2017 Honda Pilot cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Honda Pilot have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 13,150 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Pilot | 11 |
| 2014 Pilot | 3 |
| 2016 Pilot | 21 |
| 2017 Pilot (this page) | 16 |
| 2018 Pilot | 13 |
| 2019 Pilot | 9 |
| 2020 Pilot | 5 |
Among the 17 model years of Honda Pilot in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the adaptive cruise control system as the most persistent safety concern. It applies brakes hard when approaching vehicles or in perceived safety zones, even when the road ahead is clear or vehicles are in adjacent lanes. The system oscillates 2–3 mph repeatedly in traffic, refuses to resume highway speed after passing or lane changes, and reacts to vehicles crossing lanes during turns, sometimes slowing the vehicle unsafely. Vehicles following are forced to brake hard.
Unintended acceleration is documented at low mileage (10,600–20,000 miles). The engine surges to high RPM or the vehicle accelerates without driver input while turning the wheel, parking, or during normal driving. Two owners report crashes during parking lot incidents. Dealers and manufacturer representatives cannot replicate or diagnose the failures.
Hesitation and jerking during acceleration appear across multiple complaints. In one case, Honda identified a defective camshaft as a known Honda defect with parts already in inventory. The vehicle lost power down to 5–8 mph with multiple warning lights. One owner references Service Bulletin 23-078 for a torque converter warranty extension. Cruise control fails to maintain speed on downhill grades, allowing 10–15 mph overspeed. One owner reports brake application causing acceleration instead of braking. Transmission noise and violent stuttering during acceleration, engine failure at 107,000 miles, and idle-stop system failures that leave the engine off for 5–10 minutes at traffic stops round out the reported issues.
Same Honda Pilot cruise control reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Adaptive Cruise Control - Unsafe braking and lane detection
The adaptive cruise control system applies the brakes aggressively when approaching vehicles, sometimes while the road ahead is clear or vehicles are in adjacent lanes. The system also fails to resume speed properly after passing or lane changes, and exhibits jerky behavior with erratic speed fluctuations (2–3 mph oscillations). Vehicles following are forced to brake hard to avoid collision.
When: During highway driving at 60–80 mph, particularly in traffic and on curves
Symptoms owners cite: Slams on brakes when approaching vehicles or perceived safety zone violations; Vehicle speed drops suddenly from 75–80 mph to under 60 mph; Jerky acceleration and deceleration in traffic; Fails to recognize open lanes and resume speed; Responds to vehicles in adjacent lanes and slows down; Reacts to vehicles across lanes during turns, slowing vehicle unsafely; Brake warning light illuminates with no apparent cause
Unintended acceleration - spontaneous engine revving and hard acceleration
Engine surges to high RPM or vehicle accelerates without driver input. Occurs at various speeds including while turning the steering wheel, pulling into parking spaces, or while braking. In two cases, vehicles crashed into obstacles at low speeds while parking. One owner reported the engine continued to rev extremely high after starting.
When: At 10,600–20,000 miles; also reported at various undisclosed speeds during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle suddenly accelerates despite foot off accelerator; RPM jumps from normal to very high (3,000 down to 0, then surging); Lurching or jerking forward; Engine revs extremely high after starting; Rapid acceleration without warning while steering or in parking garage
Repairs/costs cited: Two vehicles were not repaired; manufacturers and dealers found no failure after evaluation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer representative evaluated vehicle in one case but found no failure; manufacturer contacted in multiple cases but provided no assistance
Hesitation, jerking, and limp-mode power loss during acceleration
Vehicle hesitates, jerks, or lunges when attempting to accelerate. Some instances include sudden power loss and inability to exceed 25 mph. Warning lights illuminate (check engine, transmission problem, blind spot warnings). In one case, Honda identified a defective camshaft as the root cause and stated it was a known Honda defect with parts already in stock.
When: At 44,000 miles and under; one case at 107,000 miles; one case at stoplight from initial startup
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when accelerating at traffic light; Jerking or lurching forward; Vehicle decelerates unexpectedly during highway passing; Speed limited to 5–8 mph or 25 mph max; Multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously (check engine, transmission problem, blind spot, brake warning); Vehicle enters neutral unintentionally; Vehicle fails to accelerate as intended
Repairs/costs cited: Honda identified defective camshaft and replaced it under warranty; one owner reports Service Bulletin 23-078 (torque converter warranty extension) as a possible fix for transmission issues
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda acknowledged known defect and had replacement parts in stock; one manufacturer stated vehicle was out of warranty and provided no additional assistance
Cruise control speed maintenance failure on hills and inclines
When cruise control is engaged and the vehicle travels downhill or on an incline, the system does not maintain the set speed and instead allows speed to increase 10–15 mph above the target. Owner must manually brake to disengage cruise control.
When: During highway driving on inclines; no mileage reported
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control does not hold set speed on downhill grades; Vehicle speed increases 10–15 mph above what cruise is set for; Manual braking required to shut off cruise control and prevent further acceleration
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated this is normal and there is nothing wrong with it
Acceleration hesitation and jerking with fuel system issues
Vehicle jerks during acceleration and hesitates when driver attempts to speed up. Owner believes the fuel pump is defective (and references a fuel pump recall) but Honda dealer denied the fuel pump was the issue. Third-party mechanic confirmed fuel pump problem.
When: Daily driving; no specific mileage reported
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle jerks during acceleration; Hesitation when attempting to speed up; Poor throttle response
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic identified fuel pump as the cause; Honda dealer refused to perform fuel pump replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealer disputed fuel pump diagnosis; owner mentions fuel pump recall and Service Bulletin reference but status unclear
Engine failure - loss of power, smoke, abnormal sounds
Vehicle loses power during acceleration, emits abnormal smoke odor, and illuminates check engine light. Following day, abnormal sounds from engine with multiple unknown warning lights. Dealer diagnosed engine failure requiring replacement.
When: At 107,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Failure to accelerate as intended; Abnormal smoke odor from vehicle; Check engine warning light illuminated; Abnormal sounds from engine; Multiple unknown warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required per dealer diagnosis
Brake applied but vehicle accelerates instead
While driving at highway speed and applying the brake pedal, the vehicle independently accelerates instead of decelerating. Driver applies greater brake pressure to slow down but vehicle continues to accelerate. Vehicle had to be driven onto shoulder to avoid collision.
When: During highway driving; no mileage reported
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates when brake is applied; Continued acceleration despite increased brake pressure; Loss of brake control
Transmission stuttering, shaking, and noise during acceleration
Vehicle shakes and stutters violently when accelerating, accompanied by noise from the transmission. Related to broader transmission and powertrain concerns reported in other complaints.
When: No specific mileage or timing reported
Symptoms owners cite: Violent stuttering and shaking during acceleration; Abnormal noise from transmission
Automatic idle stop feature malfunction
Stop-light idle turning off feature engages but does not turn back on for 5–10 minutes, leaving the engine off at traffic stops. This creates a safety hazard if the driver needs to accelerate quickly to avoid a rear-end collision.
When: During city driving at traffic lights; no mileage reported
Symptoms owners cite: Idle stop feature activates but fails to restart engine; Engine remains off for 5–10 minutes after stopping; Engine restart delay when acceleration is needed
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2017 Honda Pilot?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 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 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 10,000 and 20,000 miles, with the median around 13,150. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 20,000. 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.