2003 Honda Pilot complaints

CAR JOLTED FORWARD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. VERY SCARY. IT DIDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY AFTERWARDS. WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR ON A SLOPE, FOR EXAMPLE, IT DIDN'T SHIFT AND THEN JOLTED FORWARD. IN ONE OCCASION THAT I PUT THE CAR IN THE R GEAR, AND IT DIDN'T GO BACKWARDS. CHECKED WITH A HONDA DEALERSHIP, AND TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL*. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE OF HER AUTOMATIC DOOR ACTUATORS FAILED. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE CANNOT UNLOCK THE VEHICLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, THE INABILITY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS INCREASES THE RISK FOR SAFETY HAZARD. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE DENIED RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT AN EXISTING RECALL. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED.THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 109,000.

OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT LOCKED UP ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF THE 2ND GEAR. WE WERE TRAVELING IN THE 3RD LANE OVER 60 MPH WHEN BOTH FRONT TIRES LOCKED AND WE SKIDDED TO A HALT IN LESS THAN 200 YARDS ON THE HIGHWAY. PRIOR TO OUR VEHICLE BREAKING DOWN, THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF DANGER, NO UNUSUAL SOUNDS, NO BLINKING LIGHTS OR ANY HESITATION WITH THE CAR. OUR VEHICLE HAD 138,400+ MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY ACCORDING TO HONDA'S RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES, INCLUDING ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGES. ON MAY 7, 2004 WITH 36,384 MILES, OUR VEHICLE HAD RECEIVED A RETROFIT OF THE A/T OIL JET KIT DUE TO HONDA'S 04-021B SAFETY RECALL ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SECOND GEAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT. THE CAR BEHIND US STOPPED JUST IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. OUR CAR COULD NOT BE ROLLED INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AS BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED AND WE WERE STRANDED IN THE 3RD LANE. A POLICE OFFICER WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND LOGGED THE INCIDENT AS A DISABLED VEHICLE. THE OFFICER REQUESTED FOR IMMEDIATE TOWING SINCE WE WERE IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A HONDA DEALER, WHO PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING DIAGNOSIS AND ESTIMATE: "TRANSMISSION INTERNAL FAILURE BOTH FRONT AXLES TWISTED NEEDS 2 TIRES - FLAT SPOTS ALIGNMENT $5,199.14 PLUS TAX" WE OPTED NOT TO REPAIR THE HONDA AND INSTEAD PURCHASED A NEW NON-HONDA VEHICLE AND RECEIVED A TRADE-IN VALUE FOR 'AS-IS' CONDITION. *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 HONDA PILOT THAT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. I WAS ON CA HIGHWAY 80 WHEN THE "D" LIGHT SUDDENLY STARTED FLASHING THEN THE GEARS STARTED TO STICK. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE AND I HAD TO SUDDENLY SLOW THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY TO 40 MPH. I PULLED OFF AS SOON AS IT WAS SAFE AND WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE NOR GET IT INTO OVERDRIVE. HAD TO DRIVE IT AT AN UNSAFE SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY TO THE NEAREST REPAIR STATION. HONDA IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS DEFECT NOW THAT THE CAR HAS 110,000 MILES AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER REQUEST A REFUND FOR THE TRANSMISSION WORK THAT WAS A SAFETY RECALL. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO REVERSE GEAR AND THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN SWITCHING THE GEAR FORWARD. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

2003 HONDA PILOT MOTOR MOUNTS BROKEN. CAR ONLY HAS 77K ON IT. OWNED 5 OTHER HONDAS NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. NO ROUGH DRIVING. COST IS OVER 500.00 TO REPLACE SAFETY ISSUE, COULD BE A SERIOUS ISSUE IF THE MOUNTS FAIL. ALSO THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IS ALWAYS GETTING STUCK AND SOMETIMES TAKES 20 MINUTES TO GET IT TO TURN THE CAR ON. *TR

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, SLIPPING NOT GOING INTO SECOND GEAR, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENTLY, BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR IN MAY 2009 DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INCREASED IN JUNE, "D" LIGHT FLASHING, SLIPPING NEAR ACCIDENT TRYING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC AND TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE ENGINE JUST REVVED; DEALER REPLACED A PART FOR $800. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY, MORE SLIPPING NOT GOING INTO GEAR MORE NEAR ACCIDENTS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, DEALER NOW NOTICES PROBLEM, DEALER SAYS WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

