CarComplaints.com Notes: Beware the 2003 Honda Pilot once the odometer reaches 100k miles, when two problem defect trends have shown up: transmission failure & ignition switch problems.
Typically a locksmith can fix the ignition switch or it can be replaced for around $700. However the transmission failure is a far more expensive problem, with the average repair cost at well over $3,000. A major transmission recall of over 1 million Honda vehicles back in 2004 dealt with transmission damage due to overheating, but 2003 Pilot transmissions have continued to fail.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
124,314 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked unattended, the vehicle rolled out of the garage and crashed into the neighbor's home. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at slow low speeds, the vehicle was difficult to shift into second gear. The SRS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact about a possible recall. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed there were no open recalls on the VIN. The contact stated the failure was like NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V176000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Keep getting misfires had mechanic replace coils & plugs but still getting obd codes for misfires of cylinders why ?? also keeps jerking & I nor a mechanic do not know why
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2021 We traveled down OLD Dallas Hwy toward Gastonia, North Carolina. Transmission slipped and motor revved very high without forward speed. Attempting to put transmission into reverse caused similar slippage. Returning on Hwy 321 toward Dallas, north carolina, the transmission slipped and the car would not reach highway speed. Turning onto Hwy 279 to go home, the Honda would not go into gear at first, then slippage so that other cars almost struck our car which was unreliably stumbling. We have found there is a recall number 04V176000
Purchased 2003 Honda Pilot ex in 2006. The first owner had brought the vehcile back to the dealer for a transmission problem ( dealer said it was overheating of the transmission). To which there is a recall to install an oil jet with cooler to "fix" the transmission. The "fix" did not cure the transmission from failing. My daughter and where driving down the freeway when it failed. The transmission downshifted to first gear at 65 miles an hour. Fortunitly no one was hurt. The vehicle has 171,000 miles on it. I called Honda dealer and because the jet kit was installed there is no recall on the failed transmission. This recall created an unsafe condition in the middle of the freeway. This transmission should be replace under a recall or extended warranty by Honda.
- Elverta, CA, USA
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My car makes a grinding noise around 40-45 mph. This has been identified as an ongoing problem with this and several other model years with the transmission torque converter. This happens anytime I am accelerating past 40 mph.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle would not immediately shift out of gear. Also, while driving, the transmission indicator erroneously changed from the drive position to the drive 3 position. While the vehicle was parked in the garage with the engine idling and the transmission in the park position, the owner exited the vehicle. Moments later, the vehicle erroneously began to move forward, pushed against the owner, and pinned her against a storage rack located in the garage. During the incident, the owner sustained a left leg injury that required medical treatment. The cause of the failure was not determined. A police report was filed. The manufacturer and local dealer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 189,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle experienced gear slippage. The contact stated that the transmission shifted erratically at times while the RPM's revved without forward momentum. The vehicle was taken to esserman largo Honda (554 ne 1st ave, Florida city, fl 33034, (844) 329-6036) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V176000 (power train). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000.
While driving on the interstate the D indicator starts blinking. The next exit is still 10 miles away..I stop the car at a gas station for about 5 minutes. I then get back on the interstate to get home without getting in an accident or fatally injuring myself or others ! this has happened a few times whenever I go over 55-60 mph. So it seems to be when the transmission is changing from 3rd to 4th gear."? why haven't I received a recall for this transmission/powertrain problem ?? possibly campaign # 04V176000 and recall # P30. I only have 147,000 miles on my Pilot !! how many people have to get injured or even killed for this matter to be taken care of by someone or Honda ??"
Takata recall I was merging onto the highway and experienced total engine power loss. Rpms revved high and car lurched forward. I had already merged into 60mph traffic when my car stalled. Forced the cars behind me to slam on their brakes. Thankfully I was able to pull off to the side of the road and avoid having a major accident. There was no check engine light on or any other indication of failure.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. Upon starting the vehicle and shifting into drive, it failed to move. In addition, while the vehicle was at a stop light or while making turns, the vehicle continued idling. The check engine indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to jeff wyler Honda of colerain (8950 colerain ave, cincinnati, oh 45251, 513-741-3700) where it was diagnosed that the vehicle misfired and the transmission and gasket needed to be cleaned and replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 284,469.
03 Honda Pilot transmission is slipping in between gears talked to Honda dont want to take care of problem even wen they hav recall on it ive seen hundreds of same exact issue all over internet with exact same problem and Honda is still trying to charge fior there own recall
I just bought a 2003 Honda Pilot with 164,000 miles on it a few days ago and noticed the transmission wasn't shifting correctly. It seemed like it would sometimes over rev before shifting but thought nothing of it. Last night I picked my grandchildren up from town and was heading back up the highway going about 55mph, all of a sudden it jerked back and downshifted to 2nd gear, luckily no one was behind or they would've hit us. I noticed the engine light came on at that time also.
When driving between 30-50 mph the vehicle will shudder/judder upon light acceleration and the rpms will rev briefly. This appears to be a common issue with the torque converters among early Honda Pilot
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. While driving 30 mph through a residential area, the vehicle failed to accelerate. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road turn, turned off the engine, restarted the vehicle, and continued driving. However, the vehicle still failed to accelerate and would not shift out of gear. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who stated that the transmission failed. The failure recurred three to four times. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 163,420.
I am encountering the same recall issues as other 2003 Pilot. Transmission locks up and will not re-engage while driving. I need to turn engine off while in traffic and restart in order to get back into gear. The VIN search shows no recall, but the same safety issue has caused issues when I get out and push the vehicle off the road. Most of the issue happen when starting from a slow start. The engine revs but will not move, both at traffic lights, during stop and go commutes. Once it goes, it has not slipped out of gear.
In a trip to the park (20 minutes highway trip) the D indicator start blinking, park the car and turn off, turn it back on, and the light keep blinking all the way back home. It never happened before.
The transmission slips in and out of upper and lower gears involuntarily causing the driver to be propelled roughly forward and backward causing a dangerous driving situation.
While driving between 35-50 mph, my 2003 Honda Pilot begins to shudder and rev rpms. I have to let off the throttle and then accelerate again. This happens when the speed is constant or during light acceleration.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Glen Ellyn, IL, USA