Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Honda Pilot submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Brakes seem to stop suddenly Must brake slowly to avoid a sudden stop Seatbelt locks up if I do not pull it forward and leave room in the belt so that it isn't completely holding me in Also the driver seat will only adjust sideways.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE RPMS REVVED AND THE GAUGE READING FLUCTUATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
I HAVE A 2004 HONDA PILOT WITH ROUGHLY 174,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND THE ENGINE SEEMS TO RUN GREAT. I ACQUIRED THE CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND UPON DRIVING IT I NOTICED A FAINT SHUDDERING BETWEEN GEARS UPON ACCELERATION FROM 2-50 MPH. THE WEEKS WENT ON AND IT IS NOW VERY SCARY TO DRIVE IT SHUDDERS TERRIBLY WHILE ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING FROM 2-50 MPH. IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO JUST STALL OR POSSIBLY LOCK UP AND CRASH OFF THE ROAD I HAVE AN INFANT SON AND IM AFRAID TO HAVE HIM IN THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT OUTRIGHT FROM A CERTIFIED HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR OVER 10,000 $ A FEW YEARS BACK,. AND LIKE I SAID THE CAR IS BARELY DRIVABLE THE STEERING IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE AND WILD IT IS UNRESPONSIVE AT TIMES WHEN IM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THE CAR CONTINUES TO GO STRAIGHT. THE NOISE FROM THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AREA ALONG WITH THE BRAKES ARE SO LOUD WHEN GOING DOWN HILL THAT THEY CAN BE HEARD OVER THE RADIO ON LEVEL 24-27. I CAN FEEL THE CONSTANT VIBRATION AND UPSET IN THE FRONT END SO BAD WHILE DRIVING THAT I HAVE TO MUTE THE RADIO AT TIMES TO MAKE SURE THE VEHICLE ISN'T SCRAPING AND SPARKING ALONG DUE TO A TRANSMISSION LOCK UP CAUSE IT JUST FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG. I M TOO AFRAID TO EVEN GO ON THE FREEWAY UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY BECAUSE IM AFRAID OF BEING INJURED OR KILLED BY THIS ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT. THIS FACT IS VERY TROUBLESOME BECAUSE I LIVE WHERE THE ONLY WAY TO GET ANYWHERE IS TO GO ON THE FREEWAY SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IM GOING TO DO. WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS EXACT ISSUE IM SURPRISED THERE IS NO LAW SUIT... I AM GOING TO TRY TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO TO GET ONE STARTED... IF YOUR PRODUCT HAS BEEN PROVEN DEFECTIVE LIKE THIS OBVIOUSLY HAS THEN HONDA REALLY NEEDS TO OWN UP ITS NOT FAIR HOW MUCH MONEY WE ALL LOSE BY PURCHASING THIS POS FOR THE HIGH RESALE PRICES WE PAY!!!
I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT WHERE A VEHICLE WAS MOVING BUT SUDDENLY STOPPED BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC AHEAD. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THE BRAKE WHEN IMMEDIATELY TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THERE WAS A CLICK. MY CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN BUT SLID DIRECTLY INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING FRONT END DAMAGE TO MY CAR. MY RATE OF SPEED WAS 25-30 MILES PER HOUR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND THE ABS WARNING LAMP DID NOT ILLUMINATE EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLOWLY RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL FROM THE FLOOR AND LIGHTLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK WHILE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V092000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
THE MODULES HOUSING THE REAR LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS, ON MY 2004 PILOT ARE DEFECTIVE; RED, PLASTIC REFLECTORS INSIDE BOTH MODULES OF MY VEHICLE HAVE DETACHED. THE MODULES ARE ONE PIECE IN DESIGN AND CANNOT BE OPENED OR REPAIRED. HONDA KNEW CERTAIN 2004 PILOTS HAD DEFECTIVE LIGHT MODULES BECAUSE IT ISSUED AN ADVISORY TO DEALERS TO REPLACE THEM. HOWEVER, HONDA REFUSES TO REPLACE THE MODULES ON MY CAR, SAYING THE CAR IS TOO OLD. THERE IS NO EXPIRATION DATE FOR SAFETY. *TR
UPON TAKING OFF AT THE STOP LIGHT I ACCELERATED TO 35 MILES AN HOUR THEN CHANGED LANES AS I WAS NEARING MY DESTINATION ,THE CAR SPED OUT OF CONTROL AND REACHED SPEEDS OVER 65 MILES AN HOUR,I STOOD ON THE BRAKE AND STEPPED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKES WHILE STEERING THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES, THE EMERGENCY BRAKES STOPPED THE VEHICLE, I HAD A NEW IGNITION SWITCH PUT IN AT A COST TO ME OF 700.DOLLARS SIX MONTH IN THE FALL OF 2013..THIS WAS A MOST DANGEROUS INCIDENT, PEOPLE MUST KNOW THIS., I TRIED TO RE[PORT IT ONLINE TO NHTSA IT SAID ''25 '' COMPLAINTS ONLY.??? *TR
SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF GAS PEDAL STICKING UPON ACCELERATION. ON MAY 14, 2009, I INFORMED HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID A FUEL INDUCTION CLEANING SERVICE. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THEN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2009, I INFORMED THE HONDA DEALER THAT GAS PEDAL CONTINUED TO STICK AND IT WAS HARD T PUSH THE PEDAL ALSO. DEALERSHIP CLEANED THROTTLE BODY AND PLATE. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES AND I HAVE SEEN ON CUSTOMER HONDA WEBSITES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH IN OUR 70'S AND ARE WORRIED ABOUT AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING BECAUSE OF THE GAS PEDAL STICKING. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED IN A PARKING SPACE, THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT SHE HAD NOT SHIFTED THE GEAR IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 12/28/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY. UPDATED 01/09/13
I WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY ON A COMPLETELY FLAT SURFACE. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL LIGHTLY TO GET THE CAR MOVING, THE CAR ACCELERATED WILDLY. I STOMPED ON THE BRAKE, WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TIME TO LOOK DOWN AND SEE THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TO STOMP ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING UNTIL IT SMASHED INTO A TREE GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH (ESTIMATED). A COUPLE HOURS BEFORE THE WRECK A PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN BRAKE ERROR LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. THE SHOP IT WAS TAKEN TO REFUSED TO LOOK INTO THE BRAKES, ACCELERATOR, MASTER CYLINDER OR THE TRANSMISSION. THEY STATED THERE WERE NO CODES TRIGGERED, THOUGH THEY COULD PROVIDE NO PROOF THAT THEY EVEN HAD THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO READ THE CODES. STATE FARM INSURANCE REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THIS FROM A STAND STILL ON A FLAT SURFACE. IT WAS HORRIFIC. I WOULD LIKE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE. *TR
2004 HONDA PILOT SHAKES WHEN YOU BRAKE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING OVER 50 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO SHAKES WHEN YOU GO AROUND A CURVE AT 40 MPH OR MORE. *TR
04 HONDA PILOT MASTER CYLINDER SLOW LEAK CAUSING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO SHOW ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. HAVE ONLY USED HONDA FLUID. HAVE SEEN THAT HONDA IS RECALLING 05 TO 07 ODYSSEY AND ACURA RL VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM. 04 PILOT SHOULD BE INCLUDED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO APPROACH A TRAFFIC STOP, THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR AS THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED THROUGH THE TRAFFIC STOP, BARELY AVOIDING A CRASH. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER HOWEVER; THE CONTACT STATED THE REPAIR DID NOT ADDRESS THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 29000.
I HAVE SEVERE BRAKE SHUTTERING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. IT STARTS OUT AS A MINOR SHUDDER AND SHAKE AT FIRST, AND THEN OVER TIME GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, UNTIL IT IS QUITE VIGOROUS. A LITTLE BACKGROUND: THE CAR IS A HONDA CERTIFIED CAR- 2004 PILOT I BOUGHT 2 YEARS AGO. AS A CONDITION OF THE SALE, THE DEALER (SAM SWOPE IN LOUISVILLE, KY) SAID THEY WOULD FIX A SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND A GRINDING OF THE BRAKES. THEY SAID IT WAS A MINOR PROBLEM. THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED 2 WEEKS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK 4 DAYS LATER AND THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND THEN THE PROBLEM STARTED COMING BACK- SLOWLY AT FIRST AND THEN GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. 3 MONTHS LATER THEY RESURFACED THE ROTORS. THE SAME PROBLEM PROGRESSED AGAIN, AND 3 MONTHS LATER, THEY REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACED THE ROTORS AGAIN. I PUT UP WITH A SHIMMY IN THE WHEEL AS THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN . FINALLY, AFTER ABOUT 8 MONTHS, MY WIFE COULDN'T TAKE THE SHIMMY ANY MORE AND MADE ME TAKE IT IN AGAIN. I WAS RELUCTANT BECAUSE EACH TIME I TOOK IT IN NOTHING HAPPENED, AND I'D ALREADY SPENT OVER $700 TO NO AVAIL. ONCE AGAIN THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED, THE FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DRUM WAS TURNED. TWO MONTHS LATER I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD THE ROTORS NEED TO BE RESURFACED AGAIN. I CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 4/21/09, TALKED TO TINA AND SHE SAID I WOULD LIKELY BE DENIED ANY HELP BY WALTER MENIGVAR THE EXEC. REVIEW MANAGER BECAUSE HONDA CORPORATE CONSIDERS THE BRAKES TO BE A REPAIR ITEM. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY IT'S DESIGN, AS I HAVE DRIVEN NUMEROUS CARS OVER 29 YEARS- MANY OF THOSE MILES IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WVA, AND HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM OF THIS SORT. I HAVE ALSO HEARD ABOUT OTHER HONDA PILOTS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO THINK IT IS UNSAFE. *TR
IN APPROXIMATELY EARLY 2006, I NOTICED THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD SHIMMY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT HIGHER SPEEDS. TYPICALLY IT WOULD OCCUR AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN STEEPER GRADES IN THE MOUNTAINS. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE HONDA DEALER IN APRIL 2006 WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 35,418 MILES. THE HONDA DEALER DISMISSED IT AND SAID IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THE FRONT WHEEL STILL WANTING TO PROVIDE POWER WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CONSEQUENTLY, THE BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED OUT FINE DURING THEIR INSPECTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS AND IS GETTING WORSE. I'VE ALSO NOW NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN I DRIVE ON FLATTER SURFACES AS WELL. THE PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN STOPPING AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH AND IS EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILLS. MY CONCERN AT THIS POINT IS THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME UNSTABLE BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE SHIMMY THAT OCCURS IN THE FRONT WHEELS WHILE BRAKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS OR ON AN INCLINE. *TR
SEVERE BRAKE SHUDDERING AND STEERING SHAKE WHEN BRAKING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS (WITHOUT ENGAGING ABS). RESURFACED ROTORS, PROBLEM PERSISTS AND HAS MAGNIFIED. *JB
WHILE GOING AT ABOUT 20 MPH IN LIGHT RAIN, CAR IN FRONT OF ME BROKE SUDDENLY CAUSING ME TO HIT THE BRAKES. UPON STEPPING ON THE BRAKES, I HEARD A CLICKING SOUND. THE CAR KEPT ON ROLLING AND DID NOT STOP. I TRIED MOVING LEFT ONTO A TURNING LANE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT. THE CAR SKIDDED OFF THE MEDIAN, AND CAR JUMPED THE MEDIAN WITHOUT LOSING VELOCITY. THE CAR WOUND UP ON INCOMING TRAFFIC, AT WHICH POINT A CAR COLLIDED WITH ME RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE THAT DRIVER AND MYSELF. PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO COMPLAINT ON FILE ODI ID NUMBER : 10117818. PROBLEM WILL BE REPORTED TO HONDA AS A POSSIBLE DEFECT. *NM
THIS VEHICLE FROM ORIGINAL PURCHASE HAS HAD A WHEEL VIBRATION THAT SEEMS TO BE INCORRECTABLE BY DEALER. I BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURE HONDA. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO NEEDED BRAKE ROTORS RESURFACED AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES AND IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR PARTS TO HAVE TWO TIE RODS REPLACED.
VEHICLE GOES INTO A ROLLING STOP AND SLIDES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER.*AK
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE CONSUMER HEARD A THUMP OR KNOCKING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AS OF 9/10/04 THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TC *JB
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5 TO 10 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES FRONT BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE LIKE GRINDING. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE THREE TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING. SERVICE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND NOT TO BE ALARMED. *AK
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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