2003 Honda Pilot complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

STEERING LOCK ALLOWS DRIVER TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WITHOUT PLACING THE GEAR SELECTOR TO "PARK". CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS. THERE (LUCKILY) WAS NO DAMAGE AND NO ONE WAS HURT. CAR WAS ALSO BROUGHT TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER TO REPAIR PROBLEMS WITH UNLOCKING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO START THE CAR. KEY REGULARLY BECAME STUCK IN THE KEYHOLE. THIS COULD LEAVE SOMEONE STRANDED REPAIR FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKING FROM WAS $518. THE REPAIR ALSO FIXED THE GEAR SELECTOR ISSUE (CAN NO LONGER REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WITHOUT PLACING THE SELECTOR IN "PARK"). THE MAIN CONCERN HERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEONE REMOVES THE KEY AND THE VEHICLE ROLLS INTO AN UNSUSPECTING PERSON OR STRIKES ANOTHER VEHICLE. OF SECONDARY CONCERN IS FOR SOMEONE TO BE STRANDED BECAUSE THE MECHANICAL IGNITION MECHANISM FAILS. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO INSERT AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, BUT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

2003 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL 12V-136 CONCERNING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS *TGW ON DECEMBER 7, 2011, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO THE A/C NOT WORKING. THE DEALER FOUND THE BLOWER MOTOR TRANSISTOR WAS FAULTY. THE AC TRANSISTOR WAS REPLACED AND RE-TESTED AND OPERATING NORMALLY. THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO REPLACE THE AC TRANSISTOR, THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING. THE VERY NEXT MORNING, SHE DISCOVERED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE NO LONGER WORKING. ON DECEMBER 13, 2011 BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 142.06. IN APRIL 2012. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OFF FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN COME BACK ON AGAIN. ON MAY 10, 2012, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL, STATING THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL WOULD BE REPLACED, AND IF NECESSARY THE COMBINATION LIGHTING SWITCH WOULD BE REPLACED TOO. ON THE SAME DAY SHE RECEIVED THE NOTICE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE DEALER, THE LOW BEAMS WEREN'T WORKING AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE LOW BEAM BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ASKED THE DEALER, WOULD REPLACING THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR RESPONDED BY SAYING NO, AS THE TERMINAL HAD NOTHING TO WITH THE LOW BEAM. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND LATER THAT AFTERNOON, THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS WERE WORKING AGAIN. ON MAY 21, 2012. THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS FAILED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE COMBIN

THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE TO A HIGHER GEAR CAUSING THE ENGINE RPMS TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY THE AUTOMOBILE BEHIND ME. EVENTUALLY THE TRANSMISSION DID FIND 3RD GEAR. THIS SITUATION HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE INITIAL EPISODE. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ALWAYS OCCURS WITH THE SECOND GEAR. ONCE THE GEAR WOULDN'T CHANGE WHILE I WAS MERGING INTO INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY DEALER, CROWN HONDA OF DURHAM, NC, BECAUSE I HAD PURCHASED BY PILOT FROM THEM AS A NEW VEHICLE, HAD THE 2004 TRANSMISSION 2ND GEAR RECALL "FIX" PERFORMED BY THEM, AND HAD THEM PERFORM ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE FOR THE FIRST 5 YEARS. I ALSO HAD MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWING THAT I HAD PERFORMED ALL MAINTENANCE AS REQUIRED BY HONDA FOR THE PAST 9.5 YEARS, INCLUDING HAVING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THEY DIDN'T DENY KNOWING OF THE MANY TRANSMISSION FAILURES OF HONDA VEHICLES, THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION AT NO COST OR AT A DISCOUNTED COST. *JS

SHUDDERING AND JERKING WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. ALSO DOES THE SAME IN REVERSE. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY ON-RAMP. WHILE AT HIGH HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAR FELT LIKE IT FELL OUT OF GEAR AND LOST POWER, UNTIL THE GEAR ENGAGED AGAIN. *TR

