RoadVitals

2004 Honda Pilot Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
50
Latest Jul 24, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 544 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 50 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.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 50, in the owner's own words

Body & structureEngineSuspension
Filed Jul 24, 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
Engine
Filed Feb 4, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE CENTER MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BLACK SMOKE WAS EMERGING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ODOR OF BURNING OIL PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS RE-STARTED BUT LACKED FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PREVIOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,300.

NHTSA ID
11307042
Incident
Jan 4, 2020
Mileage
105,300 mi
Engine
Filed May 27, 2018

ENGINE MOTOR MOUNT FAILED AT 16 YEARS AND 70000 MILES

NHTSA ID
11098197
Incident
Jul 26, 2016
Mileage
70,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 24, 2018

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS OR ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ID
11097871
Incident
May 23, 2018
Mileage
213,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 1, 2018

CAR ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN

NHTSA ID
11091249
Incident
Apr 18, 2018
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 29, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN FIRST GEAR AND ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN SECOND GEAR, THE GEAR WOULD SEIZE IN FIRST GEAR AND WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO SECOND. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE AUTOMATIC SYSTEM, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SYSTEM, AND THE CLUTCH FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10862155
Incident
Apr 18, 2016
Mileage
200,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Mar 11, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10846104
Incident
Jul 12, 2014
Mileage
133,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed May 8, 2015

HELLO. AFTER SMELLING GASOLINE TYPE FUMES OFF FOR SOME TIME (NO ONE ELSE IN THE FAMILY COULD SMELL IT) AND AFTER CONSULTING THE HONDA PILOT FORUMS, I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE FACTORY NGK PZFR5F-11 SPARK PLUGS AT 99,430, RATHER THAN THE HONDA RECOMMENDED 105,000 MILES. I WAS SURPRISED TO DISCOVER THAT THE MIDDLE REAR PLUG WAS ONLY FINGER TIGHT AND AS A RESULT COMBUSTION GASES WERE ESCAPING BETWEEN THE PLUG AND THE HEAD. ACCORDING TO WHAT I READ, LOOSE PLUGS ARE AN ISSUE WITH THIS ENGINE AND CAN EVENTUALLY DAMAGE THE CYLINDER HEAD AND COIL PACKS, LEADING TO COSTLY REPAIRS. A SECOND PLUG (PASSENGER REAR) WAS EXCESSIVELY TIGHT WHEN I REMOVED IT BUT THE REPLACEMENT PLUG APPEARED TO THREAD BACK IN FINE.) I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE DESERVES FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).? *JB

NHTSA ID
10715355
Incident
May 8, 2015
Mileage
99,430 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 15, 2015

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, KEY WOULD NOT TURN NOR COME OUT, GEAR COULD NOT BE CHANGED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. PILOT'S IGNITION WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10705893
Incident
May 2, 2014
Mileage
179,850 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Mar 6, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 6/18/15*CN UPDATED 9/27/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10692597
Incident
Apr 15, 2006
Engine
Filed Jul 9, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD DISLODGED AND CAUSED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ID
10609156
Incident
Jun 27, 2014
Mileage
108,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 4, 2014

WHILE VEHICLE IS AT IDLE,VEHICLE MIS-FIRES AND SHAKES ENTIRE VEHICLE. PLACED ON O.B.D. SCANNER AND NO ERRORS OR CODES FOUND. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND DEALER ALSO CANNOT FIND PROBLEMS. CHANGED SPARK PLUGS TWICE,NO LEAKS,NO CROSS CONTAMINATION NOTHING...BUT POOR GAS MILEAGE AND BAD SHAKING AT IDLE... *TR

NHTSA ID
10586402
Incident
Aug 1, 2013
Mileage
140,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 2014

HAVING MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE DONE WAS GIVEN NOTICE THAT BOTH FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS ARE CRACKED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE UNUSUAL AND WHILE NO INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A SAFE DEVELOPMENT AND COULD CAUSE SOME SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IF NOT REPLACED OR IS NOT DISCOVERED AND THE VEHICLE WERE INVOLVED IN A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10559159
Incident
Jan 9, 2014
Mileage
96,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 9, 2013
Fire reported

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
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 24, 2013

TRANSMISSION FAIL-DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM: HEAT BUILD UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE. CONTACTED HONDA AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS VIN AND BECAUSE THE SERVICE WORK WAS NOT COMPLETED BY HONDA THEY CLAIM NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAW. A VERY EXPENSIVE ENGINEERING/DESIGN PROBLEM THAT WAS FLAWED FROM THE BEGINNING AND THEN BURDENED/BLAMED BY HONDA ON THE CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10521446
Incident
Jun 3, 2013
Mileage
156,513 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 8, 2013

THE TRANSMISSION SHAKES AND STUTTERS AS IF IT IS STALLING AT SPEEDS OF 35 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR. IT WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. ENGINE STARTS BUT IT WILL NOT GO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511188
Incident
Sep 13, 2012
Mileage
190,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 10, 2013

NOTICED SLIGHT VIBRATION OF THE ENGINE WHILE SITTING IN DRIVER'S SEAT AT IDLE. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN IGNITION PROBLEM. NO ENGINE PROBLEMS WERE DIAGNOSED AT A REPAIR FACILITY. AT A LATER DATE WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS AT AN AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALER BEING SERVICED FOR AN UNRELATED NHTSA SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 12V-573, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT, SIDE, AND REAR ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. I HAD THEM REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I LATER READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE AN ALARMING NUMBER OF PILOT OWNERS WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE REPORTING BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER SAFETY DEFECT. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND OWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE ENGINE MOUNTS SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10505847
Incident
Mar 19, 2013
Mileage
68,035 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 9, 2013

HONDA SERVICE ADVISOR REVIEWED THE COMPLETED SHIFT INTERLOCK RECALL SERVICE WITH ME AND SAID THE FRONT AND SIDE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY NEEDED REPAIR. COST TO REPAIR IS $435 FOR FRONT MOUNTS AND $220 FOR SIDE MOUNTS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ENGINE MOUNT FAILURES REPORTED ON THIS WEBSITE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A DESIGN/ENGINEERING DEFECT/FLAW AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED ON A RECALL AT HONDA'S EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10505712
Incident
Apr 9, 2013
Mileage
114,345 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 23, 2013

WENT TO DEALER FOR A RECALL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE, ALSO ASK DEALER TO CHECK FOR AN ISSUE ABOUT CAR MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND SOME WHERE IN FRONT ENGINE WHEN TURN RIGHT. THEY FOUND THE FRONT/RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT WAS BROKEN, NEED TO BE REPLACED BOTH OF THEM AND COST $820. I FOUND A LOT OF PILOT OWNERS HAS SAME ISSUE. I THINK HONDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504253
Incident
Sep 22, 2012
Mileage
59,340 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Mar 21, 2013

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
Engine
Filed Aug 31, 2012

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR 90,000 MILE SERVICE AT LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND RECEIVED CALL STATING THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS THEY WERE BROKEN/CRACKED. MOTOR MOUNTS (FRONT/SIDE) WERE REPAIRED AS IT CLEARLY REQUIRED REPAIR FOR SAFE OPERATION. COST TO REPAIR $475.00, NO LABOR WAS CHARGED FOR THE SIDE MOUNT AS IT WAS ALREADY ACCESSIBLE FOR THE TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10473173
Incident
Dec 7, 2010
Mileage
90,619 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 12, 2012

I'VE HAD VIBRATION/NOISE ISSUES AROUND 40 MPH WHILE IN TOP GEAR, I'VE NOTED ACCELERATING FORCES A DOWNSHIFT, OR I CAN MANUALLY SHIFT TO D3. EITHER ACTION GETS RID OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10465430
Incident
Mar 2, 2009
Engine
Filed May 16, 2012

VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, CLUNKING SOUND FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THE FRONT ENGINE MOUNT WAS BROKE.

NHTSA ID
10458704
Incident
Apr 15, 2012
Mileage
74,452 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 8, 2012

MY 2004 HONDA PILOT HAS A SHUDDER AT 30 MPH. IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU ARE DRIVING OVER THE RUMBLE STRIPS. I AM STARTING TO EXPERIENCE POOR SHIFTS AT OTHER SPEEDS NOW AS WELL. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY THE RESULT OF A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER. REPAIRS INCLUDE REPLACING THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS UPDATING THE PCM. HONDA RECALLED OVER A MILLION 2003/2004 PILOTS BUT MY VIN IS JUST PASSED THE LAST VIN RECALLED. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY 2005 PILOT OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. ACURA ALSO ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT REPAIRS THE FAULTY COMPONENTS FOR ALL 2003 AND 2004 MDX OWNERS (INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY). HONDA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILED TRANSMISSIONS IN THE LATER 2004 PILOTS AND 2005 YEARS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10450707
Incident
May 9, 2011
Mileage
123,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 19, 2011

MOTOR MOUNTS BROKEN AT 60,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10420752
Incident
Jul 14, 2011
Mileage
60,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .