Honda Pilot Complaints (2005)

679 consumer complaints on file.

#10480182October 15, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING AT AROUND 45-50 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN THE MORNING RUSH HOUR, AS I PRESSED MY BRAKE SUDDENLY TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING ON TO MY LANE, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT SWUNG VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE AS I TRIED TO STEER IT AWAY FROM VEHICLES AROUND ME SO AS NOT TO HIT THEM. IT FINALLY CAME TO A HALT AFTER SLAMMING ON TO THE VEHICLE THAT CAME ON TO MY LANE CAUSING ME TO BRAKE SUDDENLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE PERSON WHOSE CAR I HIT AND WHO WATCHED ME FROM A CLOSE RANGE TOLD ME LATER THAT HE WAS WORRIED THAT THE CAR WAS GOING TO TURN OVER. FOR ME, THE SCARY PART WAS WHEN I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR BY STEERING IT. I SWERVED IT LEFT & RIGHT SO AS NOT TO HIT OTHERS BUT FELT AS IF SOMETHING ELSE WAS CONTROLLING THE SIDEWAYS MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. I SUSPECTED IT WAS SOME KIND OF COMPUTER MALFUNCTION AND THOUGHT ABOUT REPORTING IT TO HONDA BUT DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO DO THAT. I AM REPORTING IT NOW AS I READ YESTERDAY ON USA TODAY THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING A SIMILAR-SOUNDING PROBLEM THAT ANOTHER CONSUMER REPORTED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479983October 13, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN 2005 HONDA PILOT STATED TRAILING A LIQUID. DROVE A QUARTER OF A MILE TO WORK TO FIND COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOUND THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED CAUSING COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK OUT. RADIATOR REPLACED, TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND SERVICED, AND COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSHED FINAL REPAIR COST $900. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR THE HONDA PILOT AND SHOULD BE CHECKED OUT AND RESOLVED FOR OTHERS.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479999October 13, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKING SYSTEM SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACTIVATE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM, VIOLENTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES REGARDLESS OF HOW HARD OR SOFTLY I TOUCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS ANOMALY HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I COULD NOT ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS UNPREDICTABLE AND WENT AWAY WHEN I WOULD GET THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE AND TURN OFF THE KEY. IT WOULD NO LONGER BE HAPPENING, SIMILAR TO REBOOTING A COMPUTER. NO DASH SYMPTOM LIGHTS WOULD APPEAR DURING THESE INCIDENTS. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH HONDA SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE12028. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479944October 12, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
STOPPING IRREGULARITY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY UNSAFE FEELING FROM A DRIVERS PERSPECTIVE! NON-SOLID FEELING BRAKE PEDDLE PLUS A TENDANCY TO NOT STOP IN A STRAIGHT LINE. FRONT BRAKE PADS OR CALIPER SYSTEM HAVE MADE A VERY DETECTABLE (FROM INSIDE THE PILOT WITH THE WINDOWS UP) SNAP / CLACK NOISE WHEN ENGAGING BRAKES DURING FASTER THAN NORMAL STOPS FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MORE THAN ON ONE OCCASION - (REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS WITH NEW ONES SEEMS TO HELP / KEEP THEM NEW / THICK).. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479242October 8, 2012
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE ENGINE STARTED TO SHAKE (VIBRATING) MORE THAN NORMAL. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED BETWEEN 35 TO 45 MPH. ONCE I PASS 45 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD STOP SHAKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478463October 3, 2012
POWER TRAIN
ON A 3 HOUR TRIP, DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN ENGINE POWER DROPPED TO ALLOW ONLY 30-40MP AND APPROXIMATELY 6000 RPM. AFTER COOLING DOWN, IT WAS ABLE TO GET BACK TO HIGHWAY SPEED. NEXT DAY, THE EXACT SAME ISSUES STARTED OCCURRING. HAD IT TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BLOWN AND IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $5,000 TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477425September 28, 2012
POWER TRAIN
2005 PILOT HONDA TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. RESEARCH ON THE WEB CONFIRMS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM - FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTERS. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AT 50K MILES AND NOW HAS 142K. JUST SPENT $750 TO REPLACE THE PRESSURE SWITCHES, WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476925September 24, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THIS PROBLEM BEGAN EARLIER IN 2012 AND WAS INVESTIGATED BY THE DEALER IN JUNE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS (45-75MPH), THE VSA SYSTEM ENGAGES, LOCKING ONE WHEEL FOR A SECOND OR TWO, AND PULLING THE STEERING WHEEL AS IF IN A SKID. WHEN THIS STOPS, THE VSA LIGHT IS ON AS WELL AS A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT. WHEN THE DEALER 'FIXED' THIS IN JUNE, THEY REPAIRED A TPMS SENSOR. THEY ALSO FOUND A BRAKE CALIPER STUCK AND FIXED THAT AS WELL AS REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS. SINCE JUNE THE ISSUE HAS NOT OCCURRED UNTIL YESTERDAY. IT HAS HAPPENED AT 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 DAYS, ALL AT @ 45 MPH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDELY REPORTED ISSUE AND IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IN JUNE ON THE INTERSTATE, TRAFFIC ON BOTH SIDES OF ME DROPPED BACK BECAUSE THEY COULD TELL I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476714September 21, 2012
