How many problems does the 2023 HONDA Pilot have?

The 2023 HONDA Pilot currently has 83 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2023 HONDA Pilot?

The most common problems reported for the 2023 HONDA Pilot are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2023 HONDA Pilot problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2023 HONDA Pilot comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.

2023 HONDA Pilot Problems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

8 complaints

I purchased a used Honda Pilot and in less than 30 days I'm having problems with some electrical wiring harness. The dealership wants me to pay for the repairs. The error message that showed up "auto idle stop ignition problem see your dealership"

Apr 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the advanced driver assistance system was unintendedly activated, causing the vehicle to become difficult to maneuver. No warning light was illuminated; however, the "Clear the Sensor" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.

Feb 03, 2025

While driving home from a church event, I got a “Internal control module torque calculation” error on my dash. I pulled over to the curb and as soon as I stopped, more error messages appeared. Failure Brake System, Failure Anti-lock Brake System, Failure Hill Start Assist, Failure Adaptive Failure Cruise Control, Failure Lane Keep Assist, Failure Collision Mitigation, Failure Breaking System, Failure Road Departure Mitigation System, Failure Low Speed Braking, Failure Auto High Beam, Failure Parking Sensor, the check engine light was on and no AWD only FWD. I shut the car off and restarted it only to have all of the error messages reappear. I used my scan tool to clear the codes and drove it home. The next day, while driving my daughter home from school, the car shifted into neutral on its own then when the vehicle came to a stop it shifted into park and stalled and there was a transmission error on the dash. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership which reported 2 pages of error codes. The dealership reported that there was an issue with the gear selector unit due to liquid intrusion. They changed out the gear selector unit which at the moment seems to have rectified the problem.

Nov 19, 2024

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the stability, traction control, ABS, brakes, Lane Departure, and speedometer warning lights were illuminated. The "Anti-lock Brake System, Brake Performance Reduced", "Parking Sensor Failure", "All-Wheel Drive System Failure", "Electric Power Steering System Failure - Steering Assist Reduced", and "Vehicle Stability Assist System Failure - Reduced Traction and Handling" messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the sensor assembly front (57450-T90-A02) needed to be replaced; however, the replacement part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,100.

Sep 07, 2023

Wireless phone charger works for about 10 minutes then stops charging. I’ve tried moving it phone to multiple positions and still have the same results.

Jul 25, 2023

+ 3 more complaints for this component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

7 complaints

The back glass suddenly shattered. No cause was discovered. It was not vandalism. There was no prior damage to the back glass. We were seated in the front seats. Normally, we would have had our grandchildren in the back seats closest to the glass. I looked it up on the Internet and found out that this occurrence is fairly common among Honda makes. I took pictures of the damage and filed a claim with my insurance company. No warning occurred before the glass shattered.

Aug 11, 2025

Door locks do not respond. I will use the driver unlock button on the driver door panel, or sometimes by key fob, and the driver door will unlock, but the passenger (with less frequency than rear) and rear doors will remain locked. Sometimes they will all work. Generallly it’s the rear doors. Very intermittent and hard to reproduce. They tend to stay locked until I power the vehicle off.

Jan 25, 2025

The panoramic sunroof exploded while driving on the highway towards Tappahannock, VA

Oct 23, 2024

No incident has occured at this time however it is highly likely to due to the loud wind noise coming from driver side door when traveling more than 60mph. Concern has been addressed multiple times with no solution.

Sep 20, 2024

This vehicle has a massive leak with both the winshield and sunroof. Brand new car and terrible leaks

Sep 06, 2024

+ 2 more complaints for this component

STEERING

6 complaints

My 2023 Honda Pilot has had persistent issues with the steering system since it was purchased new. The problems manifest as knocking noises in the steering column, although no warning lights appear. The Honda dealer has replaced the steering rack three times. A rattling noise is now occurring in the steering column, and the dealer is advising replacement of the steering column. The dealer was in contact with Honda engineering each time to solicit advice and obtain approval for the repairs. The replaced parts are not available for inspection, and only the Honda dealer has inspected the vehicle. I am concerned for my safety. I am afraid that the steering will fail while I am driving at highway speeds and cause an accident. I contacted Honda corporate, and they essentially told me there is nothing they can do because the vehicle is considered “fixed” after each repair.

Sep 17, 2025

When trying to drive my vehicle i noticed the steering wheel became hard to turn. I was able to get a tow truck to drop my vehicle off at the dealership to get it looked at. The dealership is telling me that it is due to a steering problem needing a rack and pinion part. This vehicle is a 2023 Honda Pilot which was just purchased by me in April. There hasnt been any issue until now.

Sep 10, 2025

Clicking and groaning noise when turning the steering wheel. Happens at any speed including when stopped. Randomly started happening one day.

Jun 06, 2025

Steering makes noise, safety concern. Steering rack replaced at 5,000 miles in July 2024 (10 months after purchase). Noise came back at approximately 7,500 in October 2024 (13 months after purchase). Was told initial Steering rack was defective and the replacement may have been defective too. Honda replaced the steering rack a second time on October 28-29, 2024. Not sure of this is a permanent fix.

