Honda Pilot 2005 — Reported problems

A stuck ignition lock cylinder on a 2005 Honda Pilot. Hello I purchased this car from the second owner and they had the ignition lock replaced less than 2 years ago. This device has now failed again. Its a poor design by honda and was never fixed or recalled. This has lead countless people to be stranded. With repairs upwords of $500.

Power steering high pressure line leaking on exhaust and almost caused fire Dangerous. Lines need to be recall or replace

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that shortly after refueling, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration, causing the speed to increase to approximately 45 MPH while approaching stopped traffic. While pressing the brake pedal to avoid a collision, the vehicle continued to accelerate and crashed into the rear of a second vehicle. During the air bag deployment, the air was deflated, causing the driver's head to contact the steering wheel. Also, the contact indicated that metal fragments were present during the air bag deployment. The contact sustained a lacerated left wrist and lacerations to the chest area. The driver also sustained contusions and bruised to the head, ankles, and legs, along with neck and back stiffness, which will all require medical treatment. No other injuries were known regarding the second vehicle occupants. A Police Report was taken at the scene, and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failures, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 150,000.

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 25-35 MPH, the vehicle slowed down unexpectedly, and the brake pedal was hard and slow to respond when depressed. The contact stated that the steering wheel was pulling to the left, and it was difficult to correct the steering wheel. The vehicle was difficult to control. The VSA light was illuminated. There was a triangle with an exclamation mark symbol displayed on the instrument cluster. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the VSA module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 173,273.

The rear trailing arm, normally attached to the rear suspension is clearly corroded and came detached when driving under 25 mph up a road. The SAME issue Honda had to do a recall on their 2005 CRV model. Researched Honda Pilots, in our (Midwest) area, EVERY SINGLE 2005 Pilot had the corrosion. Also cause the muffler pipe to detach from the catalytic converter (included in the photos attached).

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.

Airbag is deactivated due to failure of both crash sensors on the vehicle. Replacement parts are on national backorder.

The rear suspension got detached from a collapsed/rusted Frame. Item # 11 Sub-Frame, Rear Suspension Part # 50300-S9V-A01 The suspension is rubbing against the rear tires since the Bolt Flange (14x125 item# 14 part # 90160-S0X-A00) can’t be supported by the rusted/ collapsed Frame affecting the rest of suspension parts item # 12 washer E subframe part# 50354-S3V-A00 and item#13 part# 50456-S3V-A00 Washer F subframe Mounting.

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while waiting in line at a gas station, she smelled a burning odor, and there was smoke coming from the steering wheel. The contact was turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that upon activating the low-beam headlights, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle without activating the low-beam headlights, the steering wheel stopped smoking. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V136000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

The rear subframe attaches to the unibody has rotted and almost fell off the car

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.

Ignition switch locked will not turn.

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at various speeds on several occasions, there was a cranking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that several unknown components needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the shocks, control arms, drive train and other unknown components needed to be replaced. The contact referenced the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V228000 (Structure); however, neither the VIN nor the year, make, or model was included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 149,000.

My Honda pilot has rust on one of the subframe mounts causing it to come loose from body. Honda issued a technical service bulletin about it for an investigation from nhtsa. But, the dealer is acting like there is no such thing with the known issue and repair kit they made to fix the issue. I will attach the service bulletin below to about the issue of what Honda put out supposedly to fix the problem. They keep saying this bulletin does not exist for my vehicle but the bulletin states all years not VIN specific.

Was traveling down the road, had an electrical burning smell coming from my dash and around steering wheel. Low beams then shut off going down road pulled over but still had high beams but no low beams.

I parked my car in front of my house at 10pm the following morning my neighbor came to tell me my car was on fire. It had been raining the previous night. My driver window was not completely closed so rain got in my car. There was black smoke coming out of the window. When I opened my door, the driver seat & driver door was on fire. I grabbed the hose & put out the fire.

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.

On dry asphalt the vehicle stability control (VSC) periodically activates forcing the car either off the road or into the opposing lane. This has occurred 3 times in the past year, always on dry asphalt going in a straight line. Thankfully I live in a rural area, were there other cars on the road one instant could have caused a head-on collision. The VSC light comes on when this happens but no permanent CEL lights and the VSC light turns off after a restart. The recall work was done with the capacitor added to the circuit to smooth the signal and the ground connection under the driver side kick panel was cleaned according to the TSB, however, based on my experience and what has been reported by numerous other Honda Pilot owners this cheaper fix to replacing or repairing the yaw sensing circuit is concerning, particularly since Honda charges nearly $1000 for an OEM yaw sensor.

