2004 Honda Pilot Interior & seats Problems

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

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

UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE AND WOULD ROCK BACKWARDS AS IF SOMETHING WAS BROKEN. I REMOVED THE SIDE COVER AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A FAILED SEAT MOUNT BRACKET THAT HAD BROKEN IN HALF. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDRIVEABLE UNTIL THE SEAT IS FIXED SINCE THE SEAT SWAYS BACKWARDS ON ACCELERATION WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY ACTIVE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN!

NHTSA ID

11286727

Incident

Nov 27, 2019

Mileage

247,371 mi

WHEN ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT, I HEARD A "POP" SOUND AND MY DRIVER SEAT SUDDENLY HAD A "ROCKING" ISSUE. THE DRIVER SEAT NOW ROCKS BACKWARD WHEN ACCELERATING, AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE AND DOING A VISUAL INSPECTION I FOUND THAT A METAL "L" SHAPED BRACKET THAT MOUNTS THE SEAT BOTTOM TO THE SEAT FRAME HAS SHEARED OFF AT THE RIVET POINTS. THIS CREATES A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AND I FEAR IN A CRASH, THE SEAT COULD BECOME UNATTACHED FROM VEHICLE INTERIOR COMPLETELY PUTTING OCCUPANT AT INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH FROM AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OR EJECTION FROM VEHICLE! DURING AN ONLINE SEARCH, I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE TO NHTSA...THOSE REPORT NUMBERS ARE 1058303; 10578612; 10567737; 10541789; 10505250; 10489089; 10488805; 10466947; 10455702. I CONTACTED HONDA AND WAS TOLD SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD!!! WHY DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE THE ISSUE IS FIXED?!? WITH SO MANY REPORTS ALREADY BEING LOGGED STATING THIS SAME PROBLEM, I WOULD THINK SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. THIS IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AT THE AIRBAG ISSUE THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11280268

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. WHILE ACCELERATING AND BRAKING, THE DRIVER'S SEAT UNINTENTIONALLY MOVED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. SPREEN HONDA (25050 REDLANDS BLVD, LOMA LINDA, CA 92354, (909) 799-7070) WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MOUNTING BRACKET FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11270640

Incident

Oct 24, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

ON 06/21/2014, I WAS ENTERING MY VEHICLE WHEN A BRACKET CONNECTED TO THE ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY (PART# 81630-S3V-A30) BROKE. THIS OCCURRED ON THE DRIVERS SEAT. DUE TO THIS, THE SEAT WAS NO LONGER SECURE TO THE FLOORBOARD AND STARTED ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. I SEARCHED HONDA PART RECORDS AND I WAS UNABLE TO FIND A SPECIFIC PART NUMBER ASSIGNED TO THIS BRACKET. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE BREAK. BUT, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE SEAT WAS UNSTABLE AND HARD TO KEEP IT STILL. A SEARCH OF NHTSA RECORDS FOUND THE FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE - 10583003, 10578612, 10567737, 10541789, 10505250, 10489089, 10488805, 10466947, 10455702. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE BROKEN BRACKET. IT APPEARS METAL FATIGUE MAY BE AN ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11221811

Incident

Jun 21, 2019

Mileage

141,700 mi

THIS AFTERNOON AS I ENTERED MY CITY STREET PARKED, 2004 HONDA PILOT, FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE, I HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND AS I SAT DOWN. THE DRIVER'S SEAT, SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE SOUND, ROCKED BACK, OBVIOUSLY NO LONGER SECURELY MOUNTED. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE FRONT LEFT 'L' SHAPED SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET HAD SHEARED IN TWO, IN LINE WITH THE TWO HOLES THAT THE SECURING RIVETS PASS THROUGH. THE BRACKET FAILED AND TORE, APPARENTLY THE METAL IS NOT THICK ENOUGH TO RESIST THE FORCES PLACED ON THE SEAT. PERHAPS RELATED TO THE SIZE OF THE RIVET HOLES.

NHTSA ID

11209543

Incident

May 23, 2019

Mileage

161,000 mi

LEANED BACK AND TURNED AROUND TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND LEFT FRONT SEAT BRACKET ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BROKE. HAVE TO BRACE MYSELF WHILE ACCELERATING FORWARD SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE HAVE READ MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. AFRAID THE OTHER BRACKETS WILL BREAK SHORTLY AFTER. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11143423

Incident

Oct 27, 2018

Mileage

234,211 mi

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DOWN A CITY STREET, THE DRIVERS SEAT BEGAN TO MOVE- SPECIFICALLY BEGAN TO SHIFT BACKWARDS UPON ACCELERATION. UPON ACCELERATION, THE SEAT LEANS BACK AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL SIGNIFICANTLY. INSPECTION BY MECHANIC SHOWED THE SEAT BRACKETS HAVE SHEERED OFF DETACHING THE FRONT LEFT CORNER FROM THE SEAT FRAME.

