PLASTIC PANEL HOUSING DRIVERS SEAT ADJUSTMENT CONTROLS HAS BECOME DETACHED FROM THE SEAT OF MY 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE SCREW THAT HELD IT IN PLACE IS STILL THERE BUT THE PLASTIC PANELING BEING HELD BY THE SCREW HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE PANEL. THIS HAPPENED IN THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE OWNED IT. TRIED TO GET IT FIXED. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *TR
2003 Honda Pilot complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →
I HAD REPEATED VISITS TO BABYLON HONDA IN BABYLON , NY FOR A REAR TAILGATE SPOILER PROBLEM. WHEN OPENING THE TAILGATE (REAR DOOR) THE SPOILER WOULD HIT AND GRIND AGAINST THE ROOF PANEL. BABYLON HONDA ADDRESSED THE ISSUE BY TIGHTENING THE SPOILER MOUNTS WHICH WORKED FOR AWHILE, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THIS PAST JULY WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 91 AT 65MPH, THE SPOILER FLEW OFF MY CAR AND NEARLY HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. I AM WAITING FOR BABYLON HONDA'S RESPONSE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM - THE SPOILER MOUNTS CRACKED. *TR
MY 2003 HONDA PILOT SHUDDERS WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 35-45 MPH. IT FEELS LIKE DRIVING OVER A BUMPY ROAD. *TR
2003 HONDA PILOT IGNITION INTERLOCK FAILED. THE CAR WAS STOPPED, TURNED OFF WHILE IN DRIVE GEAR, THE KEY WAS REMOVED AND THE DRIVER LEFT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED DOWN THE STREET AND STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A BRICK MAIL BOX 2 BLOCKS AWAY. HONDA DEALER TOLD US THAT THE DRIVE MUST HAVE FORCED THE KEY OUT TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE IT WHILE IN DRIVE GEAR AND DAMAGE THE IGNITION. DRIVE DISPUTES THIS. SAID THE KEY CAME RIGHT OUT. WE HAD ROUGHLY $2500 DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR AT THE TIME. CHOSE NOT TO PAY TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AT OUR COST. HONDA DID NOT REPLACE OR REPAIR THE IGNITION. IT IS STILL BROKEN. *TR
WE WERE DRIVING WITH OUR 2 YOUNG KIDS AND OUR 2 DOGS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH IN OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 130,000 MILES ON IT. WE HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD BANG AND JERK AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. WE PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO COLLISION. FROM THEN ON WE WERE UNABLE TO GET ANY GEAR TO ENGAGE (EVEN PARK). HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND ARE AWAITING ESTIMATE FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAD HONDA SERVICE THE VEHICLE AND DO ALL 100,000 MILE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE. WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE HAD A COLLISION ON THE HIGHWAY WITH OUR WHOLE FAMILY IN THE CAR. HONDA KNEW THEIR TRANSMISSION WAS FLAWED AND JUST PUT A BAND-AID ON IT WITH THE RECALL IN 2004. I GUESS ENOUGH OF A BAND-AID TO GET THEM THROUGH THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I BELIEVE THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAULTY AND DANGEROUS TO HAVE ON THE ROAD. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SEAT ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME OR BRACKET IN THE FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE. THE SEAT ROCKS PRECARIOUSLY WHEN I DRIVE OR ACCELERATE. THIS IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY HAZARD, AND I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS A FREQUENTLY REPORTED PROBLEM, AND WHETHER HONDA HAS AN OBLIGATION TO FIX IT. THANKS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER WAS NOT IN PARK. HE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK WHEN HE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE MINOR DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR $564 AT HIS EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. HE WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT IF IT DOES BECOME A RECALL TO KEEP HIS RECEIPT AND HE WOULD BE REIMBURSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
THE PLASTIC PANEL HOUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT ADJUSTMENT CONTROLS HAS BECOME DETACHED FROM THE SEAT ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE SCREW THAT HELD IT IN PLACE IS STILL SEATED, BUT THE PLASTIC PANELING BEING HELD BY THE SCREW HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE PANEL. *TR
I OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT WHICH WAS RECALLED UNDER CAMPAIGN #04V176000. THE OIL JET KIT WAS REPLACED, YET THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOW FAILED. I HAVE PERFORMED ALL MAINTENANCE AS DICTATED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WITH A CERTIFIED HONDA TECHNICIAN. THE LOCK-UP ON THE TRANSMISSION IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE KEY WILL NOT SLIDE INTO THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLIDE THE KEY IN PARTIALLY IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WHOLE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE WEAR AND TEAR IN THE IGNITION. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE WOULD GET WORSE IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND HE HEARD A HIGH PITCHED WHISTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE SECOND GEAR SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED MOVING FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE BROKE THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
2003 HONDA PILOT STARTED "JUDDERING" AT 35-40 MPH WHEN IT HIT AROUND 45K MILES. NUMEROUS VISITS TO DEALER AND A MECHANIC EVEN RODE WITH ME WHILE I DROVE AND DUPLICATED PROBLEM, BUT WHEN IT WENT BACK INTO THEIR SHOP THEY DENIED A PROBLEM. I GAVE UP WHEN WE MOVED OUT OF THE AREA. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND WE JUST LET OFF THE GAS THEN GIVE IT MORE AND IT CORRECTS. NOW, THOUGH, THE GEAR SHIFTER IS GETTING "STUCK" OR NOT FULLY GOING INTO "P" AND ROLLING, IF THE ER BRAKE IS NOT ON AND THE GEAR IS NOT SHIFTED INTO "R" AND THEN "P" AGAIN. ACURA BULLETIN #06-003 ADDRESSES EXACT ISSUE AS A TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACING. LOCAL DEALER CLAIMS NO AWARENESS OF ISSUE AND WON'T DO ANYTHING SINCE CAR HAS OVER 100K AND IS OUT OF EVEN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY NHTSA BEFORE SOME 2003 PILOT TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILS AND SOMEONE IS KILLED! PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SO MY TRANSMISSION CAN BE REPLACED!! *TR
MY 2004 HONDA PILOT MAKES A LOUD RATTLING OR VIBRATING NOISE THAT I CAN FEEL WHEN THE CAR IS GOING ABOUT 35 - 60 MPH. I NOTICE IT DAILY ON MY WAY TO AND FROM WORK. SINCE I LIVE WHERE THERE IS NO HONDA DEALER NEARER THAN 150 MILES, I'VE ASKED LOCAL MECHANICS TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE VIBRATION. I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER, AND WILL BE QUITE COSTLY TO REPAIR. *TR
2003 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 90000. SEEMS THAT THE RECALL FIX DID NOT WORK. JUST DO AN INTERNET SEARCH AND YOU WILL SEE HOW MANY OF US HAVE HAD TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR HONDA TRANSMISSIONS. SECOND TO THIRD GEAR IS THE PROBLEM. YOU DID FORCE THEM TO RECALL THE ODYSSEY PROBLEM IT IS TIME FOR ACTION FOR US PILOT OWNERS. *TR
THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT JAMMED AND YOU CANNOT TURN THE KEY. ONCE OUT, YOU CANNOT PUT KEY IN IT AGAIN. *TR
I OWN A HONDA PILOT 2003. 2 WEEKS AGO OUR AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR DIED. WE WERE ON OUR WAY ON VACATION WHEN IT WENT. THE MECHANIC SAID WE COULD HAVE LOST A LOT MORE HAD THE BELT SNAPPED. DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE BUT FIGURED ITS WORTH REPORTING. *TR
2003 HONDA PILOT EX FAILED MOTOR MOUNTS. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT. *TR
THE KEY DOES NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. WE HAVE TO WIGGLE IT OR MESS WITH IT MANY TIMES TO GET IT TO TURN, SOMETIMES IT TAKES TOO LONG FOR US TO GET TO IT TURN, WHICH CAUSES MANY INCONVENIENCES FOR US. THE DEALER WANTS $700-$900 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT OR MISTAKE IN THE ENGINEERING DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. AND WE KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDAS. PLEASE RECALL PILOTS FOR THIS VERY INCONVENIENT DEFECT. IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL QUICK, NOT BEING ABLE TO START YOUR CAR BECAUSE THE KEY WON'T TURN WILL BE CATASTROPHIC. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF QUICKLY BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
IGNITION LOCK FAILURE, KEY STOPPED WORKING CAR WON'T START LEFT US STRANDED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD GEARS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.
FRONT AND SIDE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED REPLACING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, THE VEHICLE MOVED IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN HE RESTARTED IT, THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY BUT A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 106,000.
