general problems of the 2004 Honda Pilot - part 1

I heard a loud pop come from under my driver's seat and the seat started rocking backwards. I got out of my car and checked underneath the seat. The front-left bracket securing the seat to the seat frame had completely sheared in half and the seat was no longer securely attached to the seat frame. This is a significant safety issue. When the car accelerates the driver's seat rocks backwards by ~45 degrees, making it extremely difficult to stay in control of the vehicle and safely steer the vehicle. It is also extremely unsafe in the case of an accident because a) the seat would not hold the driver securely in place, b) the driver would not be properly in position and restrained for the air bags to deploy, c) the seat belt is attached to the seat base and would not be able to fully function properly, and d) any passengers sitting in the 2nd row behind the driver's seat would be in danger of having the full force of the driver and the driver's seat slamming back against them. This is a known issue widely reported in Honda Pilot owners' forums. Yet Honda has not issued a recall. I took the vehicle into a Honda dealership to inspect the issue. They said that Honda no longer makes the part that would be required to fix this safety issue. This issue affects all 2003-2008 model year Honda Pilots. There were over 800,000 2003-2008 model year Pilots sold and because of Honda vehicle's longevity there is a massive number of these vehicles still on the roads.

Brakes seem to stop suddenly must brake slowly to avoid a sudden stop seatbelt locks up if I do not pull it forward and leave room in the belt so that it isn't completely holding me in also the driver seat will only adjust sideways.

Upon entering the vehicle and sitting in the driver's seat, I heard a loud pop and then noticed that the seat was extremely loose and would rock backwards as if something was broken. I removed the side cover and found that there was a failed seat mount bracket that had broken in half. The vehicle is currently undriveable until the seat is fixed since the seat sways backwards on acceleration which could lead to an accident. I am not aware of any active recall for this issue but I believe it should be investigated as it is a major safety concern!.

Tl the contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. While accelerating and braking, the driver's seat unintentionally moved forward and backwards. Spreen Honda (25050 redlands blvd, loma linda, CA 92354, (909) 799-7070) was contacted, but no assistance was offered. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the mounting bracket fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 150,000.

On 06/21/2014, I was entering my vehicle when a bracket connected to the adjuster assembly (part# 81630-s3v-a30) broke. This occurred on the drivers seat. Due to this, the seat was no longer secure to the floorboard and started rocking back and forth. I searched Honda part records and I was unable to find a specific part number assigned to this bracket. The vehicle was parked at the time of the break. But, while driving the vehicle the seat was unstable and hard to keep it still. A search of NHTSA records found the following complaints regarding the same issue - 10583003, 10578612, 10567737, 10541789, 10505250, 10489089, 10488805, 10466947, 10455702. I took pictures of the broken bracket. It appears metal fatigue may be an issue.

When accelerating away from a stop light, I heard a "pop" sound and my driver seat suddenly had a "rocking" issue. The driver seat now rocks backward when accelerating, after researching online and doing a visual inspection I found that a metal "l" shaped bracket that mounts the seat bottom to the seat frame has sheared off at the rivet points. This creates a hazard when driving and I fear in a crash, the seat could become unattached from vehicle interior completely putting occupant at increased risk of injury or death from airbag deployment or ejection from vehicle! during an online search, I found several other reports of the same issue to NHTSA. . . Those report numbers are 1058303; 10578612; 10567737; 10541789; 10505250; 10489089; 10488805; 10466947; 10455702. I contacted Honda and was told since the warranty was expired, there was nothing they would do. This is a safety hazard!!! why does someone have to be killed before the issue is fixed?!? with so many reports already being logged stating this same problem, I would think something would be done about it. This is just as dangerous at the airbag issue that resulted in a recall.

This afternoon as I entered my city street parked, 2004 Honda Pilot, from the driver's side, I heard a loud snapping sound as I sat down. The driver's seat, simultaneously with the sound, rocked back, obviously no longer securely mounted. Upon inspection I found the front left �l� shaped seat mounting bracket had sheared in two, in line with the two holes that the securing rivets pass through. The bracket failed and tore, apparently the metal is not thick enough to resist the forces placed on the seat. Perhaps related to the size of the rivet holes.

Leaned back and turned around to back out of parking space and left front seat bracket on the driver's side front broke. Have to brace myself while accelerating forward something needs to be done have read multiple occasions of this happening to other people. Afraid the other brackets will break shortly after. I have not been able to find anything to fix this problem.