FRONT ENGINE MOUNT WAS BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW, AT 84105 MILES, THE SIDE ENGINE MOUNT IS BROKEN. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS SINCE 1975, AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY ENGINE MOUNT UNTIL THIS 2003 HONDA PILOT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY WIFE'S 2003 HONDA PILOT STOPPED AT LIGHT AND WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY STARTED TO SMELL GASOLINE VAPORS COMING INTO VEHICLE. DROVE HOME AND SMELL CONTINUED AFTER SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF. NEXT MORNING DROVE TO HONDA DEALER ON TYNDALL PARKWAY, IN PANAMA CITY FLORIDA, WAITED ALL DAY FOR AN ANSWER FROM SERVICE DEPARTMENT, FINALLY 1500 HRS ON FRIDAY, THEY TOLD ME THE FUEL LINE HAD SEPARATED AT JOINTS AND COUPLINGS AND THAT WAS THE SMELL I EXPERIENCED. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE SINCE THEN AWAITING PARTS TO REPAIR FUEL LINE. I WAS TOLD PARTS WOULD NOT ARRIVE UNTIL TUESDAY 5-29-2012, THEY STILL HAVEN'T, WAS TOLD AGAIN THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON 5-30-12. THEY ALSO ADVISED ME IT WOULD COST$ 250, FOR PART AND TOTAL BILL WOULD BE $1300, WHEN I ASKED WHY SO MUCH, THEY STATED LABOR WOULD BE FOR 11 HRS AND COST $1150. BEING IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN AGREED TO PAY AS MY WIFE HAS MS AND IS HANDICAP AND HAVING TO KEEP A WINDOW OPEN IN 90+ TEMP. WOULD CAUSE HER MS TO FLAIR AND POSSIBLE RELAPSE. .1). MY QUESTION IS WHY WASN'T THIS VEHICLE RECALLED AS A SAFETY HAZARD WITH POSSIBLE EFFECTS FROM GASOLINE FUMES EXPOSURE AND POSSIBILITY OF CATCHING ON FIRE OF VEHICLE WHICH BOTH COULD HAVE LEAD TO POSSIBLE DEATH OR INJURY OF HANDICAP INDIVIDUAL OR VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. AND IS IT COMMON FOR THE FUEL LINE TO BREAK IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE? 2). DOES HONDA ALLOW FOR 11 HRS TO REPLACE AND REPAIR THE FUEL, AND WHAT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN THE MATTER OF THIS INCIDENT? NOT TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF POSSIBLE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BRACKET FRACTURED AND AS A RESULT, THE SEAT WOULD MOVE AROUND WHILE THE CONTACT DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT ASSEMBLY 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 MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000...UPDATED 07/19/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED A BRACKET UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE FROM SIMPLE METAL FATIGUE. UPDATED 07/23/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LENSES CAME OFF INSIDE THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT BRAKE LIGHT COVER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COVER WOULD FRACTURE EASILY ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 07/18/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

TOOK PILOT IN FOR HEADLIGHT RECALL WIRING REPLACEMENT. MINE HAD CONNECTOR COMPLETELY MELTED. REPLACED. WAS TOLD ON PICKUP THAT ALL THREE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKE! THAT EXPLAINS THE CLUNK WITH ACCELERATION . I DRIVE THIS PILOT LIKE AN OLD LADY GOING TO CHURCH. HOW ALL THREE ARE BROKE AT THE SAME TIME THE ODDS ARE TOO HIGH FOR THAT! BAD DESIGN?? POOR MATERIALS???CALLED HONDA MUM IS THE WORD,NO RECALL ON ENGINE MOUNTS,GO FIGURE FOR SURE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CHILD WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE SEAT NEXT TO THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO GRAB THE SHOULDER BELT OF THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT AND THE SEAT BELT BECAME WRAPPED AROUND THE CHILD. THE SEAT BELT THEN LOCKED AND BEGAN CHOKING THE CHILD. THE CONTACT HAD TO SEVER THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE CHILD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT BELT COULD NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN CUT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