I HAVE A 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 128,000 MILES. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, SPEED ABOUT 60 THE CAR SLAMMED AND THE SPEED CAME DOWN 20 MPH IN A COUPLE OF SECONDS. I WAS LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
CONSUMERS 2003 HONDA PILOT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. CONSUMER FOUND AN AFFORDABLE AUTO SHOP AND LEARNED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDE TO HONDA CONSUMER WAS DENIED WARRANTY SERVICE. A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION IN RELATION TO THE SECOND GEAR, THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, AS A NOTICE NEVER CAME IN THE MAIL. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE MET THE RECALL OUTLINED IN THE NOTICE HE FOUND ONLINE. HONDA INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE PROBLEM DID NOT MEET THE RECALL REQUIREMENTS ISSUED IN 2004. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSIS STATED THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED. IT ALSO STATED A LIST OF PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE, MAINLY THE SECONDARY SHAFT 2ND GEAR AND THE COUNTER SHAFT 2ND GEAR. *JB
I HAVE A 2003 HONDA PILOT THAT IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT IS SLIPPING GEARS AND BOGS WHILE DRIVING.
I HAVE A 2003 HONDA PILOT THAT IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT IS SLIPPING GEARS AND BOGS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE NOTICE THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR ANDI GUESS IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIT.
2003 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSION: MY TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO SLIP IN 2ND GEAR. I HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS ITEMS ON THE VEHICLE - STEERING COLUMN, MOTOR MOUNTS, ETC. THE LIST IS NUMEROUS. I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ALMOST SINCE THE BEGINNING OF PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2006. THE DEALER NEVER TOLD ME THAT THE 2003 PILOT HAD ANY TYPE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I KNOW AS A CONSUMER, I SHOULD HAVE DONE MY OWN RESEARCH, BUT I HAD ALWAYS HEARD EXCELLENT THINGS ABOUT HONDA. MY TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO SLIP, AFTER REVVING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND EVEN THEN THEY NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT PROBLEMS. I HAD MY REPAIRMAN LOOK AT IT BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED. HE IS THE ONE THAT TOLD ME THIS VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS & ALL DEALERS WERE AWARE OF IT. I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR - BUT OF COURSE, IT IS NO LONGER VALID. I AM REALLY UPSET BECAUSE I DRIVE MY 2 CHILDREN AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL JUST STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC - WON'T LEAVE 2ND-3RD GEAR. IT JUST REVS AT ABOUT 20-30 MILES. IT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN AND NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON. THE MESSAGE BOARDS SAY THIS IS THE END OF THE LINE. I WILL ATTEMPT TO SPEAK WITH MY LOCAL DEALER. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA WHO BASICALLY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. NOW, I AM LEARNING ABOUT THE HORRIBLE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE HONDA 2003 PILOT TRANSMISSIONS AND AM JUST DISAPPOINTED THAT IN THE EFFORT TO MAKE MONEY, NO ONE THOUGHT OF CONSUMER SAFETY. OBVIOUSLY, HONDA RECOGNIZES THAT THIS
I'M NOT OF THAT SCARED OF STICKING GAS PEDALS KIND ON PERSON. JUST WANT TO FILE THIS INCIDENT TO PROBABLY HELP OTHERS TO AVOID PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. AFTER CAR BEING PARKED FOR THREE WEEKS AT AIRPORT WHEN FIRST STARTED IT I HAD AND ISSUE WITH THE STUCK GAS PEDAL. FORTUNATELY I WAS IN THE PARKING GEAR WHEN I FIRST PRESSED THE PEDAL, OTHERWISE COULD BE AN ACCIDENT ON THE PARKING LOT IF I WAS IN THE DRIVE GEAR. I JUST PULLED THE PEDAL BACK WITH MY TOE AND PRESSED AND PULLED IT COUPLE TIMES MORE BEFORE IT STARTED WORKING OK. BEFORE THAT I FELT IT LITTLE MUSHY AFTER LONG PARKING PERIODS ESPECIALLY IN THE RELATIVELY COLD DAYS IN GEORGIA AUTUMN/WINTER BUT IT WAS COMING AWAY AFTER DRIVING THE CAR DAILY. WHEN I GOT BACK HOME I RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM BY POURING SOME OIL IN THE THROTTLE CABLE JACKET AND LUBRICATED THE PEDAL AXIS AS WELL. HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE THAN SO FAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS SURGING FORWARD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THE RPM'S STARTED TO REV-UP ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THECONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS MANY SAFETY PROBLEM AND THINKS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 05/06/10. *LJ THE DOOR LOCK CYLINDEERS AND IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE AND STEERING LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE KEY DOOR LOCK BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE HEATER MOTOR FAILED. UPDATED 07/06/10.*JB
DRIVING HONDA PILOT 2003 WITH 84,000 MIL ONTO EXPRESSWAY ON RAMP--IT STARTED BUCKING---LIKE IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD AND THEN STOP---FINALLY WENT FORWARD. DROVE IT FOR 1 MORE WEEK AND THIS HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES. TOOK TO A VERY GOOD MECHANIC. THEY TESTED THE CAR AND NOTHING CAME UP AS WRONG. THEN YELLOW LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING--AND THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER WHEN GOING SLOWLY THROUGH A SUBDIVISION--AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN REGAIN POWER. SOMETIMES I HAD TO PULL OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN IN DRIVE TO GET IT TO GO. TOOK THE CAR TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS A CLOGGED GAS LINE. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. COST WAS $400 FOR "CLOGGED GAS LINE" AND ANOTHER 400 FOR SOMETHING ELSE LEAKING. NO LIGHTS ON WHEN LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP. ONE DAY LATER THE YELLOW LIGHT WAS BACK ON AND IT SOMETIMES LOSES POWER WHEN GOING SLOWLY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO DEATHS OR ACCIDENTS YET---BUT IF ANYONE HAD BEEN FOLLOWING ME ONTO THE ON RAMP, THEY WOULD HAVE HIT ME. THE CAR LOOKED LIKE A BUCKING BRONCO. I WANT YOUR HONDA DEALERSHIP IN WAUKESHA WI ----WILDE HONDA TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION---THIS IS NOT NORMAL--AT YOUR COST. I DRIVE PEOPLE AROUND FOR A LIVING---I AM A REALTOR AND IT WAS VERY EMBARRASSING WHEN WE SWUNG INTO THE SUBDIVISION AND I HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER. IMAGINE THAT ON A HIGHWAY WITH A SEMI BEHIND ME. THIS IS A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING. HAD CAR TOWED TO HONDA DEALERSHIP. HONDA FOUND BURNT CONNECTOR IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. REPLACED ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SWITCH PART NUMBER 35012-S5A-307, 7743875-35999 SET, COMBINATION SWITCH. *TR
THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES: 1. THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH THE KEY NOT FITTING PROPERLY AS IT ONCE DID, PERHAPS AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. WHEN I TURN THE KEY OR PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WON'T TURN TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT AND IT DOESN'T MATTER. THE PILOT STILL WON'T START. WHEN READING THE MANUAL, IT'S A PUSH SIGN UNDER THE IGNITION BUT THIS ISN'T ADDRESSED IN THE MANUAL. IT DOESN'T TELL YOU THE PURPOSE OF THE PUSH SIGN. I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET THE KEY TO TURN AND I'VE LET OTHERS TRY ALSO. AND IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ANYONE. THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT BUT THE WHEELS ARE NOT AND IT WON'T TURN TO THE RIGHT IT ALL; IT'S LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WON'T GO IN NEUTRAL, SO I CAN ROLL IT OR NOTHING. 2. THERE IS KNOCKING NOISE THAT IS LOUDER WHEN YOU ACCELERATE ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE PERHAPS IT'S COMING FROM THE DRIVE-TRAIN OR AXLE ON THAT SIDE, ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE AND MAY FALL OFF. 3. THE RADIO TURNS OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS RANDOMLY AND IT MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A WHILE AND SUDDENLY DOES ONCE AGAIN. 4. THE LOCK AND HANDLE TO THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BROKE OFF AND CANNOT BE OPENED. 5. THE WIRE TO CONTROL THE HANDLES FOR THE REAR SEATS TO RECLINE AND FOLD DOWN BROKE FROM WITHIN THE SEATS. I LOOKED INSIDE IT'S THE PIECE OF PLASTIC TO HOLD THE WIRE IN PLACE THAT BROKE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A BETTER REPLACEMENT PART MADE OF STEEL NOT PLASTIC. 6. THE FLOOR MAT STICKS IN BUNCHES CAUSING THE CARPET TO SOIL C
