2019 Honda Pilot: brakes engage by themselves (phantom braking)

Filed Jul 17, 2026 · Driver assistance · MO

Additional Comments for Complaint #11750912:I am uploading photographic evidence of severe material delamination on my vehicle's front radar emblem shield (Part #71125-TG7-A51) [71125-TG7-A51].This manufacturing defect caused a critical safety failure: my vehicle recently executed a sudden, violent phantom braking event on the highway with absolutely no prior warning lights or error codes on the dashboard. The peeling layers and air bubbles on the emblem physically refracted the radar signals, creating a false target that locked the brakes and nearly caused a severe rear-end collision.While I was driving alone during this specific incident, this car is my primary family vehicle used daily to transport my wife and my three young children. I am now genuinely terrified to drive my family in this vehicle and must manually turn off the CMBS system every time I start the car to protect them. American Honda Corporate (Case #16495852) has formally refused to address this active braking hazard, deflecting the issue by focusing only on unrelated radio glitches.I request a federal safety investigation into Honda’s radar emblem material degradation, as it directly compromises collision-mitigation systems without triggering automated dashboard fault alerts, putting families and young children at immediate risk.

Filed Jul 16, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · MO

VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINT - RECALL REPAIR FAILURE AND CMBS MALFUNCTION I am filing a formal vehicle safety complaint regarding two critical defects on my vehicle (VIN: [XXX]) and the refusal of American Honda Motor Co. to address them under Corporate Case #XXX. 1. CRITICAL SAFETY HAZARD (PHANTOM BRAKING): The vehicle's Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) / Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) is experiencing severe and dangerous malfunctions. While driving at highway speeds through construction zones with absolutely zero obstacles, vehicles, or pedestrians ahead, the vehicle violently and unpredictably slams on the brakes by itself. This unprovoked emergency braking creates an immediate and extreme risk of a catastrophic rear-end collision on the highway. 2. FEDERAL SAFETY RECALL REPAIR FAILURE (CAMPAIGN ZEM): The vehicle's instrument cluster, infotainment display screen, backup camera, and audio system repeatedly go completely black and reset while driving, disabling all driver visibility of vehicle speed, safety alerts, backup assist, and vital indicators. While the federal safety agency records indicate that the ZEM Recall Campaign was previously logged as "completed" on this VIN, the defect is fully active. This constitutes an official federal recall repair failure. The original safety hazard remains unresolved. MANUFACTURER RESPONSE & REFUSAL: American Honda Corporate was formally notified of both issues under Case #XXX. Corporate responded by completely ignoring the severe phantom braking defect and refused to authorize a safety diagnostic. Furthermore, they used the administrative status of the closed ZEM recall to deny any responsibility for the ongoing screen, camera, and audio failure. American Honda is actively forcing me to drive a vehicle with a failed safety recall repair and a defective autonomous braking system unless I pay out-of-pocket diagnostic fees to the dealer (Dave Mungenast St. Louis Honda). I request an immediate federal investiga INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA

Filed Sep 1, 2025 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · TX

This vehicle continues to have issues related to a problem that was issued for the fuel pump earlier this year. My fuel pump was replaced, but the vehicle continues to do the same thing. It stalls and jerks while I am driving and does not start sometimes after getting gas. When I am trying to accelerate the vehicle does not go at full power. One time I was going out into traffic and had to reverse because I knew that I would not make it and get hit. In addition to this, the vehicle has an issue with the braking system. Other years have been recalled for what they call ghost breaking, and although this one does this, it has not been recalled. I will be driving and the car will all of a sudden just brake on its own as if there is a vehicle/object in front of me. Sometimes this happens in the same location. Honda is supposed to be a reliable car, but it seems they have failed with this year/model of the Pilot because it has been big issue after big issue.

Filed Oct 14, 2024 · Acceleration, Brakes · IA

3 episodes of unexpected and sudden braking for no reason. Twice on Sept 13 when ACC was in use and set at 70 mph the car hard-braked and dropped to 40-42mph rapidly, then it stopped braking and I was able to use the accelerator again- the braking lasted perhaps 10-15 seconds. The third episode was on Oct. 13 and the ACC was not on. I was driving manually at 55 mph and again the car suddenly braked and dropped to the same 40-42 range- maybe 5-10 seconds before the accelerator started to work again. There was no reason for the barking, no warning notices on the dashboard. Thank goodness there was no-one close behind me on any of these occasions, because the drop in speed was fast and hard.

Filed Feb 25, 2022 · Brakes, Driver assistance · OK

Driving and the automatic braking engage with no vehicles around

Filed Sep 8, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 40,000 miles · NC

9/8/20 at 7:45am a clear sunny morning on my way to work. I was stopped at a red light and when the light turned green I pushed on the accelerator. As soon as I started to pick up speed ~15-20 MPH, my honda pilot sensed another "invisible" collision hazard and engaged the automatic collision avoidance braking system. The automatic braking system slammed on the brakes and brought the vehicle to an immediate and compete stop while I was turning in the middle of the intersection and the truck behind me almost rear-ended me. This faulty automatic collision avoidance braking system slamming on the brakes for no reason at all is going to severely injure or kill someone! I am afraid to drive home from work.

Filed Sep 8, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 39,995 miles · NC

9/7/2020 around 2:15pm on a beautiful clear, sunny day, my 2019 honda pilot incorrectly sensed an "invisible" collision hazard and engaged the automatic collision avoidance braking system. There was not even a vehicle driving in front of me. My 2019 pilot automatically slammed on the brakes and brought the vehicle to an immediate and compete stop while I was driving 55 MPH on a busy highway. The vehicle behind me almost rear-ended me. This faulty automatic collision avoidance braking system, slamming on the brakes for no reason at all, is going to severely injure or kill someone!