Diagsheet

2019 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet

Brakes grind, pulse or wear early

  • 42owner reports
  • 8,900median miles
  • 2involved a crash

Newest report Mar 20, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

42 of the 895 complaints on this car describe brake wear.

Tick what matches of 42 reports

2
1
6
4
23
2

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the pads and rotors (4 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the brakes covers the 2019 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Pilot

PE12-028opened Oct 9, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · model years 2005

Vehicle stability assist malfunction. Closed mar 15, 2013.

NHTSA summary
The Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system in the model year (MY) 2005 Honda Pilot vehicles integrates braking control strategies for anti-lock braking, traction control, electronic stability control and brake assist functions. The system consists of a VSA modulator (an electronic control unit and electronic/hydraulic actuator) that receives data from an integral brake pressure sensor and from wheel speed sensors (four wheels), the steering wheel angle sensor and a combination yaw rate and lateral acceleration sensor.Allegations of unexpected braking appear to be related to inappropriate activation of the brake assist (BA) function.The BA system is designed to minimize stopping distances in emergency braking maneuvers by rapidly applying maximum braking force when a panic stop is detected. ODI's analysis of complaints and information provided by Honda in its response to DP12-002 and PE12-028 identified fault conditions that may result in false detection of a panic stop by the BA system, resulting in unexpected, severe brake application. The VSA control algorithm should detect inappropriate BA activation in less than 1 second and turn the system off. However, some complaints allege longer duration incidents of severe braking with no brake pedal application. Honda implemented countermeasures in the control and fault detection algorithm in the MY 2006 Pilot VSA modulators, which are not interchangeable with the MY 2005 parts.Allegations of steering anomalies appear to be related

None of these investigations covers the 2019 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 4,000 and 36,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.

1119
720
922
223
624
525
226

What owners wrote

“When we are driving the vehicle brake light lights up on dash and car breaks for a second or two. There are no cars around and no railroad tracks. It just does it a random times. We aren’t speeding. Just driving down road.”

Filed Sep 1, 2024

“Automatic braking system failure parallel issue that is same to the accord and other models with the emergency braking system which randomly activated and panic stops and sometimes without an traffic near to car and other times have almost caused catastrophic collisions on highway systems with divided medians causing system to activate.”

Filed Apr 19, 2024

“When I am driving and at times the braking system tell me to Brake when I am in my line and no one is heading my way.”

Filed Apr 17, 2024

“On May 27, 2013, while approaching a traffic light controlled intersection, I applied the vehicle brakes (depressed the brake pedal) with no response. My vehicle speed was slow enough to allow me to make a right turn at the intersection without damage to my vehicle or others in the vicinity. Within a few seconds (less than 5) the brakes started responding correctly with no subsequent occurrence, to date.”

Filed May 29, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 42 reports involved a crash and 5 people were hurt. 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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