2005 Honda Pilot: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Dec 14, 2021 · Acceleration, Wheels · OH

Travelling on interstate w/ cruise speed set @ 70 mph. VSA (vehicle stability assist) engaged with a brief grinding noise & pulled to the right. Very startling event. VSA activation indicator triangle light came on, as well as, the VSA system indicator light. Have experienced the event a dozen or so times on both the interstate and roads with a speed limit of 35/40 mph, without use of the cruise control. We are original owners of the vehicle and it has been diligently worked on throughout & currently has 230,000 miles on it. Awaiting delivery of a new vehicle, but intend for my newly licensed son to drive the vehicle. Took it to my repair shop, but they couldn't replicate the issue. Replaced both front speed sensors, but the issue occurred on the interstate drive home immediately after. Hope to be able to drop the vehicle off for an extended period once I take delivery on my new vehicle. Worried the issue will occur in rain or snow & be even more dangerous. Repair shop ran diagnostic showing the yaw issue, but said the Honda generated code report only went up to 25 mph. Has always pulled to the right during activation and the grinding noise is very evident & startling. Kinda feels like maybe the ABS anti-braking system engages on 1 tire for a brief few seconds in my non auto mechanic analysis.

Filed Jul 10, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 51,000 miles · IN

The yaw rate lateral acceleration sensor is faulty and should be included in honda's 2013 recall of the vsa. The vehicle has the exact symptoms of the vsa recall, which was fixed on my vehicle. I purchased the car last year with very low miles, only drove for a few months before it started having issues. Started out having the vsa triangle light on dash and losing power (limp mode) only after coming out of a turn after driving vehicle for awhile. Increased to the point where after roughly 30 minutes of the vehicle running the vsa issue would happen at least once during the drive. Severity of the vsa/limp mode got worse, no power for longer at a time and the horrible grinding noise directly underneath cabin. Took to honda complaining of these issues, couldn't replicate it so nothing was wrong. One month ago, my vehicle started having the un-commanded braking problem. Driving at 55 MPH, the slightest touch to the brakes causes the vehicle to hard brake, causing a swerve at least going that fast. It has done this un-commanded braking more than once, I have been afraid to drive it and at least got it 30 minutes to my honda dealer, which I also purchased the vehicle from. It was diagnosed with the faulty yaw rate lateral acceleration sensor. I have argued with honda for the last three weeks over the issue, ultimately to be told that it was not included in the final recall, even though the investigation names the yaw sensor as possibly being implicated in the malfunction. $994 for the sensor alone. It is absolutely dangerous and even the dealer recommends it be fixed immediately, yet honda has declared no fault.

Filed Jun 19, 2016 · Driver assistance · 150,000 miles · NC

Vsa light randomly comes on when going around corners at low speeds and has a grinding noise, or when driving at highway speeds the car pulls sharply. The car has been to the dealer several times and the last time they said the vsa modulator needs to be replaced at a cost of about $2000.

Filed Jul 15, 2015 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 73,500 miles · GA

1st incident-I was traveling at a slow rate of speed (approx. 25-30 MPH). Heard a growling sound & car suddenly braked on its own. I also felt as if I had lost steering ability. The vsa light flashed on then off during the incident. 2nd incident- same as above only a week later. 3rd incident- about 2 weeks later. My wife was driving the car. Had slowed down to enter the ramp to get on the highway. Again the car made a grinding sound, the vsa light came on momentarily while the car applied the brakes on its own. All of these incidences occurred after the car was serviced for the vsa recall(13-026) on may 6, 2015. Previous to this service, we had never had any issues with the vsa. We believe that by having this recall performed, has caused another malfunctioned as a result. I have read some much more frightening incidences than ours on your site. So we are now driving our car with the vsa off! Please investigate before someone seriously gets hurt. Updated 11/27/2017

Filed Dec 31, 2014 · Transmission · 9,500 miles · CA

When I am going in a speed range about 35 MPH I get like shudder/grinding sound coming out of the bottom of the pilot. I am getting very concern because I've driven other pilots and they all do the same and they shouldn't be doing this noise.

