39 complaints reported

2005 Honda Pilot Brakes

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
39
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Oct 2012

STARTING ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WHEN OUR HONDA PILOT 2005 REACHED A LITTLE OVER 100K MILES, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM STARTED FREAKING OUT. WHEN GOING APPROXIMATELY 35-45 MPH ON STRAIGHT DRY ROADS THE BRAKES WILL SUDDENLY APPLY THEMSELVES WITH NO PRESSING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL! LUCKILY IT HAS LASTED ONLY A SECOND AND THEY ARE SUDDENLY RELEASED, BUT IT IS VERY FRIGHTENING AND IF I WERE NOT LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD AND HOLDING TIGHT TO THE WHEEL THE CAR EASILY COULD HAVE PULLED OFF THE ROAD (IT SEEMS TO BE PREDOMINANTLY THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE - I THINK THE LEFT SIDE ONLY DID IT ONCE.) THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES ON DIFFERENT DAYS IN THE PAST MONTH. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE MINUTES OF STARTING THE CAR. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS 5-15MPH WHILE TURNING WE HAVE STARTED TO HEAR A "CLUNKING/SCRAPPING" SOUND OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKES "ADJUSTING" - IS HOW I'D DESCRIBE IT? THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT BEING PRESSED, BUT THEY SEEM TO BE CONFUSED. THE SOUND IS SIMILAR TO HOW IT WOULD SOUND IF WE ACTUALLY HIT AN ICE PATCH WHILE DRIVING AND APPLIED THE BRAKES - KIND OF A CLUNKING OR BRACING SOUND TO PREVENT SKIDDING, BUT THE ROAD IS DRY. AND FINALLY JUST YESTERDAY THE BRAKES SEEM TO HAVE BECOME PERMANENTLY STUCK IN THE SLIGHTEST/TEENIEST LEVEL OF APPLICATION - THEY JUST SOUND LIKE THEY ARE APPLIED WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR KIND OF HUMMS. THIS DIDN'T STOP UNTIL I STOPPED THE CAR COMPLETELY AND TURNED IT OFF, WAITED 5 MINUTES AND STARTED AGAIN? THIS TIME THE ROADS WERE VERY WET AND POSSIBLY IT STARTED WHEN WE HIT A SLIGHTLY SLICK SPOT? BUT THEN DIDN'T LET UP TILL THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF? THE BRAKES HAVE A SENSATION LIKE THEY WILL SUDDENLY GO OFF WITHOUT WARNING OR MAYBE EVEN NOT APPLY IF I NEED THEM TO?! WE DRIVE A 7,6 AND 4 YEAR OLD IN THIS CAR EVERY DAY. PLEASE REQUIRE HONDA TO RECALL AND FIX THIS ASAP! THANK YOU. *TR...UPDATED 03-10-16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY GOT VERY HOT AND STOPPED. THERE WAS A CLUMPY REDDISH-BROWN FLUID LEAKING. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION, AND POSSIBLY ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 08/10/2017*JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2012
Oct 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENDLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND BECAME HARD TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONTINUE RUNNING, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SINCE THE BRAKES HAD ENGAGED AND FAILED TO RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2012
Oct 2012

VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATE 50MPH AND BRAKES RANDOMLY APPLY WITHOUT PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. VEHICLE COMES TO DANGEROUS AND VIOLENT STOP. SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT LOWER SPEEDS BETWEEN 25MPH TO 35MPH. VIOLENT BRAKING HAPPENS BOTH WHEN PEDAL IS APPLIED AND ALSO RANDOMLY WITHOUT PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND HONDA CLAIMS IT HAS NO REAL SOLUTION. HONDA DEALERSHIP/SERVICE CENTER HAS DUPLICATED EXACT MALFUNCTION AND REQUIRES HONDA TO ASSIST THEM WITH FINDING A SOLUTION. NOW BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY HONDA ON HOW OR IF THEY CAN REPAIR ISSUE, WHICH LEAVES VEHICLE SAFETY IN QUESTION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2012
Oct 2012

