Differential Unit problems of the 2003 Honda Pilot

2003 Honda Pilot ex-l res; automatic, 112,700 miles. Transmission began slipping while shifting from 2nd-3rd with the selector in drive. Shortly there after at roughly 60 mph on the highway we experienced a jarring downshift from 5th to 2nd gear with a loud mechanical "thunk", then immediately back to a higher gear, maybe 4th. The truck decelerated so fast and harshly that my wife and 2 children were thrown forward into their seat belts and all items from the floor and back seat were thrown into the front of the cabin. This mishap was unsafe on the highway and I could honestly see this causing an accident under the right circumstances, for instance, merging onto a highway. The maintenance indicator lamp ("mil") illuminated and the transmission mode selector began flashing the drive ("d") indicator. We immediately pulled off the highway and parked the vehicle at our home a short distance away. The clutch slipped between the first 3 gears below 40 mph on the short drive home. The dealership pulled code p0780. No associated fluid leaks and the transmission fluid was still pink and didn't smell burnt. 3 service technicians test drove it. As soon as the transmission warmed up, it displayed the same behavior reported above and the last test drive barely made it back to the dealership. Dealership recommends replacement of transmission for $4,293. 00. The truck was serviced per Honda's recommended maintenance/service schedule with Honda genuine fluids and parts. The last transmission/ rear differential service was approximately 9,000 miles ago in January, 2009. This vehicle also had the transmission fluid jet kit performed in 2004. I will also be filing a complaint with the better business bureau due to the unusually high amount of 2003/2004 Honda Pilot failed transmission reports I have read on a number of online forums. Most vehicles that experienced the same failures had between 90k-130k miles. This is unacceptable and should reach class action level.

2004 Honda Pilot, transmission problems!!! Honda said we need to replace your transmission. . . We had a flashing d light for many year on & off again. . . They said the recall was done. . My repair record as follows: Honda west augs 1/2003 a intermediate maintenance, throttle body service, rear differential service, ac replace ventilation filters, invoice total paid by us $353. 10. 10/03/2006 had front brakes done at star import service, they noted {no codes stored for engine or transmission. Possibly cleared @ dealer ???) 08/13/2007 star imports service to check trans light flashes on sometimes, they scan transmission for code and stated on invoice none present. . 02/18/2009 Hondatronics service, check transmission operation, changed transmission fluid twice, we paid 198. 13. . June 16, 2009 check d light flashing. . It is now 10/2009 and d light is flashing again and we are told we need a new transmission.

The car makes grinding noise under the hood when the car gently accelerates from below 1400 rpm to 1500 rpm. It started to happen around 30000 miles and happens frequently now (97000 miles). Dealer has replaced egr valve 3 times with no avail and they cannot replicate the problem. Sometimes the grinding noise lasts upto 5 seconds. The tachometer jumps up and down around 1500 rpm while making the grinding noise. The differential fluid was changed but noise still happens.