Honda Pilot Complaints

9,418 consumer complaints on file.

#10450311March 5, 2012
POWER TRAIN
JUST STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. 2003 PILOT EX WITH ONLY 150K MILES, JUST STARTED SLIPPING. GOING 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND SUDDENLY IT FEELS LIKE I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, AND ENGINE REVS WITHOUT CHANGING SPEED, LIKE, I JUST SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. TOOK THE CAR INTO HONDA AND THEY ARE TELLING ME IT WILL COST $4500 TO GET A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION, NOT A NEW ONE. SINCE I BOUGHT IT FROM ITS ORIGINAL OWNER I ASKED IF THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN ON THE RECALL IN 2004. THE ORIGINAL DID NOT REMEMBER, BUT I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID YES BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A DATE IT HAPPENED. NOW I'M A LITTLE WORRIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450314March 5, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, SHE STARTED SMELLING BURNING OIL FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHITE SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE 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 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450089March 2, 2012
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING ALONG AND CLOSE TO HOME FELT A POP AND NOTED THE TEMP GAUGE IN HOT RANGE OF MY 2005 HONDA PILOT. I HAVE 77,565 MILES ON IT. IN MY DRIVEWAY NOTED A GRAY LIQUID UNDER FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. ON INSPECTING IN ENGINE AREA NOTED THE GRAY LIQUID OVERFLOWING FROM RAD OVERFLOW CONTAINER. OIL LEVEL OK BUT NOTED NO TRANNY FLUID IN IT. TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LOCATED IN THE RADIATOR HAD FAILED, MIXING UP THE FLUIDS. TOTAL COST $1900 WITH MULTI FLUSH. I HAD COVERAGE OF TRANSMISSION IN EFFECT BUT HONDA SAID NOT PART OF TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ATTORNEY NOW WORKING ON THIS CASE FOR ME. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SHIFTING POORLY BEFORE AND NOW WORSE. TOOK TO HONDA DEALER TO CHECK OUT. THEY SAID NO PROBLEM THAT THEY NOTICED. WITH ONLY A FEW WEEKS LEFT ON THE WARRANTY I TOOK IT TO A PROFESSIONAL TRANNY CENTER AND PAID $50 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE REPORT NOTED AN INTERNAL FAILED IN THE TRANSMISSION AND A NEED TO REPLACE OR REBUILD UNIT. BACK TO THE HONDA DEALER WITH THE REPORT. THEY LOOKED MORE CLOSELY AND AGREED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT. UNDER HONDA CARE THEY REPLACED WITH A REBUILT UNIT. MY CASE WITH HONDA PAYING ME BACK FOR THE INITIAL REPAIR IS STILL BEING HANDLED BY MY ATTORNEY. I FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE TRANSMISSION UNIT. NO ONE AT HONDA IS ABLE TO TELL ME IF MY REBUILT IS UNDER ANY KIND OF EXTENDED COVERAGE. STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449525February 28, 2012
POWER TRAIN
SHUTTER IN THE TRANNY FROM 25-45 MPH IT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449551February 28, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE BRAKES SEIZED AND FAILED TO RELEASE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449570February 28, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OUR 2005 HONDA PILOT HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD FOR LAST SEVEN YEARS AND 132,000 MILES, ALTHOUGH WE WANTED TO KEEP IT TO 200,000 MILES. LAST SATURDAY, OUT OF NOWHERE, IT STARTED TO LEAK THICK, PINK LIQUID ON OUR DRIVEWAY. IT APPEARED TO ME, AND AFTER LOOKING AT THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE RADIATOR. IT WAS A COLD DAY SO I STARTED TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER, WATCHING THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE LIGHT ON THE WAY. THE CAR ONLY WENT TWO MILES BEFORE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR A WEEK AND THREE DAYS WHILE I RENT ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE IN PILOT'S AFTER GOING OVER 100,000 MILES (CATASTROPHIC RADIATOR FAILURE THAT LEADS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE). HONDA SHOULD MAKE CERTAIN THAT OWNERS REPLACE THE RADIATOR COMPONENTS THAT LEAD TO THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE BEFORE THE OWNER HAS TO REPLACE BOTH THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION. I WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY BOUGHT A NEW CAR IF I HAD KNOWN THIS WAS COMING UP ON THE HORIZON, BUT NOW MY INVESTMENT IN THIS VEHICLE WILL BE TOO HIGH TO GET RID OF IT. IT SEEMS THAT WITH SOME PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, $5000 TO $7000 OF REPAIRS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED, AND I BET THE HONDA DEALER DOES NOT OFFER ME $5K TO $7K IN TRADE IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449571February 28, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A SLIGHT SHUDDER WHEN VEHICLE SPEED REACHED 35 MPH. NOT SURE CAUSE AT THE TIME SO HAD TIRES AND WHEELS CHECKED AND HAD MECHANIC TRY AND REPLICATE. NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS NOTED AND FREQUENCY AT FIRST WAS OCCASIONAL BUT BEGAN TO INCREASE IN FREQUENCY AND DURATION. PROBLEM HAS BECOME WORSE BUT ALWAYS BETWEEN 35-45 MPH AND DISAPPEARS AS SPEED INCREASES. I HAVE CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY UNUSUAL INCREASE IN PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AND WOULD HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT. ALSO INFORMED NO EXISTING RECALLS OR NOTICES WERE ON FILE. CONTACTED MY TRANSMISSION SERVICE REP. AND WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION WAS VERY LIKELY FAILING AND WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. HIS ESTIMATE TO REPLACE $4000-$4500 ! 55,000 MILES ON VEHICLE?????? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449445February 27, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-70 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO SHUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT WHAT HE WAS FEELING WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS THE OWNER STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449298February 25, 2012
POWER TRAIN
BOUGHT USED 2003 HONDA PILOT IN MARCH 2009. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION IN APRIL 2009. PURCHASED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR OVER $4,000 TO GET A 3-YR, 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2003 HONDA ACCORD (BOUGHT NEW) THAT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2006. DIDN'T THINK ABOUT PILOT HAVING THE SAME TRANSMISSION, OR I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED THE PILOT. NOW AT 166,000 MILES MY DRIVE LIGHT IS BLINKING AGAIN, BUT OF COURSE THE WARRANTY IS OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449308February 25, 2012
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING ALONG A ROAD AT ABOUT 30 MPH, THERE WAS A VERY INTENSE LOUD VIBRATING NOISE UNDER THE FRONT CONSOLE OF OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT. IT WAS VERY INTENSE AND LOUD AND LASTED ABOUT 10 SECONDS. WE PULLED OVER AND LOOKED BUT COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING VISIBLY WRONG ON THE OUTSIDE. THEN THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN PULLING IT OUT OF OUR PARKING STALL, IT DID IT AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME, WE HAD DRIVEN IT FOR A WEEK STRAIGHT(AFTER BUYING IT) WITHOUT HEARING A PROBLEM. THEN IT HAPPENED TWICE. AFTER LOOKING THROUGH MULTIPLE FORUMS ON THIS ISSUE, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ACURA MDX AND WITH HONDA PILOTS. IF THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449330February 25, 2012
POWER TRAIN
AT 30-40 MPH WHILE SLIGHTLY ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE VIBRATES OR SHUDDERS. THE SYMPTOM STOPS IF I LET OFF THE GAS OR IF I INCREASE THE ACCELERATION. DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449125February 23, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION LOCKED WHEELS, SHIFTED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT GEARS WHILE AT MODERATE SPEED (APPX 45 MPH). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449021February 22, 2012
POWER TRAIN
PURCHASED A USED 04 PILOT FROM A CAR DEALER AND DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF OPERATION I HEARD SHUTTERING NOISES LIKE GOING OVER A RUMBLE STRIP. I RESEARCHED THIS ON LINE AND WAS HORRIFIED TO FIND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS (TORQUE CONVERTER) AND A RECALL BY ACURA FOR SAME REASON. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER TO GET MY MONEY BACK AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE PILOT BY TRADING IT FOR ANOTHER TRUCK ON THE LOT. I FEEL SORRY FOR THE NEXT PERSON WHO UNKNOWINGLY (NOT LIKE HONDA) PURCHASES THIS WITH THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY TO DRIVE THEIR KIDS AROUND IN AND ARE IN A POSSIBLE DEATH TRAP! SHAME ON HONDA, DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL BEFORE YOU KILL PEOPLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448795February 21, 2012