I ORIGINALLY HAD THE 45-50 MPH HORRIBLE SHUDDER, BUT HONDA DID FIX THAT ISSUE AND THEY SAID THE HUBS WERE DEFECTIVE. AT 117,000, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SKIP AND JERK HORRIBLY AND THE REVS SPIKED. I DROVE TO HONDA AND THEY SAID THE TRANS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $5,000. I HAD IT REBUILT BY AAMCO FOR $2,700. WITHIN 15,000 MILES, THE FLASHING D AND VTM-4 LIGHT WOULD START COMING ON. I DROVE IT TO AAMCO WHILE THE FLASHING D WAS OCURING AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND NO ERROR CODES. I HAVE PRECEEDED TO DRIVE AND REPLACE THE TRANS FLUID EVERY 20,000 JUST IN CASE, TO BE SAFE. THE FLASHING D IS ANNOYING. I HAVE STARTED TO SENSE THE SHIFTING AT 2 AND 3RD GEAR TO BE GETTING ROUGHER OVER TIME. I FORESEE NUMBER 3 TRANSMISSION COMING SOON. HONDA AMERICA CORP WOULD NOT HELP SAYING THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FUNNY THING IS THAT I MENTIONED ALL THE PEOPLE ON-LINE COMPLAINING ABOUT TRANS ISSUES, THE REPLY: "HONDA DOES NOT SEE AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF CLAIMS ON ANY TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON THE PILOT". WHAT LIARS! I'VE OWNED 4 HONDAS BEFORE AND THE QUALITY IS GONE. I WON'T BUY HONDA AGAIN. *TR

NEITHER OF THE KEYS WILL GO COMPLETELY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THEREFORE THE KEY CANNOT BE TURNED AND THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ARRIVED AT HOME AND FORGET TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,000.

I AM EXPERIENCING SHUDDER OR PROBLEM CHANGING THE GEAR. THE ENGINE LIGHTS IS ON NOW AND NOT CLEARING UP. I HAVE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM ON LINE FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND ALL POINTING TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WITH THIS MODEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BECAME SLIGHTLY DETACHED AND BEGAN ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE WINDOWS SPORADICALLY FAILED TO OPEN AND CLOSE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE LIGHTS WITHIN THE BUTTONS ON THE DASHBOARD STOPPED WORKING AND THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE AIR CONDITIONER FAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 05/15/12 * BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION TUMBLERS WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000. UPDATED 04/02/12 *BF

HAVING TROUBLE INSERTING KEY INTO IGNITION. HAVE TO TRY MULTIPLE TIMES, TURNING THE KEY UPSIDE DOWN, RIGHT SIDE UP, REPETITIVE IN & OUT, EVENTUALLY IT GOES IN, BUT AFRAID THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL NOT WORK. CALLED AMERICAN HONDA AS I SAW MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE, BUT HONDA SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT'S NOT WIDESPREAD ENOUGH FOR THEM TO TAKE NOTICE. I'M AFRAID THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO WORK, SO WILL TAKE IT TO HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR (APPARENTLY ONLY DEALERSHIP HAS TO FIX IT BECAUSE NEW KEYS WILL NEED TO BE PROGRAMMED. THERE ARE 2 DIFFERENT CHOICES FOR COST, ONE TO JUST REPLACE THE IGNITION AND GET NEW KEYS, AND ANOTHER CHOICE IS TO ALSO CHANGE THE DOOR LOCKS SO THAT THE NEW KEYS WILL OPEN THE DOOR.) IF YOU'RE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, PLEASE LOG A COMPLAINT SO THAT IT BECOMES "WIDESPREAD ENOUGH TO TAKE NOTICE" AND MAY BE THOSE OF US WHO PAY/PAID TO GET THIS ISSUE REPAIRED CAN GET A REFUND. THANK YOU! *TR

