NHTSA Complaint #10550605 — 2005 HONDA PILOT

WHILE DRIVING ALONG A RURAL 2 LANE HIGHWAY WITH NO ONE BEHIND ME, THE TRANSMISSION APPEARED TO SLIP AND THE ENGINE RPM WENT WAY UP. THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN. THIS LASTED 3 OR 4 SECONDS AND THEN WENT BACK TO NORMAL. IN A FEW MINUTES, I STOPPED AT THE LIGHT ENTERING THE VILLAGE OF SARANAC LAKE, NY. THE 2005 HONDA PILOT STOPPED RUNNING. I TRIED TO RESTART AND NOTHING HAPPENED AT ALL. I PUT MY FLASHERS ON AND OPENED THE HOOD. I SAW A LIQUID THAT LOOKED LIKE CHOCOLATE MILK LEAKING UNDER THE ENGINE. AFTER IT WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE, THE MECHANIC SAID HE THOUGHT THE RADIATOR LEAKED AND ALLOWED THE ANTIFREEZE TO MIX WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE TRUCK WOULD NEED A NEW RADIATOR AND MAYBE A NEW TRANS AND OR ENGINE. IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON. I READ THAT OVER 1 MILLION 2003 AND 2004 HONDA PILOTS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR