2005 Honda Pilot: brakes engage by themselves (phantom braking)

Filed Mar 19, 2021 · Brakes · 113,000 miles · PA

In the highway the car brakes for no reason for a moment than it release

Filed Aug 28, 2018 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 209,800 miles · CA

Car will apply brake to itself causin a swerve or a jerk and the vsa light will come on and as sson as u turn off the ignition the light will turn off. And will happen again when it wants too. Any car appky brake by itself is unsafe and will cause a accident especially when driver have no control of it... This needs to be addressed immediately and recalled and fixed. This is not the only honda pilot doing this. There were quite a few

Filed May 8, 2018 · Driver assistance · 166,000 miles · CA

Vsa system activates brakes without any input from driver under normal driving circumstances. Vsa light came on, car braked on its own on highway at 65mph, car pulled to the right; same thing happened during gentle left turn at 15mph. I believe this to be a defective yaw rate sensor. My VIN was not included in recall in 2013, #13v092000. Local dealer replaced battery stating that failing a load test could cause vsa code. Problem happened again, now local dealership found yaw rate sensor error code.

Filed Sep 9, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 140,000 miles · OH

On 9-9-15, our 2005 honda pilot abruptly stopped on emerald parkway - police assisted. Leaking fluid was clumpy red/brown and vehicle hot. Shop today says radiator and transmission and possibly engine need replaced and instructed us to contact a honda dealer. This is our second safety complaint on this vehicle - 1st was dangerous "phantom braking" or inadvertant application on brakes in 2012, which honda subsequently recalled in 2013. After reading thru complaints, I see the exact same problem - transmission line in radiator suddenly came loose and transmission fluid leaked into radiator and coolant leaked into transmission, ruining both has occurred numerous times. We anticipate a very expensive repair.... We are thankful this did not occur on the highway, during rush hour or with any of our 3 kids in the vehicle, and are angered at honda's failure to recall this as well - as some said they did for 2003 and 2004 models?

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 Jan 17, 2015 · Driver assistance · 108,000 miles · MA

This is an addendum to my november 21, 2014 report regarding the vehicle stability system on my 2005 honda pilot engaging the brakes on its own: on one of the occasions that the stability system engaged the brakes on its own, the car swerved to the left into the adjacent lane.

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 Mar 10, 2013 · Brakes · 18,000 miles · NY

In march of 2007, my wife was traveling at approximately 55 miles per hour when our 2005 honda pilot started braking on its own as if the ABS system had been activated. We did not think much of it until the summer of 2012 when the vehicle did it again about 5 times in a week. We took the vehicle to the honda dealership in staten island when they told us that we needed four new tires, and to replace the catalytic converter. With that diagnostic I told them that they had no idea what they were talking about since a catalytic converter has nothing to do with the braking system. Since we could not afford to buy a new vehicle, we had the ABS system disabled, and the problem has not resurfaced. The only bad part is that we are driving the vehicle on the traditional braking system with no ABS capability. Can you please provide any updates on your investigation on the subject matter? [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jul 9, 2012 · Acceleration, Brakes · 100,000 miles · CA

Approximate date I put was today, but this has happened several times to my spouse within the last few years. Today is the first time I had been able to duplicate it. I just started the car, pulled out of the driveway on my way to work. About 300 yards down the road at approximately 25 miles per hour the car braked on its own twice and stopped the car. I had to get to work so I continued on. It occurred two more times on my way to work. I was never going faster than 40 miles per hour. It happened once while I was braking and two times while I was at a coast. My wife just told me that it happened again to her as recently as 3 days ago. I am concerned obviously because of the safety aspect of this. I have 3 children and god forbid this happen on the freeway or at high speeds. I have seen multiple complaints on the internet of this same occurrence with the 2005 honda pilot and they all said to file a complaint with this site.

Filed May 27, 2009 · Acceleration · 74,000 miles · MO

Saturday may 23rd I was turning left at a stop sign in the middle of a busy intersection and suddenly (as I was pressing the gas) the car began to brake on its own. Trying to move out of traffic, I increase the gas, but the more I did, the more the car resisted. (as if it was braking). It made a horribly loud noise the whole time. I tried to turn into a parking lot to get off the road, and when I barely touched the brake, it slammed stopped. I finally got pulled over, and stopped. Thinking maybe the e brake was stuck, I pushed it on, and off again. Tried to drive and it continued. Stop. Tried again. Finally made it home, and turned off the car. Shortly after, my husband drove it. Nothing happened. We ran errands that night, and sunday afternoon with no problem. Then sun evening, it happened again. I was driving down the hwy and the car begins to brake on its own, again, making the horrible noise. It doesn't seem to matter if you hit the gas, the brake, or nothing at all... The car decides to brake on its own. Its uncontrollable. This is a huge safety issue! I have read forums online that say honda has replaced computers, modules, wires, batteries, ABS, sensors, 4wd, ect. Some worked, some didn't. But according to my local dealership, honda national tech support has never heard of this issue, and the tech cannot find any problems with any of the components listed on the forum print outs we shared with them. As many complaints as I have read online that are similar to mine, I don't believe that honda has never heard of this complaint. Sounds like a recall they don't want to acknowledge?! I am concerned for safety of myself, as well as others on the road. Many forums say this happens even when going 70mph on the hwy. Not safe! Honda doesn't have any suggestions and left me with no solution. Yet, they do not want to take credit for any liability.

Filed Feb 21, 2009 · Brakes · 57,500 miles · VA

Happened to me 3 times yesterday. Once while driving ~40mph the vehicle came to a sudden stop, throwing items from the seat into the floor. The first instance was brief and I drove ~2 miles before it happened again with the vsa indicator lights (caution and off) came. Manual states vsa can reset by turning car off and back on (must be a microsoft system). Drove the car to work. Later left work and went about 5 miles before the violent sudden stop event. Folks this is serious people could have been killed due to the violent nature of the car stopping. Car is at the dealer right now, they could not repeat the event , yet and claimed the computer could not read any codes. They have a call into the factory. Reference thread at www.hondapilot.org honda pilot .org > general > problems > vsa applies full brake for no reason.