Oct 29, 2024

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact attempted to accelerate however, the messages "Brake system, Brake Hold Failure, Apply Brake while Stopped, See Your Dealer, Electric power steering Failure, Steering Assistance Reduced - See Dealer, VSA, and brake failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle started to decelerate, and the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to bring the vehicle to a stop, and restarted the vehicle, and the steering wheel unlocked; however, the warning lights remained illuminated, and the vehicle accelerated slowly. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure; however, the system was reset, and the vehicle was returned to the contact. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.

Oct 18, 2024

+ 1 more complaint for this component

VISIBILITY

5 complaints

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the support from the moon roof was torn. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that without the supports, the moon roof would not be able to be covered. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with fractured supports, enabling the curtain to move. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

Apr 22, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the roof of the vehicle. The vehicle was parked, and the contact observed that the sunroof had shattered. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,527.

Aug 08, 2024

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the side door mirrors automatically tilt downward when shifted to reverse(R); however, the mirrors intermittently failed to return to their original position when shifted out of reverse(R). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined there was a software malfunction, but a remedy was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 500.

Jan 31, 2024

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the rear of the panoramic sunroof suddenly shattered, raining glass down into the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 4,000.

Nov 27, 2023

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the wife was reversing out of the driveway, the vehicle's glass sunroof suddenly exploded and shattered causing glass shards to fall into the cabin of the vehicle. During the failure, the driver sustained bruising and small lacerations to the neck and back area. The injuries did not require medical attention. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 600.

Jun 16, 2023

Injuries: 1

VISIBILITY/WIPER

4 complaints

A few moments after I purchased my 2023 Honda Pilot I noticed that I began getting car sick while driving. I purchased the car at night and it was a long drive home, so I figured it was due to dehydration or something else. During the day however, I noticed it again. Upon careful inspection I noticed the entire windshield had a distortion, it appeared as if one was looking through a pair of eyeglasses that had a very strong prescription. I am in the process of creating an incident with Honda and have already contacted my local dealership, who was not very helpful in this matter. I am still driving this vehicle as well as my wife because we have no other choice but I do feel that this situation poses a safety hazard for us and our family, as the windshield is a distraction and can cause the driver to lose focus on objects while driving.

Dec 02, 2025

While parked, I heard a pop. Later on there was a crack in the windshield around the camera. Nothing impacted the windshield this looks definitely like a stress fracture but the dealership was not helpful.

Aug 20, 2025

Vision is severely impaired by optical distortion in the windshield, directly in the driver's field of vision. It is also noticeable from anywhere inside or outside of the vehicle. Some areas magnify the view so it looks as though the road is coming up towards the driver. Other areas warp the view horizontally or vertically. It is unsafe because it changes the way the road and other vehicles appear to the driver. The driver feels as though they are wearing strong prescription glasses. Causes dizziness and disorientation to the driver. Visible rippling/warping of the glass of the windshield. One photo is attached showing warped letters through the windshield. (Video is easier to see the other types of warping from inside the vehicle.)

Jul 21, 2025

I just had my Pilot serviced for the recall and during that service I had them check the windshield water solvent system since I ran out of washer fluid on Friday [XXX]. I was driving in heavy traffic on [XXX] in Michigan on my way home from work when I was trying to keep my windshield clear to see from all the salt spray from the truck in front of me when I ran out of fluid. I had to pull to the shoulder of the highway and put snow on my windshield to see again. I had the dealership (Honda of Grand Blanc) check to see if maybe I had a stuck float or something since I did not receive any warning of low fluid. After the tech at the dealer did a bunch of checking with Honda they found that my Pilot does not have this feature. This is also the top of the line Elite trim and it can not tell me when I am low on fluid.. This is a major safety issue. Here in Michigan in the winter all road commission and city Transportation departments use salt to help clear the snow and ice. How is it safe to drive in those conditions when I dont know if I am low on fluid. I have been driving since 1980 and every car or truck I have driven has had a low indicator warning somewhere on the dash. If my car has to have a rear back up camera, TPS etc. How can it not have low washer fluid notice. If you are wondering why I did not notice this before, I drive so many miles that at each oil change they fill it up. I did have them check it the last time it was in for oil in Nov. but they thought the float stuck. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Jan 23, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

3 complaints

El carro tiene fallas con el sistema eléctrico de frenos y no arranca.

Oct 22, 2025

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. There are other reports of woners on youtube who have had this failure or similar with one member having to ditch the vehicle. I almost wrecked and hit a vehicle that slowed in front of me. The system thew error codes to include failure in electronic steering, transmission, hill descent, electronic braking, and others. I recorded the errors on the dash. This vehicle has also thrown airbag error with only a few thousand miles. The vehicle has side panels that have fallen off and and seals on the panoramic sunroof that have failed.

