2023 Honda Pilot electrical system problems

Related recalls

• Recall 25V031000Jan 23, 2025294,612 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

  Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.

  Risk: An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

  Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EL1 and AL0.

What owners say

1. Filed Sep 9, 2026TXBrakesElectrical SystemSteering

   I own a 2023 Honda Pilot. On two separate occasions while the vehicle was being driven, the vehicle experienced multiple system warnings and a significant loss of steering assistance. The first incident occurred before July 16, 2026, at approximately 40,605 miles. While my wife was driving, multiple warning lights illuminated and the steering wheel suddenly became extremely stiff and difficult to turn, although the engine remained running. She was able to pull over, turn the…

   NHTSA complaint #11763055 · source
2. Filed Aug 8, 2026MIElectrical SystemLightingOther / Unknown

   when driving our 2023 honda pilot we stopped at traffic light the car shut off would not restart our front doors would open and close our back doors would not operate back tale gate door would not operate we had no4 way blinkers no lights totally dead auto. we were in middle of four lanes bumper to bumper traffic with no way to warn other drivers of our car break down. after short time a helpful driver pulled up behind us and used his auto to block us from traffic and used…

   NHTSA complaint #11755632 · source
3. Filed Jul 17, 2026ALElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise Control

   Unintended acceleration / accelerator pedal stuck. Vehicle accelerated uncontrollably (>75 mph) on two-lane road despite heavy braking. Could not regain control for over 1 minute. This is the second incident (first in Nov 2025, reported to Serra Honda Sylacauga with no issues found per service department). Video evidence available.

   NHTSA complaint #11751137 · source
4. Filed Jul 15, 2026TXElectrical SystemSeats & Seat Belts

   The rear passenger-side (second-row, right-side outboard) seatbelt warning system is defective, repeatedly triggering false "unbuckled" alarms even when a passenger is securely buckled in. This is a known manufacturing defect involving the occupant detection sensor inside the seat cushion frame, which sends intermittent, incorrect signals to the vehicle's computer. The defect presents a severe safety hazard. The continuous, loud chiming distracts the driver and causes…

   NHTSA complaint #11750710 · source
5. Filed Apr 13, 2026GAElectrical System

   I was stopped at a stop light on a very busy road. The vehicle went into Auto Idle shut down. When the light turned green, I attempted to press the gas but the engine was completely stalled and would not restart. I had to put the vehicle in park, turn off the vehicle, and completely restart it for the vehicle to be able to successfully clear the busy intersection. After this incident, the vehicle would inconsistently give me the Auto Idle System Problem warning when first…

   NHTSA complaint #11730810 · source
6. Filed Jul 29, 2025ILBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

   7/25/2025 i was driving my wife’s pilot between 55 and 60 mph when the vehicle alerted me to several warnings and the braking system stuck at the top of the pedal not allowing the vehicle to slow in a construction zone. I was able to limp the vehicle home but the vehicle was extremely difficult to slow at red lights. The vehicle was towed from residence after sitting and the tow truck driver said the vehicle was not showing any warning signs. The dealership in paducah test…

   NHTSA complaint #11677041 · source
7. Filed Jul 8, 2025MACrashElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I wanted to share a very scary incident that occurred while I was slowly creeping into a parking space in a parking garage. With my foot over the brake, as there were children in the area from a car that had parked to the right of mine, my car suddenly surged forward at a high rate of speed. It ultimately crashed into the 3-foot safety wall with tension wires of the parking garage. Clearly there is an issue with the propulsion system that accelerated my car forward. It's…

   NHTSA complaint #11672012 · source
8. Filed Jun 20, 2025MEElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   All listed problems act sporadically. Dangerously Defected 2023 Honda Pilot. Numerous problems with vehicle over several months. Kept taking it back to Charlie's Honda and was told they could not reproduce the problems I was stating. The Vehicle will bog, hesitate and jerk while driving. Charlie finds nothing wrong. Actually all items that are functioning incorrectly, Charlie's tell me they cannot repair anything when they can not reproduce the problem. They tell me that the…

   NHTSA complaint #11668149 · source
9. Filed May 11, 2025INBody & StructureElectrical System

   1. Rear tailgate latch will not always release when pressing the dashboard button or remote fob button. The tailgate will attempt to rise, go about 1/2 inch, stop, beep 3 times and then close again. It can only be opened after this by manually pulling on the outside handle and giving it a sharp jerk upwards. 2. While trying to investigate a metallic tapping sound in the rear of the vehicle, I looked under the rear bumper and located a wiring bundle that had lost its support…

   NHTSA complaint #11660239 · source
10. Filed Apr 15, 2025ALElectrical System

    I purchased a used Honda Pilot and in less than 30 days I'm having problems with some electrical wiring harness. The dealership wants me to pay for the repairs. The error message that showed up "auto idle stop ignition problem see your dealership"

    NHTSA complaint #11654748 · source
11. Filed Mar 12, 2025NYDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical SystemLighting

    While driving the pilot warning alerts popped up that none of the collision detection, lane assist, cruise control, and seemingly all radar related systems were working. Additionally, the headlights turned off. We have brought this to the Honda dealer on now three occasions, and there doesn’t seem to be any understanding of why this is happening. On the evening of March 11 this issue happened again after the dealership having the car for a week to “fix “this problem and the…

    NHTSA complaint #11647933 · source
12. Filed Feb 3, 20258,000 miIDElectrical System

    The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the advanced driver assistance system was unintendedly activated, causing the vehicle to become difficult to maneuver. No warning light was illuminated; however, the "Clear the Sensor" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure…

    NHTSA complaint #11640360 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology