2004 Honda Pilot Owner Complaints

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that at the time of purchase, the odometer mileage reading was 160,000. After obtaining a Carfax Report it was discovered that the previous mileage was 337,000. The contact also indicated that the instrument cluster had been replaced and the air bag and check engine warning lights were inoperable, and the driver’s side air bag had been removed from the vehicle. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11679076

Incident

Aug 7, 2025

Mileage

337,000 mi

Honda sold America cars that they knew were rusted less than five years and they still letting people drive these cars that are rusted at the bottom

NHTSA ID

11679046

Incident

Jul 8, 2025

The steering became extremely loose over time on my Honda Pilot posing significant safety concerns because of it. The tires adamantly follow all the divets, lines, grooves, and bumps in the road causing me to lose control of the vehicle very easily in poor driving conditions. This is especially exaggerated during inclement weather such as snow or rain. Recently, due to the steering looseness, I lost control of the vehicle and hit a mailbox damaging the entire right side of the vehicle. Please help to work with Honda to resolve this issue. Thank you!

NHTSA ID

11664243

Incident

Nov 15, 2022

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase September 2024, the vehicle mileage was 139,020. The contact stated that after a mechanic had informed the contact that the frame was severely rusted, the contact retrieved the Carfax report history of the vehicle and discovered that the vehicle mileage was 196,000 on August 11, 2018.

NHTSA ID

11659679

Incident

Sep 8, 2024

When I took my car for tire installation at Walmart on [XXX] , the technician declined to install the tires, he stated "your vehicle is unsafe to lift up for tire installation because of rust". I was on my driving it to a body shop when something snapped near the right rear tire after I hit pot holes. I felt it was unsafe to continue I decided to drive it slowly back home and parked it. I fear to drive it again to avoid causing accidents to myself and to other motorists. The car engine runs good and there are no problem lights on my car dashboard. The car interior is still good. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11647498

Incident

Mar 10, 2025

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition briefly failed to turn. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11574322

Incident

Feb 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact entered the vehicle and the front passenger attempted to secure the seat belt however, the seat belt failed to retract. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11567823

Incident

Dec 25, 2023

Mileage

125,000 mi

I heard a loud pop come from under my driver's seat and the seat started rocking backwards. I got out of my car and checked underneath the seat. The front-left bracket securing the seat to the seat frame had completely sheared in half and the seat was no longer securely attached to the seat frame. This is a significant safety issue. When the car accelerates the driver's seat rocks backwards by ~45 degrees, making it extremely difficult to stay in control of the vehicle and safely steer the vehicle. It is also extremely unsafe in the case of an accident because A) the seat would not hold the driver securely in place, B) the driver would not be properly in position and restrained for the air bags to deploy, C) the seat belt is attached to the seat base and would not be able to fully function properly, and D) any passengers sitting in the 2nd row behind the driver's seat would be in danger of having the full force of the driver and the driver's seat slamming back against them. This is a known issue widely reported in Honda Pilot owners' forums. Yet Honda has not issued a recall. I took the vehicle into a Honda dealership to inspect the issue. They said that Honda no longer makes the part that would be required to fix this safety issue. This issue affects all 2003-2008 model year Honda Pilots. There were over 800,000 2003-2008 model year pilots sold and because of Honda vehicle's longevity there is a massive number of these vehicles still on the roads.

NHTSA ID

11563917

Incident

Sep 20, 2023

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ACTIVATED. I TOOK MY 2004 HONDA PILOT WITH CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATE NUMBER [XXX] TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IN HEMET CALIFORNIA ON DECEMBER 14 2022 TO CHECK THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A $100.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE BECAUSE THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE AIRBAG RECALL PROGRAM. MY VEHICLE IS 20 YEARS OLD AND I'M WORRIED THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG IS UNSAFE AND COULD BE ACCIDENTLY ACTIVATED AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. MY VEHICLE HAS OVER 300,000 MILES. AS OF TODAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2023, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP IS STILL ON. IS THE ACTIVATED AIR BAG WARNING LAMP COVERED UNDER THE AIR BAG RECALL PROGRAM? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11542991

Incident

Dec 14, 2022

Transmission locks up when vehicle has been driven for a short time

NHTSA ID

11540740

Incident

Apr 19, 2023

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP CHARGES $100.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. I WAS TOLD IT'S NOT PART OF THE AIRBAG RECALL AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY. MY VEHICLE IS 20 YEARS OLD. I BELEIVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH AIRBAGS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. IN THE CASE OF AN AIRBAG ACTIVATION AND I AM INJURIED OR KILLED FROM A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG. I HAVE PROOF THAT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP WAS ADVISED ON DECEMBER 14, 2022. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR SIX (6) MONTHS AND CANNOT GET IT CORRECTED.

NHTSA ID

11523899

Incident

Sep 1, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11522936

Incident

Jan 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the transmission was shifted into drive(D) and the vehicle shuddered. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V176000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the transmission fluid was flushed 3 times; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failure recurred while the vehicle is shifted into drive(D) and D3. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11511628

Incident

Jan 15, 2023

Mileage

180,000 mi

lights that illuminate the functions/buttons of the climate control system burned out

NHTSA ID

11498240

Incident

Nov 9, 2022

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

I was approaching a stop sign and slowing down to < 10 miles and the engine continued to slow down and the car started to push forward while I was totally pressing on the brake - it did not want to stop and kept pushing forward. I wasn't sure what was happening and quickly put it in neutral. My daughter who drives the car to school was sitting in the passenger seat and was completely shocked. I have been driving for 30+ years and at that moment felt things were totally out of my control. Extremely off to see a car keep going when you are trying to stop. I could 100% have hit someone if there was a car in front of me as I went two car lengths before realizing what was happening. I turned the car off. Started again and it was fine. This happened on Saturday, March 26th, 2022. I have not taken the car to the dealer. There were no lights or anything indicating any warning.

NHTSA ID

11458734

Incident

Mar 26, 2022

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

Transmission locked up while driving and wont drive after I stored the vehicle Iam glad no one was behind me on the freeway there is a extremely huge problem with this transmissions the government needs to get this kind of vehicles checked out at Honda before someone loses his life

NHTSA ID

11431284

Incident

Aug 31, 2021

WAS ON HIGHWAY AND STARTED JERKING REAL HARD WHERE I ALMOST HIT A CAR HEAD ON WAS GOING 55 FOR SURE SCARED ME TO DEAD AND PULLED OVER AND CALLED MY BOYFRIEND HE CAME TO ME AND GOT IN IT AND IT WOULDN'T GO FORWARDS BACKWARDS NOTHING SO HE WENT AND GOT TRAILER AND HAULED TO HIS HOUSE COULD OF BEEN MY LIFE ALONG WITH MY KIDS

NHTSA ID

11385169

Incident

Oct 30, 2020

Mileage

178,000 mi

MY CAR WAS RUNNING JUST FINE I'VE HAD NO ISSUES THE WHOLE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT TILL NOW AND I CANNOT PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT TAKES ME LIKE 10 MINUTES OR MORE TO PUT THE KEY IN AND IF I TAKE THE KEY OUT WHEN I GET TO MY DESTINATION IT TAKES ME 10 MINUTES OR MORE TO PUT THE KEY IN AGAIN JUST TO DRIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE OR BACK HOME. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IT SHOULD BE ON A RECALL BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH WAY I PUT THE KEY IN IT WILL NOT GO IN AND I HAVE THREE KEYS AND EACH KEY DOES THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ID

11384391

Incident

Nov 26, 2020

DRIVERS REAR STRUT METAL FATIGUE FAILURE AT KNUCKLE CAUSED SHOCK ABSORBER TO DROP AND SLICE WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

11384257

Incident

Dec 20, 2020

Mileage

175,315 mi

WENT TO GO TRADE MY CAR IN AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR-FAX IS SHOWING A POTENTIAL ODOMETER ROLLBACK INDICATED, I HAVE MADE A FEW CALLS AND I AM NOT GETTING ANY HELP. I AM VERY CONCERNED AND WOULD LIKE SOME HELP WITH THIS PLEASE THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11339939

Incident

Jul 10, 2020

Mileage

139,617 mi

WHEN GETTING WORK DONE BY LICENSED MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR FRAME BEING SOO RUSTED THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER WAS NOT ATTACHED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO ATTACH IT TO. I WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIX IT AND I SHOULD CONSIDER GETTING RID OF IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330863

Incident

May 12, 2020

Mileage

208,000 mi

IGNITION LOCK-CYLINDER/ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED WHICH THE DEALER DID NOT HONOR. IGNITION KEY COULD NOT BE EXTRACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARK IN DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF TO OPEN GATE. THE KEY COULD NOT TURN NOR BE EXTRACTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327235

Incident

May 3, 2014

Mileage

179,850 mi