Jul 29, 2025

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. From what we keep reading, we need 4 repairs for the same issue in order for the car to be considered "not operable" or "not safe." Are we supposed to drive on the interstate a few more times , get towed 2 more times, and just hope that we aren't hit and killed by a semi truck after our car suddenly stops accelerating? From looking online, there have been a large number of complaints with exact or similar issues. Does someone have to get killed for something more to happen?

Nov 23, 2023

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

3 complaints

While driving on U.S Highway 521 in South Carolina, the vehicle experienced SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED BRAKING AND VIOLENT SHAKING even though there were no cars or obstacles directly in front of me. The sensation was so strong it felt as if the car had been rear-ended, but there was no impact. The issue has happened MULTIPLE TIMES since I purchased the vehicle new in 2023. Each time, traffic was flowing normally, and no immediate hazard was present. The closest car in front of me was several car lenghts away, yet the PILOT suddenly braked on its own. The problem appears to be linked to the COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM or related driver-assist sensors, which seem to be misreading conditions and triggering false emergency braking. This defect creates a serious SAFETY HAZARD. The abrupt, forceful braking puts me and my family at risk of being rear-ended by following vehicles. It has also caused panic and near-miss incidents in traffic. I am filling this complaint to ensure it is formally documented and investigated as SAFETY DEFECT. This is a serious risk to DRIVER AND PASSENGERS and could lead to accidents. I am requesting NHTSA to investigate whether this defect affects other HONDA PILOT vehicles.

Sep 23, 2025

Automatic Braking System (ABS) automatically applied brakes when I was 2 car lengths behind a vehicle that was turning and the sensor detected the vehicles brake lights. There was enough space between my vehicle and the one in front of me that was turning for me to stop if needed.

Feb 10, 2025

The Pilot emergency braked on its own as I was driving 30mph on a rural road, throwing myself and my children forward in our seats as the vehicle came to a stop. It was a violent action. No other vehicles or people were around us and no reason for the braking should have occurred.

Nov 07, 2023

SEAT BELTS

3 complaints

For the middle row, right passenger seat, the seat belt alert (visual and audio alert) goes off even when the passenger is properly buckled in. It is intermittent. This is a safety issue as the alert keeps beeping throughout the journey. The beeping can be very distracting when driving due to the noise, and also as it raises concern of safety. My workaround is not to use that seat (an inconvenience), or use the seat without a seatbelt buckled in (safety). Dealership dismissed it as a non-issue as they could not replicate it because the issue is intermittent. The vehicle is out of the bumper-to-bumper warranty thus discovery and fixing the issue (if there is any) will be out of my pocket. I have seen others mention this issue so it is not isolated to my car but rather to this model and year.

Aug 08, 2025

‘23 pilot will signal an alarm stating I have an unsecured passenger in my middle row (while my passenger is properly secured via the seatbelt). If my passenger pushes or jiggles the seatbelt at the clasp (where is latches together at the seat), it will turn off for a moment and then begin again. I’m not sure if this is a wiring issue, sensor issue or defective part, but this seems like a safety issue.

Jan 25, 2025

The back Right passenger seat belt indicator is continuously beeping even when engaged . This appears to be a loose wiring in below the buckle as you can move the section around to temporarily stop it.

May 06, 2024

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

3 complaints

Twice in the past week the collision mitigation braking system engaged without reason and the vehicle suddenly braked while I was driving

Aug 01, 2025

When driving down both highways and interstates on several occasions my vehicle has slammed the brakes on prompting the warning of emergency braking. This when there are no vehicles directly in my lane or path. It often occurs when passing a tractor trailer on the interstate so much so that I hover my foot on the gas pedal to counteract this braking.

Apr 17, 2024

When traveling on the road I live, the Pilot will slam its breaks on, I assume this is the automatic breaking system, but the issue is, there will be nothing on or near the road. No cars, pedestrians , nothing. Just my pilot. The speed limit is about 45MPH and it will slam the breaks on. It has become so problematic I avoid traveling that direction on my road. It has happened to my spouse while driving as well. And again, it’s not every time, but sometimes. It has happened about 10+ times. Makes me nervous that while driving it will do it, and I will be rear ended.

Jul 08, 2023

STRUCTURE

3 complaints

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse, there was an abnormal popping and cracking sound coming from the driver’s side roof. The failure became worse over time. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the struts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that there were improper welds underneath the third-row seats on the cross member, and that the cross member needed to be properly welded. The vehicle was taken to a body shop and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

Jul 25, 2025

Sunroof glass exploded: While driving in light traffic -- approximately 65 mph -- I heard a loud crash exploding sound and then the sound of glass breaking. No other vehicles were near me but I quickly scanned my front, back, and side windows and mirrors and nothing was broken. No warnings on instrument panel. I could hear wind coming in the vehicle and realized it was coming from the sunroof. I pulled off at the next exit and inspected the top of my Honda Pilot. There was about an 8–10-inch hole in the sunroof glass above the driver's seat with jagged glass angled outward from the hole. No signs of any other damage such as feathers from a bird or scratches from a rock. Just a hole and broken glass. I continued to the drive to my home -- about 20 miles. By the time I got home, more than half of the glass had broken off, leaving an opening about 18 X 30 inches or more. Upon closer inspection, it was clear there was no other damage from other objects just as a rock or animal/bird. It was a very frightening and unnerving experience, especially driving on interstate traffic. I contacted my Honda dealer, and it was suggested I contact Honda customer service. We have filed a claim with our auto insurance.

Dec 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an air draft sound coming from the interior of the vehicle with all the windows closed. While washing the vehicle, the contact observed water leaking into the interior of the vehicle however, the contact was unable to locate the origin of the leak. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was also unable to locate the origin of the leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 527.

Jul 18, 2023

ENGINE

3 complaints

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The emissions system continues to malfunction despite multiple repair attempts, with the emission sensor reactivating as recently as February 2025. The VTC oil control valve also previously leaked but was replaced. The battery and seatbelt buckle issues were successfully resolved. The vehicle and components are available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The emissions system malfunction may impair engine performance or emissions control, creating potential environmental and mechanical hazards. While the seatbelt and battery issues have since been resolved, they previously created safety risks—such as an unreliable restraint system warning and unexpected failure to start the vehicle. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the dealership (Winter Haven Honda) has confirmed the emissions system fault multiple times, including diagnostic sessions in December 2024, January 2025, and February 2025. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been repeatedly inspected by the dealership in consultation with American Honda Motor Co. No inspections by police or insurance representatives have been reported. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes. The emissions warning light first appeared on December 9, 2024, and continued to reappear on December 12, 2024, January 7, 2025, and again in February 2025. These warning messages clearly indicate an unresolved system issue

Apr 04, 2025

Car wouldn't go more than 25-30 miles/hour and rpm was at 5-6, had to use blinkers on highway. Luckily there weren't any injuries, i was scared of the situation as I was travelling with my toddler and newborn. After reaching home, car wouldn't reverse. I had shutdown and started the car multiple times before i could reverse. There was smell as if something was burning in the engine. I shutdown the car for 15-20 mins for smell to go away and restarted the car again, that is when check engine light was turned on with warnings about transmission, AWD and emission systems. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Transmission failure, AWD system failure, Emission system failure. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Confirmed by dealer, full diagnostics not available. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warnings before the failure. Dealer was saying about repairing the transmission, and also mentioned the car value will be depreciated significantly. I traded in the car for new pilot, as transmission problem are recurring and also losing significant value on the car. My loan and monthly payments went up because of something i didn't do. I am being punished for the someone else mistake. Dealer wouldn't provide any incentives too.

Sep 27, 2023

Delayed and sluggish acceleration, particularly from a complete stop, represents a significant safety concern.

Aug 15, 2023

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

3 complaints

Power steering went out while driving, car would not accelerate and several warnings showed up on dash. Warnings advised to see dealer and only drive at low speed. Dealership states at there is no problem so there is nothing they can do about it.

Jun 22, 2024

Vehicle will randomly display multiple warning lights- usually starting with the braking system, until all warnings are triggered. This has happened about 10 times so far. Happens in a variety of driving situations. When car is parked, it then requires multiple presses on start button to turn the car off. Every time this happens the rear lift gate is completely disabled and unable to open. About 11/15/2023 I have a video of the errors I can provide- it is a large file and can’t be attached with the other photos. The error also occurred one time while driving at about 70mph using the adaptive cruise. There were no vehicles ahead, but one was approaching from behind- the vehicle brakes or the cruise controls caused the car to rapidly decelerate. I had had to push the accelerator to avoid causing an accident with the person behind me. I had the passenger take a photo of the dashboard warnings. About 11/3/23

Nov 21, 2023

The vehicle was purchased 7/1/2023. It is a 2023 Honda Pilot. 8 days after the purchase (OD mileage: 332), on a major highway, all mechanical systems in the vehicle failed within 2 minutes of each other. The engine, brakes, electrical, airbags, AWD, all of the ADAS systems, etc. ALL lit up within about 5 minutes of each other. Soon after this happened, the vehicle essentially shut down and was forced to a stop in a turning lane off of the major highway. The vehicle gave no indication that this was coming. The dealership's immediate response was to assume that we had put diesel fuel in the vehicle (this was not the case). As of now, they still have not been able to determine the cause of these catastrophic failures. Completely unsafe! This failure event could have been lethal and no one has any answers...

Jul 12, 2023

POWER TRAIN

3 complaints

The warning light came on saying that there is a problem with the AWD system, and that only the front wheels may be powered. I then lost all power to all wheels. I hit the gas, RPMs just went up, and the wheels had no power. Eventually, the power came back. This is with a new car that I have had other problems with including water leaks that I was afraid might be getting onto electronics.

Nov 03, 2023

The pilot sometimes hesitates when trying to accelerate in normal mode (have not used in other modes). It happens randomly, and the same when trying to slow. It seems the transmission is not shifting properly. Or something is preventing it from transitioning properly.

