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2012 Honda Pilot Cruise Control Problems

13 owner-reported cruise control complaints from NHTSA data

13
Complaints
4
Crashes
Jan 2016Dec 2022
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (13)

mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Dec 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the vehicle experienced an increased RPM while the brake pedal was depressed. The brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard and the vehicle then unintendedly accelerated. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact made a local dealer aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 149,400.

NHTSA #: 11498229
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Sep 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at 32 MPH and pulling into a parking lot, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle stopped. There was no warning light illuminated. However, the failure reoccurred the next day. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was operating as designed. The contact stated that the ECO was engaging, causing the vehicle from dropping from number six (6) cylinder to number three (3) cylinder. The contact stated upon pulling into the car wash and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly. The contact depressed the brake pedal but it failed to respond and went all the way to the floorboard. The contact turned the steering wheel to avoid a pedestrian. The contact drove sideways and crashed into a building. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was unsure whether he sustained injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The dealer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

NHTSA #: 11483574
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Apr 2018

WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT ON A REGULAR CITY STREET LAST NIGHT MY CAR KEPT ON MOVING EVEN WHEN PUSHING REALLY HARD ON THE BRAKES!! I SWITCHED THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE MADE A VERY LOUD NOISE AND I KEPT ON MOVING THE GEAR BETWEEN NEUTRAL PARK AND SO TILL THE GAS PEDAL GOT DISENGAGED AND CAR WENT BACK TO NORMAL . LUCKILY NO CARS WERE IN FRONT OF ME AND NO ONE GOT HURT.

NHTSA #: 11088618
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Aug 2017

I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IN RUSH HOUR, TRAVELING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A 3 LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS WAS TRAVELING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE OTHER ONE WAS I SEATED BEHIND ME. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES AT A MAXIMUM SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, AS TRAFFIC WOULD CLEAR AND THEN BECOME CONGESTED AGAIN. I WAS MAINTAINING ABOUT 5 CAR LENGTHS BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. I TAPPED MY ACCELERATOR TO MOVE UP WHICH CAUSED MY PILOT TO SHOOT FORWARD. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF IT WAS LUCKY I HAD MAINTAINED A GOOD DISTANCE WITH THE CAR IN FRONT AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SURGE, AND I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REVVING. I BEGAN SCREAMING, AND MY DAUGHTER IN THE FRONT SEAT WAS YELLING FOR ME TO HIT THE BRAKES. I TOLD HER I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, DESPITE MY APPLYING WITH GREAT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE. MY DAUGHTER COULD ALSO HEAR THE ENGINE REVVING. WE SLAMMED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US, AND CONTINUED MOVING. THIS CAR REAR ENDED A PICK UP TRUCK WHICH FINALLY STOPPED MY PILOT. BOTH FRONT SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND MY CAR BECAME ATTACHED TO THE CAR I REAR ENDED. LUCKILY, EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY, BUT IF THE DRIVER I HAD STRUCK HAD PASSENGERS, THERE DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE INJURIES. I RECEIVED A TICKET FROM A STATE TROOPER FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE DRIVING DISTANCE FOR AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT.

NHTSA #: 11020438
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Apr 2017

IN TWO INSTANCES WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A SLOW SPEED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE PILOT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING A COLLISION WITH (1) A TREE AND (2) A BUILDING. IN BOTH CASES MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN 2014 AND THE SECOND IN 2017. NEITHER OF THE INCIDENTS CAUSED BODILY HARM. IN THE 2014 INCIDENT POLICE WERE NOT CALLED AND IT WAS NOT REPORTED TO INSURANCE. IN THE 2017 INCIDENT POLICE WERE CALLED AND A CLAIM WILL BE FILED WITH INSURANCE.

NHTSA #: 10978706
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Jun 2016

ON MAY 17, 2016, IN MY DRIVEWAY, I WAS TRYING TO MOVE MY 2012 PILOT FROM BESIDE MY HUSBAND'S VEHICLE TO BEHIND IT SO MY SON COULD PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY. I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO MOVE BEHIND MY HUSBAND'S TRUCK AND IT MOVED UP A LITTLE BEFORE IT ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED SLAMMING HIS TRUCK INTO THE GARAGE AND CRUSHING IT. I HIT THE BRAKES, BUT IT DIDN'T HELP. THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AND TIRES WERE SPINNING AS FAST AS THEY COULD. THE AIRBAG HIT ME IN THE FACE CAUSING ME TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE PILOT TO DRIVE ACROSS MY FRONT YARD AT A HIGH SPEED CRASHING INTO MY NEIGHBOR'S TREE WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE! THE ENGINE ONLY STOPPED WHEN MY HUSBAND RAN OUT OF MY HOUSE AND TURNED OFF THE PILOT. AT THAT POINT, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE I HAD BEEN HIT SO HARD IN THE FACE BY THE AIRBAG. THE PILOT WAS INSPECTED TODAY BY HONDA CORPORATE AT A HONDA DEALERSHIP AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGMENT. OF COURSE AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION, "NO CAUSE WAS FOUND FOR UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION." THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN OF THIS SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE AND HONDA NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT!

