NHTSA Complaint #10386168 — 2004 HONDA PILOT

THE FIRST SYMPTOM OUR 2004 HONDA PILOT EXPERIENCED WAS A SHUTTER/JERKING OF THE CAR AT A LITTLE UNDER 30 MPH. WE TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP BUT THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE CONDITION. THE SHUTTER AND JERKING THEN STARTED HAPPENING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP AT WHICH TIME THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE REPLICATE IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS PULLED AND INSPECTED. THERE WAS HEAT BUILD UP AND DISCOLORATION. ONE OF THE COMPONENTS WAS TOTALLY BURNT. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AND COULD NOT BE REBUILT. HE WROTE THAT THERE WAS HEAT BUILD UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT 2ND GEAR. HE SUGGESTED THAT I CALL HONDA USA BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUE THAT YEAR. I CALLED HONDA USA. HONDA SAID MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM LOCATED BY MY MECHANIC WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL WAS ALL ABOUT-HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE. HONDA APOLOGIZED BUT SAID OUR CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THEY ALSO SAID OUR CAR NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. I PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF POCKET-$3800-BECAUSE WE NEEDED OUR CAR TO GET AROUND. I TOLD HONDA THAT THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WAS SENT TO THEIR PLANT IF THEY WANTED TO INSPECT IT. *TR