10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,151 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.

2004 Honda Pilot engine problems

engine problem

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2004 Honda Pilot Owner Comments

problem #16

Aug 172016

Pilot

  • 121,606 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The accelerator sometimes freezes and I cannot press it down. When I press very hard it releases and goes too fast from the stop position. I was in the school zone stopped when I tried to start again, it froze. The guard was trying to make me go, I was trying but pedal was frozen. When I pushed very hard, it went very fast from stop. The cop saw me clocked me and gave me a $360 ticket. I tried to explain the problem. Did not believe me. This has happened several times but never this bad. I have sent to the shop and was told it was the throttle body.

- Ocean Springs,, MS, USA

problem #15

Nov 012014

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
When we step on the gas pedal, it sticks, when you press down a little more, the car lurches quickly, causing a dangerous sudden acceleration. The worst is when we back out of our garage (we have an uphill driveway), but it happens in forward from a stop also...

- Novato, CA, USA

problem #14

Sep 202011

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
The accelerator pedal gets stuck during the stops and also when brake is applied. This happens at all the stop signs, traffic lights and even during driving.

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #13

Jun 022014

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 25 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Upon taking off at the stop light I accelerated to 35 miles an hour then changed lanes as I was nearing my destination, the car sped out of control and reached speeds over 65 miles an hour, I stood on the brake and stepped on the emergency brakes while steering the vehicle away from other vehicles, the emergency brakes stopped the vehicle, I had a new ignition switch put in at a cost to me of 700.dollars six month in the fall of 2013..this was a most dangerous incident, people must know this., I tried to re[port it online to NHTSA it said ''25 '' complaints only."?"

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #12

May 022005

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
Accelerator pedal sticks. Has stuck since it was bought from dealer. Was taken to deal to get fixed, but dealer claimed it did not find anything. Have since found out this is a well known about issue. www.piloteers.org/forums/14-problems/10677-04-sticky-accelerator-pedal.html.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #11

Feb 102010

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
Our Pilot drive light started flashing one day, we pulled over, shut off the vehicle, then restarted it and the light went out. This has happened about 5 times over the past 3 years. Now our engine light came on and we found out that we need a new transmission! we have less than 100,000 mi. Also, our gas pedal sticks, to accelerate we take off extremely fast from a dead stop. I am afraid that this will cause an accident!!! it started out a little sticky and is now very bad.

- Pleasant Hill, IA, USA

problem #10

Apr 142010

Pilot 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,761 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the throttle assembly was replaced because it would continuously become stuck. The throttle assembly made it difficult to accelerate due to the accelerator becoming stuck. The contact did not inform the manufacturer of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,761 updated 08/19/13

- Waialua, HI, USA

problem #9

Sep 012012

Pilot

  • 120,000 miles
While driving on the german autobahn I accelerated from 65 mph to pass at which point the engine revved beyond anticipated response for accelerator pressure. I removed my foot from the accelerator, but speed and engine RPM continued to increase. Cruise control was not engaged, but I re-verified by toggling the switch to off (unlighted), while applying brakes. Brakes 'fought' against continued acceleration for approximately 10 seconds before I recovered authority over brakes and accelerator. Estimated maximum speed for the duration of the incident was 85-90 mph. I drove the remainder of the trip (approx 100 miles) without further incident, and without attempting to use cruise control. Vehicle is currently at a certified Honda mechanic's shop for evaluation.

- Apo, AE, USA

problem #8

Aug 042012

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 135,000 miles
I was parked in the driveway on a completely flat surface. I put the car in reverse to back out of the driveway. I touched the accelerator pedal lightly to get the car moving, the car accelerated wildly. I stomped on the brake, which went to the floor. I had time to look down and see that my foot was on the brake pedal and to stomp on the emergency brake. The car did not slow down at all. The vehicle continued accelerating until it smashed into a tree going approximately 30 mph (estimated). A couple hours before the wreck a previously unseen brake error light came on the dash. The shop it was taken to refused to look into the brakes, accelerator, master cylinder or the transmission. They stated there were no codes triggered, though they could provide no proof that they even had the necessary equipment to read the codes. State farm insurance refuses to investigate because the vehicle was a total loss. This from a stand still on a flat surface. It was horrific. I would like the vehicle inspected to determine if there was a mechanical failure.

- Asheville, NC, USA

problem #7

May 032012

Pilot

  • 187,400 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the brakes were applied and the vehicle accelerated abnormally. In addition, the front wheel drive engaged independently and caused the vehicle to accelerate rapidly. The brake pedal was then engaged with extreme pressure to stop the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted and the vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The failure and current mileages were 187,400.

- Key Largo , FL, USA

problem #6

Sep 052010

Pilot

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that there had been sudden acceleration with the vehicle on numerous occasions before the crash occurred. While driving out of a parking space the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into the side of the house which moved it six inches. The air bags did not deploy. The driver was injured while shifting into neutral gear and park at the same time in order to stop the vehicle from accelerating. The brake were depressed while the rpms increased excessively and the vehicle would not turn off. A police report was available if needed. The vehicle was towed by the sheriff to perform a forensic examination on it. The insurance company confirmed that the vehicle was destroyed. The Honda manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Marlborough, CT, USA

problem #5

Aug 072010

Pilot

  • 102,600 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. When the driver of the vehicle engaged the brake pedal the vehicle accelerated into the store window causing bricks to fall off of the building. The vehicle was towed to a Honda dealer who stated that they could not find anything wrong with the vehicle. There were no prior warnings or failures. The failure mileage and current mileages were 102600.

- Fort Collins, CO, USA

problem #4

May 202010

Pilot

  • 20 miles
Gas pedal sticks in Honda Pilot. Progressively worse since we bought the car new. Now sticks every time you press even while stopping at stop signs or lights. Thrusts forward. Tried to repair 4 times since 20K miles by replacing cleaning throttle body. Now 80K miles. Honda refuses to fix.

- Montara, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 272006

Pilot 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. While the contact's wife pulled into a parking space at 5 mph, with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle lunged forward and the engine revved. The contact drove over a curb and crashed into a wall. The air bags deployed and two occupants were injured. A police report was filed. The contact has yet to take the vehicle to the dealer or a mechanic. The current and failure mileages were 22,000. The brakes would not stop the vehicle. The vehicle had a defective air control valve and throttle. The consumer stated he experienced the problem 1 year prior to the accident. The vehicle was totaled. Updated 09/18/07.

- Redondo Beach, CA, USA

problem #2

Sep 222005

(reported on)

Pilot

  • miles
2004 Honda Pilot developed problems with sudden acceleration, braking and the steering vibrates. While exiting the highway the consumer noticed that the brakes were not responding as they normally did. The steering wheel also vibrated violently and the RPM's went up between 1800 and 2100. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to duplicate the problem.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #1

May 242004

Pilot 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Tachometer surges upward but the vehicle doesn't go any faster and I am not pressing the accelerator. Then some times it will drop dramatically. First visit dealer said could not duplicate, second trip they replaced egr valve. It is better but still does not drive like a new vehicle.

- Norcross, GA, USA

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