2020 Honda PILOT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
484 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
4,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 147 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 208 of 484 complaints (43.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 107 | 22.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 90 | 18.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 47 | 9.7% |
| Engine operation | 38 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 20 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 18 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 208 |
| Engine | 100 |
| Unknown Or Other | 95 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 46 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 44 |
| Power Train | 35 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 31 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 31 |
Electrical System: 208; Engine: 100; Unknown Or Other: 95; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 46; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 44; Power Train: 35; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 31; Fuel/Propulsion System: 31
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 116 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 116; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (116). 337 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 98 |
| 2021 | 44 |
| 2022 | 61 |
| 2023 | 64 |
| 2024 | 74 |
| 2025 | 79 |
| 2026 | 61 |
2019: 3; 2020: 98; 2021: 44; 2022: 61; 2023: 64; 2024: 74; 2025: 79; 2026: 61
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 107 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 90 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 47 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11298042 · 2020-01-08 (January 8, 2020)
THESE ISSUES OCCUR WHEN DRIVING, REGARDLESS OF SPEED, ROAD CONDITIONS, ETC. THE ISSUE BEGAN ON APPROXIMATELY 12/17/2019. THE PROBLEM USUALLY STARTS WITH A LOUD CRACKLING NOISE THROUGH THE SPEAKERS, EVEN WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED OFF. THE DASH, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, WILL SHUT OFF LEAVING A BLACK SCREEN WHICH MEANS I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I'M DRIVING. THE CENTER CONSOLE, INCLUDING SATELLITE NAVIGATION AND RADIO, ALSO SHUTS OFF LEAVING A BLACK SCREEN. I PURCHASED THIS MODEL SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AS I DRIVE FOR WORK &…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,372 miles reported. Look up ODI 11298042 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11300489 · 2020-01-20 (January 20, 2020)
THE COLLISION MITIGATION SYSTEM (BRAKES) WILL SLAM ON THE BRAKES WITH NO HAZARD IN THE AREA. THE SYSTEM FREQUENTLY FLASHES A MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY TO BRAKE IN RED AND BLACK. AT LEAST ONCE THE SYSTEM HAS ACTUALLY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE SALESMAN SAID THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT I SHOULD SHUT THE SYSTEM OFF. HONDA APPARENTLY DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE A FIX TO THE SYSTEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11300489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11282937 · 2019-11-29 (November 29, 2019)
WE'VE HAD 3 HONDAS AND HAVE BEEN VERY LOYAL HONDA FANS FOR, CLAIMING TO NEVER BUY ANOTHER BRAND. WE BOUGHT OUR PILOT BRAND NEW AND LOVED IT. WE'RE AT 3700 MILES AND HAVING MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE SPEAKERS CRACKLE AND POP LOUDLY CONSTANTLY, WITH THE AUDIO ON OR OFF SO THERE'S NO WAY TO GET A BREAK FROM IT. THE CAR WILL THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A COLLISION WHEN THERE'S NOTHING IN FRONT OF IT. NOW TODAY, MY HUSBAND DID THE REMOTE START AND WHEN HE GOT OUT TO THE VEHICLE, ALL THE WINDOWS WERE HALF DOWN AND THE SUNROOF HALF OPEN! WE HAVE THE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11282937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11331327 · 2020-06-28 (June 28, 2020)
WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR AFTER 2 OR 3 DAYS THERE IS CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEN I TURN LEFT AND WHEN I HIT BREAKS AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING DOWN AND SOMETIMES IF I DRIVE STRAIGHT THE I HEARD THE NOISE. I CHECKED WITH DEALER BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. SOMETIMES WHEN I SHIFT GEAR FROM PARKING TO DRIVE I HEARD NOISE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT DRIVING EVERY DAY THAT MIGHT THE PROBLEM OF CLICKING NOISE.
