2020 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet
Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out
- 46owner reports
- 20,000median miles
- $2,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
46 of the 489 complaints on this car describe false collision warning.
Tick what matches of 46 reports
False collision warning on other Pilot years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This group is about the forward collision warning itself. Owners describe alarms with nothing ahead, a forward camera that fails or reports itself blocked, and other safety features shutting off at the same moment. A lot of them happen at highway speed, and a lot end with a dealer who couldn't reproduce it.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the forward camera (24 reports), the radar sensor (8 reports), the windshield (6 reports) and the software (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
10 of the 46 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,284 to $2,000.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
What owners wrote
“CMBS activates for no reason whatsoever. I can't even count how many times this vehicle has locked the brakes up and no cars anywhere near me at all. Like miles down the road. Honda said they can't replicate the issue. Well, it's going to be hard to replicate something that happens 4 or 5 times in a week by driving it 10 min down the road. This vehicle is going to get my family killed.”
Filed Sep 13, 2024
“My vehicle activates CMBS randomly. There doesn't even have to be cars around me and it'll just lock me up in the middle of the road. I have almost been rear-ended several times now. The dealers won't do anything about it.”
Filed May 1, 2024
“Phantom braking from the CMBS collision avoidance system. It occurs randomly and applies brakes when the road is clear. The amount of braking varies from a partial second to more severe. This will cause an accident.”
Filed Mar 5, 2024
“The sensors alerted me to Brake in an emergent flash and then slammed the brakes - when there was nothing in front of me. It happens when the car is going faster than 45 mph. It has happened on three separate occasions and the third time almost caused an accident on a two lane road traveling 55 mph”
Filed Oct 18, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 46 reports involved a crash and 1 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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 169 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 93 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 46 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 41 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 36 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 26 reports