Honda Pilot owners have reported 44 unknown or other related problems since 1996. Table 1 shows the 1 most common unknown or other problems. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's unknown or other (44 problems). For details of each of the problem category, use the links in the table.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other problems |
Pulled vehicle into a service shop. Turned off vehicle and removed key from ignition to take key off ring for technician. Vehicle was not in park but still in drive even though I was able to remove key. A minute after leaving vehicle car rolled down slight incline and into and across 3 lanes of busy 40mph traffic. Two vehicles slammed on their brakes amazingly missing broadsiding the vehicle. A second change in the timing would have certainly resulted in three car accident and potentially serious injuries.
My Honda often gets the engine light turn on and then a few days later the light is off. . When the engine light turns on, I had taken it to dealer in which they update microsoft but it comes back again. The dealer runs the car into the computer and doesnt find anything wrong with engine or nothing else. . But the light turns on and off often. .
I recently purchased a 2012 Honda Pilot to replace a 2010 Pilot that had some uncharacteristic issues. Weeks after driving it off the lot, I began to notice a noise when the ac fan kicked on. I took the Pilot to the dealership and was told this was just the sound the fan makes when it kicks on. For those who have experienced this issue, they know this sound is anything but normal. It is a quite loud whining noise that changes it's pitch while you are sitting idol with the ac on. A second issue I have seen is the vibration when driving at a constant speed. The Pilot drives well when increasing or decreasing speed, but a constant speed causes a vibration similar to that of a manual transmission vehicle running in too high of gear. This issue is terribly annoying and the only way to avoid is to constantly change your speed. Both of the issues can be found in reports online with a consistent answer: Honda knows about the issues but has no current fix. I wish I had never bought this vehicle. Two Pilots at this point and no luck. There needs to be a recall on these issues and support from Honda.
Tailgate would not stay open and when coming down would not stop even if you were leaning in to retrieve something. The rear hatch struts failed and there is no safety mechanism to prevent the tailgate from closing when the struts fail,.
Apparently I did not place the car in park but was able to take the keys out of the ignition. Left the car and when I came back to the car, the car had rolled backward and crashed into bushes which stopped the car. This has happened to me twice. I now make sure I engage the parking brake to make sure the car does not roll.
I had taken my 2007 Honda Pilot ex 4wd to my local Honda dealership service center to have the a/c unit looked at because my air conditioning system was blowing hot air. The Honda service technician had called me back a few hours later to report a hole on my condenser that was not repairable and required to be replaced. This repair by Honda is apparently not covered under Honda care warranty. On the Honda care website, it clearly shows that the condenser is covered under warranty repair. There is no "fine print" indicating otherwise. Honda claims that the damage was due to a "foreign object" like a rock or pebble while the vehicle was in motion. I strongly believe there is a serious design flaw with the vehicle. The front grill is an open design that exposes the radiator and a/c condenser unit. It is very clear that while the vehicle is in motion, there is the strong possibility that any "foreign object" can hit that are. Honda had quoted me at $700+ dollars on the cost of the repair. I believe that this is absolutely ridiculous that the repair cost must fall on the consumer to pay out of pocket expenses on a repair that is clearly not at fault of any driver and is due to a design flaw on the vehicle. I would like the NHTSA to investigate this matter. I've done some research and apparently there is already a class action lawsuit involving the 2004-2007 Honda odyssey vehicle lineup that has a very similar issue with an open front grill design.
There is a design flaw in the 2010 Honda Pilot in which the condenser in placed within a position that is vulnerable to contact from rocks, pebbles, and other road debris during normal driving conditions on paved roadways, and that Honda failed to design the vehicle either to withstand this impact or with a guard or grill that would protect the condenser despite the "clear vulnerability" of the condenser to this debris contact. On may 11, 2012, a pebble flew up from the roadway and entered the condenser therefore destroying it. Honda has admitted that this is a design flaw that was solved with their 2011 and 2012 models of the Honda Pilot.
Two days after purchase of the vehicle, the vehicle has rough idle upon start and stalls. This has happened three times in three days. Honda has no fix for the problem at this time. Honda advised they are not aware of the problem, yet I was able to find NHTSA reports that involve the same problem.
Driving and noted motor not running good. Looked down at temperature and say overheating past the h mark. No warning lamp on. Got out found spill of gray fluid under engine. Oil level ok but trany fluid dry. Tow to garage. Working on it . States failure of tranmission cooler located in radiator that sucked out trany fluid into radiator and out of overflow. No warning at all of problem at all. Not sure yet if transmission damaged. Right now over$12oo oo repair bill to replace radiator and flush all out. Wanted this vehicle for at least 200,000 miles. Maint. Up to date and well maintained.
The rear door/hatch of our 2006 Honda Pilot has an issue with the latching mechanism. The actual mechanism on the rear hatch has become “disconnected� from the frame and is able to move freely about. This causes the rear hatch to not latch, latch partially, or latch but still allow the rear hatch to slightly move. The latching mechanism is only being held in place (in a confined area) by the plastic paneling of the car. Since the latch is no longer attached to the frame, the movement of the mechanism determines if the rear hatch is going to latch or not. When it is latched, the only item securing the mechanism is the plastic paneling. The mechanism itself is not defective or broken however; the way the mechanism has been secured seems to be the issue. The most concerning aspect is how a door latch mechanism could become disconnected and allow for an incident to possibly occur.
The ignition interlock mechanism on our 2003 Honda Pilot ex failed allowing the ignition key to be removed when the shift lever was not in park thereby allowing the vehicle to roll away. I reported the issue to u. S. Honda (case # n012011-12-1500395) who said the issue was rare for that vehicle therefore no recall has been issued covering the defect. Whan researching the defect, I noted that a recall has been issued for the 2003 Honda accord, civic and element models for precisely the same problem.
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.
I drove up a steep drive way, I heard a grinding noise and my car stopped without me touching the brakes. I didn't know what was going on, so I put the car in neutral and put it back into drive and it seemed to be ok for the moment. I dropped my daughter off at a class and I proceeded to run a couple of errands. About one mile from where the stopping started the car did it again. It is like I slammed on the brakes but, I was not even touching the brakes at all. It proceeded to get worse and worse. The slamming on the brakes would happen every few feet. I was able to drive slowly to a nearby garage. The said I had a rear axel broken. We had the repairs done and the car seemed ok for a couple of months. Yesterday, 1-10-12 as I was taking my daughter to school I drove about . 5 of a mile in our neighborhood and after I stopped at a light and started to accelerate the car did it again. This time my vsa light came on. We took it to a nearby garage and they said the vsa module needed to be reset. We picked up the car and it drove around 2 miles and it was fine then later in the day we backed out of the garage and the car started to slam on the brakes again about one house away. It wouldn't stop it did it over and over every few feet. We called a tow truck to come take it back to the garage.
My vehicle is leaking water to the interior, like a number of other Honda owners. Honda is not doing anything about it. . . And it will eventually lead to electrical failure because of moisture on critical electrical parts in the steering column.
2004 hoda Pilot shakes when you brake on the highway going over 50 mph. The steering wheel also shakes when you go around a curve at 40 mph or more.
Motor mounts broken at 60,000 miles.
On my 2004 Honda Pilot, the srs (airbag) warning indicator light on the dashboard mysteriously remains on even though there have been no other changes to the vehicle. The Honda dealer wants $80 just to look at it! this is outrageous; it's clearly a failed component that should be covered under the safety portion of the vehicle's warrantee for the lifetime of the vehicle. There are many other Honda owners who have experienced this warning light and they report it is nearly always a failed passenger seat sensor that Honda is replacing under a TSB; however my local dealer claims to know nothing of the TSB and want me to pay for this.
The rear passager window shattered, riding down the highway. I was in the far left lane. My two year old daughter was covered in broken glass.
My 2005 Honda Pilot brakes have automatically seized up a total of 5 times in the last year but 4 times in the last 3 weeks (may 2012). All 4 times it has happened have been at low speeds (10-20 mph, thankfully!!!) and within 5 minutes of starting up after it has sat for an extended period of time. I have taken it into the Honda dealer twice in the past three weeks (may 2012) the day after it occurred and both times they could not duplicate or find a problem. The first three times the vsa light came on but no code tripped in the computer system. The last two times it happened no dashboard indication occurred. It occurred 3 weeks ago, 1 week ago and yesterday back to back so the problem seems to be intensifying. So far, for a temporary fix, I have turned off the car and restarted it and the problem seems to stop for a while. As mentioned previously, yesterday the brakes seized up as I was driving but no dash indication came on. Because I was in the middle of an intersection, once the brakes released, I a decided to drive forward to try and get it out of the intersection only to have them seize up again about 100 meters later. I quickly turned off the car and restarted it and was able to safely return home where it sits currently.
I have had multiple problems with the vehicle cranking / starting. It is an intermittent problem, but is very frustrating and I am concerned that it could lead to larger problems. The vehicle is 1 year old with 11,000 miles on it and should not be having these problems. My wife and I have been experiencing the starting problems since the 1st month of ownership (new). It has been in for service 4 times (3 times to the dealership where I purchased it and once to another dealership). One dealer has updated the software and made another timing update, but neither dealer has been able to fix the problem.
Defective shift interlock allowed the ignition key to be removed while vehicle was parked and left in gear. The unoccupied vehicle rolled approximately twenty feet, coming to rest after contacting a parked vehicle (vehicle #2). Owner of vehicle #2 was loading bags into her trunk and was warned by a bystander to get out of the way- which prevented her from being hit by the rolling vehicle. No injuries were reported, and damage to the vehicles was negligible. Police were called and they responded. Information was exchanged between the vehicle operators. It should be noted that this defect was the subject of a recall for other Honda vehicles (accord, civic, others) in late 2010.
The car stalls when it is in motion. Each time the car stalls, I bring it to the dealer. The 1st time it happened the car was 5 days old. I was driving on the highway. 2nd time I had gone through the ezpass lane and the car stalled. The 3rd time I was driving an express route. The 4th time I was making a left turn and the car stalled in the middle of the turn. The 5th time I was at a traffic light. The 5th time is the only time the car wasn't in motion. Each time I bring it in to the dealership--where I purchased the car brand new, cannot find the problem. Because the dealership's mechanics cannot duplicate or find a problem they don't know what to fix. Twice they've replaced sensors.
Our 2010 Honda Pilot has had to have the front passenger side wheel bearing replaced at only 15746 miles. Had we not taken it to the dealer in a timely manner when we noticed the problem. We may have been involved in a crash. The wheel bearing keeps the wheel turning and had it "burnt up" as we were told, the wheel would have locked up on us. We feel that no vehicle with only 15k miles on it should be replacing a wheel bearing.
2006 Honda Pilot-severe interior leak in front passenger side floorboard, extending to driver's side floorboard. Unknown how long this has been occurring. The carpet is saturated. The carpet pad underneath is also saturated. Mildew, mold and body rust will develop. Honda issued service bulletin (07-010) for this problem on Feb. 8, 2007. Dealer disclaims any responsibility for service bulletin work, due to outside of their 3 year window. No accidents/ vehicle damage prior to finding soaked carpet. Regular maintenance done per manufacturer's schedule. Vehicle still under extended warranty. Lack of notice about service bulletin can lead to mold issues, by extension to respiratory issues. Honda can prevent this potential problem by notifiying owners, not waiting for them to discover saturated, soaked, and in some instances frozen carpet inside the car.
2005 Honda Pilot with leak under passenger floor after it rains. Taken to dealer, replaced seals around doors. Took car home, it rained, floor soaking wet. Called dealer, brought car back, water test done. Could not located leak but floor of car was soaking wet after water test. Dealer said definite leak in the car but couldn't be fixed until they located source. Searched internet for problem. . . . Seems a lot of other Honda owners are experiencing the same problem. Honda corporate claims they know nothing about this but have opened a claim for me and will investigate. Extended warranty not good on this problem according to Honda.
My husband had 3 episodes of surging while exiting highways over the past year or so in my 2006 Honda Pilot. Each time he had to put the car in neutral to stop it. After driving at sustained speed on a highway, I slowed to pull off at the exit ramp, which was an incline, and the car suddenly surged forward, the engine made a sound as if it were racing and the car would not stop even with putting my right foot on the pedal and applying all the strength of both feet. I put the car in neutral and it did stop, but the engine continued to roar. The floor mat was not impeding the accelerator and the accelerator was not pushed down, it was in the proper position. The local Honda dealer examined the car and found nothing wrong - no codes had been triggered. We had yet another event with my husband driving this time about a month later, and myself and two other witnesses in the car. Honda had a regional parts and service manager examine the car after the second event and he found nothing wrong. I told him that I was frightened and very disappointed that they were not doing something more to find and remedy the problem. A Honda customer service supervisor then contacted me to review the events and told me he would take the issue "to the engineers" because it was very unusual that 2 drivers would experience the same problem if it was driver error. He called back and told me that the engineers (who did not look at the car) said it was a problem called bridging, where you accidently put your foot on the gas pedal while braking. He did not address why neither one of us had ever experience "bridging" the first few years that we owned the car, when we both had driven it extensively at highway speeds. The car has 52k miles on it currently. This is a very dangerous problem and someone needs to deal with it before people are killed. I know that I did not have my foot on the brake and the gas pedal at the same time and neither did my husband.
Shuddering of vehicle when accelerating. Transmission problems.
