Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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. 24 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
I was leaning back looking backwards while reversing and the front left seat bracket on the driver’s seat cracked and separated resulting in my seat turning into a rocking chair and my feet coming off of the pedals. It could have ended in an accident.
The drivers side seat bracket has a broken weld causing the seat to wobble & rock while driving the vehicle. From the Pilot Driver’s online forum it’s been known as a common complaint that Honda is not willing to confess to or interested in resolving as a safety design flaw as it seems to be related to multiple yrs 2004 & up of the Pilot vehicle & happens over time.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STANDSTILL REACHING BACK IN HIS SEAT THE SEAT RISER FRACTURED CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000.
THE DRIVER SEAT LEFT FRONT BRACKET BROKE. THE CHAIR IS ABLE TO LEAN BACK AND IS UNSTABLE. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND I AM NOT HE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. IT SEAMS TO OF STARTED WITH THE 2004 MODEL AND IN THE CRV. A RECALL IS NEEDED. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE OVER A $1000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE BASE. THE BRACKET PART IS NOT BEING OFFERED. THIS IS CRAZY. I JUST SAT IN MY CHAIR AND REACHED TO THE REACHED TO MY BACKSEAT FOR A BAG AND IT SNAPPED. THANK GOOD MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE NOT IN THIS THING.
THE BRACKET WHICH IS USED TO MOUNT THE SEAT TO THE VEHICLE BROKE AND THE SEAT IS NOT STABLE. THE BRACKET IS LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT IN THE FRONT LEFT SIDE (CLOSEST TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR). FROM WHAT I HEAR ON THE PILOTEERS WEB SITE, SEVERAL FOLKS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS DRIVING AND CAUSED ISSUES CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE, SINCE THE SEAT WOULD WANT TO RECLINE BACKWARDS WHEN ACCELERATING. I HAD TO BRACE MYSELF BY HOLDING ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PIECE OF MEDAL FRAME WAS FRACTURED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.
THE DRIVERS SEAT FRAME BROKE WHICH I FEEL IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN IT BROKE. IT WASN'T TOO BAD AT FIRST, THE SEAT JUST ROCKED A LITTLE. AFTER AWHILE (COUPLE OF WEEKS) THE SEAT ROCKED MORE SEVERELY WITH EVERY START, STOP AND TURN. IF I WERE TO HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, I AM SURE THE SEAT WOULD NOT HAVE PROTECTED ME OR HELPED ME TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF MY 2005 PILOT. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $2185.00 TO REPAIR. IT TOOK THE DEALERSHIP LONGER THAN EXPECTED TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY REPAIR PARTS. THE ACTUAL COST A WAS BIT MORE $2233.00 PLUS TAX. AFTER VIEWING SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE DRIVER'S SEAT I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD BE PROACTIVELY CHECKING AND MAKING THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. IF THE SEAT SHOULD BECOME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE BASE THE DRIVER WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. POSSIBLY CAUSING A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE COST TO REPAIR SEEMS OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH FOR JUST A COUPLE OF SMALL PIECES OF METAL.
WHILE LEANING BACK IN MY SEAT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF MY POCKET THE LEFT FRONT PART OF THE SEAT BROKE FREE. THE SEAT IS VERY UNSTABLE NOW WITH THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF THE SEAT ABLE TO MOVE UPWARD BY SEVERAL INCHES. IT TURNS OUT THAT A METAL BRACKET CRACKED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THIS DOESN'T GIVE ME ANY CONFIDENCE THAT THIS SEAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME. RESEARCH ONLINE HAS SHOWN THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. I WENT TO HONDA TODAY AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE SUSPECT PART IS 81630-S3V-A30
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT ADJUSTMENT CONTROL. A POLICE OFFICER USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BURN ON THE RIGHT HAND THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,300.
WHEN ON HIGH, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WARMER WILL LITERALLY LEAVE BURN MARKS ON MY RIGHT LEG. IT HAS WORKED NORMAL UNTIL THIS FALL WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND IT BURNED MY LEG. IT CAN NOT BE ON MORE THAN A MINUTE OR WILL LEAVE BURN MARKS ON THE RIGHT LEG. THE LEFT SIDE STILL SEEMS NORMAL. I CHECKED AND THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS, BUT IN LOOKING INTO IT HAD HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS AND THE SEAT HAS STARTED TO SMOKE.
MY DRIVERS SEAT BACK BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN I ENTERED MY VEHICLE. I HEARD A POP WHEN I SAT DOWN IN THE PILOT. MY SEAT BACK NOW HAS A LEAN. THE METAL SLIDE ADJUSTER ON THE RIGHT SIDE BROKE IN HALF. I GOT AN ESTIMATE FROM THE HONDA DEALER FOR 1600 TO FIX IT. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY CAR WAS NOT MOVING. I FEEL LIKE THAT PART IS DEFECTIVE. I NEVER HAVE HAD A CAR SEAT DO THIS EITHER. *TR
SEAT HEATER WAS USED ON DRIVERS SIDE. . GOT VERY HOT, SMELL SMOKED, LEG HAD SUPERFICIAL BURN. SMELL PLASTIC BURNING. *TR
THE CLIMATE CONTROL LIGHTS INSIDE OUR HONDA PILOT HAVE ALL BURNED OUT. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO CHANGE THE SETTINGS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE LIGHT BULBS DO NOT LIGHT UP. PLEASE FIX THIS HONDA! *KB
DRIVER HEATED SEAT STARTED ACTING UP A COUPLE YEARS AGO. IT WOULD WORK IN SPURTS AND THEN NOT AT ALL. BROUGHT THIS TO ATTENTION OF MY HONDA DEALER, WHO COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I AM UNSURE OF EXACT DATE OR MILEAGE SINCE I TOOK THEM AT THEIR WORD. AT THIS POINT IN 2011 THE SEAT NOW HAS ONE SEARING HOT SPOT, WHEN IT WORKS, AND EMITS A BURNING ODOR. THE HOT SPOT IS SEARING HOT AND WILL LITERALLY LEAVE A RED BURN MARK ON YOUR THIGH. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE HEATING ELEMENT WITH A SHORT AND I CONSIDER A LIVE ELECTRICAL SHORT A SAFETY AND LIABILITY ISSUE. I AM REPORTING THIS AS A FIRE SINCE THEIR IS A BURNING AND SMOKE ODOR . I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH HONDA ECONOMY SUPERSTORE, HIXSON TN AND WILL UPDATE MY COMPLAINT ACCORDINGLY. *TR
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT SPLIT IN SEVERAL PLACES AND WHEN WE TOOK IT TO BE REPAIRED THE SPECIALIST NOTED THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT HAD SCORCHED THE SEAT IN SEVERAL PLACES AND WAS IN DANGER OF CATCHING ON FIRE. WHOLE ELEMENT HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND SEAT REPLACED. *TR
THE CLIMATE CONTROL LIGHTS ON MY 2005 HONDA PILOT ARE NON-FUNCTIONAL. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW AND THESE LIGHTS FAILED AFTER ABOUT TWO YEARS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE PILOT. *TR
SEVERAL OF THE LIGHTS IN THE HVAC CONTROL PANEL IN MY 2005 HONDA PILOT HAVE BURNED OUT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 PILOTS, AND CAN BE CONFIRMED ON ONLINE HONDA PILOT FORUMS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT, AS THE ONLY WAY TO SEE THE CONTROLS IS TO TURN THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS. SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *TR
THE WELD FAILED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET ON ONE SIDE OF THE SEAT CAUSING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO MOVE AND ATTEMPT TO RECLINE. *TR
ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS IN THE AC CONTROL PANEL IN MY 2005 HONDA PILOT HAVE BURNED OUT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 05 PILOT. IT'S JUST HE AC CONTROL PANEL LIGHTS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT, AS THE ONLY WAY TO SEE THE CONTROLS IS TO HAVE TO TURN ON THE INSIDE DOME LIGHTS. SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT TO ME. *TR
WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT IN A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE FRONT SEATS BROKE ON A REAREND IMPACT. THE BACKS OF THE FRONT SEATS ACTUALLY BROKE. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE. MY WIFE AND I BOTH HAVE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO OUR BACKS AND WERE WANTING TO KNOW IF HONDA WAS RESPONSIBLE. WE ARE BOTH DISABLED BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR
I AM A 46 YEAR-OLD DISABLED MAN LIVING IN RIVERVIEW, FLORIDA. I AM A COLLEGE-EDUCATED BUSINESS OWNER. ON JULY 30TH I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 HONDA PILOT WITH MY 11 YEAR-OLD SON AS A PASSENGER AND HYDROPLANED ON AN ON-RAMP OF I-75 NEAR BRANDON, FLORIDA DURING A HEAVY RAIN. I DID NOT STRIKE ANYTHING. I SIMPLY SLID SIDEWAYS IN A GRASSY AREA AND THEN DROVE OFF. DURING THE SLIDE, THE DRIVER'S DOOR FLUNG OPEN WITH GREAT FORCE AND FOR NO REASON. I WAS ALMOST EJECTED. THIS CAUSED GREAT DAMAGE TO THE DOOR RESULTING IN MANY THOUSANDS IN DAMAGE AS DETERMINED BY AN ESTIMATE PERFORMED BY REGAL HONDA OF LAKELAND, FLORIDA. I ALSO INJURED MY BACK. AS HONDA HAS REFUSED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGE TO THE DOOR, I WANT TO WARN OTHER CONSUMERS OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE DOOR OF A HONDA PILOT OPENING UNEXPECTEDLY. *JB
WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, AN INFINITI G35 IMPACTED MY VEHICLE IN THE REAR AT 35 TO 40 MPH. BOTH FRONT SEATBACKS IN MY 2005 HONDA PILOT EX COLLAPSED IN THE CRASH RESULTING IN SPRAINS/STRAINS TO MY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S BACK AND NECK. MY DOCTOR ALSO COMMENTED THAT THE HEAD RESTRAINTS ARE TOO SHORT FOR MY HEIGHT (6 FT.).
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. ON MAY 31, 2007, THE CONTACTS SON BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE MIDDLE PASSENGER ROW SEAT BELT WHILE SLEEPING. THE TENSION ON THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN UNBUCKLED, WHICH CAUSED IT TO DIG INTO HIS STOMACH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT OFF. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 29,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,800. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED AT NO COST. UPDATED 08/07/07 *TR
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.
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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