NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Honda Pilot. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I DRIVE BETWEEN 20-40MPH AND MY HONDA SHAKES AND SHUDDERS FOR 8 SECONDS THEN GOES AWAY. ANY IDEA WHAT CAN THAT BE.
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
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.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 150K CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND WAS UNSAFE. HAPPENED QUICKLY.
IGNITION KEY CAN PULL OUT WHILE DRIVING
THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN GEAR.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
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.
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.
TAKATA RECALL.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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 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.
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 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.
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* 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.
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.
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
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.
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
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 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.
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.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026