2003 HONDA PILOT Power Train Problems

CAR RAN AWAY IN REVERSE AS IF IT HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. FULL WEIGHT ON THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. CRASHED INTO UTILITY POLE ENCIRCLED WITH OLD CAR TIRES. CAR BOUNCED OFF AND THEN CRASHED INTO THE POLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. HIT GEAR SHIFT INTO FORWARD. ENGINE SCREAMING REALLY HIGH REVS, CAR RACED FORWARD AND I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO AVOID HITTING PARKED VEHICLES AND A POND AS CAR KEPT GOING FASTER. WITH NOWHERE TO HEAD BUT GOLF COURSE OR HIGHWAY, I STEERED ONTO A FARM FIELD AND DROVE A HALF MILE UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PULL OUT THE KEYS FROM THE STARTER WHICH STOPPED CAR. I DID NOT THINK I WAS INJURED AT TIME BUT I ENDED UP WITH WHIPLASH WHICH MEANT I LOST ABOUT SIX MONTHS INCOME. HONDA REFUSED COMPENSATION, OR PAID FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS OF THE CAR WITH...

MY HONDA PILOT SHUTTERS AT 25-50 MPH I HAD IT CHECK WITH MY LOCAL DEALER HONDA AND IT SEEMS LIKE ITS COMING FROM TRANSMISSION ISSUE'S. *TR

ANYWHERE BETWEEN 35-50 MPH I GET A SHUDDER THAT SOUNDS LIKE DRIVING OVER A RUMBLE STRIP ON THE FREEWAY. THE PROBLEM STARTED OUT TO WHERE IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUSH OF AIR WAS FLOWING UNDERNEATH THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS, THEN PROGRESSED TO A RUMBLE STRIP NOISE. AT THAT POINT, I HAD IT LOOKED AT. MECHANIC SAYS FAILED TORQUE CONVERTER AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE 132,000 MILES ON THE CAR. HAVEN'T CONTACTED HONDA AS I'M THE SECOND OWNER AND HAVE READ IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES ON THE INTERNET THAT HONDA WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC WARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO AT ANY TIME NOW AND THE CAR ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE DECIDED IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FAIL AT 132,000 MILES, I'M NOT TAKING THE CHANCE OF PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO IT, ONLY TO FAIL AGAIN (SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT PEOPLE ENDING UP WITH...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DOWNSHIFTED AND THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED BACK INTO GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED FROM 65 MPH TO 30 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOCATED A FAILURE CODE AT THE TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SLIPPED BETWEEN GEARS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

MY HONDA PILOT STARTS SLIPPING WHEN IT CHANGES FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4 GEAR. NOW IT STARTS SHAKING/JUGGING. WITH SPEED 60MPH OR 65 MPH, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IF IT STARTS JUGGING BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW HOW THE CAR BEHIND YOU REACTS AND YOUR CAR WILL DO. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN GOING AROUND 30 MILES. I HAVE CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID MULTIPLE TIMES. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS YEAR HONDA PILOT HAS A LOT OF TRANSMISSION ISSUES LIKE THIS. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, NOT SHIFTING AS IT SHOULD. *JB

LOUD SCRAPING NOISE COMES FROM CAR DURING CRUISING AT AROUND 35-40MPH AROUND 2000RPM. CAR SEEMS TO STUTTER AT THESE SPEEDS CAUSING ABRUPT VIBRATIONS. OTHER DRIVERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME OCCURRENCE, MANY REPORT IT IS FROM A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR

CAR STARTS SHIMMERING AT 35 - 45 MPH. HAD MECHANIC CHECK CAR AND SAID NO MECHANICAL ISSUE. HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON CAR. STILL SHIMMERING. HAVE SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS AS OTHERS ON THE HONDA WEB SITE THAT MENTIONED THAT THE DIAGNOSIS IS A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER. STRONG SHIMMER AT 35 - 45 MPH INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *JB