WHEN THE CAR IS ACCELERATING, BETWEEN EITHER 2ND AND 3RD GEARS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND WILL NOT ENGAGE. THE RPM'S GO UP TO ABOUT 6000 BECAUSE IT IS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. IF THE CAR IS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO DRIVE, THE PILOT WILL BEGIN TO DRIVE NORMALLY. IF THE DRIVER LETS UP OFF THE GAS COMPLETELY AND RPM'S FALL ALL THE WAY DOWN, IT WILL SOMETIMES RE-ENGAGE. THE PILOT HAS DONE THIS 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THERE WAS A RECALL ON PILOT TRANSMISSIONS BUT HONDA HAS NO RECORD OF IT BEING DONE AND WAS TOLD OURS DID NOT SHOW UP IN THEIR SYSTEM ALTHOUGH IT WAS ON ALL 2003 PILOTS. WE HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AFTER BUYING FROM A LOCAL HONDA DEALER. THE PILOT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND GEAR OF THE TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH UPHILL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FURTHER REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO CONFIRMED THE DEALER'S STATEMENT AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WITH ONLY 115,000 MILES. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION FOR $4,000.00. I PURCHASED IT FOR RELIABILITY & THIS IS THE 4TH HONDA I'VE OWNED. LEAVES BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH. *TR

I TOOK MY PILOT IN FOR A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD I HAD BAD MOTOR MOUNTS AND THAT WAS ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. I SPENT APPROX. $3600.00 TO HAVE THE MOTOR MOUNTS FIXED, TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP, FRONT STRUTS, ETC. FIXED. THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN, THIS TIME, GETTING A FLASHING "D" LIGHT. TOOK IT BACK IN FOR FAILURE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HAD 4TH GEAR PRESSURE GEAR REPLACED FOR COST. I NOW HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON POSTING A CODE OF P0730, "INCORRECT GEAR RATIO". I HAVE BEEN INTO HONDA 4 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE INCLUDING TODAY, AND I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I AM OUT OF WARRANTY OF COURSE, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT WAS BUILT POORLY. I AM WORRIED I MIGHT GET INTO A CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS. I AM CONTEMPLATING HIRING A LAWYER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

HIGHWAY DRIVING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AFTER AN ENGINE HESITATION (HEARD A LOUD NOISE, PASSENGER THOUGHT THE VEHICLE HAD HIT SOMETHING...FELT UNDER PASSENGER SIDE FOOTWELL.) DROVE HOME, NEXT DAY THERE WERE PROBLEMS GETTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. AGAIN, IT LURCHED INTO REVERSE AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WITH ONLY ONE "RACING" ENGINE NOISE AT 35MPH. DIAGNOSED WITH CODE #P0740 (TORQUE CONVERTER) REQUIRING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE IS ORIGINAL OWNER/ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE AT CORRECT TIME INTERVALS (INCLUDING A DOUBLE TRANSMISSION SERVICE DONE AT 60,000 AND 77,000) NO PAPERWORK INDICATING 2004 RECALL SERVICE WAS DONE, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP INSISTS IT WAS COMPLETED (THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR PAPERWORK.) ONLY MAJOR REPAIR: $1100 REPAIR DONE 82,400 - LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID (REPLACED FRONT PUMP SEAL, O-RING ON CONVERTER AND REAR MAIN) NOW, 2200 MILES LATER, TRANSMISSION IS OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP QUOTING $5200 (NOT INCLUDING LABOR), AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH HONDA THEY HAVE OFFERED TO COVER 40% OF REPAIR PRICE (NOT INCLUDING LABOR). I HAD A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD LAST LONGER THAN 87,000 MILES, CONSIDERING THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND SAFE DRIVING RECORD. THANKFULLY, I HAVE ALL REPAIR/SERVICE PAPERWORK AND WILL BE GOING TO BBB ARBITRATION, AS SUGGESTED IN THE HONDA WARRANTY HANDBOOK. ALSO, EXTREMELY THANKFUL THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT/INJURY/DEATH RELATED TO THIS SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUE (HAD

