Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Honda Pilot submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 47 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 47, in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the rear axle separated from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the subframe replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 209,000. The VIN was not available.
REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTING LOCATIONS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING THE REAR SUSPENSION TO HANG DOWN. THE FRONT MOUNTING POINTS OF THE REAR SUSPENSION ARE NOT DAMAGED YET. WAS NOTICED AS A NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND FOUND DURING TIRE INSPECTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 220,000. *JS
I HEARD CRUNCHING NOISES COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT CUSHION. I ASSUMED IT WAS A SPRING GIVING WAY, SINCE THE CAR IS 16 YEARS OLD. I ARRANGED TO HAVE THE FRONT SEATS REUPHOLSTERED AND REPAIRED THE FOLLOWING WEEK. A COUPLE DAYS LATER, I GOT INTO THE CAR AFTER RUNNING AN ERRAND, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT ACTED LIKE A ROCKING CHAIR! THIS WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF SAM'S CLUB. I SLOWLY AND CAUTIOUSLY DROVE HOME, SINCE IT FELT LIKE THE DRIVER'S SEAT COULD LET GO. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATED A BRACKET BROKE THAT HOLDS THE DRIVERS SEAT DOWN, AND THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE FOR THE HONDA PILOT. THEY SAID NO RECALL BECAUSE NOBODY HAD DIED?? THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT. THE RE-UPHOLSTERER HAD THE BRACKET WELDED AS A SIDE-JOB WHEN HE DID HIS WORK. STILL, THIS ISN'T OK. IF THE SEAT HAD LET GO AND SLID FORWARD WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I NEEDED TO REPORT THIS.
THE ATTACHMENT POINTS ON THE FRAME WHERE THE REAR SUBFRAME ATTACHES HAVE NEARLY COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE REST OF THE FRAME APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HONDA PILOTS. GIVEN THE PREVALENCE OF THE ISSUE, IT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE SINCE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE MOUNTING POINTS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ATTACHED PICTURE IS NOT FROM MY VEHICLE BUT THE DAMAGE IS IDENTICAL TO THAT SHOWN IN THIS PICTURE.
2003 HONDA PILOT EX WITH 219,000 MILES ON IT. THE TWO REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS THAT ATTACH THE BODY CHASSIS TO THE FRAME WERE RUSTED OUT AND COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME. IN FACT ON THE RIGHT SIDE THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE THAT HAD RUSTED OUT. APPARENTLY NO EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE REST OF UNDERCARRIAGE. VEHICLE WAS IN VERY GOOD MECHANICAL SHAPE AND MAINTENANCE KEPT UP. VEHICLE WAS KEPT IN A GARAGE AT NIGHT NOT SUBJECT TO UNUSUAL WEAR AND TEAR. UPON SLOW ACCELERATION FROM A RED LIGHT I HEARD A LOUD CRASH AS IF WE'D BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. I WAS CROSSING A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE LIGHTS WEREN'T FUNCTIONING SO I WAS PROCEEDING VERY SLOWLY THROUGH THE 4 WAY FLASHING LIGHTS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES BEHIND US SO I CLEARED THE INTERSECTION THEN PARKED THE CAR TO CHECK IT OUT BUT NO VISIBLE DAMAGE, NO DEBRIS IN INTERSECTION ETC. DROVE IN TOWN FOR ANOTHER COUPLE DAYS AND IT SEEMED TO DRIVE FINE. THE INCIDENT BOTHERED ME ENOUGH TO TAKE IT IN TO FIRESTONE AND HAVE THE CAR CHECKED OUT ON THE LIFT FOR ANYTHING UNUSUAL WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE VEHICLES SAFETY. I WAS CALLED BACK TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE FRAME AT ALL. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THANKFUL THIS WASN'T WORSE AND NOT ON HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED.
REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. SUBFRAME SITTING ON EXHAUST. JUST HAD PILOT AT DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE AND INSPECTION AND THEY DID NOT EVEN MENTION THE ISSUE TO ME, GUESS THEY DIDN'T INSPECT IT VERY WELL. FOUND ON MY OWN AFTER DRIVING HOME AND HEARING NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR END. THANKFULLY THE EXHAUST DID NOT BREAK FROM THE WEIGHT OF THE SUBFRAME OR THE WHOLE REAR END WOULD HAVE FALLEN DOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE REPAIRING THE REAR BRAKE PADS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (SULLIVAN HONDA, 45 MIGEON AVENUE TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT 06790) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTED AND THAT DIRT AND MOISTURE WERE COLLECTING IN THE FRAME RAILS, WHICH ENTERED TROUGH HOLES ON THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 207,000.
