2005 Honda Pilot Complaint Log

MY 2005 HONDA PILOT SHUDDERS/VIBRATES (FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING PROBLEMS) BETWEEN 25-55 MPHS WHILE ACCELERATING. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN AROUND 90,000 MILES AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE REACHING 112,000 MILES. *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2005 HONDA PILOT. MY PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON IN MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF A CRASH. I HAD TO INITIALLY PAY 100 DOLLARS JUST TO GET THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND NOW I AM HAVING TO WAIT UP TO 2 MONTHS FOR THE PART THAT IS BACKORDERED. I AM VERY SCARED THAT SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN AND I WILL NOT BE PROTECTED. *TR

SEAT BELT FRONT PASSENGER UNSNAPS UNEXPECTED WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE CAR WARRANTY COVERED REPLACEMENT; DEALER REPLACED SEAT BELT. THIS IS A POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

OUR 2005 HONDA PILOT VEHICLE STATBILITY SYSTEM (VSA) MALFUNCTIONED. ON SIX SEPERATE OCCASIONS AND OVER THE COURSE OF 7 DAYS, STARTING JANUARY 10, 2010 THE VEHICLE WOULD BRAKE SPONTANEOUSLY AND ABRUPTLY AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THIS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS FROM 10 MPH TO 60 MPH. AFTER EACH INCIDENT, THE VSA LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THE TEMPORARY REMEDY WAS TO TURN OFF THE VSA BEFORE BEFORE DRIVING THE PILOT. THE PILOT WAS REPAIRED AT OUR HONDA DEALER ON JANUARY 27, 2010. A YAW RATE SENSOR WAS REPLACED FOR $720 INCLUDING LABOR. *CN

CVT FAILURE. PLEASE SEE CSC-10024235-7187.PDF. MORE WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT. MANY CUSTOMERS JUST "NURSED ALONG" TO GET PAST EXTENDED WARRANTY. APPROPRIATE, EFFECTIVE, AND PRESCRIBED REMEDIES ARE NOT APPLIED (IAW WITH ABOVE REFERENCE). APPEARS HONDA IS NOT PROVIDING A SAFE REMEDY FOR THIS SAFETY-RELATED PROBLEM. CAR FREQUENTLY STALLS, JUST WHEN THE DRIVER IS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. LESS THAN ONE HOUR ON THE INTERNET (VARIOUS BLOGS) REVEALED WELL OVER 100 PAGES OF DISSATISFIED OWNERS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. ATTEMPTS TO PERSUADE HONDA TO RESOLVE THIS VEXING PROBLEM FELL ON DEAF EARS AT HONDA.*JB

I WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH DOWN A 2 LANE ROAD. A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY TRAVELING AT 50 MPH IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TURNED INTO MY LANE. THE DRIVER HIT THE LEFT FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKING. THE IMPACT FORCED MY PILOT ONTO TWO WHEELS COMING DOWN ON THE FRONT HOOD OF HER CAR. THE IMPACT FORCED ME FROM THE ROAD THROUGH A DITCH, I HIT A CONCRETE CULVERT WITH THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WHICH SENT MY ENTIRE VEHICLE AIRBORNE. I LANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A GRAVEL ROAD AND CONTINUED INTO A YARD WHERE I SHEARED OFF TWO UTILITY POLE SUPPORT WIRES. THE IMPACT DESTROYED THE LEFT FRONT OF MY VEHICLE, BREAKING ALL OF THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS INCLUDING THE SWAY BAR AND CONTROL ARMS. IT ALSO DID SUSPENSION DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. THE IMPACT ALSO DESTROYED THE ROCKER PANEL AND BOTH LEFT SIDE DOORS ON MY VEHICLE ALONG WITH ALL FOUR ALLOY WHEELS AND TIRES. I HIT THE SIDE WINDOWS WITH MY HEAD SEVERAL TIMES AND ALSO CONTACTED THE "A" PILLAR WITH MY HEAD. THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT ALSO SUSTAINED NECK/ HEAD INJURIES CONTACTING THE "A" PILLARS AND WINDSHIELD. NEITHER THE SIDE IMPACT OF FRONTAL IMPACT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT MY CONCERNS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. NEITHER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE TOTAL COLLISION DAMAGE WAS $13,700.

2005 HONDA PILOT HAS TORQUE CONVERTER SHUTTER/VIBRATION BETWEEN 35-40 MPH. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED ON THE ACURA MDX, 2003-2004 MODELS, AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS BEING REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. SEE ACURA SERVICE BULLETIN 06-003. THE HONDA AND THE ACURA HAVE THE SAME PARTS! SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE THIS BECOMES A LIFE OR DEATH MATTER! *TR

I STARTED NOTICING A VIBRATION AT 34 TO 45 MPH. IT WAS DEFINITELY CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION UNDER THE HOOD. IT CAUSES MY 2005 HONDA PILOT TO VIBRATE, SHUDDER AND HESITATE AT THAT SPEED. I HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEFORE IT WILL STOP. IT HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY AT THAT SPEED. *TR

I AM THE OWNER ON A 2005 HONDA PILOT EX. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE GLASS IN MY SUNROOF SHATTERED. IT MADE A LARGE POP AND THEN WE WERE SHOWERED WITH SHARDS OF GLASS. THERE ARE NO SIGNS THAT AN OBJECT IMPACTED THE GLASS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BECAME SO HOT THAT IT BURNED A WHOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND HER COAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HEATING QUILT FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 2005 HONDA PILOT HAS HAD NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AS WELL AS RECALLS ON THEIR 2003 AND 2004 MODELS. CALLED AMERICAN HONDA AND THEY NEVER RETURNED PHONE CALLS. THIS WAS MY 5TH HONDA VEHICLE AND I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD AT LEAST CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN IGNORE IT ENTIRELY. *TR

VIBRATION ON TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH. *TR

MY HONDA PILOT 2005 SHUDDERS AT ABOUT 35-50 MPH SPEEDS. THE SHUDDERING LASTS FOR ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS. THE SHUDDERING GOES AWAY BY EITHER INCREASING OR DECREASING THE SPEED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW YEARS. TODAY I AM SITTING AT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SHUDDERING AND THE HONDA TECHNICIAN MENTIONED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. I RESEARCHED ON THIS SITE AND THERE ARE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS ISSUE. I WAS WONDERING WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. THANKS *TR

WHILE ACCELERATING BETWEEN 35-45 MPH, MY VEHICLE SHUDDERS. THIS IS A CONTINUING ISSUE. IT DOESN'T DO THIS EVERY SINGLE TIME BUT AT LEAST ONCE DURING THE DRIVING PERIOD. SOMETIMES IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE AND OTHER TIMES NEGLIGIBLE.

MY 05 HONDA PILOT HAS 70,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS PERFORMING FINE UNTIL BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND ENGAGING THE CAR INTO DRIVE. UPON ENGAGEMENT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE. A THICK CHOCOLATE MILK FLUID IS IN THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK. THE PROBLEMS RESULTS FROM THE FAILURE OF A COIL IN THE RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. DESPITE AMERICAN HONDA'S CLAIMS, THE FAILURE IS A RESULT OF PARTS FAILURE NOT ANY SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS. SINCE THE CAR IS JUST OVER 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 70,000 MILES, I REQUESTED AND WAS DENIED A GOODWILL ADJUSTMENT. AS NOTED IN THE RECALL OF 2003 AND 2004, HONDA IS KNOWN FOR HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. OTHER RESEARCH PROVES THAT HONDA TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT RELIABLE. TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO THE PASSENGERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VIBRATION WOULD CEASE ONCE THE VEHICLE WOULD REACH 50 MPH. ONCE THE CONTACT SLOWED DOWN AND PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE, THE VIBRATION WOULD RETURN. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC THAT THE TIRES WERE POSSIBLY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MECHANIC THEN ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,445.

DRIVER HEATED SEAT STARTED ACTING UP A COUPLE YEARS AGO. IT WOULD WORK IN SPURTS AND THEN NOT AT ALL. BROUGHT THIS TO ATTENTION OF MY HONDA DEALER, WHO COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I AM UNSURE OF EXACT DATE OR MILEAGE SINCE I TOOK THEM AT THEIR WORD. AT THIS POINT IN 2011 THE SEAT NOW HAS ONE SEARING HOT SPOT, WHEN IT WORKS, AND EMITS A BURNING ODOR. THE HOT SPOT IS SEARING HOT AND WILL LITERALLY LEAVE A RED BURN MARK ON YOUR THIGH. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE HEATING ELEMENT WITH A SHORT AND I CONSIDER A LIVE ELECTRICAL SHORT A SAFETY AND LIABILITY ISSUE. I AM REPORTING THIS AS A FIRE SINCE THEIR IS A BURNING AND SMOKE ODOR . I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH HONDA ECONOMY SUPERSTORE, HIXSON TN AND WILL UPDATE MY COMPLAINT ACCORDINGLY. *TR

SHUDDERING OF VEHICLE WHEN ACCELERATING. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

MY 2005 HONDA PILOT SHUDDERS/VIBRATES BETWEEN 30/40 MPH. I HAVE BEEN BRINGING IT INTO THE HONDA DEALER SINCE OCT 2009. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS BOTH MY DRIVE SHAFTS AND REPLACED THEM. THE SAME DAY MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THEY THEN TOLD ME THE DRIVE SHAFTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED THEM AGAIN. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THEY LOOKED FOR TROUBLE COMPUTER CODES BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR GET A SNAP SHOT WITH THE HDS. IT STILL SHUDDERED. NOW THE GREEN D (DRIVE) LIGHT FLASHES IN DRIVE AND IN PARK INDICATING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM PER THE OWNERS MANUAL. *TR

THE "D" FLASHES WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING SOMETHING IS WRONG, BUT HONDA CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPEN A FEW TIMES, HIGHWAY DRIVING. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME. *TR

THE "D" FLASHES WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING SOMETHING IS WRONG, BUT HONDA CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPEN A FEW TIMES, HIGHWAY DRIVING. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME. *TR

MY 2005 HONDA PILOT HAS A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHUDDER OR VIBRATE BETWEEN 35-45 MPH. I WAS TOLD BY MY SERVICE MAN THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD JUST LOCK UP WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2005 HONDA PILOT HEATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL MOTOR ASSEMBLY BLOWS HOT AIR OUT OF VENTS. NO MATTER IF YOU ADJUST TEMPERATURE OR PUT ON AIR CONDITIONER THE COLD AIR DOESN'T COME THREW VENTS INSTEAD HOT AIR IS BLOWING THREW. I HAD CAR CHECK AT SHOP AND THEY SAY THE TEMPERATURE MIX MOTOR STAYS IN HOT POSITION. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I NOTICE A SHUDDER WHEN YOU REACH A SPEED OF 35-40 MPH. WE IN TURN TOOK IT INTO HONDA TO HAVE IT CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES AND TO TEST DRIVE, I EVEN DROVE THE HONDA WHILE THE SERVICE MAN WAS IN THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT SHUDDER. IT IS STILL HAVING THE SHUDDER PROBLEMS, I AM TAKING IT IN FOR THE 4TH TIME FOR SERVICE AND OIL CHANGE AND MAYBE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG AND WHY IT SHUDDERS. FROM RESEARCH WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY HONDA PILOT OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE 98 TOTAL DISCUSSIONS ON THIS WEBSITE ( HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/HONDA/PILOT/2005/CONSUMER-DISCUSSIONS.HTML) DISCUSSING THE SAME PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING, I TRULY HOPE THAT HONDA IS GOING TO STAND GOOD ON TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM OR WE WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE ANOTHER HONDA. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR

2005 HONDA PILOT WENT INTO A FULL BRAKE MODE (SLAMMED) WITHOUT ANYONE TOUCHING THE BRAKES FROM 45 MPH. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WE LIMPED ONTO A SIDE STREET WITH THE BRAKES CONTINUING TO CATCH OFF AND ON. PARKED THE CAR AND RETURNED LATER TO GET IT TO THE DEALER. WE COULD NOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE. *TR

MY 2005 HONDA PILOT EX SHUDDERS AND VIBRATES WHEN ACCELERATING LIGHTLY BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. IT ALSO OCCASIONALLY MAKES A "PURRING" NOISE BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH, BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME OF THE SHUDDER. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO 3 HONDA DEALERS AND NONE CAN REPLICATE THE PROBLEMS (THEY CAN HAPPEN 10 TIMES A DAY OR NOT AT ALL) AND REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

2005 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I STARTED HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THE TRANSMISSION AROUND 75K MILES. THE WHOLE VEHICLE WOULD START TO SHAKE AND SHIMMY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE GOING UP A HILL. THIS GETS SCARY WHEN THERE IS A TURN TO NEGOTIATE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS MAKING THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHAKE. AT TIMES, I WOULD HAVE TO BRAKE, TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK UNDER CONTROL. I HAVE BEEN AFRAID SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAFETY NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF AND FAMILY BUT FOR OTHER VEHICLES THAT MAY BE NEAR ME AS THE PILOT BECAME UNSTABLE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING GOING UPHILL (SEVERAL NEAR CRASHES)! I AM NOW AT 120K MILES, I AM TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO GEAR FAILURE AND HEAT. I HAVE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE WITH HONDA FLUIDS. I DO NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE HARD OR TAKE IT OFF ROAD TO PLAY. THIS IS CRAZY! I FEEL HONDA SHOULD PRODUCE A MUCH BETTER AND MORE RELIABLE PRODUCT. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. HONDA HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE WITH THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THEIR PILOTS! I AM HOPING THAT YOU CAN HELP FACILITATE A SAFE AND ECONOMIC RESOLUTION WITH HONDA ON THE FABRICATION OF THEIR PILOTS. *TR

VEHICLE (2005 HONDA PILOT, 118,000 MILES) BECAME IMMOBILE DUE TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. LEFT WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN STRANDED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. WHEN VEHICLE DRIVEN BY SERVICE TECH, IT OVERHEATED. HAD NOT DONE THIS BEFORE. DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID COIL WITHIN RADIATOR HAD LIKELY FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO ENTER TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TO ENTER COOLING SYSTEM. COOLANT CAUSES SURFACES OF CLUTCHES IN TRANSMISSION TO BE COMPROMISED. COULD NOT GET ANY HELP FROM AMERICAN HONDA IN MAKING REPAIR, NOR FROM DEALER (WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED). TRADED CAR IN ON A 2006 PILOT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES HAD SUDDENLY SEIZED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE MOVED IN ANY DIRECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35000.

SATURDAY MAY 23RD I WAS TURNING LEFT AT A STOP SIGN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION AND SUDDENLY (AS I WAS PRESSING THE GAS) THE CAR BEGAN TO BRAKE ON ITS OWN. TRYING TO MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC, I INCREASE THE GAS, BUT THE MORE I DID, THE MORE THE CAR RESISTED. (AS IF IT WAS BRAKING). IT MADE A HORRIBLY LOUD NOISE THE WHOLE TIME. I TRIED TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT TO GET OFF THE ROAD, AND WHEN I BARELY TOUCHED THE BRAKE, IT SLAMMED STOPPED. I FINALLY GOT PULLED OVER, AND STOPPED. THINKING MAYBE THE E BRAKE WAS STUCK, I PUSHED IT ON, AND OFF AGAIN. TRIED TO DRIVE AND IT CONTINUED. STOP. TRIED AGAIN. FINALLY MADE IT HOME, AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. SHORTLY AFTER, MY HUSBAND DROVE IT. NOTHING HAPPENED. WE RAN ERRANDS THAT NIGHT, AND SUNDAY AFTERNOON WITH NO PROBLEM. THEN SUN EVENING, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HWY AND THE CAR BEGINS TO BRAKE ON ITS OWN, AGAIN, MAKING THE HORRIBLE NOISE. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER IF YOU HIT THE GAS, THE BRAKE, OR NOTHING AT ALL... THE CAR DECIDES TO BRAKE ON ITS OWN. ITS UNCONTROLLABLE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! I HAVE READ FORUMS ONLINE THAT SAY HONDA HAS REPLACED COMPUTERS, MODULES, WIRES, BATTERIES, ABS, SENSORS, 4WD, ECT. SOME WORKED, SOME DIDN'T. BUT ACCORDING TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, HONDA NATIONAL TECH SUPPORT HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE, AND THE TECH CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH ANY OF THE COMPONENTS LISTED ON THE FORUM PRINT OUTS WE SHARED WITH THEM. AS MANY COMPLAINTS AS I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT ARE SIMILAR TO MINE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HONDA HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS COMPLAINT. SOUNDS LIKE A RECALL THEY DON'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE?! I AM CONCERNED FOR SAFETY OF MYSELF, AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD. MANY FORUMS SAY THIS HAPPENS EVEN WHEN GOING 70MPH ON THE HWY. NOT SAFE! HONDA DOESN'T HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AND LEFT ME WITH NO SOLUTION. YET, THEY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR ANY LIABILITY. *TR

BT SHIMMY? IS THIS A NEW DANCE? NOT!!!! DANGEROUS VEHICLE~BRAKES TRANSMISSION? SHIMMY? AUGUST 25, 2009 '05 HONDA PILOT BRAKES LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. DID THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WHEN THIS STARTED IN MAY: BRAKES LOCK UP AND VEHICLE VEERS AND STOPS WHILE GOING OVER 35-40 MPH. I AM A JOURNALIST AND DID RESEARCH. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS: HONDA SAYS THEY DON'T LISTEN TO 'WEBSITES' WHAT ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS HONDA? THIS WAS FIXED FOR $500 BACK IN MAY AND HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS IN THE VEHICLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DANGER DANGER DANGER. JACK OF DIAMONDS SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN TYLER TEXAS WANTS TO ARGUE ABOUT IT. SALES MANAGER SAYS I CAN LEAVE IT THERE ~ B/C HE IS SURE NOTHING IS WRONG AND WILL RESELL IT!!!! TYLER, TEXAS. FURTHER: STRANDED IN GREENVILLE, TEXAS MOST OF THE DAY WITH CHILD. UNSAFE UNSA UNSAFE. BRAKES? TRANSMISSION? SHIMMY? I DON'T KNOW. *TR

SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON MY 2005 HONDA PILOT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AT 90K MILES. DAMAGE COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC BEARING FAILURE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. VEHICLE IS IN THE SE UNITED STATES WITH EXCELLENT ROADS AND WEATHER. BILATERAL FAILURE IS NOT BASED ON ANY REGIONAL CONDITIONS OR DRIVING CONDITIONS (NO TOWING/NO TRAILS OR OFFROAD) BUT CAN ONLY BE A RESULT OF FAULTY INITIAL PARTS. ALL WORK DONE BY DEALERSHIP IN PAST. AWAITING RESPONSE FROM HONDA CORPORATE CONCERNING THIS ISSUE-NO RESOLUTION TO DATE. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 HONDA PILOT WHICH I BROUGHT AT THE END OF 2006. EVERY SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR WHEN I RUN OVER A RAIN PUDDLE THE STEERING LOCKS. I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY WHEN IT WAS A HUGH PUDDLE BUT IN MARCH 2009 I RAIN OVER A PUDDLE THAT CAME FROM A CAR WASH AND THE SAME THING HAPPEN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I NEED A NEW BELT. I HAD THEM REPLACE IT AND 3 WEEKS LATER IT RAINED AND THE SAME THING HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY WHICH ALMOST LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

AFTER REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE, SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT END OF THE HONDA PILOT, AND TO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES YESTERDAY. ONCE WHILE DRIVING ~40MPH THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, THROWING ITEMS FROM THE SEAT INTO THE FLOOR. THE FIRST INSTANCE WAS BRIEF AND I DROVE ~2 MILES BEFORE IT HAPPENED AGAIN WITH THE VSA INDICATOR LIGHTS (CAUTION AND OFF) CAME. MANUAL STATES VSA CAN RESET BY TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON (MUST BE A MICROSOFT SYSTEM). DROVE THE CAR TO WORK. LATER LEFT WORK AND WENT ABOUT 5 MILES BEFORE THE VIOLENT SUDDEN STOP EVENT. FOLKS THIS IS SERIOUS PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THE VIOLENT NATURE OF THE CAR STOPPING. CAR IS AT THE DEALER RIGHT NOW, THEY COULD NOT REPEAT THE EVENT , YET AND CLAIMED THE COMPUTER COULD NOT READ ANY CODES. THEY HAVE A CALL INTO THE FACTORY. REFERENCE THREAD AT WWW.HONDAPILOT.ORG HONDA PILOT .ORG > GENERAL > PROBLEMS > VSA APPLIES FULL BRAKE FOR NO REASON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO BRAKE MODE AND CAME TO A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN STOP. THE FAILURE CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, CAUSING ITEMS TO BE THROWN FROM THE SEAT ONTO THE FLOOR. DURING THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH PRODUCED A LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE CODE AND A BRAKE SENSOR CODE. THE DEALER TESTED AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. THEY ALSO NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 58,000.

BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT AIRBAG SENSORS FOR MY 2005 HONDA PILOT EXL FAILED SIX MONTHS APART. IN THE FIRST CASE, IN FEBRUARY 2009, THE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON WHILE WE WERE DRIVING BACK TO PENNSYLVANIA FROM NORTH CAROLINA. EXAMINATION AT THE HONDA DEALER IN PA DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE TWO FRONT SENSORS HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED. SIX MONTHS LATER THE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE OTHER SENSOR FAILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS CORROSION AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. IN BOTH CASES, THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT HAVE OPERATED HAD THEIR BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER CLAIMED THE FAILURES WERE, "JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS". HAVING WORKED WITH PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS IN THE PAST AND HAVING WORKED WITH NEARLY ALL AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES (INCLUDING TOYOTA AND HONDA IN JAPAN), I DOUBTED THIS EXPLANATION. THESE WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND SEALED SENSORS AND CORROSION/FAILURE WAS INEVITABLE. THIS IS A RARE FAILURE IF THE COMPONENTS ARE MANUFACTURED PROPERLY. *TR

FRONT MOTOR MOUNT FAILED AT APPROX. 60K MILES. SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS NO KNOW CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE, BUT SAYS IT IS LIKELY A MATERIAL DEFECT. *TR

YESTERDAY, MY DAUGHTER'S 2005 HONDA PILOT WITH 71K MILES SINCE NEW, WAS ROLLING ALONG AT 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE 66 WHEN BRAKES ENGAGED BRINGING CAR TO SUDDEN STOP. SEVERAL CARS BEHIND HER HAD TO TAKE DEFENSIVE ACTION TO PREVENT PILING UP. VSA LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS WERE ON. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES TO A POINT WHERE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND HAD TO BE PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO HONDA BY AAA. SAME THING HAPPENED IN OCT 2008 (ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO) BUT OCCURRED ONLY INTERMITTENTLY AND CAR COULD BE DRIVEN TO DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSIS FROM DEALER WAS NEED FOR NEW BATTERY. ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND CAR WORKED FINE UNTIL YESTERDAY. IT APPEARS THAT THE HONDA DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AT THE DEALERS CANNOT PROPERLY IDENTIFY THIS PROBLEM ALTHOUGH IT IS SURELY SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL. ACCORDING TO MEMBERS POSTING AT HONDAPILOT.ORG FORUM, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AND WITH THE SAME POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS RESULTS. MORE TROUBLING IS THE FACT THAT HONDA DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITH CURRENT TECHNOLOGY. SOME HAVE REPLACED TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS, SOME HAVE REPLACED STEERING WHEEL SENSORS AND OTHERS HAVE REPLACED SIDE CRASH SENSORS AND BRAKE SYSTEMS. IN MY CASE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE FACT REMAINS, HOWEVER, THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE THE RESULT OF MALFUNCTIONS OF ALL THESE SYSTEMS AND THE CURRENT DIAGNOSTIC CODES APPARENTLY ARE INSUFFICIENT TO PINPOINT THE EXACT COMPONENT THAT FAILED. THIS LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY ONLY COMPOUNDS THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM AND INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF A MULTI-CAR PILEUP WHEN THE VSA SYSTEM ENGAGES FOR NO GOOD REASON. *TR

2005 HONDA PILOT EX HAVE APPLIED SUDDEN BRAKE WHICH COMPLETELY STOPPED THE CAR. IT HAPPENED THREE TIME IN THIS WEEK (2/2 - 2/4). THE WEATHER IS COLD AFTER A MINOR SNOW, THE ROAD IS WET OR DRY. BUT EACH TIME THERE WERE SNOW AND SALT RESIDUE ON THE ROAD, WHEN THE CAR ROLL OVER IT, THEN IT HAPPENED. MOVING SPEED WAS BETWEEN 20 - 30 MPH. SINCE IT WAS SLOW SO NOT ACCIDENT OCCURRED, OTHERWISE MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT FROM BEHIND. *TR

I HAD MY 2005 HONDA PILOT IN THE SHOP FOR 60,000 MILE CHECK-UP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE RIGHT FRONT AND THE REAR LEFT. I THINK THIS IS ENTIRELY TOO FEW MILES FOR THE MOTOR MOUNTS TO BEGIN TO FAIL. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 HONDA PILOT. WHEN I HAD IT SERVICED LAST WEEK THE DEALERSHIP PUT IN A THIRD RIGHT REAR SHOCK THAT WAS LEAKING. THE LAST SHOCK ONLY LASTED 3000 MILES. I THINK THAT SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG WITH THE CAR THAT CONTINUES TO RUIN THE SAME RIGHT REAR SHOCK. *TR

