There are 11 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2004 Honda Pilotin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
lights that illuminate the functions/buttons of the climate control system burned out
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SCHOMP HONDA (303-798-1500, LOCATED AT 1003 PLUM VALLEY LN, HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO 80129) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 204,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.
THE MODULES HOUSING THE REAR LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS, ON MY 2004 PILOT ARE DEFECTIVE; RED, PLASTIC REFLECTORS INSIDE BOTH MODULES OF MY VEHICLE HAVE DETACHED. THE MODULES ARE ONE PIECE IN DESIGN AND CANNOT BE OPENED OR REPAIRED. HONDA KNEW CERTAIN 2004 PILOTS HAD DEFECTIVE LIGHT MODULES BECAUSE IT ISSUED AN ADVISORY TO DEALERS TO REPLACE THEM. HOWEVER, HONDA REFUSES TO REPLACE THE MODULES ON MY CAR, SAYING THE CAR IS TOO OLD. THERE IS NO EXPIRATION DATE FOR SAFETY. *TR
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED DUE TO SOME WIRING ISSUE. I NOTE THAT A RECALL WAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ON THE 2003 HONDA PILOT AND 2002-2004 HONDA CRV. MY 2004 HONDA PILOT HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE, BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. PLEASE REVIEW THIS ISSUE AND SEE IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER THE 2004 HONDA PILOT AS WELL AS THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
THE HEADLIGHT PLASTIC COVER HAS BECOME VERY CLOUDY AND PREVENTS THE HEADLIGHTS FROM PROPERLY ILLUMINATING THE ROAD AT NIGHT. THIS CAUSES IMPROPERLY LIGHTING WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS IS A PROBLEM ON ALL CARS WITH THIS TYPE OF COVER OVER THE HEADLIGHTS. THE PROBLEM IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY ALL MANUFACTURES AS THEY OFFER CLEANING OF THE LENSES FOR A COST. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO THE OWNER AS THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM.
THE HEADLAMPS BEGAN TAKING IN MOISTURE AND THEN SHORTING OUT EVERY TIME IT RAINS. WHEN YOU SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT IS AN OVERWHELMING PROBLEM IN PRIMARILY 2004-2006 HONDA PILOTS. I TOOK IT IN FOR THE WIRING RECALL BUT THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. THEY JUST SHORTED OUT AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES. ALTHOUGH THE WIRING WAS RECALLED, ONLY THE HEADLIGHTS COLLECT MOISTURE AND RUST. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1099 AND THEY HAVE CONTINUALLY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME BUT NEVER HAVE. ER.YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MAT. *TR
IN MAY 2007, U-HAUL OF KINGSTON, NY INSTALLED A TRAILER HITCH ON MY 2004 HONDA PILOT. ON APRIL 4,2008, MY TURNING SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING AND I SMELLED A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL. I SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER FOR APRIL 8, 2008. I STOPPED USING THE VEHICLE. THE CAR ALARM BEGAN TO GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT PROVOCATION. WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR TO BRING IT TO THE SERVICE APPT., IT WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE TECH'S LOCALIZED THE SMELL TO THE REAR OF THE CAR AND BEGAN INVESTIGATING THE TRAILER HITCH INSTALLATION. THE "HIGH ENERGY 3 TO 2 TAILLIGHT CONVERTER" HAD OVERLOADED AND THE CASING AROUND THE UNIT HAD MELTED THROUGH. *TR
HEAD LIGHTS BURN OUT EVERY 2-3MO.S DARREL WALTRIP TELLS ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND THAT THEY KNOW OF NO RECALLS ON THE VERY EXPENSIVE HALOGEN LIGHTS. I HAVE SPENT APPROX. 200.00 DOLLARS ON HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT. I THINK THIS WOULD WARRANT A FREE CHECK AND REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
THE 2003 PILOT HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY WEAK AND DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD. THIS CREATES A VERY SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD ON THE FREEWAY ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS AS HIGH AS 70 MPH. THE PILOT'S HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE THE CURVES IN THE FREEWAY, AND CONSEQUENTLY, PILOTS CAN VEER OFF THE HIGHWAY AND GET INTO CRASHES. APPARENTLY, THE HONDA COMPANY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION. WE APPEAL TO NHTSA TO URGE HONDA TO RECALL AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. *JB
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY ILLUMINATE ROAD. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026