2024 Honda Pilot Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2024 Pilot most often describe false seat-belt warnings for second-row seats, warning-light clusters that appear with steering or brake system messages, and a clicking or creaking noise from the steering rack after the vehicle warms up. Many complaints are filed on low-mileage vehicles, and several describe repeated dealer visits where the symptom could not be reproduced or a part was replaced and the noise returned.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Seat belt warning sounds with belt buckled (2nd row)

   • 21 complaints (18%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 2.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe the seat-belt reminder for a second-row seat chiming or showing unbuckled while the belt is fastened, often while driving or when the passenger shifts position. Some say the alert is most noticeable for the right-side or middle second-row seat, and a few report the seat becomes unusable because the chime will not stop. Complaints describe dealer inspections, quotes for buckle replacement, and repairs that in some cases did not resolve the symptom. Reported across a wide mileage range, from nearly new vehicles to about 60,000 miles, and often while a passenger is seated and belted.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: With a passenger in each second-row seat, buckle every belt and watch the reminder display for false unbuckled warnings; ask whether the seat belt reminder service bulletin was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The seat belt sensor keeps going off in the middle row - middle seat even though my child is buckled. And its getting worse as my child continues to sit there. So we are no longer able to use that middle seat due to the issue”

   NHTSA complaint #11697788, filed 2025-11

   “Recently the vehicle has developed an erratic behavior when a passenger on mid-row seat is using the seat belt, seat belt reminder goes on/off every few seconds displaying inaccurate information of when the seat belt is in use. I contacted my local Honda dealer describing the problem and informing them of Honda's service bulletin #TSB A26-027, which describes exactly the same symptoms my vehicle is having and they've been unwilling to address the issue, as the TSB is not an active recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11733692, filed 2026-04
2. 2
   Forward collision avoidance

   Multiple warning lights with steering or brake messages

   • 21 complaints (18%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 1.9 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe clusters of dashboard warnings appearing at once, covering steering assist, brake system, lane keeping, stability assist and cruise control, sometimes with the power steering becoming heavy. Some report the vehicle would not shut off normally or would not restart, and that dealers found stored wheel-sensor codes or could not identify a cause. A few mention that restarting the vehicle cleared the warnings temporarily. Occurs at widely varying mileage, including vehicles with only a few hundred miles, and has been reported after driving over rough pavement or railroad tracks.

   Recall 25V031000Recall 23V735000

   What to check: Ask whether any warning-light events were diagnosed and what codes were stored; confirm the fuel injection ECU software recall and the steering gear box recall were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought my 2024 Honda Pilot two weeks ago, it only has 300 miles and suddenly all the warnings indicating system failures were activated, engine check, lane assist, emergency braking, emission system, etc., it almost didn't start, it left me in road. It is not possible that something practically new is failing like that with two weeks of use and only 300 miles, that is not right, it is putting lives in danger. honda has to solve that”

   NHTSA complaint #11556843, filed 2023-11

   “Today, the same problem with my car reemerged immediately after I collected it from the dealership, where it was supposedly repaired for this issue. Upon driving away, making three stops, and using both the Brake Hold and Engine Idle-Stop features, I encountered the same malfunction, leading to the flashing of all warning indicators. Alarmingly, the parking brake engaged on its own at traffic signals, and the car wouldn't turn off even when this issue was occurring. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11565911, filed 2024-01
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering rack clicking or creaking (after warm-up)

   • 11 complaints (9%)
   • median 41,500 mi at 1.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Complaints describe a clicking, crackling or grinding noise from the steering when turning at low speed, such as in parking lots, becoming clearer once the vehicle has been driven for a while. Several owners say the steering rack was replaced, sometimes more than once, and that the noise came back after a period of use. Some dealers first applied grease or said the noise could not be reproduced. Mostly on vehicles from roughly 11,000 to 48,000 miles, often after 10-20 minutes of driving and at low speeds.

