Automatic Transmission Torque Converter Problems of Honda Pilot - part 2

Purchased a 2013 Honda Pilot on 12/28/12. I began to notice a very annoying vibration/shudder in the car as well as hear a rumbling noise. It's occurring at many different consistent speeds and the only way to stop it is to accelerate to a higher speed where it may not occur. I find this is a safety issue as it occurs mostly when the vehicle is maintaining a consistent speed. So, when on the highway and driving the stated 65mph speed limit, I must increase my speed to greater than 65mph in order for the rumbling noise and vibration to stop. Obviously, speed limits are posted for safety reasons. Additionally, I feel this defect severely diminishes the resale value of the $34,000 vehicle as I'm sure anyone whom notices the vibration/shudder/rumbling feeling and sounds will not be interested in buying the vehicle for fair market value. I am also questioning the long term impact of this judder'/vibration will have on the vehicle. My effort to have this repaired by the dealer continues, but thus far they have told me it's torque converter judder and it's a normal characteristic of the vehicle. I've researched torque converted judder problems and feel there has to be a solution, yet Honda more than likely doesn't want to absorb the cost of repairs as this problem is occurring in many of it's Pilots. On this web site the issue was also reported in the 2012 vehicles. There are also many other owners voicing their displeasure with this problems on other websites. . Read more...

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I have a 2005 Honda Pilot sometime shuddering between 30-40 mph. To make the shudder stop, I press or release the accelerator briefly. After checking on line about this problems with over 300 complaints. They all state that the torque converter cause the vibration. Honda still not recall. Couple of times someone almost rear end me. Please look into this problem.

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To start off I bought my Pilot used from Honda with about 83,000 miles on it a year ago. When I drive my car at a steady 30mph to 45mph it shutters and makes noises as if I'm driving over road turtles. It's very violent until I let off the accelerator. I talked to Honda and they said it was the torque converter. I asked if it had been recalled and they told me there had never been a recall for the transmission. I know that's not true and they won't do anything about it. It's mine and my wife's only car right now. It's a serious issue that is very unsafe for my family and could cause a crash. There faulty transmission puts my families life in danger every time we drive it. Honda should take care of us free of cost do to there defective parts that are not because of normal wear. They also should have never sold us the Pilot without fixing the known faulty transmission. I believe it's illegal by federal law to sell it knowing there is a faulty transmission and recall with out addressing it and fixing it.

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A few thousand miles after purchase of my 2012 Honda Pilot touring, I began to experience drive train vibration issues. The vibration was most noticable between 40-45 mph but also noticable at other speeds. It is related to the eco mode and the vtm. The vibration grows worse as the drive train is put under load just before it shifts out of eco mode. The vibration is not noticable when the vehicle is not in eco mode and engaging all 6 cylinders. I contacted my dealership and test drove it with the service manager who also experienced the vibrations. My dealership contacted Honda techs and was initially told it was the torque converter. I scheduled another appointment with the dealership to replace the torque converter. Computer data was collected from the vehicle and sent to Honda. At that time, they determined not to replace the converter and instead replaced the propeller shaft. The vibration issues continued. I scheduled another appointment with the dealership and test drove a 2013 Pilot. It had the same issues. My dealership again contacted Honda techs and was finally told that the vibrations are inherent in the vehicle and that there are no plans to correct the issue. I contacted Honda directly to complain about the issue and request a schedule to correct the problem. A case manager was assigned to my complaint, and I received a return call. When I complained about the vibrations, I was informed that they were a "symptom" of the vtm. When I asked why I did not experience the same issues when not in eco mode, it was repeated that it was a "symptom" of the vtm. Honda acknowledges a vtm "symptom", but will not discuss it in any more detail. I am cncerned about the long term affects on the drive train and drivability of the vehicle. I won't allow my family to drive the vehicle for fear of catstrophic failure leaving them stranded on the roadside.

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My 2012 Honda Pilot ex-l has had issues with vibration when driving at consistent speeds between 40-50 and 60-70 (I. E. Not accelerating). Local dealer initially tried to update control software with no impact, then replaced the torque converter under warranty, also with no impact. Honda service manager now says that this is a known issue with the variable cylinder management program that is designed to increase fuel economy - and the only way to correct this is to drive with the overdrive turned off (thereby significantly lowering fuel economy). The vibration can be best described as a sort of "stuttering" that typically occurs during highway driving while moving at a consistent speed, almost as if it were misfiring and goes away once the accelator is pushed harder, only to return once consistent speeds are again reached. The issue has been non-stop since purchase in January 2012, and the vehicle now has approximately 55,000 miles. Had Honda initially explained the issue I would have applied for the north carolina lemon law program, but instead they were less than up front about a known issue.

Driving home from the dealer in a brand new 2012 Honda Pilot, 4wd, ex-l w/res on 6/26/12. At approximately 62 to 65 mph the transmission is lurching as it appears to be shifting back and forth between 4th and 5th gear. This causes a jerking motion and can be felt in the steering. Took vehicle back to dealer on 6/28/12 and a Honda technician drove the vehicle as I was in the passenger seat. The technician confirmed the issue and indicated it was exactly as I had described. He says this is a known problem but there is no fix. He said it's due to the torque converter. He said it is the same on the odyssey models but Honda released some software updates but they weren't successful. He said if it happens just speed up or slow down (he really said this). He said if Honda releases any software updates they'll contact me. Wow.

I have noticed when my Pilot gets below 50 mph it gets a shuddering to it (not always but most times driving in the city), almost like its driving over a washboard. During a visit to the dealership I talked to another Honda Pilot owner who was experiencing the same thing but the dealership could not tell her what the issue was. So after more investigating she took it to a non-Honda repair person who told her the problem lies with the torque converter and to use a product called shudder fixx. My question is if Honda is having these complaints why are they not fixing this issue and still selling these vehicles with this problem? I love my Honda other than that, but feel this is a defect in the workmanship.

Transmission shudder between 35-40 mph. This is a well known problem that is caused by a failing torque converter.

Highway driving, vehicle suddenly lurched forward after an engine hesitation (heard a loud noise, passenger thought the vehicle had hit something. . . Felt under passenger side footwell. ) drove home, next day there were problems getting the vehicle into reverse. Again, it lurched into reverse and made a loud noise. Immediately taken to dealership with only one "racing" engine noise at 35mph. Diagnosed with code #p0740 (torque converter) requiring complete transmission replacement. Vehicle is original owner/all recommended service at correct time intervals (including a double transmission service done at 60,000 and 77,000) no paperwork indicating 2004 recall service was done, however dealership insists it was completed (they're still looking for paperwork. ) only major repair: $1100 repair done 82,400 - leaking transmission fluid (replaced front pump seal, o-ring on converter and rear main) now, 2200 miles later, transmission is out and must be replaced. Dealership quoting $5200 (not including labor), after discussions with Honda they have offered to cover 40% of repair price (not including labor). I had a reasonable expectation that the transmission would last longer than 87,000 miles, considering the regular maintenance and safe driving record. Thankfully, I have all repair/service paperwork and will be going to bbb arbitration, as suggested in the Honda warranty handbook. Also, extremely thankful there was no accident/injury/death related to this severe transmission issue (had I been at full highway speed, 65mph, the outcome may not have been so positive when the vehicle's transmission hesitated and then surged. ).

See all problems of the 2003 Honda Pilot 🔎.

There is a shuddering in the transmission that is getting worse over time. It seems to be happening around 35-40 mph. I have changed the fluid, and spoke to numerous mechanics, and they all seem to just blow it off . Or say they never heard of it before. But while reading the forums on the internet, there are many people who are experiencing the same issue with these vehicles and similar vehicles with the same drive trains. This should be investigated for a recall of the transmission or torque converter before someone gets killed.

My 2004 Honda Pilot has a shuddering sound when I go above around 35 miles an hour. It is very intermittent but can be loud. My local dealer said they had to get a Honda engineer out to look at it and it is verified to be the torque converter. This seems to be a very common issue researching it here and on the internet. I am frustrated that Honda has not recalled these knowing that it is such a wide sweeping issue with Pilots.

Vehicle almost stalled in a busy intersection,check engine light came on and vehicle engine was revving at a high rpm. Had a friend check the code with a scanner which came back with code po740 -torque converter solenoid circuit. I think this is a safety issue and should be covered by the manufacturer. It's just a matter of time before someone gets killed because of this issue. Called american Honda and said there were no recalls on this issue and did not offer any suggestions. Did a search on the internet and found I was not the only person having this issue. Very disappointed with Honda - will not be buying any Honda product in the future.

I took my Honda Pilot to the Honda dealership because the d light was flashing. They found code p1740 indicating a 4th pressure switch failure. I received an estimate for $5,109 + tax to replace the transmission and torque converter. I discovered the recall issued for the transmission on the 2003-2004 Honda Pilots, but when I called Honda, I was told that there was no recall for my vehicle for the transmission. My vehicle is having the same problem that is described in the recall, so I do not understand why Honda would deny servicing my vehicle in accordance with the recall.

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle would violently shake while driving approximately 40 mph and above. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 100,700. Updated 02/22/lj the consumer stated the torque converter needed to be replaced. Updated 03/01/12.

When the vehicle gets to about 30 mph you feel a shudder in the transmission. After momentarily losing inertia, the vehicle is able to increase speed and continue without hesitation. I've had the dealer check it and they think it may be a faulty torque converter. This has been ongoing for a number of years.

I am an owner of a 2004 Honda Pilot with 123000 miles and have been experiencing an automatic transmission/torque converter shudder/vibration that occurs between 30-50 mph. The vibration began occurring at about 98,000 miles. At speeds of 30-50mph the vibration occurs under light acceleration and continues until I either push down harder on the gas pedal or let off it completely. I researched the issue on the internet and have found numerous similar complaints on Honda vehicle owner forums. Apparently this problem is due to a defective transmission that is similar to the one on the Honda made Acura and has been the subject of an Acura recall. The defect will ultimately result in a vehicle safety hazard when the transmission fails. Even though my vehicle is no longer under warranty, the transmission problem is a result of a defective part rather than normal wear and tear and Honda should issue a recall or initiate an owner notification/resolution program to prevent potential harm to passengers when the transmission fails on the road. This is a dangerous defect that should be publicly adressed by Honda.

I would be driving in the 30 mph range and the vehicle would start to shudder when changing gears. The distraction causes me to stop in traffic and suddenly pull over. Pohanka Honda in salisbury, MD states it is a bad torque converter. There are hundreds of complaint about this issue on the internet about the 2005 Honda Pilot, but complaints reflect there was no recall. Now I am out of warranty. If I am not contacting the correct entity, please refer me. Thank you.

Transmission going bad. Dealer says it is a bad torque converter and could be a safety issue if it locks up while moving. It appears that there are a lot of these issues with the Honda Pilot.

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that when driving approximately 45-70 mph he noticed that the vehicle would start to shutter. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they advised the contact that what he was feeling was normal for the vehicle. After the diagnosis the owner stated that he believed that the failure was due to the torque converter. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 30. The VIN was unavailable.

2005 Honda Pilot with 58,000 miles has transmission shutter at 25 to 40 mph under light throttle. Has had all services done with factory fluids and filters since I bought the vehicle new. Looking at the searchs some say it's torque converter and other have replaced complete transmission. Dealer told me the other day Pilots don't have these problems but the odyssey have the issue. So I asked how much to fix the problem and he said $ 2000. 00 . Well iam glad that I bought the factory extended warranty and have a year left of warranty an iam making a appt, to have it repaired before the warranty runs out. Honda should recall the transmissions like they did on the Acura mdx since they both have the same power train.

The vehicle in question, a 2005 Honda Pilot ex shudders at or between 35 to 40 mph. It has almost cost me to lose control and possibly my life. This is a "known" torque converter problem to Honda,yet they refuse to address their negligence. Sudden,unexpected braking,without brake application is terrifying and also due to manufacturing defects. The steering controls often veer to the right without any apparent cause.

This vehicle make has a serious safety issue. Many times I have been in heavy traffic and had to make an emergency negotiation of the roadway to avoid being involved in a major collision. The Honda Pilot's automatic transmission slips out of drive, into neutral, with no warning and at varying speeds. This problem has been ongoing for two years. It happens at slow speeds (I. E. 25 mph and also at highway speeds 65-70 mph). Transmission fluid has been power flushed and filled by an ase certified dealer. Fluid was noticiably dark. Mechanic thought the problem is a combination torque converter lock-up issue as well as a transmission issue. Honda states that this vehicle was serviced for a factory transmission problem recall, however, this was prior to me purchasing the vehicle.

Tl the contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contacted was driving 30 mph when the vehicle started shaking as the gears were shifted into a higher gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated they could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was then taken to a local mechanic who inspected the vehicle and advised that the torque converter was defective. The manufacturer was notified of the failure who advised the contact to take the vehicle toa second dealer for further inspection. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 122,000. Kmj.

While driving at a steady speed of 35-45 mph the car experiences shuddering for about 5 seconds at irregular intervals. It sounds and feels like it is coming from the front of the vehicle, perhaps on the driver side and at first I thought it may be bad wheel bearings. Those turned out to be fine. I took it to a repair shop who said it needed the rear differential serviced. That did not stop the shuddering. Subsequent research has shown that the Honda Pilot / Acura mdx with the 3. 5l v6 in the 2003 - 2008(?) range experience this problem on a large scale, resulting from a faulty torque converter. Nhtsa item number 10022468 addresses this problem specific to the 2003-2004 Acura mdx but my experience and that of hundreds of Honda Pilot / Acura mdx owners shows that the issue is much broader in scope.

My 2003 Honda Pilot with 76000 miles has started to make a vibration and noise while travelling at a steady speed anywhere between 30 - 50 miles per hour. The dealer says that it could be a problem with the torque converter but he is not sure. At times the sound is faint and often times it is quite loud. The dealer is quoting around $2100 to fix it. When I researched on the internet, I found quite a few people with the same complaint. Honda needs to issue a recall.

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 38 mph, the vehicle began to shake and became hesitant when shifting between gears. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the transmission would need to be flushed. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to the mechanic, who informed the contact that the rotors were warped and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was then informed that the torque converter would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.

Last year our Honda Pilot began occasionally having a shuddering sound, like driving over a metal grate. This would occur when decelerating slightly around 40 mph. Over the past year this has begun to occur regularly rather than occasionally and for a longer duration and louder. Now the d light has begun flashing. From research I am expecting to find that the transmission is failing due to torque converter problems.

2005 Honda Pilot. Shuddered & vibrated at 40 mph starting at around 70-75k miles. Determined that it was a defective torque converter known to Honda but no recall. Issue led to complete transmission failure on highway and replacement of entire tranmission, torque converter .

I have a shuttering noise when I accelerate between 30-40 mph. I complained about this to the dealer prior to expiration of the extended warranty, when I took it in for a window switch problem. They told me they did not hear any noise. To my dismay, the problem progressed and became worse, so now after the expiration of the extended warranty (8/8/11), took it back to the dealer and said it was the torque converter on the transmission. They stated they can fix it for over $5000. 00 even though I complained about it previously. Their are many complaints about this online, I have since found over 300 complaints about this issue with the Honda Pilots and Honda is aware of the issue but does not want to help fix this problem. Apparently, Honda tried to cut costs and put a transmission in that could not accommodate the weight and size of the vehicle - this is coming from 3 different mechanics and a junk yard owner. Also the parts are so hard to come by if you try to get done cheaper by an outside mechanic. The Honda dealers are the only ones who are able to get the parts faster. Thus creating a monopoly. I have researched this thoroughly and you too can find a lot of dissatisfied owners that had or having the exact same issue with Honda. Please look into this. We should not have to pay for this problem with so many people having the same issue. Thank you.

My 2004 Honda Pilot has a shudder at 30 mph. It feels as though you are driving over the rumble strips. I am starting to experience poor shifts at other speeds now as well. I understand that the problem is most likely the result of a faulty torque converter. Repairs include replacing the torque converter and the transmission as well as updating the pcm. Honda recalled over a million 2003/2004 Pilots but my VIN is just passed the last VIN recalled. However, there are many 2005 Pilot owners experiencing the exact same failure. Acura also issued a service bulletin that repairs the faulty components for all 2003 and 2004 mdx owners (inside and outside of warranty). Honda should take responsibility for the failed transmissions in the later 2004 Pilots and 2005 years as well.

Bought a 2005 Honda Pilot based on past historical high reliability reviews of Honda vehicles. Very disappointed. Around 75000 miles, vehicle began to shudder like driving over a washboard road when lightly accelerating 30-40 mph. First thought out of balance tire, rebalanced tires. Still didn't solve problem, bought new tires, rebalanced and aligned. Problem still existed. Began to research online and very disappointed to find this is a very common problem with the tranny, torque converter, and/or transmission coolant failure. Took to dealer, diagnosed as bad torque converter, $2000. Dealer does not plan to cover, I plan on taking up with NHTSA and Honda America.

We are having issues with our 2004 Honda Pilot. We took it to the dealership where after charging us for each and evry item to find the problem. They have concluded it is the torque converter. We have just over 70,000 miles and our certified warranty expired in January 2011. The worst is that our extended warranty is basically worthless. Glas we paid for that one.

I own a 2004 Honda Pilot which was purchased new and has been well maintained with 106000 miles and have been experiencing an automatic transmission/torque converter shudder/vibration that occurs between 35-45 mph. The vibration began occurring at about 90,000 miles. At speeds of 35-45 mph the vibration occurs under light acceleration and continues until I either push down harder on the gas pedal or let off it completely. Research on the internet thru NHTSA has found 43 similar complaints. Apparently this problem is due to a defective torque converter or automatic transmission that is similar to the one on the Honda-made Acura and has been the subject of an Acura recall. The defect will ultimately result in a vehicle safety hazard when the transmission fails. My Honda Pilot is no longer under warranty. The transmission problem is a result of a defective part rather than normal wear and tear and Honda should issue a recall or initiate an owner notification and goodwill consideration for transmission replacement to prevent potential harm to passengers when the transmission fails on the road. Average cost to the customer for such a repair is between $3,000-$5,000 according to the complaints filed. This is a dangerous defect that should be publicly addressed by Honda and should not be a burden that Honda customers should bear.

I have a 2005 Honda Pilot with 57,000 miles on it that I just recently bought. I am having concerns about the torque converter I have been researching about. My car will accelerate in the 32-45 mph window and then the rpm needle will jump back down to a lower rpm. Alot of the jumping needle is happening. The car will shudder at these speeds and will feel as if the transmission is letting up when I get to these speeds, hence the rpm needle coming back down. The car has already gone in for work on the relay switch which was shorting the car out briefly when I was driving.

Shudder in transmission; torque converter problem. This occurs at 1500 to 2000 rpm and around 35 to 40 mph. Honda dealer wanted $4500 to replace both the torque converter and transmission.