2003 Honda Pilot Brakes Problems

THE GEAR SHIFTER WILL NOT GAUGE IS STUCK IN ONE POSITION

NHTSA ID

11280157

Incident

Nov 4, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

I WAS ON THE HWY IN THE LEFT LANE AN EXHILARATED THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY SUV JUST BRAKED SUDDENLY WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE BRAKE CAUSING A SCREECH ON THE CONCRETE. I MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE VERY CAUTIOUSLY. I DROVE ABOUT 15 MILES THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I TURNED MY EMERGENCY FLASHER ON AND DROVE ANOTHER 5 MILES WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I PULLED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED MY HUSBAND TO COME DRIVE BEHIND ME THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. THIS IS VERY SCARY. I JUST KNEW I WAS GOING TO GET REAR ENDED. I LOVE MY HONDA PILOT BUT NOW I CAN'T DRIVE IT. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY OR WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM! PLEASE HELP. THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10911375

Incident

Sep 29, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TWO FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SPEED SENSORS AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 195,000.

NHTSA ID

10852252

Incident

Mar 22, 2016

Mileage

195,000 mi

IN THE MORNING, ON JANUARY 27, I HAD MY 2 YEAR OLD AND 4 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE AND I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO SCHOOL. LESS THAN A MILE FROM HOME, GOING BETWEEN 30-35MPH, I TAPPED THE BRAKES AS I APPROACHED A BEND IN THE ROAD AND AFTER A BRIEF INITIAL PAUSE (AS YOU WOULD EXPECT), THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED RAPIDLY ACCELERATING - I STARTED PRESSING THE BRAKES TO NO AVAIL - VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN - AT THIS POINT I WAS IN THE CURVE AND WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. I HIT A SMALL TREE AND CONTINUED CAREENING OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL I CRASHED IN A DITCH, HITTING A WOOD HYDRO POLE (THANKFULLY NOT CONCRETE) - BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED - I SUFFERED A BROKEN ANKLE, BRUISED RIBS AND SEAT BELT ABRASIONS - MY 2 YEAR OLD REQUIRED STITCHES ON HER EYE LID AND EYEBROW DUE TO IMPACT WITH HER CUP THAT SHE WAS HOLDING AT THE TIME (WE'RE LUCKY HER SIGHT WASN'T AFFECTED). MY SON SUFFERED NO PHYSICAL INJURIES BUT 1 MONTH LATER IS STILL TALKING ABOUT IT. VEHICLE WAS A COMPLETE WRITE OFF. HAD APPROXIMATELY 161,000 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT. CRUISE CONTROL WAS LIKELY ON BUT WASN'T IN USE. SIMILAR ISSUE HAPPENED ON 2 PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. 1ST AT LEAST 8 MONTHS AGO AND THEN AGAIN ABOUT 3 WEEKS BEFORE ACCIDENT (WAS GOING TO ADDRESS WITH DEALER AT NEXT OIL CHANGE) BUT ON TWO PRIOR OCCURRENCES SURGE OCCURRED WHEN BRAKES WERE TAPPED TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL - SAME PAUSE/SURGE BUT NOT NEARLY AS INTENSE AND STOPPED IMMEDIATELY WHEN BRAKES WERE PRESSED AGAIN. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I NOTED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. NO IDEA HOW FAST IT WAS GOING WHEN IT CRASHED BUT IT "FELT" LIKE AT LEAST 50MPH. THIS IS TERRIFYING WHEN IT HAPPENS, I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT AN INTERSECTION OR ON THE EXPRESSWAY - WE MIGHT NOT BE HERE... ALSO MAILING LETTER TO MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID

10840023

Incident

Jan 27, 2016

Mileage

161,000 mi

CAR SUDDENLY AND ABRUPTLY DECELERATED AS IF MAXIMUM BRAKES WERE APPLIED FOR ABOUT HALF A SECOND. CAR DID NOT JERK HARD TO LEFT OR RIGHT, SUGGESTING THAT IF BRAKES WERE THE CAUSE, BOTH WHEELS PROBABLY ENGAGED SIMULTANEOUSLY. REMOVED BOTH FRONT WHEELS AND INSPECTED FRONT BRAKES AND LINES. NOTHING UNUSUAL NOTED. BRAKE FLUID LEVEL CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE BETWEEN MAX AND MIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10694275

Incident

Mar 13, 2015

Mileage

176,000 mi

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD UNPREDICTABLE BRAKING AND TRACTION FOR WELL OVER A YEAR. DEALER VISIT ON MARCH 14, 2014 DID NOT PRODUCE A CAUSE. MORE RECENTLY I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM 40 MPH FOR A RED LIGHT WITH FULL BRAKE PRESSURE. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE GOOD AT THE TIME. I HAD TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY DISPLAYS THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AND "VTM-4" LIGHT QUITE CONSISTENTLY. TRACTION IS ALSO INTERMITTENTLY COMPROMISED BY SOME UNKNOWN PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT WHEN THE VTM-4 LIGHT IS ON, THE AWD FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE IS DISABLED. WHEN IT IS ON, IT CANNOT BE DISABLED WITH THE SWITCH ON THE DASH. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS ORDERED ON OCTOBER 29, 2014 BUT HAS NOT YET BECOME AVAILABLE. I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN ON MARCH 2, 2014 AFTER I RECEIVED ANOTHER AIR BAG RECALL NOTICE. THIS NOW INCLUDES THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL AS THE DRIVER SIDE. AIR BAGS ARE NOT EXPECTED FOR ANOTHER TWO TO THREE MONTHS. THEY WILL CALL...............!

NHTSA ID

10692341

Incident

Mar 14, 2014

Mileage

202,115 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 04/10/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF TRACTION ISSUES IN BOTH ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. UPDATED 04/16/15*JB

NHTSA ID

10683184

Incident

Dec 15, 2014

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UTILIZE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE THEN PROCEED THROUGH TRAFFIC AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM THE COMPARTMENT BUT FAILED TO INFLATE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID

10544278

Incident

Sep 9, 2013

Mileage

127,000 mi

A NEW MASTER CYLINDER FROM AMERICAN HONDA INSTALLED BY A HONDA DEALERSHIP FAILED LESS THAN 1/4 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE WAS DETECTED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN PRESSED THOUGH THIS WAS NOT VERY NOTICEABLE. PRESSING THE BRAKE CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AND WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY CAUSED ENOUGH LOSS SO THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FRONT-LEFT BRAKE CYLINDER DUE TO THE FRONT-LEFT BRAKE CYLINDER STICKING CLOSED ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ORIGINAL BRAKE CYLINDER FAILURE CAUSED ENOUGH SMOKE TO CAUSE THE DRIVER TO INITIALLY BELIEVE THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482090

Incident

Oct 23, 2012

Mileage

159,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LENSES CAME OFF INSIDE THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT BRAKE LIGHT COVER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COVER WOULD FRACTURE EASILY ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 07/18/12

NHTSA ID

10459551

Incident

May 11, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKES WERE SPRAYED WITH A BRAKE SUBSTANCE;HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10410868

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

NOTICED THAT THE HONDA PILOT WOULD SHAKE WHEN DRIVING AT 60, THEN EVENTUALLY START FEELING THE BRAKES GOING INTO EFFECT AND THE SPEED DROPPING TO BELOW 40. HOWEVER, DRIVING AT 25 YESTERDAY, THE BRAKES LOCKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, I HAD TO PUSH DOWN THE BRAKES AND THEN THE CAR MOVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257150

Incident

Feb 1, 2009

Mileage

134,000 mi

BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE ON 2003 PILOT AT 53,000 MILES. HONDA REALIABILITY NOT AS GOOD AS PEOPLE THINK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218783

Incident

Jan 20, 2008

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2003 HONDA PILOT. ON THE EVENING OF 11/09/06 SHE WAS ATTENDING AN EVENT. WHEN SHE STARTED UP THE TRUCK SHE COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF PARK. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING IT BACK ON A COUPLE OF TIMES SOMEHOW SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN LATER ON WHEN SHE DROPPED OFF A FRIEND AND LEFT THE CAR IN PARK WHILE SHE LET HER FRIEND OUT. SHE TRIED THE SAME TACTIC AS BEFORE AND AFTER A FEW TIMES SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF PARK. WHEN SHE RETURNED HOME SHE TOLD ME OF THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE GARAGE AND STARTED THE TRUCK UP AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME. I BEGAN TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THAT WHEN THEY CAME ON I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. THERE WAS NO HAZARD LIGHT OF ANY KIND TO INFORM US OF THIS MALFUNCTION AND THAT IT WAS TIED TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS. MY WIFE DROVE OVER 60 MILES THAT EVENING AND MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HAD HER BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING. I TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND THEY REPLACED A SWITCH, FP # 5615215, DESCRIPTION SW.STOP 36750-S84. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173119