Filed Nov 21, 2014 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 112,000 miles · MA

I heard a loud thumping or grinding sound from the front of the car and the brakes engaged on their own. At the same time the vehicle stability warning light came on (yellow triangle). Over next three weeks this happened three times, seemingly randomly. On one occasion the "yaw sensor" code was triggered. The vsa recall in 2013 was performed by the dealer in 2013.

Filed Jun 30, 2014 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 162,829 miles · VA · 2 injuries

The first incident happened while turning, car came to a stop, jerked the wheel almost hitting another car; all without warning. A child passenger was in the back seat and was thrown forward hitting her head on the passenger front seat and seat belt locked causing her to have a seat belt bruise. Vsa (light), the vsa activation light (triangle with exclamation inside) were both illuminated. Suv was taken to local dealership to perform the recall work. Two weeks later, same thing but this time I was going about 55mph on highway, SUV came to almost a complete stop within a short distance. Grinding feeling and with the vsa indicator lights on. Almost hit someone when the wheel jerked and caused me to go into the right lane and almost hitting someone, kids were in the SUV one in the passenger side front and the other in back same side. Seat belt once again left a bruise on their chest and caused the front passenger to have strained his neck. This is a vehicle that cause great concern. I am now afraid to allow my son to drive this vehicle with this problem continuing. The dealership has said that they have performed the recall bulletin and I will need to fix this on my own. This is not satisfactory at all.

Filed Mar 18, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 96,000 miles · NJ

While driving around a bend towards a red light, without my foot on the pedal my car made a weird shutter or brake pulsing, I thought I had gone over some ripple strips. When the light changed, I proceeded to make a right turn in a busy intersection, when going almost 30 & out of the turn, my pilot came to an unassisted abrupt stop! Im so lucky the person behind me didn't rear end me! It sounded like the transmission was grinding & the tires were locked. I waited a few seconds let go of brakes & the vehicle began to move but in 5 ft it did it again. Towed to dealer who cant seem to find or recreate the problem. Multiple brake, ABS, vsc & electrical alarms were reported by dealer but still no solution. This car is unsafe to drive and by multiple reports this is a widespread problem.

Filed Mar 23, 2013 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 87,200 miles · IN

While driving I went to apply my brakes to begin slowing down, I only applied a very small amount of pressure when a grinding noise started and lasted only a few seconds then a slight jerk as if my car was braking on its own and then a warning light turned on (exclamation inside a triangle and the vsa letters appeared) this stayed on until I turned off the car. This has occurred now 4 times. Fortunately I only have to drive 5 miles to work. Firstly, I am afraid to drive any distance especially on the highway should this get worse and secondly I have grandkids that I transport and am concerned that I could possibly be putting their lives in jeopardy!! I do hope that something is done or a recall is made so that this can be fixed.

Filed Dec 9, 2012 · Brakes · 120,000 miles · MD

While driving at low speeds (20-50 MPH) the car makes a low grinding noise and rapidly brakes/decelerates without the brakes being touched. This has been happening on and off for years; however, recently it has been happening on a daily basis. The driver (myself) and the passengers (usually my two children) in the car lurch forward as the car unexpectedly brakes. The brake lights do not come on when this happens. This is a major safety concern for my family and I. This is our family car and I am very afraid to drive my children anywhere in this car with the frequency of these incidents. In fact, on december 8, 2012 another car almost slammed into the back of us. I have done some research and have found that other 2005 honda pilot owners have had the same exact problem.

Filed Dec 7, 2012 · Brakes · 100,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle made a grinding noise and the brakes activated erroneously, bringing the vehicle to a complete stop. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the failure could not be replicated. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 120,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Jun 23, 2012 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 53,350 miles · AK

On three hot afternoons (around 75 degrees) the car repeatedly had problems - mostly when turning. It felt like the antilock brakes went on by themselves even though my foot was not on the brake. The car quickly slowed and made grinding noises. Most of the times that it happened, the stability control warning light came on. It felt and sounded similar to the way it stops on icy roads in the winter, but the slowdown was more severe. The car seemed fine during the cooler morning hours and the problem worsened as the temperature rose. It is currently sitting at the honda dealership while the problem is being diagnosed.