2003 Honda Pilot Complaint Log

TRANSMISSION BEGINNING TO GO BAD. A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2003 HONDA PILOT. HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO MOTOR MOUNTS GOING BAD. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 137,000 MILES ON IT AND IT VIBRATES SOMEWHERE AROUND 35-45 MPH. MY MECHANIC RECOMMENDED WE HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED AS HE HAS SEEN 3 OR 4 OTHER PILOTS DO THE SAME THING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES TO THE POINT WHERE I JUST GOT USED TO IT. WITH THE THOUGHT OF A NEW TRANSMISSION LOOMING, I DECIDED TO SEARCH IF OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE AND AM SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE DEALT WITH THIS. I HAVE BEEN A HONDA OWNER ALL MY DRIVING LIFE AND SEEING THIS ISSUE SO PROMINENT DEFINITELY MAKES ME RETHINK ANOTHER ONE. I DO HOPE HONDA WILL RECTIFY THIS BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS. *TR

OWNER OF 2003 HONDA PILOT. ABOUT A YEAR AGO "D" LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON THE CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT NO PROBLEMS FOUND. ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATTER, CAR STARTED HESITATING WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND - 3RD GEAR. WENT BACK TO DEALER AND TOLD THAT NO PROBLEMS FOUND WITH TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM BECAME WORST AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AT ABOUT 30 MPH. I WOULD HAVE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT BACK IN GEAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THIS TIME THEY FLUSHED THE TRANS FLUID AND SAID THAT THIS SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WELL IT DIDN'T. NOW THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND IT WILL COST ME $3221.79 TO REPLACE THE TRANS (THIS IS AFTER THE $1,300.00 THAT HONDA CORP AGREED TO PAY). I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HONDA WOULD TAKE SO LONG TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I FIRST COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY CONVERTIBLE CHILD RESTRAINT COMES EQUIPPED WITH A LATCH STRAP WITH A STATED LIMIT OF 80 LBS (SUPERLATCH). WHEN I INSTALL THE SEAT USING THE SUPERLATCH STRAP, I AM REPEATEDLY FINDING THAT WITHIN TWO DAYS OF NORMAL USE, THE INSTALLATION BECOMES SIGNIFICANTLY LOOSER-SOMETIMES AS MUCH AS 2-3 INCHES OF MOVEMENT. AS A CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE SEAT IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND TIGHTLY TO BEGIN WITH. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON REPORTING THIS FOR THIS SEAT. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE SUPERLATCH CLIP/HOOK MECHANISM COME DETACHED FROM MY VEHICLE'S LATCH ANCHOR BARS SEVERAL TIMES, DESPITE HEARING AN AUDIBLE CLICK WHEN INSTALLING THE SEAT AND PULLING ON THE STRAP TO ENSURE PROPER ATTACHMENT AT THE TIME ON INSTALLATION. THE SUPERLATCH STRAP ADJUSTER IS FAILING TO MAINTAIN TIGHTNESS AND THE CONNECTORS ARE NOT REMAINING SECURELY ATTACHED TO THE LATCH BARS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE UNACCEPTABLE. THE MANUFACTURER'S "SOLUTION" IS TO INSTALL WITH THE VEHICLE BELT AND/OR REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SUPERLATCH STRAP WITH A STANDARD 40-48 LB LATCH STRAP. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2010, MAKE=NISSAN, MODEL=SENTRA). *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) HAS A SHUDDER IN THE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN 29-49 MPH. THE SHUDDER WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE ODOMETER HAD ABOUT 130K MILES. WE WERE TOLD TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, BUT WE HAD RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT HONDA DEALER. IF YOU EASE OFF THE GAS THE SHUDDER WILL STOP. IT ONLY LASTS FOR A FEW SECONDS, BUT IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE SHAKE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. A WELL MAINTAINED HONDA VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE NEEDING ITS TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 130K MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WOULD LOCK ABNORMALLY AND WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO INSERT THE KEY, HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OVER AND THE WHEELS WOULD REMAIN LOCKED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WOULD SPORADICALLY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT HE WOULD ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SO THAT THE KEY WOULD FIT INTO THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS THE ORIGINAL KEY PROVIDED WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

STEERING RACK FAILURE 2003 HONDA PILOT. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 HONDA PILOT. I HAD THIS PROBLEM IN JUNE 2010. ON A MODERATE UPHILL CLIMB, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 35 MPH AND I FELT VIBRATION AND SHAKING. FROM A STANDING STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE 2ND GEAR, AND THEN AGAIN BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE 3RD GEAR. THE PROBLEM CAME OFF AND ON UNTIL YESTERDAY. I WAS AGAIN DRIVING ON A MODERATE FREEWAY UPHILL CLIMB WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS, SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 50 MPH, VIBRATED BEFORE SHIFTING AGAIN AND PICKED UP SPEED. I GOT FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND DID NOT HIT MY VEHICLE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS IS WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVE 'D' INDICATOR WAS FLASHING AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT OFF FROM THE FREEWAY AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR. WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE BACK ON, THE FLASHING 'D' DISAPPEARED. I TOOK IT BACK TO COMMUNITY HONDA TODAY WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS I TOLD THEM IN JUNE, PLUS WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT MY HONDA PILOT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, TO THE TUNE OF $4,100 PLUS TAX. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER 2003 HONDA PILOTS AND I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. WHAT INFURIATES ME IS THAT HONDA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (06-003 DATED JUNE 9, 2007) FOR THE 2003 ACURA MDX WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME AS THE 2003 HONDA PILOT. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. BECAUSE OF HONDA'S FAILURE TO ISSUE THE SAME SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE 2003 HONDA PILOT, I BELIEVE THAT HONDA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ON MY VEHICLE. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT EX-L: THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND HESITATES BETWEEN 35 - 50 MPH. I WAS TOLD BY A HONDA SERVICE DEPT. THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND 2 MOTOR MOUNTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4162. THIS PROBLEM IS TOO COMMON TO NOT BE CONSIDERED AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RECALL. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE. I HOPE NO MAJOR INJURIES ARE CAUSED FROM THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ONLY 102,000 MILES 2003 HONDA PILOT. *TR

THE PILOT SHUDDERS GOING AT SLOWER RATES OF SPEED AT PRETTY REGULAR INSTANCES. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER, POSSIBLY THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003 HONDA PILOTS. *TR

THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON MY WIFE'S 2003 HONDA PILOT WERE REPLACED IN 2010 AND I WAS INFORMED TODAY BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE HAD APPROX 93500 MILES ON IT WHEN IT WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AND NOW THREE YEARS LATER HAS 140,939. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THE MOUNTS ARE WARRANTED FOR 12 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE IS USED BY MY WIFE TO DRIVE 20 MILES ROUNDTRIP TO WORK AND ON OUR TRIPS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT USED FOR TOWING AND IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A TOW RECEIVER. ADDITIONALLY, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IMPROPERLY DESIGNED WITH A SPLIT WAFER MECHANISM WHICH ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TWO LOCAL LOCKSMITHS WEARS OUT PREMATURELY AND CAUSES JAMMING OF THE IGNITION CYLINDER AS WELL AS WEDGING OF THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. LASTLY, WHEN A TRANSMISSION RECALL WAS DONE ON THE CAR IN 2005, IT WAS DONE IMPROPERLY. THE RECALL SPECIFIED A OIL JET BE INSTALLED ON THE TRANSMISSION TO LUBRICATE THE 2ND GEAR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HOSE USED TO CONNECT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SUPPLY LINE TO THE TRANSMISSION USED A STRAIGHT TRANSMISSION HOSE WHICH HAD TO BE BENT 90 DEGREES IN A DISTANCE OF APPROX 2 INCHES TO BE INSTALLED. THIS CAUSES THE HOSE TO BE KINKED AND RESTRICT THE FLOW OF FLUID. HONDA WON'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR ACKNOWLEDGE THE REPAIR SHOULD HAVE INCORPORATED A FORMED ELBOW HOSE INSTEAD OF A STRAIGHT HOSE TO ENSURE PROPER FLOW. NOW HONDA IS TELLING ME THEY DON'T HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE IN NEW MEXICO THAT I CAN SPEAK TO ABOUT THE ABOVE ISSUES. MY CASE NUMBER W/HONDA IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FREQUENTLY THE HONDA PILOT WILL SHUTTER WHILE ACCELERATING PASSING THROUGH SPEEDS OF 20 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE SHUTTER WILL CONTINUE IF THROTTLE IS KEPT IN, IF I BACK OF THE PEDAL SHUTTER DISSIPATES AND I CAN RESUME ON ACCELERATING. I CAN FEEL A SLIGHT VIBRATION UPTO 60 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HONDA ABOUT THIS AND THEY HAVE NO EXPLANATION. IT LOOKS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE PILOT/MDX OWNERS. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS SOON, BEFORE SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR. *TR

THE IGNITION KEY FOR THE 2003 HONDA PILOT HAS BEEN GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION CAUSING IT NOT TO START FOR OVER A YEAR. IF I WIGGLED THE STEERING WHEEL, THE KEY AND PUMPED THE BRAKES THE KEY WOULD TURN AND THE TRUCK WOULD EVENTUALLY START. ON AUGUST 25, 2010 THE THE KEY REMAINED JAMMED IN THE IGNITION AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED AND REPAIRED. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND MANY OTHER 2003 PILOT OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION KEY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY THE 2003 PILOT OWNER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO START THE TRUCK IN A TIMELY MANNER. *TR

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD A TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SYSTEM FAILURE AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 PILOT WITH OVER 130,000 MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A PROBLEM WHILE ACCELERATING WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD STICK AND REV UP, IF I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR IT WOULD CORRECT. NOW IT IS STICKING, REVS UP, AND IT WILL NOT CORRECT AT ALL. I HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND ACCELERATE AGAIN. THE "D" LIGHT HAS STARTED FLASHING AND ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE THE TRANS REPLACED FOR @ $4000. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 136,000 MILES BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY JERK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 30 AND 60 MPH. THE JERKING WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE WANTED TO SHIFT GEARS. RPM WOULD REV, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. ALSO HAD DIFFICULTY MOVING GEAR SHIFT PAST D DOWN TO D3. ON THE 5TH DAY OF THIS OCCURRING INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK CONSTANTLY. CAR BEGAN TO REV AND SEEMED GEAR WAS STUCK. MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP CAME ON AND D GEAR DRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THIS JERKING/JOLT MOVEMENT OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY AND STREET ROADS WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS POSES A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THIS PARTICULAR MODEL MAY HAVE BEEN A PART OF A RECALL FOR A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THE FIX DESCRIBED ULTIMATELY DID NOT PREVENT THE INEVITABLE....THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. MOST CONSUMERS END UP REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. HONDA AMERICA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. CONSUMERS EXPECT TO RECEIVE MORE THAN 200,000 MILES ON A HONDA VEHICLE. *TR

ON MY 2003 PILOT, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A VIBRATION/GRINDING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING THROUGH 35 TO 40 MPH. THE NOISE WOULD LAST FOR 10 TO 15 SECONDS AND THEN STOP. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER AND OTHER SHOPS MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR AND THEY ALWAYS SAID THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. STARTED HAVING SOME IDLING PROBLEMS SO TOOK IT TO AUTO SERVICE CENTER AND HAD TO REPLACE ALL MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, AND IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. AFTER WE GOT IT BACK AND LESS THAN 90 MILES LATER, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED WHINING WORSE THAN BEFORE AND THEN ACTED LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING THEN BUCKED VIOLENTLY AND THE "D" LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NOW THE TRANS MISSION NO LONGER SHIFTS. *TR