1. FALL OF 2011, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PICK UP SPEED CAR WOULD BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE. FOR SAFETY, I WOULDN'T DRIVE FASTER THAN APPROX. 35 MPH. ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE REVVED AND SURGED FORWARD SEVERAL TIMES. FUEL INJECTION CLEANER REMEDIED THIS. 2. 2012, WHEN INITIALLY ACCELERATING, GEARS WOULD ROUGHLY CHANGE WITH A THUMPING SOUND. WHILE DRIVING AND PICKING UP SPEED, CAR WOULD REV LOUDLY. BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO KEEP IT FROM LUNGING FORWARD. (VERY SCARY), BUT MAINTAINED CONTROL. CHECKED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL, ADDED 1/4 QT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. PROBLEM PERSISTED. ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DROVE IT TO THE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT. MECHANIC CHECKED AND TEST DROVE CAR. ADVISED ABOUT LIGHT FLASHING WHEN IN DRIVE-(THIS HAD NOT OCCURRED).THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. ENGINE WARNING LIGHT RESET. RETURNED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT ONE WEEK LATER WHEN ENGINE...

2003 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN LOW GEAR AFTER ENGINE WARMED UP. WHENEVER VEHICLE IS GOING FROM A STOP TO MOVEMENT, SUCH AS RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS AND TRAFFIC, VEHICLE DOE NOT CLICK INTO GEAR RIGHT AWAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO HONDA DEALER WHO STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4100 + 12 HRS LABOR FOR INSTALLATION. VEHICLE ONLY HAS @78,00 MILES ON IT. LUCKILY MY TRANSMISSION HAS NOT SEIZED AS MANY OTHERS HAVE ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING GRAVE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2003 HONDA PILOT EX-L NEW AT DANBURY HONDA ON FEBRUARY 20, 2003. WE HAVE HAD ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE "D" OR DRIVE LIGHT FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND HAD IT CHECKED AT THE DEALER EACH TIME, WITH A REPORT BACK THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND IT WOULD GO AWAY. THE DEALER HAS DONE ALMOST ALL OF THE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE TO OUR VEHICLE AND WE ALSO DO PROACTIVE CARE TO OUR VEHICLE. MOST RECENTLY WE SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY ON REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION THROUGH HONDA DEALERSHIPS IN DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA (DISASTER THERE) AND DANBURY, CT. WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, ONLY MONTHS AFTER PUTTING A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE CAR. HAD WE KNOWN WE WOULD BE SPENDING THIS KIND OF MONEY (ABOUT $5K), WE WOULD HAVE TRADED THE CAR IN. HOWEVER, WE ARE NOW CAUGHT...

WE BOUGHT A 2003 HONDA PILOT IN 2006. 3 MONTHS AGO WE FOUND OUT IT HAD BEEN RECALLED IN 2004 FOR THE POWERTRAIN. THAT APPARENTLY WAS FIXED AT THAT TIME. IN APRIL, WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE RPMS SHOWING 3000 WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ONLY 35 MPH. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE POWERTRAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS COST US OVER $6,000 TO REPLACE INCLUDING OVER $700 TO LEASE A CAR. AMERICAN HONDA SAID THAT THE WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT AND THAT IT WAS A HIGH MILEAGE VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. OUR QUESTION IS WHY WOULD THE POWERTRAIN HAVE TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME WITHIN A 9 YEAR PERIOD. THE 109,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE IS WITHIN IF NOT LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. GRANTED, A 10 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WILL PROBABLY NOT STILL BE...

THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON MY WIFE'S 2003 HONDA PILOT WERE REPLACED IN 2010 AND I WAS INFORMED TODAY BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE HAD APPROX 93500 MILES ON IT WHEN IT WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AND NOW THREE YEARS LATER HAS 140,939. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THE MOUNTS ARE WARRANTED FOR 12 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE IS USED BY MY WIFE TO DRIVE 20 MILES ROUNDTRIP TO WORK AND ON OUR TRIPS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT USED FOR TOWING AND IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A TOW RECEIVER. ADDITIONALLY, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IMPROPERLY DESIGNED WITH A SPLIT WAFER MECHANISM WHICH ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TWO LOCAL LOCKSMITHS WEARS OUT PREMATURELY AND CAUSES JAMMING OF THE IGNITION CYLINDER AS WELL AS WEDGING OF THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. LASTLY, WHEN A TRANSMISSION RECALL WAS DONE ON THE...

TRANS. SHUDDERED AT 30-40 MPH. RECALL #04-021 DONE 8/23/04 (OIL JET KIT INSTALLED). DIDN'T SOLVE PROBLEM, WHICH HAS GOTTEN WORSE UNTIL NOW (06/13) AND HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDAS OF THAT YEAR (2003). CAR NOW HAS 125K MILES, HONDA REFUSES TO FIX AS RECALL, WANTS TO REPLACE TRANS. AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE PASSENGER SIDE RELAY SPEAKER CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,805. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH WITH SHIFT LEVER IN "D" THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT DOWN A GEAR VERY HARD AND THEN BACK INTO THE PREVIOUS GEAR. IT DOES THIS REPEATEDLY. WAS TOLD BY A HONDA DEALER REPAIR SHOP THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THE TRANSMISSION ON A VEHICLE LIKE THIS WITH 160K MILES SHOULD NOT BE FAILING. *TR

MY HONDA PILOT IS NOW AT 75,000 MILES. I OBVIOUSLY DON'T DRIVE IT A LOT. THANK GOODNESS BECAUSE IT HAS HAD SO MANY ISSUES. FOR THE LAST 25,000 MILES AND 3 YEARS, IT REVS UP AND DOWN WHEN STOPPED ANYWHERE LIKE A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR IN THE PICKUP LINE AT MY CHILD'S SCHOOL. I HAVE TO PUT IT INTO PARK AND PRESS THE BRAKE WHILE IN PARK TO BE SURE IT DOESN'T LEAP FORWARD INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I'VE HAD THIS LOOKED AT ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THEY FIX IT FOR ABOUT A DAY. I'VE BEEN TOLD ITS AN ONGOING KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. SO, WHY HAS IT NOT BEEN ADDRESSED? *TR

SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTING AND SHUDDERING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING. ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND OCCASIONAL SHIFTING PROBLEMS FOR A FEW WEEKS UNTIL CHECKED BY DEALER - PO740 AND PO730 NEEDS TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND ENGINE MOUNT. SAME PROBLEM AS A 100 OF OTHERS. ORIGINAL OWNER FULLY DEALER MAINTAINED FOR 10+ YEARS, EVEN WITH FAIRLY HIGH MILES WELL MAINTAINED TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL. HONDA DEALER QUOTED $5500 FOR HONDA REBUILT TRANSMISSION WITH NO MENTION OF ANY ASSISTANCE OR OF THE WELL KNOWN AND FREQUENT OCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE. A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AS SIMPLE LUCK THIS DIDN'T OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY AT GREATER SPEED IN HIGH TRAFFIC I FREQUENTLY DRIVE. *TR

I PARKED MY CAR OUTSIDE A LOCAL STORE WITH A NEARLY ZERO DECLINE. AFTER ENTERING THE STORE AND BEGINNING TO SHOP - A FELLOW SHOPPER CAME IN TO TELL ME THAT MY CAR HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO MAJOR DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE. WHEN I ENTERED MY VEHICLE THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN FACT IN PARK BUT THE CAR HAD ROLLED BACK ANYWAYS AND STOPPED ONLY BECAUSE IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, PLACE HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT SHE HAD REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION PRIOR TO SHIFTING INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN A RESIDENTIAL CARPORT. APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES LATER, THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER PARKED IN THE CARPORT BUT HAD ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND THE KEYS WERE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE CRASH SCENE. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS TO THE EXTERNAL DAMAGES OF THE HATCH BACK DOOR AND REAR BUMPER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE ROLL AWAY FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000. UPDATED 12/06/12 *BF UPDATED 12/06/12

I PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE AND TURNED THE KEY OFF. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS. IT ROLLED DOWN A SMALL HILL AND SMASHED INTO A VEHICLE IN THE LOT BELOW. *TR IT APPEARS THE STEERING COLUMN ALLOWED ME TO REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND BEING ABLE TO REMOVE MY KEY EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT IN PARK THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS. ITS LED TO AN ACCIDENT AND A NEAR ONE. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION OF MY 2003 HONDA PILOT DIED. WHEN I WENT TO A MESSAGE BOARD AT EDMUNDS.COM I FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2003 PILOTS BEGINNING WITH 90,000 MILES. HONDA CHECKED MY SECOND GEAR THAT THEY DID RECALL BUT CLAIM THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH THAT GEAR. A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC THAT REBUILDS TRANSMISSIONS, RECOMMENDED BY TWO MECHANIC FRIENDS OF MINE, AGREES WITH HONDA, THAT IT HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. FOR A COMPANY THAT PRIDES ITSELF FOR A SUPPOSED EXCELLENT MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE REPUTATION, I AND A LOT OF OTHER HONDA OWNERS ARE SORELY DISAPPOINTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN PREVIOUSLY TO THE DEALER IN 2004 FOR A RECALL REPAIR UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THIS MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTING SLIPPING WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND STRUGGLED TO GET OVER A VIADUCT WITH NO POWER TO ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DROVE THE PILOT SLOWLY HOME AND TOOK TO SHOP. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN CHANGED AT 90K. THE PRESSURE SWITCHES WERE CHANGED BUT DID NOT WORK FOR SLIPPAGE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKE AND NEEDED REPLACING. THIS VEHICLE HAD ALL RECALLS COMPLETED. *TR

