YearToAvoid

2020 Honda Pilot Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 35 brake complaints for the 2020 Honda Pilot, 7% of its 487 total complaints for the year. Owners reported brake loss, sudden warning alerts, and crashes at a median mileage of 3,100. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Brakes complaints
35
7% of 487
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
6
Median mileage
3,100 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of brake response at low speed, including one case where the vehicle crashed into a wall while turning at about 1 mph.
  • Some drivers describe the brake pedal failing to respond at highway speed, resulting in a crash and, in one case, a detached wheel assembly.
  • Several owners describe a red brake warning box or alert appearing on the dash unexpectedly, sometimes while driving on cruise control at highway speed.
  • Multiple complaints describe popping or cracking noises from the dash or speakers occurring at the same time as brake concerns, along with screens going blank.
  • One owner reported the automatic emergency braking and ABS failing to engage during a sudden stop, leading to a rear-end collision.
  • A dealer told at least one owner that a popping sound during braking was normal, and no repair was made.

When 2020 Honda Pilot brake complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 20, 2020, latest Jul 20, 2026.

2020 Honda Pilot brakes complaints: complaints filed per month6Jan 2020Jul 2020Nov 2020Aug 2021Mar 2022Jul 2023Feb 2025Jul 2026
35 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2020 to Jul 2026; peak Jul 2020 (6).

Brakes recalls for the 2020 Honda Pilot

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Pilot model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20109 (8%)
  2. 201144 (15%)
  3. 201231 (18%)
  4. 201343 (16%)
  5. 201411 (9%)
  6. 201512 (11%)
  7. 201667 (4%)
  8. 201733 (4%)
  9. 201813 (3%)
  10. 201957 (6%)
  11. 202035 (7%)
  12. 202127 (6%)
  13. 202220 (13%)
  14. 202317 (12%)
  15. 202413 (12%)
  16. 202532 (16%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2020 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA lists 35 brake-related complaints for the 2020 Honda Pilot, which is 7% of the 487 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2020 Honda Pilot?
No related recalls are listed for the brake complaints on the 2020 Honda Pilot in this data.
At what mileage do 2020 Honda Pilot brake problems happen?
The median mileage at failure among reported brake complaints is 3,100 miles.
Have there been crashes or injuries linked to 2020 Honda Pilot brake complaints?
NHTSA data tied to this brake complaint group shows 4 crashes and 6 injuries, with no fires reported.
How does the 2020 Pilot compare to other model years for brake complaints?
The 2020 Pilot's 35 brake complaints and 7% share are lower than the 2011 (15%), 2012 (18%), and 2013 (16%) model years, but similar to 2019 (6%) and 2021 (6%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.