The 2025 Honda Pilot is advertised as being “stocked with modern technology” including “a suite of safety and assistance features.” The automaker is particularly proud of its Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) designed to alert and assist drivers “when there’s a risk of collision with a detected vehicle or pedestrian.” However, the mounting number of complaints about faulty safety features, including the CMBS, has some owners selling or returning their SUVs and complaining about the dangers they face when driving their vehicles.
The most common complaints about the 2025 Honda Pilot to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) relate to forward collision avoidance, the electrical system, and, to a lesser extent, the powertrain. Other components and systems that are identified in NHTSA complaints include backover prevention, lane departure, and vehicle speed control as well as the electrical system, engine, fuel/propulsion system, seat belts, brakes, steering, structure, suspension, and visibility/wiper, including windshield issues.
There are also three recalls that affect the 2025 Honda Pilot:
As many as 205,760 Honda vehicles are affected by a recall initiated due to a possible fuel leak that increases the risk of a fire. The issue is that the fuel filler neck tube and fuel filler pipe may separate, allowing fuel to leak.
Even more Honda vehicles — 294,612 — were recalled in January 2025 because of a software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) that may cause an engine stall or a loss of power. Engines stalling or losing power can obviously increase the risk of a crash and/or injury.
Only 2025 Honda Pilot vehicles are affected by a recall due to third-row seat belts possibly not functioning. This warning was issued to 1,494 Pilot owners who need to be aware that the routing that traps the seat belt behind the passenger side panel may be incorrect. This can cause a malfunction of the seat belt assembly resulting in the failure of seat belts to restrain occupants properly. If they aren’t restrained, the risk of injury during a crash is real.
Additionally, There is an open NHTSA investigation into more than 2 million Honda vehicles, including 2016-2025 Honda Pilots, for issues with the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) function failing to restart engines after stopping, sometimes requiring a manual jump start.
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2025 Honda Pilot Complaint Summary
Complaint Category
Number of Complaints
Electrical System
14
14
Engine
10
10
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
On March 26, 2025, the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an Engineering Analysis following a nearly three-year Preliminary Evaluation concerning the malfunctioning Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019 MY Honda Pilot vehicles. These are all equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
“The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged.”
Investigation documentation notes that Honda released two service bulletins on January 6, 2023, that address the issue in Pilot vehicles as well as other Honda vehicles. However, only 2016-2019 Honda Pilot vehicles were included in the service bulletins.
These bulletins outline a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. Depending on the model and model year, the second stage consists of the replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second-stage component replacement.
However, indications are that the measures implemented by Honda are not working. “ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.”
The Engineering Analysis is reportedly examining the potential safety defect and gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. They have also expanded the scope of the investigation to include newer models — which is why the 2025 Pilot and other newer Honda vehicles are now part of the investigation.
Collision-Avoidance Systems
Honda’s Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) and other safety features are causing owners considerable concern. Many complaints report that there is no resolution from dealerships.
CMBS Problems
Having owned a 2025 Pilot for one month, an owner from Missouri was looking for a new vehicle after experiencing a CMBS failure. The SUV suddenly braked very hard due to the CMBS reacting “without reason.”
The complaint states, “There were no barriers immediately in front of me, as in a hard curve left or right, and definitely no vehicle in front of me and thankfully no vehicle behind me, considering the normal bumper-to-bumper morning traffic. I did not come to a complete stop, well I don’t think I did, but slowed greatly enough that all vehicles on my left driving past me fairly fast. I was in shock and confused, unable to figure out (what) happened. After a brief assessment of my surroundings, I accelerated and continued on my way to work. If someone had been following me, I have no doubt they would have collided with me, worse it could have been a tractor-trailer! I got to work and was mentally shot for the rest of the day.”
Stating that the CMBS system was one he would “ordinarily enjoy having,” the experience made him “fear following other Honda drivers because if their CMBS fail I might crash into them! The idea Honda has not repaired this or recalled their vehicles is mind-bending. This could cause fatalities!” As a result, the owner declared he would “NEVER own a Honda again. Driving this vehicle with that CMBS that can go off randomly, aka “phantom brake” is nerve-racking.”
An owner from Ohio with a new 2025 Pilot that has only 100 miles, feels the same way. “My concern for safety is that sudden unexpected braking could cause an accident and lead to potential injury/death.” This Pilot had been to the dealership five times with no resolution.
Cruise Control Problems
Similarly, there are no fixes for cruise control problems.
A recent April 2025 complaint states that cruise control quits intermittently while driving. “The Honda Dealer says they do not have a fix. It increases driver fatigue and it surprises you as you are driving.”
An owner from Nebraska states that the “Adaptive Cruise Control randomly disengages while driving and renders any cruise options unusable. When this happens the vehicle brakes hard while driving. The braking system also randomly brakes hard while driving, even if the cruise control is working. This is a huge safety concern as we are on the highway and interstate with several other vehicles around us. We are worried we will get in an impact collision from the rear.” This owner reports taking the Pilot to a certified Honda repair center four times — leaving it there for more than 27 days — with no resolution.
