Diagsheet

2019 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet

Backup camera goes black or freezes

  • 80owner reports
  • 11,000median miles
  • $1,000median quote
  • 1involved a crash

Newest report Aug 17, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

80 of the 198 reports of infotainment on the 2019 Pilot describe backup camera failure.

Part of Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (198 reports) · also: screen freezing

Tick what matches of 80 reports

15
4
10
13
34
2

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the camera (80 reports), the head unit or screen (49 reports) and the wiring or connector (8 reports).

Recalls and investigations

3 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2019 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

23V-431Jun 15, 2023
Back Over Prevention:Display Function

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk and remedy
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.
20V-439Jul 28, 2020
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Risk and remedy
Risk: Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.
20V-440Jul 28, 2020
Electrical System:Software

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Risk and remedy
Risk: A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.

NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Pilot

PE12-026opened Oct 2, 2012
Electrical · model years 2003 to 2004

Ignition interlock failure - rollaway. Closed jan 14, 2013, led to recall 12V-573.

NHTSA summary
On December 10, 2012, Honda Motor Company submitted a defect information report to NHTSA regarding ignition interlocks in approximately 576,117 model year MY) 2003 through 2004 Honda Pilot and Odyssey vehicles that are the subject of this investigation and 231,044 MY 2003 through 2006 Acura MDX vehicles (Recall No. 12V-573).Honda's report states that a design change to the ignition switch used in the recalled vehicles reduced the range of rotation for the ignition switch from 160 degrees in earlier designs to 125 degrees without a corresponding change to the ignition interlock blocking mechanism.The result was that excessive rotational force could damage a lever that would allow the driver to remove the ignition key that was in a position other than the Park position, which may allow the vehicle to roll away.ODI identified 176 complaints related to the alleged defect, including 48 roll away crashes.Threeof the incidents resulted in the following injuries to pedestrians:1) a broken foot and torn Achilles tendon; 2) a fractured fibula and crush injuries to a shin area; and 3) an incident requiring unspecified treatment at a hospital emergency room.This investigation is closed.The VOQs associated with this investigation are: 10486515, 10486393, 10486100, 10485010, 10482229, 10482091, 10481169, 10481105, 10481079, 10481027, 10480804, 10480648, 10480099, 10480009, 10479934, 10479695, 10479561, 10479517, 10479494, 10479484, 10479437, 10479421, 10479409, 10479343, 10478916, 10478876
EA11-012opened Sep 12, 2011
Electrical · model years 2003 to 2005

Low beam headlights stop illuminating. Closed sep 17, 2012, led to recall 12V-136.

NHTSA summary
This investigation was prompted by Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 11-017, and was based on reports from consumers alleging that both low beam headlights stopped illuminating simultaneously.Some complainants also reported that the combination switch (switch) that controls the headlights and turn signals, and/or its electrical wiring harness connector were damaged by overheating.ODI's PE information request letter asked Honda for certain data on model years (MY) 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2003-2008 Element, 2001-2005 Civic, and 2000-2001 S 2000 vehicles.Analysis of complaint and Honda data show that a complete low beam headlight circuit failure occurs in models with 2-bulb headlight systems (i.e., a single bulb on each side for high and low beam).Models with 2-bulb systems include MY 2002-2004 CR-V, 2003-2005 Pilot, 2001-2003 Civic, and 2003-2008 Element.Models with 4-bulb headlight systems (i.e., two bulbs on each side, one for high and one for low beam) have different electrical circuits for the headlights and do not experience the same failure mechanism as the 2-bulb system.MY 2000-2001 S 2000 models with 2-bulb high intensity discharge headlights also have different electrical circuits for the headlights and do not experience the same failure mechanism.Honda introduced the 4-bulb headlight system in CR-V in MY 2005, in Pilot in MY 2006, and in Civic in MY 2004.On March 29, 2012 Honda submitted a defect information report (DIR) to recall 554,428 vehicles, including MY 200

None of these investigations covers the 2019 model year.

What owners paid

6 of the 80 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $800 to $1,300.

$800$1,000$1,300
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 2,000 and 26,500 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.

1219
620
421
122
1223
2324
1825
426

What owners wrote

“The rear back up cameras are all showing purple, green and yellow on the display. The dealers have told others with this issue that it is not covered under warranty. There are many cars with this problem. This happened very randomly.”

Filed Apr 7, 2024

“The backup camera image is distorted and the coloring is wrong (green and purple) and you cannot see the image from the camera. When researching online, there are numerous reports of 2019 Honda Pilot with similar issues. This situation happens when moving in reverse when the backup camera is on.”

Filed Mar 28, 2024

“Backup camera recently began displaying a purple and green screen making the image in the backup view unable to be seen. Vehicle is garage parked or nearly always under covered parking. Taken to a Honda dealership and told camera needs to be replaced.”

Filed Mar 1, 2024

“Place vehicle into reverse gear, then backup camera displays on infotainment screen, The view on the screen displayed in purple , green and blue hues making the image of what is behind the vehicle unclear and unsafe to operate in reverse.”

Filed Sep 22, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 80 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

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