I OWE A 2003 HONDA PILOT. IN 2007 I COMPLAINED TO THE HONDA SERVICE CENTER OF A GRINDING NOISE SEVERAL TIMES BUT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. ON 2/6/2010 MY TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DEALER COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM. NOW SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED IT IS MY PROBLEM. I HAVE READ OF THE SAME SITUATION HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE AND BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HONDA TRANSMISSION. *TR
MY '03 HONDA PILOT WAS IMPACTED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY A DRIVER BACKING UP A BIT FAST AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. THERE WAS DAMAGED DONE TO THE FRONT FENDER TO THE EXTENT OF BUCKLING ONE OF THE FENDER CORNERS. SHORTLY AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WILL NOT GO OFF. CALLED DEALER ABOUT THE SRS LIGHT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS PROBABLY A DEFECT WITH THE AIRBAGS, AIRBAG SENSORS OR A MODULE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT CAN BE AS MUCH AS $1000 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED AFTER PARTS AND LABOR. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AND HAVE DISCOVERED PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT ACCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. I BELIEVE THERE IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED FREE OF CHARGE BY HONDA. *TR
MY HONDA PILOT HAS AN UNFIXABLE LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. IT IS STICKING GAS PEDAL. USUALLY IT STICKS AFTER THE NIGHT IN THE GARAGE AND I NEED TO IDLE UNTIL THE ENGINE IS HOT AND THEN THE PEDAL UNSTICKS. BUT SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. THIS DEFECT MAKES THE CAR ABSOLUTELY UNPREDICTABLE WHILE DRIVING AND COULD EASILY LEAD TO THE FATAL ACCIDENT. ACTUALLY, ONE TIME OUT OF FOUR WHEN IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING I WAS VERY CLOSE TO SUCH ACCIDENT. FIRST TIME I ENCOUNTERED THIS DEFECT WHEN MY NEW CAR WAS STILL ON WARRANTY NOV 4, 2004. SINCE THAN THE AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX THIS DEFECT MORE THAN FOUR TIMES. THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY BUT ALL THE ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I?M VERY CONCERNED AND SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT THIS POINT AS THIS DEFECT NOT ONLY DIRECTLY JEOPARDIZES MY LIFE BUT ALSO THE LIFE OF MY 6-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO IS ALMOST ALWAYS WITH ME IN THE CAR. THE AMERICAN HONDA STATED THAT IT WAS NOT ANYMORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT BECAUSE IT?S UNFIXABLE AND ANYTHING ELSE CONCERNING THIS DEFECT FROM NOW ON IS MY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
MY CAR HAD A TRANSMISSION RECALL NOTICE IN 2004. I TOOK THE CAR IN JULY 2004 AND SUPPOSEDLY THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. HOWEVER, AFTER THAT TIME, MY CAR SEEMED TO DOWNSHIFT VERY ROUGHLY AND WAS JERKY WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR. LAST YEAR MY TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL. WHILE, THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT HIT ME, MY ABRUPT HALT CAUSED AT LEAST 3 CARS BEHIND ME TO REAR END EACH OTHER. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BUT I AM STARTING TO FEEL SOME OF THE OLD SHIFTING ISSUES AGAIN. I'M HOPING IT DOESN'T DIE. *TR
DURING THE FREEZING WEATHER IN JACKSONVILLE. FL. SPECIFICALLY ON THE 7TH & 8TH JAN. 2010, THE GAS PEDAL ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT WAS STICKING. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, I HAD TO APPLY EXTRA FOOT DOWNWARD PRESSURE TO MAKE THE GAS PEDAL MOVE AND MAKE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING THE 2 WEEKS THAT IT WAS FREEZING ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN THIS AREA. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2003 AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM ARISE UNTIL THIS TIME. THE PROBLEM 'SEEMS' TO DISAPPEAR AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING & WARMED UP. I ALSO CALLED HONDA 800-999-1009 AND INFORMED THE HONDA CUSTOMER REP. ABOUT THE ISSUE. HONDA INFORMED ME TO TAKE IT TO HONDA SERVICE OR MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC.*CW
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT IS FAMILIAR WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE LACK OF ACCELERATION COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
2003 HONDA PILOT EX-L RES; AUTOMATIC, 112,700 MILES. TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND-3RD WITH THE SELECTOR IN DRIVE. SHORTLY THERE AFTER AT ROUGHLY 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WE EXPERIENCED A JARRING DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH TO 2ND GEAR WITH A LOUD MECHANICAL "THUNK", THEN IMMEDIATELY BACK TO A HIGHER GEAR, MAYBE 4TH. THE TRUCK DECELERATED SO FAST AND HARSHLY THAT MY WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN WERE THROWN FORWARD INTO THEIR SEAT BELTS AND ALL ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR AND BACK SEAT WERE THROWN INTO THE FRONT OF THE CABIN. THIS MISHAP WAS UNSAFE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I COULD HONESTLY SEE THIS CAUSING AN ACCIDENT UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR INSTANCE, MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY. THE MAINTENANCE INDICATOR LAMP ("MIL") ILLUMINATED AND THE TRANSMISSION MODE SELECTOR BEGAN FLASHING THE DRIVE ("D") INDICATOR. WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PARKED THE VEHICLE AT OUR HOME A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. THE CLUTCH SLIPPED BETWEEN THE FIRST 3 GEARS BELOW 40 MPH ON THE SHORT DRIVE HOME. THE DEALERSHIP PULLED CODE P0780. NO ASSOCIATED FLUID LEAKS AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS STILL PINK AND DIDN'T SMELL BURNT. 3 SERVICE TECHNICIANS TEST DROVE IT. AS SOON AS THE TRANSMISSION WARMED UP, IT DISPLAYED THE SAME BEHAVIOR REPORTED ABOVE AND THE LAST TEST DRIVE BARELY MADE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION FOR $4,293.00. THE TRUCK WAS SERVICED PER HONDA'S RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE/SERVICE SCHEDULE WITH HONDA GENUINE FLUIDS AND PARTS. THE LAST TRANSMISSION/
2003 HONDA PILOT EX WITH 101,054 MILES FRONT, SIDE AND REAR MOTOR MOUNTS WERE CRACKED AND LEAKED HYDRAULIC FLUID. HONDA DEALER REPLACED ALL THREE MOTOR MOUNTS COSTING $600.00. HONDA DEALER STATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM SINCE THE MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THEM (THEY ARE NOT ALL RUBBER). *TR
TRAFFIC ON A SURFACE ROAD CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE 2004 FORD F150 DID NOT STOP IN TIME AND REAR-ENDED OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT ALONG THE RIGHT HALF OF THE BUMPER. THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO SHOVE THE RIGHT FRAME RAIL FORWARD SEVERAL INCHES, WRINKLING THE ROOF AND PUTTING THE DRIVERSIDE REAR DOOR IN TENSION SO THAT IT COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE TWO FRONT SEATS WERE OCCUPIED BY ADULTS. BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BACKS FAILED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NO INJURIES, BUT THE PASSENGER SUFFERED BRUISING FROM THE B-PILLAR AND STRAINED BACK FROM THE COLLAPSING SEATBACK.
2003 HONDA PILOT LX 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND CHANGING GEARS ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
MY 2003 HONDA PILOT HAS CRACKED ENGINE MOUNTS. IT CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE. THE FRONT AND BACK MOUNTS WERE REPLACED AT 97,000 MILES. *TR
FAILED IAC VALVE IN 2003 HONDA PILOT CAUSED ENGINE SURGE DURING PARKING. THIS RESULTED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. *TR
2004 HONDA PILOT, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS!!! HONDA SAID WE NEED TO REPLACE YOUR TRANSMISSION... WE HAD A FLASHING D LIGHT FOR MANY YEAR ON & OFF AGAIN... THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS DONE.. MY REPAIR RECORD AS FOLLOWS: HONDA WEST AUGS 1/2003 A INTERMEDIATE MAINTENANCE, THROTTLE BODY SERVICE, REAR DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE, AC REPLACE VENTILATION FILTERS, INVOICE TOTAL PAID BY US $353.10. 10/03/2006 HAD FRONT BRAKES DONE AT STAR IMPORT SERVICE, THEY NOTED {NO CODES STORED FOR ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. POSSIBLY CLEARED @ DEALER ???) 08/13/2007 STAR IMPORTS SERVICE TO CHECK TRANS LIGHT FLASHES ON SOMETIMES, THEY SCAN TRANSMISSION FOR CODE AND STATED ON INVOICE NONE PRESENT..02/18/2009 HONDATRONICS SERVICE, CHECK TRANSMISSION OPERATION, CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID TWICE, WE PAID 198.13.. JUNE 16, 2009 CHECK D LIGHT FLASHING.. IT IS NOW 10/2009 AND D LIGHT IS FLASHING AGAIN AND WE ARE TOLD WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR
FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS, I AM HAVING THIS BLINKING "D" LIGHT ON THE TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT SUV. I BELIEVED THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO PASSENGERS AND YET THERE IS NO RECALL YET BY HONDA AMERICA TO ALERT THE OWNERS OF THIS SERIOUS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ON THIS 2003 HONDA PILOT CAR. *TR
THE 2ND ROW LH (DRIVER'S SIDE) PASSENGER SEAT IN MY 2003 HONDA PILOT PURCHASED 1/2/2003 WITH ABOUT 90K HAS HAD TWO RELATED PROBLEMS ON THIS SEAT. THIS SEAT IS RARELY SAT IN AND ALMOST NEVER MOVED. IT BECAME JAMMED IN THE UPRIGHT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, LIKELY MUCH EARLIER THAN I DETECTED IT IN JULY 2009. I ATTEMPTED TO FOLD THE SEAT DOWN VIA THE TOP LEVER AND WAS NOT ABLE TO. THE RESULT WAS THE TOP LEVER PLASTIC HANDLE BROKE OFF THE CABLE ACTUATOR. I PAID OVER $200 AT THE DEALER (PRIORITY HONDA IN HUNTERSVILLE NC, 28078 - 704.875.3100) TO HAVE IT FIXED EVEN THOUGH I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE JAMMED CAUSING THE TOP LEVER TO BREAK OFF. AT REPAIR, NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT WOULD CAUSE THE JAM SUCH AS A FOREIGN OBJECT OR ANY DAMAGE. RECENTLY I TRIED TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD (SIDE LEVER ENGAGES BOTH BACK FOLD DOWN AND BASE RELEASE) TO ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO EXIT FROM THE THIRD ROW SEAT AND FOUND THAT THIS LEVER WAS NOT WORKING AS WELL. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE ABOVE-MENTIONED DEALER THE EVENING OF 8/24/09 AND LEFT IT WITH THEM UNTIL THE EVENING OF 8/24. ED JENKINS THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED ME THAT HE PERSONALLY WORKED WITH THE MECHANIC TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE SPENDING THREE HOURS WORKING ON IT AND COULD NOT REPAIR IT. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT A NEW SEAT FRAME WAS REQUIRED TO MAKE THE SEAT OPERATIONAL. A SEAT SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER 6 YEARS WITH LIGHT USE AND IN MY OPINION SHOULD LAST AS LONG AS OR EXCEED THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH IN THE US IS ABOUT THIRTEEN YEARS I CONSIDER THI
2003 HONDA PILOT W/45,500 MILES HESITATION/SURGING WHILE MAINTAINING SPEED OR WHILE LIGHTLY ACCELERATING FROM MAINTAINED SPEED. HUMMING NOISE DURING HESITATION/SURGE. VERY NOTICEABLE BETWEEN 25-40MPH. ADVISED BY HONDA DEALER THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW TO TRANSITION TO 3RD GEAR WHILE GOING APPROX. 30-35 MPH. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE "D" LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, BUT WHEN CAR WAS TURNED OFF, IT DID NOT GO ON AGAIN. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC THINKING IT WAS A "3RD SWITCH" ISSUE I HAD READ ABOUT ON CAR SITES. MY MECHANIC SAID ONE SOLENOID WAS COLD, WHILE ANOTHER WAS HOT. HE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO RUN THE CODES AND GET A SECOND OPINION. THE DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY MECHANIC PICKED THE CAR UP AND ON THE WAY BACK, IT STARTED SHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY. HE SAID HE ALMOST SMACKED HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD IT JERKED SO HARD. THIS MARKS A VERY RAPID DECLINE OVER LESS THAN A WEEK AND AFTER MY MECHANIC THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THE CAR WAS PART OF THE 2004 TRANSMISSION RECALL WHICH WAS SERVICED BY A HONDA DEALER. *TR
200 HONDA PILOT... TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING... HOLDING GEAR BEFORE LURCHING TO NEXT GEAR... SAME WITH SLOWING DOWN... PRETTY ALARMING... WAS TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF AROUND $3000... CAR ONLY HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT... VERY FRUSTRATING... HONDA SHOULD REPLACE THESE ON THEIR DIME. *TR
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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