Honda Pilot Complaints (2003)

720 consumer complaints on file.

#10171457October 20, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT WAS PART OF THE HONDA RECALL OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO CARL HOGAN HONDA IN COLUMBUS MS WHEN WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE TRANSMISSION FOR HEAT DISCOLORATION AND INSTALLED AN OIL JET KIT. IN EARLY 2006 WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR PILOT. IT WILL INTERMITTENTLY SURGE AND JERK BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR AND AT TIMES IT SEEMS TO HAVE PROBLEMS GOING INTO OVERDRIVE. WHEN THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR, THE DRIVE LIGHT WILL FLASH A FEW TIMES THEN GO OUT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE COMING ON AGAIN. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN HAS HOOKED OUR VEHICLE UP TO A COMPUTER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BUT EACH TIME HAS FAILED TO GET A CODE. THE FIRST TIME THEY HOOKED IT UP THEY DID NOT GET A CODE AND WHEN WE GOT THE CAR BACK THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON. WE THEN HAD TO GET THAT REPAIRED. THE PROBLEM IS NOW A WEEKLY OCCURRENCE AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THE DEALERSHIP CAN DO UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEY CAN RETRIEVE A CODE. THE JERKING AND SURGING IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND WE FEEL IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. WE WERE DRIVING WITH OUR TWO SMALL CHILDREN TODAY AND MADE A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE JERKED, SLOWED DOWN AND SURGED. AN ONCOMING CAR NARROWLY MISSED US. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170955October 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY HONDA PILOT 2003 EX 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS "REPAIRED" UNDER A PRIOR RECALL BY DEALER IN SEPTEMBER 2004. ON OCTOBER 6, 2006, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 M.P.H. WITHOUT ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD SUDDENLY AND HARD, SUCH THAT MY SEAT BELT DID NOT CATCH ME AND LOCK AND PUSHED ME INTO THE DRIVERS WHEEL. WHEN I GOT HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THAT SINCE THEY HAD FIXED IT IN 2004 I WOULD HAVE TO PAY BETWEEN $4,000 AND $5,000 FOR A "NEW" TRANSMISSION. I WAS NEVER TOLD OF THIS DEFECT WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, ALTHOUGH I WAS OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH AMERICAN HONDA'S REPRESENTATIVE SAID I SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED AND THAT SAID OFFER SHOULD HAVE WARNED ME OF THE TRANSMISSION DEFECT. I ASKED AMERICAN HONDA TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT COST TO ME, AS THE FIRST REPAIR WAS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE, AND I WAS TOLD A "MANAGER" WOULD GET BACK TO ME IN 48 HOURS. I HAVE NOW GONE 10 DAYS WITHOUT MY CAR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. HAD TRAFFIC NOT BEEN LIGHT, THE INCIDENT ON 10-6 COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170638October 12, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN 2004, THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA RECALL # 04V176000 PERTAINING TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO INSTALLED AN OIL JET KIT. THIS SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, ON 10/02/06, THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED AS IF LOSING POWER THEN JERKED VIOLENTLY WHILE ENTERING SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE FOR THE LABOR. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH BOTH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE MANUFACTURER, WITH NO SUCCESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170176October 6, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
IN THE SUMMER 2004, I RECEIVED NOTICE FROM AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. INVOLVING AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RECALL. MY CAR WAS SERVICED FOR THIS RECALL ON 10/12/04 BY RENSSELAER HONDA, MY ORIGINAL DEALER. THEY INSPECTED MY 2003 PILOT FOR THE DEFECT AND INSTALLED AN OIL JET KIT AT 42,112 MILES. THIS PAST SUMMER(7/2006), NOW WITH 76,100 MILES, I NOTICED THAT MY CAR SEEMED TO HAVE A VIBRATION OR STUTTER WHEN DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND AGAIN AT 50 MPH WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT SPEED. ON 7/6/06, I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND ASKED THAT THEY CHECK THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE TRYING TO SWITCH GEARS JUST LIKE THE RECALL HAD STATED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE PGK VALVE AND ASSURED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED RENSSELAER HONDA TO SEE IF THEY COULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND AGAIN ASKED THAT THEY CHECK THE TRANSMISSION. THEY VERIFIED MY CONCERN AND NOTIFIED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NOISE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN LOCK UP AND THE LOCK- UP CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DIRECTOR OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF PARTS, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1046.47 IN LABOR COSTS. AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS TRANSMISSION RECALL, I BECAME AFRAID TO TRANSPORT MY KIDS IN THE CAR. I READ THAT CERTAIN 2003 PILOT 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS HAD ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAWS THAT HAD NOT BEEN FULLY CORRECTED AS PART OF THE RECALL PROCESS AND THAT GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159807June 14, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
FIRST, I HAD BOTH: A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A DEER AND A REAR COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR AND NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE IMPACT ON BOTH OCCASIONS WAS NOT A SEVERE/HARD IMPACT, THEREFORE AIRBAG DID NOT OPEN. THEY MUST BE WAITING FOR A FEW CONSUMERS TO DIE BEFORE RECALLING THESE AIRBAGS AND A LAWSUIT. IT COST ME OVER $3K TO FIX THE DAMAGES ON BOTH ENDS. ANYWAY, MY SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON SINCE THIS PAST APRIL. I TOOK MY PILOT TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEED MY "CABLE REEL" REPLACED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE COST TO FIX MY PILOT WOULD BE $400=$300 LABOR + $100 PART AND IT IS THERE WAY OF ROBBING ME BLIND. I TOLD THEM TO NOT PERFORMED THE FIX UNTIL I GOT A SECOND OPINION. THEY DID RESET THE LIGHT FOR ME BUT THE SRS LIGHT CAME BACK MINUTES AFTER THEY RETURN IT TO ME. WELL, THE SECOND OPINION AT LEESBURG HONDA DEALERSHIP CLOSE TO MY HOUSE WANT TO RAPE MY WALLET OF $1000 +. THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT MY AIR BAG IS BAD AND THAT I NEED TO REPLACE IT OR I WILL FAIL MY VA INSPECTION. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE MECHANICS AND SPECIALIZE IN REPAIRING BROKEN\DAMAGE CAR EQUIPMENTS. THEY ARE NOT ENGINEERS AND CAN NOT EXPLAIN TO ME WHY MY AIR BAG WOULD GO BAD. THE LIMITED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER SINCE I AM OVER MY 3 YRS\36K MILES. SO BASICALLY TO GET MY CAR FIX, I HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART THAT WAS SOLD TO ME AS NEW WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. WHO SHOULD I BELIEVE OR WHICH DEALERSHIP KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING? *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157707May 17, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER RECEIVING THE TRANSMISSION RECALL 04V176000 UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 PILOT EX-L FAILED. THE PROBLEM CONSISTED OF THE VEHICLE NOT CHANGE TO AND FROM SECOND GEAR PROPERLY. AMERICAN HONDA IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156115April 26, 2006
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING WEST ON HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 70 TO 72 MILES PER HOUR. MY VEHICLE SWERVED TOWARDS LEFT A BIT, AND TO COMPENSATE THAT I TRIED TO STEER TOWARDS RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE NEXT LANE AND SPUN ONE TIME AND WENT TOWARDS THE LEFT LANE. IT THEN CHANGED DIRECTION AND WAS FACING NORTH, WENT FOUR LANES OVER AND HIT THE MEDIAN HEAD-ON AND THIS COLLISION BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETE HALT. BOTH AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED AND VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. IT LOOKS LIKE, IT WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE WHICH LED TO THE CRASH. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10152820March 15, 2006
WHEELS, SUSPENSION
MY VEHICLE VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BETWEEN 70-80 MPH. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALER NO LESS THAN 5 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM AND JUST RECENTLY WAS TOLD THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE VIBRATION IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. UP TO THIS POINT THE DEALER HAS RE-BALANCED THE TIRES OVER AND OVER AND REDONE THE ALIGNMENT. I EVEN PURCHASED BRAND NEW TIRES AND STILL THERE IS THE VIBRATION. THE DEALER ROAD FORCE BALANCED THE TIRES AND STILL THE VIBRATION PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE HONDAPILOT.ORG WEBSITE AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NO RESOLUTION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152312March 9, 2006
AIR BAGS
WE WERE REAR-ENDED, CAUSING US TO CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL (DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER), WHICH THEN SPUN OUR VEHICLE AROUND, CAUSING THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO COME TO REST AGAINST THE GUARD RAIL. THE CRASH OCCURRED AT ROUGHLY 30 MPH, BUT NEITHER THE FRONT, NOR THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152207March 8, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CABLE REEL WAS DAMAGED. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, NHTSA ITEM NUMBER # 10005879, WHICH STATES THE DAMAGED CABLE REEL CAN CAUSE SRS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS). THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THE CABLE REEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WITHOUT THE REPAIR THERE WAS A GOOD POSSIBILITY THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150889February 22, 2006
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WELDS ON THE FIREWALL BROKE THREE TIMES. THIS CAUSED WATER TO LEAK ONTO THE FLOOR; DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE, FRONT AND BACK. THE DEALERSHIP WELDED THE FIREWALL TWICE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS THIS FINAL TIME. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145682December 20, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE WAITING ENTER INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. THE MOVING VEHICLE HIT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED , BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10145114December 13, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
HONDA PILOT HIT IN REAR BY GEO, BOTH BACKS OF FRONT SEATS BROKE AND HIT BACK SEATS. CHILD IN CAR SEAT HIT FEET. DRIVERS HEAD HIT DVD PLAYER, LEG HIT UNDER DASH FROM FALLING BACK, HURT LEFT SHOULDER AND HEAD. PASSENGER FELT HIT IN BACK. BOTH HAD HEADACHES AND TAKING TO ER. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10143853November 28, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FOR OVER A YEAR, I HAVE BEEN REPORTING BREAK FAILURE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I EXPLAINED THAT WHEN I TRY TO STOP WHILE GOING OVER A BUMP AT 25 MPH OR LESS, THE BREAKS FAIL AND THE ABS DOES NOT KICK IN, I.E. THE CAR FAILS TO STOP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THIS MORNING I WENT OVER A BUMP AT ABOUT 22 MPH, TRIED TO STOP THE CAR AS I WAS GOING OVER THE BUMP BECAUSE THERE WAS A CAR STOPPED ABOUT 150-200 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. THE BREAKS FAILED OR LOCKED AND THE ABS NEVER KICKED IN. I RAPIDLY SLID INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139379October 11, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BEGINNING ABOUT 1-1-1995, I HAVE HAD ELEVEN (11) INCIDENTS OF THE BRAKE-LIGHT SOLENOID FAILING. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN MY 1995 ACCORD (6 TIMES), 2001 ACCORD (3 TIMES), AND 2003 PILOT (2 TIMES). I CURRENTLY OWN THE 1995 ACCORD AND THE 2003 PILOT. IN ALL INSTANCES THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. WHEN SOMEONE IS WITH ME AND I AM STATIONARY, I HAVE THEM CHECK THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO SEE IF THEY WORK WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE, AND THEY DON'T WORK AT THE SAME TIMES I CAN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK. TOMORROW MORNING THE PILOT GOES BACK TO THE SHOP TO GET THE SOLENOID REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. MY DEALER HAS REPORTED THIS TO HONDA BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TOO INTERESTED IN TRYING TO FIND A PERMANENT FIX TO THE PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY OTHERS WILL REPORT SIMILAR INSTANCES SO WE CAN GET SOME CORRECTIONS MADE. BESIDES THE ANNOYANCE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK WHILE TRAVELING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138440October 4, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT: THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH PANEL. THIS CAME ON WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS INCIDENTS OR PROBLEMS. THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL ON A SEPARATE ISSUE, AND WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR, THE DEALER INSPECTED THE SRS LIGHT. THE DEALER MADE THE DETERMINATION THAT THE AIRBAG WAS NOT WORKING. THE DEALER BELIEVED CELL PHONE USE HAD SHORTED THE SENSOR OF THE SRS. HE TRIED TO RESET IT. TWO MILES AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, THE LIGHT AGAIN ILLUMINATED AND HAS BEEN ON SINCE THIS TIME. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE REPAIR WOULD COST 300 DOLLARS. NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135353September 5, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR
I WAS DRIVING NEAR MY HOUSE MY WIFE'S HONDA PILOT SUV AND THE REAR SUSPENSION SUDDENLY BROKE DOWN. THE FORK AND WHEELS SUPPORT ARE BROKEN AND UNWELD (UNSOLDER) *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134115August 24, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES. AFTER THIS HAPPENED THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THIS PROBLEM STARTED NEAR THE END OF JUNE OF 2005. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133821August 22, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
THE GAS TANK HAD A LEAK. ENOUGH THAT FUEL WAS DRIPPING TO THE GROUND WHEN THE TANK WAS OVER HALF FULL. THE LEAK POINT WAS AROUND A SEAM AT THE FUEL INTAKE WHERE THE TANK WAS ASSEMBLED. HONDA REPLACED THE TANK BUT BECAUSE THE CAR HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HONDA APPLIED A GOODWILL WARRANTY AND PAID FOR THE PARTS. WE PAID ALMOST 300 DOLLARS FOR LABOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131758August 5, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
HONDA PILOT FRONT ROTORS GET WARP WITH NORMAL USE, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT HIGH SPEED THE CAR STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND CAR IS OUT OF CONTROL, HAVE TO REMOVE FOOT FROM BRAKES TO GET CONTROL OF THE CAR BACK, HONDA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Honda Pilot