BRAKES ACTUATED ON THEIR OWN SEVERAL TIMES. CAR CAME TO ABRUPT STOP MOMENTARILY BUT THEN THE BRAKES RELEASED ON THEIR OWN. STARTING HAPPENING TODAY AND OCCURRED SIX TIMES DURING A COUPLE MILE CAR RIDE. ONLY HAPPENED SPORADICALLY. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2012
Oct 2012 Crash

DRIVING AT AROUND 45-50 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN THE MORNING RUSH HOUR, AS I PRESSED MY BRAKE SUDDENLY TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING ON TO MY LANE, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT SWUNG VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE AS I TRIED TO STEER IT AWAY FROM VEHICLES AROUND ME SO AS NOT TO HIT THEM. IT FINALLY CAME TO A HALT AFTER SLAMMING ON TO THE VEHICLE THAT CAME ON TO MY LANE CAUSING ME TO BRAKE SUDDENLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE PERSON WHOSE CAR I HIT AND WHO WATCHED ME FROM A CLOSE RANGE TOLD ME LATER THAT HE WAS WORRIED THAT THE CAR WAS GOING TO TURN OVER. FOR ME, THE SCARY PART WAS WHEN I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR BY STEERING IT. I SWERVED IT LEFT & RIGHT SO AS NOT TO HIT OTHERS BUT FELT AS IF SOMETHING ELSE WAS CONTROLLING THE SIDEWAYS MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. I SUSPECTED IT WAS SOME KIND OF COMPUTER MALFUNCTION AND THOUGHT ABOUT REPORTING IT TO HONDA BUT DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO DO THAT. I AM REPORTING IT NOW AS I READ YESTERDAY ON USA TODAY THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING A SIMILAR-SOUNDING PROBLEM THAT ANOTHER CONSUMER REPORTED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2011
Sep 2012

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS (20-50 MPH) THE CAR MAKES A LOW GRINDING NOISE AND RAPIDLY BRAKES/DECELERATES WITHOUT THE BRAKES BEING TOUCHED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF FOR YEARS; HOWEVER, RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON A DAILY BASIS. THE DRIVER (MYSELF) AND THE PASSENGERS (USUALLY MY TWO CHILDREN) IN THE CAR LURCH FORWARD AS THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY BRAKES. THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR MY FAMILY AND I. THIS IS OUR FAMILY CAR AND I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CHILDREN ANYWHERE IN THIS CAR WITH THE FREQUENCY OF THESE INCIDENTS. IN FACT, ON DECEMBER 8, 2012 ANOTHER CAR ALMOST SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF US. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT OTHER 2005 HONDA PILOT OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2012
Aug 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FOURTH YEAR PRESSURE SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,450 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,450.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2012
Aug 2012

