10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
2,383 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2020 Honda Pilot electrical problems

electrical problem

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2020 Honda Pilot Owner Comments (Page 5 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #81

Mar 062021

Pilot

  • 11,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Speakers make crackling noise while playing dvd/bluray. Gets louder and more frequent until all audio eventually stops.

- Monticello, AR, USA

problem #80

Dec 012020

Pilot

  • miles
The infotainment system is not functioning to include: Back up camera, phone hands free, maps, radio, clock, etc. The unit has been inoperable since December 2020.

- Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #79

Jan 172021

Pilot

  • 8,300 miles
I've taken my vehicle in 4 times now for electrical issues and the sensors randomly going off. Today while driving, I got a notification of an engine system problem as well as an emissions failure and AWD failure. I purchased my vehicle brand new from the dealership and this will now be the 5th time going in for electrical issues and now whatever this engine failure is. The dealership is closed right now so I do not have a full diagnosis but the warning on the screen tells me to limit driving and keep the car off due to potential fire. This should absolutely be investigated.

- Coal Valley, IL, USA

problem #78

Sep 102020

Pilot

  • 5,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Random popping noise, like sound of small rocks hitting windscreen. Occasionally the display where speedometer is goes out. Audio problems with random volume issues. Popping noise occurs whether audio system is on or off. Notice it more while in motion and going over bumpy road. Been to dealer 5 times and replaced wiring, amp, head unit, and still have issue.

- Arrington, TN, USA

problem #77

Dec 012020

Pilot

  • 15,000 miles
Purchased my 2020 Pilot on 12/30/2019 in fresno, ca. Recently this month December 2020, I started hearing a cracking and popping noise from the speakers. The popping noise happens whether or not music is on. I also started hearing this weird noise that almost sounded like there was a compressor in my vehicle. I did some research on several Honda Pilot threads and it seems to be the ac compressor and the speakers. Apparently the wiring harness needs to be changed. I've looked over the NHTSA website and seen multiple complaints regarding the speakers popping issue. I have not taken my vehicle to the dealer yet, I dont completely trust dealership service centers and they prey on customers and over charge and make you think there's other things wrong with the vehicle. I like to do my research prior to taking my cars to any repair shops. I also video and voice recorded all the weird sounds that the Pilot is making. Honda needs to fix this, if this in fact is a wiring issue, this can possibly cause a short out thus a safety issue. I will be printing out several of these complaints and showing them to the dealer before they try to swindle me out of an excess amount of money. Although since it hasn't even been a year my vehicle should be under warranty.

- Daly City, CA, USA

problem #76

Aug 092020

Pilot

  • 1,500 miles
While driving we noticed what sounded like small rocks hitting the windshield. As we drove the car more the crackling/popping noise grew with frequency and intensity. Now every time we drive we hear intermittent crackling/popping noises. At times it is very loud and constant. It sounds as though the windshield is cracking or going to crack. When I park the car and turn the engine off the crackling/popping noise is still heard. I am worried that this problem with progress and we may get instrumentation blackouts like others have gotten.

- Aiea, HI, USA

problem #75

Dec 042020

Pilot

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle cracks and pops from speaker system. Sounds as if your in a hail storm. Radio / navigation systems goes blank and back up camera goes black. Have had to Honda of bristol and they have 'fixed/repair' the problems. Vehicle works great for a few months, this past time after repairs it has only lasted one week. I do not feel as this is a safe vehicle for me and my family. The cracking popping sounds, the blackout of the panels and no backup camera is a hazardous situation. This happens when the car is in motion and it's scary I have read their is a civil suite against Honda for this vehicle- how does one find out more information on this

- Jonesville, VA, USA

problem #74

Oct 312020

Pilot

  • 1,156 miles
2020 Honda Pilot touring 1,156 miles - 3 months old. Vehicle began to stall when pulling into garage and applying breaks. Loud sounds coming through speakers as if you're driving through hail. Tuner lost, network connection failed, dashboard black. Vehicle can also apply breaks when no other car is around. Latest system failure car stalled when applying breaks at an intersection. Also driver passenger mirrors independently move while driving. Software update to control box and gauge control module without fix. Now tightened wires behind blu-ray player. Sensing/break issues are unknown to Honda and have not been fixed.

- Dublin, OH, USA

problem #73

Oct 302020

Pilot

  • 100 miles
After having known recall issue repaired, electrical/sound system still continues with aggressively loud cracking and popping noises. The noises at times are out of the blue, causing the driver and passengers to be startled. The instrument panel will freeze up and blue tooth/voice activated features will stop functioning. These issues occur when the car is moving or stationary. No improvement after the recall reprogramming was completed despite being told by the service technician it would resolve the issue.

- Aliso Viejo, CA, USA

problem #72

Oct 222020

Pilot

  • 3,850 miles
I was driving on the freeway and my whole instrument panel where my speedometer is and apps ect are turned black where I couldn't even see how fast I was going, but before that happened my stereo was crackling and cutting out and then blacked out as well and then came back on again. I have it recorded for my records. Then when I was on my way home from what they said at the dealership which would fix the dash was a recall on the vehicle but as soon as I came in my car there was an update on the dash of my stereo, was still cutting in and out and I couldn't use my bluetooth like I should be able to or listen to my radio through the internet or just regular fm radio. I only have 3800 miles on my vehicle and have had my vehicle for just shy of 5 months. It's ridiculous to spend 40K for a vehicle that doesn't even work properly. Also before purchasing the vehicle I asked the salesman at tracy Honda who then asked his sales manager my question if there were stereo problems in the vehicle I was buying like the ones I've been reading about and researching and they told me no it was a model above mine and they hadn't heard of it at first. I also asked about the dash turning black and they responded with the same thing. So technically they sold me a vehicle with a recall and lied about the things that were wrong with the vehicle before I even bought it. It should have been sold to me as a used vehicle due to the recalls already on the vehicle before I purchased. When I took my Pilot in for my recall the service guy said that his 2019 civic does the same thing and he just lives with it and that's kind of pathetic especially when you actually work at a Honda dealership do you still have vehicles and can't even have a stereo that works in a car something so basic.

- Denair, CA, USA

problem #71

Oct 022020

Pilot

  • 1,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

First month I bought vehicle 10/2019 began hearing loud cracking and popping noise which at first thought was windshield. As it continued we realized was coming through speakers. Then entertainment system began to shut down and reset with various messages. Mainly "network communication lost". other messages as radio not available would also come up. Screen would go black. Then speedometer / tachometer data screen would go black and reboot. Took to dealer was told loose wires from dvd system. They 'repaired'. within two months all the same problems and more began again. Rear view camera would not come on. Or it would come on while driving forward down the road. System would reboot and go black several times per day. Took back to dealer. They were now aware of problem in other vehicles. Told me needed new wiring harness. They kept car for a week and replaced wire harness. Vehicle was fine for about two months then problems all came back. Screens all went black repeatedly while driving, or stationary. It didn't matter conditions but all electronic systems would continuously shut down and reboot. A couple weeks ago everything went black and has remained off. Vehicle is now back at dealer for the third time to try and fix problems. They told me there are recalls for the back up camera and speedometer portion. And tried to tell me there must be a link in the wires somewhere that they need to locate. Obviously Honda must be aware of this problem as there are hundreds of posts online about the identical problems in other 2020 Honda Pilot. It is not safe to drive the vehicle without any speedometer or information systems functioning.

- Mt Pleasant, SC, USA

problem #70

Oct 052020

Pilot

  • 512 miles
Issue #1 : I was driving in highway with garmin navigation turned on, the display reboots with an error "network connection lost". issue #2: while connecting my iphone with google navigation, the display gets stuck and reboots again. Serious issue while driving this car with navigation on. Issue #2: rear camera sometimes doesn't show up or there is a delay when gear is switched to reverse. Issue #3: when a usb is connected to play audio/video, the display freezes after sometime and reboots automatically. Similar issue with blue ray dvd.

- Simi Valley, CA, USA

problem #69

Oct 012020

Pilot

  • 8 miles
2020 Honda Pilot touring has complete black out of all electronics and the dash board since purchase regardless if the vehicle is moving or stationary. Popping and cracking constantly throughout and behind dash/windshield regardless if the car is stationary or moving. There is no way to measure engine speed, fuel, oil pressure, or what gear you are in. Total electrical failures are occurring since purchase, and the dealer has no fix for the issues, but does acknowledge all of these safety and electrical failures are factory born, and Honda has failed to find or provide a fix. With all systems failing, the car is not safe to drive. The brake system will brake when you are traveling slow or at high speeds, regardless of the fact that nothing is around the vehicle. This car should be recalled and returned to the factory before more people are killed or injured. The current recalls do not fix any of the electrical safety issues. These cars require a total rewire of faulty harness wiring which is a fiber optic defect from the factory, therefore, software updates do not and will not fix these safety issues. All of these vehicles require a total rewire. Honda should be ashamed of themselves for allowing consumers to continue driving these death traps!.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #68

Jun 112020

Pilot

  • 1,999 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V439000 (electrical system, back over prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that on several occasions several electrical functions failed to operate as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. Mansfield motor group (1493 park ave w, mansfield, oh 44906, (419) 529-4000) was contacted and failed to remedy the issue. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,999.

- Mount Gilead, OH, USA

problem #67

Sep 242020

Pilot

  • 8,000 miles
The rear camera fails as a result of the center console (infotainment system) shorting out. This also causes distraction while driving. Additionally, there is a lound crackling and popping noise from the audio system which is related to this issue.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #66

Oct 152019

Pilot

  • 200 miles
Nearly constant crackle/popping through speakers largely related to body flexing. The rougher the road surface, the more evident the noise becomes. Clearly a mechanical issue with electrical connections. A temporary improvement may occur after applying an open hand smack to the dash surface above the instrument cluster. Pop/crackle is evident even with the sound system powered off. Additionally, the instrument cluster completely fails occasionally and the vehicle must be turned off and on to have the display returned. Very much a safety issue! based on my long experience in the electronics industry, this is some sort of grounding or connector issue'or possibly an intermittent short circuit (although no fuses have blown). The issue started soon after purchase 10/2019 and continues through today, 9/18/2020.

- North Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

problem #65

Aug 242020

Pilot

  • 2,750 miles
Driving vehicle cracking sound coming from windshield and radio has static. Drive on smooth road does not do it.it does it when hitting bumps or going up curbs.car was taken to dealer 8 25 2020 picked it up today 8 26 2020 drove it home pulled up in driveway started cracking turned around brought it back.service dept said they know its a problem service chief tech said something about wiring issue.

- Slidell, LA, USA

problem #64

Jan 102020

Pilot

  • 2,500 miles
Crackling and popping around the dash area occurs while vehicle is stationary or in motion. The infotainment system will blip or completely go out. While driving the whole display panel has blacked out. I had to pull over, turn the car off for about 15 min before the displays came back on. Also while in motion, the back up camera will black out. Probably the worst issue is that randomly, on the freeway or in town, the crash sensor detects something that isn't there and the "brake" warning flashes at me. The car has even braked for me, which thankfully happened in town while not at a high speed. These electrical issues started with less than 3000 miles on the car. The first trip to the dealership for repair, they said it was crimped wiring by the factory. The "repair" lasted less than 2 weeks. Three months later, two different dealerships, 3 times in the shop, and the problem still has not/can not be fixed. The dealership is now telling me they have a tsb for the popping/crackling but the parts are back ordered. We'll see. Very disappointed with Honda on this.

- The Dalles, OR, USA

problem #63

Aug 252020

Pilot

  • 13,800 miles
Ever since I have purchased this car I have had nothing but issues. First started with cracking and popping sounds with the speakers, even when all audio was off in the car it would still make the noise. Then the dvd player stopped working. Next the cracking and popping started all the time and it was near impossible to make phone calls with bluetooth in the car. Finally after the 3rd time back the speakers were 80% fixed after a Honda representative came out from corporate. Then my automatic braking starting having significant issues. At first it was a random occurrence and only once in a blue moon. Now, like the other issues, it is progressively getting worse. I have already had it in once and they stated they could not replicate it but were able to see that it had been triggered. Since I have had my car back in less than two full weeks it has occurred at least 12 times on different roads (open highway, places with no cars or trees, at night or day it doesn't matter). I am now awaiting another call back about getting this issue fixed. Oh and there was that time that my backup camera stopped working completely, can't forget that. Overall, incredibly upset about how much we spent on a brand new lemon.

- Linwood, NJ, USA

problem #62

Jul 152020

Pilot

  • 5,000 miles
Main dashboard display goes dark, along with infotainment system. Cracks and pops heard from the speakers. Hands free stops working. We've reported this to the dealer and had the car looked at on multiple occasions. This week a software update was applied that seemed to make the problem worse. With main gauges and hands-free not working the vehicle is not easily or safely driven.

- Exeter, NH, USA

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