2020 Honda Pilot Complaints

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 10/07/2026

On October 7, 2026, at approximately 131,425 miles, my 2020 Honda Pilot Elite suddenly displayed multiple Honda Sensing safety-system failures simultaneously without prior warning. The vehicle displayed Adaptive Cruise Control Problem, Lane Keeping Assist Problem, Collision Mitigation System Problem, Road Departure Mitigation System Problem, and Auto High-Beam Problem. I shut the vehicle completely off and restarted it, but the warnings returned. These failures appear to disable multiple advanced driver-assistance and collision-avoidance functions at the same time. I have found reports from other 2020 Honda Pilot owners describing similar simultaneous Honda Sensing failures, including reported failures of the multipurpose forward camera. I am having the vehicle diagnosed and will retain the diagnostic trouble codes and repair information. I am reporting this because the simultaneous loss of multiple collision-avoidance and driver-assistance safety systems appears to be a potential safety-related defect.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE — Filed 10/05/2026

Honda Pilot 2020 sensing multipurpose camera failure. DTC U3000-49

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 10/01/2025

When driving in normal conditions on a 2 lane road and passing oncoming vehicles the ‘auto emergency brake’ will flash on screen and briefly slow/attempt to apply brakes. Very intermittent, no consistency with other conditions such as weather, traffic flow or driving conditions. Concern - safe driving conditions are interrupted causing driver distraction and higher risk of accident.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 09/22/2026

My front sensor camera has malfunctioned which is causing numerous failing safety systems such as lkas, adaptive cruise control and automated braking.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 09/07/2026

I own a 2020 Honda Pilot with approximately 85,000 miles. While driving, the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) warning lights intermittently come on, causing these Honda Sensing safety functions to become unavailable. The warnings sometimes disappear and the systems operate normally again, but the problem continues to return. The vehicle was diagnosed with DTC U3000-49, Multipurpose Camera Unit Internal Electronic Failure. I took the vehicle to a repair facility and was advised that the multipurpose camera needs to be replaced, with an estimated repair cost of approximately $2,200. The repair facility also told me that they have recently seen other Honda vehicles with the same or very similar issue. They had a Honda Odyssey with a similar Honda Sensing/camera problem just before my Pilot. I am reporting this because the failure occurs while driving and disables ACC and CMBS. I am concerned that similar multipurpose camera failures may be occurring in other Honda Pilot and Odyssey vehicles.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 09/20/2026

Multipurpose Camera Unit Failure, causing many warning symbols on dash.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 08/21/2026

Front facing camera fail. Causing brake system adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist , collision mitigation, road departure mitigation. Auto high beams to not work

SEATS — Filed 11/15/2025

In my Honda 2020 Pilot, the driver's side headrest in the 3rd row will no longer stay upright. It simply stays flat and will not lock into place. As the headrest will not stay upright, the seat is unusable. If someone used that seat or if the headrest would fail while a person is sitting in that seat, it would cause an injury risk. It looks like their is evidence that Technical Information and Support may be aware of the issue as indicated in a document on the nhtsa website.

LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 08/28/2025

I own a 2020 Honda Pilot EX with approximately 58,000 miles. Every time I drive on two-lane roads, I receive a bright orange “Brake” warning from the Automatic Emergency Braking system when vehicles in the opposite lane are passing by. The system falsely detects an imminent collision, even though the oncoming vehicles are safely in their lane. The system then applies the brakes unnecessarily. Most of the time it brakes mildly, but on at least two occasions it has braked very hard, causing the vehicle behind me to nearly rear-end my car. This creates a significant and dangerous situation, as it could easily cause an accident. I now have to disable the automatic braking system every time I drive. During my last drive, after disabling the system, I received a warning message stating: “ABS Failure — Take to Dealer.” I have also experienced dangerous behavior from the Lane Departure Warning/Assist system. When exiting the freeway, if the lane lines disappear or become unclear, the vehicle has slammed on the brakes suddenly. On one occasion, this caused me severe whiplash. Thankfully, I was alone in the car — if my young children had been passengers, they could have suffered serious neck injuries. I have taken the vehicle to the Honda dealer and independent mechanics. Each time, they have only cleared the codes and told me it was due to “dirty sensors.” The warnings and braking issues, however, keep coming back. This issue is persistent, reproducible, and unsafe. The Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure, and ABS systems are not functioning properly and create a real danger to myself, my passengers, and other drivers on the road.

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/19/2025

Front airbags did not deploy during a head on collision and rollover crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 02/03/2025

I pulled into a parking space at PAM Rehab hospital. Pressed the brake to stop vehicle and it accelerated forward with passenger side wheel jumping over concrete bar and into bushes and driver side concrete bar stopped it from going into the retaining wall. All airbags deployed trapping me in vehicle. Vehicle remained running and I was able to put in park and turn off engine so nurse from rehab could get me out.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 10/03/2024

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 stated that the neighbor had a difficulty in shifting to park and turning off the vehicle. The vehicle was eventually shifted to park and the vehicle was turned off. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was taken to urgent care by her mother for X-rays. The contact suffered no broken bones but did sustain mild bruising to the right side of the body. A Police report was not filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

BACK OVER PREVENTION — Filed 07/29/2023

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V431000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the contact drove her vehicle to a dealer prior to receiving the recall letter due to the failure of the camera image. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired, however, the rear view camera failure reoccurred. The contact was in reverse (R) and backing the vehicle up at approximately 3 MPH when the camera failed and she crashed into her mail box at the end of her drive way. The damage to the rear bumper was light. There were no injuries, the police were not called. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced a failure. The failure mileage was 35,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/07/2023

