There are 51 stored owner reports matching the electrical system leading-label group for the 2004 Honda Pilot in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 50 of 51 matching reports. This is a limited sample of up to 50 reports, ordered by incident date when available, not the complete group. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that at the time of purchase, the odometer mileage reading was 160,000. After obtaining a Carfax Report it was discovered that the previous mileage was 337,000. The contact also indicated that the instrument cluster had been replaced and the air bag and check engine warning lights were inoperable, and the driver’s side air bag had been removed from the vehicle. The VIN was not available.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase September 2024, the vehicle mileage was 139,020. The contact stated that after a mechanic had informed the contact that the frame was severely rusted, the contact retrieved the Carfax report history of the vehicle and discovered that the vehicle mileage was 196,000 on August 11, 2018.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition briefly failed to turn. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
MY CAR WAS RUNNING JUST FINE I'VE HAD NO ISSUES THE WHOLE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT TILL NOW AND I CANNOT PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT TAKES ME LIKE 10 MINUTES OR MORE TO PUT THE KEY IN AND IF I TAKE THE KEY OUT WHEN I GET TO MY DESTINATION IT TAKES ME 10 MINUTES OR MORE TO PUT THE KEY IN AGAIN JUST TO DRIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE OR BACK HOME. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IT SHOULD BE ON A RECALL BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH WAY I PUT THE KEY IN IT WILL NOT GO IN AND I HAVE THREE KEYS AND EACH KEY DOES THE SAME THING.
MY 2004 HONDA PILOT HAS BEEN LOSING POWER.WHILE I'M OUT ON THE ROAD! THREE TIMES IN ONE MONTH AND THEN NO LIGHTS ARE ON ON THE DASH.RUNS GREAT BUT IT JUST LOSES POWER.WHILE I'M DRIVING! IT ALMOST KILLED ME AND MY CHILDREN WHILE TAKING THEM TO SCHOOL
IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN WITH KEY INSERTED AND NOW THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
WHEN I STOP, AND TURN OFF THE MOTOR, THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. WHEN IT FINALLY DOES, IT SOMETIMES (MOST OF THE TIME) WONT GO BACK IN. WHEN IT DOES, IT WILL NOT TURN, THUS, YOU CANNOT START THE CAR. SOMETIMES IT WILL TURN ON, AND START THE CAR, BUT MOST OF THE TIME, YOU HAVE TO SIT IN ONE SPOT, AND WAIT TIL IT GETS READY. IM AFRAID THAT IM GOING TO GET STRANDED EVERY TIME I AM ABLE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE. ESPECIALLY WITH THE UPCOMING COLD WEATHER.
IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND DOES NOT TURN. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT HONDA IS CHARGING FOR THE KNOWN DEFECT IN THE TUMBLER SYSTEM USED WITH THEIR SPECIAL KEY SYSTEM. PEOPLE ARE TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR, BUT THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THAT ALL CARS EXPIRE AT THE SAME TIME AND THE FIX INVOLVES REPLACING THE ENTIRE IGNITION INCLUDING THE KEYS, LEAVING THE OWNER WITH ONE SET OF KEYS FOR THE DOORS AND A NEW SET FOR THE IGNITION. MY QUESTION, IF THE KEYS ARE WORN, HOW DO THEY STILL WORK FOR THE DOORS. ONCE THE SWITCH IS BROKER, THE CAR WILL NOT START AND THE KEY FEELS LIKE IT IS THE WRONG KEY
KEYS CAN BE TAKE OUT OF THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER AT ANY TIME, ENGINE ON OR OFF, IN PARK OR REVERSE OR DRIVE. SEEMS LIKE A WORN OUT IGNITION CYLINDER.
HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR 4 RECALLS: 12-056 -MANUFACTURERCAMPAIGNID:12-056 LIGHTING SWITCH HARNESS WEAR, MFR CAMPAIGN/SAFETY RECALL NOTICE:13-011 -MANUFACTURERCAMPAIGNID:13-011 SHIFT INTERLOCK, MFR CAMPAIGN/SAFETY RECALL NOTICE:16-047 -MANUFACTURERCAMPAIGNID:16-047 PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR. I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DRIVEN TO ME. I WENT HOME AND IT DROVE PERFECTLY FINE. YESTERDAY, I TRIED STARTING IT AND A COUPLE THINGS HAPPENED, AS I INSERTED MY KEY, IT GOT STUCK HALFWAY OR SO. I PULLED THE KEY OUT AND REINSERTED. IT WORKED AGAIN. I HEADED OUT TO WORK. LEAVING WORK, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THE KEY GOT STUCK, I PULLED IT OUT, REINSERTED IT, AND REPEATED THAT A FEW TIMES. THE KEY FINALLY WENT IN. LATER THAT EVENING, I WAS GOING TO THE STORE. THE KEY INSERTED JUST FINE, BUT THEN IT WOULDN'T TURN. THE NEXT MORNING, A REPEAT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.
KEY SWITCH FAILURE AFTER INTERLOCK WAS REPLACED (HONDA RECALL) KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WON'T TURN OR START VEHICLE. HONDA RECOMMENDS NEW KEY WHICH WILL WORK 3-4 WEEKS THEN TELL YOU YOU NEED NEW IGNITION SWITCH. HONDA ADMITS INTERLOCK FAILURE CAUSES ADDITIONAL WEAR TO KEY SWITCH AND KEY SWITCH FAILURE BUT ONLY RECALLED AND FIXED INTERLOCK PIN AND NO PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED BY FAILURE OF THE INTERLOCK PIN. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH PILOTS FROM 2002-2013. EVEN IF KEY SWITCH IS REPLACED YOU ARE ADVISED IT WILL FAIL AGAIN IN 4-5 YEARS PER HONDA DEALER.
IN 12/2015, THE ENGINE AND VTM4 LIGHT TURNED ON AND CONCURRENTLY, THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AS THE ENGINE REVVED AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTED. UPON INSPECTION BY HONDA, THEY FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN FRONT AND BACK WERE CHEWED ON BY RODENTS. THEY STATED THAT THE SOY COATED WIRES WERE A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY MY INSURANCE. STATE FARM STATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED. I HAD TO PAY THE TOTAL BILL OF $1,543.33.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE POWERED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERLOCK LEVER AND THE IGNITION CYLINDERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,685. UPDATED 04/06/16*LJ *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE KEY WAS INSERTED BUT FAILED TO THE START THE IGNITION .THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE KEY EJECTED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NOTICED AN EXTREME HOT SPOT ON DRIVERS SIDE LOWER SEAT CUSHION WHEN HEATED SEATS ARE ON HI OR LO. SPOT IS SO HOT THAT YOU CANNOT LET IT TOUCH YOUR PANTS WITHOUT BURNING YOU. I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER HONDA OWNERS THAT ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN A FIRE. NOW DRIVERS SIDE LOWER SEAT CUSHION HEATING ELEMENT NO LONGER WORKS. DRIVERS SIDE BACK AND PASSENGER SIDE HEATING ELEMENTS STILL WORK. *JS
WE WERE ON ANOTHER SUMMER TRIP AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS IS THE BIG RED LIGHT TO THE FAR LEFT OF THE PANEL. CALLING HONDA IN FRANKLIN TN THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. CALLING ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS MOST LIKELY A SENSOR AND THE AIRBAGS WOULD SIMPLY NOT DEPLOY. HONDA AS RECALLS NOW FOR BAD AIRBAGS. 1- OUR 2004 DOES NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL PERIOD 2 - HONDA SHOULD PAY FOR ANY ISSUE RELATED TO BAD AIRBAG TECHNOLOGY REGARDLESS OF HOW OLD THE CAR IS, JUST LIKE THEY DO WITH SEAT BELTS. IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A WRECK DURING THE TIME THAT LIGHT WAS ON, THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. 3- ANY PART OF THE AIRBAG/SENSOR/ SEATBELT SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE MERELY COVERED UNDER A LIMITED WARRANTY. IT SHOULD BE COVERED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THEY CANNOT STAND BEHIND THE SAFETY OF THE CAR THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS. *TR
IGNITION LOCK-CYLINDER/ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED WHICH THE DEALER DID NOT HONOR. IGNITION KEY COULD NOT BE EXTRACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARK IN DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF TO OPEN GATE. THE KEY COULD NOT TURN NOR BE EXTRACTED. *TR
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, KEY WOULD NOT TURN NOR COME OUT, GEAR COULD NOT BE CHANGED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. PILOT'S IGNITION WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *TR
Showing 1-20 of 50 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.