2020 Honda Pilot
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 488 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 23 Pilot model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 10 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, frame and membersJun 4, 2026
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.
Campaign 26V365000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerMay 21, 2026
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Campaign 26V332000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerFeb 1, 2024
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Campaign 24V064000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpDec 18, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Campaign 23V858000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, display functionJun 15, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.
Campaign 23V431000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, rearview mirrors/devices, exteriorMar 16, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.
Campaign 23V174000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresMar 11, 2021
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Passport and Pilot vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Overcured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation, which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four tires and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2021. Owners may contact American Honda Motor Co. customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is UA2.
Campaign 21V165000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, softwareJul 28, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.
Campaign 20V440000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraJul 28, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.
Campaign 20V439000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsFeb 6, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 Passport and Pilot vehicles. The certification label may have been printed with ink that can be wiped away with a solvent, removing the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) information.
If the operator is unable to refer to the label information, the vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is B6T.
Campaign 20V067000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, bodyOct 31, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Pilot and 2019 Passport vehicles. The front frame left and right side upper members may not have been welded completely to the unibody. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 219, "Windshield Zone Intrusion."
In the event of a crash, incomplete body welding may provide inadequate protection to occupants, increasing the risk of an injury.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing welds, free of charge. If the vehicle is identified as missing welds, the dealer will offer to repurchase the vehicle or provide a similar replacement vehicle. Owner notification began November 6 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is X6J.
Campaign 19V784000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
488 reports, newest first.
Structure, Jul 7, 2023
When driving, the driver and passenger side mirrors shake impairing the driver visibility. On many occasions it has become dangerous to see in the driver’s mirror because the images look distorted. I checked with Honda and they said only certain models have a recall on the same mirror issue.
Electrical system, Structure, Service brakes, Jul 7, 2023, crash
My husband was getting off the highway when a car ahead of him braked suddenly. He attempted to hit the brakes, but the car did not stop. The automatic stop crash feature did not turn on. The abs did not work. Ultimately, crashing into the car ahead of him. Manufacturer Safety-related recall issued NHTSA #23V-174 Recall #FE5 2020-22 Multi-Model Door Mirror Glass Safety Recall Status: Remedy Available
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Jul 6, 2023
Car completely shut down while in drive. Towed to dealership where I was told there was a software update that needed to be done. Car working fine now.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 4, 2023
The Auto Idle Stop system was engaged at a red light after exiting an expressway. When the light turned green, and I removed my foot from the brake, the transmission moved to neutral, and the engine would not start up again. I was unsuccessful in getting the car to start again by either pushing the start/stop button or adjusting the transmission to park. The battery indicator light was illuminated during this process, but no other errors were displayed. I connected a battery-powered jump starter within 3-5 minutes of the failure, and the vehicle started on the first attempt. The Auto Idle Stop system had worked as expected earlier in the drive and there were no other indications of any issues with the vehicle prior to the incident. My entire family's safety was at serious risk since we were stalled on a busy 6 lane road with no ability to move the vehicle to the shoulder and I had to avoid traffic to get to the trunk and under the hood and spend time connecting the jump starter and subsequently attempting to start the vehicle. We are yet to bring the vehicle to the dealership for inspection.
Electrical system, Jun 13, 2023
Audio problem and the screen dashboard doesn’t work no connection Bluetooth we stop on the road trying to turn off the car but when we started we have same problem … I have videos I can’t upload
Engine, Jun 13, 2023
One six different occasions the vehicle has shut off while sitting at a red light. On four of the occasions I had the auto off but disengaged. When foot removed from brake car shuts down, dash lights up with every indicator light and a message to shift to park and restart. It takes about three minutes with repeated attempts to engage park to get the vehicle to restart. Dealer service has performed a “computer update” that was suppose to fix. Incident still occurring, more frequently. Taking car back to dealer again.
Other or unspecified, Jun 6, 2023
Sunroof exploded without warning while driving on the highway at 75mph. The explosion was extremely loud and the scare could have caused me to cause an accident with other cars nearby. I had two little children with me in the car. Vehicle has been sitting at the dealership, with not ETA of part due to backorder.
Other or unspecified, Jun 6, 2023
On multiple occasions the FOB randomly locks the car. Last time this happened on this past Friday it was hot outside and I had to frantically break out the window to get my baby out.
Electrical system, Jun 3, 2023
We had the recall repair done for the crackling speakers issue but it started again and is worse. The crackling sounds like rocks hitting the windshield and scares the heck out of everyone in the vehicle. Now when it does this we also get a network failure notice on the infotainment screen and then the infotainment system shuts down. Sure wouldn't expect these issues with a $50 K dollar vehicle barely over 3 years old with only 24 K miles on it. This has happened 4 times since it started again. That's 4 times in the past 3 weeks.
Other or unspecified, May 28, 2023
There is a crackling/popping noise coming through the speakers and then a sudden loud noise and the audio system will shut off. The warning sounds from the safety features also stop working when the loud noise happens. The noise is quite shocking when you are driving. The audio system has to be restarted to work again.
Other or unspecified, May 23, 2023
I brought the vehicle in on March 23, 2023, the side view mirror has seemed to shake for some time, we were told we just needed a new mirror and at $400, decided to not immediately repair, approximately 2 weeks later I went to the car wash and the sideview mirror came out and smashed against my window. I am told my vehicle is not part of the recall, but I had mentioned the mirror seeming to be not secure in the past.
Visibility, May 17, 2023
While driving on a highway, my sunroof exploded. There were no other vehicles near me and nothing hit the vehicle or sunroof. Shards of glass came loose from the vehicle thankfully my sunshade was closed, or the glass would have entered the cabin.
