Honda Pilot Complaints (2003)

720 consumer complaints on file.

#10471336August 17, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471206August 16, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE AND EARLY WAS SLIPPING WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGH WAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470705August 15, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470303August 12, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470209August 11, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10469454August 7, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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 KIT RECALL PERFORMED IN 2004 AND APPARENTLY, IT ONLY POSTPONED FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, THIS PILOT WAS NEVER ABUSED, ALWAYS DRIVEN ON PAVED ROADS, NEVER TOWED ANYTHING AND NEVER HAD TO USE THE VTM-4 WHEEL DRIVE LOCKUP MODE. THE TRANSMISSION AND DIFFERENTIAL FLUIDS WERE REPLACED EVERY 30,000 MILES WITH HONDA FLUIDS PER THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468757August 1, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467163July 23, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466408July 18, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466489July 18, 2012
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465590July 13, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463995July 2, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462984June 25, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461605June 19, 2012
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
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 COMBINATION LIGHT SWITCH AND NOT THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL. THE LOW BEAMS ARE CURRENTLY NOT WORKING, WHICH IS FORCING THE CONSUMER TO USE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. *JB UPDATED 09/06/12. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460991June 8, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460805June 6, 2012
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460426June 3, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459965May 29, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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 INJURY OR DEATH DUE TO FAULTY EQUIPMENT OF THEIR VEHICLES. I WANT A RESPONSE FROM HONDA ON THESE ISSUES. 3). AND A INVESTIGATION INTO THESE CONCERNS INVOLVING FUEL LINE BURST AND CONNECTIONS INVOLVED HERE. AND WILL THIS DEALER PROVIDE WRITTEN INFORMATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED AND WILL THEY NOTIFY HONDA HEADQUARTERS AND CUSTOMER SERVICES OF THIS INCIDENT? UPDATED IVOQ 06/06/12 ....UPDATED 06/18/12 *BF *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459666May 25, 2012
SEATS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459551May 24, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Honda Pilot