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A recent post titled “I Just Got a 2025 Pilot Elite — 10 Miles After Leaving Dealership, These Popped Up” on the Reddit r/hondapilot interest group asks whether this is a normal experience with a brand new 2025 Honda Pilot that made it only 10 miles from the dealership before the dashboard began to light up with three significant warning messages.
Anyone know what’s going on? Made it 10 miles before this popped up. Turned the car off and on, and it went away (for now). This happen to anyone else? ―OP
Getting three system error messages related to a vehicle’s AWD, Blind Spot, and Transmission just 10 miles after driving your brand-new 2025 Honda Pilot Elite off the lot is a serious red flag — but not always a sure sign that you’ve just bought a lemon.
Related article: I Finally Got My 10th Gen Back After Almost 6 Weeks at the Local Honda Dealership: It’s No Shocker that I Already Had to Correct the Dealer’s Work
It’s a Shared Experience Among Other Honda Owners
According to the thread posts, this is not an unusual experience among other Honda owners and is typically due to two conditions:
- A need for enough miles to allow the car time to calibrate the ECU with its sensors.
- A weak battery tripping sensor warnings.
“This happened to me with my 2023 Pilot maybe 5-10 miles after leaving the dealership. Every alert possible turned on. I called the dealership and they said to bring it in first thing in the morning as they were about to close too. On my way back the next day, the alerts all turned off after a total of ~20-25 miles driven. Technician said sometimes it happens with brand new cars and it just needed more mileage to calibrate itself. I haven’t seen the alerts since. Good luck and I hope you enjoy your new pilot.” ―Cec831
“My 2018 Accord did the same thing. I popped a brand new interstate battery in and all the errors magically went asap. So imo It’s probably a crap battery from sitting. I’d have the dealership get you a new one ASAP. You have a warranty on the vehicle regardless of a no buyback clause but you literally just took delivery of the vehicle, the dealership should help you regardless and make it right. Tbh this is probably the least of their problems with customers.” ―jdubinitup
Rightfully so, the thread comments mostly pointed an accusing finger at the OP’s battery as the most likely and easiest to check source of the warning messages.
However, other issues could be afoot as well
Causes of Unexpected Warning Messages in a New Car
While it is always best to do the simplest checks, such as a weak battery, other causes need to be considered as well. For example:
- An Improper or Incomplete Dealer Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI)―Every new car is supposed to undergo a PDI before delivery, which includes Software updates, Sensor calibrations, and Module communication. If skipped or rushed, systems such as AWD, transmission control, or blind spot monitoring may fail to initialize properly.
- Other Electrical System Issues―Besides a weak battery, a poorly connected battery can cause a cascade of multiple false errors across multiple systems. Sometimes this occurs from loose ground cables and/or poor terminal connections after the dealership’s Pre-Delivery Inspection.
- Shipping or Assembly Damage―During shipping, it’s possible for sensors or their connectors to loosen or get knocked out of alignment. This is especially true for AWD components, such as wheel speed or yaw sensors, transmission harnesses, and rear radar sensors used for blind spot monitoring. A protective plastic cover may need to be peeled off of a sensor.
- Software Glitch or Factory Programming Error―New vehicles rely on many electronic control units (ECUs) that talk to each other. A buggy software version, outdated firmware, or a communication fault can trigger multiple warning lights even if nothing is mechanically wrong.
- An Actual Hardware Defect―Less common, but not impossible, are actual bad sensors, control modules, or faulty wiring from the factory.
Should the OP Be Worried?
Concerned, yes, but worried? Not just yet.
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Despite the frustration of encountering warning messages on the dashboard or display of a new car and the stories we hear about lemons right off the lot, in most cases, it’s not a sign of a lemon.
Most of the time, this is caused by something minor or fixable, especially if all three errors popped up at once.
However, it should be diagnosed immediately by the dealer and documented in case it leads to more significant issues later.
What the OP Should Do Now
As correctly pointed out in multiple thread comments, the OP needs to take his new car back to the dealership as soon as possible to resolve any issues his Honda Pilot may have.
That said, should this happen to you, be sure:
1. To not clear the codes yourself: Leave them there for the dealership to investigate. A Honda dealer scan tool can identify and clear these if they’re soft/false codes. If there is a problem part, it needs to be diagnosed by the dealer and replaced under warranty.
2. To return to the dealer ASAP: Explain what you observed, or better yet, take a photo of the dashboard warning in case the messages disappear by the time you arrive at the dealer.
3. To insist that the dealership garage:
- Rescans for all diagnostic trouble codes
- Check all system calibrations.
- Inspect all wiring and connections.
- Update any software/firmware.
4. To ask for a loaner if they need to keep the car: Honda dealerships should provide one under warranty for new vehicle repairs.
5. To request documentation: Have the repair order clearly describe what was found and fixed. Be sure to save a copy in case this becomes a repeat issue and you need to pursue a Lemon Law claim.
And finally…
The good news is that aside from the likelihood that the 2025 Honda Pilot has only a minor electrical, calibration, or software issue, the vehicle is covered by its warranty, and the OP will have an easier time arguing for a replacement or refund when potential problems are detected and found early in ownership.
Have You Had a New Car Act Up Shortly After Driving Off the Dealership Lot? Let us know what model, what happened, and how it was resolved, in the comments section below.
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and restores older vehicles, often incorporating engine modifications for improved performance. He also covers modern cars—including EVs—with a focus on DIY mechanics, tool use and selection, and other topics related to automotive repair. Follow Tim on Twitter (@TimBoyerWrites), Facebook, and his blog, Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair, for daily updates and insights on new and used cars and trucks.
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Source: torquenews.com
