2004 Honda Pilot Body & structure Problems

Confirmed with local mechanic that the rear cross member of the sub-frame needs to be replaced immediately. Badly rusted and is a safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11487723

Incident

Oct 3, 2022

I bought this 2004 Honda Pilot new in 2004 in Louisville. In 2018 I drove to Florida without incident. While here in Florida I have had a problem with oil leaking. Than the compressor for the air went out and I took it straight to the dealer here. They told me it was not worth fixing. Since then I have had 2 mechanics look underneath the car and said it was so rusted that the frame was dangerous and they could not risk fixing it. I have checked with other Honda owners only to find out this is a problem with numerous Honda years and no one fix this problems because of liability . I have photos of the rusted out rear-end and the frame is not attached. You can find owners trying to weld the rear-end back on. No one will repair my compressor because of the rust and damage. When I had it at the dealers they did not mention this problem at all. They just said it was not worth fixing. My car has about 200000 miles but has has its service. This has to be a major recall or replacement. We could have had a major accident over this and didn't know [XXX] Please call or forward communication. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11475588

Incident

May 12, 2021

My hood latch isn't holding when I'm highway driving at 60MPH. The hood will pop open. I've seen the new recall on the news for the newer vehicles but it is also happening on my 2004. I believe that year needs to be added to the list.

NHTSA ID

11442638

Incident

Nov 4, 2021

2004 HONDA PILOT DRIVER SIDE REAR SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER RUSTED AND FALLING APART. STARTED TO RUST AROUND 2010 THEN WORST AT 2019. ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE IS RUSTED AND BAD. THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS NO ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11301869

Incident

Jan 29, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

WENT TO GET A OIL CHANGE FOR MY CAR AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECH SHOWED ME THE RUST ON THE SUB FRAME, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE REAR MOUNT. THE RUST WENT THROUGH THE FRAME AND THERE IS A BIG HOLE AROUND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR MOUNT. I WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENED TO SOME OTHER HONDA PILOT.

NHTSA ID

11289373

Incident

Dec 12, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

WHILE ON THE 605N FREEWAY CLOSE TO THE 10 FREEWAYSPLIT OUR ENTIRE SUNROOF WHICH THE GLASS AND COVER DITACHED FROM OUR VEHICLE AND FLEW OFF. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND WAS NOT HIT FROM WHAT I SEE IN THE RECORDING BUT WE CAN'T SEE IF IT FLEW ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. MY CHILDREN WERE SEATING IN THE MIDDLE ROW AND SMALL DEBRI HIT THEIR FACE. WE PULLED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY SIDE OF THE FREEWAY TO CHECK DAMAGE. ALL THAT'S LEFT FROM THE SUNROOF IS THE GLUE.

NHTSA ID

11287897

Incident

Dec 8, 2019

Mileage

183,559 mi

OUR PILOT FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR GETS SOAKING WET WHEN IT RAINS! OUR CAR IS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY AND STATIONARY. AFTER A RAINSTORM IS WHEN WE FIND THE SOAKED CARPETING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THE WATER SEEPS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WHERE MOLD CAN FORM. THE SEATS ARE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AND THE AREA CAN'T BE VACUUMED EFFECTIVELY. THERE SEEMS TO BE EITHER FAULTY HARNESS PLUGS OR ANOTHER AREA IN FRONT TIRE FLAPS THAT THE COMPANY DIDN'T SEAL RESULTING IN SOAKING WET CARPETS THAT CAN SHOW SIGNS OF MOLD. I HAVE VERY BAD ALLERGIES AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I ALSO HAVE MY CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND SOMETIMES GREAT GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS CAR AND I'M AFRAID THAT ANY MOLD COULD COMPROMISE OUR HEALTH! WHY ISN'T HONDA TAKING CARE OF THIS ISSUE WHEN THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE CONCERNING THIS ISSUE? WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND IT'S GETTING RIDICULOUS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THIS SAME COMPLAINT ONLINE!

NHTSA ID

11155805

Incident

Oct 30, 2015

MAJOR REAR END CORROSION. FRAME & WHERE REAR END CONNECTS TO BODY. TOLD BY 2 BODY SHOPS & AN AUTO MECHANIC TO STOP DRIVING. THE BACK END COULD DROP OUT.

NHTSA ID

11151006

Incident

Oct 30, 2018

Mileage

177,000 mi

THE BODY WHERE IT ATTACHES TO REAR SUBFRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH. THERE ARE 4 MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND ON MY 2004 PILOT ONE MOUNTING POINT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING SUBFRAME TO BE HANGING WITHOUT PROPER SUPPORT. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND WHEN VEHICLE HAD 218,675 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11122173

Incident

Jul 18, 2018

Mileage

219,675 mi

WHILE DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT I HEARD A LOUD BANG, THE ABS AND VTM 4 LIGHTS CAME ON ,AND IT STARTED HAVING A SEVERE VIBRATION . THE REAR UNI BODY FRAME ,FOR THE REAR SUB FRAME, MOUNTING POINTS PULLED OUT OF THE FRAME. THE REARWARD SUB FRAME HAD DROPPED DOWN ABOUT 6 - 8 INCHES. THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME HAS RUSTED AWAY, ON THE INSIDE.

