Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 127 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 127, in the owner's own words
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Honda Pilot. While having an oil change performed, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 138,000, and at the time of service, it was discovered that the mileage was 217,000.
I am the original owner of my 2003 Honda pilot and had to replace the front driver side door actuator years ago. Now all the remaining 3 doors need to have the door actuators replaced. If you're outside the car you cannot open the door. Using the key remote or putting the key into the front door keyhole will NOT unlock or lock the door. You have to be inside the car and lift or depress the lock button to get them to open or to lock it. This is a very dangerous situation for if an emergency should occur and it's necessary to either exit the vehicle or enter you won't be able to. I know the later year Honda's has had recalls on door actuators.
Reporting an important safety issue I experienced due to random engine stalling on my 2003 Honda Pilot, typically after driving for a few minutes. The engine would crank for several seconds or sometimes start immediately after stalling, but no diagnostic trouble codes were ever stored. The vehicle had stable fuel trims and idle, and multiple components including the EGR valve and valve clearance were serviced without resolving the issue. Ultimately, the root cause was traced to a failing PGM-FI (fuel pump) relay located under the driver’s dash. After replacing the relay close to two months ago, the stalling stopped completely. This issue could pose a safety risk if the engine stalls in traffic, especially in a hazardous area where there’s no breakdown lane (construction zone, etc.) , and I believe this factor should consider this a known failure point in aging vehicles of this model. Attached are two images of the new relay zip tied under the driver’s footwell (could not remove the bad relay since it was too difficult to remove from its bracket).
Water leaked into front floors of vehicle soaking the carpet and the fuse panels in the floor. Yes it is available. Fuse boxes had standing water building up behind them slowly dumping water into them causing shorts in electrical system which could have caused the car to catch on fire. Yes the problem has been confirmed. No the vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than mechanic. The only signs of the problem I noticed was the carpet was soaked and couldn't understand why. The battery died randomly one night after locking the doors. No other signs were noted.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle however, the ignition switch failed to turn. The ignition switch warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owned a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated she was informed by her daughter that the inside passenger side of the vehicle was on fire. The contact extinguished the fire with water. The fire department arrived afterward and informed that the electronic software was the cause of the fire. The contact was unsure if a fire report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries or medical treatments needed. The contact notified a local mechanic regarding the failure and was informed of the same information which the fire department provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.
KEEP GETTING MISFIRES HAD MECHANIC REPLACE COILS & PLUGS BUT STILL GETTING OBD CODES FOR MISFIRES OF CYLINDERS WHY ?? ALSO KEEPS JERKING & I NOR A MECHANIC DO NOT KNOW WHY
WHEN I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION AND THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP ON ME. AND ENDED UP NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE AT ALL. THERE WAS A PIECE STUCK INSIDE AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A LOCKING MECHANISM WITH IT THAT WAS JAMMED AND THERE WAS NOTHING I WAS ABLE TO DO SO I EITHER NEEDED TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS WARPED OR MALFUNCTIONED. AND I NEEDED TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY RECALLS BECAUSE THEY RECALLED THE IGNITIONS BEFORE ON THIS YEAR,MAKE AND MODEL BEFORE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. MY VEHICLE WAS IN A SHOP. MY WHEEL BEARING AND HUB WAS BEING PLACED ON. WHEN THEY WENT TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THERE MECHANIC GARAGE IT REFUSED TO TURN OVER THERE WAS AN IGNITION PIECE WAS BROKEN OFF. WHEN THEY ENDED UP GETTING IT OUT OF THEIR GARAGE IT I HAD TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL MANUALLY FROM UNDERNEATH AND IT JUST STARTED TO ROLL. SO THEY HAD TO HOLD THE BRAKES. IT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO MY RESIDENCE. *TR
VEHICLE HAD A LACK OF COMPUTER FUNCTION WOULD NOT START. ALL DASH LIGHTS LITE IGNITION NON FUNCTIONAL WHEN TEST PLUG PUT ON OBD PLUG ALL PROBLEMS CLEARED VEHICLE NOW OPERATES CORRECTLY VEHICLE HAD JUST PASSED STATE INSPECTION AND OPERATED CORRECTLY FOR 3DAYS.
WAS ABLE TO PULL MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN MY 2003 HONDA PILOT IS PARKED AND IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER IN DRIVE POSITION. I ALREADY HAD MY IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED TWICE (USING MY OWN DIME); HONDA HAS A PARTIAL RECALL (NHSTA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12V573000 AND HONDA RECALL NO. S73/S74), BUT A HONDA REP TOLD ME THAT MY PILOT "IS NOT AFFECTED."
HONDA PILOT 2003 CRANKED UP STARTED DRIVING, AFTER A MIN OR TWO IT SHUT OFF AND WOULDN'T CRANK BACK UP. I'VE REPLACED THE MAIN RELAY AND A NEW FUEL PUMP BUT WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN AND TRY TO START IT, IT DOESN'T TURN OVER ALL THE WAY. IT WANTS TO BUT WON'T. ALSO MORE ELECTRICAL ISSUES ALONG WITH RADIO AND HEAD LIGHTS. SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG AND IVE PUT ALOT OF MONEY INTO TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS AND HAVE BEEN GUARANTEED THAT PART WILL FIX IT BUT NO LUCK. NEW PARTS HELP BUT NOT WITH TURNING OVER AND STARTING.
I NEVER GOT RECALLS FIXED AND DEALER SERVICE MARKED AS CHECKED BUT NOT REPLACED AND SRS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE SERVICE AND I HAD TO PAY TO GET RECALLED DUE TO EMERGENCY INTERLOCK WAS DAMAGED
LO BEAM HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. BULBS FUSES AND RELAYS ARE GOOD. HIGH BEAMS WORK OK. LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND I DISCOVERED IT AT NIGHT WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME.
WINDOW REGULATORS STOP WORKING AND WINDOW CAN CRASH WHEN DRIVING. SO FAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO REGULATORS AND ONE WINDOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START UPON TURNING THE KEY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND THEN TURNED OFF, IT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON AUGUST 26, 2017. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE BATTERY TO DISENGAGE THE ENGINE AND THE IGNITION KEY WAS ABLE TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TITANS HONDA IN TYSONS CORNER, VIRGINIA, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REINSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE STATIONARY, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 06264304. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) APPLIED DIRECTLY TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.
IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM. KEY IS DIFFICULT TO INSERT INTO IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. ONCE INSERTED, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN.
FIRST, DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATIC NOW HAVE TO UNLOCK MYSELF, ALONG WITS THE OUTSIDE DOORS.ALARM BUTTON NO LONGER WORKS TO UNLOCK. DOOR HANDLES INSIDE HAVE BEEN PEELING AND ACTUALLY CUT YOUR FINGERS WHEN OPENING THE DOOR, I HAVE MASWING TAPE IN THEM AND IT'S UGLY, FINALLY..LIGHTS INSIDE ARE GOING OUT ON RADIO, DIMMING ON INTERIOR ALSO.
THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN GEAR.
MY HONDA PILOT IS HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS IN THE CITY AND ON THE HIGHWAY. I WILL BE MOVING IN A FEW WEEKS AND TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY EVERYDAY. A FEW DAYS AGO I CALLED HONDA AFTER LOOKING UP RECALLS AND THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION RECALL NUMBER 04V176000. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO THE HONDA DEALER AND IF IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IT WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HONDA TOLD ME AND THEY SAID IT IS PROBABLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. (CODE P0740) THE SUPERVISOR WAS GOING TO CALL HONDA AND GET BACK TO ME. I FEEL VERY FRIGHTENED TO TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT A 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH ONLY 130,000 MILES WOULD HAVE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR TORQUE CONVERTER !! IF IT IS CAUSING GEARS TO CHIP OR BREAK I DON'T WANT TO BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND POSSIBLY BE INJURED OR EVEN KILLED ! OR CAUSING INJURY TO OTHERS. *TR
IGNITION KEY CAN PULL OUT WHILE DRIVING
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND I HAVE TO PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE/ SPEED UP THE VEHICLE QUICKLY THE DRIVER SEAT BOUNCES BACKWARDS/MOVES AND IT FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO COME OFF THE FRAME ITS MOUNTED TO LIKE SOME BOLTS MAY BE BROKE OR SOMETHING. THE CAR LOCKS ARE MESSED UP. THE BOTH FRONT DOOR LOCKS HAVE TO BE UNLOCKED WITH A KEY. THE INSIDE UNLOCK MECHANISM ONLY UNLOCKS THE DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR AND THE TRUNK. IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE PASSENGER FRONT AND THE PASSENGER REAR LOCKS A WINDOW HAS TO BE ROLLED DOWN AND YOU HAVE TO REACH IN AND MANUALLY UNLOCK IT AND THOSE ALSO HAVE TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED BACK WHEN YOU EXIT THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE PASSENGER AIR UNIT DOES WORK. IT DOES NOT BLOW OUT AIR EVEN WITH THE REAR CONTROL ON. THE INSIDE CAR LIGHTS HAVE TO BE MANUALLY CUT ON AND OFF AND NOT SET TO COME ON WHEN THE DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES BECAUSE IT RUNS THE BATTERY DOWN. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER. AND THE POWER PORT TO CHARGE PHONES, ETC. WORKS BUT ANYTHING PLUGGED INTO IT GETS HOT REAL FAST. ALL THAT POINTS TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE AIR BAG LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON AND GOING OFF. THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING D AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL FLUID AND FILTER WAS CHANGED. SO FAR THAT SEEMS TO HAVE HELPED. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH ACT DEFECTED. THE KEY HAS TO REMAIN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE SPARE KEY HAS TO BE USED TO UNLOCK THE CAR BECAUSE IF THE KEY IS REMOVED, IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO BACK INTO THE SWITCH TO CRANK THE CAR. THE SWITCH DOES NOT WANT TO ACCEPT THE KEY AND TURN TO CRANK THE ENGINE ONCE IT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SWITCH. EVEN TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND PRESSING THE BRAKE TO RELEASE THE SWITCH DOESN'T WORK. AND THE GEAR SHIFT STICK/SHAFT ACTS ALMOST LIKE IT'S NOT PARK, BUT IT WAS PUT IN PARK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IN 2013 AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE IGNITION FAILURE RECURRED TWO YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
ABOUT A MONTH AGO I TRIED TO USE MY SPARE KEY AND THE KEY WOULDN'T WORK IN MY IGNITION. SO, I LOCATED MY REGULAR KEYS AND THEY KEY WORKED AS IT SHOULD. LAST WEEK MY NORMAL KEY WOULD GO INTO THE IGNITION BUT, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE KEY DID FINALLY TURN AND I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. LATER THAT DAY, I WENT TO LEAVE MY HOUSE FOR WORK AND AGAIN THE KEY WOULD GO INTO THE IGNITION BUT, NOT TURN THE IGNITION. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF INSERTING AND REMOVING THE KEY IT FINALLY WORKED AGAIN. IT CONTINUED TO WORK FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. I SPOKE WITH MY MECHANIC AND HE SUGGESTED I GET THE IGNITION REPLACED BEFORE IT GOT TO A POINT WHERE IT WOULDN'T START AN IN HIS OPINION THE IGNITION WAS DETERIORATING QUICKLY. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE A DEALER ONLY REPAIR. I DID ASK TWO OTHER MECHANICS IN THE AREA & I REACHED OUT TO A LOCKSMITH, THEY ALL SAID DUE TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE ALARM & THE LAZER CUT KEY STYLE IT WAS A DEALER ONLY PART. I STARTED TO GOOGLE THE ISSUE & SAW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM & I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD WORK DONE ON THE IGNITION WITH A PREVIOUS RECALL BUT, THEY FELT THIS ISSUE WAS UNRELATED AND WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. THE NEXT MORNING THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION WOULD NOW TURN BUT, I WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY, LEAVING MY CAR A PRIME TARGET FOR THEFT. I DROPPED THE CAR OFF THIS MORNING & I MADE A CALL INTO CORPORATE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. IT WAS ALSO SUGGESTED I FILE A COMPLAINT HERE BY ONE OF THE MANY OTHER 2003 PILOT OWNERS ON ANOTHER FORUM: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/HONDA/PILOT/2003/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/IGNITION_SWITCH_PROBLEM.SHTML TOTAL COST OF REPAIR $538.89
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED IN THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
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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