2003 Honda Pilot complaints

I INITIALLY NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL IN THE GARAGE. THEN, AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK ONE DAY, AND PARKING IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT, I DISCOVERED A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE ON THE GARAGE FLOOR! THE GAS IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK, AT THE SEAM OR JOINT WHERE THE TANK'S INTEGRAL CYLINDRICAL "TUBE" PROJECTION TRANSITIONS TO THE FLAT SURFACE OF THE TANK. THE RUBBER FILLER HOSE CLAMPS ONTO THIS TANK TUBE, BUT THE LEAK IS IN THE TANK "TUBE JOINT SEAM" ONLY. LIGHT FINGER PRESSURE ON THE SIDE OF THE TUBE RESULTS IN A MORE OBVIOUS LEAKAGE RATE. I CONTACTED HONDA OWNER LINK, AND WAS TOLD THAT A DEALER HAD TO CONFIRM MY OBSERVATION BEFORE HONDA COULD HELP WITH THIS SAFETY DEFECT. I TOOK THE CAR IN, AND THE SERVICE TECH REPORTED "FUEL LEAK AT THE FILLER NECK. TANK HAS NO ROAD DAMAGE. TANK WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. FUEL IS LEAKING AT THIS TIME." I WAITED ANOTHER 2 HOURS FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER TO CONTACT AND RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM THE HONDA DPSR. SHE DECLINED ANY "GOODWILL" ASSISTANCE "DUE TO MILES AND YEAR OF VEHICLE". THE QUOTE TO REPLACE THIS SAFETY DEFECT IS $1200, AND NO ONE AT HONDA ACCEPTS ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE TRIED TO ELEVATE THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT WITHIN HONDA, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS NOT A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE THERE IS NO NHTSA ACTION IN PLACE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY FURTHER ELEVATION AVENUE BEYOND THE HONDA DPSR WAS TO FILE THIS NHTSA COMPLAINT, AND WAIT FOR ENOUGH SIMILAR FUEL TANK FAILURES TO BE REGISTERED BY NHTSA. MEANWHILE, GASOLINE IS LEAKING FROM MY DEFECTIVE

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN FAILING AT 89,000 MILES THEN FINALLY FAILED AROUND 94,000. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE HONDA DEALER HE DID NOT MENTION ANY RECALLS AND HE FAILED TO MENTION THAT THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS. ALL HE WAS INTERESTED IN IS SELLING ME A BRAND NEW HONDA OR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO GET IT REBUILT AND NOW AT 101,000 THE SHUDDER BETWEEN 40-50MPH IS STARTING AGAIN SO I KNOW IT IS A MATTER OF TIME. I FEEL THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE DEFECTIVE AND HONDA NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR

MY 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 76000 MILES HAS STARTED TO MAKE 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 $2100 TO FIX IT. WHEN I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. HONDA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT STARTED TO SOMETIMES DROP OUT OF GEAR. FEELS LIKE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL. I STEP ON GAS, CAN HEAR ENGINE REV, BUT FEELS LIKE TRANSMISSION HAS DISENGAGED. I HAVE TO COAST OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, PLACE CAR IN PARK AND THEN IN DRIVE AGAIN TO CORRECT PROBLEM. WHEN TRANNY IS NOT ACTING UP, I ALSO HAVE NOTICED THE CAR SHAKES AROUND 50-60MPH. D WAS FLASHING AND ENGINE LIGHT ON FIRST TIME TRANNY DISENGAGED, SO I TOOK CAR TO ME MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME DIAGNOSTICS WERE TELLING HIM CAR NEEDED NEW SENSORS, WHICH HE REPLACED. WENT UPSTATE, THINKING PROB SOLVED, WELL, I ALMOST CAUSED A PILE UP ON GWB IN NEW YORK WITH CAR DROPPING OUT OF DRIVE AGAIN AT ABOUT 45MPH, NOWHERE THERE TO PULL OVER, SO I HAD TO STOP CAR IN MIDDLE OF ROAD, DROP IT INTO PARK, THEN MOVE IT INTO DRIVE. THIS TIME NO FLASHING D OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.I BROUGHT IT TO HONDA. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CHECK THE TRANNY. THE ONLY THING THEY FOUND WRONG WAS TRANNY FLUID WAS SLIGHTLY OVERFILLED, SO THEY DRAINED SOME FLUID. THEY DID TELL ME IF PROBLEM PERSISTED I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANNY AND ALSO NEEDED NEW ENGINE MOUNTS ON MY 8 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 103,000MILES. NEXT DAY PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE! MEANWHILE I HAD DEALER CHECK ON THE PRICE OF NEW TRANNY..4,700.00! WAS VERY UPSET TO FIND ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND MANY WEBSITES. I CALLED HONDA DEALER, TOLD THEM I FELT HONDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 PILOTS, AND OTHER MODELS. THEY ASKED ME WHAT I WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR TH

THIS VEHICLE MAKE HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MANY TIMES I HAVE BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY NEGOTIATION OF THE ROADWAY TO AVOID BEING INVOLVED IN A MAJOR COLLISION. THE HONDA PILOT'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF DRIVE, INTO NEUTRAL, WITH NO WARNING AND AT VARYING SPEEDS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR TWO YEARS. IT HAPPENS AT SLOW SPEEDS (I.E. 25 MPH AND ALSO AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 65-70 MPH). TRANSMISSION FLUID HAS BEEN POWER FLUSHED AND FILLED BY AN ASE CERTIFIED DEALER. FLUID WAS NOTICEABLY DARK. MECHANIC THOUGHT THE PROBLEM IS A COMBINATION TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK-UP ISSUE AS WELL AS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. HONDA STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A FACTORY TRANSMISSION PROBLEM RECALL, HOWEVER, THIS WAS PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. *TR

TWICE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 2003 PILOT. FIRST AT APPROXIMATELY 68,000 MILES AND SECOND AT APPROXIMATELY 120,000 MILES (APPROX 60,000 PER TRANSMISSION). SO MUCH FOR HONDA RELIABILITY! TRANMISSION REPLACED FIRST TIME BY DEALER AT THE COST OF EXTENDED WARRANTY PAYMENT. SECOND REPLACEMENT DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST AND HAD TO FIGHT TO GET HONDA TO ASSIST. AFTER A LOT OF EFFORT AND FOLLOW UP ON OUR PART, HONDA AGREED TO COVER HALF OF COST. A SIMPLE SEARCH OF THE INTERNET WILL RESULT IN A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES...CLEARLY HONDA DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT TO PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION DUE TO COST INVOLVED IF THEY COVER THE REPAIRS. *TT

CONSUMER OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. WILL NOT GO INTO 2ND GEAR. CAR REACHES VERY HIGH RPM'S THEN WILL JERK. THIS HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS HEATED. WHEN CAR IS FINALLY IN 2ND GEAR, IT WILL SLIP AND FALL OUT. SOON AFTER, CAR WILL NOT REVERSE. VERY SCARY AND COULD OF BEEN FATAL. TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETEY SHOT. TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR, ORIGINAL OWNER. HONDA WILL DO NOTHING TO COVER THE COST EVEN THOUGH MY CAR HAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND THE SYMPTOMS ARE EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL IS ABOUT. HONDA IS NOT CARING ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKES WERE SPRAYED WITH A BRAKE SUBSTANCE;HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG AND THE TRANSMISSION RECALL WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

2003 HONDA PILOT EX-L RES SUDDEN TRANSMISSION ISSUE-TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, NOT SHIFTING, REVVING EXTREMELY HIGH AND NOT SHIFTING INTO THE HIGHEST GEAR AT ALL. CAR IS JERKING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY AND ALMOST STOPPING ITSELF IN ITS TRACKS BY DOWNSHIFTING FROM 60MPH INTO 2ND GEAR. 24HRS LATER, THE CAR WON'T EVEN GO INTO REVERSE. VERY SCARY 2 HOUR PA TURNPIKE RIDE WHEN THIS SUDDENLY STARTED HAPPENING. NEVER HAD ONE PROBLEM BEFORE, AT ALL, BUT THAT WAS SCARY. THE VEHICLE HAS 167,000 AND HAS BEEN WONDERFUL UP UNTIL YESTERDAY. GLAD WE MADE IT HOME SAFELY. ON TO HONDA TOMORROW............ *TR

OWN A 2003 HONDA PILOT AND THE MIDDLE SEAT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE AND WON'T RECLINE OR GO DOWN. COULD CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD IF THE REAR PASSENGERS CAN'T GET OUT. *TR

OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MATS ARE SOAKED WITH WATER ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT. ATTEMPTS TO FIND AND REPAIR THE LEAK HAVE FAILED. I SEE MULTIPLE EXAMPLES OF THIS ON-LINE WHERE CONSUMERS LIKE ME ARE GETTING NO HELP FROM HONDA CORP. I AM CONSTANTLY PULLING UP THE CARPET TO ALLOW IT TO DRY OUT BUT THE RISK OF MOLD, MILDEW, AND RUST ARE HIGH. I ALREADY HAVE A MUSKY SMALL IN THE CAR WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR THE HEALTH OF MY FAMILY. ADDITIONALLY, I JUST PULLED UP A COVER PLATE ON THE DRIVER-SIDE FLOORBOARD TO DISCOVER MORE WATER POOLED AROUND THE E-BRAKE CABLES. THIS POOL OF WATER COVERED THE E-BRAKE COMPONENTS AND COULD HAVE RUSTED OUT THE CABLES MAKING IT USELESS. *TR

OUR HONDA PILOT WILL SHUTTER WHILE ACCELERATING BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 20 TO 50 MILES PER HOUR. THE SHUTTER WILL CONTINUE IF YOU CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE, IF I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL SHUTTER DISSIPATES AND I CAN RESUME ON ACCELERATING. OCCASIONALLY THE REAR END JUMPS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. IT LOOKS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE PILOT/MDX OWNERS. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SOON, BEFORE SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

JAN, 2011 (ODOMETER ~61000 MILES.) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED WHILE EXITING FROM HIGHWAY. FEB, 2011 DEALER CONFIRMED THAT 1. TRANSMISSION FLUID IS TURNING BROWN, 2. DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION. THEY RESET CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. APRIL, 2011 EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY WITH VEHICLE. VEHICLE DID NOT RESPONSE AND WANTED TO STOP WHILE MERGING INTO STREET ROAD AND ACCELERATING FROM AROUND 10 MPH. MAY, 2011 (ODOMETER ~62500 MILES) ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN WHILE MERGING INTO HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 30 MPH. SINCE THEN WE ARE EXPERIENCING SUDDEN STOKE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS CHANGING GEAR. CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICES AND WAS INFORMED THAT WE HAVE TWO CHOICES, EITHER COMPLAIN TO CEO OF HONDA AMERICA OR TO BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ----------------- DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND NOTICED THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION FAILURE / PROBLEM WITH THE HONDA PILOT. ALSO, THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE IN 2004 ON THIS VEHICLE REGARDING INSUFFICIENT FLUID FLOW IN TRANSMISSION (NHTSA REFERENCE #04V176000). -------------- I DID REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALER. I SUSPECT THAT THE PROBLEM THAT I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING WITH THE VEHICLE IS RELATED TO THE SAME RECALL BACK IN 2004. THIS VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN FAULT IN THE TRANSMISSION. -------------- - HONDA SHOULD ISSUE ANOTHER RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. - HONDA SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FREE OF CHARGE AND REFUND THE COST FOR DIAGNOSTICS. - IN ADDITION, HONDA NEEDS TO HAVE A MAJOR CHANGE IN HOW THEY HANDLE

