Honda Pilot Complaints (2003)

720 consumer complaints on file.

#10490416December 28, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489325December 19, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486100November 26, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486106November 26, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482090October 24, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482091October 24, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481464October 22, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481027October 18, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479561October 10, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479695October 10, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478876October 6, 2012
POWER TRAIN, STEERING
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478743October 5, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477073September 25, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477075September 25, 2012
VISIBILITY/WIPER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476593September 20, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475797September 18, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475567September 16, 2012
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475093September 11, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471917August 22, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471481August 19, 2012
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
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 (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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