2021 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 27owner reports
- 21,869median miles
- $1,000median quote
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
27 of the 435 complaints on this car describe brake wear.
Tick what matches of 27 reports
Brake wear 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, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the brakes covers the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
All 10 recalls on the 2021 Honda Pilot, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Pilot
Vehicle stability assist malfunction. Closed mar 15, 2013.
None of these investigations covers the 2021 model year.
What owners paid
7 of the 27 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $350 to $2,000.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2021 Honda Pilot that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2021 Accords, 2019-2017 Civics, 2017-2021 CR-Vs, 2018-2021 Odysseys & 2018-2021 Pilots with a customer complaint of an unexpected CMBS operation or a brake application.
What owners wrote
“It's been a while my vehicle acting up, the brake is not working the way it was, had complained to the dealer but stating everthing looks ok, but i know how my car drives, steering is getting hard something is wrong its not normal, I have another suv I can tell something mechanical is wrong”
Filed Nov 30, 2024
“when auto-idle engaged and car is stopped, it will not restart the car's engine. My safety was at risk because the event took place while I was in traffic with my family. The problem has not been reproduced. It is a problem known by Honda for many years. The vehicle has not been inspected. Unknown.”
Filed Jul 1, 2024
“My 2021 Honda Pilot experienced premature degradation of front and rear rotors and brake pads after 21,869 miles due to extreme rust pitting and scoring. Vehicle started displaying brake warning message while driving.”
Filed May 24, 2024 · 21,869 miles
“Auto braking applies randomly cause brakes to lock up happens when driving in any conditions. This problem has already caused a minor accident with my vehicle due to brakes locking up and no throttle”
Filed Aug 8, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 27 reports involved a crash and 2 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 78 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 75 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 53 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 47 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 37 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 31 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 31 reports