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SYMPTOM WHEN YOU TURN THE COMBINATION LIGHT SWITCH TO THE HEADLIGHT "ON" POSITION, THE LOW BEAMS MAY NOT COME ON. PROBABLE CAUSE IN A RARE CASE, THE WIRE HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED, CAUSING A TERMINAL IN THE HEADLIGHT WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO BECOME HEAT-DAMAGED, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO NOT COME ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD OR FOURTH GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IN JANUARY OF 2005 FOR A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) HOWEVER, THE REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED UP TO 3000. HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IDLE AIR CONTROL SYSTEM HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE ON THE AC MOTOR WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,612. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ UPDATED 06/02/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2003 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER STATES MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH INTERMITTENTLY FROM THE BEGINNING OF OWNERSHIP. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS RELATED TO THE GAS CAP NOT BEING SECURED PROPERLY. HOWEVER, ONCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THE LIGHT NO LONGER FLASHED. ON AUGUST 19, 2003 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO A HESITATION ISSUE, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE AND SRS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VTM LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2005 THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A SPECIAL PART HAD TO ORDERED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND GEAR BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE EGR, V-TEC SEALS AND O-RING WERE ALL REPLACED TO RECTIFY THE ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM. THE TIMING BELT AND LEFT AND RIGHT CONTROL ARM LINKS WERE REPLACED. THE INNER AND OUTER CV BOOTS WERE REPLACED. ON FEBRUARY 8, 20011 WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED ALMOST CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AGAIN. *JB

2003 HONDA PILOT (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) HAS A SHUDDER IN THE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN 29-49 MPH. THE SHUDDER WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE ODOMETER HAD ABOUT 130K MILES. WE WERE TOLD TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, BUT WE HAD RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT HONDA DEALER. IF YOU EASE OFF THE GAS THE SHUDDER WILL STOP. IT ONLY LASTS FOR A FEW SECONDS, BUT IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE SHAKE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. A WELL MAINTAINED HONDA VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE NEEDING ITS TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 130K MILES. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY IN 2003 HONDA PILOT, GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 - 65 MPH, THE CAR VIOLENTLY SHOOK AS IF THE BRAKES HAD BEEN APPLIED. MINUTES LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN SO WE EXITED THE FREEWAY AND CONTINUED SLOWLY. ONCE HOME, THERE WAS A HESITATION WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE AND IT ACTUALLY ROLLED FORWARD FOR A FEW FEET. WE COULD HEAR IT SLIP INTO GEAR AFTER A FEW SECONDS WITH A METALLIC PING OR THUD. THE NEXT DAY, WE NOTICED THE GEARS SLIPPING WHEN ACCELERATING AROUND 40 MPH. TOOK THE CAR TO RENTON HONDA AND THEY SURMISED IT COULD BE BAD GASOLINE. AFTER PAYING FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THEY DETERMINED A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED AT A COST OF $3500 (WITH A GOODWILL DISCOUNT). THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW, HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING, AND HAS HAD EVERY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS WHY THEY OFFERED THE DISCOUNT. THE CAR HAS 117,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN PAMPERED. THIS HONDA ISN'T LIVING UP TO THE HYPE! *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT EX EXPERIENCES SHUDDER/VIBRATION BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, LASTING IN DURATION OF 5 TO 10 SECONDS. DRAIN OF TRANSMISSION FLUID REVEALED FRICTION MATERIAL PRESENT. DEALER SUSPECTS TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE, SAME AS ACURA MDX. *TR

THE 2003 HONDA PILOT I OWN IS ON IT'S SECOND TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE BECOMES DISABLED AND THE "D" LIGHT FLASHES ON THE DASH INDICATING THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THE HONDA DEALER SAYS THAT THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN. TWO TRANSMISSIONS AT ONLY 127, 500 IS A SIGN OF PROBLEMS WITH THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF. I BELIEVE HONDA SHOULD RECALL ALL 2003 & 2004 HONDA PILOT FOR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND A PRIVATE MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. BOTH TEST REVEALED CODE P0730 WHICH MEANS THAT THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL SYSTEM, LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL, OR POOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. BOTH SOURCES ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ONLY 102,000 MILES 2003 HONDA PILOT. *TR

STEERING RACK FAILURE 2003 HONDA PILOT. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. WAS AT DEALERSHIP FOR TRANSMISSION RECALL IN OCT 2004 AND TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION GEAR PRESSURE SWITCH IN DECEMBER 2010. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WOULD LOCK ABNORMALLY AND WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO INSERT THE KEY, HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OVER AND THE WHEELS WOULD REMAIN LOCKED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WOULD SPORADICALLY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT HE WOULD ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SO THAT THE KEY WOULD FIT INTO THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS THE ORIGINAL KEY PROVIDED WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

I HAVE A 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH DVD PLAYER AND WIRELESS HEADPHONES. MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH OUR TWO YOUNG KIDS WHO WERE WATCHING A DVD WITH THE HEADPHONES. THE KIDS STATED THAT THE HEADPHONES STOPPED WORKING AND STARTED MAKING A WHITE NOISE SOUND. A FEW MINUTES LATER WE SAW SMOKE COME OUT OF THE DASHBOARD, THROUGH THE TAPE DECK AND OTHER OPENINGS. WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH AND HAD LIMITED VISIBILITY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT WRECKING. WE ALL GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LET THE SMOKE CLEAR. AFTERWARDS, WE TOOK IT TO THE CHARLESTON, SC DEALERSHIP. EVEN THOUGH THEY FOUND BURNT PARTS IN THE DVD PLAYER, THEY REFUSED TO HELP. THEY WANTED OVER $1000 TO PUT IN A NEW DVD PLAYER. WE TOOK THE PAPERWORK AND LEFT, WHILE THE DVD HEADPHONES STILL DO NOT WORK TO THIS DAY. I EVEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB, WITHOUT SUCCESS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED FUNCTIONING AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

CAR CLUNKED WHEN ACCELERATING, SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR, HAPPENED HERE AND THERE AND THEN HAPPENED MORE OFTEN. TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

I PURCHASED THE 2003 HONDA PILOT IN NOVEMBER OF 2002. AT ABOUT 32,000 MILES, A "SHUTTERING" BEGAN TO OCCUR AT LOWER SPEEDS. (15 TO 35 MPH.) I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO 3 DIFFERENT HONDA DEALERS OVER TIME AND NONE ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. STATING IT IS NOT OBSERVED WHEN IN SHOP. I HAD MENTIONED TO THE LAST DEALER THAT A CLOSE FRIEND PURCHASED A 2009 HONDA VAN THAT IS NOW BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME "SHUTTERING" OF THE TRANSMISSION AND HE WAS TOLD THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO HAVE A PROGRAM UPDATE. THE DEALERSHIP, DAVENPORT IN ROCKY MOUNT ,NC ACTED AS IF THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS RECALL AND DID AS THE OTHER DEALERS, NOTHING. *TR

TRANSMISSION BEGINNING TO GO BAD. A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2003 HONDA PILOT. HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO MOTOR MOUNTS GOING BAD. *TR

MY CONVERTIBLE CHILD RESTRAINT COMES EQUIPPED WITH A LATCH STRAP WITH A STATED LIMIT OF 80 LBS (SUPERLATCH). WHEN I INSTALL THE SEAT USING THE SUPERLATCH STRAP, I AM REPEATEDLY FINDING THAT WITHIN TWO DAYS OF NORMAL USE, THE INSTALLATION BECOMES SIGNIFICANTLY LOOSER-SOMETIMES AS MUCH AS 2-3 INCHES OF MOVEMENT. AS A CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE SEAT IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND TIGHTLY TO BEGIN WITH. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON REPORTING THIS FOR THIS SEAT. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE SUPERLATCH CLIP/HOOK MECHANISM COME DETACHED FROM MY VEHICLE'S LATCH ANCHOR BARS SEVERAL TIMES, DESPITE HEARING AN AUDIBLE CLICK WHEN INSTALLING THE SEAT AND PULLING ON THE STRAP TO ENSURE PROPER ATTACHMENT AT THE TIME ON INSTALLATION. THE SUPERLATCH STRAP ADJUSTER IS FAILING TO MAINTAIN TIGHTNESS AND THE CONNECTORS ARE NOT REMAINING SECURELY ATTACHED TO THE LATCH BARS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE UNACCEPTABLE. THE MANUFACTURER'S "SOLUTION" IS TO INSTALL WITH THE VEHICLE BELT AND/OR REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SUPERLATCH STRAP WITH A STANDARD 40-48 LB LATCH STRAP. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2010, MAKE=NISSAN, MODEL=SENTRA). *TR

I HAVE A 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 137,000 MILES ON IT AND IT VIBRATES SOMEWHERE AROUND 35-45 MPH. MY MECHANIC RECOMMENDED WE HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED AS HE HAS SEEN 3 OR 4 OTHER PILOTS DO THE SAME THING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES TO THE POINT WHERE I JUST GOT USED TO IT. WITH THE THOUGHT OF A NEW TRANSMISSION LOOMING, I DECIDED TO SEARCH IF OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE AND AM SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE DEALT WITH THIS. I HAVE BEEN A HONDA OWNER ALL MY DRIVING LIFE AND SEEING THIS ISSUE SO PROMINENT DEFINITELY MAKES ME RETHINK ANOTHER ONE. I DO HOPE HONDA WILL RECTIFY THIS BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT, TRANSMISSION SLIP BETWEEN 25 AND 40 MPH ALMOST LIKE IT'S SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL, USUALLY WHEN IT'S SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD. HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY WITHOUT WARNING. USUALLY STALL FOR SEVERAL SECONDS SOMETIMES CANNOT PROCEED CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD IN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. ALSO TOLD THAT MOTOR MOUNTS NEED REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON PROBLEM CAN'T AFFORD REPAIR. TRANSMISSION COOLER THAT HONDA INSTALLED WAS OBVIOUS PATCH TO ATTEMPT TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF A FAULTY DESIGN. ARE WE GOING TO LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS ? *TR

OWNER OF 2003 HONDA PILOT. ABOUT A YEAR AGO "D" LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON THE CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT NO PROBLEMS FOUND. ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATTER, CAR STARTED HESITATING WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND - 3RD GEAR. WENT BACK TO DEALER AND TOLD THAT NO PROBLEMS FOUND WITH TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM BECAME WORST AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AT ABOUT 30 MPH. I WOULD HAVE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT BACK IN GEAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THIS TIME THEY FLUSHED THE TRANS FLUID AND SAID THAT THIS SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WELL IT DIDN'T. NOW THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND IT WILL COST ME $3221.79 TO REPLACE THE TRANS (THIS IS AFTER THE $1,300.00 THAT HONDA CORP AGREED TO PAY). I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HONDA WOULD TAKE SO LONG TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I FIRST COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY 2003 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSION FAILED IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR. THE "D" LIGHT WAS BLINKING SO IT TOOK IT TO HONDA OF NANUET AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION? THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION THAT THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED, BY ADDING A FUEL KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM? IT DIDN'T WORK! I HAVE RESEARCHED MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS E.G. (EMONDS.COM). CAN ANYONE HELP THE CONSUMERS IN THIS CASE AGAINST HONDA? HONDA WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER 5,000 TO FIX IT? VIN# [XXX] FIXED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A PRIVATE AUTO SERVICE FOR 4,120 BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS HONDA FAILED TO OWN UP TO THERE RESPONSIBILITY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT EX-L: THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND HESITATES BETWEEN 35 - 50 MPH. I WAS TOLD BY A HONDA SERVICE DEPT. THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND 2 MOTOR MOUNTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4162. THIS PROBLEM IS TOO COMMON TO NOT BE CONSIDERED AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RECALL. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE. I HOPE NO MAJOR INJURIES ARE CAUSED FROM THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 HONDA PILOT. I HAD THIS PROBLEM IN JUNE 2010. ON A MODERATE UPHILL CLIMB, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 35 MPH AND I FELT VIBRATION AND SHAKING. FROM A STANDING STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE 2ND GEAR, AND THEN AGAIN BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE 3RD GEAR. THE PROBLEM CAME OFF AND ON UNTIL YESTERDAY. I WAS AGAIN DRIVING ON A MODERATE FREEWAY UPHILL CLIMB WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS, SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 50 MPH, VIBRATED BEFORE SHIFTING AGAIN AND PICKED UP SPEED. I GOT FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND DID NOT HIT MY VEHICLE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS IS WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVE 'D' INDICATOR WAS FLASHING AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT OFF FROM THE FREEWAY AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR. WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE BACK ON, THE FLASHING 'D' DISAPPEARED. I TOOK IT BACK TO COMMUNITY HONDA TODAY WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS I TOLD THEM IN JUNE, PLUS WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT MY HONDA PILOT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, TO THE TUNE OF $4,100 PLUS TAX. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER 2003 HONDA PILOTS AND I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. WHAT INFURIATES ME IS THAT HONDA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (06-003 DATED JUNE 9, 2007) FOR THE 2003 ACURA MDX WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME AS THE 2003 HONDA PILOT. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. BECAUSE OF HONDA'S FAILURE TO ISSUE THE

OUR HONDA PILOT WILL SHUTTER WHILE ACCELERATING PASSING THROUGH SPEEDS OF 20 TO 50 MILES PER HOUR. THE SHUTTER WILL CONTINUE IF THROTTLE IS KEPT IN, IF I BACK OF THE PEDAL SHUTTER DISSIPATES AND I CAN RESUME ON ACCELERATING. I CAN FEEL A SLIGHT VIBRATION UPTO 60 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HONDA ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAY THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. IT LOOKS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE PILOT/MDX OWNERS. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS SOON, BEFORE SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE IGNITION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. THE DEALER FOUND THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *JB

I HAVE A HONDA 2003 PILOT. THIS WEEK, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN STOP (WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS), I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY SEVERAL VEHICLES WHICH WERE TRAVELING BEHIND ME. I KEPT DRIVING AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN 4 MINUTES LATER. I EVENTUALLY MADE IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY, THE SAME PATTERN CONTINUED BUT MORE OFTEN. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, DUE TO AN "INTERNAL TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION", 3RD PRESSURE SWITCH FAILURE, AND INCORRECT GEAR RATIO. THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THAT CODES P0845 AND P0730 WERE GENERATED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON APRIL 2004 FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE/YEAR, "NHTSA 04V176000", IN WHICH THE DEALER WOULD VISUALLY INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND SUBJECTIVELY DECIDE WHAT WAS NEEDED FOR REMEDIATION; EITHER A 1) A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT OR 2) ?PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE?. IN MARCH 2004, 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE RECALL BEING RELEASED, I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THEY ?SERVICED? THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THIS COMPLAINT. THREE MONTHS LATER, IN JUNE 2004, I AGAIN COMPLAINED ABOUT SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THIS TIME, THE DEALER NOTED THE RECALL AND CHOSE REMEDIATION NUMBER 2. CURRENTLY, HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT, BUT QUESTION THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH ONLY 139,000 MILES ON THE CAR. ALSO, THE CAR HAS BE

FREQUENTLY THE HONDA PILOT WILL SHUTTER WHILE ACCELERATING PASSING THROUGH SPEEDS OF 20 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE SHUTTER WILL CONTINUE IF THROTTLE IS KEPT IN, IF I BACK OF THE PEDAL SHUTTER DISSIPATES AND I CAN RESUME ON ACCELERATING. I CAN FEEL A SLIGHT VIBRATION UPTO 60 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HONDA ABOUT THIS AND THEY HAVE NO EXPLANATION. IT LOOKS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE PILOT/MDX OWNERS. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS SOON, BEFORE SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR. *TR