While driving approximately 35 mph down a city street, the drivers seat began to move- specifically began to shift backwards upon acceleration. Upon acceleration, the seat leans back away from the steering wheel significantly. Inspection by mechanic showed the seat brackets have sheered off detaching the front left corner from the seat frame.

The drivers seat has been so hot that it feels like it can burn your skin. Today on the way to work my daughter said she smelled something burning. She looked down on her seat and it was smoking and burned the leather. The seat was actually catching on fire. I have looked this up and see numerous complaints on this and people have reported this to you. I don't see what you are reporting no complaints or recalls. We were on the highway when the incident happened.

The drivers seat has a bracket that broke when I was driving and I almost control of the vehicle because it caused me to lean back very far in the seat and my steering and acceleration was affected. I was exiting onto a freeway and almost collided with other vehicles. This bracket is located on the drives side that holds a motor that moves the seat up and down; in close proximity to the left side panel for the seat controls. Bracket has two rivets holding in place. Was hoping their was a recall on this defect because I found lots of incidents reported on various websites. Thank you.

The vehicle was stationary, not in any accidents or driving off-road. Sat down and found driver's seat unexpectedly will now tilt back, raising the left front of the seat. The seat is obviously not secure, nor would it be safe in an accident. Took it to the dealer, and they said the seat frame is broken inexplicably (part 81660-s3v-a30). This does not appear to be a wear part - one of the metal bracket pieces holding the seat bottom to the body I guess just sheared off along the rivet line. A brief web search found this is a common problem, so I'm surprised there has not been a recall by Honda. The dealer quoted a repair price of approximately $1,850.

Front left bracket that holds the drivers seat to the frame of the vehicle snapped. This is a common, known defect and is a safety issue.

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. Upon entering the vehicle, the front driver side of the vehicle was leaning. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the weld was fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the driver's seat bracket was fractured and the seat would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not provided.

While leaning back in the driver's seat to remove my wallet to purchase gasoline I heard "pop" and then the seat seemed to become dislodged from the body of the vehicle. The front left of the seat was no longer connected to the body of the vehicle. Upon further inspection it was revealed that the steel bracket holding the top assembly of the seat to the bottom assembly of the seat tore clean through.

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the driver seat would move independently. The contact stated that the seat felt as though it would dislodge from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat bolt had fractured and that drivers seat would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

The drivers seat lower metal bracket broke causing the drivers seat to be unstable when sitting in the SUV and when accelerating. I have seen at several other complaints both on this web site and in the Honda Pilot forum. I called the dealer about asking for a repair who referred me to Honda USA. I called and reported the problem to Honda and they are unwilling to fix this safety issue which is a safety defect because there is no recall issued for this problem. If this vehicle were to be in an accident the seat would likely break loose and throw the driver and the seat out of the vehicle. I just noticed this problem while driving the vehicle .

I am the original owner of a 2004 Honda Pilot ex-l and have had only very minor issues up until now. Yesterday, while entering the vehicle, I noticed a great deal of play in the driver¿s seat back. Assuming an anchor bolt was loose, I checked the left front seat area where the movement was the greatest and discovered the left adjuster assembly arm almost completed sheared from the main adjuster assembly. The structural integrity of the seat is now severely compromised and is a safety hazard as the seat will become detached in any accident. I¿ve noted numerous complaints of this exact same piece on this and other websites.

I am the original owner of my 2004 Honda Pilot. Overall, good vehicle but has always been a problem with the driver side heated seat. It gets too hot and felt like a burn to your skin. I mentioned to the dealer early on and was told to decrease the use. So, I have decreased the use of the heated seats or used on low for a short time until the SUV was warm and completely turned off. The seat is not heating at all now. It has approx. 175,000miles and has been well maintained. I feel that there has been too many complaints and this issue never addressed or a recall done.

The seat began moving earlier today and then when my husband was getting out of the car there was a loud pop and the seat started rocking. It seems to have become detached from the car on the front left. When accelerating it rocks back and when breaking it rocks forward. My husband looked and the metal bracket has broken completely. It seems very unsafe and would be extremly worried that in an accident the air bag would cause serious injury when you are thrust even farther into it or if the other side were to break and you be thrown out regardless of having a seatbelt.

