Diagsheet

2025 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet

Brakes grind, pulse or wear early

  • 32owner reports
  • 6,460median miles
  • 8involved a crash

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

32 of the 194 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2025 Pilot.

Tick what matches of 32 reports

1
3
1
1
16
1

What got replaced

Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the brakes covers the 2025 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

25V-391Jun 12, 2025
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Risk and remedy
Risk: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.

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 2025 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 1,700 and 10,000 miles, from the 9 reports that gave a mileage.

524
1025
1726

What owners wrote

“my vehicle since the first week verhicle stops for no reason comes into a sudden dangerous stop the vehicle in the highway turn off and vehicle take off on its own 0 to 40 miles on its own”

Filed Aug 14, 2026

“Collision Mitigation Braking System has activated numerous times while traveling on a straight road with no other vehicles around. The brakes activated hard where items shifted in the vehicle and the seatbelts locked. Occupants were thrust forward at the time of braking. Contact was make with the dealership and there are is not any fixes advised.”

Filed Jul 30, 2026

“I was driving with my cruise control on, at the speed around 50 mph, thank goodness no other cars were around us, all of a sudden my car slammed on the brakes, a warning flashed but I happened so fast I wasn’t able to see what it said.”

Filed May 1, 2026

“They sold me a vehicle with a recall. They failed to notify me or to repair. I need a replacement car”

Filed Nov 30, 2025

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 8 of 32 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.