My husband was getting off the highway when a car ahead of him braked suddenly. He attempted to hit the brakes, but the car did not stop. The automatic stop crash feature did not turn on. The abs did not work. Ultimately, crashing into the car ahead of him. Manufacturer Safety-related recall issued NHTSA #23V-174 Recall #FE5 2020-22 Multi-Model Door Mirror Glass Safety Recall Status: Remedy Available

ENGINE — Filed 01/19/2023

We parked the vehicle in a hospital parking structure in order to meet an appointment at the hospital. We were in the hospital for about an hour or so when we headed back to the vehicle in the parking garage. We were stopped from getting there because of police and fire trucks. Then we got a call from the local police on our cell phone, telling us that our vehicle was on fire. We couldn't get into the parking structure because no one was allowed, but we did get to talk to the police and some fire personnel. Apparently, the parking structure had its own sprinkler system which was able to keep the fire under control until fire trucks and personnel arrived. The vehicle was a total loss, as per the insurance appraiser and our insurance company.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 07/13/2022

In two, separate, instances the vehicle exhibited sudden acceleration with the brake pedal depressed. The first instance was, as the 2020 Honda Pilot was pulling into a driveway and was approximately 10 feet behind another vehicle parked in the driveway. With the brake pedal being depressed, as one does when parking, the 2020 Honda Pilot suddenly accelerated and struck the rear of the other vehicle. The automatic braking system was never deployed. The second instance was when the 2020 Honda Pilot was on a city street and was parked behind another vehicle on the right side of the street against the curb. The 2020 Honda Pilot was approximately 10 feet behind another vehicle parked against the curb. With the brake pedal being depressed, as one does when parking, the 2020 Honda Pilot suddenly accelerated and struck the rear of the other vehicle, driving it over the curb and into the yard of a house. The automatic braking system was never deployed. These incidents happened, almost exactly, one year apart on clear summer days when the temperature and humidity were almost identical. The 2020 Honda Pilot was inspected by a private crash expert company to obtain any crash data but found none, as the data is not recorded unless the air bags are deployed. An incident was reported to Honda who had a representative drive the 2020 Honda Pilot and "could not replicate the sudden acceleration". All safety features were running at the time of both crashes. The crashes occurred on 7/24/21 and 7/13/22.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE — Filed 07/29/2022

I can't remember if I reported this already but here goes. My daughter was driving my 2020 Honda Pilot with 41,400 miles on it. She had baby in the back and was in slow traffic in Millsboro Delaware. She thought she smelled something burning. Then she got out of the vehicle, took the baby out and called 911. Fire started coming out of the engine compartment and the vehicle totally burned up.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — Filed 08/29/2022

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately at 65 mph the brother who was in a second vehicle ahead could see flames present in the front grill of the vehicle. White smoke began to enter the cabin of the vehicle and the contact pulled over, parked and exited the vehicle. Smoke and flames were present coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed away. A fire and police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 100,000.

ENGINE — Filed 07/29/2022

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at an unknown speed when she smelled an odor of smoke coming from the vehicle, then she noticed fire coming from the vehicle. She was able to exit the vehicle safely as it started to burn. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. No one was injured, and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a Collision center. The manufacturer was contacted, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 42,000.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGS — Filed 06/19/2022

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. Upon purchase of the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal, screeching noise emit from the front driver-side tire. The contact's husband took the vehicle to a dealer where they found no defect with her rotors or tires. The contact stated that while in stop and go traffic, the brake warning light appeared on the instrument panel as the vehicle independently came to a sudden stop; the contact was able to resume normal operation after the failure. On a separate occasion while traveling downhill at approximately 20 MPH, the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard without warning. The contact panicked and pumped the brake pedal but to no avail. The contact steered the vehicle into the grass to avoid oncoming traffic. The contact hit a neighbor's mailbox and then a tree, which stopped the vehicle. The airbags did not deploy upon impact. The contact nor her daughter were physically injured by the accident but both have suffered traumatic mental anguish due to the failure. A police report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to an independent tow yard and was later towed to an independent body shop for repair by insurance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/11/2021

The contact owned a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 55 mph the brake pedal was applied however failed to respond the vehicle crashed into a fence. The wheel assembly detached. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The driver sustain muscle injuries and medical attention was provided. A police report was filed. The air bags deployed. There was no reported fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES — Filed 06/02/2021

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while offloading items from the trunk, the trunk door independently closed and hit the contact in the head. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 03/17/2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH WHILE TURNING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE LOST FUNCTIONALITY IN THE BRAKES, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONTACT CRASHING THE VEHICLE INTO A WALL. 1 PERSON WAS INJURED (THE CONTACT) AND SUSTAINED SORENESS TO THE BODY BUT MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS NOT SOUGHT. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 11/04/2020

UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING. THE VEHICLE SMELLED STRONGLY OF SMOKE. THE DRIVER SUFFERED BURNS FROM THE AIRBAG, THOUGH IT'S UNCLEAR IF THEY WERE CAUSED BY CHEMICAL OR FLAME.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 06/15/2020

BOUGHT NEW 2020 BLACK EDITION HONDA PILOT ON MAY 2,2020 WITH 11 MILES ON IT. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 6/15/20 AFTER DRIVING ONLY 3 MILES I NOTICED A BAD BURNT SMELL AS I WAS ENTERING A PARKING GARAGE, NOT THINKING IT WAS MY CAR BECAUSE IT WAS NEW AND THERE WERE NO DISPLAY LIGHTS INDICATING ANYTHING. I THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY HOOD ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER. I IMMEDIATELY PARKED AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO SEE A FIRE BALL DROP FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF MY HOOD. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS ALERTS ON THE CAR PANEL THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. WE HADN'T DRIVEN THIS CAR MUCH DUE TO COVID, PROBABLY ONLY HAD AROUND 400 MILES ON THE CAR. CAR FIRE IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS FAR AS I KNOW.