general problems of the 2020 Honda Pilot - part 1

Summary of safety defect and failed recall repair: vehicle: 2020 Honda Pilot ex (clean California title) core issue: persistent, catastrophic failure of the most bus fiber-optic communication network, resulting in complete blackout of the federally mandated rear backup camera (fmvss no. 111 violation), total infotainment reboot loops, loud audio cracking/popping, and instrument panel system failure during active vehicle operation at 65+ mph highway speeds. Recall remedy failure chronology: 1. In-warranty anchor: on April 20, 2022 (34,201 miles) at tracy Honda, initial network cracking/popping and communication faults were logged under factory warranty. Display head unit was replaced, but underlying most bus backbone issues persisted. Fakra connectors replaced to attempt to fix the issue. 2. Recall attempt: on July 17, 2025, at lompoc Honda, the vehicle was presented specifically under safety recall campaign 23-047 / NHTSA 23v-431. Dealer technicians installed fakra connectors and connector jumpers per official remedy instructions. 3. Remedy failure: the recall remedy failed to correct the defect. The vehicle continues to experience "network communication lost" and "check tuner" system collapses, completely disabling the rear backup camera display without warning - all while being in a 10-minute reboot loops. Safety hazard: the sudden, unannounced loss of rear visibility and screen blackout creates a direct backover and collision hazard in violation of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 111. Furthermore, total network reboots at highway speeds cause severe driver distraction. Remedy requested: american Honda motor CO. , inc. Has been notified (corporate case #xxx), but has failed to remedy this known federal safety defect after statutory repair opportunities. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Full brake system, emissions system problem, and service system malfunctioning, out of the blue. Factory reset and system updated performed with no improvement.

Engine start/stop function fails to restart after automatically shutting off at a light or in traffic. It falters and fails to start, then the dashboard lights up with errors, and I have to put it into park before restarting. Sometimes it takes a few tries before restarting. The battery has been replaced twice in the last year and the starter motor within the last year too, but the issue persists.

First of, there are a lot of Honda Pilot owners online who have the same exact complaints in Honda forums and social media. Windshield lane keep assist camera is malfunctioning. Adaptive cruise control, emissions systems, road departure system, auto high beam problem, lane keeping assist, collision mitigation system warning lights all come on. No previous warnings or failures prior. This started out of the blue and has been happening everyday for a few months now. This malfunction puts driver and passengers at risk.

When starting vehicle after leaving the grocery store, there were multiple fault messages displayed on the dash cluster. They were showing five fault areas, the adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance and parking collision warning. When arriving at the Honda dealer service department I was advised that this is a common issue and would most likely be a front camera failure. After the Honda service department diagnosed the issue they confirmed it was a camera failure. I contacted american Honda asking for goodwill assistance and after giving all of my information, I was sent an email to reply to with the same information. Two days later I received a call and had to go over the same information a third time. I was advised this process would be 2-3 days. Three days later I receive a call and was requested to give the same information a fourth time and the told it would be 3-5 days from then to evaluate and I would receive a call. Four days later I called american Honda for status and was offered a partial goodwill assistance that I would be need to pay $955 for the repair instead of $2200+ which was originally quoted. From working for Acura for 17 years it is obvious that american Honda assisted minimally as the warranty rate is around the same cost. They made the dealer take the cut in pay and endured minimal cost to american Honda and a major cut ended by the dealer. Being this is a common issue with a $2000+ cost, there should be more consideration allowed for this failure.

Most network problems continue to persist even after most fakra service cables safety recall work was performed. Typical progression: radio goes silent, infotainment screen displays error message, "network communication lost / most net off", driver information interface display goes blank, then 3 error messages cycle, "blind spot info system problem", "emissions system problem", "transmission system problem", and vehicle enters limp mode (stuck in 3rd gear). Multiple safety issues: rearview camera does not function, vehicle speed is not displayed, vehicle gas gauge is not displayed, blind spot system does not operate, reduced vehicle power.

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message that the radio was shutting off was displayed. Additionally, the speakers made a crackling sound before the radio shut off, and the main screen became inoperable. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 23v431000 (back over prevention); as a possible cause for the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer times; however, the technicians were unable to duplicate the issue. During the final visit, the dealer diagnosed the vehicle with an amplifier failure and replaced the part; however, the issue persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000.

Infotainment center making popping and cracking sounds during every drive. System will completely shut down and not work at all. No access to navigation, phone or infotainment center at all. Audio will completely cut out during music and phone calls.

