Will engage brakes when nothing is present, when going around a curve, or certain times when the sun shines just right. The other day it did so causing a jarring pain to now be present in my back.
2022 Honda Pilot brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2022 Honda Pilot have filed 12 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
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 Pilot | 18 |
| 2020 Pilot | 16 |
| 2021 Pilot | 18 |
| 2022 Pilot (this page) | 12 |
| 2023 Pilot | 4 |
| 2024 Pilot | 7 |
| 2025 Pilot | 15 |
1crash
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a range of brake system failures across 11 complaints on 2022 Honda Pilots:
Unwanted hard braking: Several owners describe sudden, hard stops without driver input—sometimes mid-highway with multiple warning lights (emissions, VSA, power steering, transmission, adaptive cruise control), sometimes with no warnings at all. One owner reports the brakes sticking after release, causing loss of power and uncontrolled stopping. Dealers replaced antilock brake modules on at least one vehicle, but the problem recurred within a week and under 500 miles.
Soft or spongy brake pedal: Owners report the pedal requires excessive travel before brakes engage, delaying emergency stops. One owner notes the dealer never inspected the brake master cylinder connection to booster assembly despite two visits.
Erratic activation: Brake systems activate unprompted while turning, in sunlight, or for no apparent reason—sometimes causing sudden speed reduction or jarring jolts.
Noise and vibration: Squeaking from the brake pedal and vibration during braking are reported. One complaint links battery drain to repeated starter failures.
Inconsistent dealer diagnosis: Multiple owners state dealers could not replicate or identify root causes, with some performing software updates, battery replacements, shock absorber repairs, and transmission inspections without resolving brake issues. Two owners reference NHTSA recalls 23E-040 and 23V-458 as potentially relevant to their failures.
Same Honda Pilot brakes reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2025
Failure modes owners describe
Unwanted hard braking / limp mode activation
Sudden, unintended braking event causing abrupt vehicle stop with or without warning lights; may accompany multiple system failures (emission, VSA, power steering, transmission, cruise control). Antilock brake module replacement attempted but issue recurred.
When: Between 200–35,000 miles; reported on highway and city driving
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden hard stop without driver input; Loss of power after brake pedal release; Sticking brakes requiring towing; Multiple warning lights (emission, VSA, power steering, transmission, adaptive cruise control)
Repairs/costs cited: Antilock brake module replaced; failure recurred within one week and under 500 miles total service time
Soft or spongy brake pedal
Brake pedal requires excessive travel distance before engaging, impairing vehicle's ability to make prompt emergency stops. Likely related to brake master cylinder or booster assembly connection per owner allegation.
When: First appeared 02/03/2023 at undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Unusually soft or spongy brake pedal feel; Excessive pedal travel required before brake engagement; No warning lamps or messages
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to verify or confirm problem on two occasions; brake master cylinder connection to booster assembly was not inspected
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Safety Recall 23E-040 and/or 23V-458 may apply but vehicle was not determined a subject recall per dealer statement
Erratic or unprompted brake activation
Brakes engage without driver input while turning, in certain lighting conditions, or without apparent cause, causing abrupt speed reduction and safety hazard.
When: At 1,000 miles and other undisclosed mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes activate when nothing is present; Engagement while going around curves; Engagement in bright sunlight; Brake lights flash randomly on and off; Abrupt speed reduction without driver input; Jarring back pain from sudden braking
Brake pedal squeaking
Abnormally loud squeaking sound from brake pedal during depression, persisting after software update and dealer repair attempt.
When: Approximately 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud squeaking sound while depressing brake pedal; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer attributed to dust and performed software update; squeaking persisted after repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and case filed; vehicle not repaired
Brake vibration during stopping
Vibration felt through brake system during braking, often accompanied by concerns about brake effectiveness and emergency brake unresponsiveness.
When: Undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration when braking; Concerns about brake not working properly; Emergency brake does not respond
Brake system stall and electrical coupling
Vehicle stalling coincident with brake system failures; starter replacement required multiple times when battery dies, suggesting possible electrical fault coupling brake and starting systems.
When: Undisclosed mileage; starter replaced three times in 4 years
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalling while being driven; Starter stops working when battery dies; Repeated need for starter replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Starter replaced three times; shock absorbers and transmission inspected but no root cause determined
Dealer inability to diagnose persistent brake complaints
Across multiple service visits, dealers unable to replicate or identify root cause of brake failures despite software updates, battery replacement, suspension and transmission inspection, and antilock brake module replacement.
When: Multiple visits over undisclosed service period
Symptoms owners cite: Repeated failures after repair attempts; Dealers cannot verify or replicate reported symptoms; Multiple system inspections without resolution
Repairs/costs cited: Software update performed; battery replaced; shock absorbers repaired; transmission inspected; antilock brake module replaced; screen repaired; all without determining root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified on at least two complaints; no resolution reported
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2022 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 2022 Honda Pilot?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 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 12 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 23,500 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/2022/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.