THE REAR DRIVER SIDE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK MECHANISM IS JAMMED NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED EITHER MANUALLY OR ELECTRICALLY. THIS, I IMAGINE, CAN HAPPEN WITH ANY DOOR. LUCKILY, THE JAM IS IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION ALLOWING THE DOOR TO BE OPENED. WHAT IS NOT SAFE IS THAT DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED LEAVING THE CAR VULNERABLE TO THEFT OR CAR JACKING. IF THE DOOR WAS JAMMED IN THE LOCKED POSITION, THIS CAN BE UNSAFE FOR PASSENGER EXIT IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY (A FIRE OR EMERSION IN WATER). ANY ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK MECHANISM MADE BY ANY VEHICLE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO FAIL SAFE ALLOWING MANUAL LOCKING AND UNLOCKING OF THE DOOR IN THE EVENT OF ELECTRICAL POWER LOCK MECHANISM FAILURE. THIS IS JUST AS MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE AS A JAMMED SEAT BELT OR FAULTY AIRBAG. THIS SHOULD BE A NO COST REPAIR BY MANUFACTURER DEALERSHIPS LIKE THEY DO WITH JAMMED SEAT BELTS OR FAULTY AIRBAGS. AT LEAST THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FREE UP THE LOCK MECHANISM WITHOUT CHARGE TO CUSTOMERS. THIS NEEDS TO BE SERIOUSLY REVIEWED AND ADDRESSED BY NHTSA FOR SAFETY WITH POLICY AND REPAIR PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES CLEARLY SPELLED OUT. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF REMOTE KEY ACTIVATION OF THE DOOR LOCKS WITH NO MANUAL PHYSICAL OPERATION OF THE DOOR ITSELF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BECAUSE OTHER 2003 HONDA PILOT OWNERS INFORMED HIM OF RUST ISSUES. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED RUST ON THE REAR SUBFRAME OF HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFF WYLER HONDA IN FLORENCE (949 BURLINGTON PIKE, FLORENCE, KY 41042, (859) 283-2727) WHERE THE RUST WAS CONFIRMED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.
THE REAR AXLE IS ALMOST DETACHING FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING OF THE CHASSIS, AND THE AXLE MAY COMPLETELY FELL THROUGH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. OVER TIME, BOTH PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS BECAME VERY OPAQUE, WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO APPEAR DIM AND MADE VISIBILITY DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT'S WIFE CALLED A HONDA DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE, BUT COULD NOT ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
HAD TO REPLACE WATER PUMP AND BELT PAYED FOR IT AT HOMDA DEALER THEN NOTICED IT HAD A RECALL ON IT DEALERSHIP DIDNT NOTIFY ME OF THE RECALL. NOW I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMITION DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM BUT IT ALSO HAS A RECALL. BUT WHEN I SEARCHED MY VIN IT SAID NO RECALLS WERE FOUND. THE TRANSMITION PERIODICALLY COMES OUT OF GEAR IF I STOP QUICKLY OR 1ST THING IN THE MORNING OR IF I GO OVER A SPEED BUMP SLOWLY OR SOMETIMES RANDOMLY IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I CAN SWITCH IT INTO 1ST 2ND OR 3RD AND GET IT MOVING AGAIN. IT HASN'T HAPPEND AT HIGH SPEEDS YET. AND THE THE METAL UNDER THE SEATS IS ALL RUSTED. AT THIS RATE THE TRANSMITION WILL CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND THE SEATS WILL COME OFF AND THE AIRBAGS THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN RECALLED WILL KILL US IM HIGHLY DISSAPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE.
OF THE FOUR POSTS WHERE THE COMPLETE REAR AXLE MOUNTS TO THE UNDER BODY OF THE CHASSIS, TWO OF THE POSTS HAVE RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME, LEAVING THE REAR AXLE ONLY HALF ATTACHED TO THE MAIN BODY OF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE HAS VERY LIMITED RUST ANYWHERE, SO FOR THE UNDER BODY TO RUST TO A POINT OF SEPARATION FROM THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY IS DISCONCERTING. WE HAD NO WARNING AND HAD THE VEHICLE PROPERLY/ROUTINELY MAINTAINED. IF THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN AWAY, THE RESULTING CRASH WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. CERTIFIED MECHANICS CONFIRM THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A SERIOUS DETERIORATION OF A SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL COMPONENT.
