2006 Honda Pilot Brakes Problems
20 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (20)
The contact owns a 2006 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the vehicle stability assist system, ABS, check engine, and brake system warning lights illuminated. The contacted stated that after pulling over, placing the gear shifter into park(P) and turning off the vehicle, the vehicle was able to restart but was unable to accelerate above 15 MPH. The contact also stated that after coming to a stop at a stop light, the failure recurred, and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it remained awaiting diagnostic test and repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.
CAR WAS PARKED. I STARTED IT UP AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT DID NOT MOVE. I PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE AND DIDN'T' MOVE, WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES, TRIED AGAIN AND THE BRAKES SQUEEZED REALLY TIGHT BUT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. DROVE TO WORK AND ON THE WAY BACK BRAKES GOT TIGHT AND STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEELS. STOPPED BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED FOR HALF AN HOUR UNTIL COOLED DOWN AND CALLED A TOW SERVICE. CALL LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MORE THAN 200 COMPLAINTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE WHEELS SEIZED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HONDA WINDWARD (45-671 KAMEHAMEHA HWY, KANEOHE, HI 96744, (808) 247-8544) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
BRAKING SYSTEM TO APPLY BRAKING FORCE WITH NO DRIVER INPUT AT ANY TIME
THE VSA LIGHT STARTED TO COME ON RANDOMLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. WHENEVER THAT HAPPENED THERE WOULD ALSO BE A NOISE AND SMELL AS METAL GRINDING AGAINST METAL. THIS ACCOMPANIED WITH A FRACTION OF A SECOND THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ME STEPPING ON THE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WERE PREMATURELY WORN ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AFTER 17,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE CORRODED CAUSING THE REAR BRAKES TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST SYSTEM MAY UNEXPECTEDLY APPLY THE BRAKES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VSA CONTROL MODULE MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AND RECALLED IN OTHER HONDA PILOT YEARS. THIS MALFUNCTION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT MINOR APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES OR IF THE DRIVER WERE TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE THE VSA IS MALFUNCTIONING, THE VEHICLE MAY COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH MY HONDA PILOT 2006 WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRUCK ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN , THAT WAS TRULY SURPRISING TO ME , THE SPEED WAS OVER 100MPH , I REMEMBER STEPPING ON THE BRAKE AND THE TRUCK DID NOT STOP , I REMAIN SHOCKED AND I COULD NOT REACT, EVERYTHING HAPPENED IN SECONDS AND I WAS TRYING NOT TO KILL SOMEONE I LOST THE CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A BIG METAL POLE. *TR
THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKES APPLIED REALLY HARD WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL I WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN I JUST PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT. I HAD TO FORCE THE ENGINE TO MOVE THE PILOT OUT OF TRAFFIC, WHILE THE BRAKES WERE UNWILLINGLY BEING APPLIED TO AVOID OTHER CARS FROM CRASHING INTO ME. THE VSA LIGHT WAS ON TURNED ON, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR ABOUT 1\2 WAY. SHUTTING OFF THE PILOT AND RE-STARTING, DIDN'T RESET THE VSA, HOWEVER, AFTER WAITING 20 MINUTES THE BRAKES RELEASED JUST ENOUGH TO GET IT HOME (BY THEN THE LIGHT TURNED OFF). WHEN I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC THE VSA SYSTEM REPORTED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS BAD, BUT REPLACING IT DIDN'T FIX THE BRAKING ISSUE BECAUSE IT HAPPEN ANOTHER FOUR TIMES WITHIN TWO MONTHS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD HAVE TO PLAY WHEN PUSHED. HONDA AND ANOTHER MECHANIC COULD DO ANYTHING FOR ME SINCE THE PROBLEM NOR THE VSA WAS OCCURRING AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. ON JAN 24, 2013 THE BRAKES LOCKED UP ABOUT 2 MILES FROM MY MECHANIC WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THIS TIME AS DANGEROUS AS IT WAS I FORCED IT TO HIM FOR INSPECTION. THE OUTCOME WAS A BAD ABS\VSA MODULE & BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER $1,600 LATER. THE REPAIR SEEMED TO WORK BUT LESS THAN 4 MONTHS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOW FEEL LIKE THERE IS NO PLAY AND IS REALLY SENSITIVE. EVEN WITH HONDA BRAKING RECALLS OUR IS NOT ON IT ACCORDING TO HONDA. THE PILOT IS OUR DAILY DRIVER (2-ADULTS & 2-TODDLERS) MY WIFE & I ARE REALLY CONCERNED THIS ISSUE MIGHT CAUSE A REALLY BAD OR DEADLY SITUATION. HONDA HAS NO IDEA OF MY PROBLEM OR DOESN'T WANT TO HELP, BUT WE ARE DESPERATE FOR HELP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT TOWARD THE RIGHT, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A RAILING. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS RULED AS DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 01/05/13*LJ
I AM WRITING BECAUSE MY 2006 HONDA PILOT IS TRYING TO STOP FASTER THAN I AM PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE BRAKING SYSTEM TRYING TO STOP AS IF I WAS SLAMMING ON MY BRAKES INSTEAD OF A CONTROLLED STOP AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. THE MOTION OF THE BRAKING FEELS AS THOUGH THE BRAKE CALIPER IS PUSHING ON THE BRAKES TO HARD. *TR
I JUST BOUGHT A USED HONDA PILOT AFTER HAVING A BABY, NEEDING A BIGGER AND SAFER CAR FOR MY KIDS. 5 DAYS AFTER BUYING MY CAR THE VSA LIGHT CAME ON, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT.3 WEEKS LATER IT CAME BACK ON AND AS I WAS DRIVING WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN FULL BRAKES WERE APPLIED FOR NO REASON. MY FOOT WAS NOT EVEN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THANK GOD NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME.I HAD NO IDEA WHY THAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. SO I WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH WHAT THE VSA SYSTEM, NOT THINKING THE BRAKING HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE VSA SYSTEM, THEN I COME ACROSS A HONDA FORUM AND FIND OUT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF OTHER PILOT OWNERS, AND THAT THE BRAKING IS CONNECTED TO THE VSA SYSTEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS HAZARD AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. UNFORTUNATELY ALOT OF PEOPLE TAILGATE AND IF THIS WERE TO HAVE HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. I WILL ALSO BE WRITING A LETTER TO HONDA TO SEE IF THERE ANY KIND OF RECOURSE FOR US PILOT OWNERS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE BRAKES SEIZED AND FAILED TO RELEASE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
I HAVE A 2006 HONDA PILOT WHICH I BELIEVE HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM AS TOYOTA'S RECENT RECALLS ABOUT STICKY ACCELERATION. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS SUV AND NOTICED THE PROBLEM DURING THE VERY FIRST YEAR ITSELF. THAT TIME MY VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP ON A STOP SIGN. THE PROBLEM I FACED WAS WHEN I APPLIED BRAKE, THE CAR DIDN'T STOP AND IT CONTINUED IN THE ACCELERATION MODE AND FINALLY STOPPED AFTER CROSSING THE STOP SIGN. I HAD REPORTED THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY TO THE HONDA DEALER, FROM WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED TO ME SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. IN FACT THEY LAUGHED AT ME THAT I DIDN'T APPLY THE BRAKE PROPERLY. THE DEALER DIDN'T DOCUMENT MY CONCERN. AFTER THAT TILL NOW (ALMOST 4 YEARS) I AM EXPERIENCING THIS KIND OF PROBLEM QUITE OFTEN. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO BRAKE AN ADDITIONAL 2 OR 3 FEET AHEAD OF MY PROPOSED STOP AS THE VEHICLE MAY NOT STOP WHERE I THINK IT SHOULD STOP. IF IT DOES NOT STOP, I BRAKE HARDER AND AT THAT TIME I HEAR THE ACCELERATION IS STILL ON. I ALWAYS IGNORED THIS PROBLEM MAINLY BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS QUITE RANDOMLY LIKE MAYBE A COUPLE OF TIMES EVERY MONTH. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY TRIGGERS THIS. RECENTLY AFTER READING ABOUT THE TOYOTA RECALL, I HAVE A FEELING THAT MY VEHICLE ALSO HAS THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND I NOTIFIED THE AMERICAN HONDA COMPANY. THEY ACTUALLY DIDN'T SHOW MUCH INTEREST IN ADDRESSING MY PROBLEM MAINLY BECAUSE MY VEHICLE ALREADY HAS 52K MILES AND THE WARRANTY PERIOD (60K MILES) WILL END SOON. SHOULD I BE REALLY CONCERNED? ARE THERE ANY INDEPENDENT SERVICE ENGINEERS WHO CAN TAKE A LOOK AT MY VEHICLE? *TR
HI , I HAVE 2006 HONDA PILOT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES,SOMETIMES WHEN IT GOES OVER POT HOLE OR THROUGH WATER OR LITTLE ICE THE BRAKES STOP WORKING AND IT MAY CAUSE BAD ACCIDENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A STEEP HILL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL FLIPPING OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND COMING TO A STOP. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70000. UPDATED 12/10/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. UPDATED 12/10/09
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *NM
AFTER DRIVING MY LEASED 2003 PILOT FOR 3 YEARS, I KNEW HOW IT HANDLED ON TURNS AND HOW IT STOPPED IN EMERGENCIES. BARELY 100 MILES INTO MY 2006 LEASE, I HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP ON A RAINY ROAD DUE TO AN ACCIDENT IN FRONT OF ME, AND REAR-ENDED A CAR WHEN MY ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO STOP IN TIME, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY 2003 PILOT WOULD HAVE STOPPED AT LEAST 6 FEET BEFORE THE NEXT VEHICLE. KNOWING MY 2003'S STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN ABS KICKS IN, I WAS FLABBERGASTED THAT THE NEW CAR DIDN'T COME CLOSE TO STOPPING IN TIME. I NOTICED ONE TIME SINCE THAT THE ABS SYSTEM JUST DOESN'T COMPARE TO THE 2003, AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS A RESULT. ANOTHER DANGEROUS THING IT HAS DONE TWICE IS FISHTAIL IF I ACCELERATE GOING INTO A TURN OR CURVE. THE DEALERS SERVICE DEP'T USED ALL KINDS OF COMPUTERS TO TEST THE BRAKES, AND TOOK IT OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE, AND SAID IT FUNCTIONED FINE, AND MAYBE I'M JUST NOT USED TO A 2WD. I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE THIS NEW CAR, IT'S NOT SAFE, AND WOULD RATHER HOLD ON TO MY 2003 PILOT. I KNOW THEY THINK I'M CRAZY, BUT I'D RATHER BE CONSIDERED CRAZY THAN HAVE MY EPITAPH READ, "I TOLD YOU THERE WAS A PROBLEM." *JB