Honda Pilot Complaints (2003)

720 consumer complaints on file.

#10458542May 15, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458565May 15, 2012
ENGINE
TOOK PILOT IN FOR HEADLIGHT RECALL WIRING REPLACEMENT. MINE HAD CONNECTOR COMPLETELY MELTED. REPLACED. WAS TOLD ON PICKUP THAT ALL THREE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKE! THAT EXPLAINS THE CLUNK WITH ACCELERATION . I DRIVE THIS PILOT LIKE AN OLD LADY GOING TO CHURCH. HOW ALL THREE ARE BROKE AT THE SAME TIME THE ODDS ARE TOO HIGH FOR THAT! BAD DESIGN?? POOR MATERIALS???CALLED HONDA MUM IS THE WORD,NO RECALL ON ENGINE MOUNTS,GO FIGURE FOR SURE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458005May 10, 2012
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CHILD WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE SEAT NEXT TO THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO GRAB THE SHOULDER BELT OF THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT AND THE SEAT BELT BECAME WRAPPED AROUND THE CHILD. THE SEAT BELT THEN LOCKED AND BEGAN CHOKING THE CHILD. THE CONTACT HAD TO SEVER THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE CHILD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT BELT COULD NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN CUT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458021May 10, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I ORIGINALLY HAD THE 45-50 MPH HORRIBLE SHUDDER, BUT HONDA DID FIX THAT ISSUE AND THEY SAID THE HUBS WERE DEFECTIVE. AT 117,000, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SKIP AND JERK HORRIBLY AND THE REVS SPIKED. I DROVE TO HONDA AND THEY SAID THE TRANS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $5,000. I HAD IT REBUILT BY AAMCO FOR $2,700. WITHIN 15,000 MILES, THE FLASHING D AND VTM-4 LIGHT WOULD START COMING ON. I DROVE IT TO AAMCO WHILE THE FLASHING D WAS OCURING AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND NO ERROR CODES. I HAVE PRECEEDED TO DRIVE AND REPLACE THE TRANS FLUID EVERY 20,000 JUST IN CASE, TO BE SAFE. THE FLASHING D IS ANNOYING. I HAVE STARTED TO SENSE THE SHIFTING AT 2 AND 3RD GEAR TO BE GETTING ROUGHER OVER TIME. I FORESEE NUMBER 3 TRANSMISSION COMING SOON. HONDA AMERICA CORP WOULD NOT HELP SAYING THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FUNNY THING IS THAT I MENTIONED ALL THE PEOPLE ON-LINE COMPLAINING ABOUT TRANS ISSUES, THE REPLY: "HONDA DOES NOT SEE AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF CLAIMS ON ANY TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON THE PILOT". WHAT LIARS! I'VE OWNED 4 HONDAS BEFORE AND THE QUALITY IS GONE. I WON'T BUY HONDA AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458013May 10, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NEITHER OF THE KEYS WILL GO COMPLETELY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THEREFORE THE KEY CANNOT BE TURNED AND THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457825May 8, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ARRIVED AT HOME AND FORGET TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457567May 5, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I AM EXPERIENCING SHUDDER OR PROBLEM CHANGING THE GEAR. THE ENGINE LIGHTS IS ON NOW AND NOT CLEARING UP. I HAVE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM ON LINE FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND ALL POINTING TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WITH THIS MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457492May 4, 2012
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BECAME SLIGHTLY DETACHED AND BEGAN ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457367May 3, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE WINDOWS SPORADICALLY FAILED TO OPEN AND CLOSE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE LIGHTS WITHIN THE BUTTONS ON THE DASHBOARD STOPPED WORKING AND THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE AIR CONDITIONER FAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 05/15/12 * BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455497April 17, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION TUMBLERS WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000. UPDATED 04/02/12 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454686April 10, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
HAVING TROUBLE INSERTING KEY INTO IGNITION. HAVE TO TRY MULTIPLE TIMES, TURNING THE KEY UPSIDE DOWN, RIGHT SIDE UP, REPETITIVE IN & OUT, EVENTUALLY IT GOES IN, BUT AFRAID THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL NOT WORK. CALLED AMERICAN HONDA AS I SAW MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE, BUT HONDA SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT'S NOT WIDESPREAD ENOUGH FOR THEM TO TAKE NOTICE. I'M AFRAID THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO WORK, SO WILL TAKE IT TO HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR (APPARENTLY ONLY DEALERSHIP HAS TO FIX IT BECAUSE NEW KEYS WILL NEED TO BE PROGRAMMED. THERE ARE 2 DIFFERENT CHOICES FOR COST, ONE TO JUST REPLACE THE IGNITION AND GET NEW KEYS, AND ANOTHER CHOICE IS TO ALSO CHANGE THE DOOR LOCKS SO THAT THE NEW KEYS WILL OPEN THE DOOR.) IF YOU'RE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, PLEASE LOG A COMPLAINT SO THAT IT BECOMES "WIDESPREAD ENOUGH TO TAKE NOTICE" AND MAY BE THOSE OF US WHO PAY/PAID TO GET THIS ISSUE REPAIRED CAN GET A REFUND. THANK YOU! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454544April 9, 2012
POWER TRAIN
WHEN THE CAR IS ACCELERATING, BETWEEN EITHER 2ND AND 3RD GEARS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND WILL NOT ENGAGE. THE RPM'S GO UP TO ABOUT 6000 BECAUSE IT IS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. IF THE CAR IS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO DRIVE, THE PILOT WILL BEGIN TO DRIVE NORMALLY. IF THE DRIVER LETS UP OFF THE GAS COMPLETELY AND RPM'S FALL ALL THE WAY DOWN, IT WILL SOMETIMES RE-ENGAGE. THE PILOT HAS DONE THIS 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THERE WAS A RECALL ON PILOT TRANSMISSIONS BUT HONDA HAS NO RECORD OF IT BEING DONE AND WAS TOLD OURS DID NOT SHOW UP IN THEIR SYSTEM ALTHOUGH IT WAS ON ALL 2003 PILOTS. WE HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AFTER BUYING FROM A LOCAL HONDA DEALER. THE PILOT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453337March 28, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND GEAR OF THE TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH UPHILL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FURTHER REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO CONFIRMED THE DEALER'S STATEMENT AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453212March 27, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WITH ONLY 115,000 MILES. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION FOR $4,000.00. I PURCHASED IT FOR RELIABILITY & THIS IS THE 4TH HONDA I'VE OWNED. LEAVES BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453248March 27, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION
I TOOK MY PILOT IN FOR A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD I HAD BAD MOTOR MOUNTS AND THAT WAS ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. I SPENT APPROX. $3600.00 TO HAVE THE MOTOR MOUNTS FIXED, TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP, FRONT STRUTS, ETC. FIXED. THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN, THIS TIME, GETTING A FLASHING "D" LIGHT. TOOK IT BACK IN FOR FAILURE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HAD 4TH GEAR PRESSURE GEAR REPLACED FOR COST. I NOW HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON POSTING A CODE OF P0730, "INCORRECT GEAR RATIO". I HAVE BEEN INTO HONDA 4 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE INCLUDING TODAY, AND I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I AM OUT OF WARRANTY OF COURSE, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT WAS BUILT POORLY. I AM WORRIED I MIGHT GET INTO A CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS. I AM CONTEMPLATING HIRING A LAWYER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452668March 22, 2012
POWER TRAIN
HIGHWAY DRIVING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AFTER AN ENGINE HESITATION (HEARD A LOUD NOISE, PASSENGER THOUGHT THE VEHICLE HAD HIT SOMETHING...FELT UNDER PASSENGER SIDE FOOTWELL.) DROVE HOME, NEXT DAY THERE WERE PROBLEMS GETTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. AGAIN, IT LURCHED INTO REVERSE AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WITH ONLY ONE "RACING" ENGINE NOISE AT 35MPH. DIAGNOSED WITH CODE #P0740 (TORQUE CONVERTER) REQUIRING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE IS ORIGINAL OWNER/ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE AT CORRECT TIME INTERVALS (INCLUDING A DOUBLE TRANSMISSION SERVICE DONE AT 60,000 AND 77,000) NO PAPERWORK INDICATING 2004 RECALL SERVICE WAS DONE, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP INSISTS IT WAS COMPLETED (THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR PAPERWORK.) ONLY MAJOR REPAIR: $1100 REPAIR DONE 82,400 - LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID (REPLACED FRONT PUMP SEAL, O-RING ON CONVERTER AND REAR MAIN) NOW, 2200 MILES LATER, TRANSMISSION IS OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP QUOTING $5200 (NOT INCLUDING LABOR), AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH HONDA THEY HAVE OFFERED TO COVER 40% OF REPAIR PRICE (NOT INCLUDING LABOR). I HAD A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD LAST LONGER THAN 87,000 MILES, CONSIDERING THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND SAFE DRIVING RECORD. THANKFULLY, I HAVE ALL REPAIR/SERVICE PAPERWORK AND WILL BE GOING TO BBB ARBITRATION, AS SUGGESTED IN THE HONDA WARRANTY HANDBOOK. ALSO, EXTREMELY THANKFUL THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT/INJURY/DEATH RELATED TO THIS SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUE (HAD I BEEN AT FULL HIGHWAY SPEED, 65MPH, THE OUTCOME MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SO POSITIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION HESITATED AND THEN SURGED.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452379March 20, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FRONT AND RIGHT ENGINE MOUNTS NEED TO BE REPLACED PER HONDA DEALERSHIP. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#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

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