I HAVE A HONDA 2003 PILOT. THIS WEEK, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN STOP (WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS), I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY SEVERAL VEHICLES WHICH WERE TRAVELING BEHIND ME. I KEPT DRIVING AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN 4 MINUTES LATER. I EVENTUALLY MADE IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY, THE SAME PATTERN CONTINUED BUT MORE OFTEN. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, DUE TO AN "INTERNAL TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION", 3RD PRESSURE SWITCH FAILURE, AND INCORRECT GEAR RATIO. THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THAT CODES P0845 AND P0730 WERE GENERATED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON APRIL 2004 FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE/YEAR, "NHTSA 04V176000", IN WHICH THE DEALER WOULD VISUALLY INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND SUBJECTIVELY DECIDE WHAT WAS NEEDED FOR REMEDIATION; EITHER A 1) A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT OR 2) ?PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE?. IN MARCH 2004, 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE RECALL BEING RELEASED, I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THEY ?SERVICED? THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THIS COMPLAINT. THREE MONTHS LATER, IN JUNE 2004, I AGAIN COMPLAINED ABOUT SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THIS TIME, THE DEALER NOTED THE RECALL AND CHOSE REMEDIATION NUMBER 2. CURRENTLY, HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT, BUT QUESTION THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH ONLY 139,000 MILES ON THE CAR. ALSO, THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY ACCORDING TO HONDA SCHEDULE. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING WITH OUR 2 YOUNG KIDS AND OUR 2 DOGS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH IN OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 130,000 MILES ON IT. WE HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD BANG AND JERK AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. WE PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO COLLISION. FROM THEN ON WE WERE UNABLE TO GET ANY GEAR TO ENGAGE (EVEN PARK). HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND ARE AWAITING ESTIMATE FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAD HONDA SERVICE THE VEHICLE AND DO ALL 100,000 MILE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE. WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE HAD A COLLISION ON THE HIGHWAY WITH OUR WHOLE FAMILY IN THE CAR. HONDA KNEW THEIR TRANSMISSION WAS FLAWED AND JUST PUT A BAND-AID ON IT WITH THE RECALL IN 2004. I GUESS ENOUGH OF A BAND-AID TO GET THEM THROUGH THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I BELIEVE THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAULTY AND DANGEROUS TO HAVE ON THE ROAD. *TR

MY 2003 HONDA PILOT SHUDDERS WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 35-45 MPH. IT FEELS LIKE DRIVING OVER A BUMPY ROAD. *TR

MY 2003 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSION FAILED IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR. THE "D" LIGHT WAS BLINKING SO IT TOOK IT TO HONDA OF NANUET AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION? THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION THAT THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED, BY ADDING A FUEL KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM? IT DIDN'T WORK! I HAVE RESEARCHED MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS E.G. (EMONDS.COM). CAN ANYONE HELP THE CONSUMERS IN THIS CASE AGAINST HONDA? HONDA WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER 5,000 TO FIX IT? VIN# [XXX] FIXED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A PRIVATE AUTO SERVICE FOR 4,120 BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS HONDA FAILED TO OWN UP TO THERE RESPONSIBILITY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE DRIVER'S SEAT ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME OR BRACKET IN THE FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE. THE SEAT ROCKS PRECARIOUSLY WHEN I DRIVE OR ACCELERATE. THIS IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY HAZARD, AND I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS A FREQUENTLY REPORTED PROBLEM, AND WHETHER HONDA HAS AN OBLIGATION TO FIX IT. THANKS. *TR

MY HONDA PILOT IS NOW AT 75,000 MILES. I OBVIOUSLY DON'T DRIVE IT A LOT. THANK GOODNESS BECAUSE IT HAS HAD SO MANY ISSUES. FOR THE LAST 25,000 MILES AND 3 YEARS, IT REVS UP AND DOWN WHEN STOPPED ANYWHERE LIKE A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR IN THE PICKUP LINE AT MY CHILD'S SCHOOL. I HAVE TO PUT IT INTO PARK AND PRESS THE BRAKE WHILE IN PARK TO BE SURE IT DOESN'T LEAP FORWARD INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I'VE HAD THIS LOOKED AT ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THEY FIX IT FOR ABOUT A DAY. I'VE BEEN TOLD ITS AN ONGOING KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. SO, WHY HAS IT NOT BEEN ADDRESSED? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

I OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT WHICH WAS RECALLED UNDER CAMPAIGN #04V176000. THE OIL JET KIT WAS REPLACED, YET THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOW FAILED. I HAVE PERFORMED ALL MAINTENANCE AS DICTATED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WITH A CERTIFIED HONDA TECHNICIAN. THE LOCK-UP ON THE TRANSMISSION IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

THE 2003 HONDA PILOT STOPPED WITH LOUD CLANKING NOISE. THE ENGINE WOULD TURN ON BUT WOULD CONK-OUT WHEN PUT IN GEAR. THE CAR HAD A BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT AT 2 PLACES. THIS WAS REPLACE AT THE DEALER. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN ON THE ROAD. THIS TIME AGAIN THE CAR WOULD TURN ON BUT WILL CONK-OUT WHEN PUT IN GEAR. THE DEALER SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES (SINCE AROUND 35000 MILES) BECAUSE THE CAR WAS MAKING GROWLING NOISE AROUND 1500 RPM. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I STOPPED GOING TO THE DEALER OUT OF FRUSTRATION. I KNEW AT SOME POINT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE MOUNT AND TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY HONDA ON 2003 PILOT. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HER HUSBAND RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE 30 MINUTES LATER, HE DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS ON AN INCLINE IN THE PARKING LOT, COMING TO REST AGAINST ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE FRONT OF THAT VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR WAS NOT IN PARK. THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND INFORMED HER, THERE WERE THREE OTHER OCCURRENCES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS, ANYWHERE FROM A FEW FEET TO A FEW YARDS.

THE PLASTIC PANEL HOUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT ADJUSTMENT CONTROLS HAS BECOME DETACHED FROM THE SEAT ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE SCREW THAT HELD IT IN PLACE IS STILL SEATED, BUT THE PLASTIC PANELING BEING HELD BY THE SCREW HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE PANEL. *TR

I HAD REPEATED VISITS TO BABYLON HONDA IN BABYLON , NY FOR A REAR TAILGATE SPOILER PROBLEM. WHEN OPENING THE TAILGATE (REAR DOOR) THE SPOILER WOULD HIT AND GRIND AGAINST THE ROOF PANEL. BABYLON HONDA ADDRESSED THE ISSUE BY TIGHTENING THE SPOILER MOUNTS WHICH WORKED FOR AWHILE, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THIS PAST JULY WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 91 AT 65MPH, THE SPOILER FLEW OFF MY CAR AND NEARLY HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. I AM WAITING FOR BABYLON HONDA'S RESPONSE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM - THE SPOILER MOUNTS CRACKED. *TR

THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER ON MY 2003 HONDA PILOT JAMMED AND YOU CANNOT TURN THE KEY. ONCE OUT, YOU CANNOT PUT KEY IN IT AGAIN. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT EX FAILED MOTOR MOUNTS. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT. *TR

I OWN A HONDA PILOT 2003. 2 WEEKS AGO OUR AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR DIED. WE WERE ON OUR WAY ON VACATION WHEN IT WENT. THE MECHANIC SAID WE COULD HAVE LOST A LOT MORE HAD THE BELT SNAPPED. DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE BUT FIGURED ITS WORTH REPORTING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE KEY WILL NOT SLIDE INTO THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLIDE THE KEY IN PARTIALLY IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WHOLE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE WEAR AND TEAR IN THE IGNITION. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE WOULD GET WORSE IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

THE KEY DOES NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. WE HAVE TO WIGGLE IT OR MESS WITH IT MANY TIMES TO GET IT TO TURN, SOMETIMES IT TAKES TOO LONG FOR US TO GET TO IT TURN, WHICH CAUSES MANY INCONVENIENCES FOR US. THE DEALER WANTS $700-$900 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT OR MISTAKE IN THE ENGINEERING DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. AND WE KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDAS. PLEASE RECALL PILOTS FOR THIS VERY INCONVENIENT DEFECT. IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL QUICK, NOT BEING ABLE TO START YOUR CAR BECAUSE THE KEY WON'T TURN WILL BE CATASTROPHIC. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF QUICKLY BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

OUR HONDA PILOT WILL SHUTTER WHILE ACCELERATING PASSING THROUGH SPEEDS OF 20 TO 50 MILES PER HOUR. THE SHUTTER WILL CONTINUE IF THROTTLE IS KEPT IN, IF I BACK OF THE PEDAL SHUTTER DISSIPATES AND I CAN RESUME ON ACCELERATING. I CAN FEEL A SLIGHT VIBRATION UPTO 60 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HONDA ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAY THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. IT LOOKS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE PILOT/MDX OWNERS. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS SOON, BEFORE SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR. *TR

IGNITION LOCK FAILURE, KEY STOPPED WORKING CAR WON'T START LEFT US STRANDED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LENSES CAME OFF INSIDE THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT BRAKE LIGHT COVER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COVER WOULD FRACTURE EASILY ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 07/18/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD GEARS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

MY 2003 HONDA PILOT HAS BEEN SHUDDERING AT 35-45 MPH. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE "D" LIGHT FLASHING. I SEE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH WAY TOO MANY PILOTS. HONDA NEEDS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT! I LOVE HONDA - WE ALSO HAVE A 2004 CIVIC. HOWEVER, I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF OUR NEXT CAR WILL BE A HONDA. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN THAT I DRIVE DAILY IN THE PILOT, AND I AM TERRIFIED AFTER READING ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS TO DRIVE THEM IN THIS CAR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

FRONT AND SIDE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED REPLACING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, THE VEHICLE MOVED IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN HE RESTARTED IT, THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY BUT A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 106,000.

I HAVE A 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH 128,000 MILES. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, SPEED ABOUT 60 THE CAR SLAMMED AND THE SPEED CAME DOWN 20 MPH IN A COUPLE OF SECONDS. I WAS LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 HONDA PILOT THAT IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT IS SLIPPING GEARS AND BOGS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE NOTICE THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR ANDI GUESS IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIT.

I HAVE A 2003 HONDA PILOT THAT IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT IS SLIPPING GEARS AND BOGS WHILE DRIVING.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN FAILING AT 89,000 MILES THEN FINALLY FAILED AROUND 94,000. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE HONDA DEALER HE DID NOT MENTION ANY RECALLS AND HE FAILED TO MENTION THAT THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS. ALL HE WAS INTERESTED IN IS SELLING ME A BRAND NEW HONDA OR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO GET IT REBUILT AND NOW AT 101,000 THE SHUDDER BETWEEN 40-50MPH IS STARTING AGAIN SO I KNOW IT IS A MATTER OF TIME. I FEEL THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE DEFECTIVE AND HONDA NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS SURGING FORWARD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THE RPM'S STARTED TO REV-UP ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THECONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS MANY SAFETY PROBLEM AND THINKS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 05/06/10. *LJ THE DOOR LOCK CYLINDEERS AND IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE AND STEERING LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE KEY DOOR LOCK BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE HEATER MOTOR FAILED. UPDATED 07/06/10.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BECOME DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY CABLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 177,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING. HAD CAR TOWED TO HONDA DEALERSHIP. HONDA FOUND BURNT CONNECTOR IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. REPLACED ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SWITCH PART NUMBER 35012-S5A-307, 7743875-35999 SET, COMBINATION SWITCH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER WAS NOT IN PARK. HE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK WHEN HE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE MINOR DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR $564 AT HIS EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. HE WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT IF IT DOES BECOME A RECALL TO KEEP HIS RECEIPT AND HE WOULD BE REIMBURSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.