NHTSA Complaint #10134363 — 2005 HONDA PILOT

AT 8,000 MILES MY 2005 HONDA PILOT DEVELOPED A VIBRATION, OR JITTER AT 65 MPH AND HIGHER. MODERATE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION BY 73 MPH. OWNER HAD AN INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER CHECK AND RE-BALANCE THE WHEELS AS NEEDED. VIBRATION REMAINED. 2 MORE VISITS TO DEALER WHO ADVISED NO PROBLEM FOUND AND GO SEE THE GOODYEAR DEALER, WHO WANTED NO PART OF THIS ISSUE. MORE TRIPS TO DEALER WHO ADVISED THE VEHICLE OWNER SHOULD CONSIDER REPLACING THE OEM TIRES (NOW AT ONLY 8,500 MILES). OWNER REPLACED OEM TIRES WITH MICHELIN LTX M/S ($700) AND VIBRATION REMAINS. DEALER RE-BALANCED TIRES ON HUNTER 9700 MACHINE RESULTING IN MINOR IMPROVEMENT BUT BASIC JITTER REMAINS. NEXT VISIT THE DEAL ACKNOWLEDGES JITTER, IT'S ANNOYANCE, AND BLAMES TREAD PATTERN ON THE NOW NON-OEM TIRES. FILED COMPLAINT WITH HONDA NORTH AMERICA AND WAITED 312 BUSINESS HOURS FOR A RETURN CALL. HONDA RESPONDED WHEN I MENTIONED ARBITRATION. HONDA NORTH AMERICA REPORTS THE DEALER SAID 'NO PROBLEM FOUND'. NOW AT 14,000 MILES. HONDA SAYS THEY HAVE NO REGIONAL REP COVERING MY AREA (4TH LARGEST METROPOLITAN AREA IN THE US) AND WILL CALL ME BACK, SOON. THE VEHICLE JITTER REMAINS, 65 MPH AND HIGHER, MAKING THE VEHICLE TIRING TO DRIVE ON TRIPS OF DISTANCE (VACATION TRAVEL). THE JITTER/VIBRATION IS DISTRACTING AND OVER RIDES STANDARD 'ROAD FEEL'. HONDA APPEARS TO NOT BE INTERESTED IN MY ISSUE, OR DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION. OTHER HONDA PILOT OWNERS IN MY AREA, AND ON INTERNET BOARDS, REPORT THE SAME SYMPTOM. *JB