NHTSA Complaint #11326247 — 2017 HONDA PILOT

THE AUTO ENGINE IDLE (AEI) FEATURE HAS A FLAW IN IT THAT HONDA HAS APPARENTLY NOT IDENTIFIED OR EXPLAINED AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. AEI SHUTS THE ENGINE OFF WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE BUT FULLY STOPPED AND, IN THEORY, INCREASES FUEL EFFICIENCY BY REDUCING ENGINE IDLING WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED, E.G. AT A STOPLIGHT OR IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. WHILE THERE IS A BUTTON TO DISABLE IT, THIS BUTTON HAS TO BE PRESSED EACH TIME YOU TURN THE CAR ON AND CANNOT BE PERMANENTLY DISABLED. WE TRY TO REMEMBER TO ALWAYS PRESS THE BUTTON AND DISABLE THE FEATURE BUT OCCASIONALLY FORGET AND DON'T REALIZE WE HAVEN'T DISABLED IT UNTIL WE COME TO A STOP SOMEWHERE AND THE FEATURE ENGAGES AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. AEI WOULD JUST BE A NUISANCE IF IT WORKED 100% OF THE TIME AS IT IS DESIGNED TO WORK BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOESN'T. WHEN IT WORKS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FULLY DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE IS AUTOMATICALLY IDLED, AND THEN AS YOU BEGIN TO LIFT YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE QUICKLY TURNS BACK ON, YOU'RE ALREADY IN DRIVE, AND YOU GO. HOWEVER, ON WHAT SEEMS TO BE A COMPLETELY RANDOM AND UNPREDICTABLE BASIS, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU BEGIN TO LIFT YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, RATHER THAN HAVING THE ENGINE RESTART AUTOMATICALLY, THE ENTIRE CAR JUST GOES DEAD. AT THIS POINT, YOU HAVE TO FRANTICALLY PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND COMPLETELY RESTART THE ENGINE. IF YOU'RE LUCKY, THIS HAPPENS QUICKLY AND YOU'RE NOT STUCK IN A COMPROMISED SPOT WITH NO ONE BEARING DOWN ON YOU FROM BEHIND BUT BY ITS DESIGN YOU ARE SOMEWHERE YOU NEED AND WANT TO BE MOVING FROM QUICKLY, AND IT HAS HAPPENED AT THE EXACT MOMENT WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH MYSELF AND MY WIFE A HANDFUL OF TIMES IN SCARY SITUATIONS. READ ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET - NO SERVICE REP ANYWHERE HAS AN EXPLANATION. THIS NEEDS TO GET SOLVED BEFORE PEOPLE DIE, IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY.*DT SEE UPDATED VERSION, TOO MANY CHARACTERS.*JB*DT