2004 Honda Pilot Powertrain (other) Problems

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

NHTSA ID

11540740

Incident

Apr 19, 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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45MPH THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND THE RPM'S FELL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION THE CONTACT HAD ASSOCIATED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000(POWER TRAIN) WITH THE VEHICLE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 203,300.

NHTSA ID

11302352

Incident

Jan 26, 2020

Mileage

203,300 mi

CAR WOULD NOT. MOVE IN ANY GEAR, LET SIT OVER NITE STARTED CAR AND MADE IT HOME WITH NO PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11269932

Incident

Oct 20, 2019

Mileage

174,000 mi

SEEMS TO SHUDDER .. LIGHT ACCELERATION SHUDDERS, LEAVES THEN COMES BACK AGAIN .

NHTSA ID

11245348

Incident

Aug 17, 2019

Mileage

122,560 mi

I WAS DRIVING WIT MY FAMILY IN THE CAR POOL LANE WHEN WITHOUT WARNING MY VEHICLE STARTED BRAKING HARD AND ACCELERATING, BACK AND FORTH, LUCKILY THERE WASN'T TOO MUCH TRAFFIC OR MOST LIKELY THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE CREATED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT . I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND NOTICE THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE STUCK IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR. I DOUBT MY HONDA PILOT IS AN ANOMALY, SINCE THERE'RE LOT OF VIDEOS ONLINE ABOUT THIS VEHICLES TRANSMISSION ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11229650

Incident

Jun 30, 2019

Mileage

150,477 mi

INTENSE SHUDDER EMANATING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR CAUSING THE WHOLE CAR TO SHAKE. TYPICALLY OCCURS BETWEEN 20-30 MPH DURING SLIGHT ACCELERATION. ABATES SOMEWHAT IF TAKE FOOT OFF OF ACCELERATOR. FROM MY READING, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE INVOLVING THE TORQUE CONVERTER.

NHTSA ID

11209424

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

TORQUE CONVERTERS GET STUCK AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO "SHUDDER" OR VIBRATE QUITE BADLY IN THE 40-50 MPH RANGE.

NHTSA ID

11206308

Incident

Aug 15, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

OK THE VEHICLE STALLS ON HILLS, BECOMING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PROCEED, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY EMITS A GRINDING-SCRAPING SOUND SEEMING TO COME FROM THE FRONT-END PORTION OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. SO, FAR IT HAS ALWAYS MANAGED TO CONTINUE RUNNING/MOVING FORWARD DURING AND AFTER. IT JUST FEELS LIKE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS BADLY, AND NEAR THE END OF SLIPPING/FAILING. I LOOKED UP IT'S VALUE ON A WEBSITE, AND A WARNING BOX POPPED UP NOTIFYING ME THAT MY PILOT'S YEAR MAKE & MODEL HAS 6 SEPARATE MANUFACTURER'S RECALLS. UPON LOOKING FURTHER, I SEE THAT-INDEED-ONE RECALL IS FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS! THEN, WHEN I DID ANOTHER SEARCH, SPECIFIC TO MY VIN #, I SAW THAT MY PARTICULAR PILOT DOES NOT HAVE ANY RECALL ON IT. YET, NOW, THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING, AND I ONLY JUST PURCHASED MY CAR AT THE END OF JANUARY, 2019....I WANT TO AT LEAST MAKE MY BEST EFFORT TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS OF ATTEMPTING TO GET A TRANSMISSION RECALL ON MY CAR-SINCE I NOW THAT OTHER 2004 HONDA PILOTS HAVE GOTTEN ONE. I AM FILING MY COMPLAINT TODAY BASED UPON THAT KNOWLEDGE, DESPITE THE HIGH MILAGE ACCUMULATED ON MY SPECIFIC PILOT. THERE'VE BEEN ABOUT 10 SEPARATE OCCURANCES OF THE STALLING-GRINDING TRANSMISSION "DEATH THROES" SINCE I ACQUIRED IT, ALL TOOK PLACE AT LOW SPEEDS ON URBAN STREETS, AND HALF *5 OR 6 TIMES) HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING UP A LARGE HILL, THE REST ON FLAT CITY STREETS. I HOPE THIS IS SUFFICIENT INFO FOR THIS COMPLAINT TO BE PROCESSED. THANKS

NHTSA ID

11194262

Incident

Jan 29, 2019

Mileage

275,000 mi

PURCHASED A 2004 HONDA PILOT USED AT 136K MILES. WITHIN A WEEK OF DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE CODES P0700, P0705, P0740 WERE ALL PRESENT, WHICH ARE ALL IN RELATION TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP CONFIRMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ACROSS HONDA & ACURA VEHICLES IN THE '03-'04 RANGE (SEE 2003-2004 ACURA MDX SERVICE BULLETIN 06-003). A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSES IT TO BREAK DOWN & SHED METAL FRAGMENTS, WHICH COMPROMISES THE REST OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE ONLY REAL FIX IS TO REBUILD OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HONDA AMERICAS CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO REVIEW MY CASE ANY FURTHER, EVEN UNDER GOODWILL CONSIDERATION.

NHTSA ID

11174984

Incident

Feb 7, 2019

Mileage

136,000 mi

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING JERKING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. CAN'T CHANGE INTO ANY OTHER GEAR BUT DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11156679

Incident

Dec 6, 2018

Mileage

188,000 mi

OKAY I'VE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 5 OR 6 MONTHS WHEN I FIRST GOT IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY TROUBLE AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD BACK UP AND MADE LIKE A GROWLING SOUND BUT NO TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION DROVE IT NO TROUBLE EXCEPT FOR SOME ELECTRICAL TROUBLE FOR SOME REASON MY BATTERY KEPT GOING DEAD AT NIGHT IT HAD A GARAGE CHECK IT OUT AND THEY SAID THERE'S A SHORT SOMEWHERE AND WE STARTED PULLING BULBS AND FUSES DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING SO I HAD TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY EACH NIGHT SO I DON'T HAVE TO GET A JUMP IN THE MORNING OKAY ON TO THE NEXT ISSUE IS NO PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS PAST SUNDAY THE 7TH OF OCTOBER AND I HAD PULLED INTO A COUNTRY EXXON STATION LEFT IT RUNNING RAN INSIDE THE DOOR FOR 2 SECONDS BACK OUT MY CAR WAS GONE HEAR IT HAD JUMPED GEAR ROLL BACKWARDS AND THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HIT ANYBODY OR HIT THE PUMP IS STOP WITHIN INCHES SO I GOT IN IT PUT IT BACK IN PARK IT WAS STILL RUNNING AND TRY TO PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WHEN GO SO I SHUT IT OFF WAITED 325 MINUTES STARTED IT UP AGAIN IT WENT INTO DRIVE DROVE ONLY ABOUT A THOUSAND FEET AND THEN IT WOULD MOVE AND HAD TO BE TOWED HOME NOW I DON'T HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS BUT I CAN BUT I CAN GET THEM FOR MURPHY'S GARAGE BUT I CAN GET THEM FOR MURPHY'S GARAGE AND MY

NHTSA ID

11140830

Incident

Oct 7, 2018

Mileage

25,600 mi

AT APPROXIMATELY 146,000 MILES LIGHT IN THE 'D' DRIVE GEAR ON THE DASH BOARD BEGAN FLASHING. TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHUDDERING 35 MPH - 40 MPH WHEN IT WAS TEST DRIVEN. LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED (FAULTY), IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ID

11138790

Incident

Oct 5, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ENGINE STALLED. WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, IT WAS ABLE TO BE EASILY REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (COLONIAL HONDA OF DARTMOUTH, 225 STATE ROAD, DARTMOUTH, MA, 02747), BUT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11051745

Incident

Jun 14, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.

NHTSA ID

11021743

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, WHILE RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD ATTEMPT TO ROLL BACKWARDS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS OR FORWARD REGARDLESS IF IT WERE UPHILL OR DOWNHILL. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AND EACH TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GENESIS HONDA (LOCATED ON 8931 HIGHWAY 92 WOODSTOCK, GA 30189) WHERE A PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ISSUE COULD BE THE SHIFTER, AND THAT FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,523.

NHTSA ID

11000633

Incident

May 17, 2017

Mileage

188,523 mi

MY WIFE WAS SMASHED BETWEEN AN OPENED DRIVER'S DOOR AND A POLE BECAUSE THE THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARD. THE SAFETY'S PROBLEM IN THIS CAR IS: THAT YOU CAN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR'S ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING, REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE GEAR IN OTHER THAN PARK GEAR, OR ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND VEHICLE NOT IN PARK. MY WIFE WAS INJURED YESTERDAY BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK AND THE VEHICLE SQUEEZED HER BETWEEN AN OPEN DOOR AND A POLE OUTSIDE. THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE IN THIS CAR THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL... THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHILE THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING OR IN ANY OTHER GEAR OTHER THAN THE PARK STATUS..... THIS IS ALL HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT. STATIONARY AND RIGHT AFTER SHE PARKED THE CAR .

NHTSA ID

10959914

Incident

Mar 9, 2017

Mileage

3 mi

MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, TOOK IT TO A HONDA SPECIALIST. WHILE DRIVINF THIS IS HOW I NOTICED SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

NHTSA ID

10955302

Incident

Feb 7, 2017

Mileage

153,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THE HIGHWAY. ENGINE BEGAN TO REV TO HIGH RPMS WITH NO POWER

NHTSA ID

10875657

Incident

Jun 18, 2016

Mileage

133,500 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE GEARS ALSO FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PARK MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,171. UPDATED 2/4/16 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $ 441.67. UPDATED 03/31/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10808050

Incident

Sep 10, 2015

Mileage

174,171 mi

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!!!

NHTSA ID

10785769

Incident

Oct 14, 2015