RoadVitals

2004 Honda Pilot Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
18
Latest Mar 11, 2019
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.
3%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 18 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 fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Fuel system
Filed Mar 11, 2019

FUEL TANK WILL NOT ACCEPT FUEL IN A TIMELY MATTER, ACTS AS THOUGH THERE IS A PLUG IN THE TANK.

NHTSA ID
11185859
Incident
Dec 11, 2018
Fuel system
Filed Feb 25, 2019

FUEL TANK-- THE FUEL TANK WILL NOT FILL AT A NORMAL RATE, IT CONTINUES TO SHUT OFF AS IF THE TANK IS FULL. VERY ANNOYING AS IT TAKES LOTS OF TIME TO FILL THE TANK PLEASE ADVISE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ID
11182430
Incident
Oct 20, 2018
Fuel system
Filed Apr 29, 2017

GASOLINE SUDDENLY BEGAN LEAKING FROM FUEL LINES UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND SPILLED LIQUID GASOLINE AND FUMES IN MY UNDER HOUSE GARAGE. THE GASOLINE ODORS GOT INTO MY BASEMENT AND FIRST FLOOR LIVING SPACE.

NHTSA ID
10981432
Incident
Apr 29, 2017
Mileage
153,000 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
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jan 26, 2015

WHEN WE STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, IT STICKS, WHEN YOU PRESS DOWN A LITTLE MORE, THE CAR LURCHES QUICKLY, CAUSING A DANGEROUS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE WORST IS WHEN WE BACK OUT OF OUR GARAGE (WE HAVE AN UPHILL DRIVEWAY), BUT IT HAPPENS IN FORWARD FROM A STOP ALSO... *TR

NHTSA ID
10678885
Incident
Nov 1, 2014
Mileage
90,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 31, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASION. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID
10651587
Incident
Oct 3, 2005
Mileage
20,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 20, 2014

GAS CAN BE EMPTY AND WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO FILL UP TANK IT SHUTS OFF AS IF TANK IS FULL. SPENT 400.15 ON 10/25/13 FOR FUEL VAPOR CONTROL VALVE YONDER DEALER THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE CAUSING IT. THIS WORKED FOR FEW WEEKS THEN IT BEGAN AGAIN BUT SEEMED TO LET US FILL IT UP IF WE DROVE FOR A FEW MILES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FILL UP THE GAS TANK. NOW IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW FAR WE DRIVE THE CAR THE GAS WILL NOT PUMP INTO THE TANK IT CAN TAKE US UP TO 30 MINUTES TO PUMP A FEW GALLONS OF GAS. THE HONDA DEALER IS AS MUCH OF A LOSS AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO TAKE PLACE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND IS CAUSING EXTREME STRESS AS TO HOW AND WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO GET THE GAS TO PUMP CORRECTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626900
Incident
Oct 7, 2013
Fuel system
Filed Mar 21, 2014

2004 PILOT CAME STANDARD WITH 19 GALLON TANK, AND WOULD START FILLING TO OVERFLOW AT NEARLY 22 GALLONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE TANK EITHER TAKING IN EXCESS OF 20 GALLONS OR NOT TAKING MORE THAN 0.75 GALLONS BEFORE STOPPING AUTOMATICALLY. THE TANK THEN HAS TO BE SLOWLY FED FOR NEARLY 25 MINUTES TO GET 16 GALLONS INTO THE TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10574071
Incident
Feb 1, 2012
Mileage
136,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 17, 2013

UNABLE TO REFUEL VEHICLE. FUEL PUMP SHUTS OFF AFTER 3/4 GALLON WHEN FILLING. DEALER REPLACED ORVR VALVE, BUT FIX DID NOT WORK. YESTERDAY I WAS ABLE TO PUMP ABOUT 2.5 GALLONS, BUT GAS BEGAN SPILLING OUT OF THE TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508506
Incident
Jul 5, 2011
Fuel system
Filed Dec 12, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ADDING GASOLINE TO THE FUEL TANK IT WOULD SPILL OUT PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM ADDING FUEL TO ITS CAPACITY. WHILE INSIDE THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE GASOLINE VALVE CAUSED THE FAILURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED IMMEDIATELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 2/25/13 *CN THE RV VALVE WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. HONDA COULD NOT GIVE HER A DEFINITIVE ANSWER AS TOW HAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETELY FILL THE GAS TANK. UPDATED 03/07/13

NHTSA ID
10488086
Incident
Jun 1, 2012
Mileage
105,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 19, 2012

OFTEN DURING REFUELING OF MY VEHICLE THE GAS PUMP SHUTS OFF AFTER A FEW MOMENTS OF REFUELING. AT TIMES, THE GASOLINE BACKS UP IN THE TUBE AND SPEWS BACK OUT ONTO THE VEHICLE AND THE GROUND DESPITE HAVING A NEAR EMPTY FUEL TANK . IT HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO SQUEEZE THE PUMP HANDLE LIGHTLY AND TRICKLE THE GASOLINE INTO THE FUEL TANK. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THIS TO OCCUR AT DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10481068
Incident
Jun 1, 2011
Mileage
89,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Oct 9, 2012

THE SHIFT INTERLOCK ALLOWED THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WITHOUT THE PILOT BEING IN PARK. THIS CAUSED THE PILOT TO ROLL BACKWARDS IN A PARKING LOT. LUCKILY THE LOT WAS FAIRLY FLAT, SO IT DIDN'T ROLL FAR OR HIT ANYTHING (OR ANYBODY!). A HONDA DEALER CONFIRMED THE ISSUE, AND CONTACTED HONDA ABOUT IT. HONDA SAID THEY WOULDN'T FIX THE ISSUE DUE TO THE MILEAGE, AND THE FACT THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED (FROM CARMAX). *TR

NHTSA ID
10479494
Incident
Aug 1, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 14, 2010

FUEL FILLER NECK ON MY 2004 PILOT HAD A FUEL LEAK. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED A LEAK IN THE NECK OF THE GAS TANK FILLER TUBE WAS DETECTED AND REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 95,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10330445
Incident
Jan 12, 2010
Mileage
95,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 4, 2008

VTM-4 LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. WAS TOLD THAT GAS CAP BEING LOOSE MAY CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN BUT I HAVE BEEN ENSURING THAT IT IS PROPERLY SEATED EVERY TIME I REFIL THE VEHICLE.*CN

NHTSA ID
10213757
Incident
Jan 3, 2008
Mileage
48,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 18, 2005

SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, THERE WAS A SLOSHING SOUND FROM THE GAS TANK WHEN THE CAR STARTS OR STOPS (AS IF I'M CARRYING AN AQUARIUM). HONDA SAID (7/15/05) IT'S THE TANK'S ALLOY COMPOSITION, AND IS A NORMAL CONDITION. SINCE SAFETY IS NOT AN ISSUE, HONDA WILL NOT REPLACE THE GAS TANK, AND I WILL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE ANNOYANCE. HONDA IS SORRY; MOST PILOTS DON'T BEHAVE LIKE THIS.

NHTSA ID
10129046
Incident
Jun 4, 2004
Mileage
50 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 13, 2004

WHEN DRIVING OR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, A THUMP NOISE WOULD BE PRESENT IN THE REAR. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. *AK *SC

NHTSA ID
10081886
Incident
Jul 13, 2004
Fuel system
Filed Jun 4, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER HEARD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. IN ADDITION, DEALER SAID THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IT'S NORMAL. *LA *NM

NHTSA ID
10071933
Incident
Apr 30, 2004
Fuel system
Filed Jan 8, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE UNTIL ANOTHER MOTORIST INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND FOUND THAT A HOLE WAS IN THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10053661
Incident
Dec 29, 2003
Mileage
16,000 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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .