Honda Pilot Complaints (2003)

720 consumer complaints on file.

#10254100January 7, 2009
STRUCTURE
MY 2003 HONDA PILOT WAS CAUSING LACERATIONS TO THE HANDS AND FINGERS WHEN USING THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE DELAMINATING DOOR HANDLES. THE CHROME PLATING ON THE PLASTIC DELAMINATES AND HAS A VERY SHARP EDGE THAT SLICES THE FINGERS OR HANDS IF RUB AGAINST. ALL OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE HAD LACERATION INJURIES FROM THESE DEFECTIVE HANDLES. I HAVE POINTED OUT THE DEFECT TO HONDA BUT THEY SAY IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND NOT COVERED. I HAVE OLDER VEHICLES FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS THAT DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE AND OBVIOUSLY DISAGREE WITH HONDA'S ASSESSMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#10253281December 30, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HAD 2003 HONDA PILOT IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE TIMING BELT. SERVICE MGR CALLED AND STATED THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT AND SIDE MOUNT WERE BROKEN. HE STATED THIS IS A ONGOING OCCURRENCE WITH THE HONDA PILOTS....WE HAD 137,000 MILES. I AM BEING INFORMED THAT THIS OCCURS AROUND 60,000 MILES ALL THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252321December 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT STARTS FLASHING AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, HOWEVER, THERE IS NO EFFECT ON DRIVING PERFORMANCE. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO OUR MECHANIC BUT HE CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM WHEN HE PLUGS THE DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INTO THE COMPUTER. WHILE THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT AFFECTED OUR USE OF THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT ONE DAY THE TRANSMISSION WILL SEIZE UP. FOR INFORMATION, WE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CHECK WARNING WAS ISSUED A FEW YEARS AGO (YEARS BEFORE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED) AND WE WERE TOLD BY OUR HONDA DEALER THAT OUR TRANSMISSION DID NOT FALL INTO THE CATEGORY THAT REQUIRED REMEDIAL WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250878December 5, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND PROCEEDING FROM A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV. THERE WAS SUDDENLY A 3-5 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IT REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN;AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS OPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248473November 11, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
AT 100,000 MILES I WAS INFORMED BY THE HONDA DEALERSHIP THAT 2 OF 3 MOTOR MOUNTS WERE CRACKED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED ON MY 2003 PILOT. THIS WILL COST ME APPROX $400. SEEMS THAT MANY HONDA PILOT OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER "OLDER" CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247967November 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND, LATER THAT DAY, IT WOULD NOT START. HE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT EVENTUALLY STARTED. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE AND, AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,348 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244026September 30, 2008
TIRES, SUSPENSION:REAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRES ON HIS VEHICLE WERE DETERIORATING ON THE INTERIOR SIDEWALL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY PERFORMED A REALIGNMENT. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ADJUST THE CAMBER AND CASTER. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE FOUR SETS OF TIRES, IN WHICH ALL OF THEM HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF TREAD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE LIFETIME OF THE TIRES WERE 28,000 MILES. ALL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED PROPERLY HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 10-30-08 *BF UPDATED 10/31/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242821September 18, 2008
SEAT BELTS, SEATS
WE BOUGHT OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT ASSUMING THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT FAMILY VEHICLE. WE HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND ANOTHER ON THE WAY SO OUR CAR IS FULL OF CAR SEATS. WE HAVE A BACKLESS BOASTER SEAT IN THE THIRD ROW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, A BOASTER SEAT IN THE THIRD ROW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND A FORWARD FACING CAR SEAT IN THE SECOND ROW DRIVER'S SIDE. IT IS INCREDIBLE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GET THE CHILDREN IN THE THIRD ROW BUCKLED BECAUSE THE SEAT BELTS ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING "STUCK" AND HAVE TO BE RETHREAD ALL THE WAY BACK. THIS IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY GET CAUGHT ON THE BOASTER SEATS THAT THEN HAVE TO BE PICKED UP AND MOVED AROUND TO GET THE SEAT BELT OFF. ALSO, THE SEAT ON THE SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS TOO NARROW AND THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES VERY LOW, CLOSE TO THE SEAT AND IT ENDS UP UNDERNEATH THE BOASTER SEAT. THESE DIFFICULTIES MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY PRESCHOOLERS TO BUCKLE BY THEMSELVES AND FORCES ME TO CLIMB BACK IN THEIR SEAT TO FIX THE SEAT BELTS AND MOVE THE BOOSTER SEAT FORWARD TO BUCKLE THEM IN. IT IS INCREDIBLE DIFFICULT AND UNCOMFORTABLE FOR AN ADULT TO CLIMB INTO THE THIRD ROW SEAT, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT IS SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT. WE HAVE TRIED MOVING THE SEATS AROUND AND CAN NOT FIND ANY BETTER POSITIONS FOR THE CAR SEATS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235706July 24, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT SEPARATED WHILE BEING DRIVEN OUT OF A PARKING LOT. THE FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. UPON INSPECTION, THE JOINT HAD NEVER BEEN LUBRICATED WHEN THE CAR WAS ASSEMBLED. THIS JOINT IS A "LUBED-FOR-LIFE" JOINT THAT CANNOT BE INSPECTED OR LUBRICATED ONCE ASSEMBLED. THE PROTECTIVE BOOT AND RETAINING CLIP WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION WHEN THE JOINT FAILED. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER (TENNESSEE LICENSE # 110751) AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL METAL FAILURE INVESTIGATIONS. I AM CERTAIN THAT THIS JOINT FAILED DUE TO HAVING NOT BEEN LUBRICATED AT THE FACTORY. THIS CAR HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY A HONDA DEALERSHIP AS A CERTIFIED USED CAR AND HAD ALSO BEEN SERVICED AT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAD PASSED THEIR SUSPENSION CHECK. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED 10 MINUTES EARLIER OR LATER WE WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR ABUSED IN ANY WAY. NEITHER HONDA USA NOR THE TWO DEALERSHIPS INVOLVED WOULD RECOGNIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS FAILURE. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, HUB ASSEMBLY, AND STEERING KNUCKLE WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234095July 13, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON OR A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO MARCH 13,2008 I WAS LEFT THE PARKING LOT OF AN AREA BUSINESS, UPON PULLING OUT ONTO THE ROAD MARCH 13,2008 HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHEN PULLING OUT OF STORE PARKING LOT REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHT BULBS, FUSES&RELAYS LOW BEAMS INOPERABLE HIGH BEAMS STILL WORKED DROVE HOME WITH INOPERABLE HEADLIGHTS MARCH 14,2008 PURCHASED REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT SWITCH FROM A HONDA DEALER MARCH 15,2008 FOUND MELTED WIRE / HARNESS CONNECTOR AND CONTACTED HONDA DEALER FOR RECALL/BULLETIN INFORMATION PICKED UP COPY OF BULLETIN NUMBER 07-027 DATED MAY 12,2007,WHICH CITES "HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED" MARCH 17,2008 CONTACTED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE,REQUESTED GOODWILL CONSIDERATION-WAS DIRECTED TO HAVE A HONDA DEALER PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC AND SUBMIT FORM TO DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER MARCH 19,2008 TOOK VEHICLE TO HONDA DEALER TO PERFORM SRS SAFETY RECALL,AND TO DIAGNOSE THE HEADLIGHT PRIOR TO MAY 12,2008 WAS TOLD TECH DID NOT CHECK HEADLIGHT PROBLEM ON MARCH 19,2008 MAY 12,2008 IN FRUSTRATION, TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO HONDA DEALER TO PERFORM REPAIRS, PAID $3147 FOR THE PART,AND $9074 FOR THE REPAIR DEALER RETURNED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH,BUT KEPT THE MELTED CONNECTOR AND WIRE JUNE 20,2008 RETURNED VEHICLE TO HONDA DEALER FOR SAME PROBLEM,THEY SAID HEADLIGHT SOCKETS WERE UNPLUGGED AND WERE WORKING FINE JUNE 20,2008 RETURNED VEHICLE TO HONDA DEALER,INFORMED THEM THE LIGHTS STILL DID NOT WORK,THEY REPLACED THE MELTED WIRE AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH SOCKET AGAIN DEALER KEPT MELTED WIRES AND CONNECTOR AND SUGGESTED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY IF THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN PROBLEM OCCURRED IN 5 WEEK INTERVALS CAUSING ME TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH HIGH BEAMS OR NO HEADLIGHTS-CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION I GENERALLY DO NOT USE MY HEADLIGHTS ANYMORE CONSIDERING THE COSTS TO REPAIR THEM,AND THE POTENTIAL FIRE AND ENTRAPMENT HAZARDS COPIES OF RELATED REPAIR WORK ORDERS,RECEIPTS,AND THE SERVICE BULLETIN ARE ALL AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233477July 8, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE PURCHASED A USED 2003 HONDA PILOT IN APRIL 2007. WE WERE AWARE THAT THERE HAD BEEN A PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION RECALL IN 2004 AND OUR VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED AS PART OF THAT RECALL. IT IS NOW JULY 2008 AND WE WERE JUST TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT SERVICES OUR CAR THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3700, AND THAT PRICE IS AFTER A $1000 CONTRIBUTION FROM HONDA. THE VEHICLE HAS 93150 MILES ON IT. CLEARLY THIS TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE. HONDA SHOULD OWN UP TO A SUBSTANDARD TRANSMISSION DESIGN AND STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND THEIR CUSTOMERS. WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH WHAT HONDA IS OFFERING US AND WILL CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM. WE HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE 2003 HONDA TRANSMISSIONS AND IT SEEMS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. A WIDER RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ON THESE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233408July 7, 2008
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RESTRAINT ON 2003 HONDA PILOT CAME UNBUCKLED WHILE DRIVING. I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS I HAD NOT BUCKED IT SUFFICIENTLY. WHEN TRIED TO PUT METAL PIECE ON BELT BACK INTO THE LOCKING DEVICE, IT WOULD NOT LOCK. CARRIED IT TO THE DEALER 7-7-08, AND HE HAD TO ORDER THE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231446June 18, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION TENDS TO HESITATE WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. OCCASIONALLY, THE CONTACT HAS TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT. SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227923May 15, 2008
SEATS
MY 2003 HONDA PILOT IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE FRONT SEATS CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED. THAT IS, THEY MUST STAY DOWN AGAINST THE TOP OF THE SEAT AND CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED TO FIT THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THAT IS THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED. THIS MEANS THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND AN IMMEDIATE RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. HOW IS IT THAT YOU NEVER DISCOVERED THIS? HONDA SHOULD REPLACE ALL THESE VEHICLES WITH NEW SAFE VEHICLES. THIS PROBLEM MEANS THAT IN A POTENTIAL REAR ENDED ACCIDENT, MY NECK WILL BE BROKEN. I NEED YOUR HELP TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY AND ALERT ALL USA CITIZENS THAT HONDA BUILT AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227759May 14, 2008
SEATS
REAR-ENDED. 2003 HONDA PILOT EX: FRONT SEAT HEAD REST IS NON-ADJUSTABLE, AND HITS HEAD ABOUT AN INCH DOWN FROM TOP OF MY HEAD. THERE IS NO CUSHIONING NOR PROTECTION FOR MY HEAD. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THAT IF I TOOK AUTO TO DEALER, DEALER WOULD REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, THIS IS THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED. THUS THIS IS A DEFECT IN THAT THIS IS A TOTALLY UNSAFE HEAD REST (CONSTRAINT). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227753May 14, 2008
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. HE CHECKED THE HEAD REST AND NOTICED THAT WHEN HE GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AGAIN, HE HIT HIS HEAD AT ONE SPOT ABOUT 1 INCH DOWN FROM THE TOP OF HIS HEAD. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT HEAD RESTRAINTS CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED. THE SECOND AND THIRD ROW SEATS WERE FINE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE HEAD REST WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35,245. UPDATED 06/03/08. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223292April 3, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THREE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED ON MY PILOT, ALONG WITH THE LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER DOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221047March 13, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
NOTICEABLE CABIN VIBRATION WHEN CAR APPROACHES 70MPH, VERY NOTICEABLE. NO MODIFICATIONS OR REPAIRS AS OF YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218783February 21, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE ON 2003 PILOT AT 53,000 MILES. HONDA REALIABILITY NOT AS GOOD AS PEOPLE THINK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209812November 24, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE APPROX 70 MPH FOR 150 MILES. THERE WAS A SMELL SIMILAR TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, NOTICED ACRID SMELL AND SMOKE OUT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE. LOTS OF SMOKE FOR 5 MIN THEN STOPPED COMPLETELY IN 30 MIN. ALL LEVELS OK, NO LEAKS, NO FAILURES, ALL WIRING COOL, NO SHORTS, ALL INSTRUMENT OK. WAITED APPROX 45MIN THEN DROVE 150 MILES HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR CHECKED OUT OK. THE FIRE BURNED APPROX 18 INCHES OF INSULATION AND SCORCHED THE PASSENGERS FIREWALL IN SEVERAL PLACES. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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