HEADLAMPS ON 2003 HONDA PILOT SIMPLY STOP WORKING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS OUT OF PARK. I SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY UNTIL IT IS IN PARK. THIS DEFECT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL FOR ALL HONDA ACCORDS, 1999-02. THE DEALER HAS QUOTED MORE THAN $500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE APPEALED TO AMERICAN HONDA AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS DEFECT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 THIS RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE, NOW THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED SLIP AND SHIFT HARD, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE "D" FLASHING DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, BUT RESETS WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. I'M AFRAID THAT THE AS STATE ON THE RECALL CONSEQUENCE: QUOTE: "GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH." I DID SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THIS AND THERE SEVERAL HUNDREDS IF NO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

SRS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND STAYS ON. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT 140K MILES. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. THE "D" INDICATOR BEGAN TO FLASH THEN THE CAR WOULD ACT LIKE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRYING START FROM A DEAD STOP IN 4TH GEAR. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE NEXT GEAR SLIPPING. WAS MERGING HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND HARDLY AVOIDED ANOTHER CAR COMING FROM BEHIND ME. SEEN OTHER CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING ON 2003-2004 PILOT TRANSMISSIONS FAILS SAME WAY SOON AFTER 100KMILES. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT. 2ND GEAR GOING OUT. SEEMS TO HAVE CHIPPED TEETH ON GEAR. I CONTACTED HONDA. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY PILOT HAD ALREADY BEEN LOOKED AT BACK IN 2004. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A DIRECT RESULT OF ORIGINAL RECALL ON THIS MODEL. THIS ALL BEGAN WITH MY "D" FLASHING. NOW MY SECOND GEAR IS GRINDING AND ABOUT TO O OUT. *TR

OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT'S (WITH 85,000 MILES) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON APPROXIMATELY 6/1/09. WE RECENTLY JUST PURCHASED THIS PILOT AND ARE THE SECOND OWNERS. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT AND SERVICED AT THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP RIGHT UP UNTIL WE BOUGHT IT. ANYHOW, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR BEGAN TO DOWNSHIFT AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN RATHER VIOLENTLY AS WE PULLED OFF ON THE EXIT RAMP. THE REST OF THE DRIVE HOME THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING AND DOWN-SHIFTING QUITE ROUGHLY. WHERE IT GETS REALLY INTERESTING WAS THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION IN 2004, WARNING THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD HAVE "GEAR FAILURE AND LOCK-UP CAUSING A REAR-END COLLISION." BUT THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT THE RECALL IS TOTALLY UNRELATED TO OUR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE COST OF REPAIR. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT, 95K MILES, TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN STARTED FLASHING, SLIPPING OR POPPING BETWEEN GEARS, ACCELERATION IS GONE, WENT DOWNHILL VERY QUICKLY. I LOGGED ONTO VARIOUS WEBSITES AND SEE THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS REPORTED BY MANY EARLY MODEL HONDA PILOT OWNERS I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED AS I EXPECTED A HONDA TO BE TOP NOTCH. *TR

THE FLOOR BOARD OF MY 2003 HONDA PILOT IS VERY DAMP TO THE EXTENT THAT IF YOU WERE TO LEAVE A PAPER BACK ON IT, THE BAG WOULD BECOME WET. THIS WAS LAST OBSERVED ON AN 5-HOUR TRIP WE WERE TAKING ON JUNE 5TH. IT RAINED ALL DAY, AND WE WERE RUNNING THE AIR CONDITION FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP. WHEN WE RETURNED HOME, WE HAD TO REMOVE THE MATS (WHICH WERE WET ON THE BOTTOM) TO ALLOW THE FLOORS TO DRY OUT. IT STILL IS DAMP TO THIS DAY (JUNE 16TH). I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, OR IF IT IS OUTSIDE WATER LEAKING IN. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT I FIRST NOTICED APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM THEN. IT IS HARD TO ATTRIBUTE THE PROBLEM TO ANY EVENT BECAUSE THE FLOOR REMAINS DAMP FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY BE SURE WHAT CONDITION IS CAUSING IT - YOU ARE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THROUGH SO MANY CONDITIONS THAT IT'S HARD TO TELL. FROM TIME TO TIME I HAVE TO TAKE OUT THE MATS WHEN IT BECOMES EXTREMELY DAMP. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MOLD, THOUGH I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM BECOMING TOO MUSTY. *TR