Incident

Nov 9, 2006

FOR OVER A YEAR, I HAVE BEEN REPORTING BREAK FAILURE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I EXPLAINED THAT WHEN I TRY TO STOP WHILE GOING OVER A BUMP AT 25 MPH OR LESS, THE BREAKS FAIL AND THE ABS DOES NOT KICK IN, I.E. THE CAR FAILS TO STOP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THIS MORNING I WENT OVER A BUMP AT ABOUT 22 MPH, TRIED TO STOP THE CAR AS I WAS GOING OVER THE BUMP BECAUSE THERE WAS A CAR STOPPED ABOUT 150-200 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. THE BREAKS FAILED OR LOCKED AND THE ABS NEVER KICKED IN. I RAPIDLY SLID INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10143853

Incident

Nov 28, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES. AFTER THIS HAPPENED THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THIS PROBLEM STARTED NEAR THE END OF JUNE OF 2005. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10134115

Incident

Jun 30, 2005

Mileage

23,000 mi

HONDA PILOT FRONT ROTORS GET WARP WITH NORMAL USE, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT HIGH SPEED THE CAR STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND CAR IS OUT OF CONTROL, HAVE TO REMOVE FOOT FROM BRAKES TO GET CONTROL OF THE CAR BACK, HONDA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10131758

Incident

Jul 10, 2005

Mileage

23,000 mi

WHILE PARKED IN A LOT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE . THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, BUT WAS NOT SURE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM. NO HESITATION NOR ANY WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 1000 MILES WHEN THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10107121

Incident

Jan 7, 2005

Mileage

14,000 mi

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED. STARTING AT 32,000 MILES, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES HARD SIDE TO SIDE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN FROM NORMAL WEAR, NO OTHER DEFECTS NOTED AS CAUSE (TIRES, LUG NUT TORQUE, OVER HEATING). DEALER WOULD NOT FIX UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM CONTINUES. POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL UNDER HARD BRAKING DUE TO SEVERE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE. CAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR TO OTHER PARTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096402

Incident

Oct 25, 2004

Mileage

32,000 mi

SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER BUYING OUR CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2002, WE NOTICED A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN WE USED THE BRAKES WHEN GOING FORWARD. WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL AND OCCURRED AFTER HAVING JUST BACKED UP. IT WAS A TRANSFER OF THE BRAKES FROM BACK TO FRONT. I HAD THE SERVICE TECH LOOK AT THEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUES AND HONDA WOULD NOT ADDRESS IT. I HAVE SINCE TALKED TO SEVERAL HONDA OWNERS WHO HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, MY BRAKES ARE GETTING WORSE AND MAKE THE SOUND EVEN IF I DON'T BACK UP FIRST. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079085

Incident

Mar 1, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. *AK ON MAY 19TH 2004, THE BRAKES WERE VIEWED AND A SERVICE TECH ADDED PARTS BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE BRAKES. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10073715

Incident

Apr 19, 2004

Mileage

11,979 mi

FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS WARPED FROM NORMAL USE, LOW MILEAGE (21,000 MILES) CAUSING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF VECHICLE STABILITY AND CONTROL WHEN BRAKING

NHTSA ID

10073097

Incident

May 25, 2004

Mileage

19,000 mi

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PULSATION AND SHAKING IN STEERING WHEN SLOWING DOWN. *LA THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE CUT AND RESURFACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE DEALER BLAMED THE BRAKE PROBLEMS ON HIGH MILEAGE BUT THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE DEALER MAY HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM OR THAT THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10074142

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

Mileage

25,872 mi

LOUD "CLANK" NOISE FROM BRAKE CALIPERS THE FIRST TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED AFTER CHANGING DIRECTION (FORWARD TO REVERSE OR REVERSE TO FORWARD). THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW; THE DEALER SERVICE REP STATES "THEY ALL DO THAT", AND SAID HE WAS SURPRISED HONDA HAD NOT COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF FIX BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VERY DISCONCERTING NOISE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10067859

Incident

Mar 14, 2004

Mileage

12 mi

I OWN A HONDA PILOT 2003, EVERY TIME I START MY SUV AND PRESS THE BRAKES FOR THE FIRST TIME I HEAR A LOUD NOCKING SOUND. USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER THE SUV IS NOT IN USE FOR A WHILE. I TOOK THE SUV TO THE DEALER FOR DIFFERENT ISSUE AND I ASKED THE SERVICE PERSON ABOUT THE PROBLEM, HE TOLD ME THAT THE SOUND IS COMMON ON PILOT. I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA AND THEY TOLD THAT I NEED TO TAKE THE SUV FOR AN INSPECTION AND NOT TO GO BY WHAT THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE SUV TO THE DEALER YET. BUT, I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM, I DO NOT WHY THEY HAVE NOT REPORTED IT. THE PROBLEM IS ANNOYING BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE, EVERYTIME THE SUV IS MOVE AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10060896

Incident

Feb 19, 2003