NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 117 complaints against the 2025 Honda Pilot. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2025 Honda Pilot complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2025 Honda Pilot has generated 240 NHTSA complaints and has 4 active recalls. If your 2025 Honda Pilot has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Honda pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Steering defects can create unpredictable vehicle behavior and qualify as safety-related under California lemon law. Reported issues on the 2025 Honda Pilot include pulling, vibration, loss of power steering, and electronic steering warnings. 20 NHTSA complaints have been filed in this category. Owner reports include: “My steering is making loud clicking noises when turning the vehicle left or right at low speeds. It sounds like loud pops. It is especially prevalent once car has warmed up and driven. It is very prominent when reversing and turning the wheel or moving forward and turning the wheel and also when parked and turned the wheel left or right. I brought this to my dealership’s attention and they confirmed the issue and said it is a faulty clock spring so they replaced it. After they replaced it, the noise is still there. The clock spring was not the cause of the noise. I’m afraid this will become a major safety issue with preventing the ability of the steering wheel to operate safely.” (NHTSA Complaint #11725404)
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2025 Honda Pilot has 18 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 30-35 MPH, an abnormal alarm sound could be heard coming from the crash imminent braking system. The contact stated that the vehicle braked independently. The contact depressed the brake pedal. The contact stated that there were no vehicles in front. The message “brake” was displayed on the dashboard. The vehicle resumed functioning as intended afterwards. The contact sustained minor injuries, possibly whiplash. and neck pain. The contact was able to arrive at the residence without any incident. The contact stated that it was the third time the failure had occurred. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. ” (NHTSA Complaint #11702814)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2025 Honda Pilot include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 16 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “Vehicle not starting after sitting for extended period of time and it’s not a battery issue” (NHTSA Complaint #11715366)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2025 Honda Pilot have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 10 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “The engine stopped working while driving. Honda needs to replace the engine due to a known defect. I live in [XXX] and temperatures get very cold. What if we had been on a trip. This is crazy! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)” (NHTSA Complaint #11724246)
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2025 Honda Pilot has 10 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “Some Drive Assist Systems cannot operate: Clean Area shown. This message keeps appearing without any weather factors or anything to cause it. Happens nearly daily while using adaptive cruise. Then the next day without doing anything (like cleaning area) it starts working.” (NHTSA Complaint #11711706)
The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2025 Honda Pilot by the NHTSA or Honda. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the fuel filler neck tube and pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda’s number for this recall is OKM.
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Honda’s customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda’s numbers for this recall are EL1 and AL0.
Component: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A non-functioning seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the seat belt routing as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2025. Owners may contact Honda’s customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda’s number for this recall is ZL4.
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda’s customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda’s numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2025 Honda Pilot:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Honda to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Honda must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2025 Honda Pilot qualifies as a lemon under California law, Honda may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Honda a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Honda dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Honda pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Honda a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Honda is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2025 Honda Pilot has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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