2023 Honda Pilot

My vehicle, 2023 Honda Pilot Elite, is experiencing intermittent, inaccurate seat belt engagement readings for the second-row seating middle and right position captain chair while driving. The system frequently sends incorrect status information to the driver's dashboard display, presenting two specific safety hazards. A false negative alert, The dashboard display indicates that the second-row middle and right captains chair positions are unbuckled when in fact the passengers are completely buckled. This prevents the driver from knowing if rear occupants—specifically children—have unfastened their seat belts while vehicle is in motion , creating a severe safety risk. This also triggers persistent, distracting warning chimes and dashboard alerts while driving. This is very concerning not knowing if the safety restraint system in place is correctly working due to the indicators on the dash intermittently showing false information while my children are buckled.

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine was making a loud ticking sound. The dealer was contacted about the knocking sound and informed the contact that the sound was normal. The vehicle was taken for an inspection, and the contact was informed that the sound was not normal. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and it was diagnosed with catastrophic engine failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

Right passenger seat in second row alarms that seatbelt is not buckled when it is buckled with a passenger.

Brake system error displayed on dash. Hill decent system error. Dealership was unable to diagnose and had to replace 2 major wiring harnesses under the dash to clear light.

Seat belt on rear passenger side seems like it is clipped in but car dings with red warning sign that seat belt is not fastened. I am worried that the seat belt is not working properly.

The middle right side passenger seat belt alarm is going off and indicating it is not clicked when it is. I have had my [XXX] son and [XXX] daughter (different weights) sit there and the alarm will go off constantly indicating their seat belt is not fastened. I have also had adults who were heavier sit there as well and its doing it constantly. The alarm will not shut off and flashes on the dashboard that it isn't fastened. Is there an issue with others? I have used canned air to blow out the seatbelt thinking there may be something inside the latch. When this first started beeping it would only beep a few times and indicate it wasn't fastened. Now the alarm keeps beeping and you can't even sit in the seat due to the alarm constantly going off and indicates not buckled on the dash board. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Loose weatherstripping two yrs and a half into ownership. Risk of water damage that can rust and damage electrical. Many complaints online about the roof rails needing to be replaced. Honda hasn’t issue a recall even though is a well known faulty design.

The seat belt sensors are going off even when the rider is properly buckled in. Happening in the second row seats, primarily on the right passenger side of the second row.There may be an issue with the sensor.

Rear passenger seatbelt warning beeps continuously when seat is occupied and belt is latched.

The rear passenger seat belt warning system in the 2023 Honda Pilot suffers from a critical malfunction. Specifically, the right rear passenger seat belt sensor triggers false, persistent, and loud "unbuckled" audio alarms and visual dashboard alerts while an occupant is sitting in that position with the seat belt securely and properly fastened. According to an official Honda Service Bulletin addressing this precise symptom, the root cause is a manufacturing defect involving a damaged or broken wire inside the seat belt buckle assembly, which causes the vehicle to misread the occupant's buckled status. Safety Hazards & Risks: Severe Driver Distraction: The loud, continuous auditory chime and flashing dashboard alerts create an extreme, immediate distraction for the driver while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of a crash. Warning Fatigue & False Assurance: Because the system consistently misreports the true status of the passenger, it forces the driver to consciously dismiss or ignore safety alerts. In a real-world family scenario, this false information can lead a driver to believe a rear occupant (particularly a child in the 2nd or 3rd row) is securely buckled when they are actually unbuckled, or vice versa, defeating the entire purpose of the vehicle’s safety warning system.

This is the second time experiencing a complete failure of the rear seat belt warning architecture on my 2023 Honda Pilot. In 2025, I formally reported that the warning sensors for both the 2nd-row middle seat and the 3rd-row seats were malfunctioning—triggering persistent unbuckled alarms even when passengers were properly seated and securely fastened. The issue has now returned and is actively failing on the 2nd-row seats. Despite passengers being buckled in safely, the vehicle's dashboard alerts and audible chimes sound continuously, causing severe driver distraction and making it impossible to accurately determine if my rear passengers are actually protected. I am providing a diagnosis of the seat belt warning issue in 2025, I am having the same issue now in 2026.

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was unexpectedly engaged causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in ongoing traffic with no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front brake sensors had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and multiple cases were opened. The contact expressed concern that the vehicle was hazardous to operate and that the failure could lead to a catastrophic crash. The contact also stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive with the contact and the contact’s child inside. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

The car is giving false alerts warning that a buckled seat is unbuckled in the second row seat behind the front passenger seat. It started the week of April 19, 2026 and it is happening more frequently now. It is very annoying and it is concerning that it might have an impact on the airbags. I haven’t contacted the dealership yet or made an appointment to have it looked at, but it can be available for inspection. It seems like this is a common issue with 2023 Pilots.

