Honda Pilot Complaints (2006)

268 consumer complaints on file.

#10332655May 28, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A PARKING GARAGE GOING SLOW AND THE HONDA PILOT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, THE RPMS WENT UP AND SLAMMED INTO THE CEMENT WALL IN THE GARAGE IN LESS 5 SECONDS. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10322683March 29, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY HUSBAND HAD 3 EPISODES OF SURGING WHILE EXITING HIGHWAYS OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO IN MY 2006 HONDA PILOT. EACH TIME HE HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO STOP IT. AFTER DRIVING AT SUSTAINED SPEED ON A HIGHWAY, I SLOWED TO PULL OFF AT THE EXIT RAMP, WHICH WAS AN INCLINE, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD, THE ENGINE MADE A SOUND AS IF IT WERE RACING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP EVEN WITH PUTTING MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE PEDAL AND APPLYING ALL THE STRENGTH OF BOTH FEET. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT DID STOP, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ROAR. THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT IMPEDING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT PUSHED DOWN, IT WAS IN THE PROPER POSITION. THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER EXAMINED THE CAR AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG - NO CODES HAD BEEN TRIGGERED. WE HAD YET ANOTHER EVENT WITH MY HUSBAND DRIVING THIS TIME ABOUT A MONTH LATER, AND MYSELF AND TWO OTHER WITNESSES IN THE CAR. HONDA HAD A REGIONAL PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER EXAMINE THE CAR AFTER THE SECOND EVENT AND HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS FRIGHTENED AND VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY WERE NOT DOING SOMETHING MORE TO FIND AND REMEDY THE PROBLEM. A HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPERVISOR THEN CONTACTED ME TO REVIEW THE EVENTS AND TOLD ME HE WOULD TAKE THE ISSUE "TO THE ENGINEERS" BECAUSE IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL THAT 2 DRIVERS WOULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM IF IT WAS DRIVER ERROR. HE CALLED BACK AND TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINEERS (WHO DID NOT LOOK AT THE CAR) SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM CALLED BRIDGING, WHERE YOU ACCIDENTLY PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL WHILE BRAKING. HE DID NOT ADDRESS WHY NEITHER ONE OF US HAD EVER EXPERIENCE "BRIDGING" THE FIRST FEW YEARS THAT WE OWNED THE CAR, WHEN WE BOTH HAD DRIVEN IT EXTENSIVELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CAR HAS 52K MILES ON IT CURRENTLY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO DEAL WITH IT BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED. I KNOW THAT I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME AND NEITHER DID MY HUSBAND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319544March 14, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2006 HONDA PILOT EX-L EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA) AT 3:53 P.M. ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010 NEAR OUR HOME ON KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA. WE WERE DRIVING AT AROUND 20 MPH AND AS WE GENTLY BRAKED IN APPROACH OF THE STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE OPENED UP NEARLY FULL THROTTLE AT JUST ABOVE 5000 RPMS. MY HUSBAND IMMEDIATELY AND FIRMLY APPLIED THE BRAKE AND PLACED THE GEAR IN PARK. WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, NOT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ROAR AT 5000 RPMS UNTIL HE TURNED IT OFF AT THE IGNITION AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS. HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE RPM IMMEDIATELY SHOT UP TO 5000 RPMS AGAIN, WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR IN PARK. THE TACHOMETER STAYED AT THE 5000 RPM LEVEL CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL HE AGAIN TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AT THE IGNITION AFTER ABOUT 45 SECONDS. WE WAITED A FEW MORE SECONDS AND RE-STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN. THAT TIME, THE ENGINE