2021 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 47owner reports
- $1,900median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 9, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
114 of the 435 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 47 of those describe phantom braking.
Tick what matches of 47 reports
Phantom braking 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
Phantom braking is a car that brakes hard on its own, often at highway speed, with nothing in the road ahead. About one owner in five mentions a near miss with the car behind.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the radar or camera sensor (18 reports), the windshield (7 reports) and the software (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on collision avoidance 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 collision avoidance on the Pilot
Vehicle stability assist malfunction. Closed mar 15, 2013.
None of these investigations covers the 2021 model year.
What owners paid
8 of the 47 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,800 to $2,000.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
What owners wrote
“While driving down the road the emergency braking turned on many times when I wasnât even near a vehicle. It turned on about a total of 10 times without a car being unsafely in front of me. I just got this vehicle today and Iâm worried about whether I should keep it or not because of this.”
Filed Jul 21, 2026
“Car in front of me stopped. My vehicle did not causing a rear end collision. I do not recall the brake warning flashing to alert me to brake. The automatic braking system did not seem to engage. Even though I pressed the brake pedal the vehicle did not seem to want to stop. It reminded me of a vehicle without power brakes. Nor did the wheels lock up or leave any skid marks from hard braking.”
Filed Sep 7, 2024
“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.”
Filed Apr 17, 2024
“When driving the collision mitigation and brakes apply , flash dash and shake wheel violently. Almost loss of vehicle control. Almost not drivable on 2 lane roads This happens multiple times during any driving. This has been ongoing since Purchase and has been reviewed by Honda dealer without correction. Only recourse was replace controls at owner cost even while under new car warranty”
Filed May 19, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 47 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 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
- 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
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 27 reports