My 2025 Honda Pilot Died in the Middle Of An Intersection With My Kids in the Car, and Honda Can’t Figure Out What’s Wrong With It

Is the 2025 Honda Pilot a reliable vehicle?

When Kali Letona (@knicolexo11) first got her 2025 Honda Pilot, she was thrilled. However, her initial excitement turned into frustration as she encountered several issues. In her TikTok clip, she explains that her car has died twice, once in the middle of an intersection with her kids in the car, and was close to being hit by another vehicle.

You can imagine how scary that would be. 

Now, she's taken the new Pilot SUV to two Honda dealers, and neither can figure out what the problem is. The dash lights lit up, and the safety system features flashing warnings. Yet the dealer can't duplicate it, so they can't fix a problem they don't see, is what she's told.

Kali says, "I am so tired of Honda. I'm never buying another one again. So, I bought a 2025 Honda Pilot in November, and I had the car for only five months, and I've had nothing but issues."

Now, here's Kali's alarming story.  

"My first issue happened about two months ago. I was driving down the highway after I dropped the kids off in the morning, and all my dash warning lights came on. It says all my safety features like collision mitigation, lane departure, automatic braking, my auto cruise control, and they all shut off."

"So, I took it to a collision center by my house to see if they could find the issue, and they did. They told me it had an internal radar failure, which they believed was causing the safety system malfunctions. So, I made an appointment with the Honda dealer and took the issue to them specifically so they could diagnose it. Honda said they needed to make their diagnosis."

Honda Can't Duplicate the Problem

"When I took the Pilot into the service department, the assistant manager came out to help me. She says you are here for diagnostics, but I can't diagnose something I don't see."  

"So, I tried to explain the problem with my car and argued with the assistant manager for fifteen minutes because of my kids. The thought of something serious happening while I'm driving with my kids in the car is a constant worry that I can't shake off." 

Kali Doesn't Get Any Help From the First Honda Dealer

"We go back and forth and back and forth, and we get nowhere. So, the dealer sent me on my way. She told me she would enter the issue in her system, but there is nothing to diagnose. So, I go on my way."

"This past Monday, I was on my way home after picking up my kids; I pulled over to the side of the road because my car shut off. All the lights came on on my dash, the same lights as before, and my emergency brake was on. She thinks that is odd." 

"So, I was able to restart my car, and I kept driving on the highway. As I drive, I come to an intersection, my car stalls and shuts off, and my e-brake comes on. I almost got hit with my kids in the car." 

"Now, it's not just an issue with the car; this is a safety hazard," she says with concern." 

She Doesn't Feel Safe Driving the New Pilot with Her Kids in the Vehicle 

"So, I called Honda the same day, I was in tears because of what just happened and the fact that I was getting no help from this Honda dealer in Savanna, Georgia, who was giving me the runaround telling me she understood that I was frustrated, but they can't fit me in because they are booked with appointments for the week." 

The lack of immediate assistance and understanding from Honda only added to her distress.

"Even though my car is stopping in the middle of the road," she says with frustration.

She Takes the Pilot To the Second Honda Dealer

"I hung up with her and called the Honda dealer where I bought it. I didn't call them first, because I've already had a horrible experience with them. I told them everything that happened; I took it in the next day for this issue."

"I talked to the service manager, who explained that she would try to fit it in that day, and they did. They told me I could pick it up at the end of the day, but they had no answers for diagnosing the problem." 

"How can I have a diagnosis from a collision shop near my house, but the Honda dealer can't figure out what is going on?" she asks with a mix of disbelief and frustration."

Honda Still Can't Figure Out What's Wrong

"The dealer told me my car had to die and then have it towed in before they could diagnose the problem."

"So, this morning, I'm driving my kids to day car, I pull into a gas station, put it in park, and my car dies completely and has no power. I tried to restart it, but it would not start. So, I had to call a tow truck to return it to the dealer where I bought it." 

Now Kali Is Waiting

"I don't know what will happen from here, but I did call Honda Corporate, and they opened a case for this issue. We are on day four with no response from Corporate."

"As for you, Honda, I think you need to be better," Kali concludes. 

Is the 2025 Honda Pilot a reliable vehicle?

Consumer Reports give the 2025 Honda Pilot a low 59/100 for predicted reliability. The in-car electronics (Infotainment system (audio, GPS, phone), rear entertainment system, backup or other camera/sensors, head-up display) only get 2/5 for reliability. 

The safety system tech that Kali is having problems with is included in the camera/sensors that control the safety features like collision mitigation, lane departure, automatic braking, and automatic cruise control that shuts down and lights up her dash with warning lights. 

What Are Other Honda Pilot Owners Saying?

Recent Reddit discussions and news reports indicate that some 2024-2025 Honda Pilots are experiencing issues with warning lights, potential engine stalling, and even complete engine shutdowns, leading to recalls and owner concerns. 

Scary_Witness_9085 says, "My wife was driving today, and all the dash lights came on, and she could not turn the vehicle and was almost in an accident because she was turning into oncoming traffic, but couldn't complete the turn and almost was t-boned. The car is a one-month-old 2025 Honda Pilot Elite with 1,900 miles."

Here's a breakdown of the problems and potential solutions:

Engine Stalling and Power Loss:

• A recall has been issued for certain 2023-2025 Honda Pilots and other Acura and Honda models due to a potential fuel-injection issue that could cause the engine to stall or lose power. 
• The issue stems from a software problem in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU). 
• Denso, the supplier of the FI-ECU, informed Honda that the settings for the correction control logic of the airflow rate and fuel injection volume were improper, potentially leading to torque control failure and engine stall. 
• Honda is recalling roughly 295,000 vehicles to fix this potential issue. 
• Owners of affected vehicles should contact their dealership to schedule a recall repair. 

Warning Lights and System Errors:

• Some owners have reported experiencing multiple warning lights, including ABS, braking, driving sensor warnings, and other system errors. 
• Some users have found that restarting the car or shutting it off for an extended period can temporarily resolve the issue. 
• In some cases, dealerships have identified and replaced faulty sensors as the cause of the warning lights. 

What to do if you experience these issues:

1. Document the occurrences: Record when and where the problems happen and any related issues. 
2. Contact your dealership: Schedule an appointment to inspect and repair your vehicle. 
3. Research Lemon Law: If the problems persist and cannot be resolved, research your state's Lemon Law options. 
4. Consider video recording: If possible, video record the occurrences of the problems. 

Conclusion:

Kali should have taken her 2025 Honda Pilot to the dealer first, but she did the right thing afterward. Her new Pilot is having issues with the safety tech and possibly a software problem in the fuel injection electronic control unit. Her new SUV is under warranty, and the dealer must fix the issues. 

Have You Experienced these issues with your Honda Pilot?

If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and tell us about your experience.

Check out my Honda Pilot story: I Sold My Honda Pilot After 6 Months, It’s Not Young Family Friendly, It Looked Great At the Dealer, But I Quickly Realized the Space Here Is Not Going To Cut It

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Kali