10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 86,898 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
My vsa light came on when I was on the freeway and made my vehicle jerk almost pushing me into the next lane. It has been coming on and turns off when I restart the car and other cars of my same modal and year have recalls for this same issue but my vin yields no results for a recall.
- Vacaville, CA, USA
On dry asphalt the vehicle stability control (VSC) periodically activates forcing the car either off the road or into the opposing lane. This has occurred 3 times in the past year, always on dry asphalt going in a straight line. Thankfully I live in a rural area, were there other cars on the road one instant could have caused a head-on collision. The VSC light comes on when this happens but no permanent CEL lights and the VSC light turns off after a restart. The recall work was done with the capacitor added to the circuit to smooth the signal and the ground connection under the driver side kick panel was cleaned according to the TSB, however, based on my experience and what has been reported by numerous other Honda Pilot owners this cheaper fix to replacing or repairing the yaw sensing circuit is concerning, particularly since Honda charges nearly $1000 for an OEM yaw sensor.
- Manhattan, MT, USA
Travelling on interstate w/ cruise speed set @ 70 mph. VSA (vehicle stability assist) engaged with a brief grinding noise & pulled to the right. Very startling event. VSA activation indicator triangle light came on, as well as, the VSA system indicator light. Have experienced the event a dozen or so times on both the interstate and roads with a speed limit of 35/40 mph, without use of the cruise control. We are original owners of the vehicle and it has been diligently worked on throughout & currently has 230,000 miles on it. Awaiting delivery of a new vehicle, but intend for my newly licensed son to drive the vehicle. Took it to my repair shop, but they couldn't replicate the issue. Replaced both front speed sensors, but the issue occurred on the interstate drive home immediately after. Hope to be able to drop the vehicle off for an extended period once I take delivery on my new vehicle. Worried the issue will occur in rain or snow & be even more dangerous. Repair shop ran diagnostic showing the yaw issue, but said the Honda generated code report only went up to 25 mph. Has always pulled to the right during activation and the grinding noise is very evident & startling. Kinda feels like maybe the ABS anti-braking system engages on 1 tire for a brief few seconds in my non auto mechanic analysis.
- Solon, OH, USA
My children bought this vehicle for me because I lost my job due to covid aftereffects and I had to return my Kia soul 2014 to the creditors.I was delivering food boxes to the elderly when the at temp light came on and the transmission started to lockup I had to pullover because the car was running hot.it was very frightening so I couldn't get home.I have never had that happen to me.goggleing this Honda brand there has been several complaints about this model but no Honda recall this car is dangerous! and should be either recalled or taken off the market as nto to never be ever resold
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
I drove over a dip in the road then heard a noise from the rear of Pilot I thought it was the muffler and it the muffler seamed a bit louder then normal but after looking at it I did not see anything diff. But a couple of days later after driving some friends to the airport and exiting I heard a metal sounding noise so after pulling in the driveway and inspecting the area of the exhaust I noticed the drivers side of the rear frame/ suspension was lower then the right side. And looking closer I saw a bolt or whatever its called that holds the frame cradle rusted off and separated from the main frame also the right side looks very rusted and concerned it could separate as well and the whole rear frame suspension could drop. I now am going to have it towed to a frame shop it is risky to drive it in the current condition. This is very bad. What if when I was driving to the airport with passengers it collapsed on the highway please look into this
- South Lyon, MI, USA
Starter/electrical the lights on the dashboard continues to come on and stay on. Also the starter does not want to start at times.
- Graniteville, SC, USA
Current problem is the vsa light on the dash will not go off even after resetting the vsa button. Also has caused a triangle with ! on the dash to light up' car starts off stationary, ignition on and running with the triangle with !, after driving the vsa light comes on. Engine is running rough.
- Casa Grande, AZ, USA
A bracket connecting the driver seat to the base has broken causing the seat to to be mobile. The seat moves on the base during turns and stopping or when I shift my weight while driving. In the event of an accident, the seat will separate from the base causing injury to me or other occupants.
- Owensboro, KY, USA
We have been charged for multiple replacement of engine mounts on both vehicles for as long as we've had the vehicles. I've done some research on owner forums and the problem seems to be pervasive. American Honda Inc. Has been completely uncooperative in helping owners with these expensive repairs, even when vehicles have been under warranty. It seems as is this problem is endemic and the product of a design flaw or a case planned obsolescence. It is not credible that Honda will not own up to its mistakes. I suppose since no one has been killed by the engine mount failures Honda feels secure. I could find no examples of fatal accidents occurring because of this defect, but perhaps your resources are greater than mine. If such a trend is discovered I would urge your Agency to take immediate action against Honda. Many people are reluctant to make the repair because of the exhorbitant price of parts and labor. Thank you very much for your attention.
- Johns Creek, GA, USA
On cold temperatures, and while the car is moving on the highway, the brakes will suddenly apply all by itself and the vsa off and a triangle (with exclamation) light comes on the dashboard. This causes the vehicle to strongly jerk and swerve for a second. Turning off the vsa before driving, the sudden brake will not happen. I checked recalls for my VIN but there are no open recalls. Please investigate.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
Curry Honda in chambler ga has baited me in for airbag recall twice, most recently today, and then performed other work and damaged parts requiring even more repairs.
- Atlanta, GA, USA
When accelerating at approximately 35-40 mph the cars shakes and vibrates. If you let off the accelerator the shake will go away.
- Oklahoma, OK, USA
I experienced a sudden involuntary unintended acceleration, while I was slowly pulling into a perpendicular parking space in at a medical center parking lot. This happened on a nearly empty tank of gas at about 3:15 pm on Saturday 4/16/16. It was a hot day. The parking space was at a slight incline. I was moving very slowly nearly stopped, yet once I was about a third of the way into the space, while still gently breaking, my car suddenly lurched forward with tremendous force if I had completely floored the gas pedal. I reacted fast pushed the breaks hard with all my strength. Which engaged the antilock braking so I heard a "thud-thud thud" a loud repeated clunking-locking sound. My Pilot did stop before hitting a tree and the vehicle in the facing parking space. I did not hear the engine rev to the degree of the sudden forward motion. Nor did I hear revving resolve once it stopped. It was a very odd and frightening experience that baffled my mind. I tried to sort out the cause for a while to see if maybe I had without knowing it put my foot on both pedals. But I don't think so. I had sandals on, and in trying to reproduce the situation, or the position my foot would have to have been in to do that, was awkward and I would have felt the pressure on my foot of putting on the gas. And I was only slowly pressing the break not jamming on the break ' until I braked to stop the speed of it lurching forward. The degree of acceleration was as if the gas pedal was put to the floor which was not what my breaking foot was doing. The car did come to a stop just in time to not hit what was at the front of the parking space. I did not hear the engine noise rev at all. My best guess at the time was something went terribly wrong with the mechanics or electrical signals of the fuel injection to move so suddenly forward. Now I am worried about the safety of this vehicle.
- Palo Alto, CA, USA
While driving on the road at speeds betweeb 35-40 miles per hour the car begins to shudder intermitently. Also when driving between speeds of 75 to 80 miles per hour the same shudding occurs. I first thought may be it was the tires, but I purchased the vehicle with 85000miles on it with brand new tires. After several occurrences I took it back to the dealer for service. The service dept informed that it was the torque converter needed to be replaced and my 30 warranty had expired. After researching this I found out this problem exist with many Pilot owners but no recall was done.
- Scotch Plains, NJ, USA
On 9-9-15, our 2005 Honda Pilot abruptly stopped on emerald parkway - police assisted. Leaking fluid was clumpy red/brown and vehicle hot. Shop today says radiator and transmission and possibly engine need replaced and instructed us to contact a Honda dealer. This is our second safety complaint on this vehicle - 1st was dangerous "phantom braking" or inadvertant application on brakes in 2012, which Honda subsequently recalled in 2013. After reading thru complaints, I see the exact same problem - transmission line in radiator suddenly came loose and transmission fluid leaked into radiator and coolant leaked into transmission, ruining both has occurred numerous times. We anticipate a very expensive repair.... we are thankful this did not occur on the highway, during rush hour or with any of our 3 kids in the vehicle, and are angered at Honda's failure to recall this as well - as some said they did for 2003 and 2004 models?
- Dublin, OH, USA
Was having trouble with the tailgate not registering as closed. Upon inspecting I discovered that the latch on the tailgate was moving freely in the tailgate. It was unsecured. Upon removing the plastic tailgate trim, I spotted three specialized machine bolts. These were trapped by the tail gate trim loose unconnected. I determined that these bolts held the latch in position. I was able to properly secure the tailgate latch to the door and restore proper functionality. I believe that more locks will reveal to be improperly secured from the factory. My vehicle has never been rear ended or had any post factory repairs. The risk of injury due to defective torquing of these machine bolts is real as in the event of a crash the tailgate could come open ejecting people from the rear of the vehicle.
- Sherborn, MA, USA
I was driving at normal or crusing safe speed in neighborhood very close to my own. Without cause, collision or the means to activate, all front airbags deployed. The result was a fractured spine, requiring multiple surgeries. This incident needs to be heard.
- Washington, DC, USA
My 2005 Honda Pilot brakes have automatically seized up a total of 5 times in the last year but 4 times in the last 3 weeks (May 2012). All 4 times it has happened have been at low speeds (10-20 mph, thankfully!!!) and within 5 minutes of starting up after it has sat for an extended period of time. I have taken it into the Honda dealer twice in the past three weeks (May 2012) the day after it occurred and both times they could not duplicate or find a problem. The first three times the vsa light came on but no code tripped in the computer system. The last two times it happened no dashboard indication occurred. It occurred 3 weeks ago, 1 week ago and yesterday back to back so the problem seems to be intensifying. So far, for a temporary fix, I have turned off the car and restarted it and the problem seems to stop for a while. As mentioned previously, yesterday the brakes seized up as I was driving but no dash indication came on. Because I was in the middle of an intersection, once the brakes released, I a decided to drive forward to try and get it out of the intersection only to have them seize up again about 100 meters later. I quickly turned off the car and restarted it and was able to safely return home where it sits currently.
- Overland Park, KS, USA
Driving and noted motor not running good. Looked down at temperature and say overheating past the H mark. No warning lamp on. Got out found spill of gray fluid under engine. Oil level ok but trany fluid dry. Tow to garage. Working on it. States failure of tranmission cooler located in radiator that sucked out trany fluid into radiator and out of overflow. No warning at all of problem at all. Not sure yet if transmission damaged. Right now over$12oo oo repair bill to replace radiator and flush all out. Wanted this vehicle for at least 200,000 miles. Maint. Up to date and well maintained.
- Feeding Hills, MA, USA
- Palatine, IL, USA