THE IGNITION KEY FOR THE 2003 HONDA PILOT HAS BEEN GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION CAUSING IT NOT TO START FOR OVER A YEAR. IF I WIGGLED THE STEERING WHEEL, THE KEY AND PUMPED THE BRAKES THE KEY WOULD TURN AND THE TRUCK WOULD EVENTUALLY START. ON AUGUST 25, 2010 THE THE KEY REMAINED JAMMED IN THE IGNITION AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED AND REPAIRED. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND MANY OTHER 2003 PILOT OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION KEY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY THE 2003 PILOT OWNER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO START THE TRUCK IN A TIMELY MANNER. *TR

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD A TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SYSTEM FAILURE AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 PILOT WITH OVER 130,000 MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A PROBLEM WHILE ACCELERATING WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD STICK AND REV UP, IF I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR IT WOULD CORRECT. NOW IT IS STICKING, REVS UP, AND IT WILL NOT CORRECT AT ALL. I HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND ACCELERATE AGAIN. THE "D" LIGHT HAS STARTED FLASHING AND ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE THE TRANS REPLACED FOR @ $4000. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 136,000 MILES BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY JERK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 30 AND 60 MPH. THE JERKING WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE WANTED TO SHIFT GEARS. RPM WOULD REV, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. ALSO HAD DIFFICULTY MOVING GEAR SHIFT PAST D DOWN TO D3. ON THE 5TH DAY OF THIS OCCURRING INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK CONSTANTLY. CAR BEGAN TO REV AND SEEMED GEAR WAS STUCK. MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP CAME ON AND D GEAR DRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THIS JERKING/JOLT MOVEMENT OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY AND STREET ROADS WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS POSES A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THIS PARTICULAR MODEL MAY HAVE BEEN A PART OF A RECALL FOR A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THE FIX DESCRIBED ULTIMATELY DID NOT PREVENT THE INEVITABLE....THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. MOST CONSUMERS END UP REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. HONDA AMERICA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. CONSUMERS EXPECT TO RECEIVE MORE THAN 200,000 MILES ON A HONDA VEHICLE. *TR

ON MY 2003 PILOT, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A VIBRATION/GRINDING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING THROUGH 35 TO 40 MPH. THE NOISE WOULD LAST FOR 10 TO 15 SECONDS AND THEN STOP. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER AND OTHER SHOPS MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR AND THEY ALWAYS SAID THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. STARTED HAVING SOME IDLING PROBLEMS SO TOOK IT TO AUTO SERVICE CENTER AND HAD TO REPLACE ALL MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, AND IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. AFTER WE GOT IT BACK AND LESS THAN 90 MILES LATER, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED WHINING WORSE THAN BEFORE AND THEN ACTED LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING THEN BUCKED VIOLENTLY AND THE "D" LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NOW THE TRANS MISSION NO LONGER SHIFTS. *TR

THE 2003 HONDA PILOT STOPPED WITH LOUD CLANKING NOISE. THE ENGINE WOULD TURN ON BUT WOULD CONK-OUT WHEN PUT IN GEAR. THE CAR HAD A BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT AT 2 PLACES. THIS WAS REPLACE AT THE DEALER. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN ON THE ROAD. THIS TIME AGAIN THE CAR WOULD TURN ON BUT WILL CONK-OUT WHEN PUT IN GEAR. THE DEALER SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES (SINCE AROUND 35000 MILES) BECAUSE THE CAR WAS MAKING GROWLING NOISE AROUND 1500 RPM. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I STOPPED GOING TO THE DEALER OUT OF FRUSTRATION. I KNEW AT SOME POINT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE MOUNT AND TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY HONDA ON 2003 PILOT. *TR