NHTSA Complaint #10274712 — 2006 HONDA PILOT

BEGAN NOTICING A MUSTY SMELL IN THE VEHICLE, FOLLOWED SEVERAL MONTHS LATER BY A SLOSHING SOUND THAT EVENTUALLY MANIFESTED ITSELF INTO A ROLLING WAVE OF WATER THAT SWEPT OVER MY FLOOR MATS. WATER IS SATURATING THE CARPETS (THINK OF A WET SPONGE) AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH UNDETERMINED POINTS AT OR NEAR THE FIREWALL. THIS DEFINITELY OCCURS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN RAIN, WHEN DRIVEN OVER WET AND SNOW-COVERED ROADS, AND WHEN SITTING IN A CAR WASH. I HAVE NOT DETERMINED IF IT OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE SITS UNUSED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER HAS REMOVED, CLEANED, REINSTALLED, AND RESEALED A "BODY PLUG" THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY IMPROPERLY SEALED AT THE FACTORY; YET, EVEN AFTER THIS SERVICE WORK, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. SEARCHING THE WEB, I'VE NOTICED OTHER HONDA PILOT AND RIDGELINE OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF WATER LEAKAGE PROBLEM; AND, WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS, DEALERS SEEM TO BE PUTTING "BAND AIDS" (CAULK) ON A VARIETY OF NOTED AND POTENTIAL ENTRY POINTS THROUGH THE FIREWALL, WHEEL WELLS, AND WELDED METAL JOINTS. *TR