While traveling at approximately 60 MPH, with no vehicles or obstacles nearby in either direction, my 2025 Honda Pilot unexpectedly activated its collision warning system. The red "BRAKE" warning appeared on the dashboard, immediately followed by sudden, forceful automatic braking without any input from the driver. The unexpected deceleration threw me forward, resulting in a headache and mild wrist pain. Fortunately, my children were not in the vehicle, and there were no vehicles traveling behind me at the time. This incident created a serious safety concern, as the sudden braking could have resulted in a collision. The vehicle is scheduled for inspection at a Honda dealership on November 2, 2026. I am requesting that Honda investigate this unintended braking event and determine why the collision mitigation system activated when no apparent hazard was present.
Honda Pilot collision warning problems
243 of the 9,442 owner complaints about the Honda Pilot describe false forward collision warnings, most of them for the 2019 model year.
- owner complaints
- 243
- worst model year
- 2019
- typical repair cost reported
- $2,000
- typical mileage
- 30,000
By model year
Often reported together
Adaptive cruise 111Lane assist 97Headlights 51Stalling 18Warning lights 15Phantom braking 14Backup camera 8Start-stop 7
Trouble codes mentioned
U3000 11U0104 1
What owners say
The front facing camera failed. Cruise control doesn’t work. Emergency braking doesn’t work. Lane departure warnings and lane keeping assistance doesn’t work. Forward collision warning doesn’t work. The forward facing camera failure was confirmed by an independent mechanic. Warning lights in the driver’s display show that the safety features are not working.
The contact owns a 2022 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side brake light was intermittently inoperable. The dealer was contacted and provided an estimate for the repair. In addition, the contact stated that several warning lights and messages, including "Air Bag Malfunction", "Adaptive Cruise Control Problem", "Collision Mitigation Braking System Problem", "Road Departure Mitigation Problem", and "Auto High Beam Problem", were displayed upon starting the vehicle and while driving, followed by a loud dinging sound. The dealer was contacted for a battery replacement estimate. The dealer provided an estimate but informed the contact that a diagnostic test was required prior to any repairs. The contact believed that deactivating the Auto START/STOP system might have caused the battery failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure might be associated with the short lifespan of the battery. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
My front camera has stopped working and displaying six warnings. It is available for inspection. 3 of the warnings are a definite issue. The collision mitigation system is not working. Road departure mitigation system is not working and the lane keeping assist system is not working. The other one that are not working are Auto high-beam is not working and the Adaptive cruise control is not working. Also the brake system light stays on. The problem was confirmed by a independent service center. Has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance reps or others. There was no warnings at all. In the morning everything was work fine. When leaving work started my vehicle and all these warnings popped up and has came in ever since. It's been an issue since August 2026.
My car started showing dash indicators for problems with Collision Mitigation Braking (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), and other driver‑assist functions. I took my car to the dealership and was notified there was an issue with the electrical for the front camera and it needs to be replaced. I was quoted for over $2000 to fix this issue. After some research, it appears this is a known issue and has affected several others and there is currently a class action lawsuit regarding the issue. U3000‑49 is a safety issue because the failed camera disables multiple collision‑avoidance and lane‑keeping systems, removing automated protections that help prevent accidents.
VEHICLE: 2019 Honda Pilot EX VIN: [XXX] CURRENT MILEAGE: 77,000 miles COMPLAINT DESCRIPTION: I am filing a critical safety complaint regarding a catastrophic transmission failure that actively disables my vehicle's advanced driver-assist and automated safety systems while driving, creating a severe crash hazard. At approximately 36,085 miles, the vehicle experienced a severe torque converter judder. The dealership performed an 11-quart transmission fluid service. Immediately following this service, the vehicle began suffering from unpredictable, cascading dashboard warning lights that completely disable the vehicle's automated safety braking, forward-facing camera suites, and vehicle stability systems. The dealership repeatedly misdiagnosed this powertrain fault as a camera/sensor issue, charging me out-of-pocket for a front multipurpose camera replacement that did not resolve the issue. At 77,000 miles, the transmission suffered a complete failure. A diagnostic tear-down confirmed a stuck solenoid valve and destructive metal shards circulating throughout the transmission and fluid lines. The primary safety hazard is that the mechanical failure of the powertrain and torque converter actively sends erratic data to the vehicle's central computer, instantly shutting down the automatic emergency braking system, lane-keep assist, and forward collision warnings while the vehicle is in motion on public roads. This forces the driver to operate without critical automated safety features unexpectedly. Honda has issued an extended warranty for transmission judder on certain 2019 Pilots ([XXX]), but claims my specific VIN is excluded despite experiencing the exact same catastrophic mechanical and electronic safety failure. I request an investigation into this safety-disabling defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Multiple dashboard warnings appeared simultaneously and deactivating Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation, Auto High Beam, Blind Spot Information, and Brake System warning. While on cruise control vehicle tends to slam brakes with no reason and nothing in front - major safety issue for driver.
On October 7, 2026, at approximately 131,425 miles, my 2020 Honda Pilot Elite suddenly displayed multiple Honda Sensing safety-system failures simultaneously without prior warning. The vehicle displayed Adaptive Cruise Control Problem, Lane Keeping Assist Problem, Collision Mitigation System Problem, Road Departure Mitigation System Problem, and Auto High-Beam Problem. I shut the vehicle completely off and restarted it, but the warnings returned. These failures appear to disable multiple advanced driver-assistance and collision-avoidance functions at the same time. I have found reports from other 2020 Honda Pilot owners describing similar simultaneous Honda Sensing failures, including reported failures of the multipurpose forward camera. I am having the vehicle diagnosed and will retain the diagnostic trouble codes and repair information. I am reporting this because the simultaneous loss of multiple collision-avoidance and driver-assistance safety systems appears to be a potential safety-related defect.
My 2022 Honda Pilot SE recently alerted me to multiple system failures in the Honda Sensing features including Lane Keep Assist, Forward Collision Warning and Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control. These errors were due to a failing front facing camera mounted by the rearview mirror. There is currently a class action lawsuit for this specific issue with more information here: [XXX] I believe that these Honda Sensing features are heavily marketed as part of the safety systems that Honda has installed and need to be covered by an extended warranty as the camera failure causes multiple systems to be cancelled or inoperable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I own a 2020 Honda Pilot with approximately 85,000 miles. While driving, the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) warning lights intermittently come on, causing these Honda Sensing safety functions to become unavailable. The warnings sometimes disappear and the systems operate normally again, but the problem continues to return. The vehicle was diagnosed with DTC U3000-49, Multipurpose Camera Unit Internal Electronic Failure. I took the vehicle to a repair facility and was advised that the multipurpose camera needs to be replaced, with an estimated repair cost of approximately $2,200. The repair facility also told me that they have recently seen other Honda vehicles with the same or very similar issue. They had a Honda Odyssey with a similar Honda Sensing/camera problem just before my Pilot. I am reporting this because the failure occurs while driving and disables ACC and CMBS. I am concerned that similar multipurpose camera failures may be occurring in other Honda Pilot and Odyssey vehicles.
Related recalls
Back over prevention: display function
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.
Recall number 23V431000 · Recall details
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
- Risk
- A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.
Recall number 20V440000 · Recall details
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
- Risk
- Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.
Recall number 20V439000 · Recall details
Traction control system
- What is wrong
- Honda is recalling certain model year 2005 Pilot vehicles manufactured July 29, 2004, through August 29, 2005; model year 2005-2006 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 16, 2004, through September 22, 2005; and model year 2005 Acura RL vehicles manufactured March 1, 2004, through June 29, 2005. An electrical capacitor may have been damaged during the manufacturing of the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) control module causing intermittent, automatic, minor brake application. However, if the driver applies the brakes while the VSA is malfunctioning, the vehicle may come to an abrupt stop. Additionally, due to a loose ground connection, certain model year 2005 Pilots have a VSA system that may apply partial brake force, without the illumination of the brake lights, whether or not the driver is using the brakes.
- Risk
- Sudden inadvertent braking, especially without illumination of the brake lights, may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Owners will be notified and instructed to take their vehicles to a dealer of their respective brand. The dealer will install a partial wiring harness containing a capacitor for the VSA modulator, free of charge. The affected model year 2005 Pilots will have their ground connection tightened. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Honda owners may contact Honda Automobile Customer Service at 1‑800‑999‑1009, and select option 4 or go to www.recalls.honda.com; Acura owners may contact 1‑800‑382‑2238, and select option 4, or go to www.recalls.acura.com.
Recall number 13V092000 · Recall details
Questions about the Honda Pilot collision warning
Which Honda Pilot years have false forward collision warnings problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2019 (66 complaints), 2020 (38 complaints) and 2021 (33 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix false forward collision warnings on the Honda Pilot?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,000 (median of 33 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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