FRONT AND RIGHT ENGINE MOUNTS NEED TO BE REPLACED PER HONDA DEALERSHIP. *KB

JUST STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. 2003 PILOT EX WITH ONLY 150K MILES, JUST STARTED SLIPPING. GOING 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND SUDDENLY IT FEELS LIKE I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, AND ENGINE REVS WITHOUT CHANGING SPEED, LIKE, I JUST SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. TOOK THE CAR INTO HONDA AND THEY ARE TELLING ME IT WILL COST $4500 TO GET A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION, NOT A NEW ONE. SINCE I BOUGHT IT FROM ITS ORIGINAL OWNER I ASKED IF THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN ON THE RECALL IN 2004. THE ORIGINAL DID NOT REMEMBER, BUT I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID YES BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A DATE IT HAPPENED. NOW I'M A LITTLE WORRIED. *TR

BOUGHT USED 2003 HONDA PILOT IN MARCH 2009. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION IN APRIL 2009. PURCHASED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR OVER $4,000 TO GET A 3-YR, 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2003 HONDA ACCORD (BOUGHT NEW) THAT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2006. DIDN'T THINK ABOUT PILOT HAVING THE SAME TRANSMISSION, OR I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED THE PILOT. NOW AT 166,000 MILES MY DRIVE LIGHT IS BLINKING AGAIN, BUT OF COURSE THE WARRANTY IS OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION!! *TR

WHILE DRIVING ALONG A ROAD AT ABOUT 30 MPH, THERE WAS A VERY INTENSE LOUD VIBRATING NOISE UNDER THE FRONT CONSOLE OF OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT. IT WAS VERY INTENSE AND LOUD AND LASTED ABOUT 10 SECONDS. WE PULLED OVER AND LOOKED BUT COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING VISIBLY WRONG ON THE OUTSIDE. THEN THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN PULLING IT OUT OF OUR PARKING STALL, IT DID IT AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME, WE HAD DRIVEN IT FOR A WEEK STRAIGHT(AFTER BUYING IT) WITHOUT HEARING A PROBLEM. THEN IT HAPPENED TWICE. AFTER LOOKING THROUGH MULTIPLE FORUMS ON THIS ISSUE, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ACURA MDX AND WITH HONDA PILOTS. IF THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

TRANSMISSION LOCKED WHEELS, SHIFTED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT GEARS WHILE AT MODERATE SPEED (APPX 45 MPH). *TR

MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING A WEIRD SLIPPING ON THE TRANSMISSION, IT DOESNT SEEM TO CHANGE GEAR SOMETIMES. ITS ALWAYS THE 2ND GEAR GOING TO 3RD GEAR WHEN IT STARTS SLIPPING. BUT WHEN I STOP AND PULL OVER FOR A MINUTE AND DRIVE THE CAR, THE PROBLEMS GOES AWAY. ALSO THE AIRBAG WARNING TURNS ON AND OFF FOR SOME REASON. I CALLED HONDA A FEW MONTHS AGO AND ASKED IF MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT I WAS SURPRISED THEY SAID NO. I JUST DONT KNOW WHATS GOING ON WITH THIS CAR. *TR

I INADVERTENTLY TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF WITH THE TRANSMISSION STILL IN DRIVE, AND I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I THEN EXITED THE CAR. THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD AS I WAS PASSING BEHIND IT, SO I HAD TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND CLIMB BACK INTO THE MOVING VEHICLE AND APPLY THE BRAKE. THIS SAME FAILURE WARRANTED RECALLS FOR 2003 ACCORDS, CIVICS, AND ELEMENTS, BUT SO FAR NOT FOR PILOTS. I WONDER IF THE INTERLOCK MECHANISM IS COMMON AMONG ALL THESE DIFFERENT MODELS, AND IF SO, WHY HONDA WASN'T REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE PILOT, ALSO? THE DESIGNS MUST BE VERY SIMILAR FOR SO MANY MODELS TO BE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. *TR

VEHICLE ALMOST STALLED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE ENGINE WAS REVVING AT A HIGH RPM. HAD A FRIEND CHECK THE CODE WITH A SCANNER WHICH CAME BACK WITH CODE PO740 -TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID CIRCUIT. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. CALLED AMERICAN HONDA AND SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS. DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND I WAS NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS ISSUE. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HONDA - WILL NOT BE BUYING ANY HONDA PRODUCT IN THE FUTURE. *TR