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED 2003 HONDA PILOT FROM [XXX] OF COLERAIN IN OHIO. THE CAR HAS 137,000 APPROXIMATE MILES ON IT. THEY WANTED ME TO PAY OVER 15,000 FOR THE CAR AND FINALLY AFTER DEBATING FOR HOURS OVER 4. THEY SOLD ME THE CAR OUT THE DOOR WITH NO WARRANTY OFFERED FOR 10,500. I WAS VERY HAPPY AND I HAVE 2 CHILDREN AND ONE ON THE WAY. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON AUGUST 5, 2012 LESS THAN TWO WEEK GO BY AND I AM DRIVING HOME GOING 65MPH ON 71 AND THE CAR JERKS DOWN GEARS TO 30 MILES AN HOUR IN A SPLIT SECOND. MY NECK AND MY BACK ARE BOTH HURTING AND I DO NOT WANT TO SUE NOR TRY TO GET RICH OFF OF THIS. MY COMPLAINT IS, I TOOK THE CAR TO[XXX] OF COLERAIN THE NEXT MORNING THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND THEY...

CAR "SHUDDERS" AT 40-45 MPH. HONDA HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2003 PILOT AND ODYSSEY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR SHAKES LIKE IT IS FALLING APART. APPROX. COST TO REPAIR $4,000.00. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE AND EARLY WAS SLIPPING WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGH WAY. *TR

2003 HONDA PILOT EXL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT AT 101,950 MILES IN JUNE OF 2012. THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH A SINGLE TRANSMISSION SLIP AND SEVERE HARD (SHIFT) ENGAGEMENT WHILE ACCELERATING BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND PROGRESSIVELY INCREASED IN OCCURRENCE. THEN REVERSE GEAR SELECTION STARTED SLIPPING AND FAILING TO ENGAGE. FROM THAT POINT ON, THE PILOT TRANSMISSION BEGAN CONSISTENTLY SLIPPING AND SLAMMING (HARD SHIFTING) ALL GEARS (INCLUDING WHILE IN D1,D2 AND D3) AND THE LONGER IT WAS DRIVEN, THE WORSE IT GOT, EVEN SLIPPING AND SLAMMING THE DOWNSHIFT GEAR CHANGES MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND DRIVE ON THE ROAD. THE HARD SHIFTING WAS BECOMING SO SEVERE THAT IT FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION GEAR TOOTH FAILURE WAS EMINENT. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, NO FLASHING 'D' OR TROUBLE CODES ON THE PCM WERE FOUND, EVEN WITH ALL OF PROBLEMS. THE HONDA...

VEHICLE SHUDDER/SHAKE STARTING AT 50 MPH. ADVISED NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION. CALLED HONDA TO CHECK IF RECALL OR WOULD BE REIMBURSED. TOLD NO AND SAID WANTED PROBLEM ON RECORD. REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT OWN EXPENSE $3045. DRIVE LIGHT PERIODICALLY FLASHES. HAVE NOT REPAIRED AS >$300. *TR

HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW. HAD THE 2ND GEAR RECALL DONE AS REQUIRED AT ABOUT 30,000. AT 96,000 THAT TRANNY WENT OUT AND HAD A "REBUILT" INSTALLED BY SUNSET HONDA SLO, CA. UNDER WARRANTY. AT ABOUT 150000, D INDICATOR FLASHED MEANING SENSORS ON TRANNY NEEDED REPLACEMENT.NOW EXPERIENCING LOSS OF DRIVE, SOMETIMES WHEN COMING OUT OF STOP, ENGINE JUST REVVING BUT NO DRIVE, ALSO, AS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE YESTERDAY, WHEN GOING AT ABOUT 35, LOSS OF POWER/DRIVE OCCURRED. THIS COULD SHOW THAT I NEED AN ACTUAL DECENT NEW TRANNY PUT IN! I HAVE YET TO VISIT MY WELL QUALIFIED AND NON HONDA DEALER MECHANIC! I HAVE BEEN A HONDA OWNER SINCE 1992 AND THIS WILL BE MY LAST HONDA EVER! THE RELIABILITY IS OVER WITH AND THEY ARE WAY OVERPRICED. *TR

THE PILOT SHUDDERS GOING AT SLOWER RATES OF SPEED AT PRETTY REGULAR INSTANCES. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER, POSSIBLY THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003 HONDA PILOTS. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE TO A HIGHER GEAR CAUSING THE ENGINE RPMS TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY THE AUTOMOBILE BEHIND ME. EVENTUALLY THE TRANSMISSION DID FIND 3RD GEAR. THIS SITUATION HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE INITIAL EPISODE. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ALWAYS OCCURS WITH THE SECOND GEAR. ONCE THE GEAR WOULDN'T CHANGE WHILE I WAS MERGING INTO INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY DEALER, CROWN HONDA OF DURHAM, NC, BECAUSE I HAD PURCHASED BY PILOT FROM THEM AS A NEW VEHICLE, HAD THE 2004 TRANSMISSION 2ND GEAR RECALL "FIX" PERFORMED BY THEM, AND HAD THEM PERFORM ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE FOR THE FIRST 5 YEARS. I ALSO HAD MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWING THAT I HAD PERFORMED ALL MAINTENANCE AS REQUIRED BY HONDA FOR THE PAST 9.5 YEARS, INCLUDING HAVING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THEY DIDN'T DENY KNOWING OF...

SHUDDERING AND JERKING WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. ALSO DOES THE SAME IN REVERSE. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY ON-RAMP. WHILE AT HIGH HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAR FELT LIKE IT FELL OUT OF GEAR AND LOST POWER, UNTIL THE GEAR ENGAGED AGAIN. *TR

I ORIGINALLY HAD THE 45-50 MPH HORRIBLE SHUDDER, BUT HONDA DID FIX THAT ISSUE AND THEY SAID THE HUBS WERE DEFECTIVE. AT 117,000, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SKIP AND JERK HORRIBLY AND THE REVS SPIKED. I DROVE TO HONDA AND THEY SAID THE TRANS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $5,000. I HAD IT REBUILT BY AAMCO FOR $2,700. WITHIN 15,000 MILES, THE FLASHING D AND VTM-4 LIGHT WOULD START COMING ON. I DROVE IT TO AAMCO WHILE THE FLASHING D WAS OCURING AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND NO ERROR CODES. I HAVE PRECEEDED TO DRIVE AND REPLACE THE TRANS FLUID EVERY 20,000 JUST IN CASE, TO BE SAFE. THE FLASHING D IS ANNOYING. I HAVE STARTED TO SENSE THE SHIFTING AT 2 AND 3RD GEAR TO BE GETTING ROUGHER OVER TIME. I FORESEE NUMBER 3 TRANSMISSION COMING SOON. HONDA AMERICA CORP WOULD NOT HELP SAYING THE CAR...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ARRIVED AT HOME AND FORGET TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,000.

I AM EXPERIENCING SHUDDER OR PROBLEM CHANGING THE GEAR. THE ENGINE LIGHTS IS ON NOW AND NOT CLEARING UP. I HAVE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM ON LINE FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND ALL POINTING TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WITH THIS MODEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE WINDOWS SPORADICALLY FAILED TO OPEN AND CLOSE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE LIGHTS WITHIN THE BUTTONS ON THE DASHBOARD STOPPED WORKING AND THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE AIR CONDITIONER FAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 05/15/12 * BF

WHEN THE CAR IS ACCELERATING, BETWEEN EITHER 2ND AND 3RD GEARS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND WILL NOT ENGAGE. THE RPM'S GO UP TO ABOUT 6000 BECAUSE IT IS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. IF THE CAR IS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO DRIVE, THE PILOT WILL BEGIN TO DRIVE NORMALLY. IF THE DRIVER LETS UP OFF THE GAS COMPLETELY AND RPM'S FALL ALL THE WAY DOWN, IT WILL SOMETIMES RE-ENGAGE. THE PILOT HAS DONE THIS 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THERE WAS A RECALL ON PILOT TRANSMISSIONS BUT HONDA HAS NO RECORD OF IT BEING DONE AND WAS TOLD OURS DID NOT SHOW UP IN THEIR SYSTEM ALTHOUGH IT WAS ON ALL 2003 PILOTS. WE HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AFTER BUYING FROM A LOCAL HONDA DEALER. THE PILOT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND GEAR OF THE TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH UPHILL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FURTHER REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO CONFIRMED THE DEALER'S STATEMENT AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WITH ONLY 115,000 MILES. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION FOR $4,000.00. I PURCHASED IT FOR RELIABILITY & THIS IS THE 4TH HONDA I'VE OWNED. LEAVES BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH. *TR

I TOOK MY PILOT IN FOR A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD I HAD BAD MOTOR MOUNTS AND THAT WAS ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. I SPENT APPROX. $3600.00 TO HAVE THE MOTOR MOUNTS FIXED, TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP, FRONT STRUTS, ETC. FIXED. THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN, THIS TIME, GETTING A FLASHING "D" LIGHT. TOOK IT BACK IN FOR FAILURE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HAD 4TH GEAR PRESSURE GEAR REPLACED FOR COST. I NOW HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON POSTING A CODE OF P0730, "INCORRECT GEAR RATIO". I HAVE BEEN INTO HONDA 4 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE INCLUDING TODAY, AND I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I AM OUT OF WARRANTY OF COURSE, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT WAS BUILT POORLY. I AM WORRIED I MIGHT GET...

HIGHWAY DRIVING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AFTER AN ENGINE HESITATION (HEARD A LOUD NOISE, PASSENGER THOUGHT THE VEHICLE HAD HIT SOMETHING...FELT UNDER PASSENGER SIDE FOOTWELL.) DROVE HOME, NEXT DAY THERE WERE PROBLEMS GETTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. AGAIN, IT LURCHED INTO REVERSE AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WITH ONLY ONE "RACING" ENGINE NOISE AT 35MPH. DIAGNOSED WITH CODE #P0740 (TORQUE CONVERTER) REQUIRING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE IS ORIGINAL OWNER/ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE AT CORRECT TIME INTERVALS (INCLUDING A DOUBLE TRANSMISSION SERVICE DONE AT 60,000 AND 77,000) NO PAPERWORK INDICATING 2004 RECALL SERVICE WAS DONE, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP INSISTS IT WAS COMPLETED (THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR PAPERWORK.) ONLY MAJOR REPAIR: $1100 REPAIR DONE 82,400 - LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID (REPLACED FRONT PUMP SEAL, O-RING ON CONVERTER AND REAR MAIN) NOW, 2200 MILES LATER, TRANSMISSION IS OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP QUOTING $5200 (NOT INCLUDING LABOR), AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH HONDA...

JUST STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. 2003 PILOT EX WITH ONLY 150K MILES, JUST STARTED SLIPPING. GOING 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND SUDDENLY IT FEELS LIKE I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, AND ENGINE REVS WITHOUT CHANGING SPEED, LIKE, I JUST SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. TOOK THE CAR INTO HONDA AND THEY ARE TELLING ME IT WILL COST $4500 TO GET A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION, NOT A NEW ONE. SINCE I BOUGHT IT FROM ITS ORIGINAL OWNER I ASKED IF THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN ON THE RECALL IN 2004. THE ORIGINAL DID NOT REMEMBER, BUT I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID YES BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A DATE IT HAPPENED. NOW I'M A LITTLE WORRIED. *TR

BOUGHT USED 2003 HONDA PILOT IN MARCH 2009. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION IN APRIL 2009. PURCHASED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR OVER $4,000 TO GET A 3-YR, 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2003 HONDA ACCORD (BOUGHT NEW) THAT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2006. DIDN'T THINK ABOUT PILOT HAVING THE SAME TRANSMISSION, OR I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED THE PILOT. NOW AT 166,000 MILES MY DRIVE LIGHT IS BLINKING AGAIN, BUT OF COURSE THE WARRANTY IS OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION!! *TR