NHTSA Complaint #10389529 — 2003 HONDA PILOT

2003 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER STATES MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH INTERMITTENTLY FROM THE BEGINNING OF OWNERSHIP. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS RELATED TO THE GAS CAP NOT BEING SECURED PROPERLY. HOWEVER, ONCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THE LIGHT NO LONGER FLASHED. ON AUGUST 19, 2003 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO A HESITATION ISSUE, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE AND SRS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VTM LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2005 THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A SPECIAL PART HAD TO ORDERED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND GEAR BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE EGR, V-TEC SEALS AND O-RING WERE ALL REPLACED TO RECTIFY THE ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM. THE TIMING BELT AND LEFT AND RIGHT CONTROL ARM LINKS WERE REPLACED. THE INNER AND OUTER CV BOOTS WERE REPLACED. ON FEBRUARY 8, 20011 WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED ALMOST CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AGAIN. *JB