When sitting down in my vehicle this morning, there was a snapping noise and the seat rocked back toward the right rear. Removing the plastic cover, it was plainly visible that a metal part that holds the upper seat to the lower seat assembly has snapped where it attaches with two industrial rivets. Seat now tips backward rather easily, and does so when I climb in or out of the vehicle, and upon acceleration. Clearly the structural integrity of this seat is destroyed until I can have it fixed/replaced. I am fearful that if I were to have an accident, the seat will come completely detached. In a 5 min web search I have found dozens of other instances of this occurring; this is not a rare problem and needs to be fixed! compounding my problem, I am in the usaf stationed in the uk, and getting this fixed will be difficult to say the least, as this vehicle is not sold here.

We noticed that the plastic panel covering the driver's seat controls came detached. Shortly after the seat began rocking slightly. Finally, there was a loud pop and the seat now rocks freely. It is scary and dangerous to have to drive a vehicle while the seat responds to all movement. It will no longer allow you to increase the incline of it, so it's reclined at the same time. What started as two screws breaking free from the decorative lever cover quickly turned into a major structural issue.

Front left structural bracket on driver's seat failed, allowing seat to tip backward. Bracket failed along a line with two rivet/fasteners, detaching seat tray from power fore/aft positioner rails. Apparently design defect, as there are 12 other essentially identical NHTSA complaints on file for this make/model/year.

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. While the contact was seated in the driver seat, an abnormal sound emitted from the vehicle without warning. The contact discovered that the seat bolt was fractured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the bolt between the seat and seat frame assembly was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 210,000.

Noticed an extreme hot spot on drivers side lower seat cushion when heated seats are on hi or lo. Spot is so hot that you cannot let it touch your pants without burning you. I have read many accounts of this same issue with other Honda owners that ultimately resulted in a fire. Now drivers side lower seat cushion heating element no longer works. Drivers side back and passenger side heating elements still work.

Husband parked car leaned forward to get wifi off dash and left front of driver seat detached from the adjuster. Seat now leans to front left and rocks around.

We were on another summer trip and the airbag warning light came on. This is the big red light to the far left of the panel. Calling Honda in franklin TN they had no idea what could happen while continuing to drive the vehicle. Calling another dealership they assured me that it was most likely a sensor and the airbags would simply not deploy. Honda as recalls now for bad airbags. 1- our 2004 does not fall into the recall period 2 - Honda should pay for any issue related to bad airbag technology regardless of how old the car is, just like they do with seat belts. If we would have been in a wreck during the time that light was on, the airbag would not have deployed. 3- any part of the airbag/sensor/ seatbelt system should not be merely covered under a limited warranty. It should be covered for the life of the car. This is a safety issue. If they cannot stand behind the safety of the car they need to get out of the business.

Front, driver seat, seat warmer was on high. Seat was getting very warm. Seat began to smoke, leather was melting. This occurred under the driver's right leg. The seat getting very warm has been ongoing for some time now on both low and high, but I turn the seat warmer off. This is the first time it has started smoking. Contacted dealership. Was told to just not use seat warmer. Will no longer use seat warmer as it is a fire hazard.

A lower seat support on drivers seat has failed. Causing the front of the drives seat to not be held in place. On acceleration the front of drivers seat lifts up causing the seat to lay back in a more reclined position.

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the drivers side seat warmer was activated and became extremely hot. In addition, there was a burning odor throughout the vehicle. As a result, the driver sustained a burn. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000. The VIN was not available.

When the driver side heated seat is turned on the seat gets so hot that it literally burns the skin on anyone sitting in the seat. It happens on both low or high setting. The seat then begins to emit smoke.

When we turn on the seat warmer in the front passenger seat of our Honda Pilot 2004, we smell a strong odor of rubber or foam burning. Now our seat warmer will not work at all. We've stopped using the seat warmer due to concerns of a fire starting.

When turning on the driver's side seat warmer it got extremely hot. Recently it actually burned the seat foam and began to smoke. I will not use it anymore for fear of a fire. Thank you for looking into this issue.

The driver's side heated seat got extremely hot under the right leg. It got so intense that I had to turn it off for fear of burning my leg.

The driver's heated seat got so hot it melted the foam backing causing a horrible smell. The heated seat was turned off or it is possible it would have caught on fire. The seat heated still works but gets much too hot.