33 complaints reported

2021 Honda Pilot Electrical System

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

Reports
33
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop, the START/STOP function activated and turned the vehicle off; however, while attempting to drive from the stop, the engine failed to restart. After waiting 5-10 minutes, the vehicle was able to restart and returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 44,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2025
Sep 2025

Vehicle: 2021 Honda Pilot VIN: [XXX] Complaint: My 2021 Honda Pilot continues to have the same issues described in NHTSA Recall 23V-431 (backup camera / infotainment coaxial cable defect). The recall was marked “completed” about two years ago, but the safety problem persists. Symptoms include: •Infotainment screen going black •“Network communication lost” error messages •Backup camera flickering or failing to display Because the backup camera is federally required under FMVSS 111, my vehicle is not compliant with safety standards. The dealership told me that since the recall was already performed, I would now have to pay out of pocket for further repairs. This means the original recall remedy either failed or was not effective. I am filing this complaint because Honda and its dealership are refusing to correct an unresolved safety defect, leaving my vehicle unsafe to operate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2025
Sep 2025

rearview camera images ot appear on the dashboard screen

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2025
Sep 2025

Autostart failed several times then starter ultimately failed. Taken to dealer and repaired at my cost.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2025
Aug 2025

My 2021 Honda Pilot SE has developed a failure of the forward-facing Multipurpose Camera Unit (mounted behind the rearview mirror). A scan with a professional tool confirmed Diagnostic Trouble Code U3000-49 – “Multipurpose Camera Unit Internal Electronic Failure.” When this occurs, the vehicle immediately displays multiple warning lights at every startup: Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Automatic High-Beam/Dimming headlights. In addition, the dashboard shows a “brake system failure” message, although the brakes continue to function normally. This single camera failure disables all of Honda’s Honda Sensing crash-avoidance features, leaving the driver without forward collision prevention or lane-keeping systems. The failure is persistent, and the DTC remains “Current” after clearing. I took the vehicle to a Honda dealer, but because the car is out of warranty they refused to perform diagnosis or provide a repair estimate, essentially telling me it was my responsibility to resolve. This problem is widely reported by owners of Pilots, Odysseys, CR-Vs, Accords, and Passports, all showing the same U3000-49 code and symptoms. Independent shops confirm they often see these failures, and forums show repeated cases of owners paying high out-of-pocket costs, sometimes with parts on back-order. Honda has recalled less serious issues, such as rearview camera display faults, while this defect disables forward collision prevention and lane safety systems—far more critical to protection. Other automakers (Toyota, GM, Subaru) have recalled forward cameras and radar modules under similar conditions. This is a major safety defect that removes federally promoted crash-avoidance systems with no fallback. I urge NHTSA to investigate and require Honda to issue a recall at manufacturer expense, and please advise how long the process may take, as my vehicle is less safe to drive

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2025
Jul 2025

screen stopped working suddenly. will randomly flash bright blue or a gray static, then go back to black.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2025
Jun 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the idle STOP/START system suddenly activated while idling at a stop sign, stop light, and driving at slower speeds of approximately 5 MPH. The vehicle stalled while the failure occurred, causing the contact to make several attempts to restart the vehicle. The failure was more persistent. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the diagnostic test and repair were not covered under the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2025
Jun 2025

Starter bad

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2024
May 2025

The BCM body control module is not working. My wife is scared to drive thinking it can turn on lights wipers and other components. For being a Farley new car it’s crazy to think it’s defected. I had no warning prior to the incident. Honda dealer says they don’t know what caused it The alarm goes off all the time so I have to have it in the driveway with the battery unplugged Honda charges me $2,100 to fix it which is absurd

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2025
Feb 2025

The infotainment system screen would simply not illuminate when the car is started. Also the auto engine shut off, chooses not to restart the engine when your foot is removed from the break peddle.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2025
Feb 2025

The car on multiple occasions (4 separate incidents) after stopping at a red light or stop sign and the auto stop system stopped the engine, once the brake pressure is released, the car would auto start then immediately shift into neutral and completely shut off (engine, electrical, etc). Driver would have to coast/stop at side of road and turn car off and on again. In 2 of the incidents, this happened on a two lane road and completely blocked traffic until the driver could figure out what was happening and restart the car.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2025
Dec 2024

Audio and backup camera panel popping noise and disconnects whole panel causing it to go black , which includes the backup camera. Extreme safety issue with no backup camera .

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2024
Nov 2024

Center infotainment system screen shorts out and goes dark. Back up camera will not work and it is unsafe to back up as you can't see below the rear window.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2024
Nov 2024

Infotainment system is crackling through the speakers and then the whole screen goes black and nothing works including the back up camera.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2024
Oct 2024

Auto start-stop system failed. The car completely shutoff when the engine idle was engaged in the middle of traffic.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2024
Sep 2024

Infotainment systems makes a crackling sound then the whole system will shut down and screen goes black. Nothing with the system will work including the back up camera.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2024
Aug 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the idle stop system was deactivated, while idling at a stop light the vehicle suddenly turned off after releasing the brake pedal and shifted into neutral. The vehicle was eventually restarted and operated normally. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2024
Jul 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact stated that several unknown warning lights started flashing. The contact stated that the Cruise Control and the Lane Departure and Lane Assist were inoperable. Additionally, the front view camera had failed to operate as designed. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the electrical system had failed and that the front view camera needed to be replaced and recalibrated for all of the other systems to work as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2024
Jun 2024

The battery has gone bad twice (second replacement only took nine months) since an update was applied to the auto engine restart function. The car will work for some amount of time after the battery is replaced and then begin to not restart (shut off) at a light after the auto engine shutoff is engaged from the brake. It progressively gets worse until we replace the battery.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2024
May 2024

The infotainment screen went black. No back up camera available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2024
Apr 2024

I have a 2021 Elite and have been experiencing issues with the Auto Engine Idle Shut Off for the past year. The engine with shuts off normally when I come to a stop when I have the system engaged. The problems begin when I take my foot off the brake expecting the engine to start up again. What happens inconsistently (though more and more often) is that when I take my foot off the brake, the engine shuts off, shifts itself into Park, and I have trouble getting the engine to start up again. A number of warning messages show up on the center console as well. Things like, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation, Brake System warnings start displaying. Sometimes, I can get the engine to start up again within 10-15 seconds. Sometimes, it's been more than a minute. It almost sounds like the battery is dead but I have zero issues ever starting the vehicle initially in both hot and cold weather. When I disengage the system, which I do practically every time I drive the car now, everything works fine. The dealer ran a diagnostic and found nothing and then charged my battery even though it read full charge. It did the exact same thing a day later at a stop light. Because it’s a safety hazard and rather embarrassing to have it keep occurring at red lights with people behind you, when it shuts the engine off I manually disengage the shut off via the button on the console and the vehicle starts up fine every time. The stalls only occur when I don’t disengage with the button and take my foot off the brake. I have spoken to several other pilot owners that this has happened to so I know it is not an isolated incident.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2024
Sep 2023

The car shuts down when coming to an idle such while stopping at a light. All systems are powered down including the hazard lights, front and tail lights and windows. The car has so far restarted after multiple attempts at the start button. This may range from 30 seconds to 5 minutes before the car will restart. This is a safety concern as when this occurs in traffic especially at night with limited visibility, this can lead to being rear ended waiting for the vehicle to start. When this occurs is unpredictable. The Honda dealer was unable to replicate the issue and as such carried out a software reset to address the issue. This has happened 8 times already.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2023
Sep 2023

Two weeks ago, the audio in my 2021 Pilot became very distorted also as if the car was losing power. On my way to work this morning, I reached a red light, came to a complete stop, and the vehicle went into idle mode as normal. However, while in idle mode the vehicle turned completely off just as I was about to release the brakes to start driving again. The battery indicator on the gauge clustor flashed a few times and the car automatically went into neutral. I was not able to put the vehicle back into park as instructed by the message prompt. After waiting a couple of minutes, I pressed AND held the start button and the vehicle finally turned back on. I do not know what the issue is, but due to this incident I felt that it was completely unsafe.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2023
Aug 2023

Audio system popping noise affecting the dashboard system and audio system not working loss of power controls to use any of the systems digital components including speed control backup camera entire audio system

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2023
May 2023

The Entertainment system makes popping and crackling sounds and will cut out. This is very distracting while driving. It does not allow you to use the screen at all including to view backing up. I contacting Honda Corp and was told to get a formal diagnosis which is scheduled for June 16, 2023. Was also told this has happened many times before in other models of pilots.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2023

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Quick Summary

The 2021 Honda Pilot has 33 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.