AIR BAGS
SRS INDICATOR LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT. RESET MES - AND CLEARED MEMORY. SRS LIGHT STILL ACTIVE. MECHANIC FOUND PROBLEM WITH FRONT AIRBAG SENSOR. LUCKILY NO INCIDENT AT THIS TIME, BUT CAN'T FIND WARRANTY COVERAGE DATA?! OR RECALL DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473644September 3, 2012
POWER TRAIN
D LIGHT TRANSMISSION FLASH AND I STOP THE CAR TO TRY RESET IGNITION KEY. THE D LIGHT NO FLASH NOW. BUT I THINK THAT IT WILL HAVE PROBLEM MY TRANSMISSION LATER ON. FOR MY SAFETY CONCERN I NEED A RECALL FOR MY CAR ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION TO KEEP HIGHWAY SAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473255September 1, 2012
POWER TRAIN, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
TOOK MY 2005 PILOT IN FOR MAJOR SERVICE 100K . VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WITH REGULAR INTERVALS OF FLUID REPLACEMENT AND OIL CHANGES AT NON HONDA SHOPS BUT WITH CERTIFIED COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS FROM VALVOLINE. MILEAGE ON CAR IS 107,928. PICKED UP CAR WAS RUNNING GREAT. WITHIN 7 MILES FLASHING D LIGHT ENGINE WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AND CAR FEELS LIKE ITS LOSING POWER AND WON'T SHIFT. DEALER SAYS ITS COINCIDENCE. NO SLOWING OF TRANSMISSION NO WARNING WHEN DEALER DID MAJOR SERVICE AND ALL POINT INSPECTION WITH HONDA DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. CONTACTED DEALER WAS TOLD CAR SHOULD BE DRIVABLE TO BRING IT IN. CAR STALLED OUT JERKED BACK AND RPMS SOARED ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET REAR ENDED WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MILES AN HOUR. DROVE CAR 20 MILES AN HOUR AND JERKED BACK AGAIN CAUSING ME TO BE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. PULLED OVER TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON ONLY ENGINE SILHOUETTE STILL ON AND DROVE 20 MPH TO DEALERSHIP. CAR IN DEALERSHIP MILEAGE IS 107953 AND AM TOLD ITS A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A SEALED TRANSMISSION THAT DEALER COULDN'T DETECT THREE DAYS EARLIER. NO WARNING SYSTEM OR FAILED WARNING SYSTEM ON A VERY DANGEROUS MAJOR CAR FAILURE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WAS AN EMISSIONS PROBLEM EVEN CAR HAS BEEN THOUGH MY CAR PASSED SMOG IN MAY 2012 WITH ABOVE AVERAGE RATING. MY POINT IS WHY IS THERE NO WARNING OR DETECTION TO THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING CAR FAILURE????? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472803August 28, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FOURTH YEAR PRESSURE SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,450 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,450.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472819August 28, 2012
POWER TRAIN
STARTED EXPERIENCING A SHUDDER WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH. APPARENTLY, THIS SEEMS TO BE A LARGE PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 HONDA PILOTS. THE ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT AND TWO SHOPS WERE NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. BOTH SHOPS TOLD ME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE BEFORE IN THE PILOT AND MDX. THE PROBLEM IS STILL INTERMITTENT BUT GETTING WORSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472620August 27, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE I WAS DRIVING APPROX 40 MPH MY 2005 HONDA PILOT'S BRAKES ENGAGED ON THEIR OWN. THE BRAKES STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR JETTED TO THE LEFT INTO THE MEDIAN WHILE STOPPING. DURING THE EVENT THERE WAS A LOUD GROANING NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. I MADE MY WAY INTO A GAS STATION AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND PROCEEDED HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN 1/2 MILE LATER AT 30 MPH, BRAKES TO THE FLOOR,LOUD GROANING SOUND. AT THIS POINT I WAS TERRIFIED AS MY 3YR DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR AND WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. THE VSA LIGHT POPPED ON AFTER THE SECOND EVENT.CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE SHOP WHERE WE WERE TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN WHO INSPECTED AND DROVE THE VEHICLE THAT HE WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE EVENT 2X. THEY STATED WE HAD A PROBLEM W/THE VSA OR ABS SYSTEM AND WE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE HONDA DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO NOTED THAT WHEN THEY HOOKED THE CAR UP TO THE COMPUTER THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM WAS READING "NO DATA".THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO HONDA THE NEXT DAY AND WE WERE TOLD WE DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM W/OUR ABS OR VSA