MY 2003 HONDA PILOT HAS BEEN SHUDDERING AT 35-45 MPH. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE "D" LIGHT FLASHING. I SEE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH WAY TOO MANY PILOTS. HONDA NEEDS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT! I LOVE HONDA - WE ALSO HAVE A 2004 CIVIC. HOWEVER, I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF OUR NEXT CAR WILL BE A HONDA. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN THAT I DRIVE DAILY IN THE PILOT, AND I AM TERRIFIED AFTER READING ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS TO DRIVE THEM IN THIS CAR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY IN LOWER GEARS; VEHICLE WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT TO FIRST GEAR, BUT WOULD REMAIN IN NEUTRAL. INTERMITTENTLY, VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR, THEN SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL (ENGINE WOULD CONTINUE TO REV, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE). INTERMITTENT 'CLUNK' AS TRANSMISSION MOVES FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. WHEN VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT, POSES A SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU CANNOT MERGE INTO TRAFFIC; OR VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE, AND WOULD REMAIN IN NEUTRAL, HOLDING UP TRAFFIC BEHIND. HIGHLY DANGEROUS CONDITION, AS DRIVER CANNOT DEPEND ON VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN REQUIRED. *TR

SAME ISSUE AS EVERY OTHER PILOT OWNER WITH THE 2ND GEAR NOT WANTING TO SHIFT UP AROUND 30-40 MPH, A DELAY AND RPM'S GO UP CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

OUR TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING AROUND 2 OR 3 GEAR.. THERE WAS A RECALL ABOUT THIS PART THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ON OUR CAR. OUR CAR ONLY HAS $116K MILES ON IT, AND IT SEEMS KIND OF FISHY THAT IT IS THE SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED AND "SUPPOSEDLY" FIXED. TRANSMISSIONS USUALLY LAST A LOT LONGER THAN THIS BEFORE THEY FAIL. THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY VEHICLE PARTS! *TR

THE IGNITION INTERLOCK MECHANISM ON OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT EX FAILED ALLOWING THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER WAS NOT IN PARK THEREBY ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO U.S. HONDA (CASE #[XXX]) WHO SAID THE ISSUE WAS RARE FOR THAT VEHICLE THEREFORE NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED COVERING THE DEFECT. WHEN RESEARCHING THE DEFECT, I NOTED THAT A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE 2003 HONDA ACCORD, CIVIC AND ELEMENT MODELS FOR PRECISELY THE SAME PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT HAS FALLEN APART INTERNALLY. THERE IS A CLEAR "HALF-DOME" OVER THE BULB ON THE BRAKE LIGHT PORTION, INSIDE THE TAILLIGHT UNIT THAT HAS FALLEN OFF AND NOW IS LOOSE INSIDE THE UNIT ITSELF. IT APPEARS THAT IT IS A "SNAP-ON" INSTALLATION WHEN THE UNIT IS ASSEMBLED. THERE IS NO-WAY TO FIX THIS WITHOUT DESTROYING THE SEALED UNIT. DEALER WANTS $150 FOR A REPLACEMENT. *TR

I INADVERTENTLY TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF WITH THE TRANSMISSION STILL IN DRIVE, AND I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I THEN EXITED THE CAR. THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD AS I WAS PASSING BEHIND IT, SO I HAD TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND CLIMB BACK INTO THE MOVING VEHICLE AND APPLY THE BRAKE. THIS SAME FAILURE WARRANTED RECALLS FOR 2003 ACCORDS, CIVICS, AND ELEMENTS, BUT SO FAR NOT FOR PILOTS. I WONDER IF THE INTERLOCK MECHANISM IS COMMON AMONG ALL THESE DIFFERENT MODELS, AND IF SO, WHY HONDA WASN'T REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE PILOT, ALSO? THE DESIGNS MUST BE VERY SIMILAR FOR SO MANY MODELS TO BE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160,239.

AT ABOUT 80,0000 MILES ON MY PILOT A VIBRATION AND NOISE WHILE TRAVELING AT A STEADY SPEED ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30 - 50 MILES PER HOUR. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER BUT HE IS NOT SURE. AT TIMES THE SOUND IS FAINT AND OFTEN TIMES IT IS QUITE LOUD. THE DEALER IS QUOTING AROUND $4000 TO FIX IT. WHEN I ALSO RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. I AGREE THAT HONDA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS LEAKING WATER TO THE INTERIOR, LIKE A NUMBER OF OTHER HONDA OWNERS. HONDA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT...AND IT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE BECAUSE OF MOISTURE ON CRITICAL ELECTRICAL PARTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION INITIALLY STARTED TO SHUDDER WHEN THE VEHICLE OPERATED WITHIN THE 40-60 MPH ZONE. NOW THE SHUDDER SEEMS TO OCCUR IN THE RANGE OF 30 TO 60 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO ERRATICALLY SHIFTING UP AND DOWN WITHIN THE DRIVE RANGE CAUSING FOR UNEVEN PERFORMANCE. I NOW OPERATE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS IN THE "D3" GEAR. ALTHOUGH IT WASTES GAS, THE CAR OPERATES SMOOTHER AND DOES NOT HAVE THE SHUDDERING THAT WAS BEING EXPERIENCE WHILE IN THE "D" GEAR. GIVEN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A FAMILY MEMBER. OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE HAD TIME TO RESEARCH THE CAR AND WOULD HAVE FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS A VERY SERIOUS FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE. IT IS IN FACT A LATENT DEFECT THAT HAS OCCURRED WITH CONTINUED REGULARITY. GIVEN THE HISTORY OF THIS ISSUE, AND THE WAY HONDA HAS RESPONDED, I WILL NOT BE LOOKING AT HONDA WHEN I BUY A NEW CAR. *TR

TRANSMISSION GOING BAD. DEALER SAYS IT IS A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER AND COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF IT LOCKS UP WHILE MOVING. IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WITH THE HONDA PILOT. *TR

HAVING DIFFICULTIES PUTING CAR INTO GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY IF VEHICLE IS ON A HILL. VARIOUS FRIENDS WHO HAVE THE SAME CAR HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. ONE FRIEND HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION WHEN IT FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TT

FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BROKE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS; VEHICLE WAS NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD, ONLY ON PAVED ROADS. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY THIS MORNING MY TRANSMISSION STARTED VIOLENTLY JERKING IN AND OUT OF GEARS SO HARD IT WAS THROWING ME FORWARD AND MY SEATBELT WAS LOCKING. AFTER THE JERKING THE RPM'S WENT TO 5,000 AT 55 MPH AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THE JERKING WAS SO BAD THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME SLOWED DOWN TO AVOID A COLLISION. I DO HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE AND SEEING THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS ISSUE, WHY HASN'T HONDA OWNED UP TO THIS PROBLEM. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM THIS NOT TO MENTION HOW SCARED I WAS WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN! HONDA OBVIOUSLY DID NOT FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTIFIED HONDA MOTOR CORPORATION AND HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT, MY VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTICS DONE AND SENT TO THE "CASE WORKER", WHO SHOULD CONTACT ME IN 24-48 HOURS. IF HONDA DOES NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM AND SOMEONE DIES AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP, THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. WHY DON'T THESE CORPORATIONS FIX THE PROBLEMS BEFORE A LIFE IS TAKEN. I EXPECT WAY MORE THAN 107,000 MILES OUT OF MY PILOT TRANSMISSION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT TO THIRD, AND INSTEAD SHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR. THIS GAVE A SERIOUS JOLT TO THE CAR, AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ON REVIEW BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CLUTCH PACK WAS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HONDA OF NORTH AMERICA S UNWILLING TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO FLASHING "D" SYMBOL ON THE DASH, NOTHING. JUST A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A BUSY ROAD, DRIVING NORMALLY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR