Vehicle in question is a 2011 Honda pilot which was purchased brand new in september 2011. Problem occurred when I was heading south on wellwood ave. I came to a red light at the intersection of wellwood ave and straight path road in lindenhurst. When I attempted to come to a stop the vehicle began to accelerate. I kept my foot on break but the car kept on accelerating and engine kept on revving…
2011 Honda Pilot cruise control problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
8crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 15 cruise control complaints filed for the 2011 Honda Pilot, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2011 Honda Pilots describe sudden, uncontrolled acceleration during low-speed maneuvers—pulling into parking spots, approaching stop signs, sitting at drive-thru windows, and slowing for red lights. Foot is off the gas or on the brake when it happens. The engine revs loudly, the car lurches forward, and the brake pedal does not arrest the acceleration. Vehicles have hit concrete barriers, parked cars, house pillars, and trees; some reached 20+ mph before impact. One owner was cruise-controlling at 60 mph when brake pedal input triggered acceleration to 80 mph instead of deactivation. Another reported foot stuck on the accelerator during parking. One complaint described the engine starting and stopping on its own independent of pedal input, attributed to a computerized throttle.
Mileage ranges from 1,175 to 140,000 miles. Most dealers cannot replicate or diagnose the problem and tell owners nothing is wrong. One dealership reset the throttle position (TP) sensor for $126.50; the owner stated the problem resolved. Honda's regional representative reviewed one incident but its outcome is unknown. No owner mentions a recall, technical service bulletin, or warranty program. The pattern is striking: multiple incidents of sudden acceleration during low-speed scenarios, consistent inability to diagnose, and persistent owner distrust of dealer findings.
Same Honda Pilot cruise control reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden unintended acceleration during low-speed maneuvering
Vehicle accelerates violently on its own while owner is at or near a complete stop, parking, or slowing down—foot off accelerator or on brake. Braking does not stop the acceleration; vehicle continues through brake pressure or bypasses it entirely.
When: Low-speed scenarios: parking maneuvers, approaching driveways, coming to red lights, drive-thru windows. Mileage range: ~1,175 to 140,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without driver input to gas pedal; Acceleration occurs while brake pedal is depressed; Brake pedal does not arrest acceleration; Engine revs audibly without pedal input; Vehicle travels at 15–80+ mph uncontrollably
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #9 reports dealership reset TP (throttle position) sensor for $126.50; owner states problem resolved by that repair. Remaining complaints: dealers unable to diagnose or replicate; vehicles not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda regional representative reviewed one incident (complaint #1) with dealer; review ongoing. Complaints #5, #12, #15 state manufacturer contacted but no recall, TSB, or repair program mentioned. Most complaint narratives report dealer inspection found 'nothing wrong' or unable to replicate issue.
Cruise control failure or inability to deactivate
Cruise control set at speed; when driver attempts to deactivate via brake or cancel button, vehicle accelerates instead of slowing. Owner must use emergency brake to regain control.
When: Highway speed (60 mph initial cruise setpoint); complaint #5 mileage 1,175.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed to cancel cruise; vehicle accelerates instead; Cancel button pressed; vehicle continues or increases acceleration; Vehicle reaches 80 mph after driver attempts deactivation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised would return contact's call; vehicle never taken to dealer, not diagnosed or repaired.
Accelerator pedal sticking or stuck mechanical linkage
Driver's foot becomes stuck on accelerator pedal during low-speed maneuvers; driver must manually remove foot from pedal to stop unwanted acceleration.
When: Parallel parking; mileage ~140,000.
Symptoms owners cite: Foot stuck on accelerator pedal; Vehicle accelerates unintendedly despite light pedal pressure; Driver must manually lift foot from pedal
Engine start-stop malfunction independent of driver input
Engine starts and stops on its own without driver touching throttle; owner attributes to computerized (non-cable) throttle system. Owner notes only way to stop is kill engine in neutral.
When: Upon startup and initial driving; mileage not stated.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine starts and stops independently; Engine behavior disconnected from gas pedal input; No cable-based throttle control (electronic/computerized)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership reset TP (throttle position) sensor; charged $126.50.
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
When I started the car this morning, I heard a high-pitched grinding noise - something I've never heard before. Driving at 30mph, the car suddenly accelerated as I applied the brakes rounding a corner. I could hear the engine revving up so I quickly shifted it into neutral until it went back to normal. Then shifted it into drive and continued on. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Honda pilot. While stopped at a drive thru window, the vehicle suddenly accelerated with the brake pedal was depressed and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The police arrived on the scene and as the contact attempted to move the vehicle a second time, the vehicle accelerated yet again. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2011 Honda Pilot?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2011 Honda Pilot?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 18,000 and 40,711 miles, with the median around 18,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 18,000; a quarter make it past 40,711. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Honda/Pilot.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.