NHTSA Complaint #11525482 — 2017 HONDA PILOT

Beginning in February 2023, around 2AM, my car alarm would sound. Upon inspection, the vehicle dashboard was lit up and clicking relay sounds could be heard from the dashboard. In essence, the car was trying to "start" itself. When the attempted start reached a certain level, the car would recognize the absence of a key fob, and thus, the alarm would sound. To remedy this, I had to leave my key fob in the car - which did not prevent the attempted starts, but at least prevented the alarm from sounding. In the morning the battery was dead from the headlights and interior lights flashing all night. Additionally this was a safety issue as I had to leave keys in an unlocked car. The dealership cannot reproduce the problem, as it happens in the middle of the night (particularly when it is raining or very humid outside). I have found SEVERAL Honda forums with dozens of other Pilot owners who are experiencing the same problem. Dealerships have tried several remedies, all at the customer's expense, including battery replacements, START/STOP switch replacements, etc. The only thing that fixes the problem is replacement of the Control Unit-Smart Power ( 38320-TG7-A32 for my year/make). This part is $400 and labor at my dealership was estimated at $700-800. The part is on backorder. I can only assume it is because there are so many of us Pilot owners trying to get our hands on a working unit. The part is not part of a recall or warranty extension, and frankly, it should be. It is preposterous that so many customers have the same faulty part in 2016-2018 models and that Honda is not covering the cost of these repairs. In the mean time, I have had to disengage my hood sensor to prevent the alarm from sounding, which is a safety issue if the car is stolen. And periodically the battery drains out because the problem persists, lighting up the dashboard while the Smart Power unit tries to start the car all by itself.