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.
Engine, Jun 13, 2022
Start/Stop function engaged at a red light, stopping the engine. Engine would not restart. Car and driver were stranded in the middle of a busy intersection for almost 2 hours until car could be jump started. Car would not restart on its own, leading to a very dangerous situation for driver and other motorists.
Engine, Jun 11, 2022
When engine auto-shutoff was on (as it is automatically every time the car is started) I came to a complete stop and the vehicle turned off completely. I was in the middle of the road on every occasion this occurred. The vehicle would not restart for at least 30 seconds.
Engine, Jun 10, 2022
Auto start/stop feature; engine failed to restart from a complete stop at a red light, happened on multiple occasions. I would have to press on the brake and accelerator and press the start button to start the car and be able to drive.
Electrical system, Jun 8, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing hard starts. Additionally, the contact stated that the Auto START/STOP function failed to engage automatically while attempting to drive from a complete stop. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred and the vehicle turned off while at a complete stop. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated while driving through an intersection, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 7, 2022
Auto Engine Idle engaged and the vehicle died and would not restart. The vehicle has died a couple of times in the past in similar circumstances but always restarted until the most recent incident. This left us stranded in the middle of the road at an intersection with no way to put the vehicle in neutral and push it to the side of the road which is another unrelated safety complaint. The car cannot be taken out of park when not running. The component has not been inspected as of the time of this complaint but is being scheduled for review by the service shop. There were no warnings or messages prior to the incidents occurring.
Forward collision avoidance, Apr 9, 2022
Automatic Emergency Braking engaged while I was driving on the highway with no cars and no warning brake light on dash. There were no cars in front me ( this is the second time). Periodically the Braking light flashes on the dash if I’m driving on a two way road in the curve part of the road.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 6, 2022
The infotainment screen in the vehicle which includes the backup camera display, navigation, radio, Bluetooth and other important vehicle functions and settings, shuts down and reboots in a continuous loop and sometimes turns off (blank screen) completely. This results in a backup camera function that is no longer useable as the screen does not/cannot display the camera image behind the vehicle. This is an SUV with a large rear blind spot that cannot be viewed simply by turning your head especially if there are short/small objects below the view of the rear glass. The other functions that rely on the screen also do not work and this constant rebooting/flashing is very distracting to the driver. There are also strange noises emanating from the sound system regardless of whether the system is on or off. This appears to be a widespread problem with this vehicle that still does not have a permanent solution. Several repair attempts by the OEM have not fixed this issue.
Electrical system, Mar 31, 2022
When the 2020 Honda Pilot sits for over 3-6 days, the battery goes dead. I have brought it to the Honda Dealership and they have checked out the battery and alternator and say it's working properly. I have jumped the Honda Pilot 6 times because of a dead battery and had the battery replaced once. Never had a vehicle ever do this before. Very dangerous for anyone parking and flying from an airport. Unbelievable!!!!!! This has been going on since we purchased NEW!
Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 23, 2022
I passed a walker on my side of the road by slowly moving over the center line to the other lane to give the pedestrian a wide birth. The lane departure migration system was turned on. I did not use a turn signal. There was not a car behind me or approaching me in the opposite lane. The car started to warn me I was going out of my lane by shaking the wheel and flashing a brake/lane departure warning at me. I ignored it since I didn’t want to hit the pedestrian and continued to move into the other lane. Then the car took over the wheel, braked and brought me almost to a complete stop suddenly. If a car had been following behind me, I would have been rear ended. I no longer trust the lane departure warning system. If I forgot to use a turn signal on the highway or suddenly had to leave my lane on the highway to avoid a car or object, this system could cause a serious accident. Thank you!
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 10, 2022
Over the last few years, after a long highway drive of approx. 20 miles when I stop and sit and idle, a strong gasoline smell is entering the vehicle via the HVAC Heating system. Also, after the same longer drives, when I return home, turn off and park the suv in my garage, shortly after my garage smells of gasoline as well from the Front Passenger side of the suv nearest the hood cowl. It does not happen 100% of the time but this winter it has occurred more frequently (a few times a week) during our Mon-Fri commutes.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 2, 2022
The automatic collision avoidance system continually gives false warnings, shaking the steering wheel and beeping, while flashing a brake warning. This occurs even if there is no other traffic on the road, which could cause an accident by startling the driver when it unexpectedly activates. The automatic brakes are also overly aggressive, which could cause a rear end collision.
Forward collision avoidance, Feb 24, 2022
The automatic emergency braking system will sometimes just start flashing as if there is an object in front of me. There are no objects in front of me and it would flash. There has been 2 occasions where the vehicle would slam on the brakes and then release even though no objects are on the road. This has happened at least 10 times where the warning would flash. Also, the adaptive cruise control would slam on the brakes even though we are following at a safe distance. Of all the times I have used the ACC, the car would slam on the brakes 80% of the time.
Electrical system, Feb 16, 2022
The infotainment system makes a popping/crackling sound. The dash display and infotainment display flickers on and off at times. This condition makes impedes the use of the the user controls and feedback systems. The vehicle went in for service on October 15, 2021 to have a technical service bulletin update implemented. The vehicle started exhibiting the issue again on February 9, 2022 in a much more extreme and severe way. It went back for service on February 15, 2022 to have the original work "inspected". The dealer said everything was fine and did nothing. Honda as implemented a couple of Technical Service Bulletins, but no permanent fix has been implemented. The dealer mentioned that they apply this TSB to approximately 2 Pilots per day.
Forward collision avoidance, Feb 2, 2022
My Honda often displays the brakes warning and on rear occasion apply brake in response to oncoming traffic on two-lane roads. I already went with onboard camera recalibration at one of the safe glass location but this problem persist on narrow two-lane roads.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 28, 2022
I was driving and a LOUD cracking popping noise started coming from the dash. The stereo went dead and the instrument panel went dead. I was startled at the noise and almost lost control of the car. I can’t see my speed or other functions of the car. Honda has no permanent fix for this.
Electrical system, Jan 27, 2022
Since new, the audio/navigation system has repeatedly turned off and on, had crackling noises emitted from the speakers and issues system warnings. I retuned my first Pilot for the same issues and now this Pilot is demonstrating the same issues. I have had the vehicle at the dealer several times and they just say that it’s common with this vehicle model and the Passport with navigation systems. HONDA national service does not return calls and this issue is noted on many HONDA forums. This condition is unacceptable and dangerous.
Electrical system, Jan 22, 2022
Stopped and put the car in park and the entire vehicle shut completely down. No electrical power. Wouldn't start up again. Took about 3-5 minutes before I could restart it.
Electrical system, Jan 3, 2022
Head unit has supposedly been "fixed" already, still losing all electronics, black out screen, loud and startling popping noises. Been asking Honda to fix for months, assigned a case, they just do not seem to care and now vehicle is undrivable due to loud, startling sound that may cause an accident, as well as not knowing if any of the safety electronics are working or not. It almost sounds like shorting out and that means possibility of electrical fire. Honda is dragging their feet doing ANYTHING on this obviously as this has been going on for months.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 20, 2021
My vehicle was recalled twice before 2,500 miles for wiring harness connector issues (snapping, popping, crackling). I was told I could lose visibility with all dash functions, navigation, radio, etc. After the first and second recall service fix I continued to experience the same symptoms. I opened a case with Honda in June, 2021, and notified my local dealer. The Honda case number is 12314702. I have heard nothing from either Honda and my local dealer, and I am concerned nothing is being done on this issue and I will lose visibility of my dash at some point, putting myself and family in danger.
