2003 HONDA Pilot

Car will not crank. Key feel crunky going in intition it has gotten stuck a few times. And stuck in park. Going down the road it stalled a few times and made clicking noise when turned off. A few times.

TRansmission Failure at 150K

Absolutely no warning whatsoever! Transmission failed suddenly while new driver teen was on the highway. This is a very dangerous situation, to say the least. Transmissions do fail normally and at this many miles, understandably; BUT NOT without any warning symptoms whatsoever. That is what makes this so dangerous. Also, the consumer is not afforded the opportunity to make a wise purchase. I bought this vehicle in perfect running condition. It had been recently serviced and checked out. No signs of transmission problems. Then three weeks after purchase, bam! Out of a vehicle, as the repair is more than the value of the vehicle.

Engine check code P730. It is determined this is a common transmission issue happening to all Pilots. Estimate from different mechanic come to somewhere between $2900 – $5000.

While attempting to gain speed transmission began to slip, then downshift causing loss of speed in traffic. This got progressively worse D light on dash came on, had service done on transmission, technician reset light on dash. Drove 3 times light on dash back on, beginning to slip again. Awaiting call to Honda. Have 03 Pilot with known problem and model involved in recall however my VIN is not one of the ones included in recall. Cost is on going at this time pending resolution.

SRS light, which was under warranty came on 2003 Honda pilot. The dealership replaced both airbags under a recall. The SRS light still remained on, so a diagnostic test revealed a code 15-3 in the OPDS system and found faulty wiring in passenger seat harness which was under warranty for 10 years which we were not aware of until the SRS light came on. After doing my own research I found Honda service bulletin 06-009 dated Feb.5, 2008,which set the warranty at 10 years or 150000 miles. My vehicle falls within the mileage parameters but not the years. You would think the time would run from the date of the bulletin. It doesn’t seem fair that I have to pay to replace this part when Honda knew it was a defective part and they should replace it without any restrictions on time or mileage.

I bought the 2003 Honda Pilot on 1/30/2003. I received the transmission repair recall and had the work performed on 5/4/2004. So I drove my Pilot for a little more than 15 months with some unknown issue, that I assumed was properly and completely solved by Honda. Of course, I had no second thoughts about this, because I implicitly trust Honda, because of their earned reputation and my personal experience over the years. As I now understand the problem, there were over 100,000 of these transmissions that were produced and driven with this fairly critical engineering defect. The defect was allegedly repaired with a retrofitted part, but in actuality the period of vehicle operation and the mileage accumulated before the recall repair, causes the torque converter to over heat and become mechanically compromised by a lack of properly distributed transmission fluid. So if many miles were driven before the recall repair was performed, the transmission most likely failed early in it’s expected life span. If less time and/or fewer miles were driven, there would be a better chance of greater transmission longevity before failure. So in fact there are multiple levels of failure, but there appear to be two primary issues. 1. Honda has not honored it’s warranty responsibility, by at minimum pro-rating the repair/replacement costs to their customers for faulty engineering and negligence of proper communication of expected operational failure. 2. More serious is the possible nature of transmission failures and the potential danger that Honda is placing it’s customers in. I am not an automatic transmission expert, but when I read the accounts of many other Honda owners with the same year vehicle and same transmissions that had the same symptoms as mine, but continued to drive their cars to have the transmission blow up or in some cases seize while being driven, I am seriously concerned as to the position of potential danger that Honda is placing me! What do I do next? The Pilot still looks and behaves like a new vehicle. It has almost 109,000 miles and recently received some major replacements – timing belt, water pump, belts, plugs, rotors, pads, brake fluid, coolant, headlight assemblies, tires and of course synthetic oil from day one. I thought she was ready for the next 100,000 miles and now I find out that I’m in for major transmission work or replacement for roughly totaling $5,000, because Honda isn’t owning up and being legit about an engineering flaw and the repair costs that many of it’s customers have been shouldering for years, depending on the mileage that their vehicles accumulated, before the recall repair was completed. What to do? Trade the car in, while it has value, but that’s just giving the problem to someone else … not very ethical! Or hope that the problem doesn’t become worst case scenario and hope for the best. Honda should be providing advice and assistance to its customers.

Clear coat began coming off many of the horizontal surfaces on the car. Now the actual paint is coming off. UNACCAPTABLE.
I would very much appreciate honda reprinting the car, as I do not have $6k.

Transmission failed.

My transmission is slipping between 2nd and 3rd gear. I have had a 4th gear sensor replaced at cost, because it was the third time in the dealership and they finally were able to get a code. Now, after that replacement, my check engine light came on and posted code P0730. Incorrect gear ratio. I have been to the dealer 4 times including today and I want this issue fixed.

I’m the latest victim of a failed ’03 Honda Pilot Transmission failure. This past Saturday I effectively lost 3rd and 4th gear as the trans simply slammed in/out, revved, etc. We were on the highway doing 70, and had to exit immediately before we cause an accident.

Though I’ve NEVER serviced this transmission, I believe in modern vehicles that failing at even 156K miles is unacceptable.

Anyway, as expected, $4500 (estimate provided this morning) for the repair.

I’m concerned about the trans failing again in the future, as the warranty I get with this rebuilt is 1-year or 12K miles.

I believe that it is too early for 2003 Honda Pilot to have transmission problem at less than 10 years old. While moving, the transmission locks up, and sometimes goes back to low gear on its own. It wouldn’t go into reverse. I first took it to a local transmission shop and they serviced it. It was okay for 2 weeks, and the problem started again. I then took it to the dealer, and they told me the transmission needed to be replaced. Because their charge was too high, I took the car to another local transmission shop who repaired/rebuilt it. I have had Air Conditioning line replaced. The steering was not turning, and the ignition key was not getting into the ignition. The driver side door would not open with neither the key nor the remote control. To get into the car, I had to use the passenger side door. I took the car to the dealer and they said it is a common problem with Honda Pilot.

Transmission failure. Shifting in and out g gear while in motion. Definite safety issue. Honda NA not willing to replace transmission.

Transmission has not yet gone as of 5-1-12 but it is making a terrible noise and it’s only a matter of time. The vehicle just turned 100 thousand miles.

My transmission failed at 130K miles. The transmission is defective by design. This is not the only vehicle this transmission has failed in as the Odyssey and Accord have the same transmission failures. The cost to repair is $4200 which is haneous given Honda knows they have made a defective product. There are hundreds if not thousands of complaints on this transmission problem. Honda should supply their dealers zero cost replacement transmissions. I do not mind paying the labor cost but the transmission cost should be written off by Honda.

Vehicle’s transmission was inspected as part of a 2005 recall, but the transmission failed anyway several years later.

The transmission totally failed (began smoking and causing drag) while we were traveling on a busy interstate at 70 MPH. We had three adults and five children in the vehicle and barely managed to get off the interstate. The dealer demanded over $5,000 for a rebuilt transmission and installation but eventually settled for $4500. We were stuck, 400 miles from home, and the dealer knew it. Honda refused to reduce the cost (they charged almost $3000 for the rebuilt transmission itself). Our total cost, with rental car, hotel, etc. was over $5,000.

$3,000 for a rebuilt transmission is exorbitant. Honda designed a defective transmission (this problem has been widely reported). A transmission should not fail after 70,000 miles. But the unconscionable part is that they charge a 100% premium over a fair cost to replace the defective transmission. Instead of replacing free, which they should have done, the double the cost. I would like to join a class action and in discovery, among other things, I want to obtain internal documents showing the revenue Honda projected from selling overpriced rebuilt transmission to replace their own defective products.

No more Honda/Acura products for me, ever.

Driving this morning and all of a sudden my vehicle started jerking uncontrollably into and out of gears. The vehicle jerked so bad my seat belt was locking, the cars behind me backed up (could have been a serious accident). I managed to get to the side of the road, the malfunction light came on after it started jerking. It scared me so bad, I was shaking after I got to the side of the road. I had the car towed home. Honda dealership says I need to bring it in for a diagnostics check and a transmission is approximately $3600, and they will not cover any of it. I told the guy that I have seen many complaints on this year and model and he says he has only seen about 3 pilots with transmission problems in the 8 years he has been there. I am waiting for Honda Corporation to call me back regarding the issue, I could have been seriously injured from this problem and from reading these discussions I am not the only one.

-When accelerating and going into 2nd or 3rd gear, periodically, the car slows down when trying to accelerate but then kicks in to speed up after a second or two.
-When going onto the highway one time, it did not accelerate, it hesitated, made a loud revving noise, and then accelerated.
-After being stuck in traffic for an hour, when accelerating, the car bucked and made a loud noise. Later that day, it bucked and made a loud noise when going into reverse.

Transmission is not properly working

WE JUST HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED TWO WEEKS AGO AND IT BROKE AGAIN. WE ARE TAKING IT TODAY THE SHOP TOMORROW 6/27/11

transmission slipping. Dealership says car needs new transmission.

The vehicle started to have problems at 50,000 miles. I have had all of the maintenance performed by Honda according to their schedules. I initially purchased the vehicle new and added a 100,000/5 year warranty. They have since replaced 2 radios; 1 DVD system; loss of heat, which was attributed to a leak (this was two times); loss of coolant from the vehicle; smell of antifreeze (still present); suspension problems with the front end (tie rods had to be replaced); there were electrical problems, which resulted in the alarm going on and off intermittently on its own; and the numerous recalls; they have also replaced an EGR valve and blamed it on Firestone since they performed an oil change on the vehicle. Although loaner cars were provided at my demand (they are included on the Honda Care warranty), the extent of the cars that have been provided have been pickup trucks, along with the choice of a cargo van?

The problem has been traced to the upper shock mounts. Their design causes a rattle on small to moderate road irregularities. I was forced to make a personal modification to the mount as Honda would not acknowledge the problem. Others (national web site) have experienced the same symptoms, but Honda says this is charastic of vehicle. I have been a major supporter of Honda in purchases and their customer service is incredibily insensitive. My next purchase may be a VW or Volvo. Since I modified the bracket, the sound is not the issue. The value Honda has placed on my business is. I can document all efforts to resolve the issue, however Honda does not want to admit there is a problem. Surely I can not be the only one to have this issue with Honda as I have remained professional at all times. I will not let the issue die. There should be reasonable expectations that support should go along with product loyalty. Bill Price

My 2003 Honda Pilot is an unsafe vehicle because the head restraints on the front seats can NOT be adjusted. Thus the restrain must stay down on the top of the back of the seat. In my case the restraint hits my head about one inch from the top of my head. This means in a rear ended crash, my neck will be broken because there is no way for the restraint to be adjusted to cushion my head properly. There should be an immediate recall on these vehicles. The Honda Customer Service will not fix this problem, because it is designed with out any adjustment. It is unsafe and Honda should replace all Pilots with news ones that have an adjustable head restraint. Note: Those in the 2nd and 3rd rows work fine.

I received my April, 2005 issue of Consumer Reports in the mail today, and I read the article on Page 8 entitled

I purchased my 2003 pilot in Oct. 2002 and brought it to the dealer in Nov. 2004, after receiving a recall for a transmission problem due to “second gear” issues. If it was determined then that there was a problem they were supposed to replace the trasmission in vehicles with over 15000 miles (mine had 24000 at the time). They said there wasn’t and problem and just replaced a part (if they did anything at all.) My transmission went suddenly this week- Feb. 12th 2008 (the vehicle has under 70,000 miles).

I had the car in reverse, I backed up put it in drive and about 6 seconds later I had gone through the closed garage door and into the wall of my house. I was applying the brakes from the moment of acceleration the car was not slowing down. I was probably going 40mph or so instantly. I do believe the car went into reverse after hitting the interior wall and then abruptly stopped. No one was injured in the accident. I had a friend with me and she can verify everything. The damage to my car is about 2,500. The damage to my home about 3,000. I have found a bulletin on 2001-2003 odyessy’s and 2003 pilots reguarding an idle fluctuation problem. My Honda service manager is telling me that this is not the problem. However, I think it could be. Nothing was coded in the car to show that there was any type of malfunction. If you have any information about this problem please let me know.

My 2003 Honda Pilot had an engine light on. When I took it to the dealer they determined that it was a Torque Converter Clutch System failure and that the transmission needed to be changed.

I started hearing a "high pitched whining" noise in Nov. of 2009 and the VTM4 light came on. Dealership said there was nothing wrong. Maybe a misfire. Took it back in March of 2010. Dealer said it needed a 2nd gear sensor. Cost me 178.00 but the noise was still there. I was 400 miles over the extended warranty I purchased. I was told that this sensor should fix it. I called back because even though it shifted more smoothly the whining was still there. Now, 4 days ago, my transmission locked up while I waa driving at highway speeds with no ‘check engine’ light on and no warning, Dealer wants $4,600 to repair the transmissionand Honda has offered no assistance even though I have found numerous complaints online. I tried to correct the problem before this occured. My main concern is what happened the day the transmission went bad. Had my wife been driving, she would have wrecked. This car locked up so hard and fast it slammed me into the windshield even though I was wearing a seatbelt. This could have caused a major accident. $4,600 for a re-manufactured transmision? This has to stop! Someone is going to get killed.

2003 honda pilot. consumer states problem with vehicle ignition *tgw the consumer stated he was able to remove the key from the ignition, even though the vehicle was not in park. the dealer found the interlock system had an internal failure. the consumer was informed his vehicle was not on the recall list. *jb

2003 honda pilot transmission was replaced. consumer request a refund for the transmission work that was a safety recall. *nj the consumer stated there was no reverse gear and the vehicle jerked when switching the gear forward. the dealer diagnosed the problem as internal transmission failure. *jb

Srs electronic system was disrupted by electronic item being placed in the passenger seat of the 2003 honda pilot.***no answer required***. *mr *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the srs light illuminated indicating a problem with the seatbelts or the airbag system. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer. the diagnostic did not identify any problem so the warning light was reset. after three days, the warning light illuminated again. the service dealer was notified, but the manufacturer was not.

First, i had both: a frontal impact with a deer and a rear collision with another car and none of my air bags deployed. dealer informed me that the impact on both occasions was not a severe/hard impact, therefore airbag did not open. they must be waiting for a few consumers to die before recalling these airbags and a lawsuit. it cost me over $3k to fix the damages on both ends. anyway, my srs light came on and stayed on since this past april. i took my pilot to my dealership and they told me that i need my "cable reel" replaced. they informed me that the cost to fix my pilot would be $400=$300 labor + $100 part and it is there way of robbing me blind. i told them to not performed the fix until i got a second opinion. they did reset the light for me but the srs light came back minutes after they return it to me. well, the second opinion at leesburg honda dealership close to my house want to rape my wallet of $1000 +. they are telling me that my air bag is bad and that i need to replace it or i will fail my va inspection. they told me that they are mechanics and specialize in repairing broken\damage car equipments. they are not engineers and can not explain to me why my air bag would go bad. the limited warranty does not cover since i am over my 3 yrs\36k miles. so basically to get my car fix, i have to pay to replace a defective part that was sold to me as new when i purchased my vehicle. who should i believe or which dealership knows what they are doing? *jb

Dt: the srs light came on the dash panel. this came on without any previous incidents or problems. there was another recall on a separate issue, and while at the dealer for recall repair, the dealer inspected the srs light. the dealer made the determination that the airbag was not working. the dealer believed cell phone use had shorted the sensor of the srs. he tried to reset it. two miles after leaving the dealership, the light again illuminated and has been on since this time. the consumer called the dealership and they said the repair would cost 300 dollars. no repairs or corrections have been made at this time. *ak

Srs light came on. took pilot to honda service to handle recall and presumably correct light problem. service person said problem was not recall related, instead said problem was srs control unit. since vehicle has over 36k miles, this was not covered by warranty. *jb

Air bag light came on. dealer stated that the cost may not be covered under warranty.*ak the consumer stated this was a recalled item last year. the dealer stated a sensor went bad under the passenger seat. the service advisor stated the consumers problem had not do with the recall. *jb

When using a lap top computer in the vehicle the srs light came on indicating that the air bags had been deactivated. the electronic waves hit the back of the seat causing this defect. *nm the problem happened repeatedly when the lap top was used in the front seat. the dealer turned the airbags on, on several occasions but cannot stop the occurrence. *sc *jb

3 times we had the srs light come on and stay on in our 2003 pilot. the second time they replaced the sensor again (warranty), but informed us that there was some sort of rf inside the vehicle interferring with the srs side airbag in the driver seat. the technician noted that it could be the use of cell phone or television. we had routinely used a portable dvd player in the pilot with ac power inverter plugged into the cigarette lighter. we used this for about a year with no problems. we tried the inverter one more time and without even connecting the dvd player, the srs light came on. this inverter was powered under the limit labeled on the cigarette lighter. they replaced the whole airbag controller this time which i think probably corrected the problem and is why it kept recurring. but now we are afraid to try again since we got a firm warning from the technician that we aren't supposed ot use inverters in the lighter and if this happens again, they won't cover it! i think they build these suv's knowing that people will use the receptacles for power, they even label them with voltage limits. i think if there are limitations known, we should be informed exactly what they are so we don't have to eliminate all usage.

While traveling 50 mph another driver turned in front of my pilot without signaling. the whole right front of my vehicle was pushed in. the problem was that the air bags didn't deploy and according to witnesses the seat belt didn't lock. as a result i bounced off steering wheel twice. 2 days later i received a recall notice from honda saying that air bags are not deploying or deploying late. i believe that my injuries would have been less severe had the air bags deployed and/or the seat belt locked. *la

Recall notice from honda

Rear suspension mounting locations have rusted through allowing the rear suspension to hang down. the front mounting points of the rear suspension are not damaged yet. was noticed as a noise while driving and found during tire inspection.

My honda pilot is having difficulty shifting gears in the city and on the highway. i will be moving in a few weeks and traveling about 40 miles on the highway everyday. a few days ago i called honda after looking up recalls and there was a transmission recall number 04v176000. i was told to take it to the honda dealer and if it is a problem with the transmission it will be replaced at no charge. i took it to the dealer and told them what honda told me and they said it is probably the torque converter. (code p0740) the supervisor was going to call honda and get back to me. i feel very frightened to travel on the highway when my check engine light is still on and having trouble with the transmission. i just can't believe that a 2003 honda pilot with only 130,000 miles would have issues with the transmission and/or torque converter !! if it is causing gears to chip or break i don't want to be driving on the highway and possibly be injured or even killed ! or causing injury to others. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving various speeds, the vehicle lost power. in addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. the contact was unsure about what warning lights were illuminated. the failure recurred on numerous occasions. the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was previously repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train). the failure mileage was 150,000.

I drive between 20-40mph and my honda shakes and shudders for 8 seconds then goes away. any idea what can that be.

The ignition key can be removed while the vehicle is still in gear.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving various speeds, the low beam headlights failed to illuminate. the contact stated that the high beam headlights were needed to drive at night. in addition, the brake lights would not illuminate when the brake pedal was depressed. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the low beam terminal harness failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

I was on the hwy in the left lane an exhilarated then all of the sudden my suv just braked suddenly without me pressing the brake causing a screech on the concrete. i moved to the right lane very cautiously. i drove about 15 miles then it happened again. i turned my emergency flasher on and drove another 5 miles when it happened again. i pulled onto the side of the road and called my husband to come drive behind me the rest of the way home. this is very scary. i just knew i was going to get rear ended. i love my honda pilot but now i can't drive it. i have no idea why or what is causing this problem! please help. thanks, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

While driving smoke came from steering column, since that low beams went out but high beams work.

Ignition key metal is harder than the ignition lock destroying the locking pins. have had ignition lock repaired twice already and will require a third repair which will likely require new lock

I am encountering the same recall issues as other 2003 pilots. transmission locks up and will not re-engage while driving. i need to turn engine off while in traffic and restart in order to get back into gear. the vin search shows no recall, but the same safety issue has caused issues when i get out and push the vehicle off the road. most of the issue happen when starting from a slow start. the engine revs but will not move, both at traffic lights, during stop and go commutes. once it goes, it has not slipped out of gear.

When i driving 95 n going to connecticut there's a huge smoke on the hood and the other motorist behind me, he saw a lot of oil dripping on the street and he gave me a honk. i parked the car beside the highway and i opened the hood remove the negative battery to avoid the fire.

In a trip to the park (20 minutes highway trip) the d indicator start blinking, park the car and turn off, turn it back on, and the light keep blinking all the way back home. it never happened before.

Bought the car second-hand. srs light was off during test drive in a neighbood and time of purchase. srs light turned on in the middle of the drive home on the service road next to the highway. unknown if it is just a sensor issue or there is a possible problem with the airbag safety response system.

The transmission slips in and out of upper and lower gears involuntarily causing the driver to be propelled roughly forward and backward causing a dangerous driving situation.

Notice when while stopped, moving the driver's electric seat either up and then forward, it began to rock. the next time, when accelerating on the highway, a rocking movement was felt. took car to dealer and was informed that the frame was damaged, with one bolt off. two options 1) replace for $2k or 2) get frame welded, no guarantee will fix problem. power options may not work. a safety problem that is not currently on honda of america's recall list. called honda of america to report this; no recall at this time. i asked if this is under investigation, and they said no. i asked will there have to be a death before action or recall? no answer. i am contacting this agency and my state's attorney general's office, because i fear that this is a huge safety issue that needs to be addressed by honda of america.

Ignition lock problem. key is difficult to insert into ignition lock cylinder. once inserted, the key will not turn.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. over time, both plastic headlight covers became very opaque, which caused the headlights to appear dim and made visibility difficult. the contact's wife called a honda dealer who stated that they were familiar with the issue, but could not assist. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that they could not assist. the approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

Ignition third time it has broken

While driving between 35-50 mph, my 2003 honda pilot begins to shudder and rev rpms. i have to let off the throttle and then accelerate again. this happens when the speed is constant or during light acceleration.

Last month while driving vehicle seemed a little loose while going down the road, looked over front end and could find no problems. daughter (who had driven daily) complained that problem was getting worse. while backing up slowly monday (3/20/17) , vehicle became uncontrollable and shifted lanes. upon inspection it has been found both rear suspension mounting points (rear most 2 of 4) have rusted loose from unibody ( completely detached). bought this pilot new in 2003, always kept up on all service and maintenance.

We were driving straight on the highway at ~65 mph, fully loaded for a week-long camping trip, and hit a large pothole. the rear wheel assembly of my honda pilot broke so that it was only partially attached to the frame because the frame of the car rusted through. the 2 back bolts were still in place, but the frame itself was crumbling apart; the 2 front bolts were the only things holding the rear wheel and axle to the car. the photo shows the steep angle of the wheels, and how low to the ground the back of the car was. i drove the car to our mechanic, they put it up on the lift, and then showed us. they told us it was unfixable. the car is 14 years old and otherwise in good shape. it has received regular maintenance (i have 9 years of maintenance records). the mechanic had done brake work 3 days prior, and i had gotten the tires rotated the previous week. none of the people who worked on the car noticed or said anything was majorly wrong with the car. we were lucky we didn't have a serious accident when the car broke on the highway.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving 30 mph through a residential area, the vehicle failed to accelerate. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road turn, turned off the engine, restarted the vehicle, and continued driving. however, the vehicle still failed to accelerate and would not shift out of gear. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who stated that the transmission failed. the failure recurred three to four times. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 163,420.

Transmission failure at 150k car became difficult to drive and was unsafe. happened quickly.

Ignition key can pull out while driving

First, door locks automatic now have to unlock myself, along wits the outside doors.alarm button no longer works to unlock. door handles inside have been peeling and actually cut your fingers when opening the door, i have maswing tape in them and it's ugly, finally..lights inside are going out on radio, dimming on interior also.

I was driving on the interstate and all the sudden it seem as if the transmission locked up, the tires squeeled and dropped 20 mph almost immediately. this happened twice in a 40 mile stretch, i'm scared to drive it.

After vehicle has been driving for a little while when i accelerate from a dead stop transmission slips seems like it happens when it goes into second gear watch the tach move but no acceleration so i know it's slipping. i've done the transmission flush 3 times with honda transmission fluid at $8 a quart and it seemed to help it dosent do it as much but every now and then it still slips. only on acceleration, around 20-30 miles an hour.

Rear suspension rusted out from the frame. only one side as of right now.

Takata recall my srs light is on and has not gone off. the manual saids it could be airbags.

On may 26, 2015, i was traveling north on i-5 at 60 mph when the wheels of my car seized. at which point the car began a rigorous slide, black smoke billowed as the tread of my tires peeled off. the force of the slide eventually jammed the tires sideways causing the car to hop as it propelled forward, finally coming to a stop about a mile from the starting point. needless to say it was a horrific ride, which still causes me some stress. the car was towed to bill's tech trans where they informed me that the transmission was faulty. bill's sent the faulty transmission to the maker. at that time i was unaware of the recall on honda pilot 2003 transmissions. after hearing of the recall a couple of months later, i informed american honda of my incident. they requested receipts pertaining to the incident which i provided in full 3 times. one of the four customer service representatives had lost some or all of the paperwork that i had sent. it has been a year and a half of dealing with american honda and they continue to put me off, even closing the claim at one point; they sent a letter which stated, "we have attempted to contact you in regards to your request, but have not been successful in reaching you." i called immediately and they informed me they had closed the claim due to my lack of responding to their phone calls. i told them that both my home phone and cell phone keep logs of who calls and that they are not on either one. american honda reopened the case. since then i have been rebuffed repeatedly. about a month ago i was told someone was reviewing the case for possible reimbursement and have heard nothing since. it seems as if they do not want to honor the recall on the 2003 honda pilot transmission. is there anything you can do to help? american honda recall case no. 04263486

I was notified by american honda that my vehicle required a safety recall of the takata honda passenger airbag inflator (recall # 19-076). upon inspection the honda technician found that "one of the securing studs for the assembly is broken and replacement of the dashboard frame is required." at this point my "free" recall came with a charge of $820. american honda was only willing to pay 10%. the vehicle was previously recalled in 2015 for the same problem. in all likelihood the securing stud was broken during that service. american honda refuses to acknowledge the most likely scenario and instead has decided to hold me personally responsible for the repair.

When i accelerate to 40 mph there is a grinding sound coming from my truck. it will continue until about 45 mph and then stops. this issue is random and intermittent and the mechanics have not been able to replicate the problem to identify it. it started shortly after i purchased the used vehicle in 2011 but it was infrequent now it is happening a lot more frequently.

My 2003 honda pilot has "srs light on" at the vehicle dashboard. i was driving in our residential subdivision area and about to park in my driveway, the srs went on. i am not driving this vehicle now until this fault has to be fixed immediately. if there is a fault with the installed air bag, please help me to cover the repair/replacement costs of this faulty airbag. thank you.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced at independent mechanic, the contact was informed that the rear subframe was extremely corroded. the contact was informed that the until the vehicle was repaired the vehicle should not be driven. a dealer was not contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not informed of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 220,000. *js

When i purchase the vehicle. i was informed that it had some issues with the ignition and that they were unable to figure out what was going on. the ignition switch locked up on me. and ended up not being able to move at all. there was a piece stuck inside and i was informed that there is a locking mechanism with it that was jammed and there was nothing i was able to do so i either needed to get it fixed because it was warped or malfunctioned. and i needed to check and see if there's any recalls because they recalled the ignitions before on this year,make and model before. when this happened my vehicle was in park. my vehicle was in a shop. my wheel bearing and hub was being placed on. when they went to remove the vehicle from there mechanic garage it refused to turn over there was an ignition piece was broken off. when they ended up getting it out of their garage it i had to be put in neutral manually from underneath and it just started to roll. so they had to hold the brakes. it had to be towed back to my residence. *tr

Aviso urgente de seguridad por inflador defectuoso de bolsas de aire

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving at 55 mph, to avoid colliding with another vehicle, he turned the steering wheel to the left then to the right and loss control of the wheel. the contact crashed into a deep ditch and the air bags failed to deploy. the contact did not sustain injuries. a police report was filed. the vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. the vehicle was later towed to a junk yard. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnoses of the failure. the vehicle was destroyed. the contact stated that he went to flow honda of statesville dealer (1003 folger dr, statesville, nc 28625) and informed them of the failure and showed pictures of the accident. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 154,000.

Purchased 2003 honda pilot ex in 2006. the first owner had brought the vehcile back to the dealer for a transmission problem ( dealer said it was overheating of the transmission). to which there is a recall to install an oil jet with cooler to "fix" the transmission. the "fix" did not cure the transmission from failing. my daughter and where driving down the freeway when it failed. the transmission downshifted to first gear at 65 miles an hour. fortunitly no one was hurt. the vehicle has 171,000 miles on it. i called honda dealer and because the jet kit was installed there is no recall on the failed transmission. this recall created an unsafe condition in the middle of the freeway. this transmission should be replace under a recall or extended warranty by honda.

Vehicle had a lack of computer function would not start. all dash lights lite ignition non functional when test plug put on obd plug all problems cleared vehicle now operates correctly vehicle had just passed state inspection and operated correctly for 3days.

Was able to pull my key from the ignition switch when my 2003 honda pilot is parked and in the transmission shifter in drive position. i already had my ignition switch repaired twice (using my own dime); honda has a partial recall (nhsta campaign number 12v573000 and honda recall no. s73/s74), but a honda rep told me that my pilot "is not affected."

My car makes a grinding noise around 40-45 mph. this has been identified as an ongoing problem with this and several other model years with the transmission torque converter. this happens anytime i am accelerating past 40 mph.

I found this car ad on facebook after test driving i decided to purchase it for3,000 they original asking price was $3,400 for the honda pilot with 131,000 miles. i offer them $2,900 and met at 3,000. when i came back to make the purchase the pink slip was already filled out. i didn’t think of it. after going to the dmv to start to the registration of vehicle i had to go get a smog inspection. thats when the car did not pass and they inform me that car battery was either disconnected or the car was not running for awhile. so i decided to drive the car enough so the computer can generate some data. today i decided to get a carfax report and the odometer last reported was way above what was presented to me. they advertise the car at 131k and the odometer also read 131k. since i found this ad on facebook, i noticed they had deleted the ad and block me. i realized they block me by searching the profile of whom sold me the vehicle. then i used someone else profile and was able to see their profile. the car was located in 13657 van nuys blvd pacoima ca in a city street.

The car will not stop. it is at full throttle. very scary and dangerous. only way to stop it is to turn ignition off/start up again okay for 5 miles, then it takes off full speed, brakes cannot stop it. please look into this asap before something terrible happens. afraid to drive the car. does not matter where it is main/y street, city or highway.

Honda pilot 2003 cranked up started driving, after a min or two it shut off and wouldn't crank back up. i've replaced the main relay and a new fuel pump but when you put the key in and try to start it, it doesn't turn over all the way. it wants to but won't. also more electrical issues along with radio and head lights. something is terribly wrong and ive put alot of money into trying to find out what it is and have been guaranteed that part will fix it but no luck. new parts help but not with turning over and starting.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the vehicle would not immediately shift out of gear. also, while driving, the transmission indicator erroneously changed from the drive position to the drive 3 position. while the vehicle was parked in the garage with the engine idling and the transmission in the park position, the owner exited the vehicle. moments later, the vehicle erroneously began to move forward, pushed against the owner, and pinned her against a storage rack located in the garage. during the incident, the owner sustained a left leg injury that required medical treatment. the cause of the failure was not determined. a police report was filed. the manufacturer and local dealer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 189,000.