Jul 08, 2023

Car hesitates when trying to accelerate in normal mode. Same when trying to slow. It seems the transmission is not shifting properly. When trying to merge or make a quick turn, this issue has made driving difficult. This is ongoing problem that is consistent. I took it to dealer to check it out, but was turned away .

Jul 05, 2023

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 complaints

Dear [NHTSA or Honda Customer Service], I am submitting this complaint to raise a serious safety concern regarding the automatic engine shutoff feature in my 2023 Honda Pilot EX-L. While parked and talking to the dealer, I left my vehicle running with the air conditioning on and my older children in the back seat. Despite the key being inside the car and the engine running, the vehicle shut off automatically after approximately 30 minutes, disabling the air conditioning without any clear warning. This happened in the desert heat, creating an extremely dangerous situation for my children, who were sitting in a vehicle that quickly began to overheat. At no point were we warned by the dealer, the vehicle itself, or any documentation that this idle shutoff would activate even when occupants are inside the car. This is an unacceptable and unsafe default behavior. While I understand the intention behind the feature may be related to fuel or emissions concerns, it should never override the need for cabin cooling when passengers—especially children—are present. This feature should: •Include more prominent audible and visual warnings •Be easily disabled or extended by the driver •Be reconsidered entirely when rear seat occupancy is detected I urge the NHTSA and/or Honda to take this issue seriously and issue a recall, software update, or safety bulletin to allow owners to override or disable this idle shutoff function under safe, supervised circumstances. This is a family vehicle, and no feature should put occupants at risk of heat-related injury. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Aug 01, 2025

Injuries: 1

Vehicle when entering traffic hesitates for 2 to 3 seconds and then surges forward real fast. No warning lights or or messages. Very scary and dangerous . feels like you do not have control of vehicle....This has happened only twice since I have owned the vehicle. I purchased the vehicle new from a dealer...

Jul 24, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE

2 complaints

1. Rear tailgate latch will not always release when pressing the dashboard button or remote fob button. The tailgate will attempt to rise, go about 1/2 inch, stop, beep 3 times and then close again. It can only be opened after this by manually pulling on the outside handle and giving it a sharp jerk upwards. 2. While trying to investigate a metallic tapping sound in the rear of the vehicle, I looked under the rear bumper and located a wiring bundle that had lost its support from a plastic clamp. The bundle was frayed, and there were exposed and frayed wires visible showing the copper inside the insulation.

May 11, 2025

I purchased my 2023 Honda Pilot on April 7, 2023. I had to wait for it to come in which happened roughly 2 weeks later. Within a month or so of having the vehicle while sitting at a traffic light I got 2 warning lights. One being the collision mitigation system problem see your dealer and immediately followed by adaptive cruise control problem see your dealer. I called the dealership to make them aware of the problem and was asked to make an appointment to bring my car in. Upon stopping and turning my car off and starting back up the warning lights were gone. I didn't think too much about it. In August when I had my car in for routine oil change they checked the issue and was unable to find anything. Around this same time my driver side front bumper started gapping. I was told that the clip was either not installed properly or was bent during manufacturing. (still waiting for that back ordered part to repair) In November while traveling with my niece and nephew again stopped at a traffic light EVERY SINGLE warning light started coming on. My dash was lit up like a Christmas tree and the lights were coming one after the other. I pulled over, not only would my car not turn off, my back liftgate would not work either. I was 4 hours away from home. I called the local Honda dealership where I was as I was in a panic. While on hold I was finally able to turn my car off by holding the start/stop engine button for several seconds. When I started my car again all of the lights were still on and lighting up one after the other. As I made my way to the dealership they all went off and all was normal again. I took my car to my local dealership once I got home. Dealership said they were not able to find much except the faulty camera sensors and Honda suggested to start there. (On back order) However in the meantime I was told that I should NOT TRUST ANY OF MY SAFETY FEATURES. My job requires a significant amount of driving and at this point I feel like I have gotten a lemon!!

Dec 11, 2023

LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

2 complaints

If there is rain, snow, fog, moisture or salt from the roads builds up or collects on the emblem of my pilot, I get a warning saying something to the effect of “ Some Driver Assist Systems cannot operate clean area shown”. This is quite dangerous when you live in the Midwest snowbelt. You can’t always pull over and clean it. The system will repeat the message even after acknowledging the issue, if it clears itself or improves, which is equally alarming.

Jan 25, 2025

I have a 2023 Honda Pilot Elite. I have noticed a few times that the driver assist system doesn't work as intended during driving in snow or just rain. I will get an error message on my dash, "some driver assist systems cannot operate, clean area shown." Honda wants the driver to pull over and clean the snow off of the H in front of the SUV. This also happens when it's raining and no snow. The driver assist sensors must be located there. What happens if I should get in an accident when this malfunction goes off and I get hurt or even kill someone? I see this complaint all over the internet from us owners on different forums. The dealerships are doing nothing. I paid a lot of money for this SUV. I expect it to work at all times, especially the safety features..