Electrical system, Nov 12, 2021
To whom it may concern, VEHICLE: 2020 Honda Pilot Touring Purchase Date: 9/9/2020 After purchasing a 2020 Honda Pilot Touring brand NEW, the vehicle began to make a crackle sound via speakers. Then we began to notice the entire infotainment center would cut out displaying a "Network Communication Lost" and "MOST Net Off" message. The music, radio, dvd player, aux, dash board electronics would no longer work until the vehicle is stopped and restarted. Upon reboot, the same thing will occur once you hit a bump or just randomly will show same message. Below is a timeline of occurrences. Timeline 12/29/20; Dropped vehicle off to Chantilly Honda to resolve problem - dealer replaced "fakra connectors". Problem occurred shortly after. 04/21: Received notice from Honda Inc. of MOST Bus Network Connectors recall 06/21/21: Dropped vehicle off to Chantilly Honda because dash was going out. In addition, vehicle lost 80% of power on major highway and had to be pulled over to avoid accident. We were stuck driving 20mph on the NJ turnpike in the middle lane. THIS IS DANGEROUS. VERY SCARY INCIDENT. 8/5/21: We filed a claim with Honda Inc to resolve situation b/c now this has become a safety hazard. 10/26/21: Newly designed Honda Issued connectors were installed via Chantilly Honda. 11/4/21: Vehicle displays "Network Communication Lost" error again on infotainment/dash. We have not been able to resolve this dangerous recall with Honda. After many phone calls and requests to speak with managers, nothing has been done. We are out of options and would like to receive counsel from the state. Thank you in advance, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Equipment, Nov 10, 2021
I have constantly had to bring my car in again for the same problem since I bought it brand new in May 2020. On September 22, the audio/entertainment system completely shut down—it stopped playing music from the device connected to it and would not connect to a new device. The console then went completely black, and the audio system began to crackle incessantly, even when I turned it off. When I turned off the ignition and restarted the car, there was an error message on the display: “No Audio Connection” This had already happened multiple times since I had brought the car in for this problem a year prior. In some cases, I lost all displays, meaning I had no GPS, speedometer, fuel indicator, or other safety indicators. Each time I called and/or I brought the car to the dealership, I was told that sometimes the system just crashes and that I should “reset it by restarting the car, just like an iPhone.” However, this has never actually worked. In every instance, I had to restart the car 2-5 times and hope that the system would correct itself. Usually it did not, and I would just have to wait for hours or even days before the entertainment system would spontaneously begin functioning again. When it happened in September, I brought the car in and demanded that something be done. After a day, a service advisor called me and said the previous repair from a year ago was done incorrectly, which led to recurring problems with the wiring harness. You can imagine how furious I was since I had to bring the car back several times during the first ordeal in 2020. Fast forward another 24 days (October 16), and the same problem occurs. When I lividly informed the service department that I was having problems again, I was informed that this is a common issue with 2019 and 2020 models (citing a lawsuit that was filed against Honda). The dealer was fully aware that these cars have this problem that pose a severe threat to passenger safety, yet it continues to sell them.
Service brakes, Nov 9, 2021, crash
The contact owned a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 55 mph the brake pedal was applied however failed to respond the vehicle crashed into a fence. The wheel assembly detached. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The driver sustain muscle injuries and medical attention was provided. A police report was filed. The air bags deployed. There was no reported fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss.
Suspension, Nov 4, 2021
The contact leased a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the front end and rear end of the vehicle wobbled while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer who diagnosed that no alignment issues were found. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Nov 4, 2021
My 2020 Honda Pilot has stalled 4 times in the past two weeks after the auto engine idle occurs at a red light. The engine will shut off automatically, but when I lift my foot from the brake, the car engine does not turn back on, and the car shifts into park, and acts as if stalled. In order to get the car to restart, I have to power down completely, open the driver side door(!!!) and “reset” the whole system before I can apply the brake and press the ignition button. Even then a couple of times it doesn’t start for me doing that, and I have to cycle through the entire process a second time. This happened to me with my 3 children in the car twice on very busy (50mph) roads, and is incredibly dangerous. The second major issue I have noticed, but less frequently (about 3-4 times in the past 6 months), is that the auto braking system will randomly alert and apply the brakes while I’m driving down a straight road with no traffic in front of me! Needless to say, terrifying. This thankfully only lasts a few seconds before I regain control of the car, but also incredibly dangerous. I am scheduling service with Honda to evaluate ASAP, but I have read *many* accounts of the exact same problem online and every single person says Honda has never been able to find any cause. Some say replacing the battery helps, others say the stalling issue remains after battery replacement. If we can’t solve this problem, or have the auto engine idle completely and permanently disabled, I will be selling this car very soon. 16,104 miles driven as of today.
Other or unspecified, Oct 15, 2021
N/a