Brake pulsation from warped rotors on your 2017 Honda Pilot at 100,000 miles indicates the brake disc surfaces are no longer true. This common condition causes a pulsation felt through the brake pedal and sometimes the steering wheel during braking.
What Rotor Warping Actually Is
True warping from heat is rare - what most people call warped rotors is actually thickness variation from uneven pad deposits. High spots on the rotor create the pulsation feeling. Severe heat can cause actual warping, but this requires extreme conditions.
Symptoms of Warped Rotors
Pulsation in the brake pedal during braking. Steering wheel vibration when braking (front rotors). Rhythmic sound during braking matching wheel rotation. The symptoms are most noticeable at highway speeds and often worsen as brakes heat up.
Why This Happens
Stopping and holding the brakes (like at a traffic light) immediately after heavy braking imprints pad material on hot rotors. Improper pad bedding during installation. Cheap brake pads with inconsistent friction material. Aggressive braking that overheats the rotors. Stuck caliper slides causing uneven pad wear.
Repair Options
Rotor machining (turning) removes a thin layer to restore trueness - works if rotors have sufficient thickness remaining. Rotor replacement is often preferred at 100,000 miles since rotors are inexpensive and machining removes metal that affects heat dissipation. Replace pads with rotors for best results.