RADIATOR WAS APPARENTLY STRUCK BY ROCK AND CRACKED. THE HONDA PILOT WAS IMMEDIATELY TOWED TO DEALER FOR FACTORY REPLACEMENT. WITHIN TWO MONTHS THE NEW RADIATOR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND CAUSE OF CRACK WAS UNDETERMINED. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET AUTO BLOGS THERE APPEAR TO BE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING CRACKED RADIATORS IN HONDA PILOTS FROM RANDOM ROAD DEBRIS. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE COMMON IN THE ACCORD OR OTHER MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES SUGGESTIVE TO ME THAT THE REPEATED OCCURRENCE OF CRACKED RADIATORS IN THE HONDA PILOT IS A RESULT OF FAULTY DESIGN. THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE OR INJURY IF THIS CONTINUES. *TR

I HAD MY FRONT AND SIDE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED TWO WEEKS AGO ON MY 2005 WITH 75,000 MILES. I SUSPECT THEY HAD BEEN TORN FOR 5,000 MILES OR SO. LOTS OF LOW LOAD CLUNKING DURING THROTTLE APPLICATION, AND EVER SO SLIGHT STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION. WHICH I HAD NEVER NOTICED, UNTIL DRIVING IT AFTER THE REPAIR AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL DEAD STILL. BUT IT STILL IS DISAPPOINTING TO SPEND $450 FOR (2) MOTOR MOUNTS ON A 3 YEAR OLD TRUCK. SHOULDN'T HONDA TO DO A RECALL ON THIS? *TR

MY WIFE LOST CONTROL , 2 LANE PAVED ROAD 45 MPH (CAR DAMAGE FROM BUMPER TILL REAR END) COMING TO STOP IN A DITCH TO HER LEFT. NO OTHER VEHICLE/INVOLVED, REPORT WAS FILED WITH INSURANCE, CAR REPAIRED ( OVER $10,000 ) I ARRIVED AS POLICE OFFICER WAS INTERVIEWING MY WIFE @ OUR DRIVEWAY, SHE WAS STILL CRYING, NEVER HAD ANY ACCIDENTS BEFORE, OR SPEEDING TICKETS ( VERY PASSIVE DRIVER, OUR KIDS WHERE IN THE CAR 3 AND 4 YEARS OLD @ THE TIME) HER EXPLANATION: THE CAR WAS GOING OUT OF THE ROAD TO MY RIGHT ON ITS OWN, I TRIED TO CORRECTED BUT THE STEERING WAS NOT RESPONDING,I FELT THE CAR GOING INTO THE DITCH, I PULLED HARD , IT RESPONDED CROSSING THE LANE VIOLENTLY, TRIED TO CONTROL IT CAME BACK TO THE RIGHT HITTING THE STOP AHEAD SIGN, SWERVED AGAIN TO THE LEFT AND STOPPING @ THE DITCH.150 FEET FROM THE INTERSECTION,BETWEEN TELGE RD. WESTBOUND AND GRANT RD. CYPRESS TX 77429 PREVIOUS OWNERS OF HONDA CRV, WE LOVE THEIRS CARS WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BAD LUCK, THINGS THAT HAPPEN, WE MOVED ON. SINCE THEN SHE/COMPLAINED/BRAKES WILL DISENGAGED AND ENGAGE AGAIN. THE CAR WILL STOP BUT A COUPLE OF FEET LONGER THAT INTENDED. 1ST. TIME I REPLACE BRAKE PADS, 2ND.TIME I TRIED TO REPLICATE THE EXPERIENCE BUT NO LUCK. 3RD. TIME NEW BRAKE FLUID AND COMPLETE BRAKE INSPECTION. 12/2012 SHE TOLD ME AGAIN. I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO WORK MYSELF EVERY DAY. 12/29/2012 COMING BACK FROM WORK, STOP SING, HIT THE BRAKES, RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR STOPS THE PEDAL SUNK COMPLETELY , NOISES CAME FROM THE WHEELS AS IF THERE WAS AND ON/OFF SWITCH BEING USE FOR BRAKING. THE CAR STOPS ABOUT 10 FEET LONGER THEN INTENDED. BEING CONCERN ABOUT A SOLUTION I STARTED LOOKING FOR ANY INFO ABOUT THIS ONLINE, SO IT COULD FIX IT THIS IS MY KIDS/WIFE VEHICLE. I DISCOVER ALL THE SIMILAR CASES ONLINE ,I WONDER IF THE STEERING REALLY WHEN OUT OF CONTROL ON ITS OWN , LIKE SHE SWORE TO MY IN 2008. *TR

WAS DRIVING ALONG A MAIN ROAD IN DELAWARE, AND MY "D" LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I LOOKED IT UP IN THE MANUAL AND IT SAID THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON. IT HAS CAME ON A HANDFUL OF TIMES, BUT SHUTS OFF AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON. I NOW AM EXPERIENCING A HARD SHIFT, AND A SHUDDERING (ALMOST LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL), AND A CLUCKING NOISE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND REALIZE THERE HAS BEEN MANY MORE COMPLAINTS WITH THIS ISSUE IN THE 2005 HONDA PILOTS. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED AN '05 HONDA PILOT FROM BUTLER PRE-OWNED DEALERSHIP IN BUTLER, PA. THE VEHICLE WAS LEASED FOR 3 YEARS, AND I WORKED THE DEAL ON THE CAR ON THE INTERNET. WHEN A PRICE WAS AGREED TO, I DROVE TO BUTLER TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, I TEST DROVE IT FIRST. IT HAD A VERY NOTICEABLE SHIMMY, AND A SHUDDER WHEN DRIVING AT 50MPH SPEEDS AND UP. I TOLD THE SALESMAN THAT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE, SO WE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND DROVE 3 OTHER '05 PILOTS ON THE LOT, ALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SALESMAN AND SALES MANAGER SAID THIS WAS A RESULT OF PUTTING NEW TIRES ON ALL OF THESE VEHICLES, AND AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE, THE RIDE WOULD SMOOTH OUT. WELL, I SWALLOWED THIS LINE OF CRAP, HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER, AND AFTER RETURNING HOME, AND DRIVING THE PILOT FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, I REPLACED THE NEW KUMHO TIRES WITH OEM GOODYEAR INTEGRITY TIRES, AND HAD THE WHEELS BALANCED TWICE, ONCE AT HONDA DEALER, AND AGAIN AT LOCAL TIRE SHOP, WITH LATEST STATE OF THE ART BALANCING MACHINES. AFTER ALL THIS, THE SHIMMERING AND SHUDDERING IS STILL AS BAD AS IT WAS WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE HOME, AND I CANNOT DRIVE THIS THING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET LATELY, I HAVE FOUND LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM PILOT OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING. I PAID $16500 FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT OUT OF TOWN, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SIT STILL AND ACCEPT THIS AS MY FATE. FIRST, AT THE VERY LEAST, THE DEALER MIS-REPRESENTED THIS VEHICLE, AND I SHOULD HAVE SOME RECOURSE IN THIS RESPECT. SECOND, HONDA HAS OBVIOUSLY PUT OUT A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, WHICH THEY SHOULD BE WILLING TO FIX, OR COMPENSATE THE VICTIMS OF THIS TYPE OF FRAUDULENT PRODUCT. I WAS VERY HAPPY AT THE PROSPECT OF PURCHASING A QUALITY VEHICLE, WHICH MY WIFE AND FAMILY COULD ENJOY FOR YEARS TO COME, AND FELT JUSTIFIED IN SPENDING THE MONEY TO DO SO. HOWEVER, I NOW FEEL SICK AT THE PROSPECT OF PAYING FOR THIS MISTAKE FOR THE NEXT 6 YEARS. PLEASE HELP! *TR

THE PART THAT HAS FAILED IS THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT ON MY 2005 HONDA PILOT EX-L. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE IS NORMAL EVERYDAY DRIVING. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE IS 3 YRS OLD AND HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE A 390 DOLLAR BILL TO HAVE THE DEALER REPLACE THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT. IF IT IS NOT REPLACED THE SIDE MOTOR MOUNT WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE AND CAUSE UNDUE STRAIN ON THE TRANSMISSION EVENTUALLY CAUSING TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. FRONT MOTOR MOUNT REPLACED. OLD MOUNT IS AVAILABLE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A TRIP ON THE NYS THRUWAY, THE DRIVER'S FRONT BRAKE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK UP AND DRAG THE CAR TO THE LEFT. WE WOULD HEAR A NOISE (ABS PUMP?) AND LIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME ON THE DASH. THIS WOULD LAST ONLY A FEW SECONDS AT A TIME, BUT ENOUGH TO YANK THE WHEEL AND PULL INTO THE LEFT LANE. WE DID MAKE IT HOME. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECTIVE YAW/STABILITY CONTROL SENSOR. THEY REFUSED TO PROCESS UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY HAD BARELY EXPIRED. COST $820 TO FIX. I AM WRITING NOW BECAUSE I RECENTLY SAW AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER WHERE YOUR AGENCY IDENTIFIED THIS VERY PROBLEM WITH 2005 HONDA PILOTS. *TR