2021 Honda Pilot Brakes Problems
NHTSA lists 27 brake complaints for the 2021 Honda Pilot, 6% of its 433 total complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure is 7,650 miles. A related recall (23V458000) covers a tie rod fastener connecting the brake booster on 2021-2022 Pilots.
- Brakes complaints
- 27
- 6% of 433
- Crashes reported
- 4
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 7,650 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Automatic emergency braking activates with no obstruction present, sometimes multiple times in a single trip.
- Brakes fail to respond fully when the pedal is pressed, leading to reduced stopping power and, in some cases, collisions.
- Brake warning light or Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBC) error appears intermittently, sometimes flagged as a camera issue by the dealer.
- Pedal feels harder to press over time, with owners describing the steering and braking as feeling mechanically wrong.
- A car behind the driver rear-ended another vehicle after the automatic braking system reportedly did not engage as expected.
- One report describes brakes failing on a downhill grade, later attributed to a broken brake switch.
When 2021 Honda Pilot brake complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 10, 2021, latest Sep 22, 2026.
Brakes recalls for the 2021 Honda Pilot
- NHTSA 23V458000Jun 29, 2023Brakes124,077 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
Risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.
Brakes complaints by Pilot model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2021 Honda Pilot?
- NHTSA lists 27 brake complaints for the 2021 Pilot, which is 6% of the 433 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a brake recall for the 2021 Honda Pilot?
- Yes. Recall 23V458000, reported June 29, 2023, covers a tie rod fastener connecting the brake booster on 2021-2022 Pilots and related Honda/Acura models. It is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall.
- At what mileage do 2021 Pilot brake problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure among reported brake complaints is 7,650 miles.
- Did the 2021 Pilot brake issues cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data links the brake complaint area to 4 crashes and 2 injuries, with no fires reported.
- Are 2021 Pilot brake complaints unusual compared to other Pilot years?
- The 6% share for 2021 is similar to several other Pilot model years; other years like 2011-2013 and 2022-2025 show higher shares, ranging up to 18%.