Dec 21, 2024

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

I wanted to share a very scary incident that occurred while I was slowly creeping into a parking space in a parking garage. With my foot over the brake, as there were children in the area from a car that had parked to the right of mine, my car suddenly surged forward at a high rate of speed. It ultimately crashed into the 3-foot safety wall with tension wires of the parking garage. Clearly there is an issue with the propulsion system that accelerated my car forward. It's unknown to me if there was also an electrical issue involved in this propulsion failure. The car is available for inspection. The Honda dealer examined the vehicle but was unable to reproduce the issue, indicating that there was nothing wrong with the car, no codes stored of any relation to this incident, and that it was safe to drive. Additionally, I would like to mention that there was no warning lamps lit up on my dashboard before the incident and none appeared after the crash. My insurance was notified, and they deemed the car undrivable. The insurance representative is scheduled to inspect the car tomorrow. This is the first time my car accelerated on its own at a high rate of speed.

Jul 08, 2025

Crash: 1

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

All listed problems act sporadically. Dangerously Defected 2023 Honda Pilot. Numerous problems with vehicle over several months. Kept taking it back to Charlie's Honda and was told they could not reproduce the problems I was stating. The Vehicle will bog, hesitate and jerk while driving. Charlie finds nothing wrong. Actually all items that are functioning incorrectly, Charlie's tell me they cannot repair anything when they can not reproduce the problem. They tell me that the 10 gears are so close that they skip? Sorry, that's ridiculous! Finally I called previous Owners, (Which Charlie's Honda refused to give me until I had to show them the Chapter 10 S1475 I had with me.) [XXX] from Herman, ME. Ph # [XXX]. They told me to tell you to please call them because they are very upset. After several times taking the Honda back to Charlie’s with no repairs done they went to get a different vehicle at Charlie's Toyota and the Toyota Manager told them that the Honda Pilot was a very dangerous vehicle and will not be put out on the Lot for resale. The [XXX] stated that they almost crashed while taking a left at an intersection with their children in the vehicle because it almost came to a complete stop. This serious problem is doing it to me now and this is why I’m taking this action. The [XXX] left the Pilot at Charlie's Honda for several days but Charlie's said they could not reproduce the problem. Just a few of numerous defects stated below and reported to Charlie's Honda but received no repairs, just excuses : The Airbag says off when a 175 lb person sitting in the front passenger seat. Rear camera does not register an object. I was told it didn't work because it was 1 inch from rear side camera and it was too narrow. nothing done. Speed said I was doing 85mph. I was doing 40 mph. mechanic said he sees them register 100 mph. nothing done. The tech screen goes black. Cannot shut radio off. After trying 3 times. Much more to report! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Jun 20, 2025

AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint

Continued from previous submitted complaint: Driver window will not stop when trying to stop it forcibly with hand. I was told that the window will not stop until the window is almost closed at the top. Hope a 4 year old's arm isn't in it. Front passenger window will raise 1/4 of the way up, then fall back down and rock on it's cradle. I took a video of it happening but Charlie's Honda, Augusta, Maine did not want to see it. The Key Fob is a nightmare. It tells me it won’t lock because key is in vehicle. The key is in my pocket as I walk away. It also tells me that “No Key Detected” I’m sitting in the driver’s seat with the vehicle’s engine physically running. Rear Hatch will not open when physically pushing release button. Much more reported but Charlie's Honda has an excuse ready at all times. I bought this Pilot on 10/02/2023 and have nothing but problems with it up to date 6/20/2025. Previous owners kept it for 4 months then traded because they felt very unsafe in it. Which I didn't know this info until 6-15-2025

Jun 20, 2025

SEAT BELTS,SEATS

1 complaint

Safety Concern: 2023 Honda Pilot – Persistent False Seat Belt Warnings (2nd & 3rd Row Seats) Issue Description: Repeated false seat belt warnings originating from: Second-row middle seat Third-row passenger-side seat The system triggers loud, repetitive auditory alerts and dashboard warnings even when seats are unoccupied or belts are properly buckled. Attempted fixes (unbuckling/rebuckling, restarting the vehicle, power cycles) fail to resolve the issue. Alerts recur intermittently, causing significant distraction. Safety Risks: Driver Distraction: Constant false alarms increase crash risk by diverting attention from the road. Alert Fatigue: Occupants may ignore all seat belt warnings due to repeated false positives, compromising safety. Sensor/System Failure: Indicates potential defects in seat occupancy sensors, wiring harnesses, or body control module (BCM) software affecting multiple seating zones. Expanded Scope: Affects critical seating positions (2nd row middle is common for child seats; 3rd row is high-traffic). Issue emerged IMMEDIATELY post-warranty (typically 3 years/36k miles).

Jun 01, 2025

STEERING,SEATS

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was an abnormally loud grinding sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that the driver's seat was moving whenever the brake pedal was depressed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Motor Werks of Barrington (1475 S Barrington Rd, Barrington, IL 60010); who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 8,468.