   Recall 23V735000

   What to check: Drive at parking-lot speeds after the vehicle is warm and turn the wheel fully both ways with the window down, listening for clicks or creaks; ask for service records showing whether the steering rack or gear box was replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our 2024 Honda Pilot started with a grinding noise in the steering. Our Pilot only has 011,208 miles on it. We took to the dealer and they said the steering rack needs replacing but its ok to continuing driving. The dealer will order the part. Its beend 3 weeks still no part. What happens on all these Pilots if the steering rack freezes up?”

   NHTSA complaint #11690776, filed 2025-10

   “2024 Honda Pilot steering rack problem In December 2023, we purchased a brand-new Honda Pilot Touring. As of today, June 25, 2026 our Honda Pilot will receive from a certified Honda Dealer Repair section it’s third 3rd, yes, third steering rack and pinion. First time back to the dealer, they used special grease and grease it. This did nothing, to stop the creaking and cracking as you turn the steering wheel. This issue continued as you drove the vehicle. Second time back a week later, the Honda Technician replace the steering rack. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11746511, filed 2026-06
4. 4
   Forward collision avoidance

   Automatic emergency braking when nothing is ahead

   • 12 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 1.5 yrs old
   • filed 2024–2026

   Complaints describe the collision mitigation system applying strong brakes with no obstacle in the path, including at highway speeds and when passing shadows or a truck. Owners say the stop was abrupt enough to create a risk of being rear-ended, and that dealers could not reproduce the event. Some report the behavior while adaptive cruise control was active. Reported from low mileage up to about 20,000 miles, at speeds from roughly 40 to 75 mph in clear traffic.

   What to check: Test the forward-collision settings and ask whether the radar and camera systems have had any calibration or software updates; note that settings can be adjusted to reduce sensitivity while driving.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Honda Pilot automatically applied the brakes 2 times while traveling on the interstate at 60 mph when there was no one in front of me and no one even near me. Both times it applied the brakes automatically and suddenly for no reason. It could have caused a bad accident. I was fortunate no one was behind me. Honda denies anything is wrong because it didn’t do it for them when they took it for a drive.”

   NHTSA complaint #11725041, filed 2026-03

   “I was driving down a residential road at about 40 mph. There was no car or other obstacle in front of me, but my car suddenly slammed on the brakes. It brought the car to an abrupt stop for no reason. If a car had been behind me, they would have slammed into me. It was so abrupt, I felt like I had whiplash. It was terrifying. I had taken the car into the dealership to due to the brake pin recall just 3 days ago. They inspected and said the pin was fine. When I called them to report this experience, they said it was unrelated to the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11680072, filed 2025-08
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission hesitation and jerking at low speeds

   • 8 complaints (7%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe the ten-speed transmission hesitating, revving high and then jerking or lurching during low-speed shifts, sometimes feeling like a brief loss of power. Several say the dealer described the behavior as normal or said nothing could be done without a warning light, and one reported a technician confirming the symptom on a test drive. Mostly reported under about 25,000 miles, during stop-and-go and lower-speed driving.

   What to check: Drive a route with repeated stops and starts and low-speed acceleration to feel for hesitation or lurching, and ask whether any transmission software updates or relearn procedures have been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Pilot has less than 1300 miles on it and when in lower gears the transmission will rev high, hesitate, then jerk forward, at times feeling as though it’s losing power before the gear catches. Called the dealership who told me it’s normal and without any warning lights on they won’t find anything.”

   NHTSA complaint #11594504, filed 2024-06

   “This 10 speed transmission is dangerous. It hesitates and jerks constantly. Both up and down shifts will hesitate or drop into gears. While at speeds under 50mph the car will lurch and rock back and forth with some shifts. I'm current on all recalls. Only 23,000 miles. I've taken it in to Honda and did a ride along with the tech and he felt it too, but until there is a check engine light, theres nothing they can do to help me. This is a wide spread issue among owners when you search forums. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11651518, filed 2025-03

Buying note. Check that the open recalls for this model year (steering gear box, fuel filler pipe, brake pedal pin, seat fasteners and fuel injection software) have been completed, and test the second-row seat belt reminders and low-speed steering for noise on a warm vehicle. Service records showing whether the steering rack or seat belt buckle work was already attempted are worth reviewing before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.