NHTSA Complaint #10558227 — 2013 HONDA PILOT

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2013 HONDA PILOT IN SEPTEMBER 2013. FROM THE FIRST DAY OF DRIVING IT, I NOTICED A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN/ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WHEN THE ENGINE WAS SWITCHING INTO "ECO" MODE. THE VIBRATION CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, GAS PEDAL, AND FLOOR BOARD. IT BECOMES WORSE WHEN CRUISING AT A LOW RPM, OR WHEN CLIMBING A HILL (NO MATTER HOW STEEP THE HILL IS) WHEN THE ECO MODE IS ENGAGED. THE VIBRATION ONLY STOPS WHEN THE CAR IS REQUIRED TO INCREASE THE RPM, EITHER FROM MANUALLY DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, OR THE COMPUTER DECIDING IT NEEDS MORE POWER. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT EXPERIENCE THIS VIBRATION UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP AND THE ECO MODE ENGAGES. WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, THE ECO MODE DOES NOT KICK IN, AND THERE IS NO VIBRATION. I NOW HAVE 5600 MILES ON THE PILOT, AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO WITHOUT TAKING IT FOR A TEST DRIVE ADVISED THAT "THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE ECO MODE ON BOTH THE PILOT'S AND ODYSSEY'S". THEY WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FIX IT, AS HONDA HAS DETERMINED THAT THIS IS "NORMAL OPERATION". IN ADDITION TO FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HONDA CUSTOMER CARE. NO RESOLUTION TO DATE. HAD THE SALESMAN TOLD ME ABOUT THIS "NORMAL OPERATING VIBRATION ISSUE", I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *TR