NHTSA #: 10873716
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jan 2016

TWO OCCURRENCES OF CAR LUNGING FORWARD 10-20 FEET ACTING LIKE BEING REAR-ENDED. FOOT WAS FIRMLY PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CAR LUNGES MANY FEET, THIS OCCURRED TWO TIMES IN ONE DAY. TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, I WAS UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY STOP AT AN INTERSECTION AS THE ENGINE WOULD NOT REV DOWN AND BRAKING WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH. HONDA CARS OF MCKINNEY TX IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. HONDA HEADQUARTERS SENT OUT A SPECIALIZED TECHNICIAN WHO ALSO CAN'T REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 10819100
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jul 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE BEFORE GOING INTO A HIGHER SPEED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA #: 10744590
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2015

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM A FRANCHISE DEALER AND AM THE SECOND OWNER. THE ENGINE HESITATES AT LOW SPEEDS (APPROX. 10 MPH) WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS BECOMES APPARENT WHEN ATTEMPTING ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT, ACCELERATING FROM A TURN, MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY, CHANGING LANES, ETC. IT DOES HAPPEN PERIODICALLY AND I AM UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE ON-DEMAND, BUT IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN DAILY WHENEVER THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT. I AM SURPRISED THERE IS NO RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS, AS I HAVE ALREADY HAD A COUPLE OF NEAR MISSING WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY WITH STEADY FLOWING TRAFFIC AND WHEN CROSSING AN INTERSECTION FROM ONE SIDE OF THE STREET TO THE OTHER. I HAVE YET TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE, SO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE. I'LL BE REACHING OUT TO AMERICAN HONDA SOON. *TR

NHTSA #: 10705665
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Sep 2014

GOOD MORNING, THIS SEEMS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM ON OUR VEHICLE. WHEN WE COME DO A STOP AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATES (2-3 SEC.). IN THE MEANTIME, I'M STILL PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DOWN TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO GO. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE CATCHES, BUT THEN WANTS TO TAKE OFF (ACCELERATE FAST). RECENTLY, MY WIFE SAID SHE CAME TO A STOP, WENT TO CROSS THE STREET, AND AS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE, SHE COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO GO AND EVENTUALLY HAD TO STOMP THE PEDAL TO AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. I HAVE ATTACHED A LINK TO A HONDA FORUM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AND IT DOESN'T SEEM HONDA HAS A SOLUTION. HONDA FORUM REGARDING ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.PILOTEERS.ORG/FORUMS/82-2012-2015-PILOT/31680-HESITATION-ANYONE-ELSE-NOTICE.HTML I WORRY ABOUT THIS HESITATION NO ONLY FOR MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY, BUT ALSO OTHERS THAT OWN THIS VEHICLE. THIS HESITATION ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY HONDA. *TR

NHTSA #: 10630951
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Sep 2013

CAR IS HAVING VIBRATIONS COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE GOING IN AND OUT OF VCM - VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. HAPPENS REGULARLY AT 70 MPH WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL, ON FLAT HIGHWAY GOING UP A SLIGHT HILL THE VIBRATION STARTS. THIS COMES AND GOES, AND I COULD NOT YET REPLICATE WITH THE DEALER. MANY PEOPLE WITH V6 ENGINES WITH VCM IN IT FROM HONDA ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. LOOKS LIKE IT STARTED IN THE PILOT AND IS HAPPENING WITH THE ODYSSEY AS WELL. HONDA WOULD BE FORCED TO LOOK INTO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS VIBRATION AS IT APPEARS PRETTY WIDE SPREAD. *TR

NHTSA #: 10544422
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Oct 2012

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A LOW SPEED, SUCH AS ENTERING A PARKING LOT FROM THE ROADWAY OR ENTERING A ROADWAY FROM A PARKING LOT, THE ENGINE DOES NOT RESPOND TO MY PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A VERY LOW SPEED, ABOUT 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND AN ACCELERATOR MODULE WAS REPLACED, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE DANGER IS VERY SERIOUS WHEN TRYING TO ENTER THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC FROM A LOT OR SIDE STREET. VERY OFTEN, IT TAKES MUCH TOO LONG TO REACH THE SPEED OF THE EXISTING TRAFFIC. THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS NO LONGER A CABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE, IT IS NOW "FLY BY WIRE". THERE SEEMS TO BE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN MY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AT A LOW SPEED AND THE ENGINE RESPONDING IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10481139
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Sep 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND LUNGED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA #: 10475289

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