While driving, we eill hear a popping noice coming from the dash speakers - almost sounds like fine grains if sand hitting windshield - at which time the media display, I. E. Navigation /radio control display/etc. Will turn black and briefly display "network connection lost, most net off" message before the display goes completely black. This has only been noticed after a recall service was performed.

Driving on the highway dash goes completely black. Can’t see speed. Cruise control shuts down. Have to pull off the highway shut the engine down and wait for a couple minutes then restart. I have had all recalls repaired at the dealership where purchased but this happens weekly. At 50,000 miles I noticed rough and abrupt transmission shifting and clunking with a lag in acceleration. This continues despite multiple transmission flushes. The problem continues to worsen and current mileage is at 71000.

My wife drives this vehicle daily with our 3 children all of sudden these warning lights come trailer stability assist problem road departure mitigation system problem power steering system problem emission system problem vehicle stability assist problem hill start assist problem the last time this happen was 1/28/2026 took it to the dealer 1/31/2026 showed the association the video he said he has not heard of this but mostly caused by the battery. They looked at the battery all is well. If it happens again to bring it in he said. This was the 3rd time this happens the warning lights will go off. Took it to auto zone and they could not find the caused. This is dangerous to happen and unacceptable. Based on social media multiple people have this issue and causinga safety concern. What would it take for Honda to fix this. Please make a recall!!.

The car makes a popping/static sound weather turned off or on . The infotainment center and screen has shut off while driving and using gps leaving me to scramble with my phone to get a gps on and this happens without any warning so I don't have any time to pull over to a safe place . I have taken the vehicle to 2 different mechanic shops and they did not find anything when hooked up to their computer . This is a random problem that happens at different times ,there is no telling when it will happen . When the popping/ static sound starts it is difficult to hear the music and the gps on the car is not always correct it leads to the wrong places.

The infotainment center goes out, the screen reads "network communication lost" "most net off". This occurs while using the rearview camera, causing a safety issue. This is a known Honda issue, bulletin 20-049, 20-058, a19-030b. Replacement of fakra connectors, most bus wiring harness (parts 39817-tjb-aco housing or 39165-tg7 cords) or the entire floor harness. . Vehicle has 79,000 miles.

The auto shut off has been not working properly and the vehicle wont restart after it shuts off. My wife was at a traffic light, and the vehicle shut off. When the light turned green, it did not restart. As a result of this she about got taken out by a semi that was coming in behind her. This could have been a deadly accident as it is raining and wet. She was stuck at the light on a busy highway for 3 minutes before the vehicle would restart.

My battery died while the vehicle was parked. I needed to physically move the vehicle but could not because the electronic button shifter would not allow me to put the transmission in neutral. The only way to move it out of park is a lengthy process requiring tools, engine component removals and a manual shifting of the linkage using a long wrench. My solution, was I had to leave the vehicle unattended, call a friend, get tools and replace the battery while blocking traffic. Safety concerns were that the vehicle was blocking traffic at a business and no documentation by Honda of how to fix or even shift the vehicle into neutral. Now consider if someone has to try and manually tow the vehicle while in park! I replaced the battery myself, but this is a well documented issue with electronic shifters, that will never make a dealership or service departments records or statistics! there was no warning of the failure, or battery light illuminating. Previous vehicle inspections at the dealership gave no indication that the battery was failing.

The auto stop/start idle function does not re-engage after stopping the engine. This has happened at least 4 times in the last 3weeks with my vehicle. When stopped in traffic or at a light and stop sign the engine idle engages and stops running the engine, when releasing the brake pedal the engine does not turn on as it should and the car stalls. This requires the operator to engage hazard lights, shift into park and repeatedly try the push start button to turn on the vehicle to proceed. The passenger safety of myself and children are of concern. While having to wait on a car function, that is the core operation of the vehicle, it is dangerous to shut off a vehicle while in operation. Having other vehicles honking and trying to pass or even stopping at a highway entrance ramp then trying to engage the car to meet highway speeds is a dangerous time for an engine to stall and not re-engage. Yes, the issue has been reproduced and a dealer has already addressed the issue with a software update. This update has not resolved the issue. There are no current recalls on my vehicle. There are no warning signs or messages or the ability to turn off the function permanently. In addition, there a times during the operation of the vehicle where the engine stop/start function works after many stops but then randomly does not start. It is an inconsistent feature.

