NHTSA Complaint #11045208 — 2011 HONDA PILOT

STEERING COLUMN MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. DEALERSHIP GIVES 2 OPTIONS--GREASE THE COLUMN ($305) AND IF THAT DOES NOT WORK THEN REPLACE STEERING COLUMN AND RACK AND PINION ($3415). DEALERSHIP ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR PILOTS AND SOME OTHER CARS["RACK AND PINION AND STEERING COLUMN ARE BINDING'" IS WRITTEN ON THE ESTIMATE] OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND FOR MOST CARS GREASE IS NOT GOING TO WORK. DEALERSHIP ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. CAR HAS 97K BUT ONLY IS DRIVEN IN TOWN 90% AND 10% HWY; ORIGINAL OWNER AND OTHERWISE IN GOOD CONDITION.). OTHERS HAVE POSTED SAME COMPLAINT WITH PILOT ONLINE. THIS CAN'T BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR! TO REPLACE A STEERING COLUMN SHOULD NOT BE A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. SAFETY IS A CONCERN BUT DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE IF REPAIRS ARE NOT DONE BUT THE NOISE WILL GET LOUDER. SEEMS TO ME THAT DEALERSHIP IS DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM QUIET OFTEN. CONTACTED AM. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPORTED THIS ISSUE. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND INQUIRY WILL BE CLOSED. NOT SURE IF HONDA IS LOOKING INTO WHETHER THERE IS A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. FORD HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND IT TOOK STEPS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.