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11331327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11344095 · 2020-08-08 (August 8, 2020)
I GOT THIS CAR ONLY 1 WEEK; I HEARD THE NOISE FROM STEERING WHEEL AND THE PROBLEM WHEN I HIT GAS AND SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION. ON JULY 13, I DROP THE CAR TO FIX FOR 2 DAYS. THEN, ONLY 2 WEEK AFTER I HAVE EXPERIENCED CANNOT HIT GAS AND I CANNOT HIT THE BRAKES. THE ALL ENGINE LIGHT, BREAK LIGHT, TSA LIGHT AND OTHER 3 LIGHTS IS COMING. I HAVE TO TOW MY CAR TO DEALER SHOP. THIS CAR IS BAD CAR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11344095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11372846 · 2020-11-03 (November 3, 2020)
2020 HONDA PILOT TOURING 1,156 MILES - 3 MONTHS OLD. VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHEN PULLING INTO GARAGE AND APPLYING BREAKS. LOUD SOUNDS COMING THROUGH SPEAKERS AS IF YOU'RE DRIVING THROUGH HAIL. TUNER LOST, NETWORK CONNECTION FAILED, DASHBOARD BLACK. VEHICLE CAN ALSO APPLY BREAKS WHEN NO OTHER CAR IS AROUND. LATEST SYSTEM FAILURE CAR STALLED WHEN APPLYING BREAKS AT AN INTERSECTION. ALSO DRIVER PASSENGER MIRRORS INDEPENDENTLY MOVE WHILE DRIVING. SOFTWARE UPDATE TO CONTROL BOX AND GAUGE CONTROL MODULE WITHOUT FIX. NOW TIGHTENED WIRES BEHIND…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,156 miles reported. Look up ODI 11372846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11413076 · 2021-04-20 (April 20, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED AS THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. EACH TIME, THE CONTACT WOULD COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESUME NORMAL DRIVING SOON AFTER FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT UPON APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD AS THE BRAKE MADE AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11413076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11342380 · 2020-07-30 (July 30, 2020)
ALL PROBLEMS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AFTER OWNING THE CAR AND HAVE GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. SPEAKER POPPING / CRACKLING PROBLEM - CAN BE VERY LOUD AND PERSISTENT AND ANNOYING RADIO FREEZES AND IS INOPERABLE SPEEDOMETER GOES BLACK (NO SPEED INDICATORS) WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL OUTSIDE MIRRORS HAVE AUTO COLLAPSED AT LEAST ONCE THE RANDOM NATURE OF THESE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS LEAVE WORRY THAT SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC MAY RANDOMLY HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND EITHER START A FIRE OR CAUSE A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT, OR LEAVE ONE STRANDED WITH AN INOPERAB…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11342380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11343361 · 2020-08-04 (August 4, 2020)
THE FORWARD COLLISION SYSTEM IN OUR 2020 HONDA PILOT WILL ALERT US TO BRAKE, SHAKE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND BEEP WITH NOTHING IN FRONT OF US OR WILL DO IT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE ALERT ZONE IN THE OPPOSITE LANE. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO OUR LOCAL DEALER AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND AN ISSUE. WE CAN BE ON BACKROADS, MAIN STREETS AND RECENTLY ON EMPTY BRIDGES.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,279 miles reported. Look up ODI 11343361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11455985 · 2022-03-10 (March 10, 2022)
Over the last few years, after a long highway drive of approx. 20 miles when I stop and sit and idle, a strong gasoline smell is entering the vehicle via the HVAC Heating system. Also, after the same longer drives, when I return home, turn off and park the suv in my garage, shortly after my garage smells of gasoline as well from the Front Passenger side of the suv nearest the hood cowl. It does not happen 100% of the time but this winter it has occurred more frequently (a few times a week) during our Mon-Fri commutes.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11455985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11564681 · 2024-01-10 (January 10, 2024)
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart after being jumpstarted. On another occasion while in reverse(R), the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart after being jumpstarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was n…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11564681 at NHTSA ↗