2005 Honda Pilot Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING INTO THE VEHICLE WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN. HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE OR HOW THE WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE WATER WAS DAMAGING THE FLOOR BOARDS AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT PREMATURE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,500.

2005 HONDA PILOT STUTTERS, VIBRATIONS, AND HAS FLASHING "D" (DRIVE) LIGHT ON. POSSIBLE TORQUE CONVERTER AND/OR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *TR

OUR 2005 HONDA PILOT SHUDDERS! IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS AND WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY WHILE DRIVING. WE HAVE TAKEN THE PILOT TO THE HONDA DEALER AND ALSO TO OUR OWN PRIVATE MECHANIC AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP US. *TR

WHEN DRIVING ON STRAIGHT, LEVEL PAVEMENT, VSA LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND CAR SUDDENLY SHUDDERS AND CHANGES DIRECTION. UNEVEN BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED BY THE VSA SYSTEM IN ORDER TO CORRECT A PROBLEM THAT IS NOT PRESENT. MEANWHILE, THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS. THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND AFTER THE RECALL TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL SERVICE DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM OR MAKE IT HAPPEN LESS FREQUENTLY. MY CAR SEEMS TO ONLY HAVE THE PROBLEM IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES. DEALER DIAGNOSIS SAYS THAT YAW SENSOR IS SENDING A BAD SIGNAL TO VSA SYSTEM. A NEW YAW SENSOR IS CURRENTLY ON BACK-ORDER, SO IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN HAVING PROBLEMS. *TR

CAR SHUTTERS OR VIBRATES AROUND 25-35 MILES PER HOUR DURING NORMAL ACCELERATION. IT APPEARS THAT THAT TIRES ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, BUT AFTER TAKING MY CAR IN FOR A TIRE BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS COLD OR WARM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER COULD FIX THE VIBRATIONS, BUT THE DESIGN FLAW IS WITH THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. THIS STARTED AT AROUND 72,600 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. IT HAS ONLY BEEN A MONTH, BUT AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON DESIGN FLAW WITH THE 2005 PILOT. MY LOCAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE 75% COVERAGE OF THE APPROXIMATELY $3,300 REPAIR BILL BY HONDA TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE 100% AND PLAN ON PURSUING THIS ISSUE WITH HONDA OF AMERICA. I WAS TOLD HONDA WOULDN'T COVER ANYTHING AFTER 75,000 MILES. I FEEL HONDA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND OWN THIS WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE, BUT IT IS CHEAPER TO DEAL WITH THE ONE OFF COMPLAINTS THAN ADMIT FAULT AND ISSUE A RECALL.

AT SPEEDS OF 35-40 MPH UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE THERE IS A SHUDDER. LETTING MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND STOMPING BACK ON IT SOMETIMES HELPS MAKE IT GO AWAY. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE ON INCLINES WHERE THE THROTTLE IS UNDER LOAD AT THE DESCRIBED SPEED. THERE IS A HILL IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IT REPEATS ALMOST EVERY TRIP. IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE PAVEMENT IS RUTTED PERPENDICULAR TO TRAFFIC BUT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN OTHER CARS. IT ALSO RETURNS AROUND 70-75 MPH. I THOUGHT IT WAS OUT OF BALANCE OF TIRES BUT I HAVE HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE AND ASKED THE MECHANIC TO LOOK INTO THE SUSPENSION TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY PLAY. HE SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHICH I TRUST AND THEY DROVE IT, INSPECTED IT FROM UNDERNEATH AND THEY TOO COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND CHALKED IT UP TO OUT OF BALANCE TIRES. MY PILOT HAS BEEN THROUGH 3 SETS OF TIRES SINCE I'VE HAD IT AND THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME WITH EVERY SET OF TIRES. I HAVE USED BRIDGESTONE, YOKOHAMA, AND KUMHO TIRES TRYING TO RULE OUT BRANDS. *TR

HONDA PILOT 2005 VSA ISSUE AND MALFUNCTIONS: SOMETIMES THE LIGHT CAME UP EVEN I DROVE ON A FLAT ROAD WITH LOW SPEED. THERE IS A LOUD CLUNK NOISE AND THE BRAKE AND STEERING FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND LOCKS. ONE TIME IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS IN A TURN AND ALMOST HIT A WALL. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE STABILIZATION SYSTEM IS NOT SAFE IF I HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY TURN AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL. *TR

2005 HONDA PILOT EX WITH NAVIGATION, 81K MILES APPROX. PROBLEM: - NO 2 SPARK PLUG AND THREAD (COIL) BLEW OUT DURING IN-TOWN DRIVING, THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS DAMAGED CAUSING EXTENSIVE RE-CONDITION EXPENSE. - ALL SPARK PLUGS ARE BELIEVED TO BE THE ORIGINALS, WE HAVE NO RE-COLLECTION THAT ANY SPARK PLUG HAS BEEN REPLACED SINCE WE HAVE NOT REACHED THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED TUNE UP SCHEDULE OF 105K MILES. SERVICE HISTORY WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN CA BACK IN DEC 2004. WE FOLLOWED ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES BY HONDA. ALL SERVICES, EXCEPT A RECENT OIL CHANGE, WERE DONE BY HONDA DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRIES. THE RECENT OIL CHANGE WAS DONE BY A LOCAL GARAGE, AND NO WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THE SPARK PLUGS AS CONFIRMED BY THE GARAGE OWNER. COMMUNICATIONS WITH HONDA - BASED ON MY DISCUSSION WITH HONDA AMERICA ON NOV 19. 2010, THEY WERE WILLING TO OPEN A CASE IN ORDER TO TRACK THE COMPLAINT. HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT INVESTIGATE THE MATTER FURTHER SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. INVESTIGATION: WE BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A LATENT DEFECT ON CERTAIN SPARK PLUG (OR ON THE ENGINE ITSELF) IN CERTAIN HONDA PILOT. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, A SIMILAR FAILURE HAPPENED IN ANN ARBOR, MI, IN MARCH 2010 TO A 2004 HONDA PILOT. IN THAT CASE, THAT CAR HAD 58K MILES ON IT AND THE NO. 5 SPARK PLUG CAME OUT CAUSING SIMILAR DAMAGES TO THE ENGINE. I HAVE NO EVIDENCE IF THE ANN ARBOR INCIDENT HAS THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUG OR NOT. HOWEVER, IT IS JUST ONE CASE TOO MANY FOR A MANUFACTURER WITH A VERY GOOD RELIABILITY REPUTATION. LIKE THE OWNER IN ANN ARBOR, WE ARE SO LUCKY THAT WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED. HOPE THE AUTHORITY WILL INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FURTHER AND URGE HONDA TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT.

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. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND THE BRAKES ACTIVATED ERRONEOUSLY, BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

VEHICLE ENGINE STARTED TO SHAKE (VIBRATING) MORE THAN NORMAL. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED BETWEEN 35 TO 45 MPH. ONCE I PASS 45 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD STOP SHAKE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKING SYSTEM SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACTIVATE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM, VIOLENTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES REGARDLESS OF HOW HARD OR SOFTLY I TOUCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS ANOMALY HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I COULD NOT ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS UNPREDICTABLE AND WENT AWAY WHEN I WOULD GET THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE AND TURN OFF THE KEY. IT WOULD NO LONGER BE HAPPENING, SIMILAR TO REBOOTING A COMPUTER. NO DASH SYMPTOM LIGHTS WOULD APPEAR DURING THESE INCIDENTS. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH HONDA SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE12028. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A CLICKING NOISE, SUDDENLY STALLED AND THE VSA LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR HAD FAILED BUT THEY COULD NOT SEE A BLATANT PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,864.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE BRAKES DECELERATED ON THEIR OWN. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. UPDATED 12/23/11... UPDATED 02/17/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO FAIL AND THE BRAKES TO APPLY INVOLUNTARILY. UPDATED 04/2412 UPDATED 05/03/12

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE VEHICLE ALSO STOPPED MOVING WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY DIAGNOSED AND DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM BUT THERE WAS NO DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115900.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWAY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM SWAYING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERYDAY SINCE SEPTEMBER 2010. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE YAW RATE SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.

VEHICLE HAS NOTICEABLE SHIMMERING/SHUTTERING BETWEEN 30-50 MPH, NOTICED OVER A YEAR AGO. SOON AFTER THE DRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH INTERMITTENTLY, ALTHOUGH BOTH SEEM TRANSMISSION RELATED, THEY DID NOT SEEM TO CORRELATE. OVER TIME THE SHIMMERING/SHUTTERING SEEMS TO BE MORE FREQUENT AND PRONOUNCED AND THE DRIVE INDICATOR SEEMS TO BLINK MORE FREQUENTLY. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AS THERE ARE MANY OTHER 2005 HONDA PILOTS WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF TRANSMISSION 'FAILURE' OR COMPLETE FAILURE. HAVE NOT SEEN A FORMAL RELEASE FROM HONDA (LIKE WITH ACURA MDX ISSUE WHICH SOUNDS TOO SIMILAR), BUT LIKE WITH THE TSB ON THE MDX, MANY PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE RESOLVED WITH REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE CONVERTER OR COMPLETE TRANSMISSION. I DON'T EXPECT ANY SYMPATHY FROM HONDA SO I AM GOING TO HAVE OUR PILOT DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC (HONDA SERVICE IS WAY TOO EXPENSIVE) BUT WANTED TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE IN THE HOPES THAT IF IT BECOMES BIG ENOUGH MAYBE OTHERS WILL BENEFIT FROM HONDA HAVING TO GET INVOLVED AT SOME POINT.

BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER OF 2010, MY 2005 HONDA PILOT MADE A GROANING NOISE AROUND THE DRIVER SIDE AREA, SWERVED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT ON ITS OWN, WHILE THE CRUISE WAS SET AT 56MPH. FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT THE VSA WARNING LIGHT AND THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER FIRST INCIDENT, IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FOUND DIAGNOSTIC CODES FOR YAW RATE SENSOR FAILURE AND BATTERY VOLTAGE FAILURE. THEY FOUND THE BATTERY NEGATIVE TERMINAL TO BE VERY LOOSE AND THEY TIGHTENED IT. TECH'S COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS OCCURRED 7 MORE TIMES OVER THE FOLLOWING 3 WEEKS. WHEN RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY WERE ADVISED BY HONDA TECH'S TO CLEAN THE CONNECTORS ON THE YAW RATE SENSOR. CODES WENT AWAY AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE SYMPTOMS RETURNED. HONDA DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY MUST NOW REPLACE THE YAW RATE SENSOR. WE ARE WAITING FOR OUR APPOINTMENT FOR THAT TO OCCUR. *TR

2005 HONDA PILOT SHUDDERS WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 20 AND 50 MPH. PROBLEM CEASES IF ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED OR RELEASED. *TR

DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW WAS LOWERED AND WOULD NOT COME BACK UP WHILE STOPPED AT A DRIVE THRU RESTAURANT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED IT WAS THE MOTOR THAT MOVES THE WINDOW UP AND DOWN THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THEY HAVE ORDERED THE PART. IN SEPTEMBER 2008 I HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW MOTOR REPLACED BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE THEY CALL IT THE WINDOW REGULATOR. I WILL HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THIS IS THE SAME PART THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS TIME ALSO. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT HAD ABOUT 50,000+ MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 100,000+ MILES ON IT. I DO NOT THINK THE REAR WINDOWS IN THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN RAISED AND LOWERED MORE THEN A 100 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT BECAUSE WE DRIVE WITH THE A/C OR HEAT ON MOST OF THE TIME AND YET BOTH REAR WINDOWS HAVE FAILED. *TR

MY 2005 HONDA PILOT SHUDDERS AND VIBRATES WHEN ACCELERATING AROUND 35-40. ONCE I GET SLIGHTLY PAST THIS SPEED RANGE THE VIBRATION STOPS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT SURFACE ALONG I95 IN GOOD WEATHER, I LOST CONTROL OF MY STEERING/BRAKES FOR A SECOND. THE VSA LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO RAN SEVERAL TESTS ONLY RESULTING IN AN ERROR CODE WITH THE YAW RATE SENSOR. THE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN BEFORE I LEFT THE PARKING LOT. HE THEN RAN MORE TEST, FOUND THE SENSOR "LOST IT'S MEMORY" AND RESET IT. THE NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN, MY MECHANIC THEN PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT. THROUGH THIS HE ONLY CHARGED ME A MINIMAL FEE FOR ONE OF THE VISITS. HE STATED THAT THE SENSOR MAY HAVE GONE BAD. THIS HAPPENS DAILY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, CONDITIONS ETC. A FEW TIMES I TURNED THE CAR ON AND BEFORE I LEFT MY DRIVEWAY THE LIGHT WAS ON, OTHER TIMES, DROVE OVER AN HR AND IT DID NOT COME ON. I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP TO WHICH THEY TOLD ME THEY DO NOT KNOW OF ANY ISSUES CONCERNING THE VSA. I HAVE LOOKED UP SEVERAL FORUMS ON LINE AND FOUND QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE. THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SAME STEPS MY MECHANIC HAS DONE, SOME HAD TRANSMISSIONS REPLACES, OTHERS MASTER CYLINDERS AND SOME IT REMAINED A MYSTERY. I ONLY LOSE CONTROL FOR A SPLIT SECOND, BUT THAT'S ALL IT TAKES TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 HONDA PILOT WITH 118K MILES. THE CAR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING FINE. I COMMUTE ABOUT 40 MILES TO WORK SO TODAY WHEN I GOT TO WORK I NOTICED THE FAN WAS STILL RUNNING. WHEN I STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE IT WAS HEAVILY LEAKING A SUBSTANCE THAT LOOKED LIKE CHOCOLATE MILK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RADIATOR PUMPED FLUIDS INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND NOW I NEED A NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH HONDA'S. SEEMS WAY TOO EARLY TO HAVE SUCH AN ISSUE. *TR

2005 HONDA PILOT MOTOR MOUNTS BROKEN. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS THEY ARE SCHEDULING THESE TYPE OF REPAIRS ARE BEING SCHEDULED 2 TO 3 WEEKS AHEAD OF TIME. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND CAN CAUSE MUCH MORE DAMAGE. HONDA IS TRYING TO GET OUT OF A COSTLY DEFECTIVE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *TR

HAD A HONDA DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER COMPLETE REPAIRS ON WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT IS BROKEN AND COLLAPSED AND THAT THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK IS STARTING TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAS 77,606 MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND REGULARLY SERVICED. AFTER RESEARCHING THESE ISSUES, IT APPEARS THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT AND REAR SHOCK FAILURES ARE NOT UNCOMMON ISSUES FOR 2005 HONDA PILOTS. *TR

GOING 30MPH VSA LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKES LOCKED. TOWED TO DEALER. PER REPORT BATTERY VOLTAGE FAILURE, ECM/PCM FAILURE. BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE, CAN RELATION FAILURE, INTERNAL POWER SOURCE FAILURE, ABS MODULATOR FUNCTION TEST ABNORMAL. ABS CONTROL UNIT REPLACED. *TR

WE WENT TO CAMPING TRIP AND HEARD SOME GRINDING SOUND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE VERY LOW SPEED IN CAMPING GROUND. IT HAS LESS THAN 50K AT THAT TIME. THEN FELT SHUDDER WHILE I WAS PRESSING GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY TO SPEED UP. I THOUGHT IT WAS CAUSED BY BUMPY CAMP SITE ROAD BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON MY ROUTINE COMMUTE ROAD WHICH I KNEW WELL THERE'S NO BUMPY ROAD CONDITION. MOST OF TIME, IT HAPPENS BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH OR SHIFT GEAR FROM 4TH TO O.D. NOW IT HAS APPX 63000 MILES ON IT AND HONDA AMERICA DENIED OR NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AT ALL. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDER BEFORE THE GEAR SHIFTS UNDER A MODERATE ACCELERATION. SOMETIMES THIS OCCURS IN THE 30 MPH RANGE AND SOMETIMES IT OCCURS DURING HIGHER SPEED SHIFTS SUCH AS 60 MPH. IF I KEEP MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE SHUDDERING WILL CONTINUE UNTIL I EITHER PRESS THE ACCELERATOR HARDER OR I LET OFF ENTIRELY. IT ALSO OCCURS IF I HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON WHICH REALLY WORRIES ME. *TR

MY 2005 HONDA PILOT BEGAN SHUDDERING ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE TORCH CONVERTER. THEY SAID IT WAS AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION AND THE WHOLE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. MY PILOT HAS 122,000 MILES. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND I SEE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 2005 HONDA PILOTS. MY MECHANIC IS REBUILDING MY TRANSMISSION FOR $2900. I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR

THERE HAS BEEN A DEFINITE SHUDDER IN THE CAR BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 20 -40MPH. IF YOU ACCELERATE - THE SHUDDER GOES AWAY - IF YOU DON'T - IT BECOMES MORE AGGRESSIVE. BECAUSE OF THIS SHUDDER - I NOW HEAR SOME SORT OF KNOCKING IN THE CAR AT THE SAME SPEEDS - WHICH ALSO GOES AWAY ONCE YOU ACCELERATE. THIS IS ALSO NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR A NOTICEABLE IMBALANCE OF THE STEERING WHEEL BETWEEN THOSE SPEEDS. I HAVE A HONDA PILOT EX 2005. HONDA DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL / SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS. *TR

VSA LIGHT AND SRS LIGHT 2005 HONDA PILOT. *TR

2005 HONDA PILOT RADIATOR COIL FAILED CAUSING FLUIDS TO MIX AND TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT RADIATOR HAD PREMATURELY DETERIORATED CAUSING FAILURE. HAD A NEW RADIATOR INSTALLED AT $500- SYSTEM FLUSHED MULTIPLE TIMES....JUST ABOUT A MONTH LATER- RADIATOR FAILED AGAIN. REPLACED BUT VEHICLE IS STILL NOT RUNNING WELL. AT @40 MPH VEHICLE SEEMS TO RANDOMLY "REV AND STICK"- LET OFF GAS AND IT PASSES. *TR

INOP AIR BAG SWITCH HONDA PILOT. *TR

MY HONDA PILOT AC STOPPED WORKING FOR THE FIFTH TIME IN 5 YEARS. THIS YEAR THIS HAPPENED WHEN AN INFANT IS ON MY CAR DURING A LONG TRIP. WE HAVE TO STOP DRIVING BECAUSE THE BABY CAN NOT STAY IN THE HOT CAR. *TR

THE BRAKES IN MY 2005 HONDA PILOT SUDDENLY APPLY THEMSELVES. OVER THE PAST 4 YEARS, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES WHEN I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ONCE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. MY WIFE RECENTLY HAD IT HAPPEN ONCE TO HER JUST AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A STOP SIGN. IT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MILES PER HOUR. I'VE SEEN THIS PROBLEM REPORTED ON OTHER WEB SITES...ONE WAS GOING 60 WHEN IT HAPPENED. TWO HONDA DEALERS DID DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NOTHING. THEY COULD NOT "REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM"...NO SURPRISE SINCE IT'S RANDOM! THE LAST TIME (INCIDENT DATE BELOW) MY WIFE WAS OUT OF TOWN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SECOND DEALER. (THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACE BY THEM BUT WE'VE PUT LESS THAN 150 MILES ON IT SINCE THEN.) I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT RELATED TO THE MECHANICS SINCE IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS...BUT WHO KNOWS. *TR

BLINKING 'D' LIGHT AND ONCE CAR IS TURNED OFF, THE BLINKING STOPS. THIS PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING BACK FROM LANCASTER, CA TO SAN DIEGO. THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WENT ON AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE BLINKING 'D' LIGHT. WE PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND PUT SOME GAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE BLINKING D LIGHT DID NOT APPEAR AGAIN FOR TWO WEEKS. I TOOK INTO MY INDEPENDENT WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM APPEARED THIS WEEK AND TOOK IN TO MY INDEPENDENT WHILE IT WAS STILL RUNNING AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SCAN P0872. THE CAR HAD JUST 62,232 MILES ON IT AND ADVISED I TAKE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND GAVE THEM ALL THE INFORMATION FROM THE INDEPENDENT AND FROM THIS SITE. THEY WERE ABLE TO LOOK UP THE DTC TROUBLESHOOTING FROM AMERICAN HONDA AND REPLACED THE 4TH GEAR PRESSURE SWITCH, CLEARED CODE AND RESET THE LIGHT. I WAS REASSURED THAT THIS IS ELECTRICAL AND NOT MECHANICAL. IT COULD LEAD TO DAMAGE TO THE INTERNALS OF THE TRANSMISSION, IF THE SWITCH IS NOT REPLACED IN A TIMELY MANNER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 12/7/12 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CERVICAL RADICULOPATHY, KNEE REPLACEMENT, SHOULDER RECONSTRUCTION, AND NUMBNESS IN HIS HANDS. A PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE ENTIRE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION, STEERING, ANTI SWAY BAR, AND THE FRONT WHEEL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PROCEEDED THROUGH AN INTERSECTION GOING STRAIGHT BETWEEN 10-15MPH MY BRAKES SUDDENLY STARTED PUMPING HARD I TRIED TO APPLY A LITTLE MORE GAS THE BRAKES STARTED AGAIN , I HIT THE HAZARD LIGHT AND MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC INTO A PARKING LOT , READ MY MANUAL THE VSA LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH AND THE TRIANGLE BELOW IT CAME ON AS WELL. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN RESTARTED THE 2005 HONDA PILOT EXL THE DASH INDICATERS DID NOT LIGHT UP I DROVE THE TWENTY OR SO MILES HOME TRYING TO STAY IN THE SHOULDER LANE JUST IN CASE THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. I DID A LTTLE RESEARCHING ON THE NET THERE ARE A FEW OTHER PILOT OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO DEFINITIVE SOLUTION.

WE BOUGHT A SECOND HAND 2005 HONDA PILOT ONE YEAR AGO. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT HAS BEEN WORN THIN (TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY FAIL IN A CRASH) BY WHAT APPEARS TO BE A POORLY MADE BUCIKLE. WHERE THE SEAT BELT STRAP RUNS THROUGH THE BUCKLE THERE APPEARS TO BE A ROUGH EDGE THAT HAS SLOWLY WORN THROUGH THE FABRIC OF THE BELT ITSELF. THE TWO HONDA GARAGES WE CONTACTED REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY, SO WE HAVE PAID A LOCAL GARAGE TO FIT A NEW BELT. THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENT WITH RESPECT TO THIS, BUT WE ARE REPORTING THIS IN CASE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE.

WANTED TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR ON MY HONDA PILOT 2005 NEEDS REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE PART IS ON BACKORDER WITH UNKNOWN AVAILABILITY. WITHOUT BEING REPLACED I WAS INFORMED THAT NONE OF MY VEHICLES AIRBAGS WILL WORK CURRENTLY. ALSO HE STATED THAT HE HAS HAD TO ORDER 3 IN THE LAST WEEK FOR OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM FROM THAT DEALERSHIP ALONE. SHOULD THIS BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL?

3/20/10. 2005 HONDA PILOT EX WITH 110K MILES. BRAKE PEDALS FEEL 'SOFT' AND GRADUALLY EXHIBIT A PEDAL HEIGHT THAT GETS LOWER (CLOSER TO THE FLOOR) BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS. I NOTICED THIS ISSUE A WEEK AGO, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME BEING PARANOID. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS BE INCREASING VERY SLOWLY OVER TIME.THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 3/16/10 HONDA RECALL TO MODIFY THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST' (VSA) MODULATOR FOR ONLY 344,000 ODYSSEYS AND 68,000 ELEMENTS. I'M CONTACTING THE DEALER ON MONDAY. KEEP IN MIND THAT THEY REPLACED BOTH MY FRONT AND BACK BREAKS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO. THE 2005 HONDA PILOT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 3/16/10 RECALL. *TR

2005 HONDA PILOT BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. HAS OCCURED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. OPERATOR NOT TOUCH BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY WIFE AND THREE KIDS WHEN OUR 2005 HONDA PILOT'S TRANSMISSION STOPPED FUNCTIONING. WE WERE NEARLY REAR-ENDED 3 TIMES ON A 40 MPH SPEED LIMIT STREET, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR AND MY FAMILY PUSHED TO A SIDE STREET. OUR CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE RADIATOR DISENTEGRATING AND THEN METAL PARTS LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. WE'VE TAKEN METICULOUS CARE OF THE CARE AND HAD ALL SERVICE PERFORMED AT THE DEALER. IN FACT, WE HAD THE RADIATOR FLUSHED JUST 5 MONTHS AGO AND ONLY 9,500 MILES AGO.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE BRAKES FELT SOFT AND THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE A FEW YEARS AGO FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE DEALER CHECKED THE BRAKES AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT OFFER HIM ANY ASSISTANCE. HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,513.

DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY, HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO TURN ON. BRIGHTS WORK. UNABLE TO USE HEADLIGHTS FOR ANY DRIVING. CHECKED FUSES ALL GOOD, THOUGH INCORRECT MARKING ON A 15A FUSE SLOT THAT IS 20A. ALL LIGHTS BULBS ARE GOOD, EVEN REPLACED TO BE SURE. FOUND MELTED 16 PIN CONNECTOR WITH COMBINATION STALK SWITCH. UNABLE TO REPAIR YET. *TR

2/24/10. 2005 HONDA PILOT EX WITH 107K MILES. HAVE A BLINKING "D" LIGHT AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE LIGHT STOPS BLINKING WHEN I CUT OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON, BUT THEN IT RETURNS. TODAY IS THE 1ST DAY THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. OWNER?S MANUAL NOTES THAT THE BLINKING "D" LIGHT INDICATES A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP (ECONOMY HONDA-CHATTANOOGA, TN) WHO SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND MAY JUST BE A BAD TRANSMISSION SENSOR WHICH WILL COST ME ABT $350 AND 2 HRS OF MY TIME. HOWEVER, IT COULD ALSO MEAN THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS FAILING PREMATURELY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AS LAST MONTH I SPENT OVER $1K TO GET THE $105K MILE MAINT AND HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH REQUIRED MAINT. IF THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON- WHY HAS NO RECALL BEEN ISSUED? IN LOOKING AT OTHER ONLINE COMPLAINTS, THE SAME ISSUE OCCURS WITH THE 2003-2004 PILOTS. I HAVE AN APT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

MY WIFE WAS CRUISING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH A WEEK AGO, UNDER VERY GOOD ROAD CONDITION, WITH HER FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, WHEN SHE TRIED TO DODGE THE PASSENGER CAR FROM THE NEXT LANE, HER BRAKE WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY, SUDDENLY HER CAR MADE LOUSY BANGING SOUND AND SLED 3 TIMES IN RAPID TOWARD LEFT AFTER TOWARD RIGHT, AND LEFT AGAIN. LUCKILY NO CONTACTS WAS MADE WHILE IN DEVASTATING MOMENT. BEFORE HEADING TO DEALER, TODAY SNOWY DAY, DRIVING 10 MPH TO MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL DROPPING, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AS SIMILAR BUT NOT SO PANORAMIC. BARELY AVOID TO COLLISION WITH POLICE PATROL CAR ON OPPOSITE LANE. *TR

MY WIFE CALLED ME ONE MORNING ON HER WAY TO THE SHOP. SHE WAS FRANTIC SAYING "MY STEERING WHEEL IS SMOKING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I'M JUST ABOUT A MINUTE FROM THE SHOP. SHOULD I PULL OVER OR JUST TRY TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOP?" I TOLD HER, IF IT'S NOT TOO BAD AND SHE IS THAT CLOSE JUST KEEP COMING UNLESS IT GETS WORSE. WHEN SHE MADE IT TO THE SHOP, I PULLED OFF THE PLASTIC COVER AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. AND FOUND THE YELLOW WIRE GOING TO THE HEADLAMP SWITCH BURNT. THE MOLEX PLUG AND HEADLAMP SWITCH WERE ALSO MELTED. I CALLED LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND ASKED THEM IF THEIR WAS A RECALL FOR THIS. THEY SAID NO. ALSO SAYING THIS NEVER HAPPENS. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW HEADLAMP SWITCH AND MAKE REPAIRS TO THE WIRING AND PLUG. I OWN AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. IF NOT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY COSTLY REPAIR..I ALSO HAVE PICTURES OF THE BURNT WIRE AND MOLTEN PLUG AND SWITCH IF NEEDED. ..UPDATED 04/19/12 *BF UPDATED 05/11/12 UPDATED 05/17/2012 *JS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND SHUDDER. ONCE THE CONSUMER ACCELERATED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE FAILURE STOPPED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE TRAVELED AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE SOFTWARE FOR THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 159,000. UPDATED 03/08/11 *BF UPDATED 03/09/11