Problems · by component

2012 Honda Pilot service brakes problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Honda Pilot cite service brakes, 15% of all 172 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
25
15% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated during the past 3 seasons of winter, the vehicle would fail to come to a stop while depressing the brake pedal. No warning lights illuminated. The failure would occur during winter cold climate temperatures. The vehicle was previously taken to a local independent mechanic where both the front brake pads and rotors were replaced. The vehicle was also taken to the local dealer for a second opinion however the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was taken back to the same local independent mechanic where the power fluid and brake system were flush however the failure had reoccurred and could not be replicated. The vehicle was also taken to another local independent mechanic for a second opinion however the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 149,584”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 16, 2024Service brakesODI 11630973
“I RECENTLY BUY THIS CAR AND IT HAS 79000 MILES ON THE ODO METER AND WHEN I CHECK THE CARFAX MILES CAME OUT 186000 MILES IT MEANS THEY ROLLBACK THE ODOMETER AND I WANT TO REPORT A CLAIM BECAUSE IT IS REALLY A SAFETY CONCERN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2020Wheels, Service brakes, EngineODI 11342633
“MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FOR NO KNOWN REASON AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIME IN ONE WEEK. FIRST TIME IT WAS MOVING AT A VERY SLOW RATE AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT. THE SECOND TIME I WAS SITTING IN LINE AT A DRIVE THRU, WAITING TO MOVE FORWARD, WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WHEN I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY GARAGE AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS BUT I AM NOT SURE IF I SHOULD KEEP THIS CAR, AFTER I REPAIR THE DAMAGE OR GET ANOTHER CAR? PLEASE CHECK CARCOMPLAINTS.COM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 5, 2017Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11043599
“BRAKE ROTORS WARPING AGAIN FOR THIRD TIME, 80,000 MILES. NO HARD BRAKING. MECHANIC TELLS ME HE SEES THIS A LOT WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. VERY SEVERE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING AND ALMOST LOSS OF CONTROL ON HIGHWAY WHEN EVEN SLIGHTLY BRAKING AT 60+ MPH”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2017Service brakesODI 11032721
“MY HONDA HAS 60K MILES ON IT. IN OCTOBER, I NOTICED VIBRATION AND SHAKING WHEN BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I HAD MY PADS REPLACED AND MY ROTORS MACHINED. HERE IT IS A FEW MONTHS LATER AND I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUES, THE CAR SHAKES AND VIBRATES SEVERELY WHEN GOING DOWNHILL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2017Service brakesODI 10969687
“MY 2012 HONDA PILOT ROTOR WARP PREMATURELY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND INCREASED RISK FOR CRASH WHEN DRIVING AT MODERATE TO HIGH SPEEDS. AFTER BEING SHOOK TO DEATH AFTER HEAVY BREAKING, I TOOK MY PILOT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT ROTORS CARRY A 12K MILE WARRANTY. THEY SAY THAT THE ROTORS ARE NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. IN FACT, THEY UPDATED THE NEW PILOTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. ALSO, THE HAVE A REPLACEMENT FOR THE HONDA ODYSSEY BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE BUT NOTHING FOR THE HONDA PILOT. THUS, I AM FORCE TO CHANGE OUT MY ROTORS EVERY 15K MILES BECAUSE OF HONDA'S POOR DESIGN. LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO IMPROPERLY DESIGN ROTOR SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS ON TOP OF HONDA KNOWINGLY AND ADMITTING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS SAFETY, IS PURE NEGLIGENCE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 22, 2016Service brakesODI 10937097

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2012 Pilot problem areas