Lane departure front facing projection camera suddenly went out disabling multiple safety features of the car. The part number for the car is 36160-tg8-a83. This car only has ~86,000 miles and this is unacceptable. This failure disables the lane keep assist, lane departure, auto high/low beam, adaptive cruise control, auto braking safety features and causes the brake light system light to come on. Apparently, this is a common issue and should be investigated. The parts are on back order nationally and good luck finding a used one.

While stopped at red light the auto off feature engaged and the car stalled out when restarting. This has happened multiple times since buying the vehicle.

All safety features on the dashboard have lit up all are constantly on. Honda America states no open recall, I see many forums for Honda owners having this issue that also impacts safety.

The lkas camera stopped working and it won’t allow any of the connected systems to operate including acc, emergency brake assist, cruise control, etc.

2020 Honda Pilot will sporadically turn off at highway speeds and at stop lights and will not turn back on until placed in park with foot on the brake. This is not to be confused with the start/stop feature used to save fuel. Additionally the 2020 Pilot will lurch forward (like stuck in drive) while still in park.

Car intermittently won’t start due to insufficient battery charge. Jump starting will start the car. Dealership testing of battery and charging system determined no issues. However, issue reoccurs. Suspect charging doesn’t occur until battery reaches a minimum voltage level which is currently set too low. Safety issue in that car starting is unreliable.

The idle engine turn back on feature has not turned on several times. It has happened a couple of times upon turning it back on after a complete turn off in a parking lot. Also, it has happened in traffic at a stop light on busy roads where I was sitting there dead stopped in the road unable to get the car started. Another time, it did not turn back on as I was pulling out of my neighborhood and we almost got hit because of it. The battery seems to be involved and seems to have to recharge for a few minutes and then it will turn back on. I've called 911 to help me get out of the road, have taken out the battery and put it back, and had it checked at the dealership. I have to remember to use the button that turns off the idle engine turn off feature or it will happen. It doesn't have any pattern or reason to it.

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to lose automotive power, and failed to return to normal operation. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle remained at the residence. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 20 mph, the vehicle shifted into park independently. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while restarting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated to restart for approximately 90-seconds, and then operated as intended. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where was it diagnosed, and the dealer determined that the the front camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure, and informed the contact that the failure was not covered under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

Since purchasing the vehicle there was a leak under the driver's side console after heavy rains. After multiple trips to the dealer they directed us to replace the windshield. We did so (under protest). The leak still existed. The dealership determined that there was a gap at the a pillar. We worry that this is related to the sturcture recall about missing welds. Honda will not admit to any issue.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? when calling the dealer they believe it is the “Smart control unit. ” how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? my vehicle will not start most of the time…leaving me stranded when I have to go anywhere and I have to get out to take the battery terminal off and back on just to try to reset it long enough for it to try to start. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? no, from my understanding of reading other people having the same problem Honda knows it is a common issue and has not done anything about it. The dealer wants paid to do an inspection. I do not have the money they are asking for. I know inspections aren’t very expensive but most people (myself included) can’t afford even a simple inspection. Just to pay for the car takes all I have. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? at first I noticed my car alarm would go off randomly and originally thought my doors weren’t being shut all the way however after making sure all doors were in fact shut it still went off. I was at work that night and had to keep going out to turn my alarm off…the next morning I go in to start my car and leave and it had trouble starting saying “keyless start system problem” after finally getting it started I drove to the gas station to get gas and turned off the engine as I was walking away I heard cracking noises and my car making the ding noise it makes when you turn it on acc mode. When I came back to the car all the lights on the dash, radio screen, headlights, tail lights, and mirror lights (the ones that light up when a car is close) were flashing like crazy and still heard the crackling noise.

All the associated warnings are on dash, diagnosed at local Honda dealership with code u 3006-16. Advised multi camera failure and requested $1600 to repair. Immediate after I am now getting a transmission warning problem on dash.

The infotainment screen is turning off and says “network communication lost. Most net off”. This means the infotainment screen goes black, often for long periods before it cycles back on, making it difficult to use navigation and the screen for reverse camera.

•what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the “Smart” control module, part# 38320-tg7-l112-m1 was removed and inspected; obvious incomplete conformation coverage was discovered along with significant dendritic growth on an uncovered ic. Proper cleaning of the board alleviated the issue – for the time being at any rate. I am including pictures of the board and growth that clearly show this defect and its related consequences, but I can provide the part for inspection if it’s feasible timewise and if I haven’t sold the vehicle by that point. •how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? the vehicle was rendered completely and utterly inoperable by this condition and additionally necessitated the removal of the battery to keep the car alarm from triggering randomly. If this condition manifests itself at the wrong time it could easily create a dangerous situation for myself, my family and others. •has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? the diagnosis, research, documentation and associated repair were performed by an independent service technician. •has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? this problem was reported to Honda USA in late March of 2025; no acceptable recourse was provided or offered. •were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no. On Friday March 21st at approx. 6pm, the car alarm was triggered with no interaction whatsoever after the vehicle had sat for several hours. After disconnecting the battery for over an hour the problem immediately returned upon reconnection along with flashing dash & interior lights and clicking relays and/or components.

2020 Honda Pilot touring was purchased in CT at Honda of stamford, may of 2023. I started having issues in July pertaining to extreme dust coming into the cabin causing my children and myself asthma conditions to worsen. I took the car to the dealer and they blew out something connected with the system. I than started having issues with the radio system and large popping sounds coming from it. The dealer didn't check this for me. The car also brakes on it's own while driving without warning and nothing is in front of me. The dealer didn't check this. On [xxx] the dashboard lite up with a lot of error messages and the car brake light was on. The car would only go 20mph on the highway. The car was stuck in greenwich, CT at my son school for 2 days until I got it towed to the dealer. On feb24th the car was towed to the dealer. I was told the brake switch went out and needed replacement. I was charged 200. 00. I picked the car up on feb25th @1pm and the dealer claimed the repair was done. On [xxx]. I was traveling on the highway in norwalk, CT and the dashboard lite up with the same errors and he brakes did the same thing and the car was hard to steering. I took it back to the dealer and was told 3 other things was wrong with the car. Code-c0040-62 brake lamp switch failure stuck. U3000-49 multi purpose camerawave radar internal electronic failure. B2a60-97. Tech reset camera and the system still gave failure codes. The dealer confirmed the issues, but refused to give me a replacement. I had a dmv investigation and the out was to refund me for the conveyance fee the dealer lied about on the contract. I was also refunded for VIN etching the dealer lied about on the contract and refunded for Honda care. I was in the car with my children when the brake issue happened both times and it was scary. The car was never inspected before it was sold to me. I also never received several documents from the dealership required by CT state law. I left the car. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia),.

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that upon arriving at the destination and attempting to reverse into a parking space, the transmission failed to shift into reverse even though the gear shifter was in reverse. The vehicle failed to shift back into drive, prompting the contact to turn off and restart the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality and the contact continued driving the vehicle. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and was unable to accelerate above 20 mph. The contact was able to reach her destination and turned the vehicle off, after which the vehicle was unable to restart. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the brake switch and possibly other faults with the electrical system. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 52,000.

The car's engine randomly stopped working and required jump start twice. Despite replacing the valve adjustment and battery, the problem persisted. The Honda dealer we approached did diagnostic testing twice, stated that it could be a problem with the car's auto idle stop system, but did not offer a definitive solution.

The engine stalled when I did not disable idle-stop. When I slowed down and stopped my Pilot 2020 due to traffic or traffic lights, the idle-stop activated. The engine was then stalled occasionally and the system requested me to step the brake and push start button to restart my Pilot. However, when I tried to restart it, the battery warning sign lit up and it made restart unsuccessful. I will then have to wait for a minute or two and tried again. I found this problem a few months after I bought my Pilot 2020 and I had reported the problem to my paul miller Honda service at west caldwell, NJ. Honda service identified the problem but they do not know what is the exact cause of the symptom and suspect faulty battery. Honda service helped me to change batteries several times already and last time was Dec 10, 2024.

The Honda Pilot radio center includes the back-up camera and also apple-play used for navigation. This system was subject to a recall earlier when the radio would crackle and then the info center would lose power on an intermittent basis. A recall was performed, and a cable was replaced. That seems to have fixed the loud crackle issue, but I still have an intermittent problem with the info center losing power. The dealer told me to contact Honda. Honda told me it is a dealer decision to charge for troubleshooting and diagnostics. Meanwhile this is a safety issue especially when backing up and while driving because I lose my gps map. Honda has not fixed the earlier problem, and the dealer will not do anything without getting paid for their efforts (which seems reasonable).