2021 Honda Pilot FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
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I am submitting this complaint to formally report a serious and widespread safety defect involving the front-facing camera system on my 2021 Honda Pilot. This defect has resulted in multiple safety system failures and has placed myself, my passengers, and other motorists at unacceptable risk. The front camera on my vehicle does not function as designed, which has caused the complete loss or repeated failure of critical safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, lane departure mitigation, collision mitigation braking, and other forward-facing driver assistance and alert systems. These systems are not optional or convenience features. They are advertised and sold as essential safety technology intended to reduce accidents, mitigate driver error, and protect human life. Their failure substantially impairs the vehicle’s safety performance and creates a foreseeable risk of serious accidents, injuries, or fatalities, particularly during highway driving or emergency situations. When I sought assistance from the dealership, I was informed that Honda would not cover the repair because the vehicle exceeded a mileage threshold. This rationale is unreasonable and misleading. A front-facing camera is not a wear-and-tear component and has no logical connection to mileage accumulation. It is an electronic safety system whose premature failure suggests a defect in design, materials, or manufacturing. I then contacted Honda directly, and the manufacturer again refused to provide assistance, citing mileage alone while failing to address the safety implications or defect characteristics. This refusal appears to be an attempt to avoid responsibility for a known safety-related failure rather than a legitimate warranty determination. Further research reveals that this issue is not isolated. Numerous Honda owners have experienced identical front camera failures resulting in the same loss of safety systems. The consistency, frequency, and similarity of th
The front camera has malfunctioned after locking down the brakes on my vehicle. Without the camera, the automatic braking system, forward collision, lane departure, adaptive cruise control, and high beam are no longer functioning. While the high beams are not as big of a deal, the safety features such as the braking system and forward collision are of more significance.
Multiple safety features are failing on this 2021 Honda Pilot. At startup, I get the following errors: Collision Mitigation System Problem, Road Departure Mitigation System Problem, Adaptive Cruise Control Problem, Lane Keeping Assist Problem. Dealership says it is an infotainment system problem and it will cost about $1,200.
The vehicle will provide "BRAKE" warnings on the dash display or display the warning and auto-brake when on a 2 lane road, with only a painted divided line, when on a curve and an oncoming vehicle is coming wards my vehicle, but there is no apparent oncoming collision with the oncoming vehicle and with no vehicle in front of me. This has been intermittent and ongoing since vehicle purchase.
VSA modulator failed at approximately 69,000 miles. Safety features were inoperable putting my family at risk. Dash said to contact a dealership and to not drive the vehicle. The dealer informed us that the car was safe to drive as long as it wasn't making any funny noises. I paid the dealer to replace the VSA modulator per their diagnosis but then upon the car being returned to my possession, I was informed all the alarms are present on the car again. The dealer is instructing that I now need to replace the forward camera / radar sensor.
Frequently, my 2021 Honda will apply the brakes without warning or very abruptly. While using the adaptive cruise control, the car will brake suddenly when there is not a car anywhere near me. Also, when driving on two lane roads, the car slams on the brakes when there is not a car in front of me.
Car slammed on breaks for no reason. Good thing I was paying attention and was able to keep my vehicle under control. My neck hurt for the rest of the day and is Sore today. Now my cars system says the system isn’t working correctly after my car slammed on the breaks for basically no reason. I know this is an ongoing problem certain Honda models already. I believe every Honda with this system should be recalled.
My greetings. I want to share with you my experience, which, unfortunately, I encounter every day. The problem is this. The car begins to brake unpredictably while driving, even when there are no cars ahead; on an empty road it suddenly brakes. This happens at speeds between 30 mph and above.In slippery road conditions, this can lead to an accident or death. I spoke to the Honda service center about this problem, but they did not help me. The service center is located at: 9903 Bustleton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19115. The device responsible for emergency braking is included in the price of the car, and does not work properly. The only way to protect yourself from a technically incorrectly functioning emergency braking system is to turn it off manually, using a button. To clarify, I want to say the following. Everything on my car is factory. The windshield has not been replaced, radar below logo as well. Everything is original. The mileage on the car is 10,500. The car is almost new, and at the same time dangerous.
I’ve purchased my Honda pilot 2021 Brand New within the last two months. My car is CMBS has initiated, breaking for oncoming objects that were nonexistent or when on coming traffic was passing me in the other lane, causing my vehicle to break abruptly nearly causing an accident followed by all Honda, sensing features such as forward, collision collision lane assist us cruise control assist to driving along with automatic head beams. High beams. Are no longer functional.
When driving the collision mitigation and brakes come on for no reason. Once when driving down a two lane road with a car coming in the opposite direction in their lane and I was in mine, the car braked. Then once getting on a road nothing coming nor any other vehicle around the vehicle did a hard brake. I just purchased the car last month and it just started happening.
I purchased the vehicle brand new in 2021. At this time I don't feel safe driving the vehicle due to the following issues I'm having: The automatic braking system will engage without notice. On 5/20/23 I was at driving at 60 MPH at 2:00am and the car slammed on the brakes for no reason, there was NO other vehicles on the road in front of me or besides me at the time of the incident. On 5/21/22 I was driving around 45MPH and I went next to a vehicle that was parked on the should of the road, When I approached the vehicle the brakes engaged almost causing a collision with the vehicle that was driving behind me witch it happen to be a Semi Truck. 12/22/22 While driving on HWY 18th the vehicle brakes engaged for reason or warning while driving on straight line. This happens 99% of the time when I drive the vehicle. The warning yellow braking light would illuminate and the steering wheel will shake or vibrate for no apparent reason when cars are coming the opposite way. This is extremely scary situation to have in a brand new vehicle. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership in hope of repair but nothing has been done. I started having this concerns a month or so after the vehicle was purchased, and the only solution I was given by the dealership was to disengage the auto braking program, But I don't think that's the solution. This coming Thursday 5/24/23 the vehicle will be inspected. ( this will be the second or third time the vehicle will be in the shop due to the same issue. Thank you for taking the time in reviewing my concern.
When driving the collision mitigation and brakes apply causing steering wheel shake and braking WITHOUT passing of vehicles. This happens multiple times during driving. This has been ongoing since June 2022 and has been reviewed by Honda without correction.
The brake light come out for no reason
Collision warning system goes off when no vehicles present. Steering wheel starts shaking and brake flashes on dash display. This has happened several times before. Date of last incident recorded.
The CMBS regularly activates with the brake warning lights, audible, and steering wheel shaking. There has never been anything in front of the vehicle when the CMBS activates. Most recently, the CMBS activated and applied the brakes when driving approximately 40 mph for no reason. Obviously, the safety of the driver and all passengers are at a risk of an accident caused by the CMBS' faulty activation, as well as any other people and/or property involved. We have been complaining to the dealership regularly since we purchased the vehicle over 2 years ago, to no avail. The dealership states they have not been able to confirm or reproduce the CMBS' faulty activation. No one other than the dealership has inspected the vehicle for this problem. The CMBS is on by default, so the only option until repaired is to remember to deactivate the CMBS every time the vehicle is use, by every driver. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
1. DRIVING ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY, AT ABOUT 65 MPH, USING CRUISE CONTROL. NO VEHICLES AHEAD ON ME IN MY LANE. TRUCK IN ONCOMING LANE CAUSED DASH TO DISPLAY BRAKE WARNING. BRAKE CAME ON MOMENTARILY, WHEEL WAS IN STAIGHT FORWARD POSITION. 2. HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH CRUISE. DRIVING AT 45 MPH IN LEFT LANE, CRUISE ON, CAR AHEAD OF ME MOVES TO LEFT TURN LANE, DASH BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND BRAKES MOMENTARILY GO ON. FOR THIS TOOK INTO HONDA DEALER, UNABLE TO REPLICATE BY THEIR SERVICE TECH.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the Forward Collision Mitigation system inadvertently activated. The contact stated that the brakes were independently activated. The brake and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated with an audible chime. The contact stated that the software independently reset and returned to normal driving. The contact stated that the failure became constant. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer on three occasions, but no repairs were performed. On the third service appointment the contact was advised that the manufacturer was aware of the failure and was developing a remedy. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,486.
Forward Collision Warning system has many times flashed the large ‘BRAKE’ and loud beeping warning when collision was not imminent. It never actually applied the brakes but worries us that it could slam on the brakes unnecessarily and cause an accident by getting rear ended or causeing the car to lose control and skid cross lanes. Most of the time this happens on an undivided road, sometimes on a curve, when the car may think the oncoming traffic may be coming at us.
The car braked automatically without any obstruction or car in front. I lost control of the brakes causing a severe Jerk and car to slip on freeway. I had a 2 month and 5 yr old in the car. We nearly escaped a serious accident as the truck was behind us in full speed. The whole warning/stopping event occurred in a few seconds. There were no obstacles in the road," the driver wrote. "There was a truck following me about 2 car lengths behind who had to stop very quickly in order not to rear-end me." I am scared and dont want to drive the car anymore
The controls froze while driving and I was unable to safely maneuver the vehicle and it crashed in nearby bushes. I don’t see any recall for the VIN, Also we asked the motor repair team run scan though nothing was found. But would like to report this as we still feel it is some mechanical failure
Automatic braking system is engaging when there is nothing in front of or near the vehicle. When driving on the highway it will engage, flash BRAKE on the front dash, and engage the brakes and slow WAY down while doing 60+ mph.
automatic brakes happened a couple time on highway for no reason. happened most in carpool lane and curve freeways
On 2 different occasions within the last 2 days, the automatic emergency brake engaged for no reason. The first instance, I was driving down the road with a car in front of me about 3 car lengths ahead and a car in a left hand turning lane. For no reason the brake light engaged and the brakes hit hard but not fully. Thankfully the car behind me was far enough to not hit us as I had my child in the car. On the second instance, again with my family in the car, driving down a different road with no cars anywhere around us, going around a bend, the emergency brake engaged again and the brake hit hard but not fully.
The front end collision camera will register on coming traffic and warn me to brake. On one occasion the vehicle actually braked for me. Luckily I was only driving 25 MPH and there were no vehicles behind me. We took the vehicle to the dealer to have them look into the issue but they informed me that Honda did not currently have a fix for the issue and that I would have to turn the camera off every time I started the vehicle to prevent it from potentially braking for me and bringing me to a complete stop while driving. Our main concern is that the camera picks up an on coming vehicle and stops us while driving on the highway causing us to veer off the road or get rear ended potentially injuring us or other drivers. We have tried several times over the course of several months to contact Honda directly about the issue but they will not return our calls.
I have a major safety complaint with Honda’s computer system. I understand that Honda works hard to make their vehicles as safe as possible. With that said, on 7/29/21 around 9:40am I was driving on a country style road. Out of no where with nothing around me but trees the auto break safety feature came one. When this occurred I was jerked forward and got whiplashed. The car went from 40mph to 0mph immediately with no reason. As someone who has had concussions in the past this immediately gave me a headache. Thank goodness no one was behind me that would have rear-ended me. This issue with the auto break system occurs a couple times a week. Sometimes the breaks don’t enact but the break warning light comes on and shakes the stirring wheel in which is extremely distracting. With this being said we have brought it up to a Honda Service Member and the response back we got was: “Oh, yeah that happens sometimes. There’s nothing we can do about it”. The car is my leased by my spouse.
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The 2021 Honda Pilot has 25 FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.