NHTSA ID

11081793

Incident

Mar 17, 2018

Mileage

205,540 mi

FLOOR ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE IS SOAK.

NHTSA ID

11075362

Incident

Feb 10, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE REAR SUSPENSION BECAME SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,000.

NHTSA ID

11064419

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

101,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAD DISINTEGRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10884207

Incident

Jul 7, 2016

Mileage

180,000 mi

REAR SPOILER (WITH 3RD TAIL LIGHT AND WASHER NOZZLE) FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

10883809

Incident

Jul 2, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND THE AXLE FELL THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000.

NHTSA ID

10860150

Incident

Apr 14, 2016

Mileage

213,000 mi

THE REAR HATCH HAS TO BE LIFTED MANUALLY AND HELD UP AT ALL TIMES OR IT WILL CRASH DOWN ON YOU WITH THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE HATCH. I HAD TO USE BOTH OF MY HANDS TO GET IT OPENED. I HAD TO PHYSICALLY HOLD IT UP TO ACCESS ANYTHING IN THE BACK. IT'S EXTREMELY HEAVY. I WAS WORRIED IT WOULD COME CRASHING DOWN ON MY BACK, HEAD OR ARM, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, NO ENGINE RUNNING. THIS IS NOT A REMOTE OPEN HATCH.

NHTSA ID

10780982

Incident

Oct 8, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR SPED OUT OF CONTROL HIT THE CENTER DIVIDER. FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS WENT OFF! THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAGS SCARRED THE INSIDE OD MY WRIST.

NHTSA ID

10748262

Incident

Mar 15, 2014

ON JULY 25 ,2013 AROUND 8:00AM AM STARTING MY 2004 HONDA PILOT , TO MOVE MY CAR TO AVOID PARKING TICKETS AT 8:30AM. AFTER 5 MINUTES OF WARMING THE ENGINE I DECIDED TO DRIVE AROUND TO FIND A PARKING SPACE TO AVOID A TICKED.AROUND 8:14AM I FOUND A PARKING SPACE AND THE CAR IS PARKED.LATER AROUND 3:00PM I DECIDED TO GO TO MY GIRLFRIEND HOUSE ,I SEE THE MY CAR PARKED AND A FREE PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT. TO AVOID TICKETS THE NEXT DAY I MOVED THE CAR. AROUND 3:02 THE CAR IS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT. AROUND 9:50 PM AM WALKING HOME AND I SEE THE HOOD OF MY CAR OPEN.THE ENGINE WAS ALL BURNED INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS THERE WAS NO WIRE EVERYTHING MELT.NEIGHBORS WHERE SITTING OUTSIDE AS USUAL ,THEY TOLD ME THAT IT STARTED AROUND 3:30 AND THAT SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE .FIRE DEPARTMENT TOOK LIKE 15M !!!!TO ARRIVED.CAR HAD 105,000 MILES. I WASN'T USING THE CAR THAT OFTEN ,THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FIRE I DROVE THE CAR FOR 15 MILES BACK AND FORWARD. MY ENSURES DON'T COVER FIRE. NO MORE HONDA THANKS!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10534568

Incident

Jul 25, 2013

Mileage

105,000 mi

WENT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID VEHICLE HAS BAD ENGINE MOUNTS, AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. NOTE THAT WE ALSO HAVE A 2003 ACURA MDX, AND THE DEALER ALSO TOLD US THAT SOME ENGINE MOUNTS NEEDS REPLACEMENT. WE CHECKED SOME BLOGS FOR ACURA MDX AND HONDA PILOT OWNERS, AND FOUND A LOT OF OWNERS WITH SAME ISSUES. SOME ARE BEING REPLACED EVERY TWO YEARS. WE OWNED A V6 TOYOTA FOR 15 YEARS, NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. WE HOPE NHTSA WILL CHECK THIS, BECAUSE IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO OWNERS AND ACURA/HONDA WILL NEVER ADMIT. I'M SURE IF NHTSA WILL GET REPAIR RECORDS FOR THIS "ENGINE MOUNT" ISSUES, IT WILL BE A LOT. FROM WHAT I READ, THIS AFFECTS DRIVE SHAFTS DUE TO EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503900

