Honda Pilot Complaints

9,418 consumer complaints on file.

#10574071March 21, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2004 PILOT CAME STANDARD WITH 19 GALLON TANK, AND WOULD START FILLING TO OVERFLOW AT NEARLY 22 GALLONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE TANK EITHER TAKING IN EXCESS OF 20 GALLONS OR NOT TAKING MORE THAN 0.75 GALLONS BEFORE STOPPING AUTOMATICALLY. THE TANK THEN HAS TO BE SLOWLY FED FOR NEARLY 25 MINUTES TO GET 16 GALLONS INTO THE TANK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573529March 19, 2014
STEERING
I WAS TOWING A TRAILER WITH A MOTORCYCLE IN IT. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH AND THE FRONT END STARTED TO VIBRATE REALLY BAD. I DROVE TO A FRIENDS HOUSE AND LEFT MY TRAILER THERE BECAUSE I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN. I DIDN'T NOTICE THE VIBRATION ONCE THE TRAILER WAS REMOVED. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 54,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE VIBRATION CAN BE PRETTY BAD WHEN I'M STOPPING AND ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING. I'VE HAD THE TIRES CHANGED AND ROTATED SO I KNOW IT'S NOT THE TIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573617March 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULDN'T ACCEPT THE KEY. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE, HTTP://WWW.PILOTEERS.ORG/FORUMS/14-PROBLEMS/27572-2003-PILOT-IGNITION-SWITCH-PROBLEM-SOLUTION.HTML, I FOUND MANY OTHER REFERENCES TO THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. ONLY 160,000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND IN EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION SO VERY UNEXPECTED AND SERIOUS DEFECT. I HAVE TWO OTHER VEHICLES WITH OVER 250,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD THIS CONCERN. NEW IGNITION PARTS INSTALLED OVER $500 AND TOLD ME TO SAVE MY PAPERWORK AS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I'M FORTUNATE IT WAS DAYLIGHT, I WAS AT WORK, AND HAD AAA IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. PLEASE FORCE HONDA TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573143March 18, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING AROUND A BEND TOWARDS A RED LIGHT, WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL MY CAR MADE A WEIRD SHUTTER OR BRAKE PULSING, I THOUGHT I HAD GONE OVER SOME RIPPLE STRIPS. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, I PROCEEDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, WHEN GOING ALMOST 30 & OUT OF THE TURN, MY PILOT CAME TO AN UNASSISTED ABRUPT STOP! IM SO LUCKY THE PERSON BEHIND ME DIDN'T REAR END ME! IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS GRINDING & THE TIRES WERE LOCKED. I WAITED A FEW SECONDS LET GO OF BRAKES & THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE BUT IN 5 FT IT DID IT AGAIN. TOWED TO DEALER WHO CANT SEEM TO FIND OR RECREATE THE PROBLEM. MULTIPLE BRAKE, ABS, VSC & ELECTRICAL ALARMS WERE REPORTED BY DEALER BUT STILL NO SOLUTION. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND BY MULTIPLE REPORTS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573202March 18, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION
I WAS TOWING A TRAILER WITH A MOTORCYCLE IN IT. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH AND THE FRONT END STARTED TO VIBRATE REALLY BAD. I DROVE TO A FRIENDS HOUSE AND LEFT MY TRAILER THERE BECAUSE I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN. I DIDN'T NOTICE THE VIBRATION ONCE THE TRAILER WAS REMOVED. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 54,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE VIBRATION CAN BE PRETTY BAD WHEN I'M STOPPING HARD AND ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING. I'VE HAD THE TIRES CHANGED AND ROTATED SO I KNOW IT'S NOT THE TIRES. I ALSO HAVE A REAR LEFT TAIL LIGHT THAT KEEPS GOING OUT. I'VE CHANGED IT TWICE BUT IT'S NOT BURNED OUT. I THINK IT MUST BE A SHORT. NOW THE RADIO LIGHTS HAVE STARTED TO GO DIM. I FIRST NOTICED THIS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. WE GOT A HARD RAIN THIS WEEKEND AND WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR THE NEXT MORNING THE HEADLINER WAS WET AROUND THE SUNROOF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568931March 12, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING IN FLORIDA AND LOUISIANA, I NOTICED A LOW-FREQUENCY BUZZING SOUND AND VIBRATION WHICH COULD BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND FLOORPAN. I BELIEVE IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT (VCM) FEATURE. IT COULD BE FELT WHEN THE VCM TRANSITIONED FROM 6 TO 4 CYLINDER MODE, WITH THE RPM OF 1700-1900 AND SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 25, 45 AND 60 MPH. IT WOULD OCCUR WITH VERY LIGHT ACCELERATOR PRESSURE, JUST MAINTAINING SPEED, AND DISAPPEAR WHEN ACCELERATOR PRESSURE WAS INCREASED, CAUSING IT TO DOWNSHIFT AND/OR THE VCM TO TRANSITION BACK TO 6 CYLINDER MODE. THIS PROBLEM IS LESS EVIDENT HERE IN COLORADO SPRINGS (6000 FT ELEVATION), WHICH I CANNOT EXPLAIN. I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH A 2008 PILOT NOR A 2008 ODYSSEY, BOTH OF WHICH HAD A SIMILAR VCM FEATURE. MY LOCAL HONDA TECH COULD "NOT DUPLICATE" MY CONCERN AND SAID IT WAS "OPERATING NORMALLY". THE TRANSMISSION ALSO "HUNTS" BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568588March 11, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD METAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE LOUD METAL NOISE WAS HEARD EACH TIME THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT EXHIBIT A BRAKE FAILURE BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE THAT THE CONTACT WAS REFERENCING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568624March 11, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS AT 35-40 MPH APPARENTLY DUE TO FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTERS AND TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURES DOCUMENTED ON THIS VEHICLE. IT CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STOP SUDDENLY, AND IS A HAZARD. THESE TORQUE CONVERTERS AND TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567737March 7, 2014
SEATS
A LOWER SEAT SUPPORT ON DRIVERS SEAT HAS FAILED. CAUSING THE FRONT OF THE DRIVES SEAT TO NOT BE HELD IN PLACE. ON ACCELERATION THE FRONT OF DRIVERS SEAT LIFTS UP CAUSING THE SEAT TO LAY BACK IN A MORE RECLINED POSITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567780March 7, 2014
ENGINE
75% OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS IN ECO MODE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHUDDERS. THE EFFECT VARIES FROM ANNOYING TO SEVERE. IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. THESE ARE THE SAME CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED BY NUMEROUS OWNERS. I EXPECT MAJOR PRE-MATURE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN. HONDA REFUSES TO ADMIT TO THE DEFECT AND HAS NO FIX FOR THE DEFECT. RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567713March 6, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING
AS I WAS APPROACHING A LEFT TURN LANE I APPLIED THE BRAKES GENTLY AND THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE MOMENTARILY GRABBED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE VSA LIGHTS ACTIVATED. THIS HAS OCCURRED 9 TIMES IN THE LAST 300 MILES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL THE "RECALLED" VSA MODULE WAS REPLACED LESS THAN 6000 MILES AGO. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE VSA MODULE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567653March 6, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENTER A PARKING GARAGE, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16000. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567514March 5, 2014
ENGINE
WHEN CRUISING IN MY 2014 HONDA PILOT EX-L AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON RELATIVELY FLAT TERRAIN, THERE IS A LOW FREQUENCY VIBRATION AND RUMBLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO THE VCM FEATURE OF THE ENGINE. IT IS POSSIBLE THIS COULD GET WORSE AND CAUSE SOME ENGINE DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567297March 4, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ONGOING DISTURBING SHUDDER OR VIBRATION APPARENTLY RELATED TO THE VCM/ECO FEATURE. THE RELATIONSHIP SEEMS TO CORRELATE WITH THE VISUAL ECO DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD. THE ISSUE CAN BE CATEGORIZED BY PROGRESSING THROUGH THREE STAGES OR MODES AS SPEED AND DRIVING CONDITIONS VARY. THE FIRST MODE CAN BE CHARACTERIZED AS A HOWLING (SIGNIFICANT AUDIBLE TONE CHANGE) FROM THE ENGINE RIGHT BEFORE THE VIBRATION BEGINS, WHICH IS THE SECOND MODE. THE SECOND MODE IS THE VIBRATION/SHUDDER MOST PREDOMINATELY AROUND 44 MPH, BUT CAN OCCUR AT OTHER SPEEDS - DEPENDING ON THE "LOAD" ON THE ENGINE. THE