Honda Prologue phantom braking problems

Filed Sep 15, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · CA

This car has a problem with the emergency brake system activating when there is nothing in any danger zone. We have owned this car for about a year, and when slowly reversing, we have been repeatedly annoyed by the warning lights & sounds going off & emergency brakes locking the wheels. Each time we check the cameras, mirrors and even get out of the car to look, but there was nothing anywhere near that would trigger such an event. This happened 4-5 times over the past year, and we assumed this was just an ultra-sensitive feature which was annoying and startling when it happened, but generally harmless. Until a similar issue with the brake system happened recently while we were coming to a stop while driving forward, except this time after the warnings went off and brakes locked, the car then shot forward, with my foot still on the brake, and hit the car in front of me. Then it locked up and shot forward again 2 MORE TIMES. I've detailed that event in another complaint on this site, but I wanted to put the original emergency brake problems on the record, in case they end up being related.

Filed Aug 26, 2026 · Driver assistance · TX

On August 23, 2026, I was backing my 2026 Honda Prologue Touring out of a parking space at a Costco parking lot in Cedar Park. I was reversing very slowly, at below walking speed, and repeatedly applying light brake pressure because of interruptions and pedestrian traffic in the lot. While reversing in this manner, the vehicle abruptly and forcefully applied the brakes on its own. The braking was violent enough that I initially believed I had struck an object. There was no vehicle, pedestrian, cart, or obstacle behind me, and no vehicle was crossing behind me from either direction. Conditions were daylight, warm and dry. The electric parking brake did not engage, and no warning message or fault light appeared before, during, or after the event. The vehicle operated normally afterward. An unexpected hard stop while reversing risks injury to occupants and creates a risk of being struck by a following or crossing vehicle. This is one of two uncommanded braking events on this vehicle; I am filing a separate complaint regarding a forward automatic braking event. Mileage at time of incident: approximately 1,600. The vehicle has no open recalls and has not yet been inspected by a dealer.

Filed Jun 25, 2026 · Driver assistance · CA · crash

Component: Honda Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS/AEB). Vehicle is in GEICO insurance claim process, not yet released. EDR data has not been extracted and is available for inspection if preserved before the vehicle changes hands. Safety risk: Two failure modes. (1) False AEB activations occurred multiple times — while driving at ~20 mph and while reversing at low speed, with no obstacle present. Hard sudden braking with no warning created rear-collision risk. (2) On 6/23/2026 at ~9:50 AM, AEB failed to activate when I struck a parked vehicle. Airbags deployed on impact, briefly incapacitating me. My foot remained on the accelerator. Standard post-collision safety design calls for automatic power cutoff and brake application after airbag deployment, specifically to prevent continued acceleration when a driver may be incapacitated. This vehicle did neither — it continued accelerating, significantly worsening the collision. I sustained soreness and bruising. Dealer confirmation: I did not take the vehicle to a dealer for the phantom braking. Per other the federal safety agency complaints for the Prologue and Honda's broader CMBS issues (Engineering Analysis EA25002), dealers have reportedly been unable to replicate the issue and told owners the behavior is normal. Inspections: GEICO assessed the vehicle for the claim. No inspection by Honda or independent mechanic for AEB specifically. EDR data not yet extracted. Warning indicators: During false AEB activations, the collision warning appeared on the dashboard at the moment of braking, not before. No advance warning. No persistent warning lamps or diagnostic messages indicating CMBS malfunction at any point during ownership. Phantom braking occurred intermittently throughout ownership.

Filed Jun 9, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · NM

Description of Safety Defect: The Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) / Forward Collision Avoidance system is severely malfunctioning. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has experienced "phantom braking"—abruptly slamming on the brakes for no reason whatsoever. There were no obstacles, pedestrians, or vehicles ahead to trigger the system. This malfunction is happening at high speeds on major highways. Safety Risk and Impact: This issue represents an immediate and terrifying safety hazard. Unexpectedly slowing to a sudden stop at highway speeds completely compromises vehicle control and leaves me at an extreme risk of being rear-ended by high-speed traffic. It is a severe danger to myself, my passengers, and every other driver on the road. While the vehicle is currently subject to a manufacturer recall regarding the backup camera and other software updates, this specific, dangerous braking behavior makes the vehicle incredibly unsafe to operate. I request that the federal safety agency review this issue immediately to determine if a broader safety investigation or expanded recall is required for the 2024 Honda Prologue.

Filed Dec 26, 2025 · Driver assistance · CA

The system does not reliably "see" pedestrians or cross traffic or often times will phantom brake when there are no obstacles viewable. I believe this is a substantial safety issue because the car will abruptly stop without warning and engage a parking brake, creating a delay before being able to vacate traffic. This has happened going forward, but more frequently in reverse. This appears to happen more during inclement weather or in the dark.

Filed Dec 17, 2025 · Driver assistance · WA

The parking collision warning will alert and emergency brake for no reason while still several feet from anything near the Prologue. This was demonstrated for and confirmed by the dealership. Then they shrugged and said that Honda has not issued a fix for the problem. This is a safety issue because the sudden emergency brake has nearly caused collisions and has covered me in scalding coffee multiple times.

Filed Dec 10, 2025 · Driver assistance, Steering · CA

My 2025 Honda Prologue Touring, purchased in August and currently with only 7,000 miles, is experiencing multiple serious safety issues. The vehicle has already had both the left and right axles replaced. by warranty Now, the left axle is failing again. A defective axle can break at high speeds, which puts my entire family at risk, including my baby. This issue compromises vehicle stability and could easily lead to a serious accident. Additionally, the vehicle’s collision mitigation system activates unexpectedly, causing the car to brake on its own without any obstacle present. This sudden braking is extremely dangerous, especially on the highway, as it could result in a rear-end collision. The blind-spot indicators also activate at random. When I attempt to turn right or left, the blind-spot warning turns on even when I double-check and confirm that there are no vehicles anywhere near me. This creates confusion and hesitation while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Given the repeated axle failures, unintended braking, and malfunctioning blind-spot monitoring system, I believe the vehicle presents significant safety defects that require investigation.

Filed Jun 30, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · CA

While driving my 2024 Honda Prologue, the automatic emergency braking system (part of Honda's Collision Mitigation Braking System) has activated unexpectedly and forcefully multiple times — with no obstacle or vehicle ahead. The most serious incident occurred on 6/28/2024, while traveling at approximately 70 mph. The vehicle suddenly slammed on the brakes without warning or any visible threat in the road. We did not crash, but the vehicle behind us narrowly avoided rear-ending us. This also happens about 50% of the time we reverse the vehicle. Given the potential severity of this defect — especially involving passenger injuries and potential crashes — I am deeply concerned. Many other Honda owners have reported similar phantom braking behavior across multiple models, and I believe this defect needs to be investigated urgently by the federal safety agency. Honda has not issued a recall or provided public guidance on how to disable or address the system, leaving drivers at risk.

Filed Jun 26, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · CA · 4 injuries

While driving my 2024 Honda Prologue, the automatic emergency braking system (part of Honda's Collision Mitigation Braking System) has activated unexpectedly and forcefully multiple times — with no obstacle or vehicle ahead. The most serious incident occurred on [insert date], while traveling at approximately [insert speed] mph. The vehicle suddenly slammed on the brakes without warning or any visible threat in the road. The sudden stop caused whiplash injuries to my wife and two children, who were passengers in the vehicle. We did not crash, but the vehicle behind us narrowly avoided rear-ending us. I have attempted to get the vehicle serviced, but the nearest dealership told me there is a wait time of over a month, so no diagnostic has yet been performed. Given the potential severity of this defect — especially involving passenger injuries and potential crashes — I am deeply concerned. Many other Honda owners have reported similar phantom braking behavior across multiple models, and I believe this defect needs to be investigated urgently by the federal safety agency. Honda has not issued a recall or provided public guidance on how to disable or address the system, leaving drivers at risk.

Filed Jun 4, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · GA

Driving in the express lanes south of Atlanta in the rain, the vehicle's Automatic Emergency Braking system activated for no reason. There were no other vehicles around, and we were on a straightaway. It was such an abrupt deceleration that if another vehicle had been tailgating me, they probably would have run into me.