Spontaneously snapped mounting bracket on driver's side power seat, between mounted frame/support and adjustable seat components. a potentially lethal and original safety recall-able issue, which was never addressed by honda, right from the very start of the honda pilot models. i have read dozens of identical complaints from owners of early year pilots...

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle experienced gear slippage. the contact stated that the transmission shifted erratically at times while the rpm's revved without forward momentum. the vehicle was taken to esserman largo honda (554 ne 1st ave, florida city, fl 33034, (844) 329-6036) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train). the manufacturer was not informed of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 36,000.

The gear shifter will not gauge is stuck in one position

We have owned this truck since february 2019. this situation has occurred on the city streets as well as on the highway. the speed would vary between 35mph and 65mph. while we were driving with 4 small children in our truck, the truck wouldn't switch gears. our foot would be on the gas, but the truck wouldn't accelerate. sometimes the truck will be in park and we'll go to shift into (d) and it won't shift. it has happened many times. (i have selected the most recent date of occurrence below, but this has happened many times on different days. i do not have photos, as this is a motion thing. i do not have documentation at the moment, but will be taking it to a mechanic this week.) i have estimated the milles on the truck, but i believe it is less than 180k.

I took my pilot to the honda dealer for the airbag recall but they refused to reset the red warning light on the dashboard. does this mean the air bags are still defective?

I was driving on sr 207 when a truck sideswiped me which sent my car to a deep ditch. it briefly laid on its side then up and out the ditch but driver’s side airbag didn’t deploy.

While driving on the interstate the d indicator starts blinking. the next exit is still 10 miles away..i stop the car at a gas station for about 5 minutes. i then get back on the interstate to get home without getting in an accident or fatally injuring myself or others ! this has happened a few times whenever i go over 55-60 mph. so it seems to be when the transmission is changing from 3rd to 4th gear.?? why haven’t i received a recall for this transmission/powertrain problem ?? possibly campaign # 04v176000 and recall # p30. i only have 147,000 miles on my pilot !! how many people have to get injured or even killed for this matter to be taken care of by someone or honda ???

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 19v501000 (air bags). the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact called landmark honda (5125 duke st, alexandria, va 22304, (703) 823-8000) and was informed about diagnostic testing. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the contact declined the repairs due to the fee. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 107,000. parts distribution disconnect.

The attachment points on the frame where the rear subframe attaches have nearly completely rusted out. the rest of the frame appears to be in good condition. an internet search showed that this is a common issue with honda pilots. given the prevalence of the issue, it appears to be a design flaw. this is a significant safety issue since complete failure of the mounting points could result in loss of control of the vehicle. the attached picture is not from my vehicle but the damage is identical to that shown in this picture.

I heard crunching noises coming from the driver's seat cushion. i assumed it was a spring giving way, since the car is 16 years old. i arranged to have the front seats reupholstered and repaired the following week. a couple days later, i got into the car after running an errand, and the driver's seat acted like a rocking chair! this was in the parking lot of sam's club. i slowly and cautiously drove home, since it felt like the driver's seat could let go. online research indicated a bracket broke that holds the drivers seat down, and this is a well known issue for the honda pilot. they said no recall because nobody had died?? this doesn't seem right. the re-upholsterer had the bracket welded as a side-job when he did his work. still, this isn't ok. if the seat had let go and slid forward while i was driving, it could have been a serious accident. i needed to report this.

Lo beam headlights stopped working. bulbs fuses and relays are good. high beams work ok. lights stopped working and i discovered it at night when i went to drive the car home.

Takata recall i was merging onto the highway and experienced total engine power loss. rpms revved high and car lurched forward. i had already merged into 60mph traffic when my car stalled. forced the cars behind me to slam on their brakes. thankfully i was able to pull off to the side of the road and avoid having a major accident. there was no check engine light on or any other indication of failure.

Honda corporate claims that my 2003 honda pilot issue was resolved in april 2014, as recall work (low beams quit working... high beams remain functional). my local dealership has no record of me being there, even though corporate is showing i was. i still have the same problem - my low beams do not work... high beams remain functional. the issue is present regardless of it being stationary, in motion, on any surface of any kind, turning or otherwise.

The rear sub-frame on the driver's side of this 2003 honda pilot is extremely rusted exposing the suspension cross-member bolt which is similarly rusted. an internet search indicates this is a common problem with honda pilots and a potential high-risk point of failure.

I never got recalls fixed and dealer service marked as checked but not replaced and srs light has been on since service and i had to pay to get recalled due to emergency interlock was damaged

Power steering return pipe developed a sudden leak resulting loss of fluid after about 10 miles, resulting in very hard steering and near loss of control. pipe has corrosion with a pinhole leak at the bracket holding it to the frame.

Window regulators stop working and window can crash when driving. so far i have had to replace two regulators and one window.

Suspension is completed rusted out from frame

I just bought a 2003 honda pilot with 164,000 miles on it a few days ago and noticed the transmission wasn’t shifting correctly. it seemed like it would sometimes over rev before shifting but thought nothing of it. last night i picked my grandchildren up from town and was heading back up the highway going about 55mph, all of a sudden it jerked back and downshifted to 2nd gear, luckily no one was behind or they would’ve hit us. i noticed the engine light came on at that time also.

2003 honda pilot. consumer writes in regards to airbag safety recall. *ld the consumer stated the vehicle was traded in, in 2011. *js

2003 honda pilot ex with 219,000 miles on it. the two rear subframe mounts that attach the body chassis to the frame were rusted out and completely disconnected from the frame. in fact on the right side there was a large hole that had rusted out. apparently no excessive rust on the rest of undercarriage. vehicle was in very good mechanical shape and maintenance kept up. vehicle was kept in a garage at night not subject to unusual wear and tear. upon slow acceleration from a red light i heard a loud crash as if we'd been hit from behind. i was crossing a busy intersection and the lights weren't functioning so i was proceeding very slowly through the 4 way flashing lights when this happened. there were no vehicles behind us so i cleared the intersection then parked the car to check it out but no visible damage, no debris in intersection etc. drove in town for another couple days and it seemed to drive fine. the incident bothered me enough to take it in to firestone and have the car checked out on the lift for anything unusual while getting an oil change. i was concerned about the vehicles safety. i was called back to look at this issue and was told the rear of the vehicle was not attached to the frame at all. extremely dangerous situation and i was advised not to drive the vehicle home. thankful this wasn't worse and not on highway when it happened.

This vehicle is no longer on the road. it was given/no money to a junkman 5 years ago. please we have tried to stop the notices and calls. please let motor vehicle know that this car is no longer on the road. we have called honda several times to stop these notices.

Rear subframe mounts completely rusted out. subframe sitting on exhaust. just had pilot at dealership for oil change and inspection and they did not even mention the issue to me, guess they didn't inspect it very well. found on my own after driving home and hearing noises coming from the rear end. thankfully the exhaust did not break from the weight of the subframe or the whole rear end would have fallen down.

The bracket which holds the drivers seat to the sliding base, split and broke. the bracket split and broke at the two rivet holes where the seat attches to the base. the rivets are still in place on the portion of the broken bracket which remains attached to the seat. incident occured while parked in my own driveway. i was in the driver's seat and reached into the middle passenger area when i felt the driver's seat come loose. i do not know the mounting bracket part number, but on the internet i see other complaints of this same problem: the bracket which holds the drivers seat to the sliding base, split and broke.

Using 4 wheel drive to pull my boat through the woods, 2 of the 4 rear axel mounts pulled out of the unibody frame after a loud clunk. car was always maintained at the dealership. the vehicle is not repairable, this seems to be a design flaw.

The ignition switch on my car will not turn. a review of complaints on internet note that this is a common issue with this car as it nears 100k miles. my car is getting there and all of the sudden i have to fight with the steering wheel for it to turn and allow the key to work.

Transmission slips engine light does not come on was told transmission is separate so itdoes not show up because the light does not come it does not show up on the computer does not happen all the time so it can and does when driving it goes into neutrol

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. upon starting the vehicle and shifting into drive, it failed to move. in addition, while the vehicle was at a stop light or while making turns, the vehicle continued idling. the check engine indicator was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to jeff wyler honda of colerain (8950 colerain ave, cincinnati, oh 45251, 513-741-3700) where it was diagnosed that the vehicle misfired and the transmission and gasket needed to be cleaned and replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 284,469.

03 honda pilot transmission is slipping in between gears talked to honda dont want to take care of problem even wen they hav recall on it ive seen hundreds of same exact issue all over internet with exact same problem and honda is still trying to charge fior there own recall

The cars transmission is not working adequately the gears won’t go while in 2nd and third or reverse

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic because other 2003 honda pilot owners informed him of rust issues. the mechanic discovered rust on the rear subframe of his vehicle. the contact also heard a rattling noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to jeff wyler honda in florence (949 burlington pike, florence, ky 41042, (859) 283-2727) where the rust was confirmed. the dealer stated that they were unable to repair the vehicle due to the location of the rust. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and a case was opened. the failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

I wants to know if my because is on the recall list

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the vehicle was unable to start upon turning the key. when the vehicle was driven and then turned off, it was unable to restart. the vehicle was not diagnosed by an independent mechanic or dealer. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vin and failure mileage were not available.

Lighting recall. there was a recall in 2012 affecting my 2003 honda pilot that i did not know about until my headlights went out while driving and almost wrecked. my low beams do not work but my high beams do, me and my child could of died from this. we were just driving as normal on a highway with no other traffic around and lights just stopped working. after pulling over i realised my hi beams still work. i do not understand why my recall isn't listed when a recall was issued

Srs light came on in the vehicle. diagnostic scanner states problem is drivers side air bag inflator open or increased resistance.

Vehicle will stall while driving and then fail to start unless left off from 15 to 30 minutes vehicle will periodically fail to start. this happened driving on the expressway and was able to drift over to shoulder while avoiding being run into. the last instance a police officer kindly helped push the vehicle off a busy city street as so i could wait for a tow to the dealership again. they continue to say they cannot replicate the problem and have replaced multiple and expensive parts but to no avail.

This is a follow up of a complaint file last year- nhtsa id number: 11045405. i took my vehicle to a honda dealer as required by american honda. they confirmed that the opds module was faulty. i continued to contact american honda by mail. they advised that me that i would have to pay $775.00 deductible for the replacement of the defective opds module verbally as they would not correspond to me in any written form.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving various speeds, the engine emitted a loud unidentifiable sound that startled the driver. the dealer (capitol honda, 745 capitol expressway auto mall, san jose, california 95136) was made aware of the failure and was provided with video/recordings of the failure, but could not determine the source of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 149,000. *tt *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while repairing the rear brake pads, the contact noticed that the subframe was severely corroded. the vehicle was taken to the dealer (sullivan honda, 45 migeon avenue torrington, connecticut 06790) where it was diagnosed that the rear frame was rusted and that dirt and moisture were collecting in the frame rails, which entered trough holes on the frame. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 207,000.

The rear driver side electric door lock mechanism is jammed not allowing the door to be locked or unlocked either manually or electrically. this, i imagine, can happen with any door. luckily, the jam is in the unlocked position allowing the door to be opened. what is not safe is that door cannot be locked leaving the car vulnerable to theft or car jacking. if the door was jammed in the locked position, this can be unsafe for passenger exit in the event of emergency (a fire or emersion in water). any electric door lock mechanism made by any vehicle manufacturer should be designed to fail safe allowing manual locking and unlocking of the door in the event of electrical power lock mechanism failure. this is just as much a safety issue as a jammed seat belt or faulty airbag. this should be a no cost repair by manufacturer dealerships like they do with jammed seat belts or faulty airbags. at least they should be able to free up the lock mechanism without charge to customers. this needs to be seriously reviewed and addressed by nhtsa for safety with policy and repair procedures and practices clearly spelled out. this failure happened as a result of remote key activation of the door locks with no manual physical operation of the door itself.

My 2003 honda pilot's ignition switch started to fail to turn,over the past two weeks, preventing the car to start. i have to take the key out and reinsert it into the ignition, and thus far this solution is working. however over the last several days, it is happening more and more, to the point that i am afraid this malfunction of trying to get it to rotate out of position and into the "start" position will eventually fail to engage at all, leaving me stranded who knows where.

In mid-october of this year the srs light came on and remained lit during the vehicle operation. i brought the vehicle into a local repair shop and after testing it was determined the opds module and sensor back was not functioning and needed to be replaced. at the time of the determination the vehicle had 227,544 miles on the odometer. during the week of 10-21-17 i called american honda motor co. inc at 800 999-1009 and spoke to wendy. i related the above to her. i told her that in the winter 2006-207 i received a letter from american honda indicting that the opds control unit and sensor had the warranty extended to 10 years or 150,000 miles. i asked if this warranty had been further extended and she indicated it had not been. she did some research on my vehicle and told me these components had been replaced in august of 2011. i asked if they could be replaced again for no charge and she said no. she said to check with a honda dealer and they may be able to help. i indicated that the $1,550.00 quote from the shop that diagnosed the problem was 35-40% of the current value of the vehicle and to spend this amount on the repair now would not be a wise decision on my part. i returned to my records for the vehicle and i found a receipt from delray honda located at 3000 s. federal highway, delray beach fl. dated august 20, 2011 for the replacement of the opds sensor unit and position detector system detector unit. this repair was done at no charge to me. the mileage on the vehicle at that time was 147,892. i called delray honda and was told that i had to pay a diagnostic charge of about $150.00 to see what the problem was before they coul give an estimate. i said i already had done that and was told they could not help unless i paid to have the problem investigated.

Takata recall. i took my honda pilot to crown motors honda dealership due to the airbag recalls then when it was done i was just given the keys and then another recall happened but i couldn't get the second one fix due to the parts being out of stock then my friend drove my honda pilot and hit a deer omg that was my first accident for my honda pilot and the airbags never went off and ugh we were in the back roads of oregon at night heading back to california add to that we had her 2 kids and my 2 kids and 2 of their friends but no airbags ever went off i thought the side airbags would have with the impact. i got lucky that the front airbags didn't go off since it was recalled and i never got it fixed

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while a passenger was seated in the front passenger seat, the brake pedal was applied and the seat inadvertently moved. the contact mentioned that the seat would rock like a rocking chair. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. the manufacture was not made aware of the failure. the contact researched the failure online and found many complaints. the failure mileage was approximately 114,193.

The rear axle is almost detaching from the frame of the vehicle due to severe rusting of the chassis, and the axle may completely fell through.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving, the vehicle would erroneously accelerate to approximately 20 mph without the driver depressing the accelerator pedal. also, while the vehicle was parked, the rpms would continuously rev up to 3,000. the vehicle was taken to hall honda in virginia beach, virginia, but the cause of the failure was not yet determined. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 150,000.

The truck hesitates in order to get it to move you have to take foot off the gas pedal.happens a lot when driving.sometimes it stalls....driver side rear body mount is rusted out

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while the vehicle was stationary, the key became stuck in the ignition on august 26, 2017. the contact removed the battery to disengage the engine and the ignition key was able to be removed. the vehicle was towed to titans honda in tysons corner, virginia, but the dealer was unable to reinsert the key into the ignition to start the vehicle. in addition, the dealer stated that there was no recall for the vehicle. on another occasion, while stationary, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the key fell out of the ignition. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue and provided the contact with case number: 06264304. the contact stated that nhtsa campaign number: 12v573000 (electrical system) applied directly to the failure. the failure mileage was 152,000.

When driving between 30-50 mph the vehicle will shudder/judder upon light acceleration and the rpms will rev briefly. this appears to be a common issue with the torque converters among early honda pilots

Had to replace water pump and belt payed for it at homda dealer then noticed it had a recall on it dealership didnt notify me of the recall. now i'm having problems with the transmition dealership said they couldn't find the problem but it also has a recall. but when i searched my vin it said no recalls were found. the transmition periodically comes out of gear if i stop quickly or 1st thing in the morning or if i go over a speed bump slowly or sometimes randomly in the middle of driving in traffic. i can switch it into 1st 2nd or 3rd and get it moving again. it hasn't happend at high speeds yet. and the the metal under the seats is all rusted. at this rate the transmition will cause me to have an accident and the seats will come off and the airbags that have also been recalled will kill us im highly dissapointed in this vehicle.

Tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received a notice for nhtsa campaign numbers: 15v370000 and 15v320000 (air bags); however, the parts needed were not available. the contact believed that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to provide the recall repairs. the dealer and manufacturer were made aware of the delay. the contact had not experienced a failure. vin tool confirms parts not available.

Vehicle driver side hit side of mountain causing it to go down hill on passenger side. rolled over three times. no air bags deployed. person sitting in passenger seat received a scalp injury, but no loss of consciousness. vehicle was on a dirt road and was traveling between 20 and 25 mph.

Of the four posts where the complete rear axle mounts to the under body of the chassis, two of the posts have rusted away from the frame, leaving the rear axle only half attached to the main body of the car. the vehicle has very limited rust anywhere, so for the under body to rust to a point of separation from the rear wheel assembly is disconcerting. we had no warning and had the vehicle properly/routinely maintained. if the rear axle assembly had completely broken away, the resulting crash would have been disastrous. certified mechanics confirm that they had never seen such a serious deterioration of a significant structural component.

When the vehicle is in motion and i have to press down on the gas to accelerate/ speed up the vehicle quickly the driver seat bounces backwards/moves and it feels like its going to come off the frame its mounted to like some bolts may be broke or something. the car locks are messed up. the both front door locks have to be unlocked with a key. the inside unlock mechanism only unlocks the driver side passenger door and the trunk. in order to unlock the passenger front and the passenger rear locks a window has to be rolled down and you have to reach in and manually unlock it and those also have to be manually locked back when you exit the vehicle. also, the passenger air unit does work. it does not blow out air even with the rear control on. the inside car lights have to be manually cut on and off and not set to come on when the door opens and closes because it runs the battery down. sometimes while driving the headlights flicker. and the power port to charge phones, etc. works but anything plugged into it gets hot real fast. all that points to electrical issues. the air bag lights kept coming on and going off. the transmission light has been flashing d and did not stop until fluid and filter was changed. so far that seems to have helped. and last but not least, the contacts in the ignition switch act defected. the key has to remain in the ignition switch and the spare key has to be used to unlock the car because if the key is removed, it does not want to go back into the switch to crank the car. the switch does not want to accept the key and turn to crank the engine once it has been removed from the switch. even trying to turn the steering wheel and pressing the brake to release the switch doesn't work. and the gear shift stick/shaft acts almost like it's not park, but it was put in park.

This goes with the complaint # 10876282, i just entered. i needed to correct my vin # by adding the number 2 in the front of the number. on the previous complaint i started the vin# with h, not 2.

While driving on city streets in traffic and slow to 29 or 39 mph i feel a shudder or vibration. also intermittently my "d" light flashes when turn on my pilot but the maintenance light never comes on. this has been happening last 6 months. i have 160,000 miles

I own a 2003 honda pilot my rack and pinion is in bad condition so is their a recall on this year make and model? my number is 334-468-3394

Second gear failure and shifting issues, 4th gear pressure switch failure, tc clutch failure; all resulting in seizing while driving at highway speeds, unable to shift into the next gear, unexpected shifting into a lower gear causing the vehicle to decelerate. all items were experienced while driving on the highway roads and without warning causing a safety hazard.

Metal bracket mounting driver's seat to base has sheared or torn and the seat now tilts and wobbles. very unsafe situation as the seat tilts back during acceleration and shifts forward during braking.

Takata recall.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond without warning. the failure recurred on numerous occasions. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train). the failure mileage was 185,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the vehicle independently decelerated while driving at an unknown speed. in addition, the abs warning indicator illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the two front wheel speed sensors needed to be replaced. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was confirmed that the speed sensors and the automatic transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired.the contact referenced nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train); however, the vin was not included. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 195,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving various speeds, the automatic transmission warning light illuminated. the contact also stated that there was transmission fluid leaking in close proximity to the transmission sensor. the contact stated that the transmission was overheated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions to be diagnosed, but the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure or retrieve a fault code. the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train). the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 196,000.

In the morning, on january 27, i had my 2 year old and 4 year old in the vehicle and i was driving my son to school. less than a mile from home, going between 30-35mph, i tapped the brakes as i approached a bend in the road and after a brief initial pause (as you would expect), the car suddenly started rapidly accelerating - i started pressing the brakes to no avail - vehicle did not slow down - at this point i was in the curve and was unable to keep the vehicle on the road. i hit a small tree and continued careening out of control until i crashed in a ditch, hitting a wood hydro pole (thankfully not concrete) - both airbags deployed - i suffered a broken ankle, bruised ribs and seat belt abrasions - my 2 year old required stitches on her eye lid and eyebrow due to impact with her cup that she was holding at the time (we're lucky her sight wasn't affected). my son suffered no physical injuries but 1 month later is still talking about it. vehicle was a complete write off. had approximately 161,000 miles at time of incident. cruise control was likely on but wasn't in use. similar issue happened on 2 previous occasions. 1st at least 8 months ago and then again about 3 weeks before accident (was going to address with dealer at next oil change) but on two prior occurrences surge occurred when brakes were tapped to disengage cruise control - same pause/surge but not nearly as intense and stopped immediately when brakes were pressed again. after the accident i noted that there are several reports of the same thing happening to other people. no idea how fast it was going when it crashed but it "felt" like at least 50mph. this is terrifying when it happens, i don't want to see this happen to anyone else. i shudder to think what would have happened if this had occurred at an intersection or on the expressway - we might not be here... also mailing letter to manufacturer.

The ignition switch in our 2003 pilot has a tendency of getting stuck. at times the key will not turn when fully inserted. this has been occurring with some regularity since we got the car in 2012. just yesterday the key partially turned to where the lights on the dashboard went on, but the engine did not turn and the key got stuck there for several minutes. from other customers sharing, it appears that this is a somewhat common problem with this models which honda is not taking responsibility for.

While driving, i was stopped at a red light. when the light turned green i made a right hand turn and started to increase my speed. the rpm's increased at a very rapid rate, but the car did not shift. i was unable to accelerate my speed and there was a whirling noise in the engine. i tried manually shifting into a lower gear, but i was still unable to accelerate without the rpm's rising. i eventually had to shift into neutral three times before the car would automatically shift.

At first there was minor difficulty getting the key into the ignition where it would take two to three times to get it in. within a week, it extremely difficult to get the key into the ignition so the car would start, taking anywhere from 5-10 each time to get the car started. i tried the spare key and it will not work at all.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the ignition key could not be removed while the gear was in park. the failure occurred without warning. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 12v573000 (electrical system) in 2013 and took the vehicle to a local dealer. the vehicle was repaired, but the ignition failure recurred two years later. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 137,000.

About a month ago i tried to use my spare key and the key wouldn't work in my ignition. so, i located my regular keys and they key worked as it should. last week my normal key would go into the ignition but, the ignition would not turn. after several attempts the key did finally turn and i was able to get home. later that day, i went to leave my house for work and again the key would go into the ignition but, not turn the ignition. after 20 minutes of inserting and removing the key it finally worked again. it continued to work for the remainder of the day. i spoke with my mechanic and he suggested i get the ignition replaced before it got to a point where it wouldn't start an in his opinion the ignition was deteriorating quickly. he also stated that this would be a dealer only repair. i did ask two other mechanics in the area & i reached out to a locksmith, they all said due to the structure of the alarm & the lazer cut key style it was a dealer only part. i started to google the issue & saw other people have experienced the same problem & i made an appointment with the dealership. the dealership mentioned that the previous owner had work done on the ignition with a previous recall but, they felt this issue was unrelated and would be an out of pocket expense. the next morning the key became stuck in the ignition. the ignition would now turn but, i was unable to remove the key, leaving my car a prime target for theft. i dropped the car off this morning & i made a call into corporate to file a complaint. it was also suggested i file a complaint here by one of the many other 2003 pilot owners on another forum: http://www.carcomplaints.com/honda/pilot/2003/accessories-interior/ignition_switch_problem.shtml total cost of repair $538.89

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving at any speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate and the check engine warning light illuminated. the failure recurred numerous times. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the torque converter clutch solenoid valve needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. however, the failure recurred. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 125,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet pilot. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 mph and the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle stalled as the check engine warning light illuminated. the vehicle was restarted. the contact mentioned that the check engine warning light illuminated several times. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 128,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 15v320000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. the manufacturer was notified of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure. the vin was not available.

While my wife was driving my 2003 honda pilot she almost lost control without any warning. she drive it the few remaining miles home and asked me to examine it for a possible loose wheel. upon inspection i found that the entire rear suspension had separated from the body and that only the abs brake wires was holding it in place. there was no apparent reason for this. there was nothing to explain why this had occured

Transmission was included in recall but we were never notified. experienced catastrophic failure at 168,000 miles. lost power on the freeway going 65 mph with no warning. honda refusing to replace transmission because of the age and mileage of my car, despite the known defect in the transmission.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the battery failed in the vehicle and caused the air bags to deactivate. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the failure mileage was 149,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 15v320000 (air bags), 14v700000 (air bags), 12v573000 (electrical system), and 12v136000 (exterior lighting); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the contact stated that when the key was inserted into the ignition, the key failed to turn to the on position. the contact stated that after several attempts the vehicle started. the failure mileage was not available.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. when attempting to start the vehicle, the key failed to turn in order to start the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch failed. the failure recurred multiple times. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 195,000.

Traveling south bound on nevada ave in colorado springs a car turned in front of us. our front right hit his rear passenger side of vehicle, he was spun around and our airbags deployed. after getting out of vehicle to check on other driver i came back and had my wife and kid get out of vehicle. police were on scene very quickly due to accident occurring in front of hospital, the officer noticed smoke in car and a couple minutes later there was a fire on passenger side of vehicle behind center garnish pillar. i tried to put it out while officer went to get a fire extinguisher burnt my hand due to burning plastic from lower center pillar garnish melting. looks like fire was started somewhere in the seatbelt retraction area. no medical attention was needed and my hand was ok after a few days.

I parked my car in the hospital lot. after my late afternoon appointment, i was about to go home. i was able to insert the key into the ignition but failed to turn to start the engine. there was no contact or clicking sound even i tried with a little force to turn the key. i called the towing company and he was able to start the engine. i drove the car about 5 miles to get my prescription medicine and parked again in the parking lot. i was about to go home again. i was able to insert the key into the ignition but failed to turn to start the engine. again, there was no contact or clicking sound even to try with a little force to turn the key. i called again the towing company and he was able to start the engine. i decided to bring my car to the dealership to stay overnight (early bird). i parked my car in the drive through lane and shut-off the engine. i remove the key and inserted again but was not able to turn the key and not able to start the engine again. the dealership checked my car problem and i was advised that the ignition assembly was worn-out. the new ignition assembly was installed and re-keyed, cut and programmed new key. i saved the old part for future reference. i paid $618.58 for parts and labor. i am thinking this repair was so expensive. the estimate failure mileage was 128,292.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 15v320000 (air bags), 14v700000 (air bags), 12v573000 (electrical sysytem), and 12v136000 (exterior lighting); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the vin was unknown. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that both the driver and passenger side air bags were replaced under nhtsa campaign number: 15v320000 (air bags). after the repair, the air bag light illuminated and the instrument panel displayed a warning message that read "srs side air bag". the failure recurred several times. the manufacturer was not notified of the issue. the approximate failure mileage was 179,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while attempting to start the vehicle, the key would not go into the ignition slot entirely. the contact stated that it took several attempts to get the key to enter and once it was in, it took several attempts to turn the key in the ignition. the failure recurred on several occasions. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v349000 (air bags). the contact stated that the part needed to remedy the vehicle was unavailable. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

For few years i have been noticing terrible mileage, but thought the car was getting older. for definitely an year, there is a noticeable smell of gasoline in the car, again thought its the sign of an old car. but, last weekend i realized that this is a safety issue and finally got around whats happening. the fuel started dripping at the fuel tank - fuel line and is dripping at 1 drop per minute .. not sure if it drips at the same rate all the time. reading at all the complaints, it seems like nhtsa would only consider anything after someone dies. sounds like useless posting over here, but just doing it for the benefit of others. this car had been leaking for a while, though the drip started very recently, thus giving very low mileage. this is a safety issue which should result in a recall.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the key failed to insert in the ignition. after excessive force was applied, the contact was able to place the key in the ignition and start the engine. the failure recurred, but the contact was unable to get the key in the ignition at all. the contact used the spare key to start the engine. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 87,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 15v320000 (air bags) and 14v349000 (air bags) and stated that the parts needed were not available within a reasonable timeframe to schedule the recall repair. the dealer stated they would call when the part would become available and did not follow up for months. the dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available and the contact already received three notifications. the manufacturer was contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. the contact had not experienced a failure.

I was involved in an auto accident. when i came to the inside of the car was smoking. the air bags were deployed and i had a three inch burned hole in my left arm. now i have a permanent scar because of the airbag. i have pictures, police report and hospital reports. ma 10/19/2015 updated 12/05/2017*cn

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that nhtsa campaign number: 15v320000 (air bags) and nhtsa campaign number: 14v349000 (air bags) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for repair. the dealer stated that the parts needed were not available for repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the delay. the vehicle could not be repaired. the contact stated that the air bag light would illuminate intermittently on the instrument panel. the failure mileage was 100.

Nhtsa recall number: 12v-573 mfr campaign id: s73 campaign description: shift interlock recall date: 12/10/2012 recall status: 17 character vin required summary: honda is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 pilot and odyssey and 2003 through 2006 acura mdx passenger vehicles manufactured from november 26, 2001, through august 30, 2006. the interlock lever of the ignition switch may deform, which can allow the interlock function of of a vehicle with an automatic transmission to be defeated. safety risk: removal of the ignition key when the gear selector of a vehicle with an automatic transmission has not been shifted to the park position can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash. remedy: honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a honda or acura dealer. the dealer will install an updated shift interlock lever and, if necessary, replace any necessary part of the ignition switch, free of charge. the recall began on february 22, 2013. owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009. note: complete remedy was not done. with recall brought to dealership. key comes out ignition due to the ignition switch not being replace due to deformation per recall notice. notified honda corporate and local honda dealer of incomplete work and a solution to fix the issue was denied by both. the dealership that did faulty work and denied remedy was. honda of slidell 510 e howze beach rd, slidell, la 70461 phone:(985) 649-9091

Both headlights went out. vehicle has been previously recalled and repaired for this problem in 2012. had to rely on high beams to get home. replaced only one bulb which on inspection looked good. both lights came on. problem solved or so i thought. wife drove the car yesterday and smoke began to come out from around the steering column. she drives with the headlights on even during the day. after turning off the lights and the car and allowing it to cool off, she made it home without the lights being on. update 9/15/15*cw the vehicle was repaired. updated 09/29/15*jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving 30 mph, the contact discovered an abnormal grinding noise and a transmission leak. the contact pulled over to the side of the road and the vehicle was inoperable for 20 minutes. the contact restarted the vehicle and took it to the dealer. it was diagnosed that the transmission and seal needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 100,000. the vin was not available.

Honda replaced the low beam headlight switch (nthsa ref #15v320000) in 2013 and now the same issue has happened again (both headlight low beams went out at the same time) and honda says they are not liable. its the same problem as before. it appears honda simply replaced the faulty switch with another faulty without any kind of repair of different manufacturing of the new switch.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while making a left turn at various speeds, the contact heard a noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the bolt connecting the suspension to the frame had corroded and that the suspension needed to be welded to the frame of the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 160,000.

I have been having a problem with the key and ignition. the key will go into the ignition but won't turn. which you can't turn the car on. i had to have it towed to the dealership in 2013, which they fixed the 2013 ignition recall part. unfortunately the recall for the ignition didn't cover the timber or the key. the dealership wanted of $1000 to fix it. i had the car towed back to my home and the tow company put me in contact with a locksmith that was able to fix it for a lot cheaper. now the problem has a arised again. i had to call a tow truck yet again because the key wouldn't turn in the ignition.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the transmission failed. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer in 2004 for nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train). the dealer repaired the oil cooler, but did not replace the transmission. the transmission failed and the manufacturer refused to replace it. the vehicle was never fully repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 185,000.

American honda motor company mailed me a safety recall notice concerning unsafe passenger air bag (january 2015). another notice was received concerning unsafe driver front air bag (april 2015). further, honda indicated that abnormal deployment of these air bags could result in serious injury or fatality. i called my local honda dealership (union city, ga honda) in february, april and may 2015. informed that air bag parts continue to be delayed to the dealership. parts are now due into the dealership on or about 21 june 2015. i have informed my attorney in the event my 2003 honda pilot air bags deploy under the conditions explained in honda's two safety recall notices.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated, which indicated that the air bag warning light was off while a passenger was seated in the passenger seat. the failure recurred multiple times intermittently. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v349000 (air bags) and 14v351000 (air bags); however, the part was unavailable to perform the repair. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 184,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v349000 (air bags) and 14v351000 (air bags); however, the parts needed to repair the vehicle were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v349000 (air bags), however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Honda has not been able to conduct repairs for air bag recalls for more than 90 days. the vehicle was at the dealership for service on january 31 2015 and the parts are not available as of today may 9 2015.

2003 honda pilot. consumer writes in regards to parts not available to complete airbag inflator recall notice. *smd

2003 honda pilot. consumer writes in regards to dealerships failure to remedy airbag inflator recall 14v-349 and 14v-351 within a reasonable period of time. *smd the consumer was informed the part(s) were on back order. *jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v349000 (air bags) and 14v351000 (air bags) and stated that the part for the repair was not available within a reasonable timeframe. the dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. the manufacturer was contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the contact's vehicle would receive the recall repair. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v351000 (air bags); however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not notified of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that nhtsa campaign number: 14v700000 (air bags) and nhtsa campaign number: 14v351000 (air bags) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for repair. the dealer stated that the part need for repair was not available. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact had not experienced the failure.

Owner driver was stopped on red light along with 20 other cars , the driver was last in the lane and other driver did not applied brakes, this vehicle was banged from the back. body damage was repaired by westminster honda in costa mesa . california, body repair cost of $ 3,500 was paid by insurance company of the person who was at fault, the auto transmission replacement cost of $ 6,500 was recovered from the me who was not at fault. the question is at that time the air bag was not deployed because of fault? after that i got recall notice from american honda for two air bags driver side and passenger side, the notice came in the month of january 2015, first they delayed the repair task by making an excuse that they are very busy and first appointment is available on february 28 th at auto nation honda in gilbert az then i got an e mail and a call from dealer that the parts are on back order, and they would not know when part will be available. after that i called american honda, they have intervened and assured me that auto nation honda will call me to schedule appointment again. then i gave 4 - 5 calls to auto nation honda, till today as of april 19th this repair is not fixed even though all parties know that this is critical to the life of drivers and passengers in this vehicle. now i am in round rock texas, so i will need to see new dealer will somebody control these auto companies and dealer for compliance? thanks *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v351000 (air bags); however, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 15v349000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. the manufacturer was notified of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notifications for nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v351000 (air bags) and 14v349000 (air bags) in march of 2015. after contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be provided. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received a recall notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v351000 (air bag, exterior lighting, electrical system) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v351000 (air bags) and 14v349000 (air bags); however, the part needed to do the repairs was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure. the vin was unavailable.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v351000 (air bags) and stated that the part was available for the driver side air bag, but not available for the passenger side air bag via nhtsa campaign number: 14v349000 (air bags). the dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available for the passenger side air bag. the contact was unable to determine when both recall repairs would be performed. the manufacturer was contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the contact's vehicle would receive the recall repair. the contact had not experienced a failure.

A recall notice came in january 2015. i called my local dealer for a repair. he took my information and said the parts should arrive april 1st 2015. i called today (4/16/15) and now the service department said honda pushed back the date to june 1st 2015 for. it is well over 60 days from the time of notice. how much longer should i have to wait for honda to take responsibility for their problem? *tr

Air bag recall notice. took to honda dealer "mel rapton honda sacramento ca. 95821-5104", in january 2015 for replacement. was told necessary parts were on backorder and they would contact me when available. never contacted. received second notice of recall april 2015. called dealer and was informed parts still on backorder. in the meantime it appears i am in danger from defective airbags. honda appears in no hurry to keep me from dying from the defective airbags. is that how we are protected by the nhtsa? . *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received a notice for nhtsa campaign number: 14v700000 (air bags); however, the parts needed to do the repair were not available. the dealer stated that they only had one part to do the repair. the contact believed that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v700000 (air bags) and 14v351000 (air bags); however, the parts needed to do the repairs were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Made contact with clawson honda of fresno, ca for the recall of airbags. appointment to drop the vehicle off on 2/3/15 and work was to be done within two days. on 2/6/15, the rental car was starting to eat at our budget and the airbags were never received or installed. car was retrieved with no work done. a second recall notice was received the week of 4/6/15 in the mail. made contact by e-mail with clawson honda. i was told they would check into it and get back with me. is this safety recall not important, that it has taken over three months and no parts have been received yet? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the recall notices for nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v351000 (air bags) and 14v349000 (air bags) were received in january of 2015. after contacting the dealer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be given. the manufacturer was not notified. the contact had not experienced a failure.

I received a recall letter from american honda motor co. back in january of this year. the letter stated that my car was being recalled for faulty air bags. contacted the closest dealer ship as instructed in the letter; was told at that time it would take two weeks to get the parts in. when i contacted the dealership after the two week wait, i was informed that the parts where on back order and i would have to wait my turn. contacted american honda over this and was told that parts could be re-routed to solve my problem. was contacted by american honda and was told parts where on back order, and that they should only take another few weeks. its now the end of march, the beginning of april, and i'm still waiting for said parts that where only suppose to take 2 weeks to receive. every time i contact the dealership or american honda all i'm getting is the same old dance around about parts, and several times the people have been rude telling me to just wait. honda case # n032015-02-1300761

Letter from senator toomey on behalf of constituent re 2003 honda pilot recall (attn: aubrey yanzito). *smd the dealer informed the consumer, all of the parts for the air bag recall, had not arrived. *jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v351000 (air bags); however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not notified of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

I received two recall notices relating to airbags in january and contacted my dealer immediately. i am still waiting for honda to provide airbags for the driver & passenger sides. the dealer has been told they are "on backorder" - i have verified this information with other dealers. honda needs to make these replacements a priority it has been 4 months and they won't provide the replacements in the meantime we are at risk! *tr

Contacted scott robinson service center - torrance ,ca. on feb 03 ,2015 for replacement of recalled airbags..was told that they were out of stock and would call me. when available. after six weeks of no contact with service center i called them. was told that they only had passenger side air bag in stock and would have to back order drivers side airbag..i opted to have them install the passenger side and now waiting to hear on the driver side air bag. in one week it will be 60 days that i have been waiting for the completion of the recalled air bags. *tr

Received recall notices for both passenger and driver-side airbags, nhtsa recalls 14v-349 and 14v-351. 14v-349 advises avoiding having a passenger sit in the front seat for safety reasons. contacted dealership in early february about performing service, they ordered parts. honda has not provided dealership with parts to make the repair, and it is now approaching 60 days since order was put in. i see many similar complaints on nhtsa website. honda is now breaking the law with regard to these airbag recalls by not providing the parts to make the repairs within 60 days, and we are all left to drive unsafe vehicles in the mean-time. airbags are supposed to save lives, not end them! nhtsa must do something about this! stiffer penalties are apparently the only way honda is going to comply. *tr

Received a national recall letter for airbags. called bill pearce honda and was told i have to wait four months for the part because it is on " back order. " *tr

Driving vehicle on freeway, went to accelerate vehicle did nothing. took my foot off gas, tried again, nothing. got in slow lane, finally engaged but had to go slow on freeway. engine light comes on. next day vehicle wont shift from 3rd gear, can only go 35 mph and engine revs up. the drive light starts flashing. next day cant shift into reverse either. take to transmission shop, they say no reverse, no 3rd gear, fluid is full but smells burnt. pulled codes p0730 incorrect gear ratio and p0780 shift malfunction. recommended transmission replace. i only have 139,000 miles and don't drive it crazy. also found there was a transmission recall on this year pilot. i call honda so they can look it up, he says yes it was done to my car, but doesn't show on my carfax report? *tr

January 2015 i received an air bag recall on 2003 honda pilot, the same day i contacted tempe honda with my recall id number to schedule an appointment to have the issue taking care of, promptly e-mail confirmation was received with the date and time available and no further question of any kind. when i arrived to the tempe honda dealer the day of the appointment a service representative asked me if any other service of any kind was to be performed at that time. i replied negative, only the recall issue. and handed the key to the service representative, about 20 minutes later the service representative informed me that he did not have the replacement part at that time, that i would receive a call to re-schedule the service when the parts were available. almost 2 month later and no phone call. *tr

Interior door handle has metallic tape coating. tape is peeling off. 2 of my children were cut by the metal. kids cannot open interior passenger door without being injured. they are now scared, and may be reluctant to open door in an emergency. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated the ignition key seized within the ignition switch. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the shift interlock lever needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 12v573000 (electrical system). however, the remedy caused the ignition key to seize within the ignition switch. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 141,400.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the key failed to eject from the ignition and remained in the off position. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the failure recurred on numerous occasions. the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 12v573000 (electrical system). the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 141,586.

I received a recall notice in jan 2015 for my 2003 honda pilot. i immediately contacted the local honda dealership and requested they order the parts required to safely repair the air bags. i contacted them again in march of 2015 and no progress has been made. currently honda is unable to tell me how much longer until the replacement parts will be available to safely repair the vehicle. i am beyond frustrated at this time. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v351000 (air bags) and 14v349000 (air bags); however, the parts needed to do the repairs were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Car suddenly and abruptly decelerated as if maximum brakes were applied for about half a second. car did not jerk hard to left or right, suggesting that if brakes were the cause, both wheels probably engaged simultaneously. removed both front wheels and inspected front brakes and lines. nothing unusual noted. brake fluid level checked and found to be between max and min. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was unable to be restarted. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. the mechanic was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. the manufacturer was not notified. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 140,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v351000 (air bags) however the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a resonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

The vehicle has had unpredictable braking and traction for well over a year. dealer visit on march 14, 2014 did not produce a cause. more recently i was unable to stop the vehicle from 40 mph for a red light with full brake pressure. road conditions were good at the time. i had to accelerate through the intersection to avoid a collision. the vehicle currently displays the "check engine" light and "vtm-4" light quite consistently. traction is also intermittently compromised by some unknown problem. it seems that when the vtm-4 light is on, the awd feature of the vehicle is disabled. when it is on, it cannot be disabled with the switch on the dash. the driver side air bag was ordered on october 29, 2014 but has not yet become available. i called the dealer again on march 2, 2014 after i received another air bag recall notice. this now includes the passenger side as well as the driver side. air bags are not expected for another two to three months. they will call...............!

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received a notification for nhtsa campaign id numbers: 14v351000 (air bags) and 14v349000 (air bags). the contact stated that the parts needed were unavailable to repair the vehicle. the dealer was unable to inform when the part would become available. the manufacturer was not notified of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

I was driving my daughter to school and parked my car and took her inside like i always do. when i came outside and unlocked my car (with the key) my key would not go in the ignition - leaving me stuck and late for work and having to use my aaa towing because i couldn't even drive it to the shop - this should be a recall***i have seen mannnyyyyyy complaints on this issue even my tow truck guy stated this model and year and (known) for this problem, and now will cost me 450.00 to fix. a ignition switch is not normal ware and tare - its not like tires or timing belt or any of those things and should be replaced - this is complete disregard for consumers - this will definitely be a problem if someone gets hurt due to the fact that they cant even get the key in there ignition - lawsuits will happen if a recall is not made. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v349000 (air bags) however, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure. updated 03/24/15*lj the consumer stated as of 3/12/15 the recall parts had not become available. updated 10/20/2015*js

Faulty ignition. key will not turn. wafers in cylinder are malfunctioning. *tr

2003 honda pilot. consumer writes in regards to passengers front air bag inflator recall notice. *smd the consumer was informed the part was not avaialble. *jb

I received a safety recall notice the end of january 2015. i called my honda dealership on 02/12 to schedule an appointment and was told the "parts" were not available yet, please call back the end of the month. i just called my honda dealership today, 02/23, and was told the "parts" would not be available until april! i just want this officially documented, should i or one of my family members(god forbid) have an accident with this vehicle and receive injuries because of this delay!! updated 09/23/15.*jb

While accelerating on the gas to pick up speed the transmission slipped and hesitated to shift to a higher gear, once it did engage it then slipped and down shifted causing speed to decelerate while driving between 40-55 mph. later the d light came on the dash and the transmission continued to slip at various speeds and at times down shift. had transmission serviced and the technician reset the d dash light after driving it 3 days problem has now started to occur again and light has again come on on dash. *js

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v700000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle failed to respond when the brake pedal was depressed. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician stated that the vehicle was operating as designed. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 200,000. updated 04/10/15*lj the consumer stated the vehicle has a history of traction issues in both accelerating and decelerating. updated 04/16/15*jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v351000 (air bags) however, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure. the vin was unavailable.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. during inclement weather, water traveled through the engine compartment onto the floorboards. the failure created mold in the vehicle and electrical wiring damage. the failure recurred multiple times. the dealer stated that water was traveling through the windshield. the windshield was replaced; however, the failure persisted. the manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 250,000. the vin was unavailable...updated 02/11/15 *bf .

I took my 2003 honda pilot in to repair the ignition recall. ever since the repair i've been having a hard time getting my key into the ignition. i never had an issue with it prior to the service. i have to literally wiggle and insert and take out the key many times for it to sit right in the ignition. i have found numerous complaints for the same issue from other pilot owners. something needs to be done to resolve this issue. honda dealer wants to charge me a diagnostic fee just to see if my problem is related to the work they did for the recall. i don't think i should be charged just to check if they caused a problem with my car. *tr

Srs light which was under warranty came on,2003 honda pilot. the dealership replaced both drivers side and passenger side air bags under a recall. the srs light still remained on so a diagnostic test revealed a code 15-3 in the opds system and found faulty wiring in passenger seat harness which was under warranty for ten years which we were not aware of until the s rs light came on. after doing my own research i found honda service. bulletin 06-009 dated feb.5,2008,which set the warranty at 10 years or 157000 miles. my vehicle falls within in the mileage parameters but not the years. you would think the time would run from the date of the bulletin. it doesn't seem fair that i have tp pay to replace this part when honda knew it was a defective part and should replace it without any restrictions on time or mileage. *tr

Filed a complaint with honda in 2011, to no avail, regarding our sticky/tacky airbag covers, probably caused by climate heat. in doing the current airbag recall work, the covers became permanently fingerprinted at the dealership. again filed a complaint with honda, explaining that not only are the covers even more unsightly because of the fingerprinting on the dashboard, it becomes a safety issue because you refrain from using the horn when needed because of the sticky nature of the cover, which leaves a residue on your hand. honda offered to pay 25% of $ 2100.00 cost to fix their problem, a problem that we did not create. not the response we were looking for... *tr

Vehicle began making a fluttering noise underneath and has continued to be problematic when driving from 35-50 mph. torque converter/transmission issue. mechanic says car unsafe to drive because transmission may lock up, causing possible loss of vehicle control. *tr

I was rear ended while stopped at a traffic light in maryland. there was minor damage to the rear exterior of my vehicle. the main damage was to my neck which received a serious strain and has hurt ever since the accident. because the headrests on the pilot are not adjustable, the back of my head was several inches away from the headrest when i was struck from behind. this is a faulty design and needs to be fixed or replaced by honda. it is impossible to avoid whiplash injury in this car if one is hit from the rear. *tr

The car was moved into location, turned off, and the key removed leading to the driver thinking the car was in park, however the car was still in drive. the car was on a slight incline which caused the car to roll backwards down the driveway, across the street, roll over a tree, and crash into another tree causing significant damage. *tr

This is a 2003 honda pilot that i had never had any problems until i had to travel almost 2 hours--one way--for my job. on the way home of my 4 hour trip my pilot like got hot and then just stopped pulling. honda of richmond kentucky put one transmission in already, buy the 2nd or 3rd oil change after the transmission was replaced, we had to have it replaced again. not its about 1 thousand miles from another oil change and the transmission is slipping again. help what do i do?? *tr

When i called to inquire of honda about the partial recall for the passenger side airbag i was told not to worry about it since it hadn't exploded yet. really? i guess honda isn't interested in repeat business; i have owned nothing but their products. looks like i need to find a new(or smarter) manufacturer. *tr

Failed front and side engine mounts on honda pilot 2003. this seems to be very common among other honda pilot owners. *tr

Honda has failed to issue the recall for the defective tanata airbags they installed in this vehicle. we are the original owners. we contacted them directly early in september and they committed to recall it within a month. no recall has ever arrived. *tr

My vehicle is listed in the 6/2/2014 recall notice for the passenger airbag. over the past 4 months i have tried to get the vehicle repaired per the recall notice and have been repeatedly told by the dealer that honda has not given them instructions about how to fix per the recall. i have contacted honda corporate and they report they will get back to me at some unknown time. based on the reports of fatalities relating to honda air bags, i am concerned whether or not the 2003 honda pilot is safe to transport my family and friends. i request that either honda promptly repair per the recall notice or officially and immediately let me know that the vehicle is safe to transport people in its current state. additionally, i am concerned about the driver's side airbag, even though the driver's side airbag is not listed in the regional safety recall. my vehicle has spent significant time in hot and humid areas, including south carolina. i can find no data that gives me confidence that drivers side airbags in vehicles registered in states other than florida, south carolina, and other "hot" states are safe. i request that nhtsa immediately review the facts and data for driver's side airbags for vehicles not covered in the regional recall because of the "hot" state vs. "non-hot" state differentiation and issue information to the public regarding the risks. thank you for your consideration and help. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that while examining the vehicle, the rear end appeared to be lower than normal. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician diagnosed that the rear axle had detached from the frame of the vehicle due to severe rusting of the sub frame. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure but solution was offered. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 140,000.

2003 honda pilot. consumer writes in regards to recall concerning defective airbag inflators. *tgw updated 11/20/14*jb

Car ran away in reverse as if it had a mind of its own. full weight on the brakes but the car kept accelerating. crashed into utility pole encircled with old car tires. car bounced off and then crashed into the pole over and over again. hit gear shift into forward. engine screaming really high revs, car raced forward and i did everything i could to avoid hitting parked vehicles and a pond as car kept going faster. with nowhere to head but golf course or highway, i steered onto a farm field and drove a half mile until i was able to pull out the keys from the starter which stopped car. i did not think i was injured at time but i ended up with whiplash which meant i lost about six months income. honda refused compensation, or paid for any of the repairs of the car with exception of the key interface for starter . honda claimed that nothings wrong with car. said had my foot on accelerator. however, honda dealership charged me more than $3,000 to fix a completely destroyed braking system how could i have had my foot on the accelerator and destroyed the brakes? honda refused to buy my car and decommission it because they said car was perfect. downright rude afterward. i did not let anyone else drive the car and used it as infrequently as i could. seven months later, i was in an underground parking garage and same thing happened. the car accelerated into thesolid concrete wall just four feet ahead. the impact destroyed car. front end crumpled in, the engine damaged and all airbags deployed. this from a four foot collision. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the chrome plating on the door handles was peeling and causing minor injuries to the contact’s fingers. the contact mentioned that all four doors were affected by the failure. the problem persisted for the past two years. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that all four handles needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the issue. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

My honda pilot shutters at 25-50 mph i had it check with my local dealer honda and it seems like its coming from transmission issue's. *tr

Parked the car. came back about 10 minutes later, heard loud like shots fired, rounded the corner to see it was our airbags popping...the car was on fire under the hood, and going to the dashboard. called 911 and by the time the fire dept. came ( 1 mile away) the whole car was engulfed. the whole car destroyed, all that was left was the shell no seats no dashboard no license plates nothing left. we complied to all recalls and took it to a honda dealership each time for repairs. we had a steering column fire about 2-3 years ago driving along and the car filled with smoke, it was a electrical fire, but pulling over turning off the engine put out the fire. had it repaired immediately. a week before the big fire we felt the column and it was hot...but cooled after we parked it. then days later is when it burned to the ground, even the tires were gone. honda doesn't care about our loss, and of course it's not their fault. p.s. in 2007 we got hurt in that same car we were stopped on the side of the road ( we were in the car) and a truck crossed the line and hit us head on. our seat belts didn't hold us in, they loosened and airbags did not deploy. we were hurt and honda said the truck hit us too high is why the airbags didn't deploy. that sounds ridiculous. the seat belt shoulder straps didn't hold us cause we weren't moving also sounds ridiculous. honda didn't care then either. *tr

Anywhere between 35-50 mph i get a shudder that sounds like driving over a rumble strip on the freeway. the problem started out to where it sounded like a gush of air was flowing underneath the car for about 15 seconds, then progressed to a rumble strip noise. at that point, i had it looked at. mechanic says failed torque converter and will have to replace transmission. i have 132,000 miles on the car. haven't contacted honda as i'm the second owner and have read in many different places on the internet that honda won't acknowledge the problem. mechanic warned that the transmission will go at any time now and the car isn't safe to drive. i've decided if the transmission is going to fail at 132,000 miles, i'm not taking the chance of putting more money into it, only to fail again (several complaints about people ending up with several transmissions installed by honda with subsequent failures). i've owned three hondas. the lack of response from honda on this issue across the board means they lost me as a customer. *tr

2003 honda pilot. consumer writes in regards to airbag replacement issues. *smd the dealer informed the consumer, the vehicle had been in salt water. however, the consumer stated while he does work near the water, but not salt water. *jb

I picked up my grandchildren from school which is less than a mile away. when i pulled out of the parking lot after a stop, i felt the back of the seat go back. my husband took the car to a place where we have our oil changed and tires rotated. the mechanic said that the support mount bracket for the driver's seat is broken. there could have been severe to fatal injury had i been hit by another vehicle while this was going on. i had to cross route 83 in bensenville/wood dale area in illinois. *tr

Re: recall # jf7 passenger airbag inflator (for 2003 - 2007 honda pilots sold in high absolute humidity states) my vehicle was sold new in february 2003 in myrtle beach, an ocean-front city in south carolina, one of the states refered to in the above recall as having high absolute humidity. the vehicle remained titled in coastal south carolina from february 2003 until march 2007, a period of four years. because the vehicle spent the first four years of its existence in an area of high absolute humidity, i am concerned about the present and future functionality of both driver and passenger airbag inflators. please add my vehicle to the recall list for replacement of both airbag inflators. thank you.

A couple of years ago, we had our mechanic (who worked with a locksmith) rebuild the ignition switch because our keys were failing to turn the switch, making it impossible to start the car. this repair cost us about $400. we also had new keys cut. now the problem has resurfaced. the keys are not worn, but they are still unable to turn the switch unless they go in "just right" -- which means 15+ minutes of fiddling with the key to start the car -- and sometimes it just doesn't work at all. the locksmith will charge us another $400 to rebuild the switch again -- or we can pay $535 (plus tax) to the dealership to have them replace it. [this does not include the door locks, by the way, which would still have to be opened with the old key -- and cost another $400 to replace.] we have started leaving a key in the ignition at all times to ensure that we can use the car. once we get it in there, we just leave it there. we drape a small towel over the steering column to hide the key, but there it stays. it's a ridiculous situation, and we are not alone. i see a lot of people complaining about this online. why has this not been recalled?

I am the original owner of a 2003 honda pilot. i am an older, cautious driver and have babied this vehicle, doing all regular service at the dealer's, so it would run in top shape for many years to come. around six months ago i noticed at lower speeds (20-30 m.p.h.) the vehicle shudders. to counter the problem i have to accelerate and then it goes away. i have had the dealer check it three times and each time they say they cannot replicate the problem, which is hard to believe. last week the d light started to flash. i took it into the dealer right away and they said it was a sensor. i asked if that could be making the car shudder and they said probably. i had them change it and the shudder has not gone away. this morning it was particularly heavy so i called the dealer again and they gave me the american honda number. i called them and they said the dealer should look at it. i've seen so many other people have the same complaint and i'm very concerned this is a safety issue that honda is choosing to ignore; a little like other auto companies have done over the past few years until a fatality happens. as i carry my family in this vehicle and i am particularly concerned. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving approximately 60 mph, the contact downshifted and the vehicle automatically shifted back into gear. the failure occurred twice. the dealer stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. the approximate failure mileage was 142,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the vehicle decelerated from 65 mph to 30 mph without warning. an independent mechanic located a failure code at the transmission speed sensor. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was 154,000.

Car key goes in ignition and will not turn. this is a danger when you can not start the car and get out of a dangerous situation. i read on line many other pilots with the same problem. honda has a bad part. honda wants $500 to fix a bad part that needs to be recalled. *tr

Left work at night. low-beams partially failed, but i didn't notice until i was going 55 mph on the highway. had to use brights, and go to a gas station. vehicle had to be towed, and checked by dealer. dealer said using 3rd party headlight bulbs was the cause. of interest, the car already had the low-beam failure recall fixed. looks like this is still an issue after the recall, and using honda oem bulbs is the only safe way to go. 3rd party bulbs were purchased from advance auto parts, and i'm unsure of the brand. *tr

We started to have trouble inserting the key in the ignition. today the key wouldn't even go in after many attempts wiggling it. after twenty minutes trying had to leave car behind. now i'm without a car and searching for recalls noticed that although there is none for this problem it is a huge problem with other pilot owners. *tr

Clear coat began coming off of many horizontal surfaces. has continued for years. now the actual paint is coming off and this is unacceptable. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated while stopped at a red light, the vehicle began to accelerate and the driver's seat frame became fractured. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a fractured power seat frame and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileage was 107,000.

I took my vehicle to repair a recall and [xxx] service manger said he will service all the recalls to the vehicle. the recall was something in reference to the ignition. to days later the vehicle will not shout off, the vehicle always make the sound as if the key was in the ignition. i took it back and [xxx] service manger said the do not touch anything around the ignition.... now the vehicle shout off while driving have video. took it back and [xxx] said i need to pay additional.... if all vehicle recalls where recall by the dealer. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving various speeds, the transmission suddenly slipped between gears. the contact mentioned that the failure was experienced multiple times. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train). the approximate failure and current mileage was 160,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that he was unable to start the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 105,000.

2003 honda pilot. consumer requests reimbursement for ignition system recall repairs. *smd the consumer stated the dealer completed the repairs outlined in the recall, but charged him for the replacement and installation. *jb

Issue with honda pilot's ignition switch not fully engaging the park position. received recall paper work ordering this issue to be fixed at local honda dealer free of charge. recall paper work was signed by [xxx] chief recall management division. local honda dealer, williston honda and chrysler performed the recall service on april 4, 2014. the recall job for a honda pilot was botched. the service mechanic refused to fix. requested management to investigate this issue. as of today april 18, 2014 an answer to fix or not to fix this issue from the management of williston honda and chrysler has not been given. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

2003 honda pilot. consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall problems at dealership. *smd the consumer received a recall letter in the mail. however, when she visited the dealer, they refused to fix it, by stating the vehicle was not in their system. the consumer stated the vehicle was purchased in germany through the military. the consumer has since sold the vehicle. *jb

Seat mounting bracket on the left front corner of the driver seat broke. seat now is not firmly connected to the floor and will rock back to the right when seated. it's not safe if an accident occurs. i know the car is getting older, but some important parts that could compromise driver safety should not fail after a few years of regular use. *tr

The ignition switch for the vehicle suddenly wouldn't accept the key. researching the issue online, http://www.piloteers.org/forums/14-problems/27572-2003-pilot-ignition-switch-problem-solution.html, i found many other references to the exact same problem. only 160,000 miles on vehicle and in excellent mechanical condition so very unexpected and serious defect. i have two other vehicles with over 250,000 miles and never had this concern. new ignition parts installed over $500 and told me to save my paperwork as there should be a recall on this. i'm fortunate it was daylight, i was at work, and had aaa in order to get the vehicle towed to the dealer. please force honda to issue a recall on this ignition switch problem. *tr

There is a recall: http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=7018-en in addition the key and lock mechanism can be warn out where the key can fall out of the ignition while on a freeway or street. the car dies and you can't put the key back in and move the car. happened to me had to tow the car have the recall done and had to pay for the ignition with replacement. the web shows 100 or 1000 of others with similar issues. *tr

Steel bracket or weld to steel bracket holding left front drivers seat to floor broke rendering seat unsafe for driving. honda has refused to provide any assistance for the repair. however, web research shows multiple year honda pilots having the same issue. honda should be held responsible. dealer could do nothing and suggested i call american honda which i did and the representative on the phone told me there was nothing they could due to age and mileage of vehicle. the rep said i could write and have my case reviewed. i wrote on 1/2 and just received a phone call today, 1/8 from the pa area case rep who told me, and i quote, "common sense tells you that something almost 11 years old will break". i do not believe a steel part or weld holding the part together should break. i was told by the pa area case rep that the phone call was my response and i would not be receiving a reply in writing. great customer service. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. the contact applied the brakes but the vehicle did not respond. the contact had to shut the vehicle off to stop the vehicle. the contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer or mechanic for diagnostic testing. the failure mileage was 130,000.

During normal acceleration from stop i felt my driver's side seat snap and give allowing my body to lean back and to the right. visual inspection under seat show fatigued metal bracket at forward outbound position of seat base/bracket just above rails. i would assume integrity/safety of seat is compromised. i also believe that this should not happen during normal acceleration/use. *tr

My honda pilot starts slipping when it changes from 3rd gear to 4 gear. now it starts shaking/jugging. with speed 60mph or 65 mph, it is very dangerous if it starts jugging because you never know how the car behind you reacts and your car will do. *tr

The driver's seat frame sheared off on the front bar, left side. the seat is no longer attached to the vehicle frame. if an accident occurs, i fear what will happen. there was no outside influential causal effect for this to happen, it just broke. the seat rocks back and forth while driving, a huge safety concern. this seems to problematic among 2003 - 2006 honda pilots. honda needs to do a recall? *tr

Honda pilot '03 started leaking water into the front cabin after the rains. the floor gets wet and the water needs to be vacuumed out after the rain. not sure what else is being affected because of this water leak.. i already see rust showing up and mold smell coming out because of the water leak. i called in northamerican honda and lodged a complaint. *tr

In april of this year i brought my 2003 honda pilot in to the dealership for a recall concerning the ignition switch interlock. after that, it was difficult to put my key in the ignition, but if i jiggled it enough it would finally go in . now my key does not even go in at all. the honda dealership said that i need the ignition switch assembly changed, but that it is not covered by any recall. it seems like this is a fairly common problem among other owners of the 2003 honda pilot. to be stuck somewhere with my kids in a car that won't start because the key won't go in is a scary thought. it has almost happened to me more than once. *tr

Transmission slips when going around 30 miles. i have changed the transmission fluid multiple times. it seems like this year honda pilot has a lot of transmission issues like this. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the brakes failed to engage and the vehicle suddenly accelerated. the contact attempted to utilize the emergency brake but to no avail. the vehicle then proceed through traffic and crashed into an embankment. the air bags deployed from the compartment but failed to inflate. the contact sustained injuries to the neck, the front seat passenger sustained injuries to the head and the rear passenger sustained injuries to the face. a police report was not filed. the vehicle was destroyed. the failure and current mileage was 127,000.

Loud scraping noise comes from car during cruising at around 35-40mph around 2000rpm. car seems to stutter at these speeds causing abrupt vibrations. other drivers have reported the same occurrence, many report it is from a bad torque converter. *tr

Transmission slipping, not shifting as it should. *jb

Front motor mounts broke and needed to be replaced. appears to be a known common problem with honda pilots. never happened on any of my other vehicles. *jb

Car starts shimmering at 35 - 45 mph. had mechanic check car and said no mechanical issue. had new tires put on car. still shimmering. have similar characteristics as others on the honda web site that mentioned that the diagnosis is a bad torque converter. strong shimmer at 35 - 45 mph intermittent problem. *jb

1. fall of 2011, when attempting to pick up speed car would began to sputter and shake. for safety, i wouldn't drive faster than approx. 35 mph. arriving at my destination, i put the car in park, took my foot off the brake. the engine revved and surged forward several times. fuel injection cleaner remedied this. 2. 2012, when initially accelerating, gears would roughly change with a thumping sound. while driving and picking up speed, car would rev loudly. brakes were applied to keep it from lunging forward. (very scary), but maintained control. checked transmission fluid level, added 1/4 qt of transmission fluid. problem persisted. engine warning light came on. drove it to the honda service department. mechanic checked and test drove car. advised about light flashing when in drive-(this had not occurred).they couldn't find the problem. engine warning light reset. returned to service department one week later when engine warning light came on again. mechanic test drove and again couldn't find a problem. warning light reset. approx. 3 weeks later, warning light returned. continued to drive cautiously. on aug 20, 2013 (driving approx 20 mph) three houses from my home, my car changed gears with a loud clunk (sounded like something broke). i turned into the driveway and haven't moved or driven it since. my honda pilot has approx. 65,000 miles on the odometer. i believe honda motors and dealerships are aware of this recurring defect with the honda pilot models and is deliberately ignoring the consumers of their product. i've received several notices from honda dealers stating my 2003 pilot is in high demand. i am angry that i'm stuck with this wreck, but glad this junk was not passed on to someone else. in the meantime i'm without transportation and maybe forced to purchase another vehicle. very depressed. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated the ignition switch failed the key could not be released from the ignition. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection and the contact was advised that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure and current mileage was 140,000.

On 9/6/2012 honda performed recall work on this vehicle, see nhtsa recall 12v-136. on 8/5/2013 i checked the vehicles lights and all were working. on 8/6/2013 while moving vehicle in driveway i noticed that both low beams were not illuminating even though the switch was turned on. the parking lights and high beams both worked, but the low beams did not work. on 8/8/2013 i took the vehicle to the local honda dealer (roberts in downingtown, pa). the dealer's service representative reported that the recall work was fine and that the headlamp switch was broken. the cost of the headlamp switch is $190. i will pick up the vehicle later today, 8/8/2013. i am reporting this to provide data that might be useful as it relates to the safety recall. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Certified letter (7011 0470 003 0649 3438) from attorney representing his client regarding paid repaired work he had done to his 2003 honda pilot and later received recall notices about the problem; he is seeking reimbursement. *smd on december 21, 2012, the key became stuck in the ignition, and could not be removed without the assistance from the dealer. the dealer informed the consumer it would cost $624. 41 to fix the problem, despite the fact it was a known defect, which apparently resulted from an improper setting of the cable connecting the shift lever to the transmission at the shift lever bracket, which was a common problem with honda vehicles. after the consumer paid for the repairs, he received a recall notice from honda concerning the ignition interlock switch on his vehicle.

2003 honda pilot transmission started slipping in low gear after engine warmed up. whenever vehicle is going from a stop to movement, such as red lights, stop signs and traffic, vehicle doe not click into gear right away. took vehicle to honda dealer who stated transmission needs to be replaced at a cost of $4100 + 12 hrs labor for installation. vehicle only has @78,00 miles on it. luckily my transmission has not seized as many others have on the highway causing grave safety concern. *tr

The key gets stuck in ignition and does not turn. after numerous attempts it finally turns and then i can start the car. i have noticed a lot other people are having this issue, called up honda and they said there is no recall for this symptom. *tr

We purchased our 2003 honda pilot ex-l new at danbury honda on february 20, 2003. we have had ongoing issues with the "d" or drive light flashing intermittently since the car was new and had it checked at the dealer each time, with a report back that there was nothing wrong and it would go away. the dealer has done almost all of the preventative maintenance to our vehicle and we also do proactive care to our vehicle. most recently we spent a good amount of money on repairs to the transmission through honda dealerships in delray beach, florida (disaster there) and danbury, ct. we are now being told we need a new transmission, only months after putting a lot of money into the car. had we known we would be spending this kind of money (about $5k), we would have traded the car in. however, we are now caught in a financial burden with having to put a new transmission in the 2003 pilot, which we think should be part of a recall based upon all the on-line research we've done. can anyone please assist? *tr

Driving in a residential neighborhood, our 2003 honda pilot stalled and would not re-start. we had it towed to our mechanic who has been servicing our vehicle. he states that the timing belt pulley had ripped out the water pump and caused a bolt to come in contact with the cylinder head. *tr

Key cannot be inserted into ignition switch. takes multiple attempts to insert key and once fully inserted key won't turn ignition. takes numerous attempts and eventually key will turn ignition. *tr

Yokohama geolander h/t-s go51 p235/70r16 cracking and separation of tire tread around entire circumference of tires. all 4 tires purchased 6/26/09 and only 27k miles. these were not dry rot cracks. *tr

We bought a 2003 honda pilot in 2006. 3 months ago we found out it had been recalled in 2004 for the powertrain. that apparently was fixed at that time. in april, we had an issue with the rpms showing 3000 while we were driving only 35 mph. we took it to the dealer who informed us that the powertrain needed to be replaced. this cost us over $6,000 to replace including over $700 to lease a car. american honda said that the warranty had run out and that it was a high mileage vehicle and they would not cover the cost of the repair. our question is why would the powertrain have to be replaced a second time within a 9 year period. the 109,000 miles on the vehicle is within if not lower than the national average. granted, a 10 year old vehicle will probably not still be under warranty. however, if the powertrain was fixed under the recall in 2004, should it need to be replaced again? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the key failed to release from the ignition switch when the gear lever was shifted into park. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and repaired under nhtsa campaign id number: 12v573000 (electrical system). the dealer replaced the shift interlock lever and failed to include the replacement of the ignition switch. the failure persisted after the remedy repair. the manufacturer was not notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

Broken ignition tumbler: i had just finished running errands and was starting home when the key would not turn in the ignition. i had no warning there was a problem, all of a sudden it just would not turn...... not even after multiple attempts. this left me stranded with my five children. i had to get the car towed to nearest honda dealership..that alone has set me back a couple hundred dollars...now dealership is telling me i have a broken ignition tumbler and is quoting me $500 to fix the problem. i have seen a lot of other complaints online concerning this same issue. to say the least, i am not too happy to be stuck holding the bag for this, not to mention being stranded with my children, which i think is every mothers worst nightmare. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. the contact was able to start the vehicle 10 minutes later. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the ignition cylinder lock needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 209,000.

Key gets stuck in ignition, very frustrating when the key does not work. this effects the lock cylinders(tumblers). this should have been a very, straight forward issue honda would address. also have a 2011 pilot (in addition to honda minivan) and concerned this will occur with new car. understand wear and tear, but this is a basic function for ignition. honda needs to address this issue. *tr

Air bags warning lights has come on the dash board. *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

2003 honda pilot. consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall notice and seeks reimbursement for repairs. *smd the consumer stated he was denied reimbursement twice. the last rejection, was via telephone, in which he was told the symptom fixed at his expense was a sticky tumbler. the consumer explained that the symptoms included an initial interlock failure. the consumer stated the problems started with him being able to remove the key from the ignition, when the gear selector was not in park. a month or two later, the key started to stick in the ignition with the shifter in the park position, and a few weeks later the steering wheel eventually locked with a stuck key. the consumer as since traded the vehicle.

Trans. shuddered at 30-40 mph. recall #04-021 done 8/23/04 (oil jet kit installed). didn't solve problem, which has gotten worse until now (06/13) and happens at all speeds. very common problem with hondas of that year (2003). car now has 125k miles, honda refuses to fix as recall, wants to replace trans. at my expense. *tr

Key will no longer turn in the ignition switch,it is also difficult to insert and remove the key ,take 6 min max sometimes, change keys and the same problem. i was told by service department that this is not a recall. service department told me it going to cost me $500 or more material $200 and rest in labor i is there a recall in this area?this start to happen after i take my vehicles for a recall ,something to do with the vehicles move went the keys inside. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the transmission failed without warning. on a separate occasion, the passenger side relay speaker caught on fire. the fire was contained by the contact. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was advised that the wiring needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the approximate failure mileage was 120,000. *tr

Engine revs at 25-30 mph, and rpm's shoot up. it appears it won't change gears. *tr

The key had trouble turning in the ignition. it got worse over time. eventually the key wont turn at all. looked up online and saw many complaints of the same problem with the same model and make of our vehicle. had it fixed in 2011 and it cost over $500. now in may of 2013 it's happening again. sometimes it takes over 10 minutes to get the car started with trying to turn the key over and over again which i'm sure it's just making it worse and worse. *tr

Key will no longer turn in the ignition. it is also difficult to insert and remove the key. assumed this was what the ignition recall was for, but was told by the service department that this is not covered and that they cannot fix the recall item unless i first get the ignition fixed. *tr

I also had both my front and side engine mounts go bad and i had to fix the problem i paid $934.00. i have 3 children that sit in this vehicle at all times so if i know that there is an issue especially with the mounts that hold my engine i have to fix it went to my local honda dealer dealt with the recalls that came up and had them service the transmission fluid since it was there. i am sure that i got robbed but, what can i do have to keep my kids safe. husband said, that the mounts should last alot longer he knows a lot about cars have other cars over 180k and mounts are still original what is going on honda getting junky on us. i hope they can fix what is going on too many tranny problems and engine issues. shame on you not happy at all been a civic, accord owner also.... *tr

This problem is extremely common on all hondas and has never been addressed. the power door lock motors consistently go bad. so far, this has happened to the driver and passenger doors on my pilot. the honda dealer is asking for $300 per door!!! this needs to be recalled asap. *tr

I have read on this website and on others that there has been a problem with the engine mounts breaking. i brought my car in for service and, sure enough, my engine mount has broken. the car has never been in an accident and is driven on smooth roads daily. this is a danger to the safety of the driver and passengers in the car. this is a common problem and needs to be recalled. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 04v176000 (power train) but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure and current mileage was 113,805. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 12v573000 (electrical system). the contact stated that recently, the key was able to be removed from the ignition while the vehicle was not secured in park. the manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was 161,000.

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.

I was about to turn the key in the ignition but it could not get in. the key meets resistance and gets in after i tried several times. when i attempted to turn on the ignition, it wont budge and acted as if it was locked. since then, i do not take the key off the ignition because i am afraid i will not be able to get it in. it is a really safety issue and honda refuses to address it voluntarily. i went on line and there are several owners who are left alone to deal with the same safety issue. why do i have to leave my vehicle with the key stuck in the ignition. honda should be ashamed of their flagrant irresponsibility. please help us. thank you. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the key came out of the ignition switch independently and the vehicle continued operating normally. the vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic. the technician diagnosed that the ignition needed to be replaced. the contact mentioned that she received a recall letter for nhtsa campaign id number: 12v573000 ( electrical system). the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who refused to perform the repairs free of charge since they believed the vehicle had been tampered with. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 95,000 and the current mileage was 115,000. *tr

I own a 2003 honda pilot with 57,000 miles on it. after taking it to a honda specialist for scheduled service, the technician reported that the front engine mount & side engine mount are both broken, with a repair estimate of $503.30. the vehicle has not been in a collision, has had all its scheduled services and in no way should the engine mounts be broken. this is a major issue and honda should be looking into repair as it seems to not have been properly installed to be broken with such few miles. *tr

While driving at 40-45 mph with shift lever in "d" the vehicle began to shift down a gear very hard and then back into the previous gear. it does this repeatedly. was told by a honda dealer repair shop that the transmission needs to be replaced. the car has been well maintained. the transmission on a vehicle like this with 160k miles should not be failing. *tr

Our 2003 honda pilot has now stuck us twice. my wife was stuck in a parking lot the other night for over an hour trying to get her key in the ignition. the previous week the key did the same thing but eventually went in and then didn't want to turn to the start position. unfortunately the area my wife got stranded at the other night posed a definite safety issue. we are concerned she will be attacked and not be able to do anything about it. i have now contacted the local dealership twice and the honda corp for help. neither gave me help. they only told me to contact you guys and report the incident. they really didn't seem to care about my wife's safety. honda believes it is a part that just "wears out". if ignition cylinders wore out we wouldn't be driving cars over ten years old. we find honda's answer unacceptable. actually honda corp should be ashamed of the way they even handled the situation on the phone. i was talked to like a child and was not allowed to speak to a supervisor. i have researched now hundreds of others online with the exact same issue. please help! this will cost us over $500 to correct. my wife has had the incident happen twice now and we would like to see something done before somebody is robbed or even raped while trying to get a car started. *tr

I was trying to leave from work and when i tried entering the key it got stuck half way. i removed it and tried again and the key went it but would not turn. i had to try many times and then called my husband, he said to take the key out and wait couple minutes then try again. i did what he said and after the second try it finally turned. since that date i keep having the same problem and i recently received a recall letter and thought since its a recall honda would repair at no cost to me. well to my surprise i just found out that this is not part of the recall and will have to pay for them to repair. the recall i received said the interlock lever in the ignition switch may become deformed. :( *tr

Sudden downshifting and shuddering, check engine light came on and difficulty in shifting. engine light remained on and occasional shifting problems for a few weeks until checked by dealer - po740 and po730 needs transmission replacement and engine mount. same problem as a 100 of others. original owner fully dealer maintained for 10+ years, even with fairly high miles well maintained transmission should not fail. honda dealer quoted $5500 for honda rebuilt transmission with no mention of any assistance or of the well known and frequent occurrence of this issue. a definite safety issue as simple luck this didn't occur on the highway at greater speed in high traffic i frequently drive. *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

Key got difficult to put into the ignition switch. then after a few days the key had to be jiggled to turn and then after two weeks the key will not turn. this is a safety hazard if you need to start the car quickly or if you are threatened and need to use your car to escape. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the front driver's side seat frame fractured. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 66,000.

There is a problem with the ignition switch on my 2003 honda pilot. when i try and put my ignition key into the ignition switch, it requires several attempts before it actually goes in to the key slot without resistance. it is as if one is putting the wrong key into the wrong key hole. when it does finally go in, it may take several more attempts for the key to finally turn and start the vehicle. *tr

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

Unable to turn key in ignition. apparently this is an issue that many 2003 honda pilot owners are having. this can be a safety issue as it can leave someone stranded in a remote area as happened with me. if the malfunction is caused by a faulty part then honda should bare some of the responsibility and cost to correct the problem. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the driver's seat bracket fractured and the seat would move around while the contact was driving. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the seat frame needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 66,000 and current mileage was 66,595.

While driving, the front-left bracket of the drivers seat broke, causing the seat to move erratically, leading to temporary loss of control. the incident had the potential of being much more serious, had there been more traffic and/or were i driving at higher speeds. this issue seems to be quite common among honda pilots. further research shows many pilot owners have had the exact same problem, specifically, failure of the front-left drivers seat bracket. as a result, i took my vehicle to my dealership, norm reeves honda, to have the issue remedied. i was quoted a price of $1,600 to have the problem fixed. with no other choice, i agreed to the price and scheduled an appointment for a saturday morning. i took my vehicle in that saturday and waited 8 hours in lobby only to have the service advisor tell me that the repair would have to be delayed, due to the fact that the part ordered for the replacement was defective. this fact only further leads me to believe that there is a serious manufacturer's issue with this part of the vehicle. *tr

While on my wayback on i95 from richmond, va to silver spring maryland, i suddenly heard a noise from my back window and i saw my honda pilot spoiler fly away and land in front of the upcoming traffic and almost causing an accident. today, i still have not replaced this back spoiler and i have seen many other honda pilots on the highway or in the city without this back spoiler. *tr

After loading my pilot, tried to put the key in the ignition switch but it did not go easy on the switch and once in the switch it did not turn on the ignition. i tried several times and or use the spare key until the ignition switch worked. since july 16, 2012, everytime i start my pilot, i have the same problem. i have to keep my spare key all the time to avoid the issue on having to reenter the ignition switch. everytime i forget to keep the spare key on the ignition switch i have to spend about 20 minutes to try to reengage my key in the ignition switch to have it work. *tr

I parked my car outside a local store with a nearly zero decline. after entering the store and beginning to shop - a fellow shopper came in to tell me that my car had rolled backwards and hit another vehicle. luckily there was no major damage to either vehicle. when i entered my vehicle the gear shift was in fact in park but the car had rolled back anyways and stopped only because it hit another vehicle in the parking lot. *tr

Key won't turn in ignition due to misaligned wafers. this is the second time in just over a year we have had to fix this problem. at first had to jiggle key to be able to turn it, then can't even get the key in all the way. taken to locksmith. first occurred 10/2011, then 1/11/2013. *tr

The key would not fit into the ignition without forcing it several times, after a few weeks, the key would not even turn. the vehicle was serviced and the cylinder and ignition switch were replaced at the cost of the owner. this is a very common problem with this model. honda corporation should be held responsible for it. *tr

I was unable to start my car due to faulty ignition switch. i was stranded, with my kids, and in the cold-unable to even run the heat. the key issue was reported to honda and i was waiting for help from the company due to the known defect in the key/ignition tumblers, as widely reported to me by a locksmith and a dealer. honda has been unwilling to issue a recall notice regarding this defect. *tr

I was unable to start my car due to faulty ignition switch. i found myself stranded, with 4 young children, and in the cold-unable to even run the heat. the key issue was reported to honda and i was waiting for help from the company due to the known defect in the key/ignition tumblers, as widely reported to me by a locksmith and a dealer. honda has been unwilling to issue a recall notice regarding this defect. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while parked with the key removed from the ignition, the vehicle rolled away in reverse independently. the vehicle came to a complete stop when it traveled over a curb on the opposite side of the street. the contact entered the vehicle and noticed that the gear shifter was still in drive. the failure recurred twice on separate occasions. the contact also experienced difficulty turning the key in the ignition. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the mechanic stated that the ignition switch would have to be replaced. after the repair, the contact noticed that she was unable to remove the key from the ignition unless the vehicle was shifted into park first. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 130,000. ...updated11/21/12 *bf updated 11/30/2012 *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that after inserting the key in the ignition, the key would not turn, preventing her from starting the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the ignition needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 150,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that he parked the vehicle in a residential carport. approximately thirty minutes later, the contact went back to the vehicle and noticed that the vehicle was no longer parked in the carport but had rolled away and crashed into a tree. the vehicle was placed in park and the keys were removed from the ignition when the contact exited the vehicle. the vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash scene. the police were not contacted. the vehicle was later taken to a local mechanic for repairs to the external damages of the hatch back door and rear bumper. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle was not inspected for the roll away failure. the failure mileage was approximately 95,000. the current mileage was approximately 102,000. updated 12/06/12 *bf updated 12/06/12

A new master cylinder from american honda installed by a honda dealership failed less than 1/4 mile from the dealership. the failure was detected by the brake pedal not coming to a complete stop when pressed though this was not very noticeable. pressing the brake caused brake fluid to leak from the master cylinder and would have eventually caused enough loss so that the brakes would not work. the master cylinder had been replaced along with the front-left brake cylinder due to the front-left brake cylinder sticking closed according to the dealership. the original brake cylinder failure caused enough smoke to cause the driver to initially believe the car was on fire. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated the engine was turned off and the key released from the ignition switch upon removing, even though the gear was shifted into the drive position. the vehicle began to roll and came to a stop once the brake pedal was depressed. the gear was then shifted into park. there was currently an open investigation associated with nhtsa action number pe12026 (electrical system:ignition:switch). the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000. updated 10/31/12*lj

I pulled the vehicle into a parking space and turned the key off. i got out of the car and the car began rolling backwards. it rolled down a small hill and smashed into a vehicle in the lot below. *tr it appears the steering column allowed me to remove the key without putting the vehicle in park

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that while trying to start the vehicle, the key seized in the ignition and could not be turned. the vehicle was not taken to a mechanic or a dealer. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure and current mileage was 133,568.

Rear hatch window wiper blew the fuse. the srs light came on there was nothing wrong with my air bags or my seat sensors. a new fuse fixed the wiper but would not turn off srs light. dealer wanted $100 plus dollars to check system and turn off light. independent mech. checked system found nothing wrong and reset the light. why is a wiper motor tied into the seat sensor and air bags? *tr

Ignition locked up. the car could not be shut off. the key could not be removed from the ignition. dealer wanted $900 to fix the problem. *tr

I have the same problem with the transmission and being able to remove my key even when it is not in park that has been reported by others. its led to an accident and a near one. *tr

The transmission of my 2003 honda pilot died. when i went to a message board at edmunds.com i found that there have been a lot of other people that have had the same problem with their 2003 pilots beginning with 90,000 miles. honda checked my second gear that they did recall but claim that the problem is not with that gear. a reputable transmission mechanic that rebuilds transmissions, recommended by two mechanic friends of mine, agrees with honda, that it has failed completely. for a company that prides itself for a supposed excellent mechanical maintenance reputation, i and a lot of other honda owners are sorely disappointed. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the transmission would not shift into any gear. the vehicle was taken previously to the dealer in 2004 for a recall repair under the nhtsa campaign id number: 04v176000 (power train: automatic transmission). the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for this most recent failure. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 220,000.

The transmission suddenly starting slipping without any warning and struggled to get over a viaduct with no power to accelerate. the transmission started slipping without any warning and the engine light came on. drove the pilot slowly home and took to shop. the transmission fluid had been changed at 90k. the pressure switches were changed but did not work for slippage. the transmission was broke and needed replacing. this vehicle had all recalls completed. *tr

I have been having a hard time turning the ignition with my key. now the key will not turn in the ignition. i believe this is a safety issue since there may be a situation where the car may need to be moved in a dangerous situation and cannot be turned. i found this website from 23 other complaints for the same issue on this website alone. *tr

2003 honda pilot ignition switch problem- the first day i was having problems inserting key into ignition and had to jiggle it around in order to turn it to start the engine. the next day the key would go in but it would take several attempts and at least 10-15 minutes trying to start the ignition. i was getting stuck in store parking lots and at home. now the key goes in and doesn't turn at all. the steering wheel is also locked as well as the gear shift so there is no way to put in neutral to tow it. *tr

The transmission would not go in reverse and early was slipping when i was on the high way. *tr

Car "shudders" at 40-45 mph. honda has had transmission problems with the 2003 pilot and odyssey. when this happens the car shakes like it is falling apart. approx. cost to repair $4,000.00. *tr

I recently bought a used 2003 honda pilot from [xxx] of colerain in ohio. the car has 137,000 approximate miles on it. they wanted me to pay over 15,000 for the car and finally after debating for hours over 4. they sold me the car out the door with no warranty offered for 10,500. i was very happy and i have 2 children and one on the way. i bought the car on august 5, 2012 less than two week go by and i am driving home going 65mph on 71 and the car jerks down gears to 30 miles an hour in a split second. my neck and my back are both hurting and i do not want to sue nor try to get rich off of this. my complaint is, i took the car to[xxx] of colerain the next morning they said the transmission was bad and they could do nothing for me. so basically they said i will have to pay for a $7,000 dollar repair. i left the car there and came home did all kinds of research found that car is up for recall on the transmission and thousands of people have the same issue. they even have a facebook page dedicated to fixing this problem! how can honda keep these vehicle's on the road? if my 17 month old would have been in the car with me she would have maybe broke her neck. go drive 65mph and throw the car in reverse that is what happened to me! and they said i bought a certified used honda? so what do i do ? who do i call? and why can they sell me a car in such a state? with over 4 recalls on parts and one being potentially fatal. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

The chrome finish on the door handles from the inside, this chrome finish is a think later of material almost like flex metal - it's very sharp and easily creates cuts in hand when opening the car doors. approx 3 days ago, i was moving my hand as i was driving and my finger touched the pealing chrome finish creating a deep cut causing pain and bleeding. i have kids and they may get hurt by this. *tr

2003 honda pilot ignition - at first we were having issues inserting the key into the ignition. then it progressed to needing to jiggle the key in order to get it to turn to any position of the ignition. the key would go in but it'd take several attempts, of a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes, before we could get the ignition to start. we read the manual and understood the importance of keeping the wheels straight - that seemed to help for a few attempts. now the key goes in but doesn't turn at all. with everything that has been documented about this issue from honda customers and the volume of customers it is affecting why isn't honda doing the 'right thing' and issuing a voluntary recall?! *tr

The ignition key will not slide into the ignition without a great amount of effort and time. this is a well documented problem. i will have to leave the key in the ignition because of the failure. *tr

The ignition switch locked up and the car would not start. i was stranded at work for several hours. honda needs to do something about this issue. we should not have to pay $600 for a repair they are well aware do to a parts defect. previously the vehicle also had started to roll back on the inclined drive way when i removed the ignition key with the shifter still in drive. *tr

2003 honda pilot exl transmission problems, requiring replacement at 101,950 miles in june of 2012. the problem started with a single transmission slip and severe hard (shift) engagement while accelerating between 40 and 45 mph. this problem happened intermittently for about two weeks and progressively increased in occurrence. then reverse gear selection started slipping and failing to engage. from that point on, the pilot transmission began consistently slipping and slamming (hard shifting) all gears (including while in d1,d2 and d3) and the longer it was driven, the worse it got, even slipping and slamming the downshift gear changes making the car unsafe to merge into traffic and drive on the road. the hard shifting was becoming so severe that it felt like transmission gear tooth failure was eminent. no check engine lights, no flashing 'd' or trouble codes on the pcm were found, even with all of problems. the honda dealership where the car was regularly serviced recommended replacing the transmission with a 'remanufactured honda transmission' at a cost of over $6400, with no assistance from honda corporate. filing a complaint with honda corporate only added to my disappointment, where the honda representatives i dealt with appeared to be more concerned about trying to turn a profit on replacing the defective transmission rather than being concerned about treating their customer fairly and or losing customer loyalty. note, this pilot had the transmission 2nd/3rd gear oil-jet kit recall performed in 2004 and apparently, it only postponed failure of the transmission. also, this pilot was never abused, always driven on paved roads, never towed anything and never had to use the vtm-4 wheel drive lockup mode. the transmission and differential fluids were replaced every 30,000 miles with honda fluids per the recommended maintenance schedule. *tr

Vehicle shudder/shake starting at 50 mph. advised needed new transmission. called honda to check if recall or would be reimbursed. told no and said wanted problem on record. replaced transmission at own expense $3045. drive light periodically flashes. have not repaired as >$300. *tr

Have had this vehicle since new. had the 2nd gear recall done as required at about 30,000. at 96,000 that tranny went out and had a "rebuilt" installed by sunset honda slo, ca. under warranty. at about 150000, d indicator flashed meaning sensors on tranny needed replacement.now experiencing loss of drive, sometimes when coming out of stop, engine just revving but no drive, also, as happened to my wife yesterday, when going at about 35, loss of power/drive occurred. this could show that i need an actual decent new tranny put in! i have yet to visit my well qualified and non honda dealer mechanic! i have been a honda owner since 1992 and this will be my last honda ever! the reliability is over with and they are way overpriced. *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.

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

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated he was able to insert and remove the key from the ignition, but the ignition would not turn to start the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 115,000.

Steering lock allows driver to remove the key from the steering column without placing the gear selector to "park". car rolled backwards. there (luckily) was no damage and no one was hurt. car was also brought to the local honda dealer to repair problems with unlocking the ignition switch to start the car. key regularly became stuck in the keyhole. this could leave someone stranded repair for the ignition switch locking from was $518. the repair also fixed the gear selector issue (can no longer remove the key from the steering column without placing the selector in "park"). the main concern here is the possibility that someone removes the key and the vehicle rolls into an unsuspecting person or strikes another vehicle. of secondary concern is for someone to be stranded because the mechanical ignition mechanism fails. *js

I was driving my wife's 2003 honda pilot stopped at light and when i started to drive away started to smell gasoline vapors coming into vehicle. drove home and smell continued after shutting vehicle off. next morning drove to honda dealer on tyndall parkway, in panama city florida, waited all day for an answer from service department, finally 1500 hrs on friday, they told me the fuel line had separated at joints and couplings and that was the smell i experienced. they kept the vehicle since then awaiting parts to repair fuel line. i was told parts would not arrive until tuesday 5-29-2012, they still haven't, was told again they would be available on 5-30-12. they also advised me it would cost$ 250, for part and total bill would be $1300, when i asked why so much, they stated labor would be for 11 hrs and cost $1150. being it was a safety concern agreed to pay as my wife has ms and is handicap and having to keep a window open in 90+ temp. would cause her ms to flair and possible relapse. .1). my question is why wasn't this vehicle recalled as a safety hazard with possible effects from gasoline fumes exposure and possibility of catching on fire of vehicle which both could have lead to possible death or injury of handicap individual or vehicle occupants. and is it common for the fuel line to break in this model vehicle? 2). does honda allow for 11 hrs to replace and repair the fuel, and what is their responsibility in the matter of this incident? not to notify owners of possible injury or death due to faulty equipment of their vehicles. i want a response from honda on these issues. 3). and a investigation into these concerns involving fuel line burst and connections involved here. and will this dealer provide written information as to why this happened and will they notify honda headquarters and customer services of this incident? updated ivoq 06/06/12 ....updated 06/18/12 *bf *tr

The transmission would not change to a higher gear causing the engine rpms to increase dramatically. i was almost rear-ended by the automobile behind me. eventually the transmission did find 3rd gear. this situation has happened numerous times since the initial episode. the transmission problem always occurs with the second gear. once the gear wouldn't change while i was merging into interstate traffic. i could have easily been killed. i took my vehicle to my dealer, crown honda of durham, nc, because i had purchased by pilot from them as a new vehicle, had the 2004 transmission 2nd gear recall "fix" performed by them, and had them perform all regularly schedule maintenance for the first 5 years. i also had maintenance records showing that i had performed all maintenance as required by honda for the past 9.5 years, including having the transmission fluid replaced. although they didn't deny knowing of the many transmission failures of honda vehicles, they refused to replace my transmission at no cost or at a discounted cost. *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the driver seat bracket fractured and as a result, the seat would move around while the contact driving. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the seat assembly needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 160,000 and the current mileage was 165,000...updated 07/19/12 *bf the consumer stated a bracket under the driver's seat broke from simple metal fatigue. updated 07/23/12

Shuddering and jerking while shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear. also does the same in reverse. car would not accelerate on highway on-ramp. while at high highway speeds, car felt like it fell out of gear and lost power, until the gear engaged again. *tr

2003 honda pilot. consumer writes in regards to recall 12v-136 concerning low beam headlights *tgw on december 7, 2011, the consumer took the vehicle in for service due to the a/c not working. the dealer found the blower motor transistor was faulty. the ac transistor was replaced and re-tested and operating normally. the consumer stated prior to taking the vehicle in to replace the ac transistor, the low and high beam headlights were working. the very next morning, she discovered the low beam headlights were no longer working. on december 13, 2011 both low beam headlights were replaced at a cost of $ 142.06. in april 2012. the low beam headlights would go off for a few days and then come back on again. on may 10, 2012, the consumer received a recall notice in the mail, stating the low beam terminal would be replaced, and if necessary the combination lighting switch would be replaced too. on the same day she received the notice, the low beam headlights went out again. the consumer informed the dealer, the low beams weren't working and they advised her that the low beam bulbs needed to be replaced. the consumer asked the dealer, would replacing the low beam terminal fix the problem, and the service advisor responded by saying no, as the terminal had nothing to with the low beam. the vehicle was serviced and later that afternoon, the low beam lights were working again. on may 21, 2012. the low beam head lights failed again. the consumer stated the dealer only replaced the combination light switch and not the low beam terminal. the low beams are currently not working, which is forcing the consumer to use the high beam lights. *jb updated 09/06/12. *jb

Front engine mount was broken and had to be replaced. now, at 84105 miles, the side engine mount is broken. i have owned several cars since 1975, and have never had a problem with any engine mount until this 2003 honda pilot. *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

Took pilot in for headlight recall wiring replacement. mine had connector completely melted. replaced. was told on pickup that all three engine mounts were broke! that explains the clunk with acceleration . i drive this pilot like an old lady going to church. how all three are broke at the same time the odds are too high for that! bad design?? poor materials???called honda mum is the word,no recall on engine mounts,go figure for sure. *js

I am experiencing shudder or problem changing the gear. the engine lights is on now and not clearing up. i have seen the same problem on line from other people and all pointing to a problem with the transmission with this model. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that after inserting the key into the ignition, the key could not be turned and the vehicle could not be started. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the current and failure mileages were 130,000.

I originally had the 45-50 mph horrible shudder, but honda did fix that issue and they said the hubs were defective. at 117,000, the transmission started to skip and jerk horribly and the revs spiked. i drove to honda and they said the trans needed to be replaced for $5,000. i had it rebuilt by aamco for $2,700. within 15,000 miles, the flashing d and vtm-4 light would start coming on. i drove it to aamco while the flashing d was ocuring and they could not find a problem and no error codes. i have preceeded to drive and replace the trans fluid every 20,000 just in case, to be safe. the flashing d is annoying. i have started to sense the shifting at 2 and 3rd gear to be getting rougher over time. i foresee number 3 transmission coming soon. honda america corp would not help saying the car is out of warranty. the funny thing is that i mentioned all the people on-line complaining about trans issues, the reply: "honda does not see an increased amount of claims on any transmission issues on the pilot". what liars! i've owned 4 hondas before and the quality is gone. i won't buy honda again. *tr

Neither of the keys will go completely into the ignition switch, therefore the key cannot be turned and the car cannot be started. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that a child was sitting in the middle seat next to the driver side window. the child was able to grab the shoulder belt of the middle seat belt and the seat belt became wrapped around the child. the seat belt then locked and began choking the child. the contact had to sever the seat belt in order to remove the child. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the seat belt could not be replaced because it had been cut. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was unavailable and the current mileage was 165,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that she arrived at home and forget to shift the vehicle into park. the contact was able to successfully shut the vehicle off and remove the key from the ignition, even though it was not shifted into park. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that there were no recalls addressing the failure. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 124,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated the door locks would not lock and the windows sporadically failed to open and close. the contact also mentioned while driving various speeds, the transmission would shift into gear. in addition, the lights within the buttons on the dashboard stopped working and there was an electrical short in the air conditioner fan. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 15,000 and the current mileage was 120,000. updated 05/15/12 * bf

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot lx. the contact stated that while entering the vehicle, the driver's side front seat became slightly detached and began rocking back and forth. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 76,000.

When the car is accelerating, between either 2nd and 3rd gears, the transmission slips and will not engage. the rpm's go up to about 6000 because it is as if it is in neutral. if the car is shifted into neutral and back to drive, the pilot will begin to drive normally. if the driver lets up off the gas completely and rpm's fall all the way down, it will sometimes re-engage. the pilot has done this 6 times in the last 3 weeks while in traffic. there was a recall on pilot transmissions but honda has no record of it being done and was told ours did not show up in their system although it was on all 2003 pilots. we have only owned the car for 5 months after buying from a local honda dealer. the pilot has been serviced regularly. *tr

Tl* the contact owns 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that the ignition tumblers would need replacing. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacture was not contacted. the failure and the current mileages were 116,000. updated 04/02/12 *bf

Having trouble inserting key into ignition. have to try multiple times, turning the key upside down, right side up, repetitive in & out, eventually it goes in, but afraid that eventually it will not work. called american honda as i saw multiple complaints online, but honda said they never heard of this problem and that it's not widespread enough for them to take notice. i'm afraid that i will not be able to get the key to work, so will take it to honda dealership for repair (apparently only dealership has to fix it because new keys will need to be programmed. there are 2 different choices for cost, one to just replace the ignition and get new keys, and another choice is to also change the door locks so that the new keys will open the door.) if you're having the same problem, please log a complaint so that it becomes "widespread enough to take notice" and may be those of us who pay/paid to get this issue repaired can get a refund. thank you! *tr

I took my pilot in for a slipping transmission. i was told i had bad motor mounts and that was allowing the transmission to slip. i spent approx. $3600.00 to have the motor mounts fixed, timing belt and water pump, front struts, etc. fixed. the problem started again, this time, getting a flashing "d" light. took it back in for failure to fix the problem. had 4th gear pressure gear replaced for cost. i now have a check engine light on posting a code of p0730, "incorrect gear ratio". i have been into honda 4 times for this issue including today, and i was told i need a new transmission. i am out of warranty of course, but i know there are many, many complaints regarding this particular issue. i do not have the money to replace a faulty transmission that was built poorly. i am worried i might get into a crash because of this. i am contemplating hiring a lawyer to resolve this issue. *tr

Transmission started slipping with only 115,000 miles. had to replace transmission for $4,000.00. i purchased it for reliability & this is the 4th honda i've owned. leaves bad taste in my mouth. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the second gear of the transmission burned out, causing the vehicle to jerk while driving 25 mph uphill. the dealer was notified regarding the transmission failure who advised the contact that there was a recall related to the failure under nhtsa campaign id number: 04v176000 (power train:automatic transmission). the vehicle was repaired under the recall however, the failure recurred. the dealer advised that the contact would be responsible for any further repairs because the vehicle had already been repaired under the recall. the manufacturer was notified who confirmed the dealer's statement and offered no further assistance. the failure mileage was 130,000 and the current mileage was 135,000.

Front and right engine mounts need to be replaced per honda dealership. *kb

Highway driving, vehicle suddenly lurched forward after an engine hesitation (heard a loud noise, passenger thought the vehicle had hit something...felt under passenger side footwell.) drove home, next day there were problems getting the vehicle into reverse. again, it lurched into reverse and made a loud noise. immediately taken to dealership with only one "racing" engine noise at 35mph. diagnosed with code #p0740 (torque converter) requiring complete transmission replacement. vehicle is original owner/all recommended service at correct time intervals (including a double transmission service done at 60,000 and 77,000) no paperwork indicating 2004 recall service was done, however dealership insists it was completed (they're still looking for paperwork.) only major repair: $1100 repair done 82,400 - leaking transmission fluid (replaced front pump seal, o-ring on converter and rear main) now, 2200 miles later, transmission is out and must be replaced. dealership quoting $5200 (not including labor), after discussions with honda they have offered to cover 40% of repair price (not including labor). i had a reasonable expectation that the transmission would last longer than 87,000 miles, considering the regular maintenance and safe driving record. thankfully, i have all repair/service paperwork and will be going to bbb arbitration, as suggested in the honda warranty handbook. also, extremely thankful there was no accident/injury/death related to this severe transmission issue (had i been at full highway speed, 65mph, the outcome may not have been so positive when the vehicle's transmission hesitated and then surged.) *tr

Just started having transmission problems. 2003 pilot ex with only 150k miles, just started slipping. going 65mph on the freeway and suddenly it feels like i slammed on the brakes, and engine revs without changing speed, like, i just shifted into neutral. took the car into honda and they are telling me it will cost $4500 to get a remanufactured transmission, not a new one. since i bought it from its original owner i asked if the car was brought in on the recall in 2004. the original did not remember, but i called the dealership and they said yes but could not provide me with a date it happened. now i'm a little worried. *tr

While driving along a road at about 30 mph, there was a very intense loud vibrating noise under the front console of our 2003 honda pilot. it was very intense and loud and lasted about 10 seconds. we pulled over and looked but couldn't see anything visibly wrong on the outside. then the next morning, when pulling it out of our parking stall, it did it again. the first time, we had driven it for a week straight(after buying it) without hearing a problem. then it happened twice. after looking through multiple forums on this issue, it sounds like there are quite a few people who have had the same problem with the acura mdx and with honda pilots. if there are so many issues, obviously it's a factory defect. *tr

Bought used 2003 honda pilot in march 2009. had to replace transmission in april 2009. purchased a new transmission for over $4,000 to get a 3-yr, 36,000 mile warranty. previously owned a 2003 honda accord (bought new) that had the transmission replaced under warranty in 2006. didn't think about pilot having the same transmission, or i would never have purchased the pilot. now at 166,000 miles my drive light is blinking again, but of course the warranty is out on the transmission!! *tr

Transmission locked wheels, shifted to several different gears while at moderate speed (appx 45 mph). *tr

Vehicle almost stalled in a busy intersection,check engine light came on and vehicle engine was revving at a high rpm. had a friend check the code with a scanner which came back with code po740 -torque converter solenoid circuit. i think this is a safety issue and should be covered by the manufacturer. it's just a matter of time before someone gets killed because of this issue. called american honda and said there were no recalls on this issue and did not offer any suggestions. did a search on the internet and found i was not the only person having this issue. very disappointed with honda - will not be buying any honda product in the future. *tr

I inadvertently turned the ignition switch off with the transmission still in drive, and i was able to remove the key from the ignition. i then exited the car. the car started to roll backward as i was passing behind it, so i had to unlock the door and climb back into the moving vehicle and apply the brake. this same failure warranted recalls for 2003 accords, civics, and elements, but so far not for pilots. i wonder if the interlock mechanism is common among all these different models, and if so, why honda wasn't required to issue a recall for the pilot, also? the designs must be very similar for so many models to be experiencing the same failure. *tr

My car is experiencing a weird slipping on the transmission, it doesnt seem to change gear sometimes. its always the 2nd gear going to 3rd gear when it starts slipping. but when i stop and pull over for a minute and drive the car, the problems goes away. also the airbag warning turns on and off for some reason. i called honda a few months ago and asked if my car is included in the recall but i was surprised they said no. i just dont know whats going on with this car. *tr

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

Vehicle transmission would not shift properly in lower gears; vehicle would not downshift to first gear, but would remain in neutral. intermittently, vehicle would shift from first gear to second gear, then slips into neutral (engine would continue to rev, but vehicle would not move). intermittent 'clunk' as transmission moves from one gear to another. when vehicle does not shift, poses a safety hazard as you cannot merge into traffic; or vehicle would not accelerate when attempting to merge, and would remain in neutral, holding up traffic behind. highly dangerous condition, as driver cannot depend on vehicle to accelerate when required. *tr

Same issue as every other pilot owner with the 2nd gear not wanting to shift up around 30-40 mph, a delay and rpm's go up causing safety issues. *tr

The right rear taillight has fallen apart internally. there is a clear "half-dome" over the bulb on the brake light portion, inside the taillight unit that has fallen off and now is loose inside the unit itself. it appears that it is a "snap-on" installation when the unit is assembled. there is no-way to fix this without destroying the sealed unit. dealer wants $150 for a replacement. *tr

The ignition interlock mechanism on our 2003 honda pilot ex failed allowing the ignition key to be removed when the shift lever was not in park thereby allowing the vehicle to roll away. i reported the issue to u.s. honda (case #[xxx]) who said the issue was rare for that vehicle therefore no recall has been issued covering the defect. when researching the defect, i noted that a recall has been issued for the 2003 honda accord, civic and element models for precisely the same problem. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Our transmission keeps slipping around 2 or 3 gear.. there was a recall about this part that was supposedly fixed on our car. our car only has $116k miles on it, and it seems kind of fishy that it is the same part that was recalled and "supposedly" fixed. transmissions usually last a lot longer than this before they fail. they need to take responsibility for their faulty vehicle parts! *tr

I inadvertently turned the ignition switch off with the transmission still in drive, and i was able to remove the key from the ignition. i then exited the car. the car started to roll backward as i was passing behind it, so i had to unlock the door and climb back into the moving vehicle and apply the brake. this same failure warranted recalls for 2003 accords, civics, and elements, but so far not for pilots. i wonder if the interlock mechanism is common among all these different models, and if so, why honda wasn't required to issue a recall for the pilot, also? the designs must be very similar for so many models to be experiencing the same failure. *tr

At about 80,0000 miles on my pilot a vibration and noise while traveling at a steady speed anywhere between 30 - 50 miles per hour. the dealer says that it could be a problem with the torque converter but he is not sure. at times the sound is faint and often times it is quite loud. the dealer is quoting around $4000 to fix it. when i also researched on the internet, i found quite a few people with the same complaint. i agree that honda needs to issue a recall. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving 35 mph, the headlights suddenly failed without warning. neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. the current and the failure mileages were 160,239.

My vehicle is leaking water to the interior, like a number of other honda owners. honda is not doing anything about it...and it will eventually lead to electrical failure because of moisture on critical electrical parts in the steering column. *tr

The transmission initially started to shudder when the vehicle operated within the 40-60 mph zone. now the shudder seems to occur in the range of 30 to 60 mph. the transmission is also erratically shifting up and down within the drive range causing for uneven performance. i now operate the vehicle while driving on city streets in the "d3" gear. although it wastes gas, the car operates smoother and does not have the shuddering that was being experience while in the "d" gear. given an emergency situation, i bought the car from a family member. otherwise, i would have had time to research the car and would have found that the transmission is a very serious failure on this vehicle. it is in fact a latent defect that has occurred with continued regularity. given the history of this issue, and the way honda has responded, i will not be looking at honda when i buy a new car. *tr

Having difficulties puting car into gear from park to drive especially if vehicle is on a hill. various friends who have the same car have the same issue. one friend had to replace transmission when it failed on the highway. *tt

Front engine mount broke under normal driving conditions; vehicle was never driven off road, only on paved roads. *tr

Transmission going bad. dealer says it is a bad torque converter and could be a safety issue if it locks up while moving. it appears that there are a lot of these issues with the honda pilot. *tr

As i was driving down a busy highway this morning my transmission started violently jerking in and out of gears so hard it was throwing me forward and my seatbelt was locking. after the jerking the rpm's went to 5,000 at 55 mph and the malfunction indicator lamp came on. i pulled over and had my vehicle towed home. the jerking was so bad the people behind me slowed down to avoid a collision. i do have two small children that ride in this vehicle and seeing that i am not the only person with this issue, why hasn't honda owned up to this problem. i could have been seriously injured from this not to mention how scared i was while it was happening. this is a safety concern! honda obviously did not fix the original problem. i have notified honda motor corporation and have filed a complaint, my vehicle is being towed to the dealership to have a diagnostics done and sent to the "case worker", who should contact me in 24-48 hours. if honda does not fix this problem and someone dies as a result of the transmission locking up, they are going to be in serious trouble. why don't these corporations fix the problems before a life is taken. i expect way more than 107,000 miles out of my pilot transmission. *tr

While driving with my two small children in the car, the vehicle failed to shift to third, and instead shifted to first gear. this gave a serious jolt to the car, and nearly caused an accident. on review by a transmission shop, it was determined that the clutch pack was completely deteriorated and would need to be replaced. honda of north america s unwilling to admit that there is a design flaw in the transmission. there were no warning lights, no flashing "d" symbol on the dash, nothing. just a complete transmission failure on a busy road, driving normally. please investigate. *tr

I initially noticed a gasoline smell in the garage. then, after filling the gas tank one day, and parking in the garage overnight, i discovered a puddle of gasoline on the garage floor! the gas is leaking from the fuel tank, at the seam or joint where the tank's integral cylindrical "tube" projection transitions to the flat surface of the tank. the rubber filler hose clamps onto this tank tube, but the leak is in the tank "tube joint seam" only. light finger pressure on the side of the tube results in a more obvious leakage rate. i contacted honda owner link, and was told that a dealer had to confirm my observation before honda could help with this safety defect. i took the car in, and the service tech reported "fuel leak at the filler neck. tank has no road damage. tank will need to be replaced. fuel is leaking at this time." i waited another 2 hours for the service manager to contact and receive a response from the honda dpsr. she declined any "goodwill" assistance "due to miles and year of vehicle". the quote to replace this safety defect is $1200, and no one at honda accepts any responsibility. i have tried to elevate this dangerous safety defect within honda, and have been told it is not a safety defect because there is no nhtsa action in place. i was told that the only further elevation avenue beyond the honda dpsr was to file this nhtsa complaint, and wait for enough similar fuel tank failures to be registered by nhtsa. meanwhile, gasoline is leaking from my defective pilot fuel tank, and my only choices are to run it out of fuel and park it, or to pay $1200 myself to correct the honda design or manufacturing defect in this fuel tank. i do not understand how honda can deny responsibility for this extremely dangerous safety defect, when their technician has confirmed that it is integral to the fuel tank, and that the tank has not been damaged in driving. *kb

My 2003 honda pilot with 76000 miles has started to make a vibration and noise while traveling at a steady speed anywhere between 30 - 50 miles per hour. the dealer says that it could be a problem with the torque converter but he is not sure. at times the sound is faint and often times it is quite loud. the dealer is quoting around $2100 to fix it. when i researched on the internet, i found quite a few people with the same complaint. honda needs to issue a recall. *tr

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

2003 honda pilot started to sometimes drop out of gear. feels like car is in neutral. i step on gas, can hear engine rev, but feels like transmission has disengaged. i have to coast over to side of road, place car in park and then in drive again to correct problem. when tranny is not acting up, i also have noticed the car shakes around 50-60mph. d was flashing and engine light on first time tranny disengaged, so i took car to me mechanic, who told me diagnostics were telling him car needed new sensors, which he replaced. went upstate, thinking prob solved, well, i almost caused a pile up on gwb in new york with car dropping out of drive again at about 45mph, nowhere there to pull over, so i had to stop car in middle of road, drop it into park, then move it into drive. this time no flashing d or check engine light came on.i brought it to honda. they told me they would check the tranny. the only thing they found wrong was tranny fluid was slightly overfilled, so they drained some fluid. they did tell me if problem persisted i would need a new tranny and also needed new engine mounts on my 8 year old car with 103,000miles. next day problem was still there! meanwhile i had dealer check on the price of new tranny..4,700.00! was very upset to find all of the other complaints on this and many websites. i called honda dealer, told them i felt honda should issue a recall on this ongoing problem with the 2003 pilots, and other models. they asked me what i would be willing to pay for the repairs.i told the man, if they are negotiating a price on a new tranny, then honda knows there is a problem with the transmissions in these cars.i explained to him i've already spent 700.00 on sensors at my mechanic, and another 250.00 with his service station on this tranny, and would not pay any more than 500.00. next day got call telling me they wouldn't give me anything toward new tranny.very unhappy honda not making good on an obvious defect in these trannys! no more hondas for me.*kb

Consumer owns a 2003 honda pilot. transmission is shot. will not go into 2nd gear. car reaches very high rpm's then will jerk. this happens when car is heated. when car is finally in 2nd gear, it will slip and fall out. soon after, car will not reverse. very scary and could of been fatal. transmission is completey shot. took very good care of this car, original owner. honda will do nothing to cover the cost even though my car has a recall on the transmission and the symptoms are exactly what the recall is about. honda is not caring about their customers. *tt

This vehicle make has a serious safety issue. many times i have been in heavy traffic and had to make an emergency negotiation of the roadway to avoid being involved in a major collision. the honda pilot's automatic transmission slips out of drive, into neutral, with no warning and at varying speeds. this problem has been ongoing for two years. it happens at slow speeds (i.e. 25 mph and also at highway speeds 65-70 mph). transmission fluid has been power flushed and filled by an ase certified dealer. fluid was noticeably dark. mechanic thought the problem is a combination torque converter lock-up issue as well as a transmission issue. honda states that this vehicle was serviced for a factory transmission problem recall, however, this was prior to me purchasing the vehicle. *tr

Twice had transmission failure in 2003 pilot. first at approximately 68,000 miles and second at approximately 120,000 miles (approx 60,000 per transmission). so much for honda reliability! tranmission replaced first time by dealer at the cost of extended warranty payment. second replacement dealer would not assist and had to fight to get honda to assist. after a lot of effort and follow up on our part, honda agreed to cover half of cost. a simple search of the internet will result in a multitude of complaints on multiple websites...clearly honda does not want to admit to problems with this transmission due to cost involved if they cover the repairs. *tt

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving approximately 20 mph the contact heard a squeaking sound while depressing the brake pedal. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the brake pads and rotors were replaced. approximately two weeks after the vehicle was repaired the failure continued to occur. the vehicle was taken back to the mechanic where the brakes were sprayed with a brake substance;however, the contact continued to experience the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

2003 honda pilot ex-l res sudden transmission issue-transmission started slipping, not shifting, revving extremely high and not shifting into the highest gear at all. car is jerking on major highway and almost stopping itself in its tracks by downshifting from 60mph into 2nd gear. 24hrs later, the car won't even go into reverse. very scary 2 hour pa turnpike ride when this suddenly started happening. never had one problem before, at all, but that was scary. the vehicle has 167,000 and has been wonderful up until yesterday. glad we made it home safely. on to honda tomorrow............ *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated the air bag light remained illuminated and the transmission would not shift into second gear. the manufacturer advised that the air bag and the transmission recall were performed on the vehicle and the vehicle should be taken back to the dealer to be diagnosed. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 149,000.

Own a 2003 honda pilot and the middle seat driver side seat broke and won't recline or go down. could cause a safety hazard if the rear passengers can't get out. *tr

Over the last few months, i have noticed the driver side floor mats are soaked with water on my 2003 honda pilot. attempts to find and repair the leak have failed. i see multiple examples of this on-line where consumers like me are getting no help from honda corp. i am constantly pulling up the carpet to allow it to dry out but the risk of mold, mildew, and rust are high. i already have a musky small in the car which is not good for the health of my family. additionally, i just pulled up a cover plate on the driver-side floorboard to discover more water pooled around the e-brake cables. this pool of water covered the e-brake components and could have rusted out the cables making it useless. *tr

Our honda pilot will shutter while accelerating between speeds of 20 to 50 miles per hour. the shutter will continue if you continue to accelerate, if i let off the gas pedal shutter dissipates and i can resume on accelerating. occasionally the rear end jumps when accelerating from a stop. it looks to be a problem with multiple pilot/mdx owners. a recall needs to be addressed soon, before serious injury could occur. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Low beam headlights symptom when you turn the combination light switch to the headlight "on" position, the low beams may not come on. probable cause in a rare case, the wire harness may have been misrouted, causing a terminal in the headlight wire harness connector to become heat-damaged, which may cause the low beam headlights to not come on. *tr

Jan, 2011 (odometer ~61000 miles.) check engine light turned while exiting from highway. feb, 2011 dealer confirmed that 1. transmission fluid is turning brown, 2. diagnosed problem with the gear in the transmission. they reset check engine light. april, 2011 experience difficulty with vehicle. vehicle did not response and wanted to stop while merging into street road and accelerating from around 10 mph. may, 2011 (odometer ~62500 miles) engine light turned on again while merging into highway at about 30 mph. since then we are experiencing sudden stoke while the transmission is changing gear. called honda customer services and was informed that we have two choices, either complain to ceo of honda america or to better business bureau ----------------- did some research on the internet and noticed that there are many other owners experiencing transmission failure / problem with the honda pilot. also, there was a recall notice in 2004 on this vehicle regarding insufficient fluid flow in transmission (nhtsa reference #04v176000). -------------- i did regular maintenance at the dealer. i suspect that the problem that i am currently experiencing with the vehicle is related to the same recall back in 2004. this vehicle has a design fault in the transmission. -------------- - honda should issue another recall on the vehicle. - honda should replace the transmission free of charge and refund the cost for diagnostics. - in addition, honda needs to have a major change in how they handle the customer complaints, instead of referring us to their ceo or better business bureau. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving approximately 40 mph, the contact smelled a strong burning odor inside of the vehicle. the engine warning indicator illuminated and remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. the transmission would not shift into third or fourth gear. in addition, the vehicle failed to accelerate over 40 mph. the vehicle was previously repaired in january of 2005 for a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 04v176000 (power train:automatic transmission) however, the remedy was insufficient. the vehicle was not further repaired. the failure mileage was 136,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the front passenger side window shattered. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed and was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 120,000. the vin was unavailable.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that the engine rpms increased up to 3000. his foot was on the brake pedal but the vehicle continued to lunge forward. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the idle air control system had an internal failure on the ac motor which needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance because there were no recalls available. the vehicle was repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 118,612. updated 06/01/11*lj updated 06/02/11

2003 honda pilot. consumer states mechanical problems with the vehicle *tgw the consumer stated the drive light began to flash intermittently from the beginning of ownership. the dealer told the consumer it was related to the gas cap not being secured properly. however, once the transmission was replaced the light no longer flashed. on august 19, 2003 the vehicle was taken to the dealer due to a hesitation issue, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. four months later, the check engine and srs lights illuminated. also, the vtm lights were flashing. on september 8, 2005 the transmission light began flashing. the consumer was informed that a special part had to ordered. the consumer also stated the power steering pump and gear box had to be replaced. also, the egr, v-tec seals and o-ring were all replaced to rectify the engine light problem. the timing belt and left and right control arm links were replaced. the inner and outer cv boots were replaced. on february 8, 20011 while driving 70 mph, the transmission suddenly downshifted almost causing a complete loss of control of the vehicle. the next day, the vehicle was taken to the dealership, where the consumer was informed the transmission had failed again. *jb

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

While traveling on the highway in 2003 honda pilot, going approximately 60 - 65 mph, the car violently shook as if the brakes had been applied. minutes later, it happened again so we exited the freeway and continued slowly. once home, there was a hesitation when shifting to reverse and it actually rolled forward for a few feet. we could hear it slip into gear after a few seconds with a metallic ping or thud. the next day, we noticed the gears slipping when accelerating around 40 mph. took the car to renton honda and they surmised it could be bad gasoline. after paying for a diagnostic test, they determined a new transmission was needed at a cost of $3500 (with a goodwill discount). this car was purchased brand new, has never towed anything, and has had every scheduled maintenance at the dealership. this is why they offered the discount. the car has 117,000 miles and has been pampered. this honda isn't living up to the hype! *tr

2003 honda pilot ex experiences shudder/vibration between 35-40 mph, lasting in duration of 5 to 10 seconds. drain of transmission fluid revealed friction material present. dealer suspects torque converter failure, same as acura mdx. *tr

The 2003 honda pilot i own is on it's second transmission. the vehicle becomes disabled and the "d" light flashes on the dash indicating the transmission has failed. the honda dealer says that the transmission must be replaced again. two transmissions at only 127, 500 is a sign of problems with the design and manufacture of the transmission itself. i believe honda should recall all 2003 & 2004 honda pilot for transmission replacement for the remainder of the useful life of the vehicle. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving approximately 25 mph, the contact noticed that the check engine warning light illuminated. the dealer and a private mechanic performed a diagnostic test. both test revealed code p0730 which means that the vehicle could have a faulty transmission shift control system, low transmission fluid level, or poor electrical connection. both sources advised the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired nor was the manufacturer notified. the current and failure mileages were approximately 87,000.

I have a 2003 honda pilot with dvd player and wireless headphones. my wife and i were driving on the highway with our two young kids who were watching a dvd with the headphones. the kids stated that the headphones stopped working and started making a white noise sound. a few minutes later we saw smoke come out of the dashboard, through the tape deck and other openings. we were scared to death and had limited visibility. fortunately, i was able to pull over without wrecking. we all got out of the car and let the smoke clear. afterwards, we took it to the charleston, sc dealership. even though they found burnt parts in the dvd player, they refused to help. they wanted over $1000 to put in a new dvd player. we took the paperwork and left, while the dvd headphones still do not work to this day. i even filed a complaint with the bbb, without success. *tr

Steering rack failure 2003 honda pilot. *tr

Total transmission failure after only 102,000 miles 2003 honda pilot. *tr

2003 honda pilot transmission failure while driving. was at dealership for transmission recall in oct 2004 and to replace a transmission gear pressure switch in december 2010. *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.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving approximately 20 mph, the contact heard a loud bang coming from the engine, the power steering malfunctioned functioning and the ignition turned off. the vehicle was towed to a local repair shop but was not repaired. the technician stated the timing belt needed to be replaced. the approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

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 purchased the 2003 honda pilot in november of 2002. at about 32,000 miles, a "shuttering" began to occur at lower speeds. (15 to 35 mph.) i have taken the vehicle back to 3 different honda dealers over time and none acknowledge the issue. stating it is not observed when in shop. i had mentioned to the last dealer that a close friend purchased a 2009 honda van that is now being recalled for the same "shuttering" of the transmission and he was told the computer needed to have a program update. the dealership, davenport in rocky mount ,nc acted as if they had not heard of this recall and did as the other dealers, nothing. *tr

Car clunked when accelerating, seemed to be slipping when shifting into gear, happened here and there and then happened more often. told by the dealer that it needs a new transmission. *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

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

2003 honda pilot, transmission slip between 25 and 40 mph almost like it's slipping into neutral, usually when it's shifting from 2nd to 3rd. happens occasionally without warning. usually stall for several seconds sometimes cannot proceed causing safety hazard in traffic situations. also told that motor mounts need replaced. seems to be very common problem can't afford repair. transmission cooler that honda installed was obvious patch to attempt to extend the life of a faulty design. are we going to let them get away with this ? *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

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

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

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

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

2003 honda pilot. consumer states problem with vehicle ignition *tgw the consumer stated he was able to remove the key from the ignition, even though the vehicle was not in park. the dealer found the interlock system had an internal failure. the consumer was informed his vehicle was not on the recall list. *jb

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

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

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

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

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving approximately 55 mph the check engine light illuminated on the dashboard and he heard a high pitched whistling noise. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure. the failure continued to recur while driving approximately 55 mph and the vehicle was taken back to an authorized dealer. the second gear speed sensor was replaced by an authorized dealer but the failure continued to occur. while driving approximately 60 mph the front wheels locked and the vehicle abruptly stopped moving for a few moments. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced and the transmission failure broke the front motor mounts. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 139,000.