SHUDDER/VIBRATION CAN VARY FROM A HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION (LIKE GOING OVER SMALL NARROW RUMBLE STRIPS) TO A MORE PRONOUNCED SHUDDER, BOTH OF WHICH IS CAN BE FELT BY PASSENGERS AND/OR DRIVER. IN GENERAL, THE PILOT WILL VIBRATE/SHUDDER CONSISTENTLY, APPARENTLY WHEN THE VCM FEATURE IS IN TRANSITION. HOWEVER, ON TWO OCCASIONS, A THIRD MODE OCCURRED: VERY SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH OR SO, BY SURPRISE, THE PILOT SHOOK (FRONT END AREA) TO SUCH A INTENSE DEGREE THAT IT IMPULSIVELY CAUSED THE DRIVER OF THE PILOT TO PULL-OVER AND STOP. NOT KNOWING WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON IS CAUSING SOME TREPIDATION ABOUT WHETHER TO EVEN DRIVE THE CAR. TOOK PILOT INTO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED THESE MODES. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE VCM RELATED VIBRATIONS AND SAYS THAT IS THE WAY IT WORKS AND NOTHING THEY CAN DO. BUT, TO ME THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. A BRAND NEW (RATHER COSTLY) CAR SHOULD NOT BEHAVE THIS WAY. MOREOVER, IT SEEMS SUCH REGULAR ONGOING VIBRATION/SHUDDERING CAN QUICKLY NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE INTEGRITY OR LONGEVITY OF THE ENGINE/DRIVE TRAIN, ETC., AS MOST MECHANICAL THINGS GENERALLY DO NOT LIKE VIBRATIONS WHICH QUITE OFTEN IS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF WEAR AND TEAR. AS THE OWNER ONE MUST ASK THINGS LIKE: WILL THE ENGINE EVEN "SURVIVE" THIS IN THE LONG RUN? WILL THIS CAUSE MORE FREQUENT REPAIRS?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567305March 4, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VCM (VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT) SYSTEM CAUSES JERKING AND VIBRATIONS, PERIODICALLY, DURING THE CHANGE FROM "ECO" MODE TO FULL CYLINDER OPERATION. I HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER DRIVE WITH ME AND ON THAT TRIP, THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE SALES AND SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEING A PROBLEM. I NOW SEE THAT HONDA HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE COMPANY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND FIX THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566941March 4, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE INSIDE RADIATOR FAILED COMBINING FLUIDS AND CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION. LOSS OF ABILITY TO DRIVE/MOVE VEHICLE WITH FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND REQUIRES A NEW RADIATOR AND REPLACE / REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. A RECOMMENDATION FROM HONDA TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR EVERY 100,000 MILES WOULD HAVE PREVENTED HAVING TO REPLACE / REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. SUBSEQUENT TO REPAIR, OIL REMAINS IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND HAS CAUSED FAILURE OF A COOLANT LINE DUE TO OVER-PRESSURIZATION. THE VEHICLE, WITH MULTIPLE CHILDREN IN IT, HAS BEEN STRANDED TWO MORE TIMES DUE TO COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566767March 3, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED IN COLDER WEATHER, IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE VALVE BOOSTER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566684March 2, 2014
ENGINE
ENGINE VIBRATION IN ECO MODE. IT HAS GROWN STEADILY WORSE SINCE NEW. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A WELL ENGINEERED VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566470February 28, 2014
SEATS
FRONT, DRIVER SEAT, SEAT WARMER WAS ON HIGH. SEAT WAS GETTING VERY WARM. SEAT BEGAN TO SMOKE, LEATHER WAS MELTING. THIS OCCURRED UNDER THE DRIVER'S RIGHT LEG. THE SEAT GETTING VERY WARM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR SOME TIME NOW ON BOTH LOW AND HIGH, BUT I TURN THE SEAT WARMER OFF. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS STARTED SMOKING. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD TO JUST NOT USE SEAT WARMER. WILL NO LONGER USE SEAT WARMER AS IT IS A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566520February 28, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE LIGHT BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE MORE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 04/14/14*LJ UPDATED 04/18/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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