Honda Pilot Complaints (2003)

720 consumer complaints on file.

#10269509May 20, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
HONDA PILOT LEAKING THROUGH AND TO THE FRONT FLOOR BOARDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269030May 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCEPT KEY, AFTER PLAYING WITH IT FINALLY GET THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, BUT WILL NOT START. PLAY AND PLAY WITH IGNITION AND CAR FINALLY STARTS. TAKE TO HONDA DEALERSHIP IN EL CAJON CA , THEY SAY BECAUSE OF WEIGHT OF KEYS, HAVE A TOTAL OF 3 KEYS ON MY CHAIN, THAT IT HAS WORN OUT THE KEY AND THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION. THEY MAKE A NEW KEY, IT GOES RIGHT IN BUT THE IGNITION IS STILL NOT TURNING OVER, HAVE TO GET A IGNITION. THEY REPLACE THE IGNITION BUT NOW I HAVE TWO HEAVY HONDA KEYS BECAUSE THE "NEW IGNITION" IS A SIDEWINDER AND IT COMES WITH A KEY THAT THEY CAN'T PROGRAM TO FIT THE DOORS. NOW MY KEY CHAIN IS HEAVIER THAN BEFORE. THIS COST ME $850.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268718May 14, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE GEARS FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY $3,500 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 162,525.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267917May 7, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 15-20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WERE MECHANICAL FAILURES IN THE TRANSMISSION. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN;AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EARLIER RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2004; HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE FAILURE ADDRESSED IN THE SAFETY RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 6/01/09 *CN UPDATED 06/02/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267458May 1, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE HONDA PILOT 2003 WHICH HAS 134500 MILES ON IT STARTED TO REV UP WHILE ACCELERATING AND LURCHING FORWARD VIOLENTLY. ONCE WHILE TRYING TO GET ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY STALL AS IF PUT IN A NEUTRAL AND LURCHED BACK TO 50MPH SPEED IN FEW SECONDS. LUCKILY NOT BODY IS BEHIND BUT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. HAD THE VEHICLE TO HONDA CAR DEALER WHO SERVICED THE VEHICLE 1 WEEK BACK AND THEY SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WAS QUOTED $4000 FOR THE REPAIR. CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND THE SR CHECKED WITH HIS SUPERVISOR AND SAID THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267320April 30, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I TRAVEL FREQUENTLY AND CURRENTLY HAVE 157,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AS REQUIRED AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED. IT HAS ALWAYS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS WITH HARSH SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, BUT DUE TO LACK OF ANY CODE WARNINGS, I'VE BEEN ADVISED BY THE DEALER AND PERSONAL MECHANICS THAT THERE WERE NO CONCERNS. AS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF A VEHICLE, ONE CAN SENSE ANY CHANGES IN HOW AN AUTOMOBILE DRIVES AND AT 50,265 MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A CHANGE WITH THE SHIFTING OF GEARS. AGAIN AT 87,767 I EXPRESSED CONCERN, BUT STILL NO CODES. AT 103,226 MILES, MY CONCERNS GREW AND FURTHER CHECKING AND DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT THERE IS HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, BUT NO INDICATIONS THAT A REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. ON APRIL 18, 2009 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE 'REVVING' AS THOUGH IT WAS IN NEUTRAL - THERE WAS NO POWER. I HAD A TOTAL OF 6 PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. I MANEUVERED TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. ON APRIL 29, 2009, MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION COMPANY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT A COST OF $3,500. I PURCHASED THE PILOT CONFIDENT THAT I INVESTED IN A VEHICLE THAT WILL PROVIDE ME ASSURANCE OF NO MAJOR POWERTRAIN ISSUES. I FELT STRONGLY ABOUT HONDA'S REPUTATION SO THIS IS QUITE A DISAPPOINTMENT. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM 2003 PILOT OWNERS WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURES (SEE EDMUNDS.COM FORUMS). IS ANYONE REVIEWING THE POTENTIAL LIABILITY INVOLVED WITH THE FAILURES OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS? ESPECIALLY SINCE I'VE EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF POWER AND NAVIGATION ABILITY! A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. ARE THERE DISCUSSIONS FOR A TRANSMISSION RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267172April 28, 2009
STRUCTURE
THE CHROME PLATING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE OF OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT IS FLAKING AT THE FRONT EDGE. IT IS A DANGEROUS CUT HAZARD. OUR PILOT HAS ONLY 69077 MILES. THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE A RECALL, AS IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I PURCHASED A EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED. THE REPAIR COST IS $39.00 LABOR AND $20.00 FOR HANDLE. THE DEALER SERVICE WRITER SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE, AND HAS EVEN EXPERIENCED IT HIMSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10266681April 25, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING 2003 HONDA PILOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE REVVED UP WHILE SEEMING TO COAST AND THEN JOLTED FORWARD. CAR HAS 109,000 MILES. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION AND FAILURE OF CONTROL MODULE. ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO DEALER REPAIR SHOP IT WAS CODED AS AN INCORRECT GEAR RATIO. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A VEHICLE WHICH HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND ONLY DRIVEN ON PAVED ROADS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266624April 24, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR STARTED TO RIDE ROUGH AT 75K MILES WITH "D" LIGHT FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER MIS-IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 5K MILES BUT EVENTUALLY DETERMINED THAT THE CAR NEEDS AN ENTIRE NEW TRANSMISSION. CAR NOW HAS JUST OVER 80K MILES. VERY SHORT LIFE FOR A TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266350April 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE FRONT ENGINE MOUNT IS CRACKED AND ONE OF THE SIDE MOUNTS IS TORN AND ABOUT TO CRACK. MY HONDA PILOT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN FEBRUARY 2003 AND HAS 84,000 MILES ON IT. HONDA CLAIMS THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS ONLY LAST FIVE YEARS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART, ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE VOLUME OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THE WEB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265443April 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 HONDA PILOT WAS RECALLED FOR A POTENTIAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE INSPECTION/REMEDY WAS PERFORMED IN 2004. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED WITH THE EXACT SAME FAILURE THE RECALL WAS INTENDED TO REMEDY. WHILE TRAVELING A DEALER IN MIAMI (BRICKELL MOTORS) WORKED WITH A REGIONAL HONDA REP AND OFFERED A 50% REDUCTION IN THE COST OF A REBUILD TRANSMISSION. UPON RETURNING HOME THE LOCAL DEALER (COGGIN HONDA) WORKED WITH A REGIONAL HONDA REP AND ONLY OFFERED A 5% REDUCTION. LEARNING THIS WE CONTACTED THE ORIGINAL DEALER (BRICKELL) AND WERE INFORMED THAT WE HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK (100 MILES AWAY) BEFORE THEY COULD ASK THE REP AGAIN FOR ASSISTANCE. NO GUARANTEE ON WHAT WOULD BE OFFERED. CONTACTING HONDA USA WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD LIKE LIKELY BE NO FURTHER OFFERS BUT THE ORIGINAL DEALERS OFFER SHOULD BE GOOD FOR 30 DAYS. WE ESCALATED THIS TO A CASE MANAGER ASKING THAT THE 50% OFFER BE MADE GOOD AT OUR LOCAL DEALER (COGGIN). IN THE INTERIM WE MUST RETRIEVE THE CAR WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS RECALLED FOR A POTENTIAL CRASH HAZARD. THIS CAR SHOULD BE PROVIDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AS PER THE RECALL NUMBER 04V176000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264961April 10, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
MY 2003 HONDA PILOT HAD A TRANSMISSION RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO, WHICH WAS REPORTEDLY PERFORMED BY HONDA. 3-14-09 IT WAS SERVICED BY HONDA, FOR A LIGHT THAT CAME ON INDICATING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. AFTER THE SERVICE, ON 4-2-09, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP THIS ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, ON 275 DURING RUSH HOUR IN CINCINNATI, DUE TO A SUDDEN SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT REAR BRAKE LIGHTS INDICATING STOPPING OR SLOWING. THIS IS AN INDICATION THAT EVEN WITH THE RECALL ALTERATIONS, THE PROBLEM OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A CRASH. DH, A FRIEND HAD A SIMILAR FAILURE CAUSING A CRASH WITH HER THREE CHILDREN ON BOARD, THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED INJURIES IN THIS ROLLOVER CRASH. HONDA WAS NOTIFIED AND SERVICE PERSONNEL WERE ADVISED AND THEY ARE NON RESPONSIVE. THIS VEHICLE IS DESIGNED FOR UP TO EIGHT OCCUPANTS MAKING THIS A SERIOUS POSSIBILITY FOR BODILY INJURY. AT THE TIME OF RECALL THE CORRECTION FOR THIS FAILURE WAS TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THERE IS A 30 DAY WAIT FOR REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS, EVIDENTLY BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. A FRIEND WITH THE SAME YEAR HONDA PILOT HAD THE SAME LOCK UP OCCUR WITH HER TRANSMISSION AND IT DID CAUSE THE PILOT TO CRASH AND ROLL OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH SIMILAR STORIES. UNFORTUNATELY HONDA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM DESPITE THE SAFETY ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264316April 6, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 135,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261655March 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2003 HONDA PILOT. TWO OF THE FOUR ENGINE MOUNTS ARE BAD. FROM PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN MANY, MANY HONDA PILOTS. IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE DEFECTIVE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE TO BE HAVING THE SAME COSTLY PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258915February 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CAR MAKES GRINDING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE CAR GENTLY ACCELERATES FROM BELOW 1400 RPM TO 1500 RPM. IT STARTED TO HAPPEN AROUND 30000 MILES AND HAPPENS FREQUENTLY NOW (97000 MILES). DEALER HAS REPLACED EGR VALVE 3 TIMES WITH NO AVAIL AND THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE GRINDING NOISE LASTS UPTO 5 SECONDS. THE TACHOMETER JUMPS UP AND DOWN AROUND 1500 RPM WHILE MAKING THE GRINDING NOISE. THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID WAS CHANGED BUT NOISE STILL HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257451February 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2 FAILURES: 1) REAR AIR UNIT FAILED AT 50,000 MILES / 5 YEARS. 2) TWO MOTOR MOUNT BROKEN (FRONT AND SIDE) AT 60,000 MILES / 6 YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257150February 2, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
NOTICED THAT THE HONDA PILOT WOULD SHAKE WHEN DRIVING AT 60, THEN EVENTUALLY START FEELING THE BRAKES GOING INTO EFFECT AND THE SPEED DROPPING TO BELOW 40. HOWEVER, DRIVING AT 25 YESTERDAY, THE BRAKES LOCKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, I HAD TO PUSH DOWN THE BRAKES AND THEN THE CAR MOVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256094January 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2003 HONDA PILOT EXL,LATELY I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SWITCH NOT WANTING TO TURN ON OR UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL. WHAT SHOULD I DO...I'VE OWN TWO OTHER HONDAS AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS.(98 ACCORD,98 CIVIC);THEIR WAS RECALL ON THEM. IS THEIR A RECALL ON THE HONDA PILOT SWITCH OR STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255580January 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1-FAILED IGNITION LOCK 2- CANNOT START THE CAR 3- REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254667January 11, 2009
SUSPENSION
HAD TO REPLACE FRONT AND SIDE MOTOR MOUNTS ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT. THIS WAS AFTER ONLY 67,118 MILES. MECHANIC SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL MOTOR MOUNTS. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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