NHTSA ID

11113619

Incident

Jul 21, 2018

Mileage

177,000 mi

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE 2004 PILOT. VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL KEPT AND MAINTAINED WITH HONDA DEALER. WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN DRIVERS SEAT STARTED FEELING HOT LIKE A BURN ON HER BACK. STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. SHE PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF VEHICLE.THE BACK PART OF THE SEAT WAS SMOKING AND SMOLDERING SO IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER. GOT THE FIRE OUT AND BACK PART OF LEATHER HAS A BROWN SCORCH MARK AND LEATHER CRACKED. THE SMELL LASTED FOR HOURS. LEFT THE WINDOWS OPENED ALL NIGHT AND LEFT VEHICLE PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE FOR FEAR OF FIRE AGAIN. HONDA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS. I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET TO FIND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS IS DANGEROUS TO THINK WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF NOT ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE SO QUICKLY.

NHTSA ID

11091983

Incident

Apr 3, 2018

Mileage

210,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET HAS CRACKED AND IS NOW SPLIT OPEN. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND DRIVER HAD TURNED AROUND AND LEANED BACK TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN SEAT BRACKET CRACKED. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT NOW IS LOOSE AND ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AFRAID ENTIRE SEAT WILL BREAK LOOSE FROM MOUNTING POINTS. NOTE: MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THIS SAME DEFECT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED ON THE INTERNET, ACROSS MULTIPLE HONDA PILOT YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11078656

Incident

Feb 26, 2018

Mileage

168,000 mi

THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS BEEN SO HOT THAT IT FEELS LIKE IT CAN BURN YOUR SKIN. TODAY ON THE WAY TO WORK MY DAUGHTER SAID SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. SHE LOOKED DOWN ON HER SEAT AND IT WAS SMOKING AND BURNED THE LEATHER. THE SEAT WAS ACTUALLY CATCHING ON FIRE. I HAVE LOOKED THIS UP AND SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS TO YOU. I DON'T SEE WHAT YOU ARE REPORTING NO COMPLAINTS OR RECALLS. WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11055629

Incident

Dec 20, 2017

THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS A BRACKET THAT BROKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND I ALMOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT CAUSED ME TO LEAN BACK VERY FAR IN THE SEAT AND MY STEERING AND ACCELERATION WAS AFFECTED. I WAS EXITING ONTO A FREEWAY AND ALMOST COLLIDED WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THIS BRACKET IS LOCATED ON THE DRIVES SIDE THAT HOLDS A MOTOR THAT MOVES THE SEAT UP AND DOWN; IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE LEFT SIDE PANEL FOR THE SEAT CONTROLS. BRACKET HAS TWO RIVETS HOLDING IN PLACE. WAS HOPING THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT BECAUSE I FOUND LOTS OF INCIDENTS REPORTED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11050938

Incident

Nov 24, 2017

Mileage

285,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, NOT IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR DRIVING OFF-ROAD. SAT DOWN AND FOUND DRIVER'S SEAT UNEXPECTEDLY WILL NOW TILT BACK, RAISING THE LEFT FRONT OF THE SEAT. THE SEAT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SECURE, NOR WOULD IT BE SAFE IN AN ACCIDENT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN INEXPLICABLY (PART 81660-S3V-A30). THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A WEAR PART - ONE OF THE METAL BRACKET PIECES HOLDING THE SEAT BOTTOM TO THE BODY I GUESS JUST SHEARED OFF ALONG THE RIVET LINE. A BRIEF WEB SEARCH FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, SO I'M SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL BY HONDA. THE DEALER QUOTED A REPAIR PRICE OF APPROXIMATELY $1,850.

NHTSA ID

11048074

Incident

Nov 20, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

FRONT LEFT BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE DRIVERS SEAT TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE SNAPPED. THIS IS A COMMON, KNOWN DEFECT AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11044916

Incident

Oct 2, 2017

Mileage

200,000 mi

MY HUSBAND (195 LBS) REACHED IN HIS POCKET TO GET HIS WALLET AND THE METAL BRACE HOLDING THE SEAT BROKE. THE SEAT IS NOW NOT STILL WHEN DRIVING. WHAT WORRIES ME IS, WHAT IF I HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT? THE AFOREMENTIONED BRACE SHOULD HOLD UNDER MUCH MORE RIGOROUS SITUATIONS. THERE APPEARS TO BE A LOT OF 2004 HONDA PILOTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT SAME BREAK, AS NOTED ONLINE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FLAW AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT THEIR EXPENSE. PER ONLINE COMMENTS, THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING $1200 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE FAILED. I AM BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR ASSESSMENT ON MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2017, AT 1:00P.