STARTED AT A NORMAL RPM AND WE DROVE HALF A BLOCK TO OUR HOUSE. WE RECORDED A VIDEO OF THE SECOND EPISODE OF 5000 RPMS WITH A CAMERA WE HAD WITH US. WE PROVIDED THE VIDEO IMMEDIATELY TO AMERICAN HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. AT THE REQUEST OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, I TOOK OUR PILOT TO BRICKELL HONDA IN MIAMI ON MARCH 1. I SHOWED THE VIDEO OF THE SUA TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, GEORGE RUIZ, ON HIS COMPUTER. HE WAS ASTOUNDED BY WHAT HE SAW AND EXPRESSED HIS GENUINE CONCERN THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER HIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. HE SAID UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD THE ENGINE OPERATE AT 5000 RPMS WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR BEING DEPRESSED ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER, KEVIN MCCLUNG, ALSO INSPECTED THE CAR. AMERICAN HONDA DETERMINED THE PILOT WAS OPERATING WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO PICK UP THE CAR ON MARCH 5 AND DID SO ON MARCH 8. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. MY HUSBAND SPOKE TO HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER TERRY NIELSEN ON MARCH 3 WHO COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE VIDEO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317922March 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON DEC 4,2007 I TOOK MY 2006 HONDA PILOT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP IN WINNIPEG MB CANADA FOR ENGINE REVVING ISSUES. I EXPLAINED HOW WHEN GOING TO BRAKE AT AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE JOLTED AHEAD AS THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV HIGH- RPM GREATER THAT 4000 - AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WAS BOUNCING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM ERRATICALLY. I WAS BRAKING LOWLY AT FIRST BUT WHEN THIS STARTED I USED TWO FEET ON THE BRAKR TO PREVENT ME FROM HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT JUST FINALLY STOPPED. IT NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN BUT WITH THE TOYOTA RECALLS I WONDER WHETHER HONDA HAS THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLES. PLEASE REPORT THIS OCCURRENCE FOR ME. NOTICE: MILEAGE ON VEHICLE AT THE TIME WAS 38000 KILOMETERS AND THE SPEED I WAS GOING WAS 50-60 KM PER HOUR. I COULDN'T ADJUST THAT IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES TO REFLECT THE METRIC SYSTEM WE USE UP HERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316857March 4, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION. THERE WAS ALOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR STEREO SYSTEM SPEAKER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED OR THE ENGINE WAS IDLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION UNIT (ANC). THE COST OF THE SERVICE REPAIR WAS $500.00. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 02/01/11 *LJ UPDATED 03/21/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313919February 24, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TODAY WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 PILOT, I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 33MPH. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. IT WAS VERY QUICK, ALMOST LIKE A LUNGE. I HIT THE BREAK AND IT DID SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE STRANGE THING ABOUT THIS IS, THIS HAPPENED TO ME TWO OTHER TIMES THAT I CAN RECALL. IT HASN'T HAPPENED IN QUITE A WHILE BUT I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS, 9 MONTHS, AND IT WAS SOMETIME DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. I NEVER HAD IT CHECKED OUT BECAUSE IT HAD ONLY HAPPENED TWICE AND FROM EXPERIENCE, IF YOU BRING IT TO THE DEALER, UNLESS IT DOES IT FOR THEM, THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE IT. I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THIS HAVING HAPPENED, EVEN WITH THE TOYOTA RECALLS, UNTIL IT DID IT TO ME AGAIN TODAY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET, HOWEVER I WAS NOT GOING THROUGH A PUDDLE AT THE TIME. I WAS NOT BRAKING. I WAS MAINTAINING MY SPEED. UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT REMEMBER THE ROAD CONDITIONS OR SPEED THE OTHER TWO TIMES THIS HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311935February 18, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2006 HONDA PILOT WHICH I BELIEVE HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM AS TOYOTA'S RECENT RECALLS ABOUT STICKY ACCELERATION. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS SUV AND NOTICED THE PROBLEM DURING THE VERY FIRST YEAR ITSELF. THAT TIME MY VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP ON A STOP SIGN. THE PROBLEM I FACED WAS WHEN I APPLIED BRAKE, THE CAR DIDN'T STOP AND IT CONTINUED IN THE ACCELERATION MODE AND FINALLY STOPPED AFTER CROSSING THE STOP SIGN. I HAD REPORTED THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY TO THE HONDA DEALER, FROM WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED TO ME SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. IN FACT THEY LAUGHED AT ME THAT I DIDN'T APPLY THE BRAKE PROPERLY. THE DEALER DIDN'T DOCUMENT MY CONCERN. AFTER THAT TILL NOW (ALMOST 4 YEARS) I AM EXPERIENCING THIS KIND OF PROBLEM QUITE OFTEN. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO BRAKE AN ADDITIONAL 2 OR 3 FEET AHEAD OF MY PROPOSED STOP AS THE VEHICLE MAY NOT STOP WHERE I THINK IT SHOULD STOP. IF IT DOES NOT STOP, I BRAKE HARDER AND AT THAT TIME I HEAR THE ACCELERATION IS STILL ON. I ALWAYS IGNORED THIS PROBLEM MAINLY BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS QUITE RANDOMLY LIKE MAYBE A COUPLE OF TIMES EVERY MONTH. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY TRIGGERS THIS. RECENTLY AFTER READING ABOUT THE TOYOTA RECALL, I HAVE A FEELING THAT MY VEHICLE ALSO HAS THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND I NOTIFIED THE AMERICAN HONDA COMPANY. THEY ACTUALLY DIDN'T SHOW MUCH INTEREST IN ADDRESSING MY PROBLEM MAINLY BECAUSE MY VEHICLE ALREADY HAS 52K MILES AND THE WARRANTY PERIOD (60K MILES) WILL END SOON. SHOULD I BE REALLY CONCERNED? ARE THERE ANY INDEPENDENT SERVICE ENGINEERS WHO CAN TAKE A LOOK AT MY VEHICLE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310147February 13, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS INCIDENT OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN MY 2006 HONDA PILOT EX-L ON FEBRUARY 8, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:45 A.M. EST NEAR THE REAR GARAGE ENTRANCE TO THE OFFICE TOWER. AS I WAS APPROACHING THE GARAGE ENTRANCE AT UNDER 10 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED ROARING TO 5000 RPM. I IMMEDIATELY AND WITH MAXIMUM FORCE PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH FORTUNATELY DID STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN PARK, AND THE ENGINE NEVER DEVIATED FROM THE 5000 RPM LEVEL. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AT THE IGNITION AND WAITED MAYBE A MINUTE. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO 5000 RPM. I SHIFTED BACK TO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AGAIN AT IGNITION. I WAITED ANOTHER MINUTE, AND RESTARTED AGAIN WITH THE SAME FRIGHTENING RESULT. A KENT SECURITY OFFICER FOR THE MIAMI PARKING AUTHORITY WITNESSED (SAW AND HEARD) THE ENTIRE INCIDENT AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND HE PUSHED IT BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE ENTRANCE AND TO THE CURB, OUT OF TRAFFIC, WHILE I STEERED WITH NO POWER. I WAITED MAYBE THREE TO FOUR MORE MINUTES AFTER THAT AND DECIDED TO TRY RESTARTING THE CAR ONE MORE TIME TO MOVE IT TO TRY TO MOVE IT INTO THE GARAGE. THAT TIME, IT STARTED NORMALLY. I SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND DROVE IT INTO THE GARAGE AND PARKED. WE ARE TRYING TO OBTAIN THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. AMERICAN HONDA EXAMINED THE CAR AT BRICKELL HONDA IN MIAMI, DRIVING IT 64 TOTAL MILES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER 3 DAYS, AMERICAN HONDA IN CALIFORNIA (CHRIS SCHROEDER 800-999-1009 EXTENSION 117703) DECIDED THERE WAS NO NEED TO CONDUCT ANY FURTHER TESTING AND DECLARED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. HE EXPRESSED NO CONCERN THAT IT PRESENTED ANY DANGER IN THE FUTURE AND THAT AMERICAN HONDA WOULD DO NOTHING UNLESS I COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT A SERVICE FACILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306538February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
HI , I HAVE 2006 HONDA PILOT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES,SOMETIMES WHEN IT GOES OVER POT HOLE OR THROUGH WATER OR LITTLE ICE THE BRAKES STOP WORKING AND IT MAY CAUSE BAD ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298293January 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE SPEEDING UP SUDDENLY EVEN WHEN HE TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. HE WAS FORCED TO SHIFT GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO RE-START THE VEHICLE AND SEE IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THE ISSUE DID NOT RE-OCCUR SO HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT. HE HAD A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AT THE TIME THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. HE HAS NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286100October 2, 2009
PARKING BRAKE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A STEEP HILL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL FLIPPING OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND COMING TO A STOP. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70000. UPDATED 12/10/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. UPDATED 12/10/09
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10274712June 23, 2009
STRUCTURE
BEGAN NOTICING A MUSTY SMELL IN THE VEHICLE, FOLLOWED SEVERAL MONTHS LATER BY A SLOSHING SOUND THAT EVENTUALLY MANIFESTED ITSELF INTO A ROLLING WAVE OF WATER THAT SWEPT OVER MY FLOOR MATS. WATER IS SATURATING THE CARPETS (THINK OF A WET SPONGE) AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH UNDETERMINED POINTS AT OR NEAR THE FIREWALL. THIS DEFINITELY OCCURS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN RAIN, WHEN DRIVEN OVER WET AND SNOW-COVERED ROADS, AND WHEN SITTING IN A CAR WASH. I HAVE NOT DETERMINED IF IT OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE SITS UNUSED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER HAS REMOVED, CLEANED, REINSTALLED, AND RESEALED A "BODY PLUG" THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY IMPROPERLY SEALED AT THE FACTORY; YET, EVEN AFTER THIS SERVICE WORK, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. SEARCHING THE WEB, I'VE NOTICED OTHER HONDA PILOT AND RIDGELINE OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF WATER LEAKAGE PROBLEM; AND, WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS, DEALERS SEEM TO BE PUTTING "BAND AIDS" (CAULK) ON A VARIETY OF NOTED AND POTENTIAL ENTRY POINTS THROUGH THE FIREWALL, WHEEL WELLS, AND WELDED METAL JOINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264260April 6, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE MISFIRED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND RECOMMENDED THAT A SPECIFIC TYPE OF FUEL BE PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. THE HIGH LEVEL OF LETHAL BUILD-UP IN THE ENGINE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURES, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,050.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259870February 25, 2009
VISIBILITY
INTERMITTENT NOISE (AS IF SOMEONE KNOCKED ON REAR WINDOW) WITHIN 5 SECONDS OF STARTING CAR. OCCURS AT ANY TEMPERATURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259871February 25, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG COVER DISCOLORED AND COMPONENTS IMPRESSION VISIBLE. CONCERNED AIR BAG MAY BE AFFECTED AND NOT WORK PROPERLY IF IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256021January 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
CONDENSER DESIGN ON 2006 HONDA PILOT. CONDENSER IS EASILY DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THIS IS A COMMON DESIGN FLAW ACROSS ALL HONDAS. THE NEWER MODELS HAVE MODIFIED THE GRILL TO PREVENT DEBRIS DAMAGE TO THE CONDENSER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247886November 6, 2008
STEERING
MY 2006 HONDA PILOT SUV HAS HAD A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL SINCE DAY 1. WE HAVE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED 20 TIME. WE HAVE HAD A HONDA DEALER PUT NEW TIRES ON OUR 2006 PILOT AND IT STILL HAS STEERING VIBRATION AROUND 70 MPH. WE NOW HAVE 40,450 MILES ON OUR PILOT AND WE STILL HAVE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS. THE DEALER EVEN PULLED THE AXLES AND HAD THEM CHECKED OUT. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM. I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPLORER WITH 163,350 MILES ON IT AND I DON'T HAVE STEERING VIBRATIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243225September 23, 2008
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
RE: FAILURES OF TIRE VALVE STEMS 2006 HONDA PILOT NUMBER OF FAILURES: 2 1. EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURES COMMON FILLING OF TIRES WITH HIGH PRESSURE AIR LEAD TO DISINTEGRATION OF THE VALVE STEM. THE VALVE STEM SEPARATES AT THE THREADS FOR THE VALVE CAP, COMPLETELY EXPOSING THE TIRE FILLER VALVE. 2. THIS EVENT HAS OCCURRED ON TWO OF THE FOUR OPERATING TIRE VALVES IN THIS 2006 HONDA PILOT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CONSEQUENCES, BUT THE EXPOSURE TO TIRE VALVE FAILURE FROM BEING EXPOSED IS OBVIOUS. 3. CORRECTION REQUIRES THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRE VALVE AND ITS UNDERLYING TIRE PRESSURE SENDING UNIT. FAILURE MODE: THIS FAILURE APPEARS TO BE A RESULT OF THE USE OF SOFT ALUMINUM IN THE TIRE VALVE STEM, THE CUTTING OF SHARP, V-SHAPED THREADS ON BOTH THE EXTERIOR TO HOLD THE VALVE CAP AND THE INTERIOR TO HOLD THE VALVE AND TIRE PRESSURE SENDING UNIT. THE SHARPLY CUT THREADS, COMPARED TO CONICALLY CUT THREADS, RESULTS IN FRACTURE WHEN THE INTERIOR THREADS AND EXTERIOR THREADS CROSS, LEADING TO MINIMAL METAL BETWEEN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR. THE FAILURE IN ONE CASE OCCURRED WHEN REMOVING THE VALVE CAP, COMPLETELY EXPOSING THE TIRE VALVE ITSELF. THE FAILURE IN THE SECOND CASE OCCURRED WHEN THE HIGH PRESSURE AIR FILLING VALVE (BRASS) ADHERED TO THE VERY SHARP EXTERIOR THREADS AND SIMPLY RIPPED THE VALVE STEM APART. NOTE THAT THE VALVE STEM IS COMPOSED OF A SOFT ALUMINUM, RATHER THAN HARDENED BRASS OR STEEL. I BRING THIS TO NHTSA SINCE, IN MY OPINION, THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THESE VALVE STEM FAILURES CAN LEAD TO RAPID DEFLATION OF THE SUBJECT TIRE, LOSS OF OPERATOR CONTROL, AND CONSEQUENT ACCIDENT AND INJURY IF THE VALVE STEM SEPARATES SUCH THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE TIRE VALVE IS DAMAGED. IN MY ESTIMATION, THIS IS AS SIGNIFICANT A PROBLEM AS WAS THE HISTORIC SUDDEN TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ISSUE. IN FACT, THIS PROBLEM CAN RESULT IN THE SAME UNEXPECTED LOSS OF TIRE INTEGRITY IF THE TIRE VALVE IS DAMAGED SUBSEQUENT TO A FAILURE IN THE VALVE THREADS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241260September 7, 2008
TIRES
FRONT WHEEL VIBRATION. THE FRONT WHEEL ON MY HONDA PILOT VIBRATES AT 65-70MPH, THE HONDA DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM ON SIX (6) OCCASIONS HOWEVER THEY CANNOT FINDOUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. HONDA, CORPORATE SERVICE IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT OFFER A SOLUTION EITHER. IS THIS GOING TO BE ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER TIRE-FRONTEND PROBLEM??? PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240912September 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON IN MY 2006 HONDA PILOT. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN I WAS TOLD THAT ALL SIX CYLINDERS WERE MISFIRING AND THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE REAR ROCKER ARMS AND ALL RELATED PARTS, WHICH WERE REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE ALL CYLINDERS WERE MISFIRING AND A RESET CODE WAS COMPLETED CRANK PATTERN RESET AND LEARN WERE PERFORMED. THE THIRD TIME I WAS TOLD THAT ALL CYLINDERS WERE MISFIRING AND THAT I NEEDED TO SWITCH TO USING CHEVRON GASOLINE ONLY. THE FOURTH TIME THE LIGHT CAME ON I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA IN CALIFORNIA. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR AT WILLETTE HONDA SOUTH SINCE AUGUST 19, 2008. I KEEP GETTING A DIFFERENT EXPLANATION FROM HONDA WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKETS, COOLING GASKETS AND INJECTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. TODAY (9/4/08), I WAS TOLD THAT THE PISTONS HAD TO BE ADJUSTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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