WHILE I WAS DRIVING APPROX 40 MPH MY 2005 HONDA PILOT'S BRAKES ENGAGED ON THEIR OWN. THE BRAKES STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR JETTED TO THE LEFT INTO THE MEDIAN WHILE STOPPING. DURING THE EVENT THERE WAS A LOUD GROANING NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. I MADE MY WAY INTO A GAS STATION AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND PROCEEDED HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN 1/2 MILE LATER AT 30 MPH, BRAKES TO THE FLOOR,LOUD GROANING SOUND. AT THIS POINT I WAS TERRIFIED AS MY 3YR DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR AND WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. THE VSA LIGHT POPPED ON AFTER THE SECOND EVENT.CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE SHOP WHERE WE WERE TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN WHO INSPECTED AND DROVE THE VEHICLE THAT HE WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE EVENT 2X. THEY STATED WE HAD A PROBLEM W/THE VSA OR ABS SYSTEM AND WE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE HONDA DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO NOTED THAT WHEN THEY HOOKED THE CAR UP TO THE COMPUTER THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM WAS READING "NO DATA".THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO HONDA THE NEXT DAY AND WE WERE TOLD WE DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM W/OUR ABS OR VSA SYSTEM. THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HONDA CONCLUDED THAT MY BRAKE PADS/ROTORS & TIRES NEEDED REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL SHOP WE TOOK IT TO STATED OUR BRAKES AND TIRES WERE FINE AND WOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM WE WERE HAVING. WE TRUSTEDHONDA AND COMPLETED THE REPAIRS THEY REQUESTED OUTSIDE OF THE DEALERSHIP. NEW BRAKES & TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AND WE HAVE HAD 4 ADD.'L INCIDENTS SINCE THESE ?REPAIRS? HAVE BEEN MADE. ALL OF THE INFO WE RECEIVED FROM THE FIRST SHOP THAT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE WAS RELAYED TO HONDA NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY WERE ADAMANT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A VSA OR ABS PROBLEM. CLEARLY THEY WERE WRONG. WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER NEXT TUESDAY .THE VEHICLE REMAINS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WE ARE VERY DISPLEASED AT HOW HONDA IS HANDLING THE SITUATION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2012
Jul 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY ENGAGED AND THE ABS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2012
Jul 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND THE BRAKES ACTIVATED ERRONEOUSLY, BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2010
Jun 2012

I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR NEARLY AN HOUR. I CAME TOWARD A STOPLIGHT, PUT THE BRAKES ON, WHICH SEEMED TO FUNCTION FINE. THEN WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE CAR JARRED TO A SHAKY STOP- ALMOST LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE WORKING. I TOOK IT HOME, STOPPED THE CARE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN DECIDED TO TAKE IT BACK OUT TO SEE IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND CAME TO A STOP SIGN. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN WHEN I WENT TO TURN I ACCELERATED BRIEFLY AND THEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP- LIKE SOMEONE HAD STEPPED ON THE BRAKES BUT I DID NOT STEP ON THEM. THE CAR NEVER STOPPED RUNNING OR NEVER STALLED, I JUST HAD NO ACCELERATION FOR A MOMENT. I THEN DROVE THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO MY MECHANIC DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE. ONE OF THE MECHANICS DROVE THE CAR WITH ME IN IT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND COULD NOT GET THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN. HE DROPPED ME OFF AT MY HOUSE AND WHEN HE WAS ACCELERATING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY I SAW THE CAR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BUT NO BRAKE LIGHTS WENT ON AT THE BACK OF THE CAR. HE WAS ABLE TO BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY- THE CAR NEVER SHUT OFF AND STILL FUNCTIONED- AND HE ASKED ME IF THAT WAS THE ISSUE AND I SAID YES. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD IT A TRANSMISSION PLACE WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS NOT SURE WHAT WAS WRONG AND WE THEN HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST HONDA DEALERSHIP WHERE WE ACTUALLY PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE EITHER AND CURRENTLY CANNOT GET IT TO HAPPEN TO THEM. AND NOW I HAVE NO CAR AND WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL I KNOW IT HAS BEEN FIXED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2012
Mar 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA) MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE BRAKE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2011
Mar 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2008
Mar 2012

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 60. I PUT ON MY BLINKER AND WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE TO THE LEFT LANE NEXT TO ME. A CAR IN THE LEFT LANE SPED UP AS I STARTED TO MOVE LEFT. I TURNED BACK SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND TAPPED MY BRAKES. THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND I HAD A HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS NEXT TO ME OR BEHIND ME, BECAUSE I WENT INTO THE RIGHT LANE NEXT TO ME AND THEN ONTO THE BIRM LANE. THE CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY. THE ROAD WAS DRY- THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THANK GOD MY CHILDREN WERE NOT WITH ME AND THAT THE ONLY CARS ON THE HIGHWAY WERE AHEAD OF ME. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2012

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2005 Honda Pilot has 39 Brakes complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.