Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2021 Accords, 2019-2017 Civics, 2017-2021 CR-Vs, 2018-2021 Odysseys & 2018-2021 Pilots with a customer complaint of an unexpected CMBS operation or a brake application. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Honda Pilot brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2021 Honda Pilot have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Pilot | 12 |
| 2019 Pilot | 18 |
| 2020 Pilot | 16 |
| 2021 Pilot (this page) | 18 |
| 2022 Pilot | 12 |
| 2023 Pilot | 4 |
| 2024 Pilot | 7 |
| 2025 Pilot | 15 |
2crashes
2injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2021 Accords, 2019-2017 Civics, 2017-2021 CR-Vs, 2018-2021 Odysseys & 2018-2021 Pilots with a customer complaint of an unexpected CMBS operation or a brake application. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2021 Accords, 2019-2017 Civics, 2017-2021 CR-Vs, 2018-2021 Odysseys & 2018-2021 Pilots with a customer complaint of an unexpected CMBS operation or a brake application. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2021 Accords, 2019-2017 Civics, 2017-2021 CR-Vs, 2018-2021 Odysseys & 2018-2021 Pilots with a customer complaint of an unexpected CMBS operation or a brake application. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2021 Accords, 2019-2017 Civics, 2017-2021 CR-Vs, 2018-2021 Odysseys & 2018-2021 Pilots with a customer complaint of an unexpected CMBS operation or a brake application. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report the automatic emergency braking system engaging without warning on straight roads, gentle curves, and when no vehicles are present—events happening monthly or more frequently since purchase. The system hard-brakes at highway speeds (60+ mph and above), throws drivers forward in their seats, and can be silenced only when the driver manually taps the brake pedal. One owner disabled the entire AEB system after almost being rear-ended twice; service managers told multiple owners nothing could be done.
More seriously, owners report actual brake system failures where the brake pedal becomes unresponsive or requires extreme pressure. One collision at 5,500 miles saw a driver's brake pedal depressed to the floorboard with no stopping power; the vehicle hit a stop sign and concrete wall, injuring both occupants. A second owner lost all brakes descending a steep hill and had to cross two lanes to reach level ground. A third owner found the vehicle unable to stop when a car braked in front, with no power-braking feel and no skid marks, suggesting hydraulic failure.
One owner experienced severe brake rotor and pad rust and scoring at just 21,869 miles, triggering a brake warning. A separate owner reports random dashboard warning lights appearing with no identified cause, despite two dealership inspections; the owner cites a past recall for the same issue.
Camera system malfunction appears in one complaint at 41,500 miles, and one report describes engine stall after auto-idle engagement while stopped in traffic.
Same Honda Pilot brakes reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2020 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) - Random/Phantom Engagement
The Automatic Emergency Braking system engages without warning or justification—on straight roads with no vehicles nearby, during normal curves, or with oncoming traffic in opposite lanes far from the vehicle. Owners report the system then disengages after braking hard or when they tap the brake pedal. Multiple owners note the issue happens monthly or more frequently, with no consistent trigger. One owner reports being thrown forward during hard braking at 30 mph with no traffic present. Service managers have told owners the issue cannot be fixed and suggested disabling the system.
When: Various speeds (4–60+ mph); some owners report monthly or more frequent occurrences since purchase
Symptoms owners cite: AEB engages unexpectedly on straight roads, curves, and when no vehicles are present; Hard braking without driver input; Brief hard braking followed by immediate disengagement; Driver thrown forward in seat during hard braking event; BRAKE light flashing on dashboard during phantom engagement; System becomes unresponsive until driver taps brake pedal
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported asking service manager for help; was told nothing could be done and AEB could be disabled. Owners have disengaged the system themselves to avoid further incidents.
Brake System Failure - Loss of Braking Power
The brake system loses effectiveness or fails entirely, requiring the driver to apply extreme pressure or pump the pedal to achieve any braking. One owner reported brake pedal depressed to the floorboard with complete failure to stop, resulting in collision with a stop sign and concrete wall at 5,500 miles; occupants were injured. Another owner on a steep hill lost brakes, missed hitting a car only by crossing two lanes; dealer attributed this to a broken brake switch. A third owner found the vehicle would not stop when a car in front stopped, with no brake warning light and no evidence of hard braking (no skid marks), suggesting loss of power braking.
When: 5,500 miles (major collision case); unspecified mileage for other incidents; one case involved downhill driving
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed to floorboard with complete failure to stop; Brakes lose effectiveness on steep downhill grades; Brake pedal requires very firm pressure or pumping to achieve braking; Vehicle feels like it has no power brakes; No brake warning lights present or illuminated during failure; Vehicle unable to stop despite brake pedal input; No skid marks or wheel lock-up evidence
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer diagnosed a broken brake switch and quoted approximately $2,000 for brake fluid replacement and repair; told owner repair may not be covered by warranty and that skipping the fluid replacement would void warranty. Vehicle awaiting parts at time of complaint.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 23V458000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics) mentioned by one owner as potentially related; manufacturer case opened after collision report.
Brake Rotor and Pad Premature Wear - Rust Pitting and Scoring
Front and rear rotors and brake pads show extreme rust pitting and scoring at very low mileage (21,869 miles), well before normal service life. Vehicle displayed brake warning message while driving as a result.
When: 21,869 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Severe rust pitting on rotors; Scoring of rotor surfaces; Premature wear of brake pads; Brake warning message displayed while driving
Dashboard Warning Lights - Random Illumination
All warning lights on the dashboard come on randomly while driving. Two authorized dealerships inspected the vehicle and could not identify a cause; one suggested a possible battery issue, the second found nothing wrong with the battery. Owner notes the vehicle has a documented recall history for the same issue and is concerned this represents a known defect not properly resolved.
When: Approximately 8 months after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: All dashboard warning lights illuminate randomly while driving; Warning lights come on without explanation; No clear pattern or trigger identified
Repairs/costs cited: Two dealership inspections performed; no resolution found
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner references a past recall for the same issue; no current recall status confirmed by dealerships
Camera/CMBC System Failure
Owner reports CMBC (Camera-based Monitoring System) failure message appearing on the instrument cluster at 41,500 miles. Dealer advised the camera needs replacement; owner disputes this, noting the vehicle is nearly new and lightly used. Owner states this is a known problem among other 2021 Pilot owners and questions whether a recall should cover it.
When: 41,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: CMBC failure message displayed on instrument cluster
Codes mentioned: CMBC failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer recommends camera replacement; cost not specified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated no recalls exist for this issue
Auto-Idle System - Engine Stall and Non-Restart
When auto-idle engages and the vehicle is stopped, the engine will not restart. One incident occurred while the driver was in traffic with family, creating a safety risk. The problem has not been reproduced, but owner notes this is a known issue Honda has dealt with for many years.
When: While stopped in traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Engine fails to restart after auto-idle engagement; Engine stall while stopped in traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not inspected at time of complaint
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2021 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 brakes problem on the 2021 Honda Pilot?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 18 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 5,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2021/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.