CarComplaints.com Notes: We all want our SUVs to be able to stop on a dime, just not randomly and without warning. But that's what was happening to 2005 Pilot owners: their vehicles were slamming on the brakes even when they didn't. A government investigation of this problem led to a recall in March of 2013.

Another issue that keeps popping up is transmission fluid mixing with coolant in the radiator which is causing transmission failure, a costly repair to say the least.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
99,889 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.

2005 Honda Pilot drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2005 Honda Pilot Owner Comments (Page 7 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #12

Jun 272007

Pilot

  • 35,000 miles

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

Since purchasing my car, a 2005 Honda Pilot, in 2007, I have experienced a shuttering that occurs at around 40 miles per hour. Honda will not accept responsibility for the thousands of owners experiencing the same problem. The problem is coming from the torque converter/transmission, around a $3,000 to $5,000 to fix and Honda is not accepting responsibility for it...please do not purchase a Honda if your thinking about it...go Toyota! at least Toyota stands behind their mistakes!

- Old Hickory, TN, USA

problem #11

Sep 302011

Pilot

  • 90,000 miles
Won't go into second gear.

- Sunbury, OH, USA

problem #10

Jun 272011

Pilot

  • 98,000 miles
My 05 Pilot shudders during acceleration between 35-40 mph. This is a widely known problem, Honda needs to be held responsible.

- Montgomery, NY, USA

problem #9

Sep 062011

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 144,500 miles

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

While driving the vehicle, it lost power even with applying a lot of pressure to the gas pedal. Immediately pulled over. Turned vehicle off and back on - could not shift it into drive. Check transmission fluid - extremely low. Vehicle had just been service at dealer 1-2 weeks prior to this incident. Added transmission fluid - vehicle would shift into drive but not D3, D2, etc. Drove to hotel nearby. Next morning checked fluid - again, extremely low then noticed chocolate milk substance spewing from reservoir near radiator/washer fluid reservoir. Immediate called dealer, had it towed and just learned that the transmission and radiator are both completely ruined. This seems completely unreasonable for under 145,000, especially given the other complaints of this nature that I've seen on line. Thank you.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #8

Aug 132011

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 58,970 miles
Transmission would not engage into reverse, notice a pink-brown fluid in the driveway. Had Pilot towed to dealership where Pilot was bought & serviced. Informed transmission cooling lines in radiator had disintegrated, causing transmission fluid to leak into radiator & radiator fluid into the transmission. When asked how this could happen to a 6 yr old Pilot with only 59 K mileage no one had the answer. Recommendation was new radiator & 2 transmission flushes, cost $906.29. I asked for some kind of assistance with the cost of the repair, because of the year, mileage & all schedule services were performed @ the dealership. Here comes the Alabama shim-sham. I was informed to call Honda of N America. Honda offered me $300 towards the repair cost, I said the offer was unacceptable, they offered $450, that was unacceptable. A few days later Honda called back offering 400, I asked what happen to the 450 offer, they offered 450 again. I informed Honda I needed an offer of 600, they agreed, I'm waiting for the check in the mail. 4 days after I took the Pilot from the dealer repair shop the transmission went. Dealer informed me replacement cost would be $5200. Informed dealer I should not be charged because disintegrated transmission cooling lines caused the transmission problem. Here comes the Alabama shim-sham again. Dealer & Honda would pay $2500, I was to pay remaining cost $2700. I informed them that the offer is unacceptable. Dealing with Honda & dealer they stated the new cost to me would be $500, I informed both I need a better offer than that, the next offer was for me to pay $250, I accepted that offer. Honda has a problem with the 05 Pilot transmissions & transmission cooling lines. They know it but won't admit it. Transmission cooling lines are disintegrating @ the 5 - 6 year mark regardless of the mileage. Something needs to be look at for the reason why.

- Sutton, MA, USA

problem #7

Dec 052009

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
Vibration on transmission while driving at 35-40 mph.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #6

Dec 012009

Pilot

  • 34,500 miles

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

While accelerating between 35-45 mph, my vehicle shudders. This is a continuing issue. It doesn't do this every single time but at least once during the driving period. Sometimes it is very noticeable and other times negligible.

- Charleston, SC, USA

problem #5

Oct 012010

Pilot

  • miles
Vehicle has noticeable shimmering/shuttering between 30-50 mph, noticed over a year ago. Soon after the drive indicator light would flash intermittently, although both seem transmission related, they did not seem to correlate. Over time the shimmering/shuttering seems to be more frequent and pronounced and the drive indicator seems to blink more frequently. After researching on the internet, it does not appear to be an isolated incident as there are many other 2005 Honda Pilot with similar symptoms at different stages of transmission 'failure' or complete failure. Have not seen a formal release from Honda (like with Acura MDX issue which sounds too similar), but like with the tsb on the MDX, many problems seem to be resolved with replacement of torque converter or complete transmission. I don't expect any sympathy from Honda so I am going to have our Pilot diagnosed and repaired by a private mechanic (Honda service is way too expensive) but wanted to file a formal complaint on this issue in the hopes that if it becomes big enough maybe others will benefit from Honda having to get involved at some point.

- Laporte, IN, USA

problem #4

Dec 062010

Pilot

  • 72,600 miles
Car shutters or vibrates around 25-35 miles per hour during normal acceleration. It appears that that tires are out of alignment, but after taking my car in for a tire balance and alignment it was determined to be the transmission. It happens whether the car is cold or warm. I was told that the torque converter could fix the vibrations, but the design flaw is with the whole transmission. This started at around 72,600 miles on the vehicle, and has progressively gotten worse. It has only been a month, but after doing some research I found this to be a common design flaw with the 2005 Pilot. My local service department was able to negotiate 75% coverage of the approximately $3,300 repair bill by Honda to replace my transmission even though it is out of warranty. I feel it should be 100% and plan on pursuing this issue with Honda of America. I was told Honda wouldn't cover anything after 75,000 miles. I feel Honda needs to step up and own this well documented issue, but it is cheaper to deal with the one off complaints than admit fault and issue a recall.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #3

Apr 242010

Pilot

  • 62,232 miles
Blinking 'd' light and once car is turned off, the blinking stops. This problem first occurred when we were driving back from lancaster, ca to san diego. The low fuel light went on and shortly thereafter, the blinking 'd' light. We pulled off the interstate and put some gas in the vehicle. The blinking D light did not appear again for two weeks. I took into my independent who could not duplicate the problem. The problem appeared this week and took in to my independent while it was still running and they were able to scan P0872. The car had just 62,232 miles on it and advised I take to the dealer. The dealer could not duplicate the problem. I took back to dealership where I bought the vehicle and gave them all the information from the independent and from this site. They were able to look up the dtc troubleshooting from american Honda and replaced the 4th gear pressure switch, cleared code and reset the light. I was reassured that this is electrical and not mechanical. It could lead to damage to the internals of the transmission, if the switch is not replaced in a timely manner.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #2

May 102009

Pilot

  • 434,544 miles
Bt shimmy" is this a new dance? not!!!! dangerous vehicle~brakes transmission? shimmy? August 25, 2009 '05 Honda Pilot brakes lock up while driving. Did thorough investigation when this started in may: Brakes lock up and vehicle veers and stops while going over 35-40 mph. I am a journalist and did research. Numerous complaints: Honda says they don't listen to 'websites' what about your customers Honda? this was fixed for $500 back in may and happened again while three year old daughter is in the vehicle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! danger danger danger. Jack of diamonds service department in tyler Texas wants to argue about it. Sales manager says I can leave it there ~ B/C he is sure nothing is wrong and will resell it!!!! tyler, Texas. Further: Stranded in greenville, Texas most of the day with child. Unsafe unsa unsafe. Brakes? transmission? shimmy" I don't know.

- Carrollton,, TX, USA

problem #1

Feb 172009

Pilot

  • 60,000 miles
Front motor mount failed at approx. 60K miles. Service department has no know cause for the failure, but says it is likely a material defect.

- Spreckels, CA, USA

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