2011 Honda Pilot Steering Problems

WARPING OF ROTORS CAUSES EXTREME SHAKING WHEN BREAKING ALSO WRENCHING OF STEERING WHEEL WHEN SUDDEN STOPPING OR FAST DESCENTS OF STOPPING/BREAKING. CLICKING IN STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING TURNING,IN REVERSE AND STRAIGHT FORWARD DRIVING, SHUDDER IN SHIFTING 5-30 MPH , ECO LIGHT COMING ON AND CAUSES DELAY IN SPEED PICKUP OR CONTINUING IN SAME SPEED DURING DRIVING 01/15/2019. DOOR LOCKS FAILURE 06/05/2019 GAS PURGE VALVE GAS SMELL IN AC VENT REPLACED 06/05/2019. AC/HEAT BLOWER MOTOR FRONT REPLACED NOT WORKING 02/14/2019. REAR BLOWER AC/HEAT MOTOR BROKEN SMELLED OF SMOKE REPLACED 08/05/2019

TEERING COLUMN MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED POWER STERRING THREE TIMES AND RACK AND PINION ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS OF POWER STEERING. DEALERSHIP ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR PILOTS AND SUGGESTED I TRADE IN MY VEHICLE. CAR HAS 100,000K BUT ONLY IS DRIVEN IN TOWN 90% AND 10% HWY; ORIGINAL OWNER AND OTHERWISE IN GOOD CONDITION.). OTHERS HAVE POSTED SAME COMPLAINT WITH PILOT ONLINE. THIS CAN'T BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR! TO REPLACE A STEERING COLUMN SHOULD NOT BE A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. SAFETY IS A CONCERN BUT DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE IF REPAIRS ARE NOT DONE BUT THE NOISE WILL GET LOUDER. SEEMS TO ME THAT DEALERSHIP IS DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM QUIET OFTEN. CONTACTED AM. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPORTED THIS ISSUE. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND INQUIRY WILL BE CLOSED. NOT SURE IF HONDA IS LOOKING INTO WHETHER THERE IS A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. FORD HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND IT TOOK STEPS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.

WHILE LEAVING A PARKING RAMP AT A SLOW WALKING PACE HEARD A LOUD BANG, FOLLOWED BY THE STEERING WHEEL SPINNING RAPIDLY TO THE RIGHT FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE TURNING INTO THE EXIT DOOR FRAME. I BACKED UP, TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE LOUD BANG. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS OBSERVED. UPON DRIVING FORWARD AGAIN, NOTICED THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE HONDA DEALER WHO HAD NEVER SEEN A POWER STEERING FAIL LIKE THAT. THEY REPLACED THE PUMP, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE ISSUE. THEY ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE RACK AND PINION UNIT. THERE WAS SOME SIDEWALL SCUFFING ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, WHICH INDICATED THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN RUBBING ON THE EXIT CURB, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. BY HOLDING THE WHEEL STRAIGHT, THE POWER STEERING WAS PROBABLY TRYING TO PULL THE WHEEL LEFT, SO WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED, THE WHEEL SPUN RAPIDLY RIGHT, ACTUALLY SPRAINING MY RIGHT THUMB WHICH WAS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL CROSS MEMBER. KIND OF A FREAK ACCIDENT, BUT THE POWER STEERING SHOULDN'T FAIL IN THIS WAY. COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IN A TURN ON A ENTRY OR EXIT RAMP WHERE THE FORCES WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMILAR TO THIS PARKING RAMP INCIDENT.

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE FAR RIGHT OR TO THE FAR LEFT (OR ON A SHARP TURN) AS IN MAKING A U-TURN, THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND AND VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FEELS LIKE IT IS TIED TO THE AXLES OR TIRES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2010. AS YOU ARE DRIVING, THERE IS A SENSATION THAT THE WHEELS ARE MOMENTARILY LOCKING UP FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. THIS IS NOT RELATED TO THE ECO SYSTEM. THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT IS SKIDDING OR SKIPPING AND THEN IT RESUMES TO NORMAL DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 5 MILES.THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 40 MILES OR HIGHER ON THE FREEWAY NOT IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AND ALL WAS REPORTED NORMAL.

I WAS EXPERIENCING SOME CLUNKING AND POPPING NOISES AS I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT, AS I TURNED ONTO CITY STREET; PRIVATE PARKING LOTS, U-TURNS AND SUCH. I HAD MY FATHER TEST DRIVE IT AND HE THOUGHT IT MAY BE THE CV AXLES AND HAD IT CHECKED AT AUTO AIR & AXLE, SAN ANTONIO, TX. THEY FOUND IT WAS NOT THE CV AXLES, BUT A STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM AND AS IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, WE SHOULD CHECK INTO ANY RECALLS. WE FOUND NHTSA ASSIGNED RECALL ID# 10V640000 ON MY MAKE AND MODEL, FRONT SUSPENSION DAMPER BOLTS AND SPINDLE NUTS - MAKING THE CLUNKING AND POPPING NOISE.

MY 2011 HONDA PILOT SHAKES GOING 80 OR MORE MILES PER HOUR. THE DASHBOARD SHAKES SO BAD THAT IT LOOKS LIKE ITS ABOUT TO POP OUT.

STEERING COLUMN MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. DEALERSHIP GIVES 2 OPTIONS--GREASE THE COLUMN ($305) AND IF THAT DOES NOT WORK THEN REPLACE STEERING COLUMN AND RACK AND PINION ($3415). DEALERSHIP ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR PILOTS AND SOME OTHER CARS["RACK AND PINION AND STEERING COLUMN ARE BINDING'" IS WRITTEN ON THE ESTIMATE] OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND FOR MOST CARS GREASE IS NOT GOING TO WORK. DEALERSHIP ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. CAR HAS 97K BUT ONLY IS DRIVEN IN TOWN 90% AND 10% HWY; ORIGINAL OWNER AND OTHERWISE IN GOOD CONDITION.). OTHERS HAVE POSTED SAME COMPLAINT WITH PILOT ONLINE. THIS CAN'T BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR! TO REPLACE A STEERING COLUMN SHOULD NOT BE A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. SAFETY IS A CONCERN BUT DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE IF REPAIRS ARE NOT DONE BUT THE NOISE WILL GET LOUDER. SEEMS TO ME THAT DEALERSHIP IS DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM QUIET OFTEN. CONTACTED AM. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPORTED THIS ISSUE. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND INQUIRY WILL BE CLOSED. NOT SURE IF HONDA IS LOOKING INTO WHETHER THERE IS A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. FORD HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND IT TOOK STEPS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.

I HAD NOTICED WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE IT FELT AS IF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WHERE WARPED DUE TO THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE UNDER BRAKING. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND AFTER INSPECTION WAS TOLD THAT IN FACT ROTORS WHERE WARPED AND BREAK PADS WORN ALL PARTS REPLACED AND PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE CORRECTED THIS WAS DONE AT 85,000 MILES. NOW AT 98,000 SAME PROBLEM HAS RETURNED BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME NOW THAT BOTH THE FRONT COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS NEED REPLACEMENT. I HAVE CHECKED TO SEE IF THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE AND CANNOT IMAGINE IT IS NOT SEEING IT COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE ISSUES. PLEASE HOLD AMERICAN HONDA TO STANDARDS SET BY THE NHTSA FOR CUSTOMER SAFETY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ADDED STEERING FLUID TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (HONDA OF SUMNER, 16302 AUTO LN, SUMNER, WA 98390, (253) 826-6800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHEN VEHICLE CROSSING THROUGH A FEW INCHES DEPTH OF WATER PUDDLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SUDDENLY LOCKED WITH ODD NOISE AND FLASHING BATTERY WARNING. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD CAUSE FATAL ACCIDENT. THE STEERING WHEEL RESUMED OPERATION AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE AND RE-START.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING BLACK OIL FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BUSHING. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL HESITATED TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL RELATED TO THE STEERING MECHANISM THAT IS MAKING A LOUD CRACKING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, WHEN I BACK UP. WERE TOLD THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, IT IS BEEN ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO. NO RESPOND FROM DEALERSHIP OR HONDA ITSELF. MY NAME IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. WHILE REVERSING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,361.

MY 2011 HONDA PILOT TOURING HAD TO HAVE ALL 3 ENGINE MOUNTS AND THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT REPLACED. THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY ON ACCELERATION AND ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING AND PUT A LOT OF MILES ON MY VEHICLE. CURRENTLY I HAVE 128,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. I REALIZE THAT A VEHICLE WITH A HIGH NUMBER OF MILES WILL EXPERIENCE SOME WEAR TEAR, I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HAVE TO REPLACE MOUNTS THAT HOLD MY ENGINE IN PLACE. ALSO, I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH BUSHINGS AS THEY WERE BOTH RIPPED. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS SUV HAS COST ME A LOT MONEY IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE FAILING AT THE SAME TIME. I WILL HAVE TO RECONSIDER MY NEXT HONDA PURCHASE.

WE NEED A RECALL. SOME ONE PAY ATTENTION AND CARE ABOUT THIS BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. STEERING VIBRATES VIOLENTLY AND SHAKES WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ALSO TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT RESULTS IN A POP/CLICK SOUND AND YOU CAN FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN AND MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE. IN AN EFFORT TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, I PUSHED THE BRAKES. THE PROBLEM WAS, MY BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING TO ANY INPUTS. I HAD TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE IN A DITCH IN ORDER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. LUCKILY, I WAS ONLY GOING 30MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. *TR

TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR CLICKING NOISE WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS, SUCH AS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. FOUND 2 COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS ARE BROKEN AND LEAKING. APPROX 650 DOLLAR REPAIR. DEALER KNEW IT WAS AN ISSUE AND CONSIDERS IT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR FOR A 3 YEAR OLD CAR. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

RATHER THAN TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP, DECIDED TO TRY LOCAL SHOP INSTEAD. CLICKING & POPPING NOISE CONTINUE IN STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT. SOUND GETTING WORSE AND CAN NOW HEAR IN A PARKING LOT WHEREAS BEFORE, WAS JUST TURNING ON ROADS. WAS TOLD BY LOCAL TECHNICIAN THAT SOUND COMING FROM INSIDE THE STEERING SHAFT AND WOULD COST UPWARDS OF $500 TO REPAIR. BLOWER MOTOR NEEDS REPLACING, PURCHASED NEW BATTERY, AND ALSO TOLD RIGHT FRONT CV AXLE LEAKING OIL, ANOTHER $400 TO REPLACE. SURPRISE SURPRISE, WAS TOLD AGAIN (THIRD TIME NOW HAVING OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR JUST 4 YEARS) THAT THE FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED AND THE FRONT BRAKE PADS DOWN TO 50%. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE AGAIN IS UPWARDS OF $600 PLUS LABOR. SERIOUSLY?! *JS

WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OF 60 TO 65 WHEN I NEED TO BRAKE THE FRONT END OF MY PILOT SHIMMIES WHILE I APPLY THE BRAKE CAUSING ME TO NOT BE SURE IF I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS ROUGH ROAD SURFACE AND MY SON THOUGHT IT WAS OUT IF BALANCE TIRES. I DON'T DRIVE THE FREEWAY THAT OFTEN AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. LATELY I'VE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY MORE THAN USUAL AND I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE. ON MAY 1ST I WENT TO COSTCO WHERE I PURCHASED MY RADIAL TIRES JANUARY 2013 AND HAD THEM CHECK THE BALANCE OF MY TIRES. THEY SAID THEY WERE BALANCED AND PRESSURE WAS GOOD. LATER THAT DAY I CALLED HONDA SAN LEANDRO WHILE DRIVING HANDS FREE STATING I HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE PILOT WAS SHIMMING/VIBRATING VERY HARD. I FELT THE PROBLEM WAS SO DANGEROUS THAT I TOOK MY PILOT TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP VERY CLOSE TO MY LOCATION LEAVING IT FOR REPAIRS. THE OWNER OF THE SHOP CALLED ME THE NEXT MORNING MAY 2, 2014 TELLING ME WHAT HE FOUND. THE BUSHINGS WERE CRACKED AND BROKEN. I ASKED TO BE SHOWN WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND WAS SHOWN THE APPROXIMATE AREA UNDER A DIFFERENT CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT THESE TWO BUSHINGS HAD THE JOB OF PROVIDING A SMOOTH DRIVE. THE OWNER TOLD ME THAT HONDA CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE REPLACEMENT BUSHINGS WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY KNEW THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE. WHY DIDN'T HONDA ISSUE A RECALL? MY PILOT NOW HAS ONLY 38,000 MILES. MY BILL IS $513.82 WITH THE 2 BUSHINGS BEING $306.26.I HAVE THE ORIGINAL BUSHINGS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM MY PILOT.

BACK TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THERE IS A POP OR CLICKING SOUND FROM THE STEERING WELL WITH LEFT TURNS. TECHNICIAN VERIFIED NOISE AND FELT A CLUNKING NOISE WITH TURNS LEFT - COST TO RUN FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS UPWARDS OF $500. DECIDED TO WAIT ON REPAIR SINCE DEALER SAID SAFETY WAS NOT AN ISSUE. *JS