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, THE PLASTIC SUPPORT CLIPS ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK PANEL DISLODGED AND THE SEAT PANEL FELL OFF COMPLETELY. I TRIED TO REATTACH THE PANEL BUT THAT FAILED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER (CONCERNING THIS AND ANOTHER ISSUE) AND AFTER BEING TOLD THAT IT WAS MY FAULT, THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE BACK PANEL AS A "GOOD WILL" GESTURE. THE PANEL WAS REPLACED (NEW). I NOTICED THAT THE FIT WAS NOT CORRECT AND MENTIONED THAT TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE BEST THEY COULD DO AND WITHIN THREE WEEKS THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I, AGAIN, CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY ORDERED A NEW PART, AGAIN, AND REPLACED IT. I AM STILL NOT HAPPY WITH THE "FIT" OF THE PART. I HAVE HAD THE SEAT PANEL REPLACED FOR ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS NOW AND IT HAS NOT FALLEN OFF YET. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE THE END OF MY ORDEAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448851February 21, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
INTERMITTENT VIBRATION IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEN ACCELERATING, AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH. SOMETIMES JUST SLIGHTLY NOTICEABLE AND SOMETIMES SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH SO THAT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES FOR A FEW SECONDS. WE JUST PURCHASED IT USED YESTERDAY AND DID NOT NOTICE THE VIBRATIONS WHILE TEST DRIVING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448448February 18, 2012
POWER TRAIN, AIR BAGS
MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING A WEIRD SLIPPING ON THE TRANSMISSION, IT DOESNT SEEM TO CHANGE GEAR SOMETIMES. ITS ALWAYS THE 2ND GEAR GOING TO 3RD GEAR WHEN IT STARTS SLIPPING. BUT WHEN I STOP AND PULL OVER FOR A MINUTE AND DRIVE THE CAR, THE PROBLEMS GOES AWAY. ALSO THE AIRBAG WARNING TURNS ON AND OFF FOR SOME REASON. I CALLED HONDA A FEW MONTHS AGO AND ASKED IF MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT I WAS SURPRISED THEY SAID NO. I JUST DONT KNOW WHATS GOING ON WITH THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448010February 15, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BRAKE TO ABOUT 10 MPH. THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END LIKE THE ABS SYSTEM WAS WORKING--EVEN WITH THE FOOT ON THE THROTTLE. DROVE ABOUT 2 BLOCKS TO A PARKING LOT. VSA AND TRIANGLE WITH "!" WAS ON DISPLAY. STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. AFTER 5 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND DRIVEN BACK HOME. THERE WERE NO DISPLAY LIGHTS OR SUDDEN BRAKING. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOW 35 MPH. AFTER DRIVING FOR 10 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BRAKED AGAIN AND DECELERATED TO ABOUT 10 MPH.THE VSA AND TRIANGLE W/"!" DISPLAY LIGHTS REAPPEARED. THERE WAS A GROANING SOUND COMING FROM THE CAR AND THE VIBRATION RETURNED. THE MORE THE THROTTLE WAS PUSHED, THE MORE THE BRAKING EFFECT INCREASED. THE VEHICLE FINALLY MADE IT BACK TO MY HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HOME WHERE IT WAS LATER TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448067February 15, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL HUMMING SOUND AND A VIBRATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES TO HAVE A FRONT AND REAR ALIGNMENT PERFORMED, AS WELL AS THE ROTORS REPLACED. THE REPAIR WOULD LAST FOR A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. MOST RECENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED, WHICH COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447721February 13, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH UP AN INCLINE, THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR WHILE THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE BEYOND 30 MPH. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VIN WAS INELIGIBLE UNDER THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447737February 13, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP GEARS WITH A ROARING NOISE AND THEN SUDDENLY FAILED TO OPERATE. THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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