NHTSA Complaint #11327617 — 2017 HONDA PILOT

JULY OF 2019: WIFE COMPLAINS THE VEHICLE STARTS BACK UP UNDER PROTEST FROM THE START STOP SYSTEM WHEN DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC (MORE SO ON HOT DAYS) ON CITY STREETS. EVENTUALLY, VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS WHEN SHE TRIES TO RESUME TRAVEL FROM START STOP MODE. VEHICLE EVENTUALLY RESTARTS AFTER 120 SECONDS OR MORE. PROBLEM OCCURS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, DEALER CLAIMS THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, TESTING SHOWS A BAD CELL IN THE BATTERY (JUST OUT OF WARRANTY). BATTERY REPLACED. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE SORTED TEMPORARILY (ALTHOUGH MY WIFE ROUTINELY DISABLES THE START STOP FUNCTION TO AVOID THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM). MAY OF 2020: SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE, CAR STALLS WHEN TRYING TO RESUME TRAVEL AFTER START STOP MODE. VEHICLE WON'T RESTART FOR A FEW MINUTES AND CANNOT BE PUSHED OUT OF HARMS WAY. IT STANDS TO REASON THAT THE ISSUE IS PROBABLY NOT THE BATTERY, THE BATTERY IS OEM AND LESS THAN A YEAR OLD. THE MOST WORRISOME ASPECT OF THE SITUATION IS THIS. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLS (I.E., THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING) THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL (WITHOUT GOING UNDER THE HOOD AND USING A SPECIAL TOOL) AND PUSHED TO SAFETY. HENCE, THE VEHICLE IS ABSOLUTELY STRANDED UNTIL IT RESTARTS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN STALLED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC.