Honda Pilot Complaints (2003)

720 consumer complaints on file.

#10821075January 19, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABOUT A MONTH AGO I TRIED TO USE MY SPARE KEY AND THE KEY WOULDN'T WORK IN MY IGNITION. SO, I LOCATED MY REGULAR KEYS AND THEY KEY WORKED AS IT SHOULD. LAST WEEK MY NORMAL KEY WOULD GO INTO THE IGNITION BUT, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE KEY DID FINALLY TURN AND I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. LATER THAT DAY, I WENT TO LEAVE MY HOUSE FOR WORK AND AGAIN THE KEY WOULD GO INTO THE IGNITION BUT, NOT TURN THE IGNITION. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF INSERTING AND REMOVING THE KEY IT FINALLY WORKED AGAIN. IT CONTINUED TO WORK FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. I SPOKE WITH MY MECHANIC AND HE SUGGESTED I GET THE IGNITION REPLACED BEFORE IT GOT TO A POINT WHERE IT WOULDN'T START AN IN HIS OPINION THE IGNITION WAS DETERIORATING QUICKLY. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE A DEALER ONLY REPAIR. I DID ASK TWO OTHER MECHANICS IN THE AREA & I REACHED OUT TO A LOCKSMITH, THEY ALL SAID DUE TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE ALARM & THE LAZER CUT KEY STYLE IT WAS A DEALER ONLY PART. I STARTED TO GOOGLE THE ISSUE & SAW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM & I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD WORK DONE ON THE IGNITION WITH A PREVIOUS RECALL BUT, THEY FELT THIS ISSUE WAS UNRELATED AND WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. THE NEXT MORNING THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION WOULD NOW TURN BUT, I WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY, LEAVING MY CAR A PRIME TARGET FOR THEFT. I DROPPED THE CAR OFF THIS MORNING & I MADE A CALL INTO CORPORATE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. IT WAS ALSO SUGGESTED I FILE A COMPLAINT HERE BY ONE OF THE MANY OTHER 2003 PILOT OWNERS ON ANOTHER FORUM: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/HONDA/PILOT/2003/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/IGNITION_SWITCH_PROBLEM.SHTML TOTAL COST OF REPAIR $538.89
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10817131December 30, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SOLENOID VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10810125December 14, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10809021December 8, 2015
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807646December 1, 2015
SUSPENSION
WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 2003 HONDA PILOT SHE ALMOST LOST CONTROL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. SHE DRIVE IT THE FEW REMAINING MILES HOME AND ASKED ME TO EXAMINE IT FOR A POSSIBLE LOOSE WHEEL. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION HAD SEPARATED FROM THE BODY AND THAT ONLY THE ABS BRAKE WIRES WAS HOLDING IT IN PLACE. THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THIS. THERE WAS NOTHING TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAD OCCURED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807534November 30, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL BUT WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED. EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT 168,000 MILES. LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65 MPH WITH NO WARNING. HONDA REFUSING TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF MY CAR, DESPITE THE KNOWN DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10787757November 2, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED IN THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763557September 14, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS), 14V700000 (AIR BAGS), 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), AND 12V136000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN TO THE ON POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10761606September 4, 2015
SEAT BELTS
TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON NEVADA AVE IN COLORADO SPRINGS A CAR TURNED IN FRONT OF US. OUR FRONT RIGHT HIT HIS REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE, HE WAS SPUN AROUND AND OUR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AFTER GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE TO CHECK ON OTHER DRIVER I CAME BACK AND HAD MY WIFE AND KID GET OUT OF VEHICLE. POLICE WERE ON SCENE VERY QUICKLY DUE TO ACCIDENT OCCURRING IN FRONT OF HOSPITAL, THE OFFICER NOTICED SMOKE IN CAR AND A COUPLE MINUTES LATER THERE WAS A FIRE ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE BEHIND CENTER GARNISH PILLAR. I TRIED TO PUT IT OUT WHILE OFFICER WENT TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BURNT MY HAND DUE TO BURNING PLASTIC FROM LOWER CENTER PILLAR GARNISH MELTING. LOOKS LIKE FIRE WAS STARTED SOMEWHERE IN THE SEATBELT RETRACTION AREA. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED AND MY HAND WAS OK AFTER A FEW DAYS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760802September 1, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10759950August 28, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION SLOT ENTIRELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE KEY TO ENTER AND ONCE IT WAS IN, IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10758685August 23, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PARKED MY CAR IN THE HOSPITAL LOT. AFTER MY LATE AFTERNOON APPOINTMENT, I WAS ABOUT TO GO HOME. I WAS ABLE TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION BUT FAILED TO TURN TO START THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO CONTACT OR CLICKING SOUND EVEN I TRIED WITH A LITTLE FORCE TO TURN THE KEY. I CALLED THE TOWING COMPANY AND HE WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE. I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 5 MILES TO GET MY PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE AND PARKED AGAIN IN THE PARKING LOT. I WAS ABOUT TO GO HOME AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION BUT FAILED TO TURN TO START THE ENGINE. AGAIN, THERE WAS NO CONTACT OR CLICKING SOUND EVEN TO TRY WITH A LITTLE FORCE TO TURN THE KEY. I CALLED AGAIN THE TOWING COMPANY AND HE WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE. I DECIDED TO BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO STAY OVERNIGHT (EARLY BIRD). I PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVE THROUGH LANE AND SHUT-OFF THE ENGINE. I REMOVE THE KEY AND INSERTED AGAIN BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE KEY AND NOT ABLE TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED MY CAR PROBLEM AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY WAS WORN-OUT. THE NEW IGNITION ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED AND RE-KEYED, CUT AND PROGRAMMED NEW KEY. I SAVED THE OLD PART FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. I PAID $618.58 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I AM THINKING THIS REPAIR WAS SO EXPENSIVE. THE ESTIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,292.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10750422August 21, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS). AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED A WARNING MESSAGE THAT READ "SRS SIDE AIR BAG". THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10750026August 20, 2015
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS), 14V700000 (AIR BAGS), 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSYTEM), AND 12V136000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746113August 4, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FOR FEW YEARS I HAVE BEEN NOTICING TERRIBLE MILEAGE, BUT THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GETTING OLDER. FOR DEFINITELY AN YEAR, THERE IS A NOTICEABLE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CAR, AGAIN THOUGHT ITS THE SIGN OF AN OLD CAR. BUT, LAST WEEKEND I REALIZED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FINALLY GOT AROUND WHATS HAPPENING. THE FUEL STARTED DRIPPING AT THE FUEL TANK - FUEL LINE AND IS DRIPPING AT 1 DROP PER MINUTE .. NOT SURE IF IT DRIPS AT THE SAME RATE ALL THE TIME. READING AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS, IT SEEMS LIKE NHTSA WOULD ONLY CONSIDER ANYTHING AFTER SOMEONE DIES. SOUNDS LIKE USELESS POSTING OVER HERE, BUT JUST DOING IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS. THIS CAR HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR A WHILE, THOUGH THE DRIP STARTED VERY RECENTLY, THUS GIVING VERY LOW MILEAGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745805August 3, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V349000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10743340July 24, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO INSERT IN THE IGNITION. AFTER EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND START THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AT ALL. THE CONTACT USED THE SPARE KEY TO START THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735997July 23, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V349000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE AND DID NOT FOLLOW UP FOR MONTHS. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE AND THE CONTACT ALREADY RECEIVED THREE NOTIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10736078July 23, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V349000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735640July 21, 2015
AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. WHEN I CAME TO THE INSIDE OF THE CAR WAS SMOKING. THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED AND I HAD A THREE INCH BURNED HOLE IN MY LEFT ARM. NOW I HAVE A PERMANENT SCAR BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAG. I HAVE PICTURES, POLICE REPORT AND HOSPITAL REPORTS. MA 10/19/2015 UPDATED 12/05/2017*CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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