Honda Pilot Complaints (2003)

720 consumer complaints on file.

#10065770April 8, 2004
AIR BAGS
THE SRS LIGHT ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO AND HAS STAYED ON. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT, ORDERED A PART WHICH CAME IN OVER 3 WEEKS LATER, INSTALLED THE PART (I BELIEVE IT WAS A NEW AIRBAG SENSOR), AND STILL HASN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM. THEY ORDERED ANOTHER PART WHICH THEY SAID WOULD TAKE 3-4 WEEKS TO COME IN. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT CURRENTLY DUE TO THIS ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061660April 8, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN FOR THE FRONT AIR BAGS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE FRONT AIR BAGS WERE CHECKED AND THE MECHANIC MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS ACCORDING TO THE SAFETY CAMPAIGN BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THE AIR BAGS HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER(S) WERE CONCERNED THAT REPAIRS WERE DONE TWICE, BUT PROBLEM COULD RECUR. *AK THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT REMAIN ADJUSTED. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062293March 16, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I OWNED A 2003 HONDA PILOT. IT'S A VERY GOOD SUV. EXCEPT THAT LAST YEAR, I MADE A COMPLAINT WITH GRAND HONDA DEALERSHIP IN ELMHURST IL. REGARDING AN ANNOYING NOISE COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK WHICH I BELIEVE IS VERY UNUSUAL. SPLASHING NOISE IS VERY STRONG WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS HALF TO ALMOST FULL TANK. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IT IS NORMAL AND THERE WAS NO RECALL WHICH I STRONGLY DISAGREE. I BELIEVE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CHAMBERS TO CONTROL THE SPLASHING NOISE AND MIGHT CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE. PLEASE HELP!!! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060896March 10, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A HONDA PILOT 2003, EVERY TIME I START MY SUV AND PRESS THE BRAKES FOR THE FIRST TIME I HEAR A LOUD NOCKING SOUND. USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER THE SUV IS NOT IN USE FOR A WHILE. I TOOK THE SUV TO THE DEALER FOR DIFFERENT ISSUE AND I ASKED THE SERVICE PERSON ABOUT THE PROBLEM, HE TOLD ME THAT THE SOUND IS COMMON ON PILOT. I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA AND THEY TOLD THAT I NEED TO TAKE THE SUV FOR AN INSPECTION AND NOT TO GO BY WHAT THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE SUV TO THE DEALER YET. BUT, I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM, I DO NOT WHY THEY HAVE NOT REPORTED IT. THE PROBLEM IS ANNOYING BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE, EVERYTIME THE SUV IS MOVE AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060080March 1, 2004
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
I CONSISTENTLY HEAR NOISE THAT SEEMS TO COME FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AREA WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL OR LARGE BUMPS. MY DEALER (CLAIR INTERNATIONAL INC.) WAS UNABLE TO FIX AND CALLED HONDA TECH LINE. THEY WERE ADVISED BY HONDA TECH LINE (REF.# 1192151, ACCESS CODE 20710502012) THAT IT WAS NORMAL NOISE FROM REAR SHOCKS WITH POSSIBLE UPDATE IN THE FUTURE. A MONTH LATER I HAD DEALER REPLACE THE STRUT (PART# 52610-S9V-A01) BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059168February 17, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL LINE AND THE "PLENUM GASKET THREE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056231January 31, 2004
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
REAR WIPER MOTOR SHORT, INCLUDES SRS LIGHT COMING ON SINCE ON ONE FUSE AND LOST OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID US CAPABILITIES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056180January 30, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
