There are 3 stored owner reports matching the brakes leading-label group for the 2023 Honda Pilot in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 3 of 3 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)While driving on U.S Highway 521 in South Carolina, the vehicle experienced SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED BRAKING AND VIOLENT SHAKING even though there were no cars or obstacles directly in front of me. The sensation was so strong it felt as if the car had been rear-ended, but there was no impact. The issue has happened MULTIPLE TIMES since I purchased the vehicle new in 2023. Each time, traffic was flowing normally, and no immediate hazard was present. The closest car in front of me was several car lenghts away, yet the PILOT suddenly braked on its own. The problem appears to be linked to the COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM or related driver-assist sensors, which seem to be misreading conditions and triggering false emergency braking. This defect creates a serious SAFETY HAZARD. The abrupt, forceful braking puts me and my family at risk of being rear-ended by following vehicles. It has also caused panic and near-miss incidents in traffic. I am filling this complaint to ensure it is formally documented and investigated as SAFETY DEFECT. This is a serious risk to DRIVER AND PASSENGERS and could lead to accidents. I am requesting NHTSA to investigate whether this defect affects other HONDA PILOT vehicles.
Automatic Braking System (ABS) automatically applied brakes when I was 2 car lengths behind a vehicle that was turning and the sensor detected the vehicles brake lights. There was enough space between my vehicle and the one in front of me that was turning for me to stop if needed.
The Pilot emergency braked on its own as I was driving 30mph on a rural road, throwing myself and my children forward in our seats as the vehicle came to a stop. It was a violent action. No other vehicles or people were around us and no reason for the braking should have occurred.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.