SYSTEM. THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HONDA CONCLUDED THAT MY BRAKE PADS/ROTORS & TIRES NEEDED REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL SHOP WE TOOK IT TO STATED OUR BRAKES AND TIRES WERE FINE AND WOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM WE WERE HAVING. WE TRUSTEDHONDA AND COMPLETED THE REPAIRS THEY REQUESTED OUTSIDE OF THE DEALERSHIP. NEW BRAKES & TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AND WE HAVE HAD 4 ADD.'L INCIDENTS SINCE THESE ?REPAIRS? HAVE BEEN MADE. ALL OF THE INFO WE RECEIVED FROM THE FIRST SHOP THAT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE WAS RELAYED TO HONDA NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY WERE ADAMANT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A VSA OR ABS PROBLEM. CLEARLY THEY WERE WRONG. WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER NEXT TUESDAY .THE VEHICLE REMAINS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WE ARE VERY DISPLEASED AT HOW HONDA IS HANDLING THE SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472045August 23, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM MONTANA ON SATURDAY NIGHT (TO SPOKANE, WA); WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR SUNDAY MORNING, MY KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I WORKED ON IT FOR 90 PLUS MINUTES AND FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF THE IGNITION. DURING THIS TIME HOWEVER, THE KEY DID NOT EVER TURN IN THE IGNITION THEREFORE EVERYTHING REMAINED "LOCKED". I IMMEDIATELY TRIED THE SAME KEY ON THE DRIVERS DOOR; NO LUCK. IT DID HOWEVER OPEN THE BACK HATCH AND THE PASSENGER DOOR, BOTH MANUALLY (THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN THE KEY, SO I WAS USING IT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY UNTIL I GOT A NEW BATTERY). SO, WITH THIS INFORMATION I WENT DOWN TO LARRY MILLER HONDA, DOWNTOWN SPOKANE IN A BORROWED VEHICLE. WHILE THERE I WAS APPROACHED BY A SALESMAN AND I EXPLAINED MY DILEMMA: "UNABLE TO TURN KEY IN IGNITION, THEREFORE UNABLE TO GET MY CAR MOVING AT ALL!"..HE THEN INSTRUCTED ME TO "SPRAY WD 40 INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE DOOR LOCKS". AND INFORMED ME THAT THE SERVICE DEPART. WAS NOT OPEN BUT WE WENT BACK THERE BECAUSE "THERE WERE SOME EMPLOYEES WORKING ON SOME VEHICLES. WHEN WE GOT BACK THERE, THE SALESMAN ASKED THE SERVICE DEPT WORKER IF HE THOUGHT SPRAYING WD40 INTO MY IGNITION SWITCH WOULD WORK, THE SERVICEMAN AGREED. SO I GOT SOME WD 40, SPRAYED AWAY AS DIRECTED, NO LUCK. MONDAY: WENT BACK TO HONDA, WHERE ONE OF THE MANAGERS TOLD ME "NEVER SPRAY WD40 INTO IGNITION, THIS WILL GUM IT UP...AND NOW IT WILL COST ME 600.00 OR SO TO REPLACE IGNITION SYSTEM. HE ALSO STATED "THEY HAVE BEEN DOING ALOT OF THESE LATELY BECAUSE OF GUMMED UP IGNITIONS ON THE PILOT." I ASKED IF THIS DID NOT RAISE A FLAG FOR THEM AND POSSIBLY A PROBLEM. HE THEN SAID I WOULD NEED TO GET A WHOLE NEW KEY, RE-PROGRAM IT AND THEN GET A NEW IGNITION SET W/ NEW KEYS AND RE-PROGRAM THEM. I SAID THAT HONDA GAVE ME THE WRONG INFORMATION RESULTING IN DESTROYING MY IGNITION AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESP. MORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471888August 22, 2012
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471569August 20, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE LOW BEAMS STOPPED WORKING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED CHARRED WIRE AND MELTED CONNECTOR. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY HONDA FOR THE SAME MODEL ON AN EARLIER MODEL YEAR (NHTSA ID 12V136000). HONDA PART DESIGNATIONS AND FAILURE DESCRIPTION MATCH RECALL. I WOULD RECOMMEND HONDA EXPAND RECALL TO COVER ALL EFFECTED VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470552August 14, 2012
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
2005 HONDA PILOT - SEAL OR TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILED AND LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID INTO THE RADIATOR. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATORS WERE EVIDENT. OWNER NOTICED LEAKING FLUID FROM THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW. BOTH PARTS NOW REQUIRE EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE HAS 86,000 MILES AND NEVER EXPERIENCED ISSUE BEFORE. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTS ON THE INTERNET CONCERNING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, WITH LITTLE OR NO APPARENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY HONDA OF THIS BROAD ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469012August 2, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE STARTED TO "SHUDDER" AT MEDIUM SPEED, AND TWO TO THREE DAYS LATER WHILE ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEED THE TRANSMISSION BLEW UP, CREATING LOUD BANGING NOISES AND SPILLING TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO THE ROADWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467934July 27, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
I STARTED NOTICING A VIBRATION AT 34 TO 45 MPH. IT WAS DEFINITELY CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION UNDER THE HOOD. IT CAUSES MY 2005 HONDA PILOT TO VIBRATE, SHUDDER AND HESITATE AT THAT SPEED. I HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEFORE IT WILL STOP. IT HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY AT THAT SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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