3 TIMES WE HAD THE SRS LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON IN OUR 2003 PILOT. THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR AGAIN (WARRANTY), BUT INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF RF INSIDE THE VEHICLE INTERFERRING WITH THE SRS SIDE AIRBAG IN THE DRIVER SEAT. THE TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT IT COULD BE THE USE OF CELL PHONE OR TELEVISION. WE HAD ROUTINELY USED A PORTABLE DVD PLAYER IN THE PILOT WITH AC POWER INVERTER PLUGGED INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. WE USED THIS FOR ABOUT A YEAR WITH NO PROBLEMS. WE TRIED THE INVERTER ONE MORE TIME AND WITHOUT EVEN CONNECTING THE DVD PLAYER, THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON. THIS INVERTER WAS POWERED UNDER THE LIMIT LABELED ON THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. THEY REPLACED THE WHOLE AIRBAG CONTROLLER THIS TIME WHICH I THINK PROBABLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AND IS WHY IT KEPT RECURRING. BUT NOW WE ARE AFRAID TO TRY AGAIN SINCE WE GOT A FIRM WARNING FROM THE TECHNICIAN THAT WE AREN'T SUPPOSED OT USE INVERTERS IN THE LIGHTER AND IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, THEY WON'T COVER IT! I THINK THEY BUILD THESE SUV'S KNOWING THAT PEOPLE WILL USE THE RECEPTACLES FOR POWER, THEY EVEN LABEL THEM WITH VOLTAGE LIMITS. I THINK IF THERE ARE LIMITATIONS KNOWN, WE SHOULD BE INFORMED EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO ELIMINATE ALL USAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069604January 15, 2004
SUSPENSION
THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN TRACED TO THE UPPER SHOCK MOUNTS. THEIR DESIGN CAUSES A RATTLE ON SMALL TO MODERATE ROAD IRREGULARITIES. I WAS FORCED TO MAKE A PERSONAL MODIFICATION TO THE MOUNT AS HONDA WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. OTHERS (NATIONAL WEB SITE) HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS, BUT HONDA SAYS THIS IS CHARASTIC OF VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SUPPORTER OF HONDA IN PURCHASES AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS INCREDIBILY INSENSITIVE. MY NEXT PURCHASE MAY BE A VW OR VOLVO. SINCE I MODIFIED THE BRACKET, THE SOUND IS NOT THE ISSUE. THE VALUE HONDA HAS PLACED ON MY BUSINESS IS. I CAN DOCUMENT ALL EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, HOWEVER HONDA DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. SURELY I CAN NOT BE THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH HONDA AS I HAVE REMAINED PROFESSIONAL AT ALL TIMES. I WILL NOT LET THE ISSUE DIE. THERE SHOULD BE REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS THAT SUPPORT SHOULD GO ALONG WITH PRODUCT LOYALTY. BILL PRICE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053300January 5, 2004
TIRES
THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 63 MPH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050947December 22, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, AIR BAGS
I WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD AND SIDE IMPACT AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED, AS THEY SHOULD. AS A RESULT MY WIFE RECEIVED NICK AND BACK INJURIES. HAD THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AS THEY SHOULD INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVERE IF ANY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10048876November 30, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR
MY WIFE AND I BOTH OWN 2003 HONDA PILOT'S. BOTH VEHICLES HAVE A THUMPING NOISE THAT SEEM TO COME FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AREA WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL OR LARGER BUMPS.I HAVE CONTACTED THE HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM, THAT IT MAYBE GENERIC. I HAVE TALKED TO MY DEALER (WADE RAULSERSON, GAINESVILLE, FL) SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING. NO INFORMATION, IT MAY BE GENERIC. I HAVE CORRESPONDED OVER THE INTERNET WITH NUMEROUS OTHER PILOT OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. SEVERAL HAVE DONE CONSIDERABLE RESEARCH ON THEIR OWN AND THE BEST DIAGNOSIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT. YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT(#10023250) DETAILING A FAILURE ON THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THIS MAKE ME WONDER IF THERE IS AN INHERENT DESIGN FAULT WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION ON THE PILOT THAT COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT MAY CAUSE MAJOR INJURY OR DEATH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046956November 15, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
GREETINGS, WE JUST EXPERIENCED OUR SECOND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE ON OUR PILOT. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 5,000 TOTAL MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHICH WE SPECIAL ORDERED AND RECEIVED IN JANUARY 2003 (TODAY IS NOVEMBER 14, 2003). WE DO NOT DRIVE IT MUCH EXCEPT FOR FAMILY TRIPS. I HAVE A POTENTIAL THEORY TO BOUNCE OFF YOU GOOD FOLKS... BEING AN ENGINEER, I WAS A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NOT BEING FLOODED BY THE FLUID RESERVOIR. I WAS EVEN MORE CONCERNED THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS BELOW THE PUMP. I WAS ASSURED BY THE SALESMAN THAT THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE ARRANGEMENT. I LATER LEARNED ABOUT THE REPORTED PULLEY FAILURES. AGAIN I WAS ASSURED THAT WAS FIXED BY A NEW DESIGN. WELL, NOW WE HAVE TWO PUMP FAILURES WITH ONLY 5000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. BY FAILURE I MEAN THAT THE PUMP STARTED MAKING EXCESSIVELY LOUD WHINING NOISES CONSISTENT WITH DRY GEAR MESH NOISE. WE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER PRIOR TO DRIVING TO THE POINT OF ACTUAL FAILURE. HERE IS THE THEORY... I SUSPECT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP CANNOT HOLD ENOUGH VACUUM IN THE FLUID SUPPLY LINE TO MAINTAIN LUBRICATION OF THE PUMP. ONCE THE ENGINE HAS SET FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, THE PUMP COULD LOSE IT'S PRIME AND BEGIN TO RUN DRY ON THE NEXT USAGE OF THE VEHICLE. IF NOT RUNNING COMPLETELY DRY, MAYBE THERE IS ENOUGH LOSS OF PRIME TO CAUSE CAVITATION IN THE PUMP. COULD IT BE THAT IF THIS IS NOT CAUGHT SOON ENOUGH THAT THE HEAT GENERATED CAUSES THERMAL EXPANSION OF THE GEAR SETS RESULTING IN THE PUMP SEIZING UP? IF THE PUMP SEIZES UP, WOULD IT THEN BE POSSIBLE TO PRESENT ENOUGH FORCE BY THE SERPENTINE BELT TO CREATE ENOUGH TORQUE TO SHEER OFF THE PULLEY? LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. I AM CERTAINLY GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH MY DEALERSHIP ON THIS (AGAIN). *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046481November 6, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY PRODUCED A NOISE. DEALER STATES THAT THE NOISE IS NORMAL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045105October 30, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH ANOTHER DRIVER TURNED IN FRONT OF MY PILOT WITHOUT SIGNALING. THE WHOLE RIGHT FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WAS PUSHED IN. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK. AS A RESULT I BOUNCED OFF STEERING WHEEL TWICE. 2 DAYS LATER I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM HONDA SAYING THAT AIR BAGS ARE NOT DEPLOYING OR DEPLOYING LATE. I BELIEVE THAT MY INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVERE HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND/OR THE SEAT BELT LOCKED. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10039541September 25, 2003
SEATS
JUST BELOW THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVERS SEAT THE PLASTIC PANEL THAT HOLDS THE ELECTRONIC BUTTONS TO OPERATE THE SEAT MOTION HAS BROKEN TWO TIMES IN LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS, ALTHOUGH THE DEALER REPLACED IT BOTH TIMES, THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE SCREWS HOLDING THE PANEL IN PLACE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039102September 18, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2003 HONDA PILOT ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HONDA KNOWS OF THE SITUATION AND WILL NOT TAKE ANY ACTION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026585July 28, 2003
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLES DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT HAVE AUTOMATIC REVERSE. *AK *CB *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029654July 18, 2003
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH HIT A POLE, AND NEITHER OF THE FOUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023882June 27, 2003
STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION
MY HONDA PILOT BECOMES UNSTABLE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH, IT RESPONDS AS THOUGH THERE IS PLAY IN THE STEERING AND ANY SMALL ROAD IMPERFECTIONS CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO VEER LEFT OR RIGHT, I TOOK IT TO CUSH HONDA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY SAID THREE OF FOUR TIRES HAD 52 POUNDS OF AIR IN THE TIRES, WHICH HAD TO HAVE BEEN THERE ON DELIVERY SINCE I HAVE LESS THAN 700 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN SERVICED OR HAD AIR PUT IN THE TIRES, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND IS UNSAFE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC, THE SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMS ALL PILOTS DO IT AND IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM? PLEASE ADVISE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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