NHTSA // CRASH-TESTED
2020 Honda Pilot Safety Ratings
The 2020 Honda Pilot scores 74 out of 100 on the NHTSA Safety Index (Average), with a 5-star overall NHTSA crash rating, 11 recalls, and 464 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
The 2020 Honda Pilot presents a notable dichotomy in its safety profile. While the vehicle achieved robust scores in crash testing and received full marks for its integrated avoidance technology, these positives are significantly counterbalanced by a subpar defect record. The issuance of 11 recall campaigns for this model year highlights a concerning pattern of post-production issues, leading to an overall NHTSA Safety Index of 74/100, which positions it within the Average safety band. Prospective owners should prioritize a comprehensive VIN recall check.
The 2020 Honda Pilot received a 5-out-of-5-star overall crash-test rating and a NHTSA Safety Index of 74 out of 100, based on NHTSA data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
Among the 107 SUVs from 2020 that NHTSA has crash-tested, the 2020 Honda Pilot ranks 100 for overall NHTSA Safety Index.
- new and teen drivers who want standard crash-avoidance tech
- urban drivers exposed to side-impact risk
| NHTSA Safety Index | 74 / 100 (Average) |
|---|---|
| Overall crash rating | 5 of 5 stars |
| Frontal / Side / Rollover | 4 / 5 / 4 stars |
| Rollover risk | 16.4% |
| Recalls on file | 11 |
| Owner complaints | 464 (unverified allegations) |
| Class rank | 100 of 107 SUVs tested for 2020 |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2020 Honda Pilot?
The defining safety story for the 2020 Honda Pilot is its defect record. Eleven recall campaigns and 464 unverified owner complaints contribute to a defect record component score of only 3 out of 20 points. These recalls address critical areas including structural integrity, two separate actions for air bag occupant sensors, the fuel pump, and backup camera display function. Owner complaints reinforce concerns, with 202 reports alleging Electrical System issues and another 78 concerning Forward Collision Avoidance. Despite these issues, the 2020 Pilot achieves a Safety Index of 74 out of 100, an improvement of two points over the 2019 model's 72. This score places it in the Average safety band. The vehicle's crash protection provides a solid foundation, contributing 61 out of a possible 70 points, backed by 5-star overall and 5-star side impact ratings from NHTSA. Its avoidance technology scores a perfect 10 out of 10, reflecting the standard inclusion of forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and electronic stability control across all trims.
NCAP // CRASH TESTHow did the 2020 Honda Pilot perform in crash tests?
For the 2020 model year, the Honda Pilot achieved a 5 out of 5 star overall safety rating from NHTSA. Notably, its side impact protection earned a perfect 5-star rating. Frontal crash protection and rollover resistance were each rated at 4 out of 5 stars. The vehicle's rollover risk stands at 16 percent, with dynamic tip testing yielding a "No Tip" result.
Source: NHTSA NCAP, VehicleId 14490
Index breakdown
NCAP // CRASH IMAGESCrash-test images
Crash-test images are US federal government works (NHTSA / NCAP), public domain.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2020 Honda Pilot have any recalls?
The 2020 Honda Pilot carries 11 recall campaigns. Documented component areas include the structural frame and members, two separate front-passenger occupant classification sensor campaigns affecting the air bag system, the gasoline fuel delivery pump, and a backup camera display function fault. No park-outside or do-not-drive directive is noted in the provided data, but the volume and breadth of these campaigns make VIN verification essential.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS26V365000
Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888
Reported 2026-06-04
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER26V332000
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involve
Reported 2026-05-21
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER24V064000
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Reported 2024-02-01
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP23V858000
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Reported 2023-12-18
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION23V431000
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.
Reported 2023-06-15
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR23V174000
Risk: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.
Reported 2023-03-16
TIRES21V165000
Risk: Overcured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation, which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four tires and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2021. Owners may contact American Honda Motor Co. customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is UA2.
Reported 2021-03-11
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA20V439000
Risk: Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.
Reported 2020-07-28
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE20V440000
Risk: A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.
Reported 2020-07-28
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS20V067000
Risk: If the operator is unable to refer to the label information, the vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is B6T.
Reported 2020-02-06
STRUCTURE:BODY19V784000
Risk: In the event of a crash, incomplete body welding may provide inadequate protection to occupants, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing welds, free of charge. If the vehicle is identified as missing welds, the dealer will offer to repurchase the vehicle or provide a similar replacement vehicle. Owner notification began November 6 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is X6J.
Reported 2019-10-31
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2020 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has logged 464 unverified owner complaints for this model year. The most frequently alleged problem areas are the Electrical System with 202 reports, followed by the Engine at 95, and notably, Forward Collision Avoidance at 78 and Lane Departure at 37. These are unverified consumer allegations, not confirmed defects.
464 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2020 Honda Pilot?
Shoppers considering a used 2020 Honda Pilot should run the VIN through the NHTSA recall database before purchase. With 11 recall campaigns on record spanning structural, air bag, fuel system, and camera components, confirming which remedies have been completed at a dealership is the single most important safety step for this specific model year.
- The 2020 Pilot's defect record score of 3 out of 20 points is the primary reason its Safety Index sits at 74 rather than higher, driven by 11 recall campaigns that span structural frame members, two air bag occupant sensor actions, a fuel pump, and a backup camera display fault.
- NHTSA unverified complaint data shows 78 alleged reports specifically targeting the Forward Collision Avoidance system and 37 targeting Lane Departure on this model year, which is notable given that both systems scored perfectly in the avoidance technology component of the Index.
- The 2020 model year's Safety Index of 74 represents a two-point increase over the 2019 Pilot's score of 72, both within the Average band, meaning the year-over-year improvement is real but does not represent a category change.
- Two of the 11 recall campaigns address front-passenger air bag occupant classification sensors, one issued in 2024 and one in 2026, meaning remedy availability for the more recent action may still be in progress for some vehicles.
RANKINGSWhere the 2020 Honda Pilot places
The 2020 Honda Pilot qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2020 Honda Pilot safety questions
Was the 2020 Honda Pilot crash-tested by NHTSA?
Yes. NHTSA crash-tested the 2020 Honda Pilot, and it earns a NHTSA Safety Index of 74 out of 100, placing it in the Average band. The index combines federal crash-test stars, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the recall record.
What are the 2020 Honda Pilot crash-test star ratings?
In NHTSA testing the 2020 Honda Pilot earned 5 out of 5 stars for overall, 4 out of 5 stars for frontal, 5 out of 5 stars for side, and 4 out of 5 stars for rollover. Its measured rollover risk is 16.4%. Categories NHTSA did not test show as not rated.
How many recalls does the 2020 Honda Pilot have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 11 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2020 Honda Pilot. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Honda Pilot?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 464 owner complaints are on file for the 2020 Honda Pilot. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects, and include reports involving a crash or a fire.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other Pilot years
Rivals in SUV (2020)
| Vehicle | NHTSA Safety Index | Overall stars | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Infiniti Qx50 | 94/100 | 5 of 5 | 2 |
| 2020 Mazda CX-3 | 94/100 | 5 of 5 | 1 |
| 2020 Mazda CX-30 | 93/100 | 5 of 5 | 3 |
| 2020 Volvo Xc90 T5 | 93/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2020 Volvo Xc90 T6 | 93/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2020 Volvo Xc90 T8 | 93/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: New Car Assessment Program crash tests (VehicleId 14490), the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Honda Pilot 2020.
- SCORE The NHTSA Safety Index (0-100) weights crash protection, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the defect record. Full formula on the methodology page. It ranks 100 of 107 in the SUV class for 2020.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.