2003 Honda Pilot complaints

I HAVE READ ON THIS WEBSITE AND ON OTHERS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE MOUNTS BREAKING. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND, SURE ENOUGH, MY ENGINE MOUNT HAS BROKEN. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS DRIVEN ON SMOOTH ROADS DAILY. THIS IS A DANGER TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

I WAS ABOUT TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT IT COULD NOT GET IN. THE KEY MEETS RESISTANCE AND GETS IN AFTER I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE IGNITION, IT WONT BUDGE AND ACTED AS IF IT WAS LOCKED. SINCE THEN, I DO NOT TAKE THE KEY OFF THE IGNITION BECAUSE I AM AFRAID I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET IT IN. IT IS A REALLY SAFETY ISSUE AND HONDA REFUSES TO ADDRESS IT VOLUNTARILY. I WENT ON LINE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OWNERS WHO ARE LEFT ALONE TO DEAL WITH THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. WHY DO I HAVE TO LEAVE MY VEHICLE WITH THE KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION. HONDA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEIR FLAGRANT IRRESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE HELP US. THANK YOU. *TR

I OWN A 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 57,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER TAKING IT TO A HONDA SPECIALIST FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT THE FRONT ENGINE MOUNT & SIDE ENGINE MOUNT ARE BOTH BROKEN, WITH A REPAIR ESTIMATE OF $503.30. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN A COLLISION, HAS HAD ALL ITS SCHEDULED SERVICES AND IN NO WAY SHOULD THE ENGINE MOUNTS BE BROKEN. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND HONDA SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO REPAIR AS IT SEEMS TO NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED TO BE BROKEN WITH SUCH FEW MILES. *TR

OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT HAS NOW STUCK US TWICE. MY WIFE WAS STUCK IN A PARKING LOT THE OTHER NIGHT FOR OVER AN HOUR TRYING TO GET HER KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE PREVIOUS WEEK THE KEY DID THE SAME THING BUT EVENTUALLY WENT IN AND THEN DIDN'T WANT TO TURN TO THE START POSITION. UNFORTUNATELY THE AREA MY WIFE GOT STRANDED AT THE OTHER NIGHT POSED A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. WE ARE CONCERNED SHE WILL BE ATTACKED AND NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE NOW CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THE HONDA CORP FOR HELP. NEITHER GAVE ME HELP. THEY ONLY TOLD ME TO CONTACT YOU GUYS AND REPORT THE INCIDENT. THEY REALLY DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY WIFE'S SAFETY. HONDA BELIEVES IT IS A PART THAT JUST "WEARS OUT". IF IGNITION CYLINDERS WORE OUT WE WOULDN'T BE DRIVING CARS OVER TEN YEARS OLD. WE FIND HONDA'S ANSWER UNACCEPTABLE. ACTUALLY HONDA CORP SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE WAY THEY EVEN HANDLED THE SITUATION ON THE PHONE. I WAS TALKED TO LIKE A CHILD AND WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR. I HAVE RESEARCHED NOW HUNDREDS OF OTHERS ONLINE WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP! THIS WILL COST US OVER $500 TO CORRECT. MY WIFE HAS HAD THE INCIDENT HAPPEN TWICE NOW AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE BEFORE SOMEBODY IS ROBBED OR EVEN RAPED WHILE TRYING TO GET A CAR STARTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V573000 ( ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THEY BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH WITH SHIFT LEVER IN "D" THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT DOWN A GEAR VERY HARD AND THEN BACK INTO THE PREVIOUS GEAR. IT DOES THIS REPEATEDLY. WAS TOLD BY A HONDA DEALER REPAIR SHOP THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THE TRANSMISSION ON A VEHICLE LIKE THIS WITH 160K MILES SHOULD NOT BE FAILING. *TR

KEY GOT DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THEN AFTER A FEW DAYS THE KEY HAD TO BE JIGGLED TO TURN AND THEN AFTER TWO WEEKS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU NEED TO START THE CAR QUICKLY OR IF YOU ARE THREATENED AND NEED TO USE YOUR CAR TO ESCAPE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BECOME DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY CABLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 177,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

MY HONDA PILOT IS NOW AT 75,000 MILES. I OBVIOUSLY DON'T DRIVE IT A LOT. THANK GOODNESS BECAUSE IT HAS HAD SO MANY ISSUES. FOR THE LAST 25,000 MILES AND 3 YEARS, IT REVS UP AND DOWN WHEN STOPPED ANYWHERE LIKE A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR IN THE PICKUP LINE AT MY CHILD'S SCHOOL. I HAVE TO PUT IT INTO PARK AND PRESS THE BRAKE WHILE IN PARK TO BE SURE IT DOESN'T LEAP FORWARD INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I'VE HAD THIS LOOKED AT ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THEY FIX IT FOR ABOUT A DAY. I'VE BEEN TOLD ITS AN ONGOING KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. SO, WHY HAS IT NOT BEEN ADDRESSED? *TR

SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTING AND SHUDDERING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING. ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND OCCASIONAL SHIFTING PROBLEMS FOR A FEW WEEKS UNTIL CHECKED BY DEALER - PO740 AND PO730 NEEDS TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND ENGINE MOUNT. SAME PROBLEM AS A 100 OF OTHERS. ORIGINAL OWNER FULLY DEALER MAINTAINED FOR 10+ YEARS, EVEN WITH FAIRLY HIGH MILES WELL MAINTAINED TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL. HONDA DEALER QUOTED $5500 FOR HONDA REBUILT TRANSMISSION WITH NO MENTION OF ANY ASSISTANCE OR OF THE WELL KNOWN AND FREQUENT OCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE. A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AS SIMPLE LUCK THIS DIDN'T OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY AT GREATER SPEED IN HIGH TRAFFIC I FREQUENTLY DRIVE. *TR

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHEN I TRY AND PUT MY IGNITION KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, IT REQUIRES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE IT ACTUALLY GOES IN TO THE KEY SLOT WITHOUT RESISTANCE. IT IS AS IF ONE IS PUTTING THE WRONG KEY INTO THE WRONG KEY HOLE. WHEN IT DOES FINALLY GO IN, IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL MORE ATTEMPTS FOR THE KEY TO FINALLY TURN AND START THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT FRAME FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE FROM WORK AND WHEN I TRIED ENTERING THE KEY IT GOT STUCK HALF WAY. I REMOVED IT AND TRIED AGAIN AND THE KEY WENT IT BUT WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD TO TRY MANY TIMES AND THEN CALLED MY HUSBAND, HE SAID TO TAKE THE KEY OUT AND WAIT COUPLE MINUTES THEN TRY AGAIN. I DID WHAT HE SAID AND AFTER THE SECOND TRY IT FINALLY TURNED. SINCE THAT DATE I KEEP HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND I RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AND THOUGHT SINCE ITS A RECALL HONDA WOULD REPAIR AT NO COST TO ME. WELL TO MY SURPRISE I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO REPAIR. THE RECALL I RECEIVED SAID THE INTERLOCK LEVER IN THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY BECOME DEFORMED. :( *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BRACKET FRACTURED AND THE SEAT WOULD MOVE AROUND WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,595.

WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT-LEFT BRACKET OF THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE ERRATICALLY, LEADING TO TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. THE INCIDENT HAD THE POTENTIAL OF BEING MUCH MORE SERIOUS, HAD THERE BEEN MORE TRAFFIC AND/OR WERE I DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE QUITE COMMON AMONG HONDA PILOTS. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWS MANY PILOT OWNERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, SPECIFICALLY, FAILURE OF THE FRONT-LEFT DRIVERS SEAT BRACKET. AS A RESULT, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY DEALERSHIP, NORM REEVES HONDA, TO HAVE THE ISSUE REMEDIED. I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1,600 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. WITH NO OTHER CHOICE, I AGREED TO THE PRICE AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR A SATURDAY MORNING. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN THAT SATURDAY AND WAITED 8 HOURS IN LOBBY ONLY TO HAVE THE SERVICE ADVISOR TELL ME THAT THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE TO BE DELAYED, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PART ORDERED FOR THE REPLACEMENT WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS FACT ONLY FURTHER LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER'S ISSUE WITH THIS PART OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

UNABLE TO TURN KEY IN IGNITION. APPARENTLY THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MANY 2003 HONDA PILOT OWNERS ARE HAVING. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT CAN LEAVE SOMEONE STRANDED IN A REMOTE AREA AS HAPPENED WITH ME. IF THE MALFUNCTION IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY PART THEN HONDA SHOULD BARE SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY AND COST TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE ON MY WAYBACK ON I95 FROM RICHMOND, VA TO SILVER SPRING MARYLAND, I SUDDENLY HEARD A NOISE FROM MY BACK WINDOW AND I SAW MY HONDA PILOT SPOILER FLY AWAY AND LAND IN FRONT OF THE UPCOMING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TODAY, I STILL HAVE NOT REPLACED THIS BACK SPOILER AND I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER HONDA PILOTS ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN THE CITY WITHOUT THIS BACK SPOILER. *TR

AFTER LOADING MY PILOT, TRIED TO PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT IT DID NOT GO EASY ON THE SWITCH AND ONCE IN THE SWITCH IT DID NOT TURN ON THE IGNITION. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AND OR USE THE SPARE KEY UNTIL THE IGNITION SWITCH WORKED. SINCE JULY 16, 2012, EVERYTIME I START MY PILOT, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TO KEEP MY SPARE KEY ALL THE TIME TO AVOID THE ISSUE ON HAVING TO REENTER THE IGNITION SWITCH. EVERYTIME I FORGET TO KEEP THE SPARE KEY ON THE IGNITION SWITCH I HAVE TO SPEND ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO TRY TO REENGAGE MY KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO HAVE IT WORK. *TR

I PARKED MY CAR OUTSIDE A LOCAL STORE WITH A NEARLY ZERO DECLINE. AFTER ENTERING THE STORE AND BEGINNING TO SHOP - A FELLOW SHOPPER CAME IN TO TELL ME THAT MY CAR HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO MAJOR DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE. WHEN I ENTERED MY VEHICLE THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN FACT IN PARK BUT THE CAR HAD ROLLED BACK ANYWAYS AND STOPPED ONLY BECAUSE IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT. *TR

KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION DUE TO MISALIGNED WAFERS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN JUST OVER A YEAR WE HAVE HAD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. AT FIRST HAD TO JIGGLE KEY TO BE ABLE TO TURN IT, THEN CAN'T EVEN GET THE KEY IN ALL THE WAY. TAKEN TO LOCKSMITH. FIRST OCCURRED 10/2011, THEN 1/11/2013. *TR

THE KEY WOULD NOT FIT INTO THE IGNITION WITHOUT FORCING IT SEVERAL TIMES, AFTER A FEW WEEKS, THE KEY WOULD NOT EVEN TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND THE CYLINDER AND IGNITION SWITCH WERE REPLACED AT THE COST OF THE OWNER. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. HONDA CORPORATION SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. *TR

I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS STRANDED, WITH MY KIDS, AND IN THE COLD-UNABLE TO EVEN RUN THE HEAT. THE KEY ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO HONDA AND I WAS WAITING FOR HELP FROM THE COMPANY DUE TO THE KNOWN DEFECT IN THE KEY/IGNITION TUMBLERS, AS WIDELY REPORTED TO ME BY A LOCKSMITH AND A DEALER. HONDA HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THIS DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, PLACE HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT SHE HAD REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION PRIOR TO SHIFTING INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I FOUND MYSELF STRANDED, WITH 4 YOUNG CHILDREN, AND IN THE COLD-UNABLE TO EVEN RUN THE HEAT. THE KEY ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO HONDA AND I WAS WAITING FOR HELP FROM THE COMPANY DUE TO THE KNOWN DEFECT IN THE KEY/IGNITION TUMBLERS, AS WIDELY REPORTED TO ME BY A LOCKSMITH AND A DEALER. HONDA HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THIS DEFECT. *TR

A NEW MASTER CYLINDER FROM AMERICAN HONDA INSTALLED BY A HONDA DEALERSHIP FAILED LESS THAN 1/4 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE WAS DETECTED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN PRESSED THOUGH THIS WAS NOT VERY NOTICEABLE. PRESSING THE BRAKE CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AND WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY CAUSED ENOUGH LOSS SO THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FRONT-LEFT BRAKE CYLINDER DUE TO THE FRONT-LEFT BRAKE CYLINDER STICKING CLOSED ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ORIGINAL BRAKE CYLINDER FAILURE CAUSED ENOUGH SMOKE TO CAUSE THE DRIVER TO INITIALLY BELIEVE THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN A RESIDENTIAL CARPORT. APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES LATER, THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER PARKED IN THE CARPORT BUT HAD ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND THE KEYS WERE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE CRASH SCENE. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS TO THE EXTERNAL DAMAGES OF THE HATCH BACK DOOR AND REAR BUMPER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE ROLL AWAY FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000. UPDATED 12/06/12 *BF UPDATED 12/06/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN, PREVENTING HER FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE PARKED WITH THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN IT TRAVELED OVER A CURB ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET. THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK FIRST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. ...UPDATED11/21/12 *BF UPDATED 11/30/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH UPON REMOVING, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL AND CAME TO A STOP ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE GEAR WAS THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK. THERE WAS CURRENTLY AN OPEN INVESTIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE12026 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 10/31/12*LJ

I PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE AND TURNED THE KEY OFF. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS. IT ROLLED DOWN A SMALL HILL AND SMASHED INTO A VEHICLE IN THE LOT BELOW. *TR IT APPEARS THE STEERING COLUMN ALLOWED ME TO REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND BEING ABLE TO REMOVE MY KEY EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT IN PARK THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS. ITS LED TO AN ACCIDENT AND A NEAR ONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY SEIZED IN THE IGNITION AND COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC OR A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,568.

IGNITION LOCKED UP. THE CAR COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. DEALER WANTED $900 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

REAR HATCH WINDOW WIPER BLEW THE FUSE. THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY AIR BAGS OR MY SEAT SENSORS. A NEW FUSE FIXED THE WIPER BUT WOULD NOT TURN OFF SRS LIGHT. DEALER WANTED $100 PLUS DOLLARS TO CHECK SYSTEM AND TURN OFF LIGHT. INDEPENDENT MECH. CHECKED SYSTEM FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND RESET THE LIGHT. WHY IS A WIPER MOTOR TIED INTO THE SEAT SENSOR AND AIR BAGS? *TR

THE TRANSMISSION OF MY 2003 HONDA PILOT DIED. WHEN I WENT TO A MESSAGE BOARD AT EDMUNDS.COM I FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2003 PILOTS BEGINNING WITH 90,000 MILES. HONDA CHECKED MY SECOND GEAR THAT THEY DID RECALL BUT CLAIM THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH THAT GEAR. A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC THAT REBUILDS TRANSMISSIONS, RECOMMENDED BY TWO MECHANIC FRIENDS OF MINE, AGREES WITH HONDA, THAT IT HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. FOR A COMPANY THAT PRIDES ITSELF FOR A SUPPOSED EXCELLENT MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE REPUTATION, I AND A LOT OF OTHER HONDA OWNERS ARE SORELY DISAPPOINTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN PREVIOUSLY TO THE DEALER IN 2004 FOR A RECALL REPAIR UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THIS MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTING SLIPPING WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND STRUGGLED TO GET OVER A VIADUCT WITH NO POWER TO ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DROVE THE PILOT SLOWLY HOME AND TOOK TO SHOP. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN CHANGED AT 90K. THE PRESSURE SWITCHES WERE CHANGED BUT DID NOT WORK FOR SLIPPAGE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKE AND NEEDED REPLACING. THIS VEHICLE HAD ALL RECALLS COMPLETED. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A HARD TIME TURNING THE IGNITION WITH MY KEY. NOW THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THERE MAY BE A SITUATION WHERE THE CAR MAY NEED TO BE MOVED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CANNOT BE TURNED. I FOUND THIS WEBSITE FROM 23 OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THIS WEBSITE ALONE. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT IGNITION - AT FIRST WE WERE HAVING ISSUES INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. THEN IT PROGRESSED TO NEEDING TO JIGGLE THE KEY IN ORDER TO GET IT TO TURN TO ANY POSITION OF THE IGNITION. THE KEY WOULD GO IN BUT IT'D TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, OF A MINIMUM OF 10 TO 15 MINUTES, BEFORE WE COULD GET THE IGNITION TO START. WE READ THE MANUAL AND UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THE WHEELS STRAIGHT - THAT SEEMED TO HELP FOR A FEW ATTEMPTS. NOW THE KEY GOES IN BUT DOESN'T TURN AT ALL. WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE FROM HONDA CUSTOMERS AND THE VOLUME OF CUSTOMERS IT IS AFFECTING WHY ISN'T HONDA DOING THE 'RIGHT THING' AND ISSUING A VOLUNTARY RECALL?! *TR

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED 2003 HONDA PILOT FROM [XXX] OF COLERAIN IN OHIO. THE CAR HAS 137,000 APPROXIMATE MILES ON IT. THEY WANTED ME TO PAY OVER 15,000 FOR THE CAR AND FINALLY AFTER DEBATING FOR HOURS OVER 4. THEY SOLD ME THE CAR OUT THE DOOR WITH NO WARRANTY OFFERED FOR 10,500. I WAS VERY HAPPY AND I HAVE 2 CHILDREN AND ONE ON THE WAY. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON AUGUST 5, 2012 LESS THAN TWO WEEK GO BY AND I AM DRIVING HOME GOING 65MPH ON 71 AND THE CAR JERKS DOWN GEARS TO 30 MILES AN HOUR IN A SPLIT SECOND. MY NECK AND MY BACK ARE BOTH HURTING AND I DO NOT WANT TO SUE NOR TRY TO GET RICH OFF OF THIS. MY COMPLAINT IS, I TOOK THE CAR TO[XXX] OF COLERAIN THE NEXT MORNING THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. SO BASICALLY THEY SAID I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A $7,000 DOLLAR REPAIR. I LEFT THE CAR THERE AND CAME HOME DID ALL KINDS OF RESEARCH FOUND THAT CAR IS UP FOR RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THEY EVEN HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE DEDICATED TO FIXING THIS PROBLEM! HOW CAN HONDA KEEP THESE VEHICLE'S ON THE ROAD? IF MY 17 MONTH OLD WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR WITH ME SHE WOULD HAVE MAYBE BROKE HER NECK. GO DRIVE 65MPH AND THROW THE CAR IN REVERSE THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME! AND THEY SAID I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED USED HONDA? SO WHAT DO I DO ? WHO DO I CALL? AND WHY CAN THEY SELL ME A CAR IN SUCH A STATE? WITH OVER 4 RECALLS ON PARTS AND ONE BEING POTENTIALLY FATAL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

CAR "SHUDDERS" AT 40-45 MPH. HONDA HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2003 PILOT AND ODYSSEY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR SHAKES LIKE IT IS FALLING APART. APPROX. COST TO REPAIR $4,000.00. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE AND EARLY WAS SLIPPING WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGH WAY. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM- THE FIRST DAY I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS INSERTING KEY INTO IGNITION AND HAD TO JIGGLE IT AROUND IN ORDER TO TURN IT TO START THE ENGINE. THE NEXT DAY THE KEY WOULD GO IN BUT IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND AT LEAST 10-15 MINUTES TRYING TO START THE IGNITION. I WAS GETTING STUCK IN STORE PARKING LOTS AND AT HOME. NOW THE KEY GOES IN AND DOESN'T TURN AT ALL. THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO LOCKED AS WELL AS THE GEAR SHIFT SO THERE IS NO WAY TO PUT IN NEUTRAL TO TOW IT. *TR

THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT SLIDE INTO THE IGNITION WITHOUT A GREAT AMOUNT OF EFFORT AND TIME. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. I WILL HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. *TR

THE CHROME FINISH ON THE DOOR HANDLES FROM THE INSIDE, THIS CHROME FINISH IS A THINK LATER OF MATERIAL ALMOST LIKE FLEX METAL - IT'S VERY SHARP AND EASILY CREATES CUTS IN HAND WHEN OPENING THE CAR DOORS. APPROX 3 DAYS AGO, I WAS MOVING MY HAND AS I WAS DRIVING AND MY FINGER TOUCHED THE PEALING CHROME FINISH CREATING A DEEP CUT CAUSING PAIN AND BLEEDING. I HAVE KIDS AND THEY MAY GET HURT BY THIS. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT EXL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT AT 101,950 MILES IN JUNE OF 2012. THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH A SINGLE TRANSMISSION SLIP AND SEVERE HARD (SHIFT) ENGAGEMENT WHILE ACCELERATING BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND PROGRESSIVELY INCREASED IN OCCURRENCE. THEN REVERSE GEAR SELECTION STARTED SLIPPING AND FAILING TO ENGAGE. FROM THAT POINT ON, THE PILOT TRANSMISSION BEGAN CONSISTENTLY SLIPPING AND SLAMMING (HARD SHIFTING) ALL GEARS (INCLUDING WHILE IN D1,D2 AND D3) AND THE LONGER IT WAS DRIVEN, THE WORSE IT GOT, EVEN SLIPPING AND SLAMMING THE DOWNSHIFT GEAR CHANGES MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND DRIVE ON THE ROAD. THE HARD SHIFTING WAS BECOMING SO SEVERE THAT IT FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION GEAR TOOTH FAILURE WAS EMINENT. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, NO FLASHING 'D' OR TROUBLE CODES ON THE PCM WERE FOUND, EVEN WITH ALL OF PROBLEMS. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS REGULARLY SERVICED RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WITH A 'REMANUFACTURED HONDA TRANSMISSION' AT A COST OF OVER $6400, WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM HONDA CORPORATE. FILING A COMPLAINT WITH HONDA CORPORATE ONLY ADDED TO MY DISAPPOINTMENT, WHERE THE HONDA REPRESENTATIVES I DEALT WITH APPEARED TO BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT TRYING TO TURN A PROFIT ON REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION RATHER THAN BEING CONCERNED ABOUT TREATING THEIR CUSTOMER FAIRLY AND OR LOSING CUSTOMER LOYALTY. NOTE, THIS PILOT HAD THE TRANSMISSION 2ND/3RD GEAR OIL-JET

THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I WAS STRANDED AT WORK FOR SEVERAL HOURS. HONDA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY $600 FOR A REPAIR THEY ARE WELL AWARE DO TO A PARTS DEFECT. PREVIOUSLY THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD STARTED TO ROLL BACK ON THE INCLINED DRIVE WAY WHEN I REMOVED THE IGNITION KEY WITH THE SHIFTER STILL IN DRIVE. *TR

VEHICLE SHUDDER/SHAKE STARTING AT 50 MPH. ADVISED NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION. CALLED HONDA TO CHECK IF RECALL OR WOULD BE REIMBURSED. TOLD NO AND SAID WANTED PROBLEM ON RECORD. REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT OWN EXPENSE $3045. DRIVE LIGHT PERIODICALLY FLASHES. HAVE NOT REPAIRED AS >$300. *TR

HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW. HAD THE 2ND GEAR RECALL DONE AS REQUIRED AT ABOUT 30,000. AT 96,000 THAT TRANNY WENT OUT AND HAD A "REBUILT" INSTALLED BY SUNSET HONDA SLO, CA. UNDER WARRANTY. AT ABOUT 150000, D INDICATOR FLASHED MEANING SENSORS ON TRANNY NEEDED REPLACEMENT.NOW EXPERIENCING LOSS OF DRIVE, SOMETIMES WHEN COMING OUT OF STOP, ENGINE JUST REVVING BUT NO DRIVE, ALSO, AS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE YESTERDAY, WHEN GOING AT ABOUT 35, LOSS OF POWER/DRIVE OCCURRED. THIS COULD SHOW THAT I NEED AN ACTUAL DECENT NEW TRANNY PUT IN! I HAVE YET TO VISIT MY WELL QUALIFIED AND NON HONDA DEALER MECHANIC! I HAVE BEEN A HONDA OWNER SINCE 1992 AND THIS WILL BE MY LAST HONDA EVER! THE RELIABILITY IS OVER WITH AND THEY ARE WAY OVERPRICED. *TR

THE PILOT SHUDDERS GOING AT SLOWER RATES OF SPEED AT PRETTY REGULAR INSTANCES. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER, POSSIBLY THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003 HONDA PILOTS. *TR