My 2003 honda pilot shudders when accelerating between 35-45 mph. it feels like driving over a bumpy road. *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

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.

Plastic panel housing drivers seat adjustment controls has become detached from the seat of my 2003 honda pilot. the screw that held it in place is still there but the plastic paneling being held by the screw has broken away from the panel. this happened in the first year that we owned it. tried to get it fixed. told by dealership there was no problem. *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

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 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

2003 honda pilot ignition interlock failed. the car was stopped, turned off while in drive gear, the key was removed and the driver left the vehicle. the vehicle then rolled down the street and stopped when it hit a brick mail box 2 blocks away. honda dealer told us that the drive must have forced the key out to be able to remove it while in drive gear and damage the ignition. drive disputes this. said the key came right out. we had roughly $2500 damage to the vehicle to repair at the time. chose not to pay to replace the ignition switch at our cost. honda did not replace or repair the ignition. it is still broken. *tr

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

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.

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

2003 honda pilot started "juddering" at 35-40 mph when it hit around 45k miles. numerous visits to dealer and a mechanic even rode with me while i drove and duplicated problem, but when it went back into their shop they denied a problem. i gave up when we moved out of the area. problem still exists and we just let off the gas then give it more and it corrects. now, though, the gear shifter is getting "stuck" or not fully going into "p" and rolling, if the er brake is not on and the gear is not shifted into "r" and then "p" again. acura bulletin #06-003 addresses exact issue as a torque converter problem and that the transmission needs replacing. local dealer claims no awareness of issue and won't do anything since car has over 100k and is out of even the extended warranty. a recall should be issued by nhtsa before some 2003 pilot transmission totally fails and someone is killed! please do something about this so my transmission can be replaced!! *tr

My 2004 honda pilot makes a loud rattling or vibrating noise that i can feel when the car is going about 35 - 60 mph. i notice it daily on my way to and from work. since i live where there is no honda dealer nearer than 150 miles, i've asked local mechanics to try to determine the source of the vibration. i've found out that the problem may be a bad torque converter, and will be quite costly to repair. *tr

2003 honda pilot transmission failure at 90000. seems that the recall fix did not work. just do an internet search and you will see how many of us have had to pay thousands of dollars for honda transmissions. second to third gear is the problem. you did force them to recall the odyssey problem it is time for action for us pilot owners. *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

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

2003 honda pilot ex failed motor mounts. seems to be a common complaint. *tr

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

Ignition lock failure, key stopped working car won't start left us stranded. *tr

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.

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.

Front and side engine mounts were broken and needed replacing. *tr

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

2003 honda pilot transmission: my transmission continues to slip in 2nd gear. i have replaced numerous items on the vehicle - steering column, motor mounts, etc. the list is numerous. i have had transmission problems almost since the beginning of purchasing this vehicle in february 2006. the dealer never told me that the 2003 pilot had any type of transmission problems. i know as a consumer, i should have done my own research, but i had always heard excellent things about honda. my transmission continues to slip, after revving. i took it to the dealer and even then they never said anything about problems. i had my repairman look at it because i was concerned. he is the one that told me this vehicle had transmission problems & all dealers were aware of it. i bought the extended warranty when i purchased the car - but of course, it is no longer valid. i am really upset because i drive my 2 children and the transmission will just stall in the middle of traffic - won't leave 2nd-3rd gear. it just revs at about 20-30 miles. it happens quite often and now the check engine light is coming on. the message boards say this is the end of the line. i will attempt to speak with my local dealer. i contacted american honda who basically offered no assistance. now, i am learning about the horrible things that have happened with the honda 2003 pilot transmissions and am just disappointed that in the effort to make money, no one thought of consumer safety. obviously, honda recognizes that this is a huge problem and still they are not offering any help to consumers. it is appalling. my car did have the honda repair patch for the transmission in 2004 according to american honda records, as the transmission had a problem even then. of course, i have the car fax report and it didn't show this information. is there somewhere else that you can track repairs on used vehicles? *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.

I'm not of that scared of sticking gas pedals kind on person. just want to file this incident to probably help others to avoid problems in the future. after car being parked for three weeks at airport when first started it i had and issue with the stuck gas pedal. fortunately i was in the parking gear when i first pressed the pedal, otherwise could be an accident on the parking lot if i was in the drive gear. i just pulled the pedal back with my toe and pressed and pulled it couple times more before it started working ok. before that i felt it little mushy after long parking periods especially in the relatively cold days in georgia autumn/winter but it was coming away after driving the car daily. when i got back home i rectified the problem by pouring some oil in the throttle cable jacket and lubricated the pedal axis as well. had no problems since than so far. *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

Consumers 2003 honda pilot automatic transmission failed. consumer found an affordable auto shop and learned that the vehicle was under warranty when the information was provide to honda consumer was denied warranty service. a mechanic informed the consumer, there was a recall on the vehicle, regarding the transmission in relation to the second gear, the consumer stated he was not aware of any recalls on the vehicle, as a notice never came in the mail. the mechanic confirmed the vehicle met the recall outlined in the notice he found online. honda informed the consumer the claim was denied because the problem did not meet the recall requirements issued in 2004. according to the invoice, the transmission diagnosis stated the transmission overheated. it also stated a list of parts that were replaced on the vehicle, mainly the secondary shaft 2nd gear and the counter shaft 2nd gear. *jb

Driving honda pilot 2003 with 84,000 mil onto expressway on ramp--it started bucking---like it would lurch forward and then stop---finally went forward. drove it for 1 more week and this happened a few more times. took to a very good mechanic. they tested the car and nothing came up as wrong. then yellow lights started flashing--and the car would lose power when going slowly through a subdivision--and then all of a sudden regain power. sometimes i had to pull over and put the car in park and then in drive to get it to go. took the car to the honda dealership. they said it was a clogged gas line. they didn't want to hear about transmission problems. cost was $400 for "clogged gas line" and another 400 for something else leaking. no lights on when leaving the dealership. one day later the yellow light was back on and it sometimes loses power when going slowly. there have been no deaths or accidents yet---but if anyone had been following me onto the on ramp, they would have hit me. the car looked like a bucking bronco. i want your honda dealership in waukesha wi ----wilde honda to put in a new transmission---this is not normal--at your cost. i drive people around for a living---i am a realtor and it was very embarrassing when we swung into the subdivision and i had to pull over because i had no power. imagine that on a highway with a semi behind me. this is a lawsuit waiting to happen. *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

My '03 honda pilot was impacted in the front passenger side by a driver backing up a bit fast and none of the air bags were deployed. there was damaged done to the front fender to the extent of buckling one of the fender corners. shortly after this incident the srs light came on and it will not go off. called dealer about the srs light and was told that it is probably a defect with the airbags, airbag sensors or a module. i have been told that it can be as much as $1000 dollars to get it fixed after parts and labor. i have been researching this issue and have discovered plenty of complaints about accidents with this vehicle and the airbags not deploying. i believe there is a critical safety issue with this vehicle that needs to be addressed and fixed free of charge by honda. *tr

I owe a 2003 honda pilot. in 2007 i complained to the honda service center of a grinding noise several times but nothing could be found. on 2/6/2010 my transmission failed. this problem was reported several times and the dealer could never find a problem. now since the warranty has expired it is my problem. i have read of the same situation happening to many people and believe it is a problem with the honda transmission. *tr

There are several issues: 1. the problem began with the key not fitting properly as it once did, perhaps after several attempts. when i turn the key or put the key in the ignition it won't turn to get the vehicle started. i turned the steering wheel all the way to the left and it doesn't matter. the pilot still won't start. when reading the manual, it's a push sign under the ignition but this isn't addressed in the manual. it doesn't tell you the purpose of the push sign. i've tried everything to get the key to turn and i've let others try also. and it doesn't work for anyone. the steering wheel is turned all the way to the left but the wheels are not and it won't turn to the right it all; it's locked. the vehicle won't go in neutral, so i can roll it or nothing. 2. there is knocking noise that is louder when you accelerate on the left front side perhaps it's coming from the drive-train or axle on that side, almost sounds like something is loose and may fall off. 3. the radio turns off for a few seconds randomly and it may not happen again for a while and suddenly does once again. 4. the lock and handle to the glove compartment broke off and cannot be opened. 5. the wire to control the handles for the rear seats to recline and fold down broke from within the seats. i looked inside it's the piece of plastic to hold the wire in place that broke, there needs to be a better replacement part made of steel not plastic. 6. the floor mat sticks in bunches causing the carpet to soil can be hazardous i.e. toyota, only remedy is to replace the floor mat for the truck entirely, very, very expensive... 7. when it reaches 30mph it shakes and you can hear a loud noise like you're driving over something ridged it's scary. 8. the button for four wheel drive does not function 9. the chrome on the door handles peeled off tearing the skin causing injuries to the hand, my finger still feels tingly and numb. please help!!! *tr

My honda pilot has an unfixable life threatening defect. it is sticking gas pedal. usually it sticks after the night in the garage and i need to idle until the engine is hot and then the pedal unsticks. but sometimes it happens while driving. this defect makes the car absolutely unpredictable while driving and could easily lead to the fatal accident. actually, one time out of four when it happened while driving i was very close to such accident. first time i encountered this defect when my new car was still on warranty nov 4, 2004. since than the authorized honda dealer has tried to fix this defect more than four times. they replaced the throttle body but all the attempts to fix it were unsuccessful. the problem is still there. i?m very concerned and scared to drive this car at this point as this defect not only directly jeopardizes my life but also the life of my 6-year old daughter who is almost always with me in the car. the american honda stated that it was not anymore responsible for this defect because it?s unfixable and anything else concerning this defect from now on is my responsibility. *tr

My car had a transmission recall notice in 2004. i took the car in july 2004 and supposedly the problem was corrected. however, after that time, my car seemed to downshift very roughly and was jerky when putting into gear. last year my transmission locked up while going down a hill. while, the car behind me did not hit me, my abrupt halt caused at least 3 cars behind me to rear end each other. i had the transmission replaced but i am starting to feel some of the old shifting issues again. i'm hoping it doesn't die. *tr

During the freezing weather in jacksonville. fl. specifically on the 7th & 8th jan. 2010, the gas pedal on my 2003 honda pilot was sticking. after starting the vehicle, i had to apply extra foot downward pressure to make the gas pedal move and make the vehicle accelerate. this happened on several occasions during the 2 weeks that it was freezing on consecutive days in this area. i bought this vehicle brand new in 2003 and never had this problem arise until this time. the problem 'seems' to disappear after the vehicle has been running & warmed up. i also called honda 800-999-1009 and informed the honda customer rep. about the issue. honda informed me to take it to honda service or mechanic for diagnostic.*cw

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving 35 mph the transmission started to slip. the check engine light came on and the vehicle became difficult to accelerate. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. the contact is familiar with numerous complaints regarding the transmission failure. the contact is concerned about the safety risk since the lack of acceleration could cause a crash. the failure mileage was 95,000.

2003 honda pilot ex with 101,054 miles front, side and rear motor mounts were cracked and leaked hydraulic fluid. honda dealer replaced all three motor mounts costing $600.00. honda dealer states this is a common problem since the motor mounts have hydraulic fluid in them (they are not all rubber). *tr

2003 honda pilot ex-l res; automatic, 112,700 miles. transmission began slipping while shifting from 2nd-3rd with the selector in drive. shortly there after at roughly 60 mph on the highway we experienced a jarring downshift from 5th to 2nd gear with a loud mechanical "thunk", then immediately back to a higher gear, maybe 4th. the truck decelerated so fast and harshly that my wife and 2 children were thrown forward into their seat belts and all items from the floor and back seat were thrown into the front of the cabin. this mishap was unsafe on the highway and i could honestly see this causing an accident under the right circumstances, for instance, merging onto a highway. the maintenance indicator lamp ("mil") illuminated and the transmission mode selector began flashing the drive ("d") indicator. we immediately pulled off the highway and parked the vehicle at our home a short distance away. the clutch slipped between the first 3 gears below 40 mph on the short drive home. the dealership pulled code p0780. no associated fluid leaks and the transmission fluid was still pink and didn't smell burnt. 3 service technicians test drove it. as soon as the transmission warmed up, it displayed the same behavior reported above and the last test drive barely made it back to the dealership. dealership recommends replacement of transmission for $4,293.00. the truck was serviced per honda's recommended maintenance/service schedule with honda genuine fluids and parts. the last transmission/ rear differential service was approximately 9,000 miles ago in january, 2009. this vehicle also had the transmission fluid jet kit performed in 2004. i will also be filing a complaint with the better business bureau due to the unusually high amount of 2003/2004 honda pilot failed transmission reports i have read on a number of online forums. most vehicles that experienced the same failures had between 90k-130k miles. this is unacceptable and should reach class action level. *tr

Traffic on a surface road came to an abrupt stop. the 2004 ford f150 did not stop in time and rear-ended our 2003 honda pilot along the right half of the bumper. the impact was severe enough to shove the right frame rail forward several inches, wrinkling the roof and putting the driverside rear door in tension so that it could not be opened. the two front seats were occupied by adults. both the driver's and passenger's seat backs failed. the driver suffered no injuries, but the passenger suffered bruising from the b-pillar and strained back from the collapsing seatback.

2003 honda pilot lx 5 speed automatic transmission slipping and changing gears on its own without warning. transmission failure. *tr

Failed iac valve in 2003 honda pilot caused engine surge during parking. this resulted in an auto accident. *tr

My 2003 honda pilot has cracked engine mounts. it causes the steering wheel to vibrate. the front and back mounts were replaced at 97,000 miles. *tr

2004 honda pilot, transmission problems!!! honda said we need to replace your transmission... we had a flashing d light for many year on & off again... they said the recall was done.. my repair record as follows: honda west augs 1/2003 a intermediate maintenance, throttle body service, rear differential service, ac replace ventilation filters, invoice total paid by us $353.10. 10/03/2006 had front brakes done at star import service, they noted {no codes stored for engine or transmission. possibly cleared @ dealer ???) 08/13/2007 star imports service to check trans light flashes on sometimes, they scan transmission for code and stated on invoice none present..02/18/2009 hondatronics service, check transmission operation, changed transmission fluid twice, we paid 198.13.. june 16, 2009 check d light flashing.. it is now 10/2009 and d light is flashing again and we are told we need a new transmission. *tr

2003 honda pilot w/45,500 miles hesitation/surging while maintaining speed or while lightly accelerating from maintained speed. humming noise during hesitation/surge. very noticeable between 25-40mph. advised by honda dealer that transmission needs to be replaced. i am the original owner of the vehicle. *tr

Transmission was slow to transition to 3rd gear while going approx. 30-35 mph. a few days later, the "d" light started flashing, but when car was turned off, it did not go on again. took it to my mechanic thinking it was a "3rd switch" issue i had read about on car sites. my mechanic said one solenoid was cold, while another was hot. he took it to the dealer to run the codes and get a second opinion. the dealer says it needs a new transmission. my mechanic picked the car up and on the way back, it started shifting from 4th to 1st or 2nd gear on the highway. he said he almost smacked his head on the windshield it jerked so hard. this marks a very rapid decline over less than a week and after my mechanic thought the issue was not the transmission. i believe the car was part of the 2004 transmission recall which was serviced by a honda dealer. *tr

For the past 6 months, i am having this blinking "d" light on the transmission while driving on my 2003 honda pilot suv. i believed this has to do with the premature failure of the transmission that could cause serious injury to passengers and yet there is no recall yet by honda america to alert the owners of this serious defective transmission problem on this 2003 honda pilot car. *tr

The 2nd row lh (driver¿s side) passenger seat in my 2003 honda pilot purchased 1/2/2003 with about 90k has had two related problems on this seat. this seat is rarely sat in and almost never moved. it became jammed in the upright at some point in time, likely much earlier than i detected it in july 2009. i attempted to fold the seat down via the top lever and was not able to. the result was the top lever plastic handle broke off the cable actuator. i paid over $200 at the dealer (priority honda in huntersville nc, 28078 - 704.875.3100) to have it fixed even though i feel that it should not have jammed causing the top lever to break off. at repair, nothing was found that would cause the jam such as a foreign object or any damage. recently i tried to move the seat forward (side lever engages both back fold down and base release) to allow my children to exit from the third row seat and found that this lever was not working as well. i brought the vehicle to the above-mentioned dealer the evening of 8/24/09 and left it with them until the evening of 8/24. ed jenkins the service manager advised me that he personally worked with the mechanic to look at the issue spending three hours working on it and could not repair it. he also told me that a new seat frame was required to make the seat operational. a seat should not fail after 6 years with light use and in my opinion should last as long as or exceed the lifetime of the vehicle, which in the us is about thirteen years i consider this a manufacturing defect and an important safety issue as passengers may become entrapped in the third row seat. any delay in exiting especially if the other side is occupied or somehow blocked could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency. *tr

Our 2003 honda pilot locked up on the highway due to transmission failure of the 2nd gear. we were traveling in the 3rd lane over 60 mph when both front tires locked and we skidded to a halt in less than 200 yards on the highway. prior to our vehicle breaking down, there were no signs of danger, no unusual sounds, no blinking lights or any hesitation with the car. our vehicle had 138,400+ miles and has been serviced regularly according to honda's recommended maintenance schedules, including all transmission fluid changes. on may 7, 2004 with 36,384 miles, our vehicle had received a retrofit of the a/t oil jet kit due to honda¿s 04-021b safety recall on the automatic transmission second gear. luckily no one was injured and there were no other vehicles involved in the incident. the car behind us stopped just in time to avoid a collision. our car could not be rolled into the breakdown lane as both front wheels were locked and we were stranded in the 3rd lane. a police officer was called to the scene and logged the incident as a disabled vehicle. the officer requested for immediate towing since we were in a dangerous location. the car was towed to a honda dealer, who provided the following diagnosis and estimate: "transmission internal failure both front axles twisted needs 2 tires - flat spots alignment $5,199.14 plus tax" we opted not to repair the honda and instead purchased a new non-honda vehicle and received a trade-in value for ¿as-is¿ condition. *tr

Tl*. the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact stated that three of her automatic door actuators failed. as a consequence she cannot unlock the vehicle from the outside. if there is an emergency, the inability to unlock the doors increases the risk for safety hazard. she contacted the manufacturer and a representative denied responsibility because there was not an existing recall. the failure has not been remedied.the failure and current mileages were under 109,000.

200 honda pilot... transmission has been slipping... holding gear before lurching to next gear... same with slowing down... pretty alarming... was told that i need a new transmission at a cost of around $3000... car only has 88,000 miles on it... very frustrating... honda should replace these on their dime. *tr

Car jolted forward while driving on the highway. very scary. it didn't shift properly afterwards. while pressing the accelerator on a slope, for example, it didn't shift and then jolted forward. in one occasion that i put the car in the r gear, and it didn't go backwards. checked with a honda dealership, and told that the entire transmission needs to be replaced. *tr

I am the original owner of a 2003 honda pilot that has been serviced regularly. i was on ca highway 80 when the "d" light suddenly started flashing then the gears started to stick. the car would not go into overdrive and i had to suddenly slow the car on the highway to 40 mph. i pulled off as soon as it was safe and was unable to put the car in reverse nor get it into overdrive. had to drive it at an unsafe speed on the highway to the nearest repair station. honda is not acknowledging this defect now that the car has 110,000 miles and i have to replace the entire transmission. *tr

2003 honda pilot motor mounts broken. car only has 77k on it. owned 5 other hondas never had this issue. no rough driving. cost is over 500.00 to replace safety issue, could be a serious issue if the mounts fail. also the key in the ignition is always getting stuck and sometimes takes 20 minutes to get it to turn the car on. *tr

Headlamps on 2003 honda pilot simply stop working. this is very dangerous. *tr

2003 honda pilot transmission was replaced. consumer request a refund for the transmission work that was a safety recall. *nj the consumer stated there was no reverse gear and the vehicle jerked when switching the gear forward. the dealer diagnosed the problem as internal transmission failure. *jb

Transmission problems, slipping not going into second gear, experienced intermittently, brought in for repair in may 2009 dealer could not find a problem. transmission problems increased in june, "d" light flashing, slipping near accident trying to pull into traffic and transmission did not engage engine just revved; dealer replaced a part for $800. transmission problems increasing in frequency, more slipping not going into gear more near accidents pulling into traffic, dealer now notices problem, dealer says we need a new transmission. *tr

2003 honda pilot. 2nd gear going out. seems to have chipped teeth on gear. i contacted honda. they told me that my pilot had already been looked at back in 2004. my mechanic says that this is without a doubt a direct result of original recall on this model. this all began with my "d" flashing. now my second gear is grinding and about to o out. *tr

Transmission failed to engage next gear slipping. was merging highway traffic and hardly avoided another car coming from behind me. seen other customers complaining on 2003-2004 pilot transmissions fails same way soon after 100kmiles. *tr

The ignition key can be removed when the shift lever is out of park. i should not be able to remove the key until it is in park. this defect was the subject of a recall for all honda accords, 1999-02. the dealer has quoted more than $500 to fix the problem and i have appealed to american honda and they have told me that this defect is not their responsibility. *tr

Feb 2009 noticed transmission was periodically slipping at 86,000 miles, 1000 over extended warranty. did not malfunction when my mechanic checked it. i was passing a truck going uphill at approximately 65mph when the transmission downshifted to first gear on its own and slammed to almost a complete stop. everything in my car was thrown forward. took it to a mechanic where i was traveling and he recorded the code p0730, problem in shift control system. back to my mechanic again for solenoid replacement. still not shifting properly. called honda corp and was told that i had to take it to a honda dealer. honda diagnosed as needing new transmission. i provided all records for proof of maintenance. there is no proof that the "fix it" was ever performed on the transmissions recall. i am out over $2500.00 for a problem that honda has acknowledged responsibility for in the past but is choosing to look the other way now. i am thankful that i did not crash when the transmission malfunctioned. *tr

2003 honda pilot, 95k miles, transmission light came on and then started flashing, slipping or popping between gears, acceleration is gone, went downhill very quickly. i logged onto various websites and see the same transmission problems reported by many early model honda pilot owners i am extremely disappointed as i expected a honda to be top notch. *tr

Srs light came on while driving and stays on. *tr

Our 2003 honda pilot's (with 85,000 miles) check engine light came on approximately 6/1/09. we recently just purchased this pilot and are the second owners. the car was bought and serviced at the local honda dealership right up until we bought it. anyhow, we were driving on the highway and the car began to downshift and the car slowed down rather violently as we pulled off on the exit ramp. the rest of the drive home the transmission was shifting and down-shifting quite roughly. where it gets really interesting was that this vehicle had a recall on the transmission in 2004, warning that the transmission could have "gear failure and lock-up causing a rear-end collision." but the local honda dealership informed us that the recall is totally unrelated to our transmission problem and that we are responsible for the entire cost of repair. *tr

2003 honda pilot 140k miles. transmission slips out of gear when accelerating. the "d" indicator began to flash then the car would act like a manual transmission trying start from a dead stop in 4th gear. *tr

The floor board of my 2003 honda pilot is very damp to the extent that if you were to leave a paper back on it, the bag would become wet. this was last observed on an 5-hour trip we were taking on june 5th. it rained all day, and we were running the air condition for the entire trip. when we returned home, we had to remove the mats (which were wet on the bottom) to allow the floors to dry out. it still is damp to this day (june 16th). i don't know if it has anything to do with the air conditioning system, or if it is outside water leaking in. this has been an ongoing problem that i first noticed approximately 3 years ago. dealer was not able to determine cause of problem then. it is hard to attribute the problem to any event because the floor remains damp for an extended period of time that you can't really be sure what condition is causing it - you are operating the vehicle through so many conditions that it's hard to tell. from time to time i have to take out the mats when it becomes extremely damp. i'm concerned about the possibility of mold, though i've been able to prevent the vehicle from becoming too musty. *tr

The motor mounts on our 2003 honda pilot broke, and we were alerted by our honda dealers service department. the car has about 79,000 miles on it. the motor mounts help hold the engine in place. a google search revealed online chat boards with dozens and dozens of pilot owners complaining that the motor mounts broke on their cars, at as little as 60,000 miles. this problem appears widespread and potentially very dangerous. we had our broken motor mounts replaced. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving approximately 60 mph, the gears failed and the transmission locked up without warning. the dealer stated that the vehicle was previously repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 04v176000 (power train:automatic transmission); therefore, they would not assume any additional responsibility for the repairs. the contact would have to pay $3,500 to have the transmission replaced. the vehicle has not been repaired due to the cost. the vin was unknown. the failure and current mileages were 162,525.

Blinking d light on 2003 honda pilot transmission. dealers say they don't know the cause. edmunds forum full of same complaint, same evasive answer. transmission about to fail. *tr

Honda pilot leaking through and to the front floor boards. *tr

Vehicle will not accept key, after playing with it finally get the key into the ignition, but will not start. play and play with ignition and car finally starts. take to honda dealership in el cajon ca , they say because of weight of keys, have a total of 3 keys on my chain, that it has worn out the key and the tumblers in the ignition. they make a new key, it goes right in but the ignition is still not turning over, have to get a ignition. they replace the ignition but now i have two heavy honda keys because the "new ignition" is a sidewinder and it comes with a key that they can't program to fit the doors. now my key chain is heavier than before. this cost me $850.00. *tr

I am the original owner of a 2003 honda pilot with an automatic transmission problem. i travel frequently and currently have 157,000 miles on the odometer. my vehicle has been serviced as required and properly maintained. it has always given me problems with harsh shifting between gears, but due to lack of any code warnings, i've been advised by the dealer and personal mechanics that there were no concerns. as the primary driver of a vehicle, one can sense any changes in how an automobile drives and at 50,265 miles, i began to notice a change with the shifting of gears. again at 87,767 i expressed concern, but still no codes. at 103,226 miles, my concerns grew and further checking and diagnosis indicated that there is hard shifting between gears, but no indications that a replacement of transmission was needed. on april 18, 2009 while traveling on the highway, i pressed the accelerator and experienced the engine ¿revving¿ as though it was in neutral - there was no power. i had a total of 6 passengers in the vehicle. i maneuvered to the breakdown lane and restarted the engine. i brought the vehicle in for service and was advised to have the transmission replaced. on april 29, 2009, my vehicle was taken to a reputable transmission company to have the transmission replaced at a cost of $3,500. i purchased the pilot confident that i invested in a vehicle that will provide me assurance of no major powertrain issues. i felt strongly about honda¿s reputation so this is quite a disappointment. upon researching this problem i have found numerous complaints from 2003 pilot owners with transmission failures (see edmunds.com forums). is anyone reviewing the potential liability involved with the failures of these transmissions? especially since i've experienced the loss of power and navigation ability! a potentially dangerous accident could have occurred. are there discussions for a transmission recall? *tr

The honda pilot 2003 which has 134500 miles on it started to rev up while accelerating and lurching forward violently. once while trying to get on the interstate the vehicle violently stall as if put in a neutral and lurched back to 50mph speed in few seconds. luckily not body is behind but would have caused a crash. had the vehicle to honda car dealer who serviced the vehicle 1 week back and they said transmission needs to be replaced and was quoted $4000 for the repair. called honda customer service and complained about the transmission issue and the sr checked with his supervisor and said they are not going to repair or replace the transmission parts. *tr

While driving 2003 honda pilot check engine light came on and engine revved up while seeming to coast and then jolted forward. car has 109,000 miles. brought to dealership and was informed there was an internal issue with transmission and failure of control module. entire transmission needs to be replaced. according to dealer repair shop it was coded as an incorrect gear ratio. this should not be happening to a vehicle which has been serviced regularly and only driven on paved roads. *tr

The front engine mount is cracked and one of the side mounts is torn and about to crack. my honda pilot was purchased new in february 2003 and has 84,000 miles on it. honda claims that the engine mounts only last five years. this seems to be a defective part, especially due to the volume of similar complaints found on the web. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving between 15-20 mph on normal road conditions, the automatic transmission hesitated intermittently when shifting from first to second gear. there were no warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle was taken to an independent transmission shop for diagnostic testing. the technician stated that there were mechanical failures in the transmission. through online research, the contact discovered nhtsa campaign id number 04v176000 (power train;automatic transmission). the authorized dealer was notified and stated that there was an earlier recall repair performed on the vehicle in 2004; however, it has not corrected the failure addressed in the safety recall. the vehicle has not been repaired. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 81,000 and current mileage was 82,000. updated 6/01/09 *cn updated 06/02/09.*jb

Car started to ride rough at 75k miles with "d" light flashing intermittently. dealer mis-identified the problem for about 5k miles but eventually determined that the car needs an entire new transmission. car now has just over 80k miles. very short life for a transmission. *tr

The chrome plating on the passenger side door handle of our 2003 honda pilot is flaking at the front edge. it is a dangerous cut hazard. our pilot has only 69077 miles. this defect should be a recall, as it is a safety hazard. i purchased a extended warranty from the dealer, but was told that this is not covered. the repair cost is $39.00 labor and $20.00 for handle. the dealer service writer said he has seen this before, and has even experienced it himself. *tr

My 2003 honda pilot was recalled for a potential transmission failure. the inspection/remedy was performed in 2004. now the transmission has failed with the exact same failure the recall was intended to remedy. while traveling a dealer in miami (brickell motors) worked with a regional honda rep and offered a 50% reduction in the cost of a rebuild transmission. upon returning home the local dealer (coggin honda) worked with a regional honda rep and only offered a 5% reduction. learning this we contacted the original dealer (brickell) and were informed that we had to bring the car back (100 miles away) before they could ask the rep again for assistance. no guarantee on what would be offered. contacting honda usa we were informed that there would like likely be no further offers but the original dealers offer should be good for 30 days. we escalated this to a case manager asking that the 50% offer be made good at our local dealer (coggin). in the interim we must retrieve the car with the transmission that was recalled for a potential crash hazard. this car should be provided a new transmission as per the recall number 04v176000. *tr

My 2003 honda pilot had a transmission recall a few years ago, which was reportedly performed by honda. 3-14-09 it was serviced by honda, for a light that came on indicating a transmission problem. after the service, on 4-2-09, my husband was driving on the highway and the transmission locked up this almost caused a serious accident, on 275 during rush hour in cincinnati, due to a sudden slowing of the vehicle without rear brake lights indicating stopping or slowing. this is an indication that even with the recall alterations, the problem of transmission failure can occur causing a crash. dh, a friend had a similar failure causing a crash with her three children on board, the driver experienced injuries in this rollover crash. honda was notified and service personnel were advised and they are non responsive. this vehicle is designed for up to eight occupants making this a serious possibility for bodily injury. at the time of recall the correction for this failure was transmission replacement. there is a 30 day wait for rebuilt transmissions, evidently because this is a common problem. a friend with the same year honda pilot had the same lock up occur with her transmission and it did cause the pilot to crash and roll over and the vehicle was totaled. there are many others with similar stories. unfortunately honda will not acknowledge the problem despite the safety issues. *tr

Transmission failure on 2003 honda pilot with 135,000 miles. *tr

I own a 2003 honda pilot. two of the four engine mounts are bad. from people i have talked to, it seems to be a common problem in many, many honda pilots. it seems to me to be defective for so many people to be having the same costly problem. *tr

2 failures: 1) rear air unit failed at 50,000 miles / 5 years. 2) two motor mount broken (front and side) at 60,000 miles / 6 years. *tr

The car makes grinding noise under the hood when the car gently accelerates from below 1400 rpm to 1500 rpm. it started to happen around 30000 miles and happens frequently now (97000 miles). dealer has replaced egr valve 3 times with no avail and they cannot replicate the problem. sometimes the grinding noise lasts upto 5 seconds. the tachometer jumps up and down around 1500 rpm while making the grinding noise. the differential fluid was changed but noise still happens. *tr

Noticed that the honda pilot would shake when driving at 60, then eventually start feeling the brakes going into effect and the speed dropping to below 40. however, driving at 25 yesterday, the brakes locked in the middle of the road. the car came to a complete stop, i had to push down the brakes and then the car moved. *tr

1-failed ignition lock 2- cannot start the car 3- replace the ignition lock cylinder. *tr

Had to replace front and side motor mounts on my 2003 honda pilot. this was after only 67,118 miles. mechanic said this is a common problem with the original motor mounts. this could be very dangerous. *tr

I own a 2003 honda pilot exl,lately i've had problems with the switch not wanting to turn on or unlock steering wheel. what should i do...i've own two other hondas and had the same problems.(98 accord,98 civic);their was recall on them. is their a recall on the honda pilot switch or steering column. *tr

The transmission warning light starts flashing after about 5 minutes of driving at highway speed, however, there is no effect on driving performance. we have taken the vehicle to our mechanic but he cannot find a problem when he plugs the data management system into the computer. while this problem has not affected our use of the vehicle directly, we are concerned that one day the transmission will seize up. for information, we had the vehicle checked when the transmission check warning was issued a few years ago (years before the problem occurred) and we were told by our honda dealer that our transmission did not fall into the category that required remedial work. *tr

Had 2003 honda pilot in for service for the timing belt. service mgr called and stated the front motor mount and side mount were broken. he stated this is a ongoing occurrence with the honda pilots....we had 137,000 miles. i am being informed that this occurs around 60,000 miles all the time. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving approximately 5 mph on normal road conditions and proceeding from a stop sign, the engine began to rev. there was suddenly a 3-5 second delay before the vehicle was shifted into gear. the check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel and it remained lit until the engine was turned off. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but they were unable to duplicate the failure. the vehicle was previously repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 04v176000 (power train;automatic transmission). on a separate occasion, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for identical failures. the technician recommended that the transmission be replaced. the vehicle is operable and has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 100,000 and current mileage was 105,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact drove the vehicle to work and, later that day, it would not start. he made several attempts to start the vehicle and it eventually started. he drove the vehicle to his residence and, after turning off the vehicle, it would not restart. the mechanic stated that the ignition switch was possibly defective. the dealer advised him to bring in the vehicle for repairs. the manufacturer has not been notified. the current mileage was 10,348 and failure mileage was 7,000.

At 100,000 miles i was informed by the honda dealership that 2 of 3 motor mounts were cracked and should be replaced on my 2003 pilot. this will cost me approx $400. seems that many honda pilot owners are having this same problem. i have never had this problem with any other "older" car. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the contact noticed that the tires on his vehicle were deteriorating on the interior sidewall. he took the vehicle to the dealer on five occasions and they performed a realignment. he then took the vehicle to an independent repair shop and a technician stated that the rear of the vehicle does not adjust the camber and caster. the contact had to replace four sets of tires, in which all of them had a large amount of tread. the manufacturer stated that the lifetime of the tires were 28,000 miles. all attempts to have the vehicle repaired properly have been insufficient. the failure mileage was 18,000 and current mileage was 79,000. updated 10-30-08 *bf updated 10/31/08

We bought our 2003 honda pilot assuming that it would be a great family vehicle. we have three small children and another on the way so our car is full of car seats. we have a backless boaster seat in the third row on the driver's side, a boaster seat in the third row on the passenger side, and a forward facing car seat in the second row driver's side. it is incredible difficult for me to get the children in the third row buckled because the seat belts are constantly getting "stuck" and have to be rethread all the way back. this is difficult because they get caught on the boaster seats that then have to be picked up and moved around to get the seat belt off. also, the seat on the seat on the passenger side is too narrow and the seat belt buckles very low, close to the seat and it ends up underneath the boaster seat. these difficulties make it nearly impossible for my preschoolers to buckle by themselves and forces me to climb back in their seat to fix the seat belts and move the booster seat forward to buckle them in. it is incredible difficult and uncomfortable for an adult to climb into the third row seat, especially one that is seven months pregnant. we have tried moving the seats around and can not find any better positions for the car seats. *tr

The front lower ball joint on my 2003 honda pilot separated while being driven out of a parking lot. the front right suspension collapsed. upon inspection, the joint had never been lubricated when the car was assembled. this joint is a "lubed-for-life" joint that cannot be inspected or lubricated once assembled. the protective boot and retaining clip were in perfect condition when the joint failed. i am a mechanical engineer (tennessee license # 110751) and have been involved in several metal failure investigations. i am certain that this joint failed due to having not been lubricated at the factory. this car had been inspected by a honda dealership as a certified used car and had also been serviced at the honda dealership where it had passed their suspension check. if this failure had occurred 10 minutes earlier or later we would have lost control of the vehicle on the interstate at 70mph. the car has never been in an accident or abused in any way. neither honda usa nor the two dealerships involved would recognize the seriousness of this failure. the lower control arm, hub assembly, and steering knuckle were replaced at my expense. *tr

We purchased a used 2003 honda pilot in april 2007. we were aware that there had been a previous transmission recall in 2004 and our vehicle had been serviced as part of that recall. it is now july 2008 and we were just told by the dealer that services our car that the transmission needs to be replaced at a cost of $3700, and that price is after a $1000 contribution from honda. the vehicle has 93150 miles on it. clearly this transmission is defective. honda should own up to a substandard transmission design and stand by their product and their customers. we are not satisfied with what honda is offering us and will continue to negotiate with them. we have found many complaints online about the 2003 honda transmissions and it seems this is a widespread problem. a wider recall should be issued on these defective transmissions. *tr

On or a few days prior to march 13,2008 i was left the parking lot of an area business, upon pulling out onto the road march 13,2008 headlights failed when pulling out of store parking lot replaced both headlight bulbs, fuses&relays low beams inoperable high beams still worked drove home with inoperable headlights march 14,2008 purchased replacement headlight switch from a honda dealer march 15,2008 found melted wire / harness connector and contacted honda dealer for recall/bulletin information picked up copy of bulletin number 07-027 dated may 12,2007,which cites "harness may have been misrouted" march 17,2008 contacted honda customer service,requested goodwill consideration-was directed to have a honda dealer perform diagnostic and submit form to district service manager march 19,2008 took vehicle to honda dealer to perform srs safety recall,and to diagnose the headlight prior to may 12,2008 was told tech did not check headlight problem on march 19,2008 may 12,2008 in frustration, took vehicle back to honda dealer to perform repairs, paid $3147 for the part,and $9074 for the repair dealer returned the headlight switch,but kept the melted connector and wire june 20,2008 returned vehicle to honda dealer for same problem,they said headlight sockets were unplugged and were working fine june 20,2008 returned vehicle to honda dealer,informed them the lights still did not work,they replaced the melted wire and headlight switch socket again dealer kept melted wires and connector and suggested i would have to pay if the problem happened again problem occurred in 5 week intervals causing me to drive at night with high beams or no headlights-creating an unsafe condition i generally do not use my headlights anymore considering the costs to repair them,and the potential fire and entrapment hazards copies of related repair work orders,receipts,and the service bulletin are all available upon request. *tr

Driver's seat belt restraint on 2003 honda pilot came unbuckled while driving. i thought that perhaps i had not bucked it sufficiently. when tried to put metal piece on belt back into the locking device, it would not lock. carried it to the dealer 7-7-08, and he had to order the part. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving at various speeds, the transmission tends to hesitate when shifting from first to second gear. occasionally, the contact has to place the vehicle into neutral and then back into drive in order for the transmission to shift. several months prior to the failure, the contact noticed that the transmission was leaking. the vehicle has been diagnosed by the dealer, but the failure still persists. the vin was unknown. the current mileage was 99,000 and failure mileage was 75,000.

Rear-ended. 2003 honda pilot ex: front seat head rest is non-adjustable, and hits head about an inch down from top of my head. there is no cushioning nor protection for my head. honda customer service stated that if i took auto to dealer, dealer would repair under warranty. dealer stated that there was nothing they can do, this is the way it is designed. thus this is a defect in that this is a totally unsafe head rest (constraint). *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. he checked the head rest and noticed that when he got into the vehicle again, he hit his head at one spot about 1 inch down from the top of his head. the consumer stated the front head restraints can not be adjusted. the second and third row seats were fine. the manufacturer advised him to take the vehicle to the dealer. the dealer stated that nothing could be done because the head rest was designed in that manner. the current and failure mileages were 35,245. updated 06/03/08. *lj

My 2003 honda pilot is an unsafe vehicle, because the head restraints on the front seats can not be adjusted. that is, they must stay down against the top of the seat and can not be adjusted to fit the back of your head. honda customer service stated they will not fix the problem because that is the way it is designed. this means the vehicle is unsafe and an immediate recall should be issued. how is it that you never discovered this? honda should replace all these vehicles with new safe vehicles. this problem means that in a potential rear ended accident, my neck will be broken. i need your help to fix this problem immediately and alert all usa citizens that honda built an unsafe vehicle. *tr

Three electric door locks failed on my pilot, along with the lock assembly for the driver door. *tr

Noticeable cabin vibration when car approaches 70mph, very noticeable. no modifications or repairs as of yet. *tr

Brake master cylinder and brake booster failure on 2003 pilot at 53,000 miles. honda realiability not as good as people think. *tr

Driving on the interstate approx 70 mph for 150 miles. there was a smell similar to an electrical problem, noticed acrid smell and smoke out the rear view mirror. pulled off the interstate. lots of smoke for 5 min then stopped completely in 30 min. all levels ok, no leaks, no failures, all wiring cool, no shorts, all instrument ok. waited approx 45min then drove 150 miles home with no problems. the next morning the car checked out ok. the fire burned approx 18 inches of insulation and scorched the passengers firewall in several places. why did this happen? *tr

I have a 2003 honda pilot. i had the transmission and egr valve recalls services. around 30,000 miles, i notice growling noise coming from the transmission. it happens when lightly accelerating from 1300 rpm to 1500 rpm. once i had car jerking while starting from the start. dealer has replaced the egr valve twice already due to the code. it happens more frequently now. i have 77,000 miles and has been serviced regularly by the dealer. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving 40 mph, the steering wheel shook. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the tread was separating from the tires. the tires were cooper mastercraft courser awt, size p235/70r16 (na). the vin and engine size were unknown. the current and failure mileages were 87,000.

(1)the transmission/gear light in the 2003 honda pilot with 83,000 miles (when in drive) began blinking. we called the honda dealer and they said it indicated a problem with the transmission. the representative at the dealer said that 90% of the time it was the transmission pressure switch. (2)the car continued to be drivable. (3)the part was replaced by the montgomery, al honda dealer for $180.00. our concern is that this is a very common problem, but it is probably not being reported by many consumers due to the relatively low cost of repair. *tr

Srs red light stays on, take it to the dealer (allan nott honda) in lima, oh., says airbags are not legally required in the vehicle. therefore, will not be covered under warranty in our 4 yr. old pilot. never been involved in a wreck. *tr

I just got off the expressway and was making a slow turn into a parking lot when the inner tie rod broke. i did not run over anything or hit anything, and the dealer found no evidence of such. the tie rod broke while going less than 5 mph , and i lost control of the left front wheel. i had to have the car towed, rent a car, and did not pick up the car until the monday night after the incident. i live 3 hours away from where this occurred, and had to leave the truck. the dealer was very surprised and had never seen this before. it was such an unusual incident that no dealers had the part and it had to be special ordered.*ak honda agreed to pay for the part only after i called to complain but i still had to pay $467 in labor as well as for the rental and tow. i called honda directly to see if they wanted the parts to inspect ( i have it in my possession) and investigate but they want me to pay for shipping it back to them or deliver it to a local dealer. the main reason i called their headquarters in the first place was to make them aware of a possible safety issue. i do not feel i should make the effort or expense to send it back to them for them to see if there is a defect, which in my opinion there is. my truck had 48353 miles at the time. the repairing dealer gave me the part after i asked for it. if this would have happened a few minutes earlier i would have been driving 55 mph and probably would have lost control of the vehicle.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. the vehicle was involved in recall #04176000 concerning the power train:automatic transmission. the cooling hose was replaced. the failure mileage was 76,000. the vehicle began having difficulty shifting gears. the failure mileage was 90,000. the vehicle would only shift into neutral or drive. the dealer diagnosed the vehicle as needing a new transmission. the dealer stated they were not liable as it was unclear if the failure was due to the previous recall. the dealer was willing to apply the part for free but will charge for labor. the purchase date and engine size were not available. the current mileage was 94,000. *ak the consumer provided the repair invoice as well as the recall notice. the consumer was told an oil jet kit was already installed in the vehicle. updated 05/13/07*tr

Tl* - the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving at 30 mph the vehicle swung to the left and struck a tree. the contact sustained injuries. the contact was wearing a seat belt. the airbags deployed. there were no warning indicators. the vehicle was destroyed. the component failure was not diagnosed. the contact has pictures.a police report was taken. the failure mileage was 30,000. *ak

Tl*- the contact stated that the 2003 honda pilot ex-l's check engine light turned on along with the variable torque management 4- wheel drive light. she stated that on any given day or at any speed these lights may turn on together or one at a time. the contact stated didn't have any problems with driving the vehicle when this happened. the contact had an appointment with the dealership on 02/28/07. the contact felt thiswas a safety problem, will submit follow up information from the dealership after her appointment. the failure mileage was 45000 and the current mileage was 46000.*ak

After coming to a complete stop, there is a loud thumping that comes from the rear of the vehicle. it scares the heck out of you and you think someone has hit you! took it to several mechanics and the honda dealer in brantford, ontario and although honda acknowledges the problem as a related to fuel tank design they are refusing to do anything about it. *jb

All right. enough is enough. honda now wants us to believe that every rodent has now become aware that a honda pilot or some odysseys is a great place to hang out, especially right next to the knock sensor wire harness. i find it amusing how all of those little varmint must have their own laptops and communicate with each other that this is the best place to be and also the best tasting part of the vehicle. what a joke. we took our 2003 pilot in and they charged us $450 dollars ($4.33 for the part) the rest of it was labor. it took the mechanic exactly 50 minutes to do the work. we watched and got charged for the 3.5 hours labor. there obviously needs to be a recall here!!!!!!!*nm

2003 honda pilot recalled due to transmission problems; avery green motors in vallejo ca purportedly "fixed" the recall problem. two years later, the entire transmission failed and was replaced, at my own cost of $4,700. honda refused to assist with the cost, even though it was apparent their "fix" at time of recall was deficient. at same time, avery green did a periodic maintenance check, or which i was charged several hundred dollars. 3 months later, the power steering failed. avery green failed to detect any problem with the power steering pump during the maintenance checkup. i am told the repair will be very costly as it will be necessary to replace both the pump and the drive train to which it is connected. this car is a lemon, and honda should be required to do competent repairs under recalls and maintenance checks. *nm

I have honda pilot 2003. my daughter was driving when failure occurred. it was raining and rear wipers were running. all of a sudden, rear wipers stopped running and the srs light came on. i took it to the williamson honda dealer in lincoln, ne. he diagnosed and replaced fuse #7. he is also telling to replace the rear wiper motor, that is estimated to cost about $400. it is a honda motor defect and should be replaced free of cost to me as a recall. how do i proceed with it? *nm

Sometimes i cannot take the shift lever out of park even though i am depressing the brake pedal, but when i fiddle with the wires going to the switch that monitors the brake peddle, the shift lever is released. this is an ongoing problem. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the srs light illuminated indicating a problem with the seatbelts or the airbag system. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer. the diagnostic did not identify any problem so the warning light was reset. after three days, the warning light illuminated again. the service dealer was notified, but the manufacturer was not.

Same situation as released in odi case number 10172900. i had a tremendous amount of smoke coming from the dash. the smell of burning plastic or circuit board was strong. after the incident, my rear dvd headphone outputs, both wired and wireless, no longer function. took the pilot to a dealer and they could not confirm the failure of the headphone outputs even though i requested that they put in a dvd to test the system. they did not have one available. the dealer would only pull the radio unit and recommend that i replace that unit. when i asked if they had tested the unit, the response was that they could not test the unit. the unit would have to be sent somewhere for test and possible replacement. they could not guarantee that this would fix the problem. to view the area behind to dvd player, i was advised that it would take a technician 8 plus hours to remove the necessary dash elements in order to get into the cavity containing the dvd player. there was a definite resistance to explore the suggestions i had as to why there may have been smoke. all i know is the there was enough smoke to require me to pull off the road and my daughter and i to "bail" out of the car. *jb

Sudden acceleration while backing out of a garage. car proceeded until it struck other cars despite applying the brake. car finally stopped when it became stuck in the mud. *jb

Stepped on gas to accelerate, suddenly heard a loud noise - thought something got caught under car, but when i pulled over, there was nothing under. took it to a local repair shop and was told that it was the transmission & that i would need to take it to the honda dealer as this may be part of the recalled vehicles. so i took it to ball honda on friday, 11/17 & had henry as the service advisor. when i spoke with henry over the phone, he said that what was stated on the recall as the worst possible scenario happened to my vehicle. he then proceeded to order the transmission but had to wait for approval because of the high mileage on my car. he then said that it shouldn't be a problem, he just needs it approved. however, when i called back today, 11/20/06, i spoke with the service manager, scott moses and was told that honda will not cover it as it wasn't part of the recall problem. their initial diagnostics was this: checked 2nd gear campaign - checked customer's concern on rack noise coming from inside transmission. needs transmission. b: check 2nd gear campaign. checked 2nd gear with led light. 2nd gear shows slight discoloration. he (scott) then proceeded to tell me that this was not part of the recall, and that, due to my high mileage, i've voided the warranty. *jb

I was coasting to a stop when the transmission in my 2003 honda pilot suddenly and abruptly down shifted. it was like someone suddenly jabbed the brakes on my car. i took the car into the shop for transmission replacement the same day. the check engine light came on and the drive indicator light started flashing on the way to the shop. also the transmission stuck in second gear, the limp home mode, and would not upshift. the only way i could keep the transmission from violently down shifting or sticking in second gear was to manually shift through the gears. the dealer replaced my transmission within one week at a little over 48,000 miles because it was under extended warranty. the dealer now claims after my complaint they will warrant the replacement rebuilt transmission for 36,000 miles and three years. this helps, but honda should give me the same extended 93 month and 109,000 warranty that will be given to numerous other honda and acura owners due to a class action suit. today the american honda motor company said they will not extend my warranty. hopefully, someone will start another class action suit for honda pilots. the most important issue is that this poor honda transmission design that is prone to defect is also a definite safety issue since it can take full vehicle control away from operators without notice. perhaps all affected hondas and acuras should receive new redesigned transmissions. *nm

My wife and i own a 2003 honda pilot. on the evening of 11/09/06 she was attending an event. when she started up the truck she could not get it out of park. after turning off the car and turning it back on a couple of times somehow she was able to get it into drive. this happened again later on when she dropped off a friend and left the car in park while she let her friend out. she tried the same tactic as before and after a few times she was able to get it out of park. when she returned home she told me of the problem. i went to the garage and started the truck up and the same thing happened to me. i began to pump the brakes and noticed that the brake lights were not functioning properly and that when they came on i was able to take it out of park. there was no hazard light of any kind to inform us of this malfunction and that it was tied to the brake lights. my wife drove over 60 miles that evening and may or may not have had her brake lights working. i took it to a honda dealership the next day and they replaced a switch, fp # 5615215, description sw.stop 36750-s84. *nm

My honda pilot 2003 ex 5 speed automatic transmission was "repaired" under a prior recall by dealer in september 2004. on october 6, 2006, the transmission completely failed as i was driving down the highway at approximately 65 m.p.h. without acceleration, the vehicle lurched forward suddenly and hard, such that my seat belt did not catch me and lock and pushed me into the drivers wheel. when i got home, the car would not go into reverse and started to roll down the hill. i had it towed to the dealer, who told me that since they had fixed it in 2004 i would have to pay between $4,000 and $5,000 for a "new" transmission. i was never told of this defect when i purchased the car, although i was offered an extended warranty on the transmission, which american honda's representative said i should have purchased and that said offer should have warned me of the transmission defect. i asked american honda to repair it without cost to me, as the first repair was clearly defective, and i was told a "manager" would get back to me in 48 hours. i have now gone 10 days without my car. this is unacceptable. had traffic not been light, the incident on 10-6 could easily have caused an accident. *nm

Our 2003 honda pilot was part of the honda recall of the automatic transmission. we took our vehicle to carl hogan honda in columbus ms when we found out about the recall. the service department inspected the transmission for heat discoloration and installed an oil jet kit. in early 2006 we started having problems with our pilot. it will intermittently surge and jerk between first and second gear and at times it seems to have problems going into overdrive. when these problems occur, the drive light will flash a few times then go out for several minutes before coming on again. we have taken our vehicle back to the dealership several times. each time the service technician has hooked our vehicle up to a computer to diagnose the problem but each time has failed to get a code. the first time they hooked it up they did not get a code and when we got the car back the srs light was on. we then had to get that repaired. the problem is now a weekly occurrence and we have been told that there is nothing the dealership can do until the check engine light comes on and they can retrieve a code. the jerking and surging is becoming more frequent and we feel it has become a safety issue. we were driving with our two small children today and made a left turn across traffic, the vehicle jerked, slowed down and surged. an oncoming car narrowly missed us. *nm

Driving my 2003 honda pilot with approx 40k miles. was driving at highway speeds when i heard a single thump. looked in the rearview mirror and saw a tire bouncing 20-30 feet in the air with cars behind me on the highway swerving wildly to avoid the tire. it bounced 3-4 times and then went off the highway into a ravine. i pulled off the highway and found that my spare tire had broken free and dropped onto the highway. i had to sit for 15 minutes because i was so shaken thinking that it could have caused a major highway accident. the spare had never been used or lowered from the car. dealer reported that the steel lift cable had just broken. *nm

In the summer 2004, i received notice from american honda motor co., inc. involving an automatic transmission recall. my car was serviced for this recall on 10/12/04 by rensselaer honda, my original dealer. they inspected my 2003 pilot for the defect and installed an oil jet kit at 42,112 miles. this past summer(7/2006), now with 76,100 miles, i noticed that my car seemed to have a vibration or stutter when driving at 30 mph and again at 50 mph while trying to maintain a constant speed. on 7/6/06, i took the car in for service and asked that they check the transmission because the problem occurred while trying to switch gears just like the recall had stated. the service technician replaced the pgk valve and assured me that the problem was not the transmission. i called rensselaer honda to see if they could resolve the problem and again asked that they check the transmission. they verified my concern and notified me that the transmission would have to be replaced. there was noise in the automatic transmission in lock up and the lock- up control solenoid valve needed to be replaced. the service director offered to pay for the cost of parts, but i would have to pay $1046.47 in labor costs. after investigating this transmission recall, i became afraid to transport my kids in the car. i read that certain 2003 pilot 5-speed automatic transmissions had engineering design flaws that had not been fully corrected as part of the recall process and that gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated in 2004, the recall notice for nhtsa recall # 04v176000 pertaining to the automatic transmission was received. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer, who installed an oil jet kit. this seemed to correct the problems with the vehicle. however, on 10/02/06, the contact stated while driving 30 mph, the vehicle slowed as if losing power then jerked violently while entering second gear. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer, who determined the transmission had completely failed. the dealer replaced the transmission, but informed the contact that there would be a charge for the labor. the contact spoke with both the service manager and the manufacturer, with no success.

After receiving the transmission recall 04v176000 update the transmission on my 2003 pilot ex-l failed. the problem consisted of the vehicle not change to and from second gear properly. american honda is giving me the run around about addressing this problem. *nm

First, i had both: a frontal impact with a deer and a rear collision with another car and none of my air bags deployed. dealer informed me that the impact on both occasions was not a severe/hard impact, therefore airbag did not open. they must be waiting for a few consumers to die before recalling these airbags and a lawsuit. it cost me over $3k to fix the damages on both ends. anyway, my srs light came on and stayed on since this past april. i took my pilot to my dealership and they told me that i need my "cable reel" replaced. they informed me that the cost to fix my pilot would be $400=$300 labor + $100 part and it is there way of robbing me blind. i told them to not performed the fix until i got a second opinion. they did reset the light for me but the srs light came back minutes after they return it to me. well, the second opinion at leesburg honda dealership close to my house want to rape my wallet of $1000 +. they are telling me that my air bag is bad and that i need to replace it or i will fail my va inspection. they told me that they are mechanics and specialize in repairing broken\damage car equipments. they are not engineers and can not explain to me why my air bag would go bad. the limited warranty does not cover since i am over my 3 yrs\36k miles. so basically to get my car fix, i have to pay to replace a defective part that was sold to me as new when i purchased my vehicle. who should i believe or which dealership knows what they are doing? *jb

I was driving west on highway. i was driving in the left lane at a speed of approximately between 70 to 72 miles per hour. my vehicle swerved towards left a bit, and to compensate that i tried to steer towards right. at this time, vehicle went out of control and i had no control over the steering. the vehicle went to the next lane and spun one time and went towards the left lane. it then changed direction and was facing north, went four lanes over and hit the median head-on and this collision brought the vehicle to complete halt. both air bags were deployed and vehicle had extensive damage. it looks like, it was a mechanical failure which led to the crash. *jb

My vehicle vibrates at highway speeds between 70-80 mph. i have taken the car into the dealer no less than 5 times for the problem and just recently was told that honda is aware of the problem and that the vibration is a characteristic of the vehicle. up to this point the dealer has re-balanced the tires over and over and redone the alignment. i even purchased brand new tires and still there is the vibration. the dealer road force balanced the tires and still the vibration problem. there are many people complaining about this problem on the hondapilot.org website and there appears to be no resolution. *jb

We were rear-ended, causing us to crash into a guard rail (directly in front of the driver), which then spun our vehicle around, causing the entire driver's side of the vehicle to come to rest against the guard rail. the crash occurred at roughly 30 mph, but neither the front, nor the side airbags deployed. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated the srs light illuminated. the dealership determined the cable reel was damaged. there is a technical service bulletin, nhtsa item number # 10005879, which states the damaged cable reel can cause srs diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs). the dealer also informed the contact the cable reel needed to be replaced and without the repair there was a good possibility the air bags would not deploy in the event of an accident. the vehicle has not been repaired.

Dt*: the contact stated the welds on the firewall broke three times. this caused water to leak onto the floor; driver and passenger side, front and back. the dealership welded the firewall twice, but there have been no repairs this final time. updated 03/17/06. *jb

Honda pilot hit in rear by geo, both backs of front seats broke and hit back seats. child in car seat hit feet. drivers head hit dvd player, leg hit under dash from falling back, hurt left shoulder and head. passenger felt hit in back. both had headaches and taking to er. *jb

Dt: the contact's vehicle was hit by another vehicle while waiting enter into traffic. the vehicle was at a complete stop, and the other vehicle was traveling approximately 35-40 mph. the moving vehicle hit the contact's vehicle on the front passenger side. the air bag system failed to deploy. the vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause of the failure. vehicle has not been in any previous accidents. the manufacturer was contacted , but did not offer any assistance. *ak

For over a year, i have been reporting break failure to the dealership. i explained that when i try to stop while going over a bump at 25 mph or less, the breaks fail and the abs does not kick in, i.e. the car fails to stop. the dealership said that they could not replicate the problem and therefore, there was no problem with the car. this morning i went over a bump at about 22 mph, tried to stop the car as i was going over the bump because there was a car stopped about 150-200 feet in front of me. the breaks failed or locked and the abs never kicked in. i rapidly slid into the car in front of me causing extensive damage to my car. *nm

Beginning about 1-1-1995, i have had eleven (11) incidents of the brake-light solenoid failing. this has occurred in my 1995 accord (6 times), 2001 accord (3 times), and 2003 pilot (2 times). i currently own the 1995 accord and the 2003 pilot. in all instances the brake lights will not work and the transmission will not shift out of park. when someone is with me and i am stationary, i have them check the brake lights to see if they work when i apply the brake, and they don't work at the same times i can't shift out of park. tomorrow morning the pilot goes back to the shop to get the solenoid replaced for the second time. my dealer has reported this to honda but they don't seem too interested in trying to find a permanent fix to the problem. hopefully others will report similar instances so we can get some corrections made. besides the annoyance of not being able to shift out of park, i don't know how many times i have almost been rear-ended because the brake lights didn't work while traveling. *jb

Dt: the srs light came on the dash panel. this came on without any previous incidents or problems. there was another recall on a separate issue, and while at the dealer for recall repair, the dealer inspected the srs light. the dealer made the determination that the airbag was not working. the dealer believed cell phone use had shorted the sensor of the srs. he tried to reset it. two miles after leaving the dealership, the light again illuminated and has been on since this time. the consumer called the dealership and they said the repair would cost 300 dollars. no repairs or corrections have been made at this time. *ak

I was driving near my house my wife's honda pilot suv and the rear suspension suddenly broke down. the fork and wheels support are broken and unweld (unsolder) *jb

The gas tank had a leak. enough that fuel was dripping to the ground when the tank was over half full. the leak point was around a seam at the fuel intake where the tank was assembled. honda replaced the tank but because the car had 40,000 miles on it was out of warranty. honda applied a goodwill warranty and paid for the parts. we paid almost 300 dollars for labor.

Dt: the consumer complained about a brake problem. a squeaking noise was coming from the brakes. after this happened the consumer stated that the steering wheel shook. this problem started near the end of june of 2005. dealership stated that this vehicle was not covered under warranty and would not inspect the vehicle. *ak

Since owning the vehicle in 8/2002, there has been a slight vibration at speeds around 70 mph. since chsnging the tires recently, the problem is more pronounced, but only when cold. the vibration borders on a shake, and you can feel it in the steering wheel as well as the floorboards.

Honda pilot front rotors get warp with normal use, when brakes are applied at high speed the car steering wheel shakes violently and car is out of control, have to remove foot from brakes to get control of the car back, honda will not acknowledge problem. *nm

On multiple occasions the shift interlock will not let the car out of park, unless you hit the brake pedal 20-30 times. has not been replaced due to honda not being able to duplicate the problem. *nm

Srs electronic system was disrupted by electronic item being placed in the passenger seat of the 2003 honda pilot.***no answer required***. *mr *nm

Dt: when opening the tailgate the hinge failed, and the hatchback fell down on consumer. it appeared that piston was too small for the weight of the door, and the attachment should be placed in a position where it could support the weight of door. no injuries occurred. currently, the hinges completely failed.*ak

Automatic transmission on reverse shift wasn't work properly. it happened twice in the morning when i first start. the car woludn't move and locked up. i need to shift to drive gear than reverse. some other time i have to turn off engin than turn on to move the gear. this was happen after recall for my honda polit 2003.

2003 honda pilot experienced minor problems. ***no answer required***. *mr the vehicle's srs light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs. on day after the repairs were made the srs light illuminated again. *nm

Dashboard switch for emergency lights does not illuminate in 2003 honda pilot. this has been an issue with the manufacturer since purchase of vehicle. the other vehicles i own are honda and the switch is illuminated so it can be seen in the dark.*ak

There was a blind spot when the consumer looked in both mirrors, he turned his head to look and saw no vehicle. the instant the consumer turned back to the center lane, the vehicle began to spin out of control. the vehicle was totaled and no air bags deployed. *bf the second vehicle of this complaint is: vin#[xxx] honda pilot 2004. the incident occurred on feb. 6, 2005 in which a similar incident occurred. the consumer looked in both mirrors, turned her head and started in the left lane and instantly swerved out of control. the vehicle spun around several times, went into an embankment, rear first about 40 feet, then hit a small tree. the back window blew out, the trunk was smashed in and none of the air bags deployed. *sc since the vehicle was totaled the consumer purchased another honda pilot and the same incident occurred. *jb information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Recall campaign: 04v176000 automatic transmission second gear inspection. tranmission slipping. *bf the consumer stated that the slipping of the transmission happened intermittently. the consumers vehicle was serviced twice regarding the transmision, on the second visit, the consumer was told he would have to pay for the labor charges.

While driving vehicle suddenly accelerated. driver did not apply the brakes. driver was unable to maintain control of the vehicle, and it went down embankment smashing into a tree. upon impact, both air bags did not deploy. no injuries reported. the vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance. *ak ref. odi no. 10115735 for 2004. *tt

While parked in a lot the vehicle caught on fire . the cause has yet to be determined. the fire department stated that it was an electrical failure, but was not sure. *ak consumer stated there was no indication of any problem. no hesitation nor any warning lights. the vehicle had less than 1000 miles when the master cylinder failed. *bf *nm

The driver side rear tire blew unexpectedly when the vehicle hit a bump almost causing lost of control of the vehicle. the tire showed immediate deterioration when taken to the dealer for replacement. *jb

Consumer concerned about the position of the head restraint on the front seat. *nm the back of the consumer's head would hit the lower edge of the top bar of the head restraint about an inch below the top of the consumers head. *sc

Honda pilot 2003, very difficult to see what is behind, a back-up sensor should be standard in all cars. *bf safety hazard concern. *sc

The consumer received a recall for an air bag adjustment. *nm

Srs light came on. took pilot to honda service to handle recall and presumably correct light problem. service person said problem was not recall related, instead said problem was srs control unit. since vehicle has over 36k miles, this was not covered by warranty. *jb

While stopped at a traffic light, the rear driver's side door window shattered as a trailer truck drove slowly by our honda pilot. no objects were thrown against the window, the vibrations of the heavy truck going by were enough to shatter the window. this is a major safety defect that should be recalled by honda motors!!!. i read a similar complaint in this site where another person close the door on his honda pilot and the window shattered. i'm formally requesting an official investigation and assistance in this matter.*ak

While driving there was noise in the front axle. it got louder with more speed. consumer took vehicle to the dealer. however, the problem recurred. *ak *tc

04 v 176 000/automatic transmission: the consumer was unable to get this recall honored by dealer because no parts were available. consumer has been waiting since september 4, 2004 and the parts were still unavailable. *jb

Recall transmission issue, dealer in area did not want to do repairs. *bf consumer was told that there were no parts available to repair her vehicle. recall campaign id number : 04v176000 *tc

We were driving our 2003 pilot w/ 27000 miles on it down the highway, and smoke suddenly started pouring out from the radio. honda says the radio is bad (currently waiting for them to get a new one). i'm tempted to check yes on "was there a fire", but i'm not sure if this qualifies. i certainly thought it was a fire at the time!*ak

Engine light keeps on turning on. this is makes it difficult to see how much gas is in the vehicle . also, vehicle is using twice as much gas as before.*ak

Consumer received recall 04v176000 for replacement of the transmission. mechanic replaced the oil set pump. however, the problem recurred, and had not been resolved. *ak

The accelerator pedal sticks. when the applied the accelerator the vehicle did not respond as it should. the owner has taken the vehicle to the dealer and all they would do is spray the pedal with silicone. they also said that this function is normal for this vehicle. *jb the problem was said to be due to carbon build up. the steering made a clicking and or groaning sound when making left turns as if the transmission was slipping. the noise was near the rear differential. *sc

While applying the accelerator pedal vehicle failed to accelerate. consumer applied the accelerator pedal numerous times and the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. mechanic could not duplicate the problem. *ak

Front brake rotors warped. starting at 32,000 miles, steering wheel shakes hard side to side when brakes applied. this should not happen from normal wear, no other defects noted as cause (tires, lug nut torque, over heating). dealer would not fix under warranty. problem continues. possible loss of control under hard braking due to severe steering wheel shake. cause of excessive wear to other parts.*ak

2003 honda pilot lx tires needed replacing before i reached 15,000 miles. they are putting inferior tires on the car. i had an independent dealer tell me that the pilot is too heavy for car tires. honda should put light truck tires on the pilot. bridgestone and honda say that tires are normal wear and tear items and are never covered under warranty. *ak

The jack collapsed while jacking up the vehicle to change the front tire on the passenger side. *jb the consumer was carrying a load of 4500 pounds when the jack collapsed. the dealer replaced the crushed jack with an same type of jack. the consumer stated that he will never use it. *tc

Severe engine valve clattering when pulling light loads or accelerating uphill and loud roaring sound from tires after 23000 miles. *ak

Air bag light came on. dealer stated that the cost may not be covered under warranty.*ak the consumer stated this was a recalled item last year. the dealer stated a sensor went bad under the passenger seat. the service advisor stated the consumers problem had not do with the recall. *jb

Although my honda dealer has replaced the driver side seat cover on my 2003 honda pilot that also houses the controls for the power driver saet 4 times in the past 15 months with no problem, i feel this defect needs to be addressed because if this cover fails while driving the power seat could start to move in any direction. the website "hondapilot.org." has many complaints about this in thier chat forum, also my dealership told me they had to replace quite a few of these, there was even a backlog on ordering me a new one this last time.

The vehicle's window shattered after the door was shut. *nm *jb

While driving 40 mph spoiler fell off into oncoming traffic. dealer stated the part was warping and produced one inch gap. *ak

Transmission recall 04v176000, honda 718-720-0075. no parts were available. *ak

The check engine light illuminated on dashboard. there was a loud noise, which came from the front end of the vehicle. took vehicle to the dealer, who found that the motor mounts broke. vehicle had never been in an accident. *ak

Vehicle was recalled for transmission second gear. earlier, transmission was serviced for dirt in the transmission. dealer stated on the recall that oil jet was not defective, and did not need servicing because there was no discoloration in the transmission fluid.*ak

After the automatic transmission recall 04v17600 repairs were performed when slowing down vehicle down shifted and suddenly accelerated. *ak

Honda pilot headlights do not provide sufficient light to safely operate the vehicle. only a few feet in front of vehicle are illuminated, and a sharp cut-off line between light and darkness is clearly visible at a distance that is not far enough to safely drive at night.*ak

When opening the tailgate the consumer noticed that the spoiler hit the rear window and the roof. consumer notified the dealer about this issue. *ak the sunlight caused heat swelling of the plastic tailgate spoiler. when the tailgate was opened, the spoiler would strike the roof which resulted in scratches and damage to the roof. *nm

Tires have worn out after 22,000 miles on new car-2003 honda pilot. rear tires are feathering and front tires are worn unevenly. tires are bridgestone dueler h/t 235/70 r16. *ak

Concerns involving 2003 honda pilot recalls. *mr *sc

On saturday night, 6/19/2004, we purchased a used 2003 honda pilot with aprox 17k miles on it. as part of the purchase agreement, hanlees toyota included an aftermarket leather upgrade for the cloth interior. subsequently, on monday (6/21/04) we were informed by american honda motors that the aftermarket leather upgrade was both potentially hazardous and would void our manufacturer's warranty. consequently, on tuesday, 6/22/04, we returned the car to the dealer and advised them of these circumstances, with the intention of a refund of our $5000 deposit and cancellation of the sale. however, hanlees was non cooperative in this request. reaching an impasse, we left with the car and are now seeking your assistance. here is the information from honda regarding the safety concerns of the aftermarket leather upgrade: honda service news, no aftermarket leather seat covers with side airbags, never install aftermarket leather seat covers on honda vehicles with side airbags. here's why: the occupant position detection system (opds) sensors attached to the seat-back foam are calibrated to sense through the seat cover. if the cover material changes, the odps could malfunction or turn on the srs indicator. side airbags that deploy through the seat bolster seam are sewn with a special thread that bursts and positions the side airbag to protect the occupant. this thread isn"t available to the aftermarket, which means you must replace the seat cover whenever a side airbag deploys or a seat cover is damaged. also, when i pointed out the safety issue of the aftermarket leather upgrade i was sold, the response from the customer relations manager at the dealer was 'well side airbags aren't even mandatory, anyway bottom-line, i think it is a potentially dangerous situation for this dealer to offer possibly hazardous aftermarket upgrades to it's customers without warning them of their unsafe nature. *ak the onsumer was able to resolve the safety issue and as part of the resolution he would like to withdraw his complaint. *nm

Consumer stated when using laptop on the passenger's seat srs light came on. as a result, air bags disengaged. *ak

Several months after buying our car in december of 2002, we noticed a clunking sound when we used the brakes when going forward. we were told this was normal and occurred after having just backed up. it was a transfer of the brakes from back to front. i had the service tech look at them and was told it was not a safety issues and honda would not address it. i have since talked to several honda owners who have never had this problem. additionally, my brakes are getting worse and make the sound even if i don't back up first. *ak

1. car was parked at a marina for approximately 1.5 hours 2. electrical malfunction in drivers automatic seat controller started a fire and destroyed seat and door 3. honda said it was my fault and said to have my insurance pay for it - i'm electing to take them to court.*ak

When using a lap top computer in the vehicle the srs light came on indicating that the air bags had been deactivated. the electronic waves hit the back of the seat causing this defect. *nm the problem happened repeatedly when the lap top was used in the front seat. the dealer turned the airbags on, on several occasions but cannot stop the occurrence. *sc *jb

There is a distinct and constant vibration on the steering wheel of my 2003 honda pilot when it reaches speeds between 70 and 75 mph. honda has tried balancing tires, aligning front end, rotating tires, replacing tires, etc. and the problem is still present. they have had my pilot for the past two weeks trying to correct this situation. *ak

Vehicle has vibration / shimmy at 40-45 and 70-80 mph that is quite annoying. new tires have been installed, balanced twice, still no luck, vibration persist in steering wheel and vehicle compartment.

Liftgate glass on 2003 honda pilot essentially "shattered". the vehicle was not hit by any object. local honda dealer states it is not covered. i don't know whether or not it was defective glass or installed by manufacturer incoorectly.*ak

Consumer experienced pulsation and shaking in steering when slowing down. *la the dealer determined that the rotors needed to be cut and resurfaced. a few months later the vehicle was taken back to the dealer for routine maintenance and brake problems. the dealer blamed the brake problems on high mileage but the consumer believes that the dealer may have caused the problem or that the brakes were defective when the vehicle was purchased. *nm

Front disc brake rotors warped from normal use, low mileage (21,000 miles) causing excessive vibration and potential loss of vechicle stability and control when braking

We bought a new honda pilot in july 2003. we do not tow anything with it. we do not take it off road. there has been no accident. we like the vehicle. however, on may 13th while driving the pilot a loud snap was heard in the rear of the pilot. we looked at it and discovered that the left rear shock absorber mount had broken off from the chassis. if that would have happened while on the freeway a serious accident very well might have occurred. this is a real safety concern.*ak

While driving, the consumer heard a clicking noise coming from the rear brakes. *ak on may 19th 2004, the brakes were viewed and a service tech added parts but did not replace the brakes. *sc *jb

Sustained vibration at 73mph & 78mph. vibration felt through steering wheel. dealer checked tire balance twice and found no problems.

The problem has been traced to the upper shock mounts. their design causes a rattle on small to moderate road irregularities. i was forced to make a personal modification to the mount as honda would not acknowledge the problem. others (national web site) have experienced the same symptoms, but honda says this is charastic of vehicle. i have been a major supporter of honda in purchases and their customer service is incredibily insensitive. my next purchase may be a vw or volvo. since i modified the bracket, the sound is not the issue. the value honda has placed on my business is. i can document all efforts to resolve the issue, however honda does not want to admit there is a problem. surely i can not be the only one to have this issue with honda as i have remained professional at all times. i will not let the issue die. there should be reasonable expectations that support should go along with product loyalty. bill price

The rivets holding the driver seat to the seat frame have popped and the seat becomes unstable. driver can lose control of the vehicle when this happens. *ak

The srs light on my 2003 honda pilot came on about a month and a half ago and has stayed on. the dealer looked at it, ordered a part which came in over 3 weeks later, installed the part (i believe it was a new airbag sensor), and still hasn't fixed the problem. they ordered another part which they said would take 3-4 weeks to come in. according to the service department, the airbags would not deploy in an accident currently due to this issue.*ak

Found a whinning noise in the area of the power steering pump on our 2003 pilot with 9,000 miles been in the shop for 5 days they have replaced the tension pully on the timing belt did not fix now they are scratching their heads *ak

On april 8,2004, the srs light came on in my pilot. i phoned the dealership and was told it might just need to reset itself because i had something sitting on the passenger seat and that it might take a couple of days for it to reset. the light never went off. i took it in to be checked on april 14, 2004. the service tech reset the srs light and i was told to bring it back if the light came back on. about 20 miles down the road, the light came back on. i returned to the dealership that afternoon where the service tech told me that the pilot was unsafe to drive because the airbags would not deploy. i was told that the parts would be overnighted and my vehicle would be ready the next afternoon. one of the parts came in but the other part is on national back order. monday, i was told that the part is on "critical backorder" and hopefully will arrive on april 26.2004. the dealership has provided me with a rental vehicle..i was told that when a part is on national backorder, it can takes months for the part to be available. i, too, like some of the other pilot owners, was told that my cell phone plugged in , could have caused the light to come on. i think that might be a little bit of a stretch.*ak

The rear passenger window was loud and caused pressure on the consumer's ear drums. the dealer and manufacturer was notified. ts the consumer felt that the noise wasn't the problem, but the physical pressure and pain on ear drums was. *ak

Loud "clank" noise from brake calipers the first time brakes are applied after changing direction (forward to reverse or reverse to forward). this has happened since new; the dealer service rep states "they all do that", and said he was surprised honda had not come up with some kind of fix because they were getting a lot of complaints about the very disconcerting noise.*ak

I owned a 2003 honda pilot. it's a very good suv. except that last year, i made a complaint with grand honda dealership in elmhurst il. regarding an annoying noise coming from the fuel tank which i believe is very unusual. splashing noise is very strong when the fuel tank is half to almost full tank. according to the dealer it is normal and there was no recall which i strongly disagree. i believe there is not enough chambers to control the splashing noise and might cause further damage. please help!!! *jb

The consumer received a letter from the manufacturer about a safety improvement campaign for the front air bags. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, who made the necessary repairs. the vehicle was taken to another dealer for another problem. while the mechanic was inspecting the vehicle the front air bags were checked and the mechanic made the necessary repairs according to the safety campaign because it looked like the air bags had not been repaired. the consumer(s) were concerned that repairs were done twice, but problem could recur. *ak the consumer felt that the air bags may not remain adjusted. *sc *jb

I consistently hear noise that seems to come from the right rear wheel area when driving over small or large bumps. my dealer (clair international inc.) was unable to fix and called honda tech line. they were advised by honda tech line (ref.# 1192151, access code 20710502012) that it was normal noise from rear shocks with possible update in the future. a month later i had dealer replace the strut (part# 52610-s9v-a01) but problem persists. *ak

When starting the vehicle consumer smelled gas from the engine. consumer indicated that fuel rail was leaking. dealer replaced the fuel line and the "plenum gasket three times, but problem recurred. *ak

I own a honda pilot 2003, every time i start my suv and press the brakes for the first time i hear a loud nocking sound. usually happens after the suv is not in use for a while. i took the suv to the dealer for different issue and i asked the service person about the problem, he told me that the sound is common on pilot. i called american honda and they told that i need to take the suv for an inspection and not to go by what the service person told me. i have not taken the suv to the dealer yet. but, i have done my research and there is a lot of people that the same problem, i do not why they have not reported it. the problem is annoying because it only happens once, everytime the suv is move after a period of time.*ak

Rear wiper motor short, includes srs light coming on since on one fuse and lost of windshield wiper fluid us capabilities. *jb

3 times we had the srs light come on and stay on in our 2003 pilot. the second time they replaced the sensor again (warranty), but informed us that there was some sort of rf inside the vehicle interferring with the srs side airbag in the driver seat. the technician noted that it could be the use of cell phone or television. we had routinely used a portable dvd player in the pilot with ac power inverter plugged into the cigarette lighter. we used this for about a year with no problems. we tried the inverter one more time and without even connecting the dvd player, the srs light came on. this inverter was powered under the limit labeled on the cigarette lighter. they replaced the whole airbag controller this time which i think probably corrected the problem and is why it kept recurring. but now we are afraid to try again since we got a firm warning from the technician that we aren't supposed ot use inverters in the lighter and if this happens again, they won't cover it! i think they build these suv's knowing that people will use the receptacles for power, they even label them with voltage limits. i think if there are limitations known, we should be informed exactly what they are so we don't have to eliminate all usage.

My wife and i both own 2003 honda pilot's. both vehicles have a thumping noise that seem to come from the right rear wheel area when driving over small or larger bumps.i have contacted the honda customer service department and was told they have no information on this problem, that it maybe generic. i have talked to my dealer (wade raulserson, gainesville, fl) service department and have been told the same thing. no information, it may be generic. i have corresponded over the internet with numerous other pilot owners that have the same complaint. several have done considerable research on their own and the best diagnosis seems to be a design problem with the right rear shock mount. you have a complaint(#10023250) detailing a failure on the right rear of the vehicle. the vehicle rolled over resulting in injuries to the driver and extensive damage to the vehicle. this make me wonder if there is an inherent design fault with the rear suspension on the pilot that could ultimately result in a catastrophic failure that may cause major injury or death.*ak

I was involved in head and side impact at highway speed and airbags were not deployed, as they should. as a result my wife received nick and back injuries. had the airbags deployed as they should injuries would have been less severe if any. *ak

Greetings, we just experienced our second power steering pump failure on our pilot. we have approximately 5,000 total miles on the vehicle which we special ordered and received in january 2003 (today is november 14, 2003). we do not drive it much except for family trips. i have a potential theory to bounce off you good folks... being an engineer, i was a bit concerned about the power steering pump not being flooded by the fluid reservoir. i was even more concerned that the reservoir was below the pump. i was assured by the salesman that there were no issues with the arrangement. i later learned about the reported pulley failures. again i was assured that was fixed by a new design. well, now we have two pump failures with only 5000 miles on the vehicle. by failure i mean that the pump started making excessively loud whining noises consistent with dry gear mesh noise. we brought it into the dealer prior to driving to the point of actual failure. here is the theory... i suspect that the power steering pump cannot hold enough vacuum in the fluid supply line to maintain lubrication of the pump. once the engine has set for a longer period of time, the pump could lose it's prime and begin to run dry on the next usage of the vehicle. if not running completely dry, maybe there is enough loss of prime to cause cavitation in the pump. could it be that if this is not caught soon enough that the heat generated causes thermal expansion of the gear sets resulting in the pump seizing up? if the pump seizes up, would it then be possible to present enough force by the serpentine belt to create enough torque to sheer off the pulley? let me know what you think. i am certainly going to have a discussion with my dealership on this (again). *la

When applying the brakes they produced a noise. dealer states that the noise is normal. *ak

While traveling 50 mph another driver turned in front of my pilot without signaling. the whole right front of my vehicle was pushed in. the problem was that the air bags didn't deploy and according to witnesses the seat belt didn't lock. as a result i bounced off steering wheel twice. 2 days later i received a recall notice from honda saying that air bags are not deploying or deploying late. i believe that my injuries would have been less severe had the air bags deployed and/or the seat belt locked. *la

Just below the leather on the drivers seat the plastic panel that holds the electronic buttons to operate the seat motion has broken two times in less than four months, although the dealer replaced it both times, there appears to be a defect in the screws holding the panel in place.

Headlights on the 2003 honda pilot are not bright enough to illuminate the road at highway speeds. honda knows of the situation and will not take any action. *jb

The consumer stated that the vehicles driver's side window does not have automatic reverse. *ak *cb *nlm

While driving at 35 mph hit a pole, and neither of the four air bags deployed. vehicle was totaled. dealer notified. *ak

While driving honda pilot ex-l on a local street at 35 mph, the right rear wheel seems to have hit something or skidded. attempt to control the vehicle by moving the steering wheel resulted in the suv going out of control. while still on the road, any attempt to steer the vehicle caused it go in an unexpected direction. finally, the vehicle rolled over and landed back on the wheel in a ditch by the side of the road. driver sustained head injuries and two children in car seats, ages 1 and 4, escaped unhurt in the back seat. the car sustained extensive damage all around especially on the driver side. the windshield, front side windows, front doors and front roof appear to have sustained the greatest impact. the fact that the vehicle went out of control so easily seems to point to a mechanical failure. it would be useful to investigate this issue to prevent any future roll-overs by anyone using this vehicle. *jb

My honda pilot becomes unstable at speeds above 60 mph, it responds as though there is play in the steering and any small road imperfections cause the vehicle to veer left or right, i took it to cush honda where i purchased the vehicle and they said three of four tires had 52 pounds of air in the tires, which had to have been there on delivery since i have less than 700 miles on the vehicle and it has never been serviced or had air put in the tires, the problem still exists and is unsafe at highway speeds in traffic, the service manager claims all pilots do it and it is a design problem? please advise. *jb

The headlights on my new 2003 honda pilot are like a small pocket flashlight extremely dim and insufficient for night driving pleaser help me remedy this problem. *jb

Damage from defect to timing belt (worn from protruding bolt) caused engine to stop while driving on highway. engine damaged due to this defect. *nlm

The base of the driver side leather seat was severely stretched and sagged (and also with 'pointy hairs' protruding from holes on all leather seats front and rears) , and the illed-mannered honda dealer's service department manager(robertson honda in north hollywood, ca) refused to replace it under the covered original honda warranty and denied totally there is anything wrong with it although the defect is so obvious and visible.*ak

While driving my 2003 pilot at speeds over 40 mph, opening either the rear window causes a pressure imbalance within the vehicle which unless the windows are immediately closed, causes extreme ear pain to all passengers. this situation can cause a potentially hazardous situation if the vehicle is in high speed traffic and the pressure change affects the driver. i contacted my local dealer as well as american honda and they claim that they have no record of any such complaints. *nlm

Hearing the annoying and pretty loud back and forth sloughing or thumping sound from the bottom or rear of the driver seat (most likely from the gas tank which is where it is located) whenever coming to a stop or accelerate from a stop.*ak

The anti-lock brake system locked up, which caused the vehicle to experience extended stopping distance. *jb

2003 honda pilot center seating position 2nd & 3rd row. seat belt system does not fit adult ( in my experience, 1 woman 5'8" and 1 woman 5'10") or child in a booster seat (both highback and evenflo right fit booster) properly. shoulder straps cut across neck just under jaw bone. shoulder strap is not able to be positioned at center of collar bone and in some cases does not even make contact with collar bone (child in evenflo right fit booster). my concern is that if the seat belt does not fit properly occupants will put seat belt behind back or under the arm. i am a cps technician and purchased this vehicle a few weeks ago, not realizing this situation. i had only checked the installation of a britax super elite in the center seating position before buying the vehicle. *jb

Every time i accelerate from a stop or come to a stop i hear a thumping noise from fuel sloshing around in the tank. the location of the fuel tank is right under the floor behind the driver's seat. it is very loud and annoying to hear. *jb

The headlights lights were very dim and the dealership was unable to adjust the lighting projection. which resulted in poor visibility. the manufacturer indicated it this was a design characteristic. *jb

Head light too weak, cant see more than 20 feet. not enough illumination. *ts *nlm **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis**770154

Nar 03/03/2003. the consumer was involved in an accident. the vehicle was hit just after the right side door and on the right side rear wheel. there was substantial damage done to the vehicle. *jb

2003 honda pilot has intermittent starting problems. *jb

The air bag light constantly stayed on.*jb

While backing out of the drive way and turning the steering wheel in either direction you can hear a thumping sound, it's a constant thumping. if only the back 2 windows are rolled down, the sound of the wind passing through the car is deafening. it creates a booming that immediately affects the ear drum. *jb

Headlights on the new honda pilot are weak and fail to adequately illuminate the road ahead. it's the difference between using a spotlight vs a floodlight. the high beams when in use just seem to disappear into the night. you can see but the light is not bright enough in my opinion. i think the high beams should be more like a spotlight in lighting up the road ahead. i think it is a definite design flaw.

When driving through standing water more than 3" deep, instead of the water being diverted out and away from the vehicle, it is diverted as a massive wall of water onto the windshield. it is necessary to immediately brake, as vision is 100% obstructed. this has happened on 3 different days. twice it was during heavy rain, where water was pooling by the curb, but was not yet over the curb. once it was during dry weather, but there was a deep puddle of water in a low spot in the road. in all 3 situations it posed a significant safety hazard, as we could not react to traffic situations ahead of us and had to come to a stop until the windshield drained. the windshield wipers were overwhelmed by the amount of water thrown on the windshield.

2003 honda pilot

At highway speeds 45mph-75mph a high pitch noise orginates from the driver side window or frame, very annoying and can not isolate as of yet, maybe mis-aligned windshield? please direct.

Will hazard if you open the rear window and you carry an infant in the back of the vehicle while driving at 35mph or have a passenger with ear tube or ear plug. is a turbulence like plane. dealer has been notified. please provide further information. ts

The rear passenger window was loud and caused pressure on the consumer's children ear drums. the dealer and manufacturer was notified. ts the consumer felt that the noise wasn't the problem, but the physical pressure and pain on the children's ear drums was. scc

I parked my 2003 honda pilot ex in my garage and found oil stains on the driveway. when i looked under the vehicle, all the oil had drained. i looked at the dipstick and there was less than 1/16th of an inch of oil. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. they found the timing belt was stripped. they also found that two of the valves were bent. all these were replaced but i am concerned that more damage has occured to the engine by driving without oil.

Engine making noise while accelerating vehicle has been in shop for three weeks for repair. please provide further information.*ak

Thunking noise from gas tank when stopping. it has been identified as the baffles but honda dealer refuses to repair under warranty.

While driving the vehicle at night the consumer can only see about 25 feet ahead. dealer has been notified. *ts *jg *nlm

While consumer was merging from one lane to another. driver turned steering wheel and it locked up. consumer had vehicle towed to dealership. dealership indicated that the power steering pulley assembly had broken completely off of the vehicle. ts

While driving my 2003 honda piolt at 38 mph or faster with one of the rear windows down, i very bad turblance occures in the passenger compartment, feels like pressure in the compartment hurting our ears and hearing. question is what damage will this do to a person with hearing problems (tubes in ear) also majior concern with new borns (not fully developed hearing). i made contact with honda customer service several time in reff to this problem, and was advised there is no corrective solution to this problem. i was also advised by honda customer service that they could not help me and to contact a attorney which i realy cannot aford. the vehicle is only one month old. please contact me with advice to handle this problem. i truly beleave this is a safety problem and needs to be addressed. also pleas let me know if other owners of the honda piolt are having this same problem. thank you.

While traveling on the highway the back window has a whistleling sound and vibration please fill in additional information dealer is aware of the problem. ts

Consumer states, the head light component provide poor light obstructing the driver's view. dealer has inspected. please provide further information. mr

Cannot rise head rest for a tall person. it could cause neck injuries if consumer hit brakes or in the event of an accident. dealer will be notified.*ak

Consumer states the low beam headlights are weak or not properly aligned resulting in poor night visibility. consumer states has to use high beams. nlm

Consumer was driving at highway speed with all windows closed. then passenger opened rear window, and vehicle felt like it was falling apart. there was a terrible noise. consumer had to open two windows to stop loud noise. *akthere is also a loud boom noise heard when three of the windows are opened at certain levels. *jg

While driving at highway speed of 65 mph a window was opened to allow air into the vehicle. the force of the air entering the vehicle caused injures to all the occupants ears. dealer and the manufacturer has been notified. feel free to provide any further information. *mr

Gas leaked from the top side of fuel tank under the driver side of vehicle. it has done this two times now while being filled up at two separate gas stations. both of which were smooth flat surfaces. it does not overflow from the nozzle insert where you pump gas at. it comes from somewhere on the top side of tank and leaks until the gas goes below the spot from which it leaks.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while parked, the contact noticed that the vehicle began to roll backward. the contact was able to enter the vehicle, place her foot on the brake pedal and shift the vehicle into park. the contact noticed that she had removed the key from the ignition prior to shifting into park. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Nhtsa recall campaign number: 04v176000 this recall was performed on my vehicle, now the vehicle has started slip and shift hard, the vehicle has had issues with the "d" flashing during normal driving conditions, but resets when the car is shut off. i'm afraid that the as state on the recall consequence: quote: "gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash." i did some research about this and there several hundreds if no thousands of people with this issue. *tr

My 2003 honda pilot was causing lacerations to the hands and fingers when using the door handle from the inside of the vehicle because of the delaminating door handles. the chrome plating on the plastic delaminates and has a very sharp edge that slices the fingers or hands if rub against. all of my family members have had laceration injuries from these defective handles. i have pointed out the defect to honda but they say it is normal wear and tear and not covered. i have older vehicles from other manufacturers that don't have this issue and obviously disagree with honda's assessment. *tr

The left rear tire blew out while driving at 63 mph. *ak

Front seat head rests do not adjust upward for tall people (5'-11') and taller causing head restraint bar to rest on top of persons head. this potentially will causing neck or spinal injury injury if vehicle is hit from the rear. the top bar acts as a pivot point with no rear neck support.

As i was exiting the expressway about 50 mph it became clear very quickly that the power steering had failed but the engine was running fine. it took much effort to negotiate the turn and thought i may crash into the guard rail but did not i proceded carefully about mile where my appointment was and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. a pully had broken off and was laying in the engine compartment upon inspection. this vehicle had a major recall regarding the water pump that involved the losening and disassembly of many componets in the same area of the engine. this problem was very serious in the sense that i had no warning that a problem existed with the steering until exiting the expressway, had my spouse been operating the vehicle she may not had been able to negotiate the exit ramp. dt

The buttons were improperly manufactured, and have very sharp edges that have caused several cuts during normal vehicle operation. this same issue has been reported in the following discussion (http://www.honda-pilot.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=615) dt

Headlights are very weak and do not sufficeintly 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. dt

Power steering pulley just broke off. the bolt remained in place. the pulley just sheered off the bolt very strange. i was backing up when it happens. i contacted the dealer they came and towed the car away. the car is still at the dealer. they told me they had never seen that before. i suspect it may be a deffective part. dt

Head light is not enough illuminate at night very risky when turn either left or right on a highway. we have stop driving at night after found out. dt

The vehicle lost power steering components which caused a loss of steering control. dt

The 2003 honda pilot has a vibration in the tires that the dealer has had in the shop three times, since day one to try to fix the tire vibration (70 mph and up, sometimes felt at lower speeds). the tires still emits a steady and obvious vibration that eminates from the steering wheel and seats. it seems to me that there is a flat spot in the tires. pilot owners who experience this problem are entitled to honda's unrelenting attention and commitment to correct this mystery.*ak