At about 9700 miles I noticed a popping noise in the steering wheel when it was turned left or right after driving for a few miles and it could be felt in the steering wheel. The popping sound got worse and on July 7, 2025 I took the car to the Honda dealership I bought it from at 11, 900 miles and the master mechanic confirmed the sound and stated the steering rack needed to be replaced. That was done over 4 days but several months later the popping sound that could again be felt in the steering wheel returned. I contacted the Georgia Attorney General Lemon Law division and was advised that because it was a safety defect I should give Honda a Final Repair Opportunity Notice under the GA Lemon Law which I did on Oct 24, 2025. Honda ignored the Notice and the Attorney General Accepted the case for Arbitration which is set for May 29, 2026. In preparation for arbitration, I discovered that at least 3 other complaints have been filed with the NHTSA about the exact same safety issue I have experienced. I do not know how these complaints were resolved but concerning one of them, the steering rack was replaced like mine and the popping sound from the steering returned. Honda therefore knows of this safety defect but has continued to ignore my Lemon Law Complaint and request for discovery of internal Honda information concerning this defect. I have severely limited driving of this vehicle to short trips at slow speeds to my law firm and cannot drive it at highway speeds for fear of steering failure.

I have a 2023 Honda Pilot AWD Elite with approximately 46,000 miles. It has an engine idol feature that's suppose to restart the engine after idoling. I was in a parking lot waiting to enter into traffic when the engine completey shut down. I was able to restart the engine at the time. Again the same day I was at a stop light, the car was idoling and when the light turned green, I took my foot off the brake and proceeded to press the gas pedal, the car shut down completely and I had to restart the vehicle. I made an appointment to take my car to the dealership the next morning. On Friday May 1st, 2026. I brought the vehicle to the dealership but they told me they won't be able to see it until Monday. Saturday, I took my child to his soccer match and again, at the stop light before getting onto the freeway, the vehicle shut down after Idoling. The feature Auto idol/restart is automatically on when you start the vehicle. It will drive fine if you remember to turn the function off. Honda has no official recall on this. There was a similar software issue recall in 2025 but the dealership told me that campaign was closed.

I was stopped at a stop light on a very busy road. The vehicle went into Auto Idle shut down. When the light turned green, I attempted to press the gas but the engine was completely stalled and would not restart. I had to put the vehicle in park, turn off the vehicle, and completely restart it for the vehicle to be able to successfully clear the busy intersection. After this incident, the vehicle would inconsistently give me the Auto Idle System Problem warning when first started. I chose to disengage the Auto Idle system until I was able to take it to the dealer. They claim it is the electrical charging wire which is an 8,000 dollar repair for a 3 year old vehicle. We are currently awaiting the inspection from our extended warranty.

Description: While using cruise control at highway speed and winter weather conditions, the cruise control system suddenly and unexpectedly disengaged without adequate warning. The vehicle experienced rapid deceleration and I lost control, resulting in multiple spins, a near collision with a truck, and impact with a curb before coming to stop. The vehicle sustained damage. Fortunately no one was not severely injured. History and safety concern This is not an isolated event. I have experienced similar, unexpected cruise control disengagements multiple times over the past year while driving under varied conditions. Each event has created a significant safety risk. The sudden, uncommanded disengagement at highway speed caused abrupt deceleration and loss of control, which presents a severe hazard to vehicle occupants and other road users. I have reported the issue to the manufacturer and requested a full diagnostic investigation, system data logs, root‑cause determination, and remediation (I am requesting replacement or buyback if a defect is confirmed). I have asked the manufacturer to escalate to a senior case manager/remediation team and to preserve all relevant data and parts. Requested NHTSA actions Open an ODI safety defect investigation into this vehicle model/series and the cruise control/ADAS/cruise‑control module behavior. Request preservation and production of all relevant manufacturer data, including ECU/ADAS event data recorder logs, telematics, software versions, diagnostic records, and any field complaints or warranty claims related to cruise control disengagements. Evaluate whether this is a systemic safety defect requiring recall, remedy, or other actions, and consider requiring manufacturer owner notification and appropriate remedies (repair, replacement, buyback) if a defect is confirmed. Provide guidance on any additional evidence or steps I should take to support the investigation.

Seatbelt sensory goes off in the middle row right passenger staying seatbelt not connected. Seatbelt is connected and the alert will not cut off.

The third row seat belt buckles on driver side and passenger side have been replaced due to failing to register when a child is seated and buckled in that row causing the vehicle alarm to go off notifying me that the child is unbuckled when they are not. I have been to the dealer 5 times going on 6 for this same issue. Have had a total of 3 buckles fail, one of them had failed twice now. 2 of them have been repaired and the vehicle is scheduled to go back to the dealership April 3rd to fix the two new buckles that have failed.

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rearview mirror console located near the front windshield became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that upon inspecting the area, the rearview mirror console was extremely hot to the touch. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,071.