Visibility, May 16, 2023
There is an active safety recall for the passenger side view mirrors due to risk of mirrors detaching. I brought my vehicle in to have the recall addressed and the mirror replaced and the mirror that it was replaced with is defective. The images are warped as if you are looking in a fun mirror. It is very dizzying/distracting and I am concerned that is it an extreme safety hazard while driving. The service manager at Honda had told me that he has had multiple customers complain about the replacement mirrors and he is being told by Honda there is nothing that can be done about it. I am extremely concerned about the safety of myself and my small children while driving this vehicle with this faulty mirror. I have attached images that show the distortion of the mirror in still images however, it is MUCH worse while the vehicle is in motion.
Other or unspecified, May 10, 2023
From the time we purchased the vehicle, the radio suffered from popping and crackling in the speaker. It was repaired but the problem persisted. Starting this year, the center console that controls the radio as well the back up camera will shut down with the following failure "Network Communication Lost, MOST Net Off". This results in unexpected use of our rear back up camera as well as the additional features the center console provides. In total, Honda has attempted to repair this vehicle 4 times and have not been successful. My concern is if the rear camera fails as I am backing out of a parking spot, I do fear in that moment I could hit another vehicle or pedestrian.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Apr 13, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated with a faint smell of a gasoline odor. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel injectors and joint pipe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The contact believed that the vehicle was included in an unknown recall. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
Other or unspecified, Apr 10, 2023
Purchased the vehicle in Salisbury, MD, now live in Hagerstown, MD. Between the dealer purchased from (Pohanka Honda) and the dealer where we live (Hagerstown Honda) I can not get the recall corrected. One dealer tells me to call the other then the other dealer tells me to call the first dealer. I’ve tried and tried to get this resolved with no satisfaction.
Power train, Apr 3, 2023
When driving on ice conditions coating to a stop, my newly perchased used vehicle jerked, transmission stuck on downshifts, so bad it started the vehicle into a slide until antilock breaks engaged while iwasnt breaking. Sometimes the transmission pushes on downshifts on dry ground while breaking. Took it to dealer and they said all normal. This could have caused an accident if other vehicles were nearby.
Electrical system, Mar 30, 2023
Electrical components for navigation, hand free devices, back Up camera & radio have an advisory from HONDA. Can has been into dealership multiple times claiming to be “fixed” but when delivered it is not. Wiring harness for radio is on back order for 5+ months, but dealership is unsure if this will correct the problem. Another concern is that 60,000 warranty is within 10,000 miles of expiring.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 13, 2023
As I was driving vehicle it shut down. Dashboard went haywire as did the front panel, radio, windows. Could not turn on car at all, not even put it on neutral. Hazard lights did not work either.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 10, 2023
My Honda Pilot when in the start/stop idle mode is completely stalling at stop lights. in these cases, I’m having to put the car in park, hit the button to turn it off, turn it back on, which takes up to 30 seconds and then I’m able to put it in drive. I can turn off the automatic idle, but it has to be done every time I get in and turn it on so it’s easy to forget. This is a safety concern for myself, my children, my spouse, and others on the road
Engine, Feb 13, 2023, fire
We parked the vehicle in a hospital parking structure in order to meet an appointment at the hospital. We were in the hospital for about an hour or so when we headed back to the vehicle in the parking garage. We were stopped from getting there because of police and fire trucks. Then we got a call from the local police on our cell phone, telling us that our vehicle was on fire. We couldn't get into the parking structure because no one was allowed, but we did get to talk to the police and some fire personnel. Apparently, the parking structure had its own sprinkler system which was able to keep the fire under control until fire trucks and personnel arrived. The vehicle was a total loss, as per the insurance appraiser and our insurance company.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 13, 2023
My 2020 Honda Pilot Touring was not starting the engine back up after stopping at the traffic light and having the start/stop system stop the engine. I took my car to the dealer, and they disabled the start/stop system. This temporarily resolved the issue. But if a recall is issued for this problem, I’d like to have my start/stop system fixed, since it is part of the emissions system. Thanks, Carlos.
Electrical system, Back over prevention, Feb 7, 2023
The infotainment system screen will go black/turn off for several minutes, completing disabling the backup camera and other functions. Last week, the system went black completely and I tried to turn off / on the car multiple times but the infotainment system still did not reboot. I had to disconnect/reconnect the main battery to make the system to reboot. Few days later, the system went black again for a short period of time. When the system is up an running, there are many time that my concentration on driving has been disrupted by the sudden cracking and popping sounds stemming from the infotainment system. There is no pending recall on my car, so I do not what to do with my situation.
Forward collision avoidance, Feb 5, 2023
Events happened about 5 times in 3weeks , car will flash brake , brake brake and steering wheel will shake for no reason
Electrical system, Feb 5, 2023
I pulled into my garage to turn off my 2020 Honda Pilot. I put my car in Park and set the Parking Break. I pushed the On/Off button of my car to turn off the ignition. The car failed to turn off. The electrical systems (radio, heating/AC displays) inside the vehicle turned off, but the engine continued to run. The error message "auto engine idle stop system problem" flashed on the dash. I tried multiple attempts to turn my car off. As I write this my car is sitting outside on my driveway, with the hopes my car will turn off. I have had previous issues with the auto on/off capability of my vehicle, to where the car would auto turn off and fail to turn back on. To combat this issue I always disabled the auto on/off capability of the vehicle. This car has had issue after issue from when I purchased the vehicle in August of 2020. My car has been at the dealership many times for different electrical issues. This car has been anything but reliable. This is a safety problem, due to not being able to turn off a running vehicle. This vehicle has not been inspected for this issue, but has been inspected my the dealership for previous electrical issues. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the problem.