Three problems related to tire have been reported for the 2003 Honda Pilot. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Honda Pilot based on all problems reported for the 2003 Pilot.
Yokohama geolander h/t-s go51 p235/70r16 cracking and separation of tire tread around entire circumference of tires. All 4 tires purchased 6/26/09 and only 27k miles. These were not dry rot cracks.
Our 2003 Honda Pilot locked up on the highway due to transmission failure of the 2nd gear. We were traveling in the 3rd lane over 60 mph when both front tires locked and we skidded to a halt in less than 200 yards on the highway. Prior to our vehicle breaking down, there were no signs of danger, no unusual sounds, no blinking lights or any hesitation with the car. Our vehicle had 138,400+ miles and has been serviced regularly according to Honda's recommended maintenance schedules, including all transmission fluid changes. On may 7, 2004 with 36,384 miles, our vehicle had received a retrofit of the a/t oil jet kit due to Hondas 04-021b safety recall on the automatic transmission second gear. Luckily no one was injured and there were no other vehicles involved in the incident. The car behind us stopped just in time to avoid a collision. Our car could not be rolled into the breakdown lane as both front wheels were locked and we were stranded in the 3rd lane. A police officer was called to the scene and logged the incident as a disabled vehicle. The officer requested for immediate towing since we were in a dangerous location. The car was towed to a Honda dealer, who provided the following diagnosis and estimate: "transmission internal failure both front axles twisted needs 2 tires - flat spots alignment $5,199. 14 plus tax" we opted not to repair the Honda and instead purchased a new non-Honda vehicle and received a trade-in value for as-is condition.
The 2003 Honda Pilot has a vibration in the tires that the dealer has had in the shop three times, since day one to try to fix the tire vibration (70 mph and up, sometimes felt at lower speeds). The tires still emits a steady and obvious vibration that eminates from the steering wheel and seats. It seems to me that there is a flat spot in the tires. Pilot owners who experience this problem are entitled to Honda's unrelenting attention and commitment to correct this mystery.