2005 Honda Pilot: pulls to one side

Filed Oct 3, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 173,273 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 25-35 MPH, the vehicle slowed down unexpectedly, and the brake pedal was hard and slow to respond when depressed. The contact stated that the steering wheel was pulling to the left, and it was difficult to correct the steering wheel. The vehicle was difficult to control. The VSA light was illuminated. There was a triangle with an exclamation mark symbol displayed on the instrument cluster. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the VSA module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 173,273.

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 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 Dec 12, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 225,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. The contact received a recall repair remedy from mcgrath city honda (6720 w grand ave, chicago, il 60707, 773‑889‑3030) to address the vsa, but the remedy failed to provide a solution. The contact later experienced abnormal involuntary braking with the steering pulling to the right for a brief moment and then the vsa warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who stated that the code was for the yaw rate sensor and that it was not related to the recall. The dealer stated that further diagnostic testing was needed. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v092000 (service brakes, hydraulic, traction control system), and the federal safety agency action numbers: dp12002 (electronic stability control), pe12028 (service brakes, hydraulic), and ea13002 (electronic stability control). The manufacturer stated that they were aware of a failure with the yaw ratre sensors, but had not provided a recall remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 225,000.

Filed Jan 14, 2013 · Driver assistance · 90,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vsa warning indicator illuminated and the brakes began to lock without applying any pressure to the pedal. The vehicle pulled to the left on its own and was then maneuvered to the side of the road. The engine was turned off and upon restarting, the vehicle resumed normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that a vsa trouble code was detected. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The vehicle was also taken to an authorized dealer where a trouble code was not detected. The vehicle was not repaired. There was an open and closed investigation under the federal safety agency action number dp12002 (electronic stability control). A preliminary evaluation pe12-028 was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000

Filed Jan 10, 2013 · Driver assistance · WI · crash

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 honda pilot. The contact stated that the driver was traveling at an unknown speed when the vehicle unexpectedly began to pull to the left before crashing into an oncoming vehicle. The driver and passenger were killed as a result of the impact. A police report was filed of the incident. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a savage facility. The vehicle was inspected by an independent engineer and informed the contact that the failure was possibly related to a faulty electronic stability control. A defect petition was opened and closed under the federal safety agency action number dp12002 (electronic stability control). There was a concurrent investigation associated with the federal safety agency action number pe12-028 (electronic stability control) that could possibly have been related to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the incident or the defect. The failure mileage was unavailable. ..updated 02/25/13

Filed Jan 9, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 165,000 miles · SC

Driving on the highway at approximately 45 MPH, my honda pilot abruptly pulled to the left. It felt like the anti lock brakes actuated. The vsa and triangle light illuminated. The pilot was pulled off the highway where it stopped. The ignition was turned off and on an the condition cleared.

Filed Nov 27, 2012 · Brakes, Steering · 105,000 miles · IL

Driving along a two lane highway on a 20 degree morning and coasting around a gently curving corner to the right at 45 MPH when an unexpected jarring and pulling to the left occurred coupled with a loss of speed and the vsa letters and a triangle indicator lights lit on the dash board.. Needless to say this got my attention and luckily nothing was coming from the other direction. I had not touched the brake pedal until after the initial problem occurred and when I saw the lights and went along maybe 200 to 300 yds it did it again which got me very worried. I pulled over and turned the engine off and tried to reset the car but to no joy so I drove the remainder of my commute to work with the very same lights left on. The remainder of my drive was fine but not sure if I am safe driving with this anomaly and especially the sudden self braking, when will it happen next?

Filed Nov 2, 2012 · Steering, Suspension · 85,000 miles · CA

Vehicle pulls to the left and wheels shimmy on freeway. Purchased 4 new tires with front and back alignment, plus tire balancing on 08-01-12. Vehicle still pulls to the left and wheels shimmy when driving on freeway.

Filed Oct 13, 2011 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 103,000 miles · CA

It was night, and my girlfriend and I just exited the freeway, we just turned onto a side street and made it 100 yards when all of the sudden it felt like my left front tire went flat or I hit something and it dragged, I immediately pulled over to inspect, and found nothing. I did notice the vsa and vsa activation indicators on, turning the car off and then on again reset the indicators. Oddly concerned we circled back to check for anything in the road, there was nothing. It happened again just a few minutes later, and the indicators came back on. It repeated itself a third time, and I drove home very worried it would happen on the freeway. Each instance was momentary and it pulled hard left each time with a load antilock brake type jarring vibration. From reading other stories I can see that this problem isn't one of a kind, and I haven't seen anyone post a fix for it.