Apr 23, 2025

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

1 complaint

Transmission light came on and said: “Emissions system problem. Power may be reduced. See your dealer.” Spoke to dealer who said they are unsure how this could have occurred possibly wear. The vehicle has 41k miles and I’m the only owner. Also said the cam plate is leaking oil which caused the sensors to be damaged and causes the vehicle to lose power while driving

Apr 11, 2025

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

1 complaint

Vehicle stopped with no warning while waiting in traffic at a red light and it took a while to restart. Same thing happened while parked in a lot waiting. The former issue was dangerous as I was in traffic with numerous vehicles moving around me with my family in the car as I got out to check the problem under the hood. The latter issue happened while out of town which is scary and dangerous considering it was a remote area.

Mar 28, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

While driving the pilot warning alerts popped up that none of the collision detection, lane assist, cruise control, and seemingly all radar related systems were working. Additionally, the headlights turned off. We have brought this to the Honda dealer on now three occasions, and there doesn’t seem to be any understanding of why this is happening. On the evening of March 11 this issue happened again after the dealership having the car for a week to “fix “this problem and the lights turned off on an unlit road almost causing an accident. The car is again back at the dealer, who apparently is working with Honda again. I have seen this type of problem reported for other 2023 Honda vehicles, including the pilot, passport, and CRV on various Internet forums.

Mar 12, 2025

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

Slow acceleration at the speed between 0 to 30 mpg. Doesn’t shift smoothly and hesitate. Not enough power on the highway

Feb 17, 2025

AIR BAGS

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the message "Secondary Restraint System Failure" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,100.

Jul 19, 2024

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

When I filled up on gas and I used 88 instead of regular 87 fuel so a day after I filled up with gas I turn on the vehicle all of the lights came on warning that the awd system didn’t work and the lane departure didn’t work and cruse control didn’t work. And when I went to the dealer they couldn’t figure it out until the pulled the gas out saying we put the wrong gas in the car

Jul 12, 2024

STEERING,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

I have reported the issue once before. Took it back to dealer for service. Serviced by Rock Honda on May 28, 2024. They swore issue was resolved and I had to pay out of pocket. Same problem. Loss of All Wheel Drive function, car nearly stalls out while at highway speeds and on surface streets (loss of power and bucks hard). Warning message appears for AWD system advising no power. I am convinced that I got a lemon. This car is absolute trash. Daily occurrence with this problem.

Jun 18, 2024

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

On May 4, 2024, normal driving conditions, experienced what felt like a loss of power. Warning on dashboard says All Wheel Drive System Problem, Only Front Wheels May Be Powered. See Dealer. Pulled car over to side of road and turned engine off. Turned back on and warning was gone. Occurred again today May 25, 2024 while driving on freeway. Loss of power and same warning message displayed. I do not feel at all safe in this vehicle. I drove straight to dealership for service to look at it. Hopefully have some answers after the holiday weekend. Just purchased vehicle in August 2023 brand new. Honda Pilot Elite. Starting to think I got a lemon.

May 25, 2024

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

The vehicle emergency braking kicks in for no reason, there were no other cars in sight and I was driving, in my lane when the vehicle flashed BRAKE and slammed on brakes for me. That is going to cause me to get into an accident when I am cruising and in my lane, no other vehicles around and it slams on brakes, very startling. Also, if it is raining to hard all safety features stop functioning and it says I have to Clean the emblem, the emblem is clean it is just raining to hard and the “safety” features can’t function

May 09, 2024

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS

1 complaint

The vehicle is reporting an error on the display. "Supplemental restraint system problem. See your dealer" a quick Google search in Honda Pilots forum confirms numerous vehicles experienced this same issue. Seems like we have multiple failures for tge air bag or restraint systems.

Apr 29, 2024

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

Several electric systems (ABS, electric power steering, collision mitigation, etc.) are showing as malfunctioning. The vehicle was diagnosed with a malfunctioning wheel speed sensor. The system alerts continue to occur daily, including when the vehicle is in operation. The rear liftgate no longer functions, along with other electrical features. Honda reports the sensor is backordered and hundreds of orders are ahead of ours, with an estimated availability date of May 15th. The car does not feel safe to drive but Honda refuses to provide a loaner vehicle. Online searching shows this to be a widely reported issue.

Feb 24, 2024

WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

When driving on gravel the gravel will get stuck in the rear and front brake guards. This is making the rotors get scratched and damaged, also causes a very high screeching sound. This happens every time while driving on gravel or going over gravel. I am concerned about the brakes becoming unsafe and the braking system becoming damaged. This problem has not been inspected and no warning lights come on during the problem.