FEB 2009 NOTICED TRANSMISSION WAS PERIODICALLY SLIPPING AT 86,000 MILES, 1000 OVER EXTENDED WARRANTY. DID NOT MALFUNCTION WHEN MY MECHANIC CHECKED IT. I WAS PASSING A TRUCK GOING UPHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR ON ITS OWN AND SLAMMED TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP. EVERYTHING IN MY CAR WAS THROWN FORWARD. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHERE I WAS TRAVELING AND HE RECORDED THE CODE P0730, PROBLEM IN SHIFT CONTROL SYSTEM. BACK TO MY MECHANIC AGAIN FOR SOLENOID REPLACEMENT. STILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. CALLED HONDA CORP AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A HONDA DEALER. HONDA DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING NEW TRANSMISSION. I PROVIDED ALL RECORDS FOR PROOF OF MAINTENANCE. THERE IS NO PROOF THAT THE "FIX IT" WAS EVER PERFORMED ON THE TRANSMISSIONS RECALL. I AM OUT OVER $2500.00 FOR A PROBLEM THAT HONDA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED RESPONSIBILITY FOR IN THE PAST BUT IS CHOOSING TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY NOW. I AM THANKFUL THAT I DID NOT CRASH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. *TR

BLINKING D LIGHT ON 2003 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSION. DEALERS SAY THEY DON'T KNOW THE CAUSE. EDMUNDS FORUM FULL OF SAME COMPLAINT, SAME EVASIVE ANSWER. TRANSMISSION ABOUT TO FAIL. *TR

THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT BROKE, AND WE WERE ALERTED BY OUR HONDA DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 79,000 MILES ON IT. THE MOTOR MOUNTS HELP HOLD THE ENGINE IN PLACE. A GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED ONLINE CHAT BOARDS WITH DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PILOT OWNERS COMPLAINING THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE ON THEIR CARS, AT AS LITTLE AS 60,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS WIDESPREAD AND POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. WE HAD OUR BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. *TR

HONDA PILOT LEAKING THROUGH AND TO THE FRONT FLOOR BOARDS. *TR

VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCEPT KEY, AFTER PLAYING WITH IT FINALLY GET THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, BUT WILL NOT START. PLAY AND PLAY WITH IGNITION AND CAR FINALLY STARTS. TAKE TO HONDA DEALERSHIP IN EL CAJON CA , THEY SAY BECAUSE OF WEIGHT OF KEYS, HAVE A TOTAL OF 3 KEYS ON MY CHAIN, THAT IT HAS WORN OUT THE KEY AND THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION. THEY MAKE A NEW KEY, IT GOES RIGHT IN BUT THE IGNITION IS STILL NOT TURNING OVER, HAVE TO GET A IGNITION. THEY REPLACE THE IGNITION BUT NOW I HAVE TWO HEAVY HONDA KEYS BECAUSE THE "NEW IGNITION" IS A SIDEWINDER AND IT COMES WITH A KEY THAT THEY CAN'T PROGRAM TO FIT THE DOORS. NOW MY KEY CHAIN IS HEAVIER THAN BEFORE. THIS COST ME $850.00. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE GEARS FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY $3,500 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 162,525.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 15-20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WERE MECHANICAL FAILURES IN THE TRANSMISSION. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN;AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EARLIER RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2004; HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE FAILURE ADDRESSED IN THE SAFETY RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 6/01/09 *CN UPDATED 06/02/09.*JB

THE HONDA PILOT 2003 WHICH HAS 134500 MILES ON IT STARTED TO REV UP WHILE ACCELERATING AND LURCHING FORWARD VIOLENTLY. ONCE WHILE TRYING TO GET ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY STALL AS IF PUT IN A NEUTRAL AND LURCHED BACK TO 50MPH SPEED IN FEW SECONDS. LUCKILY NOT BODY IS BEHIND BUT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. HAD THE VEHICLE TO HONDA CAR DEALER WHO SERVICED THE VEHICLE 1 WEEK BACK AND THEY SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WAS QUOTED $4000 FOR THE REPAIR. CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND THE SR CHECKED WITH HIS SUPERVISOR AND SAID THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION PARTS. *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I TRAVEL FREQUENTLY AND CURRENTLY HAVE 157,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AS REQUIRED AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED. IT HAS ALWAYS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS WITH HARSH SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, BUT DUE TO LACK OF ANY CODE WARNINGS, I'VE BEEN ADVISED BY THE DEALER AND PERSONAL MECHANICS THAT THERE WERE NO CONCERNS. AS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF A VEHICLE, ONE CAN SENSE ANY CHANGES IN HOW AN AUTOMOBILE DRIVES AND AT 50,265 MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A CHANGE WITH THE SHIFTING OF GEARS. AGAIN AT 87,767 I EXPRESSED CONCERN, BUT STILL NO CODES. AT 103,226 MILES, MY CONCERNS GREW AND FURTHER CHECKING AND DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT THERE IS HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, BUT NO INDICATIONS THAT A REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. ON APRIL 18, 2009 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE 'REVVING' AS THOUGH IT WAS IN NEUTRAL - THERE WAS NO POWER. I HAD A TOTAL OF 6 PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. I MANEUVERED TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. ON APRIL 29, 2009, MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION COMPANY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT A COST OF $3,500. I PURCHASED THE PILOT CONFIDENT THAT I INVESTED IN A VEHICLE THAT WILL PROVIDE ME ASSURANCE OF NO MAJOR POWERTRAIN ISSUES. I FELT STRONGLY ABOUT HONDA'S REPUTATION SO THIS IS QUITE A DISAP

THE CHROME PLATING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE OF OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT IS FLAKING AT THE FRONT EDGE. IT IS A DANGEROUS CUT HAZARD. OUR PILOT HAS ONLY 69077 MILES. THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE A RECALL, AS IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I PURCHASED A EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED. THE REPAIR COST IS $39.00 LABOR AND $20.00 FOR HANDLE. THE DEALER SERVICE WRITER SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE, AND HAS EVEN EXPERIENCED IT HIMSELF. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 2003 HONDA PILOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE REVVED UP WHILE SEEMING TO COAST AND THEN JOLTED FORWARD. CAR HAS 109,000 MILES. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION AND FAILURE OF CONTROL MODULE. ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO DEALER REPAIR SHOP IT WAS CODED AS AN INCORRECT GEAR RATIO. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A VEHICLE WHICH HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND ONLY DRIVEN ON PAVED ROADS. *TR

CAR STARTED TO RIDE ROUGH AT 75K MILES WITH "D" LIGHT FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER MIS-IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 5K MILES BUT EVENTUALLY DETERMINED THAT THE CAR NEEDS AN ENTIRE NEW TRANSMISSION. CAR NOW HAS JUST OVER 80K MILES. VERY SHORT LIFE FOR A TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE FRONT ENGINE MOUNT IS CRACKED AND ONE OF THE SIDE MOUNTS IS TORN AND ABOUT TO CRACK. MY HONDA PILOT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN FEBRUARY 2003 AND HAS 84,000 MILES ON IT. HONDA CLAIMS THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS ONLY LAST FIVE YEARS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART, ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE VOLUME OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THE WEB. *TR

MY 2003 HONDA PILOT WAS RECALLED FOR A POTENTIAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE INSPECTION/REMEDY WAS PERFORMED IN 2004. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED WITH THE EXACT SAME FAILURE THE RECALL WAS INTENDED TO REMEDY. WHILE TRAVELING A DEALER IN MIAMI (BRICKELL MOTORS) WORKED WITH A REGIONAL HONDA REP AND OFFERED A 50% REDUCTION IN THE COST OF A REBUILD TRANSMISSION. UPON RETURNING HOME THE LOCAL DEALER (COGGIN HONDA) WORKED WITH A REGIONAL HONDA REP AND ONLY OFFERED A 5% REDUCTION. LEARNING THIS WE CONTACTED THE ORIGINAL DEALER (BRICKELL) AND WERE INFORMED THAT WE HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK (100 MILES AWAY) BEFORE THEY COULD ASK THE REP AGAIN FOR ASSISTANCE. NO GUARANTEE ON WHAT WOULD BE OFFERED. CONTACTING HONDA USA WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD LIKE LIKELY BE NO FURTHER OFFERS BUT THE ORIGINAL DEALERS OFFER SHOULD BE GOOD FOR 30 DAYS. WE ESCALATED THIS TO A CASE MANAGER ASKING THAT THE 50% OFFER BE MADE GOOD AT OUR LOCAL DEALER (COGGIN). IN THE INTERIM WE MUST RETRIEVE THE CAR WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS RECALLED FOR A POTENTIAL CRASH HAZARD. THIS CAR SHOULD BE PROVIDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AS PER THE RECALL NUMBER 04V176000. *TR

