Honda Pilot Complaints (2003)

720 consumer complaints on file.

#10381232February 9, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY IN 2003 HONDA PILOT, GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 - 65 MPH, THE CAR VIOLENTLY SHOOK AS IF THE BRAKES HAD BEEN APPLIED. MINUTES LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN SO WE EXITED THE FREEWAY AND CONTINUED SLOWLY. ONCE HOME, THERE WAS A HESITATION WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE AND IT ACTUALLY ROLLED FORWARD FOR A FEW FEET. WE COULD HEAR IT SLIP INTO GEAR AFTER A FEW SECONDS WITH A METALLIC PING OR THUD. THE NEXT DAY, WE NOTICED THE GEARS SLIPPING WHEN ACCELERATING AROUND 40 MPH. TOOK THE CAR TO RENTON HONDA AND THEY SURMISED IT COULD BE BAD GASOLINE. AFTER PAYING FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THEY DETERMINED A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED AT A COST OF $3500 (WITH A GOODWILL DISCOUNT). THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW, HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING, AND HAS HAD EVERY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS WHY THEY OFFERED THE DISCOUNT. THE CAR HAS 117,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN PAMPERED. THIS HONDA ISN'T LIVING UP TO THE HYPE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376970January 17, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 HONDA PILOT EX EXPERIENCES SHUDDER/VIBRATION BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, LASTING IN DURATION OF 5 TO 10 SECONDS. DRAIN OF TRANSMISSION FLUID REVEALED FRICTION MATERIAL PRESENT. DEALER SUSPECTS TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE, SAME AS ACURA MDX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374810January 5, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
THE 2003 HONDA PILOT I OWN IS ON IT'S SECOND TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE BECOMES DISABLED AND THE "D" LIGHT FLASHES ON THE DASH INDICATING THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THE HONDA DEALER SAYS THAT THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN. TWO TRANSMISSIONS AT ONLY 127, 500 IS A SIGN OF PROBLEMS WITH THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF. I BELIEVE HONDA SHOULD RECALL ALL 2003 & 2004 HONDA PILOT FOR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372277December 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND A PRIVATE MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. BOTH TEST REVEALED CODE P0730 WHICH MEANS THAT THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL SYSTEM, LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL, OR POOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. BOTH SOURCES ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370752December 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ONLY 102,000 MILES 2003 HONDA PILOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370753December 15, 2010
STEERING
STEERING RACK FAILURE 2003 HONDA PILOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370747December 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. WAS AT DEALERSHIP FOR TRANSMISSION RECALL IN OCT 2004 AND TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION GEAR PRESSURE SWITCH IN DECEMBER 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369308December 6, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WOULD LOCK ABNORMALLY AND WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO INSERT THE KEY, HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OVER AND THE WHEELS WOULD REMAIN LOCKED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WOULD SPORADICALLY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT HE WOULD ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SO THAT THE KEY WOULD FIT INTO THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS THE ORIGINAL KEY PROVIDED WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369040December 3, 2010
EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH DVD PLAYER AND WIRELESS HEADPHONES. MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH OUR TWO YOUNG KIDS WHO WERE WATCHING A DVD WITH THE HEADPHONES. THE KIDS STATED THAT THE HEADPHONES STOPPED WORKING AND STARTED MAKING A WHITE NOISE SOUND. A FEW MINUTES LATER WE SAW SMOKE COME OUT OF THE DASHBOARD, THROUGH THE TAPE DECK AND OTHER OPENINGS. WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH AND HAD LIMITED VISIBILITY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT WRECKING. WE ALL GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LET THE SMOKE CLEAR. AFTERWARDS, WE TOOK IT TO THE CHARLESTON, SC DEALERSHIP. EVEN THOUGH THEY FOUND BURNT PARTS IN THE DVD PLAYER, THEY REFUSED TO HELP. THEY WANTED OVER $1000 TO PUT IN A NEW DVD PLAYER. WE TOOK THE PAPERWORK AND LEFT, WHILE THE DVD HEADPHONES STILL DO NOT WORK TO THIS DAY. I EVEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB, WITHOUT SUCCESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368201November 29, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED FUNCTIONING AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366848November 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR CLUNKED WHEN ACCELERATING, SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR, HAPPENED HERE AND THERE AND THEN HAPPENED MORE OFTEN. TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365955November 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED THE 2003 HONDA PILOT IN NOVEMBER OF 2002. AT ABOUT 32,000 MILES, A "SHUTTERING" BEGAN TO OCCUR AT LOWER SPEEDS. (15 TO 35 MPH.) I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO 3 DIFFERENT HONDA DEALERS OVER TIME AND NONE ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. STATING IT IS NOT OBSERVED WHEN IN SHOP. I HAD MENTIONED TO THE LAST DEALER THAT A CLOSE FRIEND PURCHASED A 2009 HONDA VAN THAT IS NOW BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME "SHUTTERING" OF THE TRANSMISSION AND HE WAS TOLD THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO HAVE A PROGRAM UPDATE. THE DEALERSHIP, DAVENPORT IN ROCKY MOUNT ,NC ACTED AS IF THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS RECALL AND DID AS THE OTHER DEALERS, NOTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365654November 14, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION BEGINNING TO GO BAD. A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2003 HONDA PILOT. HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO MOTOR MOUNTS GOING BAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363046October 31, 2010
CHILD SEAT, CHILD SEAT:LATCH CONNECTOR/CLIP, CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
MY CONVERTIBLE CHILD RESTRAINT COMES EQUIPPED WITH A LATCH STRAP WITH A STATED LIMIT OF 80 LBS (SUPERLATCH). WHEN I INSTALL THE SEAT USING THE SUPERLATCH STRAP, I AM REPEATEDLY FINDING THAT WITHIN TWO DAYS OF NORMAL USE, THE INSTALLATION BECOMES SIGNIFICANTLY LOOSER-SOMETIMES AS MUCH AS 2-3 INCHES OF MOVEMENT. AS A CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE SEAT IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND TIGHTLY TO BEGIN WITH. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON REPORTING THIS FOR THIS SEAT. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE SUPERLATCH CLIP/HOOK MECHANISM COME DETACHED FROM MY VEHICLE'S LATCH ANCHOR BARS SEVERAL TIMES, DESPITE HEARING AN AUDIBLE CLICK WHEN INSTALLING THE SEAT AND PULLING ON THE STRAP TO ENSURE PROPER ATTACHMENT AT THE TIME ON INSTALLATION. THE SUPERLATCH STRAP ADJUSTER IS FAILING TO MAINTAIN TIGHTNESS AND THE CONNECTORS ARE NOT REMAINING SECURELY ATTACHED TO THE LATCH BARS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE UNACCEPTABLE. THE MANUFACTURER'S "SOLUTION" IS TO INSTALL WITH THE VEHICLE BELT AND/OR REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SUPERLATCH STRAP WITH A STANDARD 40-48 LB LATCH STRAP. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2010, MAKE=NISSAN, MODEL=SENTRA). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362989October 30, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 137,000 MILES ON IT AND IT VIBRATES SOMEWHERE AROUND 35-45 MPH. MY MECHANIC RECOMMENDED WE HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED AS HE HAS SEEN 3 OR 4 OTHER PILOTS DO THE SAME THING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES TO THE POINT WHERE I JUST GOT USED TO IT. WITH THE THOUGHT OF A NEW TRANSMISSION LOOMING, I DECIDED TO SEARCH IF OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE AND AM SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE DEALT WITH THIS. I HAVE BEEN A HONDA OWNER ALL MY DRIVING LIFE AND SEEING THIS ISSUE SO PROMINENT DEFINITELY MAKES ME RETHINK ANOTHER ONE. I DO HOPE HONDA WILL RECTIFY THIS BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361488October 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 HONDA PILOT, TRANSMISSION SLIP BETWEEN 25 AND 40 MPH ALMOST LIKE IT'S SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL, USUALLY WHEN IT'S SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD. HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY WITHOUT WARNING. USUALLY STALL FOR SEVERAL SECONDS SOMETIMES CANNOT PROCEED CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD IN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. ALSO TOLD THAT MOTOR MOUNTS NEED REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON PROBLEM CAN'T AFFORD REPAIR. TRANSMISSION COOLER THAT HONDA INSTALLED WAS OBVIOUS PATCH TO ATTEMPT TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF A FAULTY DESIGN. ARE WE GOING TO LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS ? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361371October 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OWNER OF 2003 HONDA PILOT. ABOUT A YEAR AGO "D" LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON THE CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT NO PROBLEMS FOUND. ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATTER, CAR STARTED HESITATING WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND - 3RD GEAR. WENT BACK TO DEALER AND TOLD THAT NO PROBLEMS FOUND WITH TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM BECAME WORST AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AT ABOUT 30 MPH. I WOULD HAVE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT BACK IN GEAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THIS TIME THEY FLUSHED THE TRANS FLUID AND SAID THAT THIS SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WELL IT DIDN'T. NOW THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND IT WILL COST ME $3221.79 TO REPLACE THE TRANS (THIS IS AFTER THE $1,300.00 THAT HONDA CORP AGREED TO PAY). I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HONDA WOULD TAKE SO LONG TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I FIRST COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360623October 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSION FAILED IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR. THE "D" LIGHT WAS BLINKING SO IT TOOK IT TO HONDA OF NANUET AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION? THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION THAT THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED, BY ADDING A FUEL KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM? IT DIDN'T WORK! I HAVE RESEARCHED MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS E.G. (EMONDS.COM). CAN ANYONE HELP THE CONSUMERS IN THIS CASE AGAINST HONDA? HONDA WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER 5,000 TO FIX IT? VIN# [XXX] FIXED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A PRIVATE AUTO SERVICE FOR 4,120 BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS HONDA FAILED TO OWN UP TO THERE RESPONSIBILITY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357748September 27, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 HONDA PILOT EX-L: THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND HESITATES BETWEEN 35 - 50 MPH. I WAS TOLD BY A HONDA SERVICE DEPT. THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND 2 MOTOR MOUNTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4162. THIS PROBLEM IS TOO COMMON TO NOT BE CONSIDERED AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RECALL. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE. I HOPE NO MAJOR INJURIES ARE CAUSED FROM THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357946September 27, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 HONDA PILOT. I HAD THIS PROBLEM IN JUNE 2010. ON A MODERATE UPHILL CLIMB, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 35 MPH AND I FELT VIBRATION AND SHAKING. FROM A STANDING STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE 2ND GEAR, AND THEN AGAIN BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE 3RD GEAR. THE PROBLEM CAME OFF AND ON UNTIL YESTERDAY. I WAS AGAIN DRIVING ON A MODERATE FREEWAY UPHILL CLIMB WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS, SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 50 MPH, VIBRATED BEFORE SHIFTING AGAIN AND PICKED UP SPEED. I GOT FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND DID NOT HIT MY VEHICLE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS IS WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVE 'D' INDICATOR WAS FLASHING AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT OFF FROM THE FREEWAY AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR. WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE BACK ON, THE FLASHING 'D' DISAPPEARED. I TOOK IT BACK TO COMMUNITY HONDA TODAY WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS I TOLD THEM IN JUNE, PLUS WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT MY HONDA PILOT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, TO THE TUNE OF $4,100 PLUS TAX. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER 2003 HONDA PILOTS AND I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. WHAT INFURIATES ME IS THAT HONDA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (06-003 DATED JUNE 9, 2007) FOR THE 2003 ACURA MDX WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME AS THE 2003 HONDA PILOT. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. BECAUSE OF HONDA'S FAILURE TO ISSUE THE SAME SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE 2003 HONDA PILOT, I BELIEVE THAT HONDA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ON MY VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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