Three problems related to horn assembly have been reported for the 2017 Honda Pilot. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2017 Honda Pilot based on all problems reported for the 2017 Pilot.
While at a red light, the auto idle engine feature completely stalls the vehicle. This has happened more times that I can count at this point. Basically, if I leave the feature on, at some point in route, it will stall. Of course, I have brought it in several times to the dealership to be told that nothing is wrong with the vehicle and the computer doesn't register/read any kind of code or error. When the brake pedal is completely depressed, the vehicle shuts down, radio, lights everything. When the brake is released, it seems to try to fire up, but stalls instead. Lights are projected onto the dash saying "to start engine: brake + pedal". This does not immediately start the car. It takes several tries and lately I have found that I have to keep my foot off of the pedal and hit the start button to turn "off" the vehicle (even though it is already stalled). Then, I can start it. I am always in a busy intersection at a red light when this occurs which is frightening. It has taken up to two minutes to get it restarted and lights have turned green, horns have been blasted and I have been swerved around by oncoming (behind) vehicles.
This problem involves the auto-idle stop feature of my vehicle. While stopped in a long line of cars, and the brake pedal depressed, I had been moving forward slowly in this line. Each time I take my foot off the brake pedal, the engine restarts automatically, and I pull forward. Then, when I hit the brake again and stop, the engine shuts off, but usually goes into accessory mode. First, this started to malfunction and the radio, electrical system would shut down, incorrectly, then restart once I took my foot off the brake. But then, on this particular Saturday, when I took my foot off the brake one particular time. . . The car did not restart. The whole car, electrical system and everything shut down. I then tried to manually restart the car by putting the car in park, depressing the brake pedal, and pressing the start button. The car just clicked, and all the lights on the dash were flashing on and off. The car would not restart!! I tried over and over, and nothing! I had 40 + cars behind me in this line! everyone was beeping their horn and impatient. I then tried to put the car in neutral so I could try to push the car out of the way and the line. . . . But the dash warning message said the car could not be put in neutral without the car being started!! the car was dead! I couldn't move it, I couldn't turn on emergency flashers, nothing! it was a bad situation. I had to call a friend to bring jumper cables to jump start the car. But it clearly was not a battery issue. The battery was checked after I got the car started again. . . And it is fully charged! so this was clearly a problem with the auto- idle stop feature!! I did some online research and found thousands of online complaints about this exact issue! it's put many people in very dangerous situations. I reported this to Honda USA customer service. This issue needs to be addressed and a recall put in effect!.
Car shuts down completely t a stop position and computer readout instructions are to put the car in park and then go thru initial start actions. Purchased car in Feb 2019, problem started within days of purchase. Returned it to dealer multiple times with no improvement, Feb 26th 2020 took car to dealer again due to this problem and the radio effected the last shut down time with a loud buzzing noise. Was informed they would have to keep car overnight so the valve clearance could be checked while car was cool. I have found that this problem has been ongoing for four years. It is unsafe and very nerve racking when your car dies through no failure of the driver and other impatient motorist sounding their horn because you aren't moving. One has to worry about one of those impatient drivers not paying attention to what's going on and hitting their gas pedal when the traffic light goes green and all of a sudden you are rear ended. Four years is long enough, even I realize that this problem didn't start with these cars until the introduction of the electronic computer shifting and the auto stop shut down process was introduced in these cars. This shut down of the engine has only happens on public streets and when the vehicle is stationary. Honda of gainesville, FL has an open case on my vehicle. Records are on hand if needed.