NHTSA ID

10993693

Incident

Jun 6, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS LEANING. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WELD WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BRACKET WAS FRACTURED AND THE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

10933672

Incident

Dec 5, 2016

WHILE LEANING BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO REMOVE MY WALLET TO PURCHASE GASOLINE I HEARD "POP" AND THEN THE SEAT SEEMED TO BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT LEFT OF THE SEAT WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE STEEL BRACKET HOLDING THE TOP ASSEMBLY OF THE SEAT TO THE BOTTOM ASSEMBLY OF THE SEAT TORE CLEAN THROUGH.

NHTSA ID

10916669

Incident

Oct 17, 2016

Mileage

234,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SEAT WOULD MOVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT FELT AS THOUGH IT WOULD DISLODGE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BOLT HAD FRACTURED AND THAT DRIVERS SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10886250

Incident

Jul 18, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE DRIVERS SEAT LOWER METAL BRACKET BROKE CAUSING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO BE UNSTABLE WHEN SITTING IN THE SUV AND WHEN ACCELERATING. I HAVE SEEN AT SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS BOTH ON THIS WEB SITE AND IN THE HONDA PILOT FORUM. I CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT ASKING FOR A REPAIR WHO REFERRED ME TO HONDA USA. I CALLED AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO HONDA AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH IS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS VEHICLE WERE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT THE SEAT WOULD LIKELY BREAK LOOSE AND THROW THE DRIVER AND THE SEAT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I JUST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE .

NHTSA ID

10883715

Incident

Jul 7, 2016

Mileage

162,000 mi

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2004 HONDA PILOT EX-L AND HAVE HAD ONLY VERY MINOR ISSUES UP UNTIL NOW. YESTERDAY, WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A GREAT DEAL OF PLAY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK. ASSUMING AN ANCHOR BOLT WAS LOOSE, I CHECKED THE LEFT FRONT SEAT AREA WHERE THE MOVEMENT WAS THE GREATEST AND DISCOVERED THE LEFT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY ARM ALMOST COMPLETED SHEARED FROM THE MAIN ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY. THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT IS NOW SEVERELY COMPROMISED AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE SEAT WILL BECOME DETACHED IN ANY ACCIDENT. I'VE NOTED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT SAME PIECE ON THIS AND OTHER WEBSITES.

NHTSA ID

10865696

Incident

May 17, 2016

Mileage

144,330 mi

BRACKET ON LEFT FRONT POWER SEAT BROKE; IT HOLDS THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR; AND SEAT ROCKS BACK AND IS NOT FASTENED AT LEFT FRONT TO THE CAR. VERY DANGEROUS AND MUST BE FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10861048

Incident

Apr 22, 2016

Mileage

106,000 mi

THE HEATING ELEMENT ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT GETS SO HOT YOU HAVE TO TURN IT OFF TO KEEP FROM GETTING BURNT. IT GETS SO HOT YOU CAN'T STAND IT. IT HAPPENS ON BOTH THE HI AND LO SETTINGS. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME BUT WHEN IT DOES IT CONTINUES UNTIL THE HEATER IS TURNED OFF. AS MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, I'D THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT CAUSE A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT GETS HOT FAST. ONE TIME WHEN I NOTICED IT WAS GETTING HOT BEFORE I COULD GET IT TURNED OF IT GOT SO HOT I COULD HARDLY STAND IT. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR THE REACTION TO IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT HAS HAPPENED IN ALL SORTS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID

10853877

Incident

Apr 1, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE DRIVER SEAT, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BOLT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLT BETWEEN THE SEAT AND SEAT FRAME ASSEMBLY WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

NHTSA ID

10850880

Incident

Oct 15, 2014

Mileage

210,000 mi

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY 2004 HONDA PILOT. OVERALL, GOOD VEHICLE BUT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT. IT GETS TOO HOT AND FELT LIKE A BURN TO YOUR SKIN. I MENTIONED TO THE DEALER EARLY ON AND WAS TOLD TO DECREASE THE USE. SO, I HAVE DECREASED THE USE OF THE HEATED SEATS OR USED ON LOW FOR A SHORT TIME UNTIL THE SUV WAS WARM AND COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. THE SEAT IS NOT HEATING AT ALL NOW. IT HAS APPROX. 175,000MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I FEEL THAT THERE HAS BEEN TOO MANY COMPLAINTS AND THIS ISSUE NEVER ADDRESSED OR A RECALL DONE.

NHTSA ID

10850250

Incident

Jan 4, 2016