10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 52,036 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
When driving on the freeway at speeds of 60 to 65 when I need to brake the front end of my Pilot shimmies while I apply the brake causing me to not be sure if I'm going to be able to stop. I thought maybe it was rough road surface and my son thought it was out if balance tires. I don't drive the freeway that often and there were no issues while driving on city streets. Lately I've been on the freeway more than usual and I noticed the problem was getting worse. On May 1st I went to costco where I purchased my radial tires January 2013 and had them check the balance of my tires. They said they were balanced and pressure was good. Later that day I called Honda san leandro while driving hands free stating I had a serious problem. The Pilot was shimming/vibrating very hard. I felt the problem was so dangerous that I took my Pilot to an automotive shop very close to my location leaving it for repairs. The owner of the shop called me the next morning May 2, 2014 telling me what he found. The bushings were cracked and broken. I asked to be shown where they came from and was shown the approximate area under a different car and was told that these two bushings had the job of providing a smooth drive. The owner told me that Honda changed the design of the replacement bushings which leads me to believe they knew the original design was defective. Why didn't Honda issue a recall? my Pilot now has only 38,000 miles. My bill is $513.82 with the 2 bushings being $306.26.I have the original bushings that were removed from my Pilot.
- Hayward, CA, USA
I was towing a trailer with a motorcycle in it. I was driving about 60 mph and the front end started to vibrate really bad. I drove to a friends house and left my trailer there because I was on my way out of town. I didn't notice the vibration once the trailer was removed. I now have about 54,000 miles on the car and the vibration can be pretty bad when I'm stopping and also sometimes when I'm driving. I've had the tires changed and rotated so I know it's not the tires.
- Dallas, TX, USA
Steering wheel shakes when I brake. I have had this problem since it had 25K miles on it. I took to dealer and said steering column needs to replace at $400 dollars or wait for recall. They think. Researching this on line seeing all the other Pilot having the same problem why are they not recalling the Pilot for this issue"?" please help.
- Mesa, AZ, USA
When slowing down in the vehicle the steering wheel vibrate and driver can lose control of vehicle. The brakes when applied to slow down or stop also has pulsating or feels like they may not be stopping the car at all and more pressure has to be applied to the pedal to stop. I have found same complaints from other consumers on different complaint websites. The only recommendations from Honda are to have rotors resurfaced. When applying the brakes at any speed over 50 mpg, the steering wheel shakes like an earthquake. Dealer said brakes were fine and that there was no issue. Next trip the dealer said the brakes might need to be redone. And that the rotors were warped. Repairs would not be covered under warranty or extended warranty. This is obviously a defect and needs to be handled by Honda. Now approaching 40K miles and the problem is making me nuts. I'm going to wind up paying out of pocket for their poor design.
- Brewerton, NY, USA
Same issue as others have posted here. For the last six months the cars steering wheel and seat shake violently when you apply the brakes going over 50 mph. When the weather is warmer and the car has been driven for over 1/2 hour, the shaking gets even worse. You have to reapply the brakes and hope that the car slows down. We had the rotors turned and it got better for a week and then right back to before (out $100) Honda dealership is saying it isa "normal" wear and tear issue and there is no reason to be concerned and no safety issue. Sounds like they just don't want to address this dangerous problem. I, also, have never experienced this problem in a car before. I am afraid to drive it, but don't know how to fix it. I wish a recall would force Honda to fix this dangerous problem before someone gets seriously injured.
- Pleasanton, CA, USA
I feel that NHTSA should look into 2011 Honda Pilot brakes and steering because when slowing down in the vehicle the steering wheel can vibrate and driver can lose control of vehicle. The brakes when applied to slow down or stop also has pulsating or feels like they may not be stopping the car at all and more pressure has to be applied to the pedal to stop. I have found same complaints from other consumers on different complaint websites. The only recommendations from Honda are to have rotors resurfaced at this time but I believe there is defect in the brakes and steering rack and should be covered by manufacturer.
- Gravette, AR, USA
When applying the brakes at any speed over 50 mpg, the steering wheel shakes like an earthquake. Dealer said brakes were fine and that there was no issue. Next trip the dealer said the brakes might need to be redone (22K miles really?) and that the rotors were warped. Repairs would not be covered under warranty or extended warranty. This is obviously a defect and needs to be handled by Honda. Now approaching 40K miles and the problem is making me nuts. I'm going to wind up paying out of pocket for their poor design. I just hope the new rotors & pads on the front end will make it go away.
- Buford, GA, USA
Steering wheel vibrates when braking at or near 65 mph, loss of control.
- Hemet, CA, USA
Brand new vehicle when it reaches aprox that speed or brake the steering wheel vibrates and shake violent at braking, also pulls to the left. Bring back to the dealership but not problem solve, they got a service bulletin 06-068 but it doesn't correct the problem, I got up to 23,000 miles and the tires became close to the carcase (all four), the vibration and pulling still.
- East Hartford, CT, USA
Noticed the cars steering wheel shakes when brake is applied at approximately 65-70 miles per hour which is very scary. Brought the car to the dealership and was told the rotors need to be re-surface. I ask why because it's a brand new car with very low mileage and response was it could be the problem. Brought the car home 6/9/12 afternoon. Drove it the next day and steering wheel shaking still present. I research the web and found out, lots of Honda Pilot owner are having the same problems and that the remedy for it was replacing 1. power steering pump 2. power steering rack. Finding were presence of metal fillings from the power steering pump that's coming from the power steering rack itself and result was no more vibrations in the steering column...Honda need to recall this existing problem for safety purposes before someone gets hurt...
- Fairfield, CA, USA
A few weeks ago, I being to notice the steering wheel vibrates and wobbles upon applying the brake at 60+ mph on our new Honda Pilot we purchased a little over a year. Concern for my safety and my family, I took the vehicle back to the dealer and they mentioned the forward rotors needed to be machined and was not covered by factor warranty and would cause $220 to do the job. I spoke with the service manager and dealer manager and they both would not offer to honor there 3 years or 36,000 bumper to bumper warranty to fix the issue. I decided to google for Honda Pilot 2011 owners with similar issues and sure enough I was not alone on this issue, just reviewing only two forums I saw over 50 replies on similar issues as to mine for new Honda Pilot. I strongly believe there is a possible defect in the material used for the brake pads or rotors on these Pilot to be experiencing rotor issues with less than 20,000 miles to be. Please, I would like for further investigating and inquiries into this matter be taken for the sake of all our safety. Thank you in advance.
- Fresno, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle would veer to one side without explanation. In addition, when depressing the accelerator and steering to the left he would momentarily lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed an alignment but it failed to remedy the failure. The vehicle was not further repaired and the manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 1,000 and the current mileage was 4,000. Updated 5/2/11 updated 06/06/11
- Fresno , CA, USA
2011 Honda Pilot ex-L, engine is humming whenever the speed is up to 50 miles/hour.
- Carrollton, TX, USA
- Pittstown, NJ, USA