Incident

Jan 31, 2011

WE FIRST NOTICED IN OCT. 2012 THAT THE CARPET AND MAT FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF OUR CAR WERE WET WITH WATER. IT IS NOW DEC. 2012 AND THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED. THE WET CARPET IS CAUSING A MILDEW SMELL IN OUR CAR WHICH WE CANNOT GET RID OF, AS THE CARPETS ARE GETTING WETTER EACH TIME IT RAINS. THE CAR ALSO FOGS UP CONSTANTLY DUE TO THE INSIDE MOISTURE, MAKING VISIBILITY EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. ONCE THE TEMPERATURE DROPS THE WET FLOORS ARE SURE TO FREEZE, THUS CAUSING ANOTHER HAZARD: SLIPPERY FEET NEAR THE BREAK AND ACCELERATOR. IT IS REASONABLE TO SUPPOSE THAT THERE WILL BE RUST AND EVENTUAL DETERIORATION IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. THERE SEEMS TO BE A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR ON BOTH SIDES WHERE THERE IS WATER DRIPPING IN FROM POSSIBLY THE WHEEL WELL OR RIGHT ABOVE THE WHEEL WELL. IN LOOKING ON LINE, WE SEE SEVERAL HONDA PILOTS AND RIDGELINES WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM, IMPROPER STRUCTURAL SEALS BREAKING DOWN AND CAUSING WATER TO DRIP ONTO THE FLOORBOARDS OF THE CAR. HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (WE CALLED OUR DEALERSHIP) BUT WILL ONLY FIX IT IF THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SEEING THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND A KNOWN COMMON STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT HONDA SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10489598

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

VEHICLE VEERED OF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TREE, DEAD ON THE FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT AND DESTROYED THE BUMPER AND FRONT LEFT FENDER, PUSHED THE HOOD INTO THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH CRACKED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. BRUISING FROM SEAT BELT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459831

Incident

May 24, 2012

Mileage

180,000 mi

RUMBLE STRIP NOISE AT 35 TO 40 MILE PER HOUR. TAKEN IT TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. TECH HAS HEARD IT. TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS WINDSHIELD MOLDING. WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE 2 HONDAS, THEY WILL BE MY LAST PURCHASE FROM HONDA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454182

Incident

Apr 6, 2009

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY 2004 HONDA PILOT STARTED TO LEAK WATER IN BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER CARPET IS GETTING SOAK AND WET. I TOOK IT TO DAVID MCDAVID HONDA DEALER, AT IRVING, TX. THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHERE THE WATER IS COMING FROM . THEY WANT TO KEEP THE CAR FOR AN ENTIRE DAY TO SEE WHAT CAUSING THIS ISSUE. THEY WANT TO CHARGE $99.00 PER HOUR. (VERY EXPENSIVE OPTION...I WOULD SAY). I WENT ONLINE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SEEMS TO HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH WATER LEAKAGE WITH HONDA PILOT. I AM TRYING MY BEST TO KEEP THE CAR DRY BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT WATER LEAKAGE MIGHT CAUSE TO GET MOLD INSIDE THE CAR, WHICH IS MAJOR HEALTH HAZARD. I ALREADY SAW THE RUST UNDER THE CARPET( SOME PART OF CARPET LOOK RED RUST SPOT). WAS THERE A RECALL ON THAT ISSUE? IS HONDA TREATING THIS PROBLEM AS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT? THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10443140

Incident

Dec 1, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLES HAD SHARP METAL PAINT CHIPS THAT FRACTURED, CAUSING THE METAL TO PENETRATE UNDER THE FINGER NAILS OF ANYONE OPENING OR EXITING THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DOOR HANDLES ON ALL FOUR OF THE DOORS. THE DEALER PAID HALF OF THE EXPENSES AND THE CONTACT PAID THE REMAINING BALANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO INFORMED THE DEALER TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ID

10434078

Incident

Nov 3, 2010

Mileage

102,000 mi

ONE OF THE TWO NUTS THAT HOLD ON THE REAR LICENSE PLATE ONTO THE CAR SHEARED OFF DUE TO NORMAL USAGE, I.E. NORMAL CLOSING OF THE REAR DOOR. THE TWO NUTS ARE TACK WELDED DIRECTLY TO THE THIN BODY METAL AND APPARENTLY THE REPEATED SHOCK OF CLOSING THE REAR DOOR CAN CAUSE METAL FATIGUE AND THE NUTS TO SHEAR OFF WITH THE BODY METAL, RESULTING THE LICENSE BECOMING UNSECURED TO THE VEHICLE. POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IF THE OWNER DOES NOT NOTICE THE FIRST FAILURE, THE METAL FATIGUE WILL BE ACCELERATED BY THE ADDITIONAL TORQUE STRESS AND FAILURE OF THE SECOND NUT COULD OCCUR WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF THIS FAILURE HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE INTERNET BLOGS SINCE 2007. *KB

NHTSA ID

10429982

Incident

Oct 12, 2011

Mileage

106,587 mi