Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Honda Pilot submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
My vsa light came on when I was on the freeway and made my vehicle jerk almost pushing me into the next lane. It has been coming on and turns off when I restart the car and other cars of my same modal and year have recalls for this same issue but my vin yields no results for a recall.
JUST BOUGHT A 2005 HONDA PILOT. I WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR A REAR SUPPORT SYSTEM RUSTING OUT AND FALLING DOWN. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. I NEED IT REPAIRED. ALREADY ONE STRUT IS LOOSE!!
THE COMPLAINT THAT I HAVE IS WITH LOWER SUBFRAME AND THE MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED OUT AND IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE OR ANY ROADS ABOVE 35MPH. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR MOUNT ISNT ATTACKED TO ANYTHING BC OF RUST AND THE PASSENGER SIDE IS RUSTED BUT NOT SEPARATED. THE TRUCK WOBBLES WHEN U START GOING FASTER THEN 35MPH. THIS HAPPENS WHEN GOING STRAIGHT, ALSO WHILE TURNING EITHER DIRECTION AND MAKES IT HARD TO KEEP CONTROL IF YOUR NOT READY FOR IT TO HAPPEN ESPECIALLY. AND THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN THE TRUCK GOES INTO REVERSE THAT'S WHAT CAUSED ME TO INSPECT THE REAR END, IT'S THE METAL HITTING EACH OTHER BC THERE IS A SMALL GAP WHERE THERE SHOULDN'T BE.
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST CONTROL MODULE IS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE BRAKES ARE ACTIVATING BY THEMSELVES... VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND CANNOT TURN THE VSA LIGHT OFF... HONDA DOESN'T LIST THIS VIN NUMBER AS UNDER RECALL THAT IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLES UNDER RECALL. UNIBODY REAR UNDER FRAME AND SUSPENSION MOUNT CORRODES AND RUST DO TO WATER COLLECTING UNDER VEHICLE INSIDE THE UNIBODY. THERE IS NO WEEP HOLES FOR WATER TO DRIP OUT AND THE SUSPENSION MOUNTS CORRODE AND HAVE COME OFF THE VEHICLE.
OUR 2005 HONDA PILOT HAS A LEAK INTO THE FRONT INTERIOR ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. I HAVE SEARCHED ON LINE EXTENSIVELY AND HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING LEAKS ON THE EARLY MODELS. PAGES OF COMPLAINTS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, HONDA IS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE. I HAVE TRIED A NUMBER OF THINGS TO FIX THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. IS THERE A RECALL OR A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM? IT SEEMS WIDESPREAD AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TAILGATE NOT REGISTERING AS CLOSED. UPON INSPECTING I DISCOVERED THAT THE LATCH ON THE TAILGATE WAS MOVING FREELY IN THE TAILGATE. IT WAS UNSECURED. UPON REMOVING THE PLASTIC TAILGATE TRIM, I SPOTTED THREE SPECIALIZED MACHINE BOLTS. THESE WERE TRAPPED BY THE TAIL GATE TRIM LOOSE UNCONNECTED. I DETERMINED THAT THESE BOLTS HELD THE LATCH IN POSITION. I WAS ABLE TO PROPERLY SECURE THE TAILGATE LATCH TO THE DOOR AND RESTORE PROPER FUNCTIONALITY. I BELIEVE THAT MORE LOCKS WILL REVEAL TO BE IMPROPERLY SECURED FROM THE FACTORY. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN REAR ENDED OR HAD ANY POST FACTORY REPAIRS. THE RISK OF INJURY DUE TO DEFECTIVE TORQUING OF THESE MACHINE BOLTS IS REAL AS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE TAILGATE COULD COME OPEN EJECTING PEOPLE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.
IT WAS A THREE CAR ACCIDENT. MY CAR WAS IN THE MIDDLE WAITING BEHIND ANOTHER CAR FOR A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING THE ROAD. HONDA ODYSSEY COMING FROM BEHIND IN THE OTHER LANE, CHANGED THE LANE AND REAR-ENDED MY CAR AT ~15 MPH. MY CAR HIT THE FRONT CAR. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE CAR THAT REAR-ENDED ME WITH SUBSTANTIAL ENGINE DAMAGE. DRIVER IN MY CAR ALONG WITH PASSENGER IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT GOT A VERTICAL LIFT WITH SEATBELT CONSTRAINTS HOLDING THEM IN PLACE. MY CAR'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN AT THIS POINT. I HAVE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM HONDA PILOT ABOUT DRIVERS FRONT AIRBAG INFLATOR REPLACEMENT. IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYMENT TOO IN THE CURRENT GENERATION OF HONDA PILOT? I HAVE THIS INCIDENT NOTED DOWN WITH AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO ISSUE. I WANT TO LOG IN THIS COMPLAINT HERE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT IGNORING OR MISSING ON ANOTHER RECALL AT THE COST OF GETTING HUMANS INJURED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR
HONDA PILOT WAS SERVICED AT ED VOYLES HONDA ON 10/22 AND PICKED UP ON 10/23. EXTENSIVE SERVICE PERFORMED ON CAR...TIMING BELT, TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS REPLACED PER RECALL, ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED, OIL CHANGED, ETC. PICKED UP CAR ON 10/23. ON 10/24 BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND PUT CAR IN DRIVE GEAR. CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT ME PUTTING FOOT ON ACCELERATION. COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. ACCELERATION CONTINUED AND INCREASED. ONLY WAY TO STOP CAR WAS TO RUN INTO A TREE. NOT SURE IF CAUSED BY RECENT WORK OR I HAVE READ NOW THAT 2005 HONDA PILOTS HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH UNPROVOKED ACCELERATION. USAA INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED CAR AND CAR IS AT JUNK YARD NOW. *TR
WHILE PARKED, UPON NORMAL CLOSING OF THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR, THE LICENSE PLATE & FRAME CAME OFF MY CAR AND FELL TO THE GROUND. I PICKED IT UP TO RE-ATTACH TO THE DOOR AND DISCOVERED THAT THE METAL SURROUNDING THE BOLTS HAD SHEARED OFF FROM THE CAR LEAVING GAPING HOLES IN THE HATCHBACK DOOR. THE LICENSE PLATE CAN NOT BE ATTACHED TO THE CAR WITHOUT SOME FORM OF BODY WORK OR CREATIVE MACGYVER TYPE SKILLS. MY PLATE FELL OFF THE CAR WHILE PARKED. MY CONCERN IS IF IT HAD FALLEN OFF WHILE MOVING AT A HIGH SPEED. IT COULD HAVE HEADED STRAIGHT FOR A VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIAN BEHIND/BESIDE ME. *TR
WHEN APPROACHING 35-40 MPH, MY 2005 HONDA PILOT BEGINS TO SHUTTER AND I FEEL A LOT OF VIBRATION. I HAVE GOT NEW TIRES, ROTATED, AND BALANCED THEM THINKING THIS WOULD HELP THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. WHEN I PASS 40 MPH, THE NOISE/VIBRATION/SHUTTERING STOPS. *TR
MY WIFE LOST CONTROL , 2 LANE PAVED ROAD 45 MPH (CAR DAMAGE FROM BUMPER TILL REAR END) COMING TO STOP IN A DITCH TO HER LEFT. NO OTHER VEHICLE/INVOLVED, REPORT WAS FILED WITH INSURANCE, CAR REPAIRED ( OVER $10,000 ) I ARRIVED AS POLICE OFFICER WAS INTERVIEWING MY WIFE @ OUR DRIVEWAY, SHE WAS STILL CRYING, NEVER HAD ANY ACCIDENTS BEFORE, OR SPEEDING TICKETS ( VERY PASSIVE DRIVER, OUR KIDS WHERE IN THE CAR 3 AND 4 YEARS OLD @ THE TIME) HER EXPLANATION: THE CAR WAS GOING OUT OF THE ROAD TO MY RIGHT ON ITS OWN, I TRIED TO CORRECTED BUT THE STEERING WAS NOT RESPONDING,I FELT THE CAR GOING INTO THE DITCH, I PULLED HARD , IT RESPONDED CROSSING THE LANE VIOLENTLY, TRIED TO CONTROL IT CAME BACK TO THE RIGHT HITTING THE STOP AHEAD SIGN, SWERVED AGAIN TO THE LEFT AND STOPPING @ THE DITCH.150 FEET FROM THE INTERSECTION,BETWEEN TELGE RD. WESTBOUND AND GRANT RD. CYPRESS TX 77429 PREVIOUS OWNERS OF HONDA CRV, WE LOVE THEIRS CARS WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BAD LUCK, THINGS THAT HAPPEN, WE MOVED ON. SINCE THEN SHE/COMPLAINED/BRAKES WILL DISENGAGED AND ENGAGE AGAIN. THE CAR WILL STOP BUT A COUPLE OF FEET LONGER THAT INTENDED. 1ST. TIME I REPLACE BRAKE PADS, 2ND.TIME I TRIED TO REPLICATE THE EXPERIENCE BUT NO LUCK. 3RD. TIME NEW BRAKE FLUID AND COMPLETE BRAKE INSPECTION. 12/2012 SHE TOLD ME AGAIN. I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO WORK MYSELF EVERY DAY. 12/29/2012 COMING BACK FROM WORK, STOP SING, HIT THE BRAKES, RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR STOPS THE PEDAL SUNK COMPLETELY , NOISES CAME FROM THE WHEELS AS IF THERE WAS AND ON/OFF SWITCH BEING USE FOR BRAKING. THE CAR STOPS ABOUT 10 FEET LONGER THEN INTENDED. BEING CONCERN ABOUT A SOLUTION I STARTED LOOKING FOR ANY INFO ABOUT THIS ONLINE, SO IT COULD FIX IT THIS IS MY KIDS/WIFE VEHICLE. I DISCOVER ALL THE SIMILAR CASES ONLINE ,I WONDER IF THE STEERING REALLY WHEN OUT OF CONTROL ON ITS OWN , LIKE SHE SWORE TO MY IN 2008. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN IT RAINED WATER PENETRATED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
2005 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC SAID THE LOCK ROD WAS BROKEN IN THE DOOR. CONSUMER STATES THAT HONDA WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PICKED UP HER VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE DOOR PANEL WAS DAMAGED. ABOUT EIGHT INCHES OF THE PANEL WAS BROKEN OFF. THERE WERE ALSO DEEP SCRATCHES IN THE DOOR PANEL ITSELF AND THE BLACK METAL ON THE DOOR HAD DENTS IN IT. *JB
2005 HONDA PILOT WITH LEAK UNDER PASSENGER FLOOR AFTER IT RAINS. TAKEN TO DEALER, REPLACED SEALS AROUND DOORS. TOOK CAR HOME, IT RAINED, FLOOR SOAKING WET. CALLED DEALER, BROUGHT CAR BACK, WATER TEST DONE. COULD NOT LOCATED LEAK BUT FLOOR OF CAR WAS SOAKING WET AFTER WATER TEST. DEALER SAID DEFINITE LEAK IN THE CAR BUT COULDN'T BE FIXED UNTIL THEY LOCATED SOURCE. SEARCHED INTERNET FOR PROBLEM.... SEEMS A LOT OF OTHER HONDA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. HONDA CORPORATE CLAIMS THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS BUT HAVE OPENED A CLAIM FOR ME AND WILL INVESTIGATE. EXTENDED WARRANTY NOT GOOD ON THIS PROBLEM ACCORDING TO HONDA. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING INTO THE VEHICLE WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN. HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE OR HOW THE WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE WATER WAS DAMAGING THE FLOOR BOARDS AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT PREMATURE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,500.
2005 HONDA PILOT MOTOR MOUNTS BROKEN. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS THEY ARE SCHEDULING THESE TYPE OF REPAIRS ARE BEING SCHEDULED 2 TO 3 WEEKS AHEAD OF TIME. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND CAN CAUSE MUCH MORE DAMAGE. HONDA IS TRYING TO GET OUT OF A COSTLY DEFECTIVE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *TR
I HAD MY FRONT AND SIDE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED TWO WEEKS AGO ON MY 2005 WITH 75,000 MILES. I SUSPECT THEY HAD BEEN TORN FOR 5,000 MILES OR SO. LOTS OF LOW LOAD CLUNKING DURING THROTTLE APPLICATION, AND EVER SO SLIGHT STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION. WHICH I HAD NEVER NOTICED, UNTIL DRIVING IT AFTER THE REPAIR AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL DEAD STILL. BUT IT STILL IS DISAPPOINTING TO SPEND $450 FOR (2) MOTOR MOUNTS ON A 3 YEAR OLD TRUCK. SHOULDN'T HONDA TO DO A RECALL ON THIS? *TR
I HAD MY 2005 HONDA PILOT IN THE SHOP FOR 60,000 MILE CHECK-UP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE RIGHT FRONT AND THE REAR LEFT. I THINK THIS IS ENTIRELY TOO FEW MILES FOR THE MOTOR MOUNTS TO BEGIN TO FAIL. *TR
THE PART THAT HAS FAILED IS THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT ON MY 2005 HONDA PILOT EX-L. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE IS NORMAL EVERYDAY DRIVING. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE IS 3 YRS OLD AND HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE A 390 DOLLAR BILL TO HAVE THE DEALER REPLACE THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT. IF IT IS NOT REPLACED THE SIDE MOTOR MOUNT WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE AND CAUSE UNDUE STRAIN ON THE TRANSMISSION EVENTUALLY CAUSING TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. FRONT MOTOR MOUNT REPLACED. OLD MOUNT IS AVAILABLE. *TR
THE DVD SYSTEM IS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. THE ROOF MAKES OCCASIONAL LOUD RATTLING NOISE, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON A LITTLE BUMPY ROAD. IT SOUNDS LIKE TWO METALLIC SURFACES ARE BANGING INTO EACH OTHER. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR REPAIR BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *JB
THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL AT AROUND 4:30 PM. JUST LIKE ALWAYS AROUND AT CERTAIN PART OF THE FREEWAY THE TRAFFIC BEGAN AND EVERYONE WAS SLOWING DOWN. I BEGAN TO PRESS ON MY BREAKS. THIS IS WERE THINGS ALL WENT TO FAST AND ARE KIND OF WEIRD. GOING ABOUT 60 MPH, MY SUV WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN AND IT JERKED TO THE LEFT. THERE WERE A LOT OF BAD, SCARY NOISES, ONES THAT AUTOMOBILES SHOULDN'T MAKE. LUCKILY, I DIDN'T HIT ANYONE ELSE. MY THOUGHT BEFORE I GOT OUT OF THE CAR WAS THAT I TOTALLY SLAMMED INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN. HOWEVER, UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE I SAW THAT COSMETICALLY THE CAR WAS PRETTY MUCH FINE. ALL THE COMMOTION THAT I HEARD AND FELT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE AT FIRST BUT THEN IT ALL CAME TO FRUITION. IT SEEMS THAT GOING 60 MPH WITH 10-15 FEET MY CAR CAME TO A DEAD STOP, RESTING ON TWO RIGHT SIDE TIRES AND TO LEFT SIDE WHEELS. THE FREEWAY PATROLMAN WENT UP AND DOWN THE FREEWAY TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING (BECAUSE I DIDN'T!), AND ALL HE FOUND WERE PIECES OF MY CAR AND NOTHING ELSE. AGAIN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THERE IS A LONG LIST OF MECHANICAL, BODY AND REFINISH WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND REPLACED. SO FAR AROUND 7,000+ IN DAMAGES. NOT TO MENTION THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE FRAME ARE MESSED UP. THE REAR SUB FRAME, THE PIECE THAT HOLDS THE SUSPENSION TOGETHER, BROKE CLEAN IN HALF. WE DON'T KNOW IF THE FRONT FAILED AND CAUSED THE BACK TO FALL APART, OR IF THE BACK FAILED AND CAUSED THE FRONT TO FALL APART. TO CORRECT IT THEY ARE JUST GOING TO REPAIR EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, MOST WHICH ARE BEING REPLACED WITH USED PARTS. THE ONLY PHYSICAL INJURY THAT OCCURRED WAS A BIG BURN/CUT I GOT FROM THE SIDE AIR BAG GOING OFF. PLUS, BY REPLACING THE PIECES WITH USED PARTS, HOW DO THEY KNOW IT WON'T FAIL AGAIN? ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE! THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER 55 MPH WITH THE REAR WINDOWS OPEN, THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSES DISCOMFORT TO THE OCCUPANT'S EARS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. UPDATED 07/03/06. *JB THE LEATHER SEATS WERE CRACKING.
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE DAYTIME IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NUMBERS WERE GREY COLORED AGAINST A DARKER GREY BACKGROUND. AT NIGHT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS VERY EASILY SEEN BECAUSE OF THE LIGHTING. THE CONTACT CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT THE LEATHER OVERHANG COULD OBSTRUCTED THE VIEW OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAUSE IT CAUSED A LARGE SHADOW OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THIS WAS THE DESIGN WITHIN THE VEHICLE, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CONTACT MAY CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WAS AN AFTER MARKET INSTRUMENT PANEL AVAILABLE FOR THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET SHE FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER TYPE OF INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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