An owner from South Dakota reports “an issue with 2025 Pilot Safe Systems such as adaptive cruise and blind spot detection. Honda knows about this issue and (is) working on a fix. However, there is no ETA.”
Electrical Problems
While these are varied, consumers highlight safety issues and complain that even when dealers supposedly fix problems, they tend to recur. Issues include drivers who are faced with warnings including “Do Not Drive,” lose motive power and have keyless access problems with their cars.
Multiple Warning Problems Including Do Not Drive
An owner from Florida relates how while driving on a level, dusty road at a slow speed of about 30 mph, multiple warnings suddenly flashed. The steering and brakes were stiff. While the engine was still running, without pressing on the gas, “the warning panel said, “DO NOT DRIVE”. The warning messages deactivated, and he was able to drive home. At the time of the complaint, he had not ascertained what the problem was.
Another Florida owner, from a different part of the state, describes problems with the vehicle stopping and not being able to change gears. After getting the SUV going again, a short distance later, the dash displayed “Engine Oil Pressure Low” and “Stop Engine. Do not Drive”.
“The car was subsequently towed to a nearby Honda dealership where an inspection was allegedly done and the issue was supposedly fixed. The service notes stated the vehicle was found with low oil levels and that no leak was found. They released the car back to me.” A week after picking the car up from the Honda Service Department, the issue recurred.
“While stopped in traffic, my vehicle shut down. I was unable to turn it back on or change the gears. An orange steering wheel with an orange exclamation mark next to it popped up on the upper right-hand corner of my dashboard along with a red battery logo below it. I was on the roadway unable to turn the car back on for approximately one hour. After continuous failed attempts to turn the car on and change the gear, at one point it turned back on and I was able to drive the car.”
Loss of Motive Power
An owner from Indiana reports losing motive power in the middle of the road. The owner stated that after opening and closing the door, he was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The dealer determined that the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) required a software update. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. Eventually, the owner related the failure to a recall. The VIN was included, but the vehicle had already been repaired, albeit unsuccessfully!
After only two weeks of purchasing a 2025 Honda Pilot, the whole system turned off. The owner wasn’t able to restart the SUV. “Everything was off — no power on. The lights were off, engine, doors were locked.” After an hour he was able to start up the engine. Two days later, the same thing happened. However, the dealer was unable to identify any problems. The sixth time it happened, he left the SUV with the dealer for three weeks. But again, they couldn’t fix it. It happened again another three weeks later, again with no resolution. “Please don’t sell this vehicle to another person. I am returning the car, but as a first-time owner of Honda I don’t recommend it.”
Keyless Access Problems
An owner from Arizona states that the vehicle has multiple electrical issues. “The biggest problem is with the keyless entry system and remote start. In hot weather (living in SW Arizona), neither system works. The use of a vehicle key is required to enter the vehicle. Upon entry, the vehicle displays ‘keyless access system problem. See your dealer.’ The dealership finally diagnosed a problem with a control module. During this time we’ve had a loaner 2024 Honda Civic that does the exact same thing.”
Another owner states that the SUV kept locking her out with the key fob inside. “The dash resets itself, but won’t turn back on. It is just in the constant spinning reset wheel. My attached photos are of the car refusing to lock because it says a door is open or a window is down, when none of that is happening. The doors are closed and the windows are up.”
Jerky Transmission
Rough shifting transmissions are responsible for the bulk of powertrain complaints to the NHTSA.
An owner from Texas reports that a jerky transmission occurs when shifting from first to second gear, and it is most noticeable when the engine is cold.
Similarly, an owner from another part of Texas states that shifting from first, second, and third gears is delayed or hesitant. It is extremely noticeable at low speeds when releasing the accelerator or braking. The driver is unable to predict speed when coming to a smooth stop. “Occasionally it feels like it lurches forward when it tries to downshift upon braking. It desperately needs a software update to TCM (Transmission Control Module), as mentioned hundreds of times elsewhere online.”
Describing the same problem, an owner from Wisconsin states that “Starting from a stop is the worst. When you press the gas pedal there is a delayed response to accelerate the car. This is a safety issue. When you press the gas to pull out in front of traffic the vehicle is slow to respond, can get bogged down trying to shift gears, and may result in an accident. The jerkiness feels like the transmission is going to fall out. The vehicle does not accelerate smoothly from 0-20 mph.”
An owner from Pennsylvania says it feels as though parts of the SUV are put together properly. “The transmission jerks/jumps when accelerating and also as it slows down. The vehicle, including the steering wheel, shakes when braking at speeds above 60 mph.”
What Can You Do About Recurring Problems?
If problems recur or result in you not being able to use your 2025 Honda Pilot for 30 days or more, you may want to consider contacting a lemon lawyer for help. The fact is that each year automakers like Honda buy back, replace, or pay cash settlements to thousands of people who find they have bought cars that are lemons. The law makes the automaker pay the legal fees for lemon-related legal fees, so it’s not going to cost you anything to pursue a settlement through a lemon lawyer.
Lemberg Law has helped a large number of vehicle owners get settlements from various manufacturers. If you’d like us to assess your 2025 Honda Pilot problems free of charge, please call our Helpline or fill out a contact form now. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
