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2023-2025 Honda Pilot Seat Belt Warning System Problems
Class Action Investigation
Lemberg Law is launching a class action investigation into a seat belt warning system defect affecting 2023, 2024, and 2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The system provides inaccurate information to the driver about whether rear seat passengers are buckled.
I’m Sergei Lemberg, a consumer protection attorney who has spent more than two decades representing vehicle owners in lemon law and defect cases. Part of my practice involves tracking federal safety investigations closely. When NHTSA opens a Preliminary Evaluation, I pay attention. This one stood out because NHTSA’s investigation covers cases where the system may show a passenger as buckled when they are not. For parents with young children in the back seat, that is not a minor software glitch.
So I pulled the complaints and the federal filings. I’ve included my research and source material below.
What’s the Problem with the Honda Pilot Seat Belt Warning System?
On 2023, 2024, and 2025 Honda Pilot vehicles, the seat belt reminder system provides inaccurate information about whether rear seat passengers are buckled. Honda has traced one form of the problem, affecting the second-row right seat, to a damaged or broken wire inside the seat belt buckle assembly. NHTSA’s investigation also raises concerns about third-row seating positions.
Owners report similar symptoms:
- Seat belt reminder shows red or gray even when the seat belt is properly fastened
- Dashboard warning indicator blinks red and green while driving with seat belt connected
- System shows no occupant detected even when a passenger is seated and buckled
- Reports involving second-row seats, with NHTSA also flagging third-row concerns
- New or continued warnings after dealer buckle replacement
Which Vehicles Are Involved?
Based on Honda’s Service Bulletin 26-027 and NHTSA’s Preliminary Evaluation PE25017, this investigation currently focuses on:
- 2023 Honda Pilot (all trims)
- 2024 Honda Pilot (all trims)
- 2025 Honda Pilot (all trims)
What Are Owners Experiencing?
Here is what Pilot owners are reporting:
“The seat does not signal that a child is seated in the seat or to put on a seat belt. Shows as if no one is in the passenger right hand seat. Then when my child has the seat belt connected it signals to reconnect multiple times on the dash blinking red and green with sound. Please see picture below. My child is in the right passenger seat with the [seat] belt on and shows no one is seated on the dash. When we are turning it blinks red and green.”
“The right rear seat safety belt warning keeps going off as if the passenger does not have the seat belt fastened although they do have it fastened.”
“Second row passenger seatbelt alarms even when the seat belt is connected and secured. Went to dealer and needed a new seat belt installed. Now receiving dash warnings of supplemental seat belt issues.”
Federal Investigation PE25017
On October 28, 2025, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25017 to investigate the seat belt warning system defect in 2023-2024 Honda Pilot vehicles.
Here is a snapshot from the NHTSA investigation filing:
Key details from the investigation documents:
- NHTSA has received 6 complaints and multiple Early Warning Reporting field reports
- The estimated population of potentially affected vehicles is 142,572
- The investigation covers both false positive and false negative seat belt warning statuses
- NHTSA flagged particular concern for children and child seats in the third row, where drivers cannot easily visually confirm buckle status
- The investigation is open and ongoing
Honda Service Bulletin 26-027
On January 21, 2026, Honda issued Service Bulletin 26-027 acknowledging that the seat belt reminder incorrectly indicates the second-row right passenger seat belt is unfastened even after the passenger has fastened it. Honda identified the cause as a damaged or broken wire inside the seat belt buckle assembly.
The repair requires inspecting the seat belt buckle assembly and replacing it if necessary, along with replacement of the seat recline inner and outer trim covers. Honda noted that if the trim covers are not replaced alongside the buckle, the repair is incomplete and may damage the new seat belt buckle wiring, leading to another failure.
The bulletin applies to 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles but is not a recall. There is currently no safety recall covering this defect. NHTSA’s investigation covers 2023–2024 models, while Honda’s service bulletin extends to the 2025 model year.
What Can You Do?
If you own a 2023, 2024, or 2025 Honda Pilot and have experienced seat belt warning system problems, here are the steps to take:
- Do not rely on the seat belt reminder display. Visually and physically confirm that every rear passenger, especially children, is buckled before driving.
- Document every incident with dates, mileage, and which seating position is affected.
- Ask your dealer whether Service Bulletin 26-027 has been applied to your vehicle.
- File a complaint using NHTSA’s safety complaint form.
Get a Free Case Evaluation
A seat belt warning system that cannot be trusted is a serious concern, especially for families with young children in the back seat. If you own a 2023, 2024, or 2025 Honda Pilot and have experienced this issue, we want to hear from you.
We will evaluate whether you may be part of our class action investigation or have an individual lemon law claim. There is no cost and no obligation.
Our firm works on a contingency-fee basis. You do not pay legal fees unless a recovery is obtained.
Sources:
- Federal Investigation PE25017
- Honda Service Bulletin 26-027
- NHTSA 2023 Honda Pilot Complaints
- NHTSA 2024 Honda Pilot Complaints
- NHTSA 2025 Honda Pilot Complaints
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."
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