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. On another occasion, while attempting to park, the vehicle accelerated and drove over the sidewalk and crashed into the stairs to her residence. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center, where it was due to be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The insurance provider was involved and suggested that the contact call the NHTS Hotline and file a safety complaint. The contact mentioned that prior to the crash, the vehicle was inspected for an unknown manufacturer recall, where the dealer informed that the brake inspection passed. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while attempted to park the vehicle into a park spot occupied with her husband and granddaughter in the vehicle, the vehicle acceleratored independently causing the vehicle to crash into a brick wall. The contact stated that no air bags were deployed in her vehicle. The contact stated her granddaughter sustained a cut near her right eyebrow. No medical attention was required. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was towed to a collision center. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and they are investigating the matter. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.
The contact owns a 2024 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH in a drive-through and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was stiff and the vehicle failed to respond on two occasions, and rear-ended the same vehicle twice. The contact stated that both vehicles sustained scratches. The air bags did not deploy. There was no injury sustained. No police report was filed. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall inspection for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V391000(Service Brakes, Hydraulic) was performed, and the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle had passed the inspection. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and sent an engineer, who inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that no failure was found. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
Today, while I was driving, the vehicle information display suddenly started flashing warnings indicating that the following systems were experiencing errors, leading to potentially reduced brake performance. I was advised to take the car to the dealer for diagnosis and immediate remediation: Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Hill Start Assist Lane Departure and Correction Assist Brake Hold System However, when we stopped and attempted to turn off the car in the usual manner, it wouldn't shut down. It took two attempts to finally turn off the car. The indicators began flashing again when the car was restarted, but after turning off the car again and waiting for 10 minutes, then restarting it, the warning messages disappeared. I managed to take pictures of at least two warnings as they were displayed on the vehicle information screen: Hill Start Assist and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). …
our family was driving on the interstate at 70mph, when the electronic system malfunctioned. The car said every system was failing and to see dealer immediately. The car immediately stopped accelerating, steering wheel shook, and car was difficult to control on the busy, holiday weekend interstate traffic. We had to be towed to Honda dealership, where they "fixed" the problem and we were good to go. 30 minutes later on the busy interstate, the same problem occurred again. Electrical, braking system, brakes started smelling hot. We had to drive on the interstate shoulder at 20 mph for 2 miles to an exit with our family of 5 and our dog. A second tow on Thanksgiving Eve. There were absolutely no warnings from the vehicle before the issue began. The car was bought with 320 miles on the odometer on November 20, and this occurred on November 22 with 570 miles on the odometer. …
7/25/2025 i was driving my wife's pilot between 55 and 60 mph when the vehicle alerted me to several warnings and the braking system stuck at the top of the pedal not allowing the vehicle to slow in a construction zone. I was able to limp the vehicle home but the vehicle was extremely difficult to slow at red lights. The vehicle was towed from residence after sitting and the tow truck driver said the vehicle was not showing any warning signs. The dealership in paducah test drove the vehicle and did not see anything wrong with it. They subsequently checked and there was a diagnostic for brake booster failure. The vehicle has 41,000 miles on it. In addition it went to the dealership at 9,981 miles for electronic parking brake sticking and the ike dealership said there was nothing wrong. …
The contact owned a 2022 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in a parking spot with the brake pedal depressed, the engine revved unexpectedly and independently accelerated and crash into a Ford Bronco, a Jeep Cherokee, another vehicle, and two parking signs. There were no warning lights illuminated during the failure. The contact had made three other stops prior to the crash. There was no injury sustained. The air bags deployed as needed. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the failure was possibly caused by a stuck floor mat. The dealer declined to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The insurance company was contacted and deemed the vehicle a total loss. …
The car accelerated brakes did not work or did not function. The. "Brakes "word (brown color ) flashed 2 x. I was going to work I parked on the upper level of the parking structure. AS I was doing rear parking I adjusted the car forward to align with the parking slot . As I moved the car forward it jolted and accelerated. The brakes was not working. The word "brake". Flashed. 2 times . The car fell to the lower floor. I was fortunate as it was a Sunday no car nor pedestrian was in the lower level but the car beside where I fell suffered damages. I was brought to the emergency department . Paramedics and police were called. My ct of head neck abdomen and pelvis were negative. Ct of chest showed band like contusion comparable with seatbelt injury. I suffered from bruises to my left leg. Right breast lower abdomen. Left clavicle area. …
Related recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Honda Pilot years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (134), 2019 (43), 2013 (42), 2011 (41) and 2006 (34) model years. Brake complaints make up 20% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Honda Pilot brake problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 25V-391 (pedals and linkages, Jun 12, 2025); 23V-458 (master cylinder, Jun 29, 2023). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Honda Pilot brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles; 51% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (13 mentions), followed by the foundation components › disc › rotor (6).
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.