The auto engine idle (aei) feature has a flaw in it that Honda has apparently not identified or explained and it is a serious safety concern. Aei shuts the engine off when the car is in drive but fully stopped and, in theory, increases fuel efficiency by reducing engine idling when the car is stopped, e.g. at a stoplight or in stop-and-go traffic. While there is a button to disable it, this button has to be pressed each time you turn the car on and cannot be permanently disabled. We try to remember to always press the button and disable the feature but occasionally forget and don't realize we haven't disabled it until we come to a stop somewhere and the feature engages and the engine shuts off. Aei would just be a nuisance if it worked 100% of the time as it is designed to work but, unfortunately, it doesn't. when it works and the brake pedal is fully depressed, the engine is automatically idled, and then as you begin to lift your foot off the brake pedal, the engine quickly turns back on, you're already in drive, and you go. However, on what seems to be a completely random and unpredictable basis, sometimes when you begin to lift your foot off the brake pedal, rather than having the engine restart automatically, the entire car just goes dead. At this point, you have to frantically put the car in park and completely restart the engine. If you're lucky, this happens quickly and you're not stuck in a compromised spot with no one bearing down on you from behind but by its design you are somewhere you need and want to be moving from quickly, and it has happened at the exact moment when you try to accelerate. This has happened to both myself and my wife a handful of times in scary situations. Read all the other complaints on the internet - no service rep anywhere has an explanation. This needs to get solved before people die, if they haven't already. See updated version, too many characters.

- Arlington, VA, USA

While stopped, then starting again (eg at a stop sign), vehicle sometimes will not shift into motion, acts "sluggish". the first time I thought perhaps a shoe stuck, or a floor mat was in the way, but that was not the case. Dealership said just turn off eco mode. The vehicle still occasionally does this and is now very jerky to drive at all times. The vehicle has also prevented acceleration while changing lanes or overtaking on multiple occasions, happening to both drivers of the vehicle. This has primarily been interstate driving, therefore high speeds, but happened again today on a city street, very nearly causing an accident with my child in the vehicle! this is not acceptable for a vehicle, particularly a newer one, and yet it appears to be a commonly-reported problem that is not being addressed! are we waiting for someone to be killed? this vehicle also has occasional trouble with the audio system, but that's an inconvenience while the transmission is potentially life threatening!

- Bismarck, ND, USA

Car lurches forward on downshift and revs high. Prior to powertrain train warranty ending, called Honda clarksville (since I am a large distance away from any Honda dealer) and was told the lurching was a Honda transmission item and nothing can be done. Fast forward 5K miles (now just outside warranty) car would not go into gear. Emission and transmission warning lights on dash. Towed vehicle to force Honda where dealer noted transmission needed to be replaced at 63,000 miles. Transmission is not supposed to be serviced until 100K miles, but Honda questioned my oil changes and having the trans fluid replaced...this appears to be a systemic issue with the 9 speed auto trans. Can nothing be done about this?

- Floyds Knobs, IN, USA

Veh. Transmission lurches (slips, shifts rough, jumps forward) when shifting at around 28 mph. So far the veh. Only does this at the speed indicated. There is a you tube video June, 9th. 2018 that shows the exact problem I have with the veh.!

- Eastchester, NY, USA

Took my vehicle to lithia Honda of salem Oregon with under bumper to bumper and powertrain warranty with transmission jerking(service manager: Brent called me advised that software he will take care off but flushing trans. Fluid as per mnfg> known tsb is not and we need to pay.

- Woodburn, OR, USA

From a stop, at times when I take my foot off the brake with the auto-engine idle set to "on", when I try to accelerate, the engine will cut off. The car puts itself in either neutral or park, then I have to restart the car - depress brake and press button - after 30 seconds to a minute. I was lucky not to have been rear-ended since at a green light, other drivers go, and do not expect a driver in front of them to stop.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

While driving on the highway, my 2017 Pilot elite spontaneously accelerated and rpms revved. I tapped the brakes and it returned to the normal speed. Traffic was sparse, but if it had been busier this could have easily caused a collision.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

Our 2017 Honda Pilot started turning on every warning light in the driver console and also indicated a problem with every system in the car - safety systems, collision avoidance systems, emissions systems, etc.. these lights turned on and would not turn off. It also started running very roughly. We took it into smart Honda in des moines to diagnose the problem. They indicated the fuel injectors needed to be replaced and they were not covered under the drivetrain warranty - no idea why that's the case. We declined, the lights turned off, and then back on again over several weeks. We don't feel safe driving the car given that it's telling us all the safety systems are faulting. Researching this issue, it appears that many many owners of similar versions of the Pilot are experiencing a problem. Honda refuses to help resolve the issue and it's clearly a systemic problem with the vehicle. My family feels very unsafe in the vehicle now and Honda needs to take ownership of this problem and resolve for all the customers experiencing it.

- Adel, IA, USA

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the transmission warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to walser Honda (14800 buck hill rd, burnsville, mn 55306) where the warning indicator was turned off and the transmission fluid was replaced. While traveling at a low rate of speed, upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked forward without warning. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer, but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 31,000.

- Lakeville, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. While driving 20-50 mph, the vehicle jerked without warning. The vehicle was taken to holman Honda (12 E sunrise blvd, fort lauderdale, fl 33304, (954) 764-1100) where it was diagnosed that a transmission update was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 78,000. The VIN was invalid.

- Ft Lauderdale, FL, USA

2017 Honda Pilot AWD - periodically the transmission experiences hard shifting in the lower gears. This occurred when speeding up or slowing down. It continued until I turned off the vehicle and restarted the car. It has happened 3 times in the 3 months. I have not taken the vehicle in to be looked at because it is so un predictable.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel shook without warning. Additionally, the vehicle shifted hard and jerked from first to second gear. The vehicle was taken to dch paramus Honda (120 NJ-4, paramus, NJ 07652, (201) 426-4676) where it was diagnosed that the rotor and brakes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failures recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 30,000.

- Maplewood, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. While driving between 10 and 25 mph, the transmission experienced hard shifting between first and second gear, which caused the vehicle to suddenly lunge forward. The vehicle was taken to conyers Honda (1860 ga-20, conyers, ga), but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000. The VIN was invalid.

- Loganville, GA, USA

When driving on lower gears, the car or transmission will perform significant jerks like it is hard for it to switch gears. Typically when driving around 40 mph.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

For a while now the car has had an issue with starting after the auto idle engine stop has engaged. It is slow to start, the radio and infotainment screen cut out, and there is a popping noise. When we had the car in for service last, we mentioned this and they said they couldn't replicate the issue and to record it happening. I'm supposed to drive around recording everything? this has progressed to the other night my wife was alone in the car and it completely died at a red light, with cars all around her. She was frantically trying to get it started after it said to switch to park and restart. It wouldn't start for 5-6 attempts and then finally started. This is extremely dangerous and to think it could happen with my kid in the car. We will be setting up an appointment to have it looked at again. Also, the shifting of gears in the car is rough between first and second gears. It's always between 25-30 mph when the hard shift happens. It's like the car doesn't know what gear to be in. Again, the dealership can't replicate it and we should record it happening. They did a transmission service as part of the standard mileage service recommendation and thought that may fix it. It did not.

- Richmond, TX, USA

The SUV shakes, shudders, and rumble upon light acceleration at various speeds, sometimes at 35 mph other times at 66 mph. The experience is similar or exactly like driving over the emergency rumble strip on the side of the road, only you're not. The dealership has refused to admit this problem and fix the issue. The car is only 2 years old.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

While driving on a busy road with my wife, my vehicle shuddered while accelerating, and began jerking and slowing down before losing all acceleration. Multiple warning lights went off, and the tranmission automatically shifted to neutral. The transmission is a 9 speed, push button shift. We we were almost rear ended by the vehicle behind us while attempting to coast to the shoulder. While attempting to figure out what was going on, I was unable to shift the vehicle into any gear. It would not shift into park, reverse, or drive. I contacted the Honda dealership and reported the issue and had to have the vehicle towed. While waiting for 2 hours on the sode of the road for towing, I was unable to get the transmission to shift into any gear. It was only after the tow truck driver arrived, and I shut the vehicle off that the car finally shifted into a gear. The vehicle is currently at the Honda dealership and being diagnosed. There were 4 error messages that I received when all of this occurred. I have photos, and a video of it as well. This is not my first issue with the transmission. It has been to the shop twice before for shuddering when shifting at low speeds, and not shifting properly. The vehicle currenly has around 18,500 miles on it. Fortunately this tranmission issue happened on a side access road, and not on the turnpike, or the end result may have been an accident involved. The dealership cannot explain why the transmission shifted to nuetral and completely lovked out the ability to shift or move it under its own power. I do not feel safe driving the vehicle, and feel that it is a hazard to other drivers. I have video of the transmission not shifting but was unable to load that as an attachment.

- Wellington, FL, USA

The vehicle has started jerking while accelerating.

- Dixie, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. While driving various speeds, the vehicle jerked forward and the windows functioned independently. The dealer (serra Honda grandville, 4260 kenowa ave sw, grandville, mi) was unable to duplicate the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Transmission over heated after side gasket failed at 1224 miles since new. Single owner, new vehicle. Dealer tightened gasket, put fluid in it. And returned vehicle to owner.

- Miami, FL, USA