On-board diagnostic system information code p0740 on 10/24/2009 at 110,326 miles and again on 09/15/2011 at 162,313 miles. Dealer replaced 4th gear pressure switch at ~$265 each occurrence. Transmission replacement was also a proposed option. This is a widespread problem which is demonstrated after warranty expiration and there is no Honda recall or technical service bulletin that addresses this. Buyers rarely receive financial assistance from Honda. The recall no. P30 does not cover all the vehicles that exhibit this problem. Transmission failure during operation would likely cause injury to both person and property.
The paint started peeling about a year and a half ago (oct, '09) on the right passenger door of my 2004 midnight blue pearl Honda Pilot, at first in such a small area I considered its cause to be the occasional 'flying rock ding'. Then it stated peeling on the right rear fender approximately a year ago, and I began to take more notice. About three months ago it started peeling off in large sheets on multiple areas on the car (two passenger doors, rear fender, tailgate). I contacted american Honda, and although the local agent admitted that there was a problem with the midnight blue pearl paint mixture used on the 2004 odysseys (and hence, the extended warranty on that color paint on the odysseys), there was "no bulletin" on the Honda Pilots and therefore, nothing would be done.
Ignition locked up. The car could not be shut off. The key could not be removed from the ignition. Dealer wanted $900 to fix the problem. S.
Started at approx. 70,000 miles. Car shutters/vibrates (as though going over a soft rumble strip) when going approx. 45 mph. Stops once I let off gas or accelerate. Initially happened only once in a while. Now it happens consistently.
Loud popping noise coming from rear speaker when starting the vehicle. On and off for years now.
Driving my 2003 Honda Pilot with approx 40k miles. Was driving at highway speeds when I heard a single thump. Looked in the rearview mirror and saw a tire bouncing 20-30 feet in the air with cars behind me on the highway swerving wildly to avoid the tire. It bounced 3-4 times and then went off the highway into a ravine. I pulled off the highway and found that my spare tire had broken free and dropped onto the highway. I had to sit for 15 minutes because I was so shaken thinking that it could have caused a major highway accident. The spare had never been used or lowered from the car. Dealer reported that the steel lift cable had just broken.
When I brake on a decline, so far as I have only owned the '06 Honda Pilot for a week, something appears to move from under the car, moves forward making a large colliding sound. Honda does not know how to address the issue.
1)fuel gauge inoperable 3 weeks after purchasing the vehicle (always reads empty). Attempt # 3 to correct problem scheduled tomorrow. 2) popping /crackling noise from rubber gaskets at doors. Service people say it is normal, however many complaints from others on the net.
Sustained vibration when driving at speeds about 45 to 75 mph. Multiple trips to dealer, was told this is a "characteristic of the vehicle". Started the first day I drove the vehicle off the lot with 50 miles on it.
Vehicle: Honda Pilot 2005 ex-l, purchased on 12/2004 whenever I drive my Honda Pilot I have pain in my right ear. A week from today, I stopped by my dealer and test drove the exact same model from the dealer, and I did not have nay pain in my ear. I went to see an (ear, nose and throat specialist, and according to my doctor, I have no problem with my ear at all. Doctor suggested there could be some kind of chemical in my car that probably caused some reaction in my ear. I have a Honda, accord that I drive regularly, I do not have any ear problem with Honda accord.
Frame and structure tends to shake and make noise whenever vehicle is driven at about 50 mph. The noise sounds like a helicopter over the vehicle. The consumer was told that was how the vehicle was designed.
The consumer received a recall for an air bag adjustment.
Concerns involving 2003 Honda Pilot recalls.
The accelerator pedal sticks. When the applied the accelerator the vehicle did not respond as it should. The owner has taken the vehicle to the dealer and all they would do is spray the pedal with silicone. They also said that this function is normal for this vehicle. The problem was said to be due to carbon build up. The steering made a clicking and or groaning sound when making left turns as if the transmission was slipping. The noise was near the rear differential.
When driving through standing water more than 3" deep, instead of the water being diverted out and away from the vehicle, it is diverted as a massive wall of water onto the windshield. It is necessary to immediately brake, as vision is 100% obstructed. This has happened on 3 different days. Twice it was during heavy rain, where water was pooling by the curb, but was not yet over the curb. Once it was during dry weather, but there was a deep puddle of water in a low spot in the road. In all 3 situations it posed a significant safety hazard, as we could not react to traffic situations ahead of us and had to come to a stop until the windshield drained. The windshield wipers were overwhelmed by the amount of water thrown on the windshield.
Consumer question about 2005 Honda Pilot recalls. Consumer would like to know if her vehicle is included in the two recalls for the fuel tank and the misalignment of the steering column.
2003 Honda Pilot.