MY 2003 HONDA PILOT HAD A TRANSMISSION RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO, WHICH WAS REPORTEDLY PERFORMED BY HONDA. 3-14-09 IT WAS SERVICED BY HONDA, FOR A LIGHT THAT CAME ON INDICATING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. AFTER THE SERVICE, ON 4-2-09, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP THIS ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, ON 275 DURING RUSH HOUR IN CINCINNATI, DUE TO A SUDDEN SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT REAR BRAKE LIGHTS INDICATING STOPPING OR SLOWING. THIS IS AN INDICATION THAT EVEN WITH THE RECALL ALTERATIONS, THE PROBLEM OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A CRASH. DH, A FRIEND HAD A SIMILAR FAILURE CAUSING A CRASH WITH HER THREE CHILDREN ON BOARD, THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED INJURIES IN THIS ROLLOVER CRASH. HONDA WAS NOTIFIED AND SERVICE PERSONNEL WERE ADVISED AND THEY ARE NON RESPONSIVE. THIS VEHICLE IS DESIGNED FOR UP TO EIGHT OCCUPANTS MAKING THIS A SERIOUS POSSIBILITY FOR BODILY INJURY. AT THE TIME OF RECALL THE CORRECTION FOR THIS FAILURE WAS TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THERE IS A 30 DAY WAIT FOR REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS, EVIDENTLY BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. A FRIEND WITH THE SAME YEAR HONDA PILOT HAD THE SAME LOCK UP OCCUR WITH HER TRANSMISSION AND IT DID CAUSE THE PILOT TO CRASH AND ROLL OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH SIMILAR STORIES. UNFORTUNATELY HONDA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM DESPITE THE SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 135,000 MILES. *TR

I OWN A 2003 HONDA PILOT. TWO OF THE FOUR ENGINE MOUNTS ARE BAD. FROM PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN MANY, MANY HONDA PILOTS. IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE DEFECTIVE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE TO BE HAVING THE SAME COSTLY PROBLEM. *TR

THE CAR MAKES GRINDING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE CAR GENTLY ACCELERATES FROM BELOW 1400 RPM TO 1500 RPM. IT STARTED TO HAPPEN AROUND 30000 MILES AND HAPPENS FREQUENTLY NOW (97000 MILES). DEALER HAS REPLACED EGR VALVE 3 TIMES WITH NO AVAIL AND THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE GRINDING NOISE LASTS UPTO 5 SECONDS. THE TACHOMETER JUMPS UP AND DOWN AROUND 1500 RPM WHILE MAKING THE GRINDING NOISE. THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID WAS CHANGED BUT NOISE STILL HAPPENS. *TR

2 FAILURES: 1) REAR AIR UNIT FAILED AT 50,000 MILES / 5 YEARS. 2) TWO MOTOR MOUNT BROKEN (FRONT AND SIDE) AT 60,000 MILES / 6 YEARS. *TR

NOTICED THAT THE HONDA PILOT WOULD SHAKE WHEN DRIVING AT 60, THEN EVENTUALLY START FEELING THE BRAKES GOING INTO EFFECT AND THE SPEED DROPPING TO BELOW 40. HOWEVER, DRIVING AT 25 YESTERDAY, THE BRAKES LOCKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, I HAD TO PUSH DOWN THE BRAKES AND THEN THE CAR MOVED. *TR

I OWN A 2003 HONDA PILOT EXL,LATELY I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SWITCH NOT WANTING TO TURN ON OR UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL. WHAT SHOULD I DO...I'VE OWN TWO OTHER HONDAS AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS.(98 ACCORD,98 CIVIC);THEIR WAS RECALL ON THEM. IS THEIR A RECALL ON THE HONDA PILOT SWITCH OR STEERING COLUMN. *TR

1-FAILED IGNITION LOCK 2- CANNOT START THE CAR 3- REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. *TR

HAD TO REPLACE FRONT AND SIDE MOTOR MOUNTS ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT. THIS WAS AFTER ONLY 67,118 MILES. MECHANIC SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL MOTOR MOUNTS. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

MY 2003 HONDA PILOT WAS CAUSING LACERATIONS TO THE HANDS AND FINGERS WHEN USING THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE DELAMINATING DOOR HANDLES. THE CHROME PLATING ON THE PLASTIC DELAMINATES AND HAS A VERY SHARP EDGE THAT SLICES THE FINGERS OR HANDS IF RUB AGAINST. ALL OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE HAD LACERATION INJURIES FROM THESE DEFECTIVE HANDLES. I HAVE POINTED OUT THE DEFECT TO HONDA BUT THEY SAY IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND NOT COVERED. I HAVE OLDER VEHICLES FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS THAT DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE AND OBVIOUSLY DISAGREE WITH HONDA'S ASSESSMENT. *TR

HAD 2003 HONDA PILOT IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE TIMING BELT. SERVICE MGR CALLED AND STATED THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT AND SIDE MOUNT WERE BROKEN. HE STATED THIS IS A ONGOING OCCURRENCE WITH THE HONDA PILOTS....WE HAD 137,000 MILES. I AM BEING INFORMED THAT THIS OCCURS AROUND 60,000 MILES ALL THE TIME. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT STARTS FLASHING AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, HOWEVER, THERE IS NO EFFECT ON DRIVING PERFORMANCE. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO OUR MECHANIC BUT HE CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM WHEN HE PLUGS THE DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INTO THE COMPUTER. WHILE THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT AFFECTED OUR USE OF THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT ONE DAY THE TRANSMISSION WILL SEIZE UP. FOR INFORMATION, WE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CHECK WARNING WAS ISSUED A FEW YEARS AGO (YEARS BEFORE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED) AND WE WERE TOLD BY OUR HONDA DEALER THAT OUR TRANSMISSION DID NOT FALL INTO THE CATEGORY THAT REQUIRED REMEDIAL WORK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND PROCEEDING FROM A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV. THERE WAS SUDDENLY A 3-5 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IT REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN;AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS OPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

AT 100,000 MILES I WAS INFORMED BY THE HONDA DEALERSHIP THAT 2 OF 3 MOTOR MOUNTS WERE CRACKED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED ON MY 2003 PILOT. THIS WILL COST ME APPROX $400. SEEMS THAT MANY HONDA PILOT OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER "OLDER" CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND, LATER THAT DAY, IT WOULD NOT START. HE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT EVENTUALLY STARTED. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE AND, AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,348 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRES ON HIS VEHICLE WERE DETERIORATING ON THE INTERIOR SIDEWALL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY PERFORMED A REALIGNMENT. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ADJUST THE CAMBER AND CASTER. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE FOUR SETS OF TIRES, IN WHICH ALL OF THEM HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF TREAD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE LIFETIME OF THE TIRES WERE 28,000 MILES. ALL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED PROPERLY HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 10-30-08 *BF UPDATED 10/31/08

WE BOUGHT OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT ASSUMING THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT FAMILY VEHICLE. WE HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND ANOTHER ON THE WAY SO OUR CAR IS FULL OF CAR SEATS. WE HAVE A BACKLESS BOASTER SEAT IN THE THIRD ROW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, A BOASTER SEAT IN THE THIRD ROW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND A FORWARD FACING CAR SEAT IN THE SECOND ROW DRIVER'S SIDE. IT IS INCREDIBLE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GET THE CHILDREN IN THE THIRD ROW BUCKLED BECAUSE THE SEAT BELTS ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING "STUCK" AND HAVE TO BE RETHREAD ALL THE WAY BACK. THIS IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY GET CAUGHT ON THE BOASTER SEATS THAT THEN HAVE TO BE PICKED UP AND MOVED AROUND TO GET THE SEAT BELT OFF. ALSO, THE SEAT ON THE SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS TOO NARROW AND THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES VERY LOW, CLOSE TO THE SEAT AND IT ENDS UP UNDERNEATH THE BOASTER SEAT. THESE DIFFICULTIES MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY PRESCHOOLERS TO BUCKLE BY THEMSELVES AND FORCES ME TO CLIMB BACK IN THEIR SEAT TO FIX THE SEAT BELTS AND MOVE THE BOOSTER SEAT FORWARD TO BUCKLE THEM IN. IT IS INCREDIBLE DIFFICULT AND UNCOMFORTABLE FOR AN ADULT TO CLIMB INTO THE THIRD ROW SEAT, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT IS SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT. WE HAVE TRIED MOVING THE SEATS AROUND AND CAN NOT FIND ANY BETTER POSITIONS FOR THE CAR SEATS. *TR

THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT SEPARATED WHILE BEING DRIVEN OUT OF A PARKING LOT. THE FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. UPON INSPECTION, THE JOINT HAD NEVER BEEN LUBRICATED WHEN THE CAR WAS ASSEMBLED. THIS JOINT IS A "LUBED-FOR-LIFE" JOINT THAT CANNOT BE INSPECTED OR LUBRICATED ONCE ASSEMBLED. THE PROTECTIVE BOOT AND RETAINING CLIP WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION WHEN THE JOINT FAILED. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER (TENNESSEE LICENSE # 110751) AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL METAL FAILURE INVESTIGATIONS. I AM CERTAIN THAT THIS JOINT FAILED DUE TO HAVING NOT BEEN LUBRICATED AT THE FACTORY. THIS CAR HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY A HONDA DEALERSHIP AS A CERTIFIED USED CAR AND HAD ALSO BEEN SERVICED AT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAD PASSED THEIR SUSPENSION CHECK. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED 10 MINUTES EARLIER OR LATER WE WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR ABUSED IN ANY WAY. NEITHER HONDA USA NOR THE TWO DEALERSHIPS INVOLVED WOULD RECOGNIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS FAILURE. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, HUB ASSEMBLY, AND STEERING KNUCKLE WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

ON OR A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO MARCH 13,2008 I WAS LEFT THE PARKING LOT OF AN AREA BUSINESS, UPON PULLING OUT ONTO THE ROAD MARCH 13,2008 HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHEN PULLING OUT OF STORE PARKING LOT REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHT BULBS, FUSES&RELAYS LOW BEAMS INOPERABLE HIGH BEAMS STILL WORKED DROVE HOME WITH INOPERABLE HEADLIGHTS MARCH 14,2008 PURCHASED REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT SWITCH FROM A HONDA DEALER MARCH 15,2008 FOUND MELTED WIRE / HARNESS CONNECTOR AND CONTACTED HONDA DEALER FOR RECALL/BULLETIN INFORMATION PICKED UP COPY OF BULLETIN NUMBER 07-027 DATED MAY 12,2007,WHICH CITES "HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED" MARCH 17,2008 CONTACTED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE,REQUESTED GOODWILL CONSIDERATION-WAS DIRECTED TO HAVE A HONDA DEALER PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC AND SUBMIT FORM TO DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER MARCH 19,2008 TOOK VEHICLE TO HONDA DEALER TO PERFORM SRS SAFETY RECALL,AND TO DIAGNOSE THE HEADLIGHT PRIOR TO MAY 12,2008 WAS TOLD TECH DID NOT CHECK HEADLIGHT PROBLEM ON MARCH 19,2008 MAY 12,2008 IN FRUSTRATION, TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO HONDA DEALER TO PERFORM REPAIRS, PAID $3147 FOR THE PART,AND $9074 FOR THE REPAIR DEALER RETURNED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH,BUT KEPT THE MELTED CONNECTOR AND WIRE JUNE 20,2008 RETURNED VEHICLE TO HONDA DEALER FOR SAME PROBLEM,THEY SAID HEADLIGHT SOCKETS WERE UNPLUGGED AND WERE WORKING FINE JUNE 20,2008 RETURNED VEHICLE TO HONDA DEALER,INFORMED THEM THE LIGHTS STILL DID NOT WORK,THEY REPLACED THE MELTED WIRE AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH SOCKET AGAIN DEALER KEPT MELTED WIRES AND CONNECTOR AN