2003 Honda Pilot complaints

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE SHIFT INTERLOCK WILL NOT LET THE CAR OUT OF PARK, UNLESS YOU HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL 20-30 TIMES. HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED DUE TO HONDA NOT BEING ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM

SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE IN 8/2002, THERE HAS BEEN A SLIGHT VIBRATION AT SPEEDS AROUND 70 MPH. SINCE CHSNGING THE TIRES RECENTLY, THE PROBLEM IS MORE PRONOUNCED, BUT ONLY WHEN COLD. THE VIBRATION BORDERS ON A SHAKE, AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS THE FLOORBOARDS.

SRS ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WAS DISRUPTED BY ELECTRONIC ITEM BEING PLACED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE 2003 HONDA PILOT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *NM

DT: WHEN OPENING THE TAILGATE THE HINGE FAILED, AND THE HATCHBACK FELL DOWN ON CONSUMER. IT APPEARED THAT PISTON WAS TOO SMALL FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE DOOR, AND THE ATTACHMENT SHOULD BE PLACED IN A POSITION WHERE IT COULD SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF DOOR. NO INJURIES OCCURRED. CURRENTLY, THE HINGES COMPLETELY FAILED.*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON REVERSE SHIFT WASN'T WORK PROPERLY. IT HAPPENED TWICE IN THE MORNING WHEN I FIRST START. THE CAR WOLUDN'T MOVE AND LOCKED UP. I NEED TO SHIFT TO DRIVE GEAR THAN REVERSE. SOME OTHER TIME I HAVE TO TURN OFF ENGIN THAN TURN ON TO MOVE THE GEAR. THIS WAS HAPPEN AFTER RECALL FOR MY HONDA POLIT 2003.

DASHBOARD SWITCH FOR EMERGENCY LIGHTS DOES NOT ILLUMINATE IN 2003 HONDA PILOT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE MANUFACTURER SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLES I OWN ARE HONDA AND THE SWITCH IS ILLUMINATED SO IT CAN BE SEEN IN THE DARK.*AK

2003 HONDA PILOT EXPERIENCED MINOR PROBLEMS. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE VEHICLE'S SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. ON DAY AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. *NM

WHILE PARKED IN A LOT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE . THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, BUT WAS NOT SURE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM. NO HESITATION NOR ANY WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 1000 MILES WHEN THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *BF *NM

RECALL CAMPAIGN: 04V176000 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SECOND GEAR INSPECTION. TRANMISSION SLIPPING. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED TWICE REGARDING THE TRANSMISION, ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR CHARGES.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT WENT DOWN EMBANKMENT SMASHING INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE. *AK REF. ODI NO. 10115735 FOR 2004. *TT

THERE WAS A BLIND SPOT WHEN THE CONSUMER LOOKED IN BOTH MIRRORS, HE TURNED HIS HEAD TO LOOK AND SAW NO VEHICLE. THE INSTANT THE CONSUMER TURNED BACK TO THE CENTER LANE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *BF THE SECOND VEHICLE OF THIS COMPLAINT IS: VIN#[XXX] HONDA PILOT 2004. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON FEB. 6, 2005 IN WHICH A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER LOOKED IN BOTH MIRRORS, TURNED HER HEAD AND STARTED IN THE LEFT LANE AND INSTANTLY SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES, WENT INTO AN EMBANKMENT, REAR FIRST ABOUT 40 FEET, THEN HIT A SMALL TREE. THE BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT, THE TRUNK WAS SMASHED IN AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *SC SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ANOTHER HONDA PILOT AND THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP ALMOST CAUSING LOST OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE SHOWED IMMEDIATE DETERIORATION WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS NOISE IN THE FRONT AXLE. IT GOT LOUDER WITH MORE SPEED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *TC

HONDA PILOT 2003, VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHAT IS BEHIND, A BACK-UP SENSOR SHOULD BE STANDARD IN ALL CARS. *BF SAFETY HAZARD CONCERN. *SC

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. WHEN THE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AS IT SHOULD. THE OWNER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND ALL THEY WOULD DO IS SPRAY THE PEDAL WITH SILICONE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS FUNCTION IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *JB THE PROBLEM WAS SAID TO BE DUE TO CARBON BUILD UP. THE STEERING MADE A CLICKING AND OR GROANING SOUND WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE NOISE WAS NEAR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *SC

THE JACK COLLAPSED WHILE JACKING UP THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE THE FRONT TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *JB THE CONSUMER WAS CARRYING A LOAD OF 4500 POUNDS WHEN THE JACK COLLAPSED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRUSHED JACK WITH AN SAME TYPE OF JACK. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WILL NEVER USE IT. *TC

ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS ON TURNING ON. THIS IS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE VEHICLE . ALSO, VEHICLE IS USING TWICE AS MUCH GAS AS BEFORE.*AK

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR AN AIR BAG ADJUSTMENT. *NM

SRS LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK PILOT TO HONDA SERVICE TO HANDLE RECALL AND PRESUMABLY CORRECT LIGHT PROBLEM. SERVICE PERSON SAID PROBLEM WAS NOT RECALL RELATED, INSTEAD SAID PROBLEM WAS SRS CONTROL UNIT. SINCE VEHICLE HAS OVER 36K MILES, THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *JB

CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSITION OF THE HEAD RESTRAINT ON THE FRONT SEAT. *NM THE BACK OF THE CONSUMER'S HEAD WOULD HIT THE LOWER EDGE OF THE TOP BAR OF THE HEAD RESTRAINT ABOUT AN INCH BELOW THE TOP OF THE CONSUMERS HEAD. *SC

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2003 PILOT W/ 27000 MILES ON IT DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND SMOKE SUDDENLY STARTED POURING OUT FROM THE RADIO. HONDA SAYS THE RADIO IS BAD (CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THEM TO GET A NEW ONE). I'M TEMPTED TO CHECK YES ON "WAS THERE A FIRE", BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THIS QUALIFIES. I CERTAINLY THOUGHT IT WAS A FIRE AT THE TIME!*AK

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WINDOW SHATTERED AS A TRAILER TRUCK DROVE SLOWLY BY OUR HONDA PILOT. NO OBJECTS WERE THROWN AGAINST THE WINDOW, THE VIBRATIONS OF THE HEAVY TRUCK GOING BY WERE ENOUGH TO SHATTER THE WINDOW. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY HONDA MOTORS!!!. I READ A SIMILAR COMPLAINT IN THIS SITE WHERE ANOTHER PERSON CLOSE THE DOOR ON HIS HONDA PILOT AND THE WINDOW SHATTERED. I'M FORMALLY REQUESTING AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER.*AK

04 V 176 000/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THIS RECALL HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE SEPTEMBER 4, 2004 AND THE PARTS WERE STILL UNAVAILABLE. *JB

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED. STARTING AT 32,000 MILES, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES HARD SIDE TO SIDE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN FROM NORMAL WEAR, NO OTHER DEFECTS NOTED AS CAUSE (TIRES, LUG NUT TORQUE, OVER HEATING). DEALER WOULD NOT FIX UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM CONTINUES. POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL UNDER HARD BRAKING DUE TO SEVERE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE. CAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR TO OTHER PARTS.*AK

RECALL TRANSMISSION</A> ISSUE, DEALER IN AREA DID NOT WANT TO DO REPAIRS. *BF CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR HER VEHICLE. RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V176000 *TC

2003 HONDA PILOT LX TIRES NEEDED REPLACING BEFORE I REACHED 15,000 MILES. THEY ARE PUTTING INFERIOR TIRES ON THE CAR. I HAD AN INDEPENDENT DEALER TELL ME THAT THE PILOT IS TOO HEAVY FOR CAR TIRES. HONDA SHOULD PUT LIGHT TRUCK TIRES ON THE PILOT. BRIDGESTONE AND HONDA SAY THAT TIRES ARE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEMS AND ARE NEVER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER STATED THAT THE COST MAY NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS A RECALLED ITEM LAST YEAR. THE DEALER STATED A SENSOR WENT BAD UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THE CONSUMERS PROBLEM HAD NOT DO WITH THE RECALL. *JB

SEVERE ENGINE VALVE CLATTERING WHEN PULLING LIGHT LOADS OR ACCELERATING UPHILL AND LOUD ROARING SOUND FROM TIRES AFTER 23000 MILES. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V176000 FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. MECHANIC REPLACED THE OIL SET PUMP. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

ALTHOUGH MY HONDA DEALER HAS REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT COVER ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT THAT ALSO HOUSES THE CONTROLS FOR THE POWER DRIVER SAET 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 15 MONTHS WITH NO PROBLEM, I FEEL THIS DEFECT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IF THIS COVER FAILS WHILE DRIVING THE POWER SEAT COULD START TO MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION. THE WEBSITE "HONDAPILOT.ORG." HAS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS IN THIER CHAT FORUM, ALSO MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAD TO REPLACE QUITE A FEW OF THESE, THERE WAS EVEN A BACKLOG ON ORDERING ME A NEW ONE THIS LAST TIME.

THE VEHICLE'S WINDOW SHATTERED AFTER THE DOOR WAS SHUT. *NM *JB

AFTER THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RECALL 04V17600 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED WHEN SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR TRANSMISSION SECOND GEAR. EARLIER, TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED FOR DIRT IN THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER STATED ON THE RECALL THAT OIL JET WAS NOT DEFECTIVE, AND DID NOT NEED SERVICING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DISCOLORATION IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID.*AK

WHEN OPENING THE TAILGATE THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SPOILER HIT THE REAR WINDOW AND THE ROOF. CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *AK THE SUNLIGHT CAUSED HEAT SWELLING OF THE PLASTIC TAILGATE SPOILER. WHEN THE TAILGATE WAS OPENED, THE SPOILER WOULD STRIKE THE ROOF WHICH RESULTED IN SCRATCHES AND DAMAGE TO THE ROOF. *NM

TRANSMISSION RECALL 04V176000, HONDA 718-720-0075. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, WHICH CAME FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE. VEHICLE HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SPOILER FELL OFF INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DEALER STATED THE PART WAS WARPING AND PRODUCED ONE INCH GAP. *AK

TIRES HAVE WORN OUT AFTER 22,000 MILES ON NEW CAR-2003 HONDA PILOT. REAR TIRES ARE FEATHERING AND FRONT TIRES ARE WORN UNEVENLY. TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 235/70 R16. *AK

HONDA PILOT HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LIGHT TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. ONLY A FEW FEET IN FRONT OF VEHICLE ARE ILLUMINATED, AND A SHARP CUT-OFF LINE BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS IS CLEARLY VISIBLE AT A DISTANCE THAT IS NOT FAR ENOUGH TO SAFELY DRIVE AT NIGHT.*AK

CONCERNS INVOLVING 2003 HONDA PILOT RECALLS. *MR *SC

SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER BUYING OUR CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2002, WE NOTICED A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN WE USED THE BRAKES WHEN GOING FORWARD. WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL AND OCCURRED AFTER HAVING JUST BACKED UP. IT WAS A TRANSFER OF THE BRAKES FROM BACK TO FRONT. I HAD THE SERVICE TECH LOOK AT THEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUES AND HONDA WOULD NOT ADDRESS IT. I HAVE SINCE TALKED TO SEVERAL HONDA OWNERS WHO HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, MY BRAKES ARE GETTING WORSE AND MAKE THE SOUND EVEN IF I DON'T BACK UP FIRST. *AK

WHEN USING A LAP TOP COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAGS HAD BEEN DEACTIVATED. THE ELECTRONIC WAVES HIT THE BACK OF THE SEAT CAUSING THIS DEFECT. *NM THE PROBLEM HAPPENED REPEATEDLY WHEN THE LAP TOP WAS USED IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE DEALER TURNED THE AIRBAGS ON, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT CANNOT STOP THE OCCURRENCE. *SC *JB

ON SATURDAY NIGHT, 6/19/2004, WE PURCHASED A USED 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH APROX 17K MILES ON IT. AS PART OF THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, HANLEES TOYOTA INCLUDED AN AFTERMARKET LEATHER UPGRADE FOR THE CLOTH INTERIOR. SUBSEQUENTLY, ON MONDAY (6/21/04) WE WERE INFORMED BY AMERICAN HONDA MOTORS THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER UPGRADE WAS BOTH POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS AND WOULD VOID OUR MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. CONSEQUENTLY, ON TUESDAY, 6/22/04, WE RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND ADVISED THEM OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WITH THE INTENTION OF A REFUND OF OUR $5000 DEPOSIT AND CANCELLATION OF THE SALE. HOWEVER, HANLEES WAS NON COOPERATIVE IN THIS REQUEST. REACHING AN IMPASSE, WE LEFT WITH THE CAR AND ARE NOW SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE. HERE IS THE INFORMATION FROM HONDA REGARDING THE SAFETY CONCERNS OF THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER UPGRADE: HONDA SERVICE NEWS, NO AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS WITH SIDE AIRBAGS, NEVER INSTALL AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS ON HONDA VEHICLES WITH SIDE AIRBAGS. HERE'S WHY: THE OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM (OPDS) SENSORS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT-BACK FOAM ARE CALIBRATED TO SENSE THROUGH THE SEAT COVER. IF THE COVER MATERIAL CHANGES, THE ODPS COULD MALFUNCTION OR TURN ON THE SRS INDICATOR. SIDE AIRBAGS THAT DEPLOY THROUGH THE SEAT BOLSTER SEAM ARE SEWN WITH A SPECIAL THREAD THAT BURSTS AND POSITIONS THE SIDE AIRBAG TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANT. THIS THREAD ISN"T AVAILABLE TO THE AFTERMARKET, WHICH MEANS YOU MUST REPLACE THE SEAT COVER WHENEVER A SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYS OR A SEAT C

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. *AK ON MAY 19TH 2004, THE BRAKES WERE VIEWED AND A SERVICE TECH ADDED PARTS BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE BRAKES. *SC *JB

1. CAR WAS PARKED AT A MARINA FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS 2. ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN DRIVERS AUTOMATIC SEAT CONTROLLER STARTED A FIRE AND DESTROYED SEAT AND DOOR 3. HONDA SAID IT WAS MY FAULT AND SAID TO HAVE MY INSURANCE PAY FOR IT - I'M ELECTING TO TAKE THEM TO COURT.*AK

CONSUMER STATED WHEN USING LAPTOP ON THE PASSENGER'S SEAT SRS LIGHT CAME ON. AS A RESULT, AIR BAGS DISENGAGED. *AK

VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION / SHIMMY AT 40-45 AND 70-80 MPH THAT IS QUITE ANNOYING. NEW TIRES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, BALANCED TWICE, STILL NO LUCK, VIBRATION PERSIST IN STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE COMPARTMENT.

FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS WARPED FROM NORMAL USE, LOW MILEAGE (21,000 MILES) CAUSING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF VECHICLE STABILITY AND CONTROL WHEN BRAKING

FRONT SEAT HEAD RESTS DO NOT ADJUST UPWARD FOR TALL PEOPLE (5'-11') AND TALLER CAUSING HEAD RESTRAINT BAR TO REST ON TOP OF PERSONS HEAD. THIS POTENTIALLY WILL CAUSING NECK OR SPINAL INJURY INJURY IF VEHICLE IS HIT FROM THE REAR. THE TOP BAR ACTS AS A PIVOT POINT WITH NO REAR NECK SUPPORT.