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:
11 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 1
Average Mileage:
53,992 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.
Parked the car. Came back about 10 minutes later, heard loud like shots fired, rounded the corner to see it was our airbags popping...the car was on fire under the hood, and going to the dashboard. Called 911 and by the time the fire dept. Came ( 1 mile away) the whole car was engulfed. The whole car destroyed, all that was left was the shell no seats no dashboard no license plates nothing left. We complied to all recalls and took it to a Honda dealership each time for repairs. We had a steering column fire about 2-3 years ago driving along and the car filled with smoke, it was a electrical fire, but pulling over turning off the engine put out the fire. Had it repaired immediately. A week before the big fire we felt the column and it was hot...but cooled after we parked it. Then days later is when it burned to the ground, even the tires were gone. Honda doesn't care about our loss, and of course it's not their fault. P.S. in 2007 we got hurt in that same car we were stopped on the side of the road ( we were in the car) and a truck crossed the line and hit us head on. Our seat belts didn't hold us in, they loosened and airbags did not deploy. We were hurt and Honda said the truck hit us too high is why the airbags didn't deploy. That sounds ridiculous. The seat belt shoulder straps didn't hold us cause we weren't moving also sounds ridiculous. Honda didn't care then either.
2003 Honda Pilot. Consumer writes in regards to airbag replacement issues. The dealer informed the consumer, the vehicle had been in salt water. However, the consumer stated while he does work near the water, but not salt water.
Re: recall # JF7 passenger airbag inflator (for 2003 - 2007 Honda Pilot sold in high absolute humidity states) my vehicle was sold new in February 2003 in myrtle beach, an ocean-front city in South Carolina, one of the states referred to in the above recall as having high absolute humidity. The vehicle remained titled in coastal South Carolina from February 2003 until March 2007, a period of four years. Because the vehicle spent the first four years of its existence in an area of high absolute humidity, I am concerned about the present and future functionality of both driver and passenger airbag inflators. Please add my vehicle to the recall list for replacement of both airbag inflators. Thank you.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the brakes failed to engage and the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact attempted to utilize the emergency brake but to no avail. The vehicle then proceed through traffic and crashed into an embankment. The air bags deployed from the compartment but failed to inflate. The contact sustained injuries to the neck, the front seat passenger sustained injuries to the head and the rear passenger sustained injuries to the face. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileage was 127,000.
My car is experiencing a weird slipping on the transmission, it doesnt seem to change gear sometimes. Its always the 2nd gear going to 3rd gear when it starts slipping. But when I stop and pull over for a minute and drive the car, the problems goes away. Also the airbag warning turns on and off for some reason. I called Honda a few months ago and asked if my car is included in the recall but I was surprised they said no. I just dont know whats going on with this car.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated the air bag light remained illuminated and the transmission would not shift into second gear. The manufacturer advised that the air bag and the transmission recall were performed on the vehicle and the vehicle should be taken back to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 149,000.
2003 Honda Pilot. Consumer states mechanical problems with the vehicle the consumer stated the drive light began to flash intermittently from the beginning of ownership. The dealer told the consumer it was related to the gas cap not being secured properly. However, once the transmission was replaced the light no longer flashed. On August 19, 2003 the vehicle was taken to the dealer due to a hesitation issue, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. Four months later, the check engine and SRS lights illuminated. Also, the vtm lights were flashing. On September 8, 2005 the transmission light began flashing. The consumer was informed that a special part had to ordered. The consumer also stated the power steering pump and gear box had to be replaced. Also, the egr, V-tec seals and O-ring were all replaced to rectify the engine light problem. The timing belt and left and right control arm links were replaced. The inner and outer cv boots were replaced. On February 8, 20011 while driving 70 mph, the transmission suddenly downshifted almost causing a complete loss of control of the vehicle. The next day, the vehicle was taken to the dealership, where the consumer was informed the transmission had failed again.
My '03 Honda Pilot was impacted in the front passenger side by a driver backing up a bit fast and none of the air bags were deployed. There was damaged done to the front fender to the extent of buckling one of the fender corners. Shortly after this incident the SRS light came on and it will not go off. Called dealer about the SRS light and was told that it is probably a defect with the airbags, airbag sensors or a module. I have been told that it can be as much as $1000 dollars to get it fixed after parts and labor. I have been researching this issue and have discovered plenty of complaints about accidents with this vehicle and the airbags not deploying. I believe there is a critical safety issue with this vehicle that needs to be addressed and fixed free of charge by Honda.
SRS red light stays on, take it to the dealer (allan nott Honda) in lima, oh., says airbags are not legally required in the vehicle. Therefore, will not be covered under warranty in our 4 yr. Old Pilot. Never been involved in a wreck.
We were rear-ended, causing us to crash into a guard rail (directly in front of the driver), which then spun our vehicle around, causing the entire driver's side of the vehicle to come to rest against the guard rail. The crash occurred at roughly 30 mph, but neither the front, nor the side airbags deployed.
: the contact stated the SRS light illuminated. The dealership determined the cable reel was damaged. There is a technical service bulletin, NHTSA item number # 10005879, which states the damaged cable reel can cause SRS diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs). The dealer also informed the contact the cable reel needed to be replaced and without the repair there was a good possibility the air bags would not deploy in the event of an accident. The vehicle has not been repaired.
There was a blind spot when the consumer looked in both mirrors, he turned his head to look and saw no vehicle. The instant the consumer turned back to the center lane, the vehicle began to spin out of control. The vehicle was totaled and no air bags deployed. The second vehicle of this complaint is: VIN#[xxx] Honda Pilot 2004. The incident occurred on Feb. 6, 2005 in which a similar incident occurred. The consumer looked in both mirrors, turned her head and started in the left lane and instantly swerved out of control. The vehicle spun around several times, went into an embankment, rear first about 40 feet, then hit a small tree. The back window blew out, the trunk was smashed in and none of the air bags deployed. Since the vehicle was totaled the consumer purchased another Honda Pilot and the same incident occurred. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2003 Honda Pilot experienced minor problems. ** answer required***. the vehicle's SRS light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs. On day after the repairs were made the SRS light illuminated again.
On April 8,2004, the SRS light came on in my Pilot. I phoned the dealership and was told it might just need to reset itself because I had something sitting on the passenger seat and that it might take a couple of days for it to reset. The light never went off. I took it in to be checked on April 14, 2004. The service tech reset the SRS light and I was told to bring it back if the light came back on. About 20 miles down the road, the light came back on. I returned to the dealership that afternoon where the service tech told me that the Pilot was unsafe to drive because the airbags would not deploy. I was told that the parts would be overnighted and my vehicle would be ready the next afternoon. One of the parts came in but the other part is on national back order. Monday, I was told that the part is on "critical backorder" and hopefully will arrive on April 26.2004. The dealership has provided me with a rental vehicle..I was told that when a part is on national backorder, it can takes months for the part to be available. I, too, like some of the other Pilot owners, was told that my cell phone plugged in, could have caused the light to come on. I think that might be a little bit of a stretch.
The SRS light on my 2003 Honda Pilot came on about a month and a half ago and has stayed on. The dealer looked at it, ordered a part which came in over 3 weeks later, installed the part (I believe it was a new airbag sensor), and still hasn't fixed the problem. They ordered another part which they said would take 3-4 weeks to come in. According to the service department, the airbags would not deploy in an accident currently due to this issue.
I was involved in head and side impact at highway speed and airbags were not deployed, as they should. As a result my wife received nick and back injuries. Had the airbags deployed as they should injuries would have been less severe if any.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Hartland, WI, USA