OWNER DRIVER WAS STOPPED ON RED LIGHT ALONG WITH 20 OTHER CARS , THE DRIVER WAS LAST IN THE LANE AND OTHER DRIVER DID NOT APPLIED BRAKES, THIS VEHICLE WAS BANGED FROM THE BACK. BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED BY WESTMINSTER HONDA IN COSTA MESA . CALIFORNIA, BODY REPAIR COST OF $ 3,500 WAS PAID BY INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE PERSON WHO WAS AT FAULT, THE AUTO TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT COST OF $ 6,500 WAS RECOVERED FROM THE ME WHO WAS NOT AT FAULT. THE QUESTION IS AT THAT TIME THE AIR BAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED BECAUSE OF FAULT? AFTER THAT I GOT RECALL NOTICE FROM AMERICAN HONDA FOR TWO AIR BAGS DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE, THE NOTICE CAME IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2015, FIRST THEY DELAYED THE REPAIR TASK BY MAKING AN EXCUSE THAT THEY ARE VERY BUSY AND FIRST APPOINTMENT IS AVAILABLE ON FEBRUARY 28 TH AT AUTO NATION HONDA IN GILBERT AZ THEN I GOT AN E MAIL AND A CALL FROM DEALER THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER, AND THEY WOULD NOT KNOW WHEN PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. AFTER THAT I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA, THEY HAVE INTERVENED AND ASSURED ME THAT AUTO NATION HONDA WILL CALL ME TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT AGAIN. THEN I GAVE 4 - 5 CALLS TO AUTO NATION HONDA, TILL TODAY AS OF APRIL 19TH THIS REPAIR IS NOT FIXED EVEN THOUGH ALL PARTIES KNOW THAT THIS IS CRITICAL TO THE LIFE OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS IN THIS VEHICLE. NOW I AM IN ROUND ROCK TEXAS, SO I WILL NEED TO SEE NEW DEALER WILL SOMEBODY CONTROL THESE AUTO COMPANIES AND DEALER FOR COMPLIANCE? THANKS *TR
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE HAS METALLIC TAPE COATING. TAPE IS PEELING OFF. 2 OF MY CHILDREN WERE CUT BY THE METAL. KIDS CANNOT OPEN INTERIOR PASSENGER DOOR WITHOUT BEING INJURED. THEY ARE NOW SCARED, AND MAY BE RELUCTANT TO OPEN DOOR IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, WATER TRAVELED THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ONTO THE FLOORBOARDS. THE FAILURE CREATED MOLD IN THE VEHICLE AND ELECTRICAL WIRING DAMAGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT WATER WAS TRAVELING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE...UPDATED 02/11/15 *BF .
THE CAR WAS MOVED INTO LOCATION, TURNED OFF, AND THE KEY REMOVED LEADING TO THE DRIVER THINKING THE CAR WAS IN PARK, HOWEVER THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE CAR WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, ROLL OVER A TREE, AND CRASH INTO ANOTHER TREE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR END APPEARED TO BE LOWER THAN NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD DETACHED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING OF THE SUB FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
CLEAR COAT BEGAN COMING OFF OF MANY HORIZONTAL SURFACES. HAS CONTINUED FOR YEARS. NOW THE ACTUAL PAINT IS COMING OFF AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
DURING NORMAL ACCELERATION FROM STOP I FELT MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SNAP AND GIVE ALLOWING MY BODY TO LEAN BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. VISUAL INSPECTION UNDER SEAT SHOW FATIGUED METAL BRACKET AT FORWARD OUTBOUND POSITION OF SEAT BASE/BRACKET JUST ABOVE RAILS. I WOULD ASSUME INTEGRITY/SAFETY OF SEAT IS COMPROMISED. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN DURING NORMAL ACCELERATION/USE. *TR
HONDA PILOT '03 STARTED LEAKING WATER INTO THE FRONT CABIN AFTER THE RAINS. THE FLOOR GETS WET AND THE WATER NEEDS TO BE VACUUMED OUT AFTER THE RAIN. NOT SURE WHAT ELSE IS BEING AFFECTED BECAUSE OF THIS WATER LEAK.. I ALREADY SEE RUST SHOWING UP AND MOLD SMELL COMING OUT BECAUSE OF THE WATER LEAK. I CALLED IN NORTHAMERICAN HONDA AND LODGED A COMPLAINT. *TR
WHILE ON MY WAYBACK ON I95 FROM RICHMOND, VA TO SILVER SPRING MARYLAND, I SUDDENLY HEARD A NOISE FROM MY BACK WINDOW AND I SAW MY HONDA PILOT SPOILER FLY AWAY AND LAND IN FRONT OF THE UPCOMING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TODAY, I STILL HAVE NOT REPLACED THIS BACK SPOILER AND I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER HONDA PILOTS ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN THE CITY WITHOUT THIS BACK SPOILER. *TR
THE CHROME FINISH ON THE DOOR HANDLES FROM THE INSIDE, THIS CHROME FINISH IS A THINK LATER OF MATERIAL ALMOST LIKE FLEX METAL - IT'S VERY SHARP AND EASILY CREATES CUTS IN HAND WHEN OPENING THE CAR DOORS. APPROX 3 DAYS AGO, I WAS MOVING MY HAND AS I WAS DRIVING AND MY FINGER TOUCHED THE PEALING CHROME FINISH CREATING A DEEP CUT CAUSING PAIN AND BLEEDING. I HAVE KIDS AND THEY MAY GET HURT BY THIS. *TR
MY VEHICLE IS LEAKING WATER TO THE INTERIOR, LIKE A NUMBER OF OTHER HONDA OWNERS. HONDA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT...AND IT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE BECAUSE OF MOISTURE ON CRITICAL ELECTRICAL PARTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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