2003 Honda Pilot Electrical System Problems

I am the original owner of my 2003 Honda pilot and had to replace the front driver side door actuator years ago. Now all the remaining 3 doors need to have the door actuators replaced. If you're outside the car you cannot open the door. Using the key remote or putting the key into the front door keyhole will NOT unlock or lock the door. You have to be inside the car and lift or depress the lock button to get them to open or to lock it. This is a very dangerous situation for if an emergency should occur and it's necessary to either exit the vehicle or enter you won't be able to. I know the later year Honda's has had recalls on door actuators.

Reporting an important safety issue I experienced due to random engine stalling on my 2003 Honda Pilot, typically after driving for a few minutes. The engine would crank for several seconds or sometimes start immediately after stalling, but no diagnostic trouble codes were ever stored. The vehicle had stable fuel trims and idle, and multiple components including the EGR valve and valve clearance were serviced without resolving the issue. Ultimately, the root cause was traced to a failing PGM-FI (fuel pump) relay located under the driver’s dash. After replacing the relay close to two months ago, the stalling stopped completely. This issue could pose a safety risk if the engine stalls in traffic, especially in a hazardous area where there’s no breakdown lane (construction zone, etc.) , and I believe this factor should consider this a known failure point in aging vehicles of this model. Attached are two images of the new relay zip tied under the driver’s footwell (could not remove the bad relay since it was too difficult to remove from its bracket).

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle however, the ignition switch failed to turn. The ignition switch warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

The contact owned a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated she was informed by her daughter that the inside passenger side of the vehicle was on fire. The contact extinguished the fire with water. The fire department arrived afterward and informed that the electronic software was the cause of the fire. The contact was unsure if a fire report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries or medical treatments needed. The contact notified a local mechanic regarding the failure and was informed of the same information which the fire department provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

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

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."

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.

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.

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.

WINDOW REGULATORS STOP WORKING AND WINDOW CAN CRASH WHEN DRIVING. SO FAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO REGULATORS AND ONE WINDOW.

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.

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.

IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM. KEY IS DIFFICULT TO INSERT INTO IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. ONCE INSERTED, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN.

THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN GEAR.

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

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

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. 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 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.