Feb 08, 2024

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint

Failure Brake System, Failure Anti-lock Brake System, Failure Hill Start Assist, Failure Adaptive Failure Cruise Control, Failure Lane Keep Assist, Failure Collision Mitigation, Failure Breaking System, Failure Road Departure Mitigation System, Failure Low Speed Braking, Failure Auto High Beam, Failure Parking Sensor and No AWD only FWD. I have picture of dashboard with each failure listing when changes. We live in NY we had big snowstorm and car failed on road. Dealer refuse to send loaners and also back order to end of March. Car is defective

Jan 21, 2024

STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

1 complaint

Honda Pilot 2023 Elite shows 15+ error messages on the instrument panel. Messages indicate emissions systems, breaking systems, power steering and various risk mitigation systems experiencing problems resulting in reduced performance. Errors show up when the vehicle starts and are easy to reproduce. Dealer has looked at the vehicle 3 separate times. Problem occurs again in few days after dealer visit. Dealer based on the system error code diagnosed the problem with the fuel system. So far the dealer has replaced the high pressure fuel pump, injector relay, fuel pressure regulator and fuel rail pressure sensor. Dealer says when the vehicle starts the problem with the fuel system causes the electrical/computer system to go in safety mode; this makes onboard computers believe all systems are failing. Dealers' attempts (in consultation with manufacturer support) have so far not resulted in successful resolution of the problem. Without taking undue risk, I have personally tested some of the safety systems in errors indicated on the cluster panel to actually not work, e.g. lane departure mitigation system. Importantly, it feels vehicles braking distance has increased and steering is harder compared to when vehicles had no issues. All errors that are displayed are listed below. 1. Emission system problem, 2. Break system problem, 3. Electric parking brake system problem, 4. Break hold system problem, 5. Electric power steering problem, 6. Trailer stability problem, 7. Adaptive cruise control system problem, 8. Road departure mitigation system problem, 9. Vehicle stability assist system problem, 10. Hill start assist problem, 11. Trailer stability assist problem, 12. Hill descent control system problem, 13. Collision mitigation breaking system problem, 14. Road departure mitigation system problem, 15. Low speed breaking control problem.

Sep 04, 2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

1 complaint

At 850 miles on the odometer, the 2023 Honda Pilot ECU failed during normal operation of the vehicle on local roads, leading to a loss of power to engine transmission components, emissions systems, brake hold system, and traction control leading to reduced control and speed over the vehicle. The vehicle has been sent to the dealer for inspection of the OBD warning messages displayed. The driver was unable to operate the vehicle due to impaired speed, acceleration and braking capabilities that accompanied the ECU malfunction. The problem is currently being diagnosed by the dealer at the Keating Honda Service Center in Conroe, TX. The warning messages which appeared included the following while experiencing the ECU failure: Emissions System Problem. Avoid Heavy Acceleration and High Speed. See your Dealer Brake Hold System Problem " Traction Control Problem " Lane Keep Assist Problem " Adaptive Cruise Control Problem "

Aug 22, 2023

POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

THE VEHICLKE HESITATES MOVING FORWARD FROM A STOP OR STANDSTILL. THE SAFEY CONCERIN IS THAT THE HESITATION OCCURS WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A STOP AND MIGHT CAUSE A COLLISION DUR TO THE DELAY IN MOVING FORWARD. THIS HAS OCCURED ON MANY OCASSIONS. NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WS INSPECTED BY HONDA AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER, THE ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION.

Jul 27, 2023

STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint

1st incident: I was traveling on country road. I was approaching two bicyclists on the right. With no oncoming traffic, I began to move into the other lane to go around the bicyclists. The warnings appeared on my dash, and the steering wheel pulled the car back towards the bicyclists. 2nd incident: I was traveling on a country road, goin over a hill. The cameras must have lost sight of the lane markers, dash flashed the lane departure warning and the steering pulled the vehicle towards the oncoming lane. There was a motorcycle approaching & I steered the vehicle back to the appropriate lane position. 3rd incident: My husband was driving on a country road. A tractor and farm implement was approaching in the oncoming lane. My husband slowed down & moved to the right of his lane to give the tractor more room. The lane departure warning flashed & the steering pulled the vehicle back towards the tractor/implement. We returned to the dealership & had them shut this feature OFF.

Jun 16, 2023

STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

- There is a clicking noise coming from the steering column area after the vehicle has been driven on the highway for approximately 15 minutes and the vehicle engine has been warmed up. The noise can be heard at low speeds, such as pulling up into a driveway, or turning the steering wheel while parked. - The vehicle is brand new with 2900 miles as of today and the clicking noise coming from the steering column can pose an unknown danger to those in the car and around the car. - The vehicle was brought in to the dealership for service inspection pertaining to the clicking noise and the issue was able to be duplicated and recorded. However, the issue is unresolved and the case is still open. - The dealership service department had the vehicle manufacturer engineer on the phone to aid in the troubleshooting. The troubleshooting recommendation by the engineer was to check if there is a similar clicking noise from another vehicle that is the same year, model, and trim level prior to further investigating; this has not started due to dealership inventory unavailability of the same exact year, model, and trim level. Until the dealership receives the same year, model, and trim level to compare with, the case will remain open. - The issue was first noticed when the vehicle had approximately 2000 miles.

Jun 01, 2023

2023 HONDA Pilot Problems & Complaints

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