Travelling on interstate w/ cruise speed set @ 70 mph. VSA (vehicle stability assist) engaged with a brief grinding noise & pulled to the right. Very startling event. VSA activation indicator triangle light came on, as well as, the VSA system indicator light. Have experienced the event a dozen or so times on both the interstate and roads with a speed limit of 35/40 mph, without use of the cruise control. We are original owners of the vehicle and it has been diligently worked on throughout & currently has 230,000 miles on it. Awaiting delivery of a new vehicle, but intend for my newly licensed son to drive the vehicle. Took it to my repair shop, but they couldn't replicate the issue. Replaced both front speed sensors, but the issue occurred on the interstate drive home immediately after. Hope to be able to drop the vehicle off for an extended period once I take delivery on my new vehicle. Worried the issue will occur in rain or snow & be even more dangerous. Repair shop ran diagnostic showing the yaw issue, but said the Honda generated code report only went up to 25 mph. Has always pulled to the right during activation and the grinding noise is very evident & startling. Kinda feels like maybe the ABS anti-braking system engages on 1 tire for a brief few seconds in my non auto mechanic analysis.

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at 20 MPH, the low beams of the vehicle went out inadvertently, almost causing the contact to crash into another vehicle that was coming from the opposite direction. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated she turned on her high beams and was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the terminal ends had melted within the wiring harness connector and the wiring harness connector or the lighting switch needed to be replaced. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that her vehicle could not be repaired under the recall for NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V136000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) as her VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 290,000.

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the passenger’s side airbag light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s impact sensor needed to be replaced. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was repaired. The contact mentioned that a year later the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

The Honda Pilots Engine Mounts are constantly having to be replaced prematurely than any other vehicle I have ever owned. This is an extremely dangerous part failure and an expensive cost to have. This dealership explained this is a known issue with these Hondas, yet no help or solutions from the manufacturer. There has to be some form of help or accountability for this type of negligence.

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V344000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall was unavailable. The contact called the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Airbag tensioner seatbelt light is on (red one); AKA, SRS (supplemental restraint system) Dealership pulled codes 41-11 and 42-11, which are the front left and right impact sensors. They said the impact sensors "appear to be okay". but the main SRS computer unit control modular is "not working properly". The car has 137,000 miles on it and has not been in an accident and the light came on immediately when I started my car after it sat for a day without driving it. I live in rural area where no one could have tampered with my car. The dealership was perplexed and said they have seen this happen a lot recently and believe it is a defect in the SRS unit. The impact sensors are fine but the codes are being thrown for impact sensors, not the SRS unit; which they said if I paid 1,000 dollars (might) resolve the impact sensors error... if not, then I would have to pay another 900 for parts/labor to do the sensors as well. THIS IS A MANUFACTOR DEFECT THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS I CALLED MANY DEALERSHIPS AND THEY THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE WARRANTIED AS A SAFETY HAZARD... Honda will not yet acknowledge that me or my family could be killed because their computer SRS unit malfunctions. I will continue to support and buy only HONDA but I NEED this to be warrantied and replaced no cost out of my pocket. Please issue a recall or honor the repair cost IMMEDIATELY.

IN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR BRAKES FOR NO REASON FOR A MOMENT THAN IT RELEASE

MY CHILDREN BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR ME BECAUSE I LOST MY JOB DUE TO COVID AFTEREFFECTS AND I HAD TO RETURN MY KIA SOUL 2014 TO THE CREDITORS.I WAS DELIVERING FOOD BOXES TO THE ELDERLY WHEN THE AT TEMP LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO LOCKUP I HAD TO PULLOVER BECAUSE THE CAR WAS RUNNING HOT.IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING SO I COULDN'T GET HOME.I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT HAPPEN TO ME.GOGGLEING THIS HONDA BRAND THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL BUT NO HONDA RECALL THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS! AND SHOULD BE EITHER RECALLED OR TAKEN OFF THE MARKET AS NTO TO NEVER BE EVER RESOLD

STARTED VEHICLE TO GO HOME AND TURN MY LIGHTS ON BUT BOTH LOW BEAMS WOULD NOT WORK BUT THE HIGH BEAMS WORKED.

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.

2005 PILOT WAS REPAIRED UNDER VSA RECALL IN 2013. AS OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, AGAIN I EXPERIENCED SAME EXACT VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUES PRIOR TO REPAIR. THIS PAST WEEK WHILE I HAD MY THREE CHILDREN IN THE CAR, WE ALMOST LOST OUR LIVES. A SEMI DRIVER INSTEAD RISKED HIS OWN LIVES TO KEEP FROM SLAMMING IN THE BACK OF US. WE TOOK OUR PILOT TO HONDA DEALERSHIP THAT HAS SERVICED OUR VEHICLE OVER THE YEARS AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO RECOGNIZE ISSUE AND INSTEAD POINT TO THE SAME THING I AM NOW READING HERE ONLINE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES IT IS THE YAW SENSOR AS THE ISSUE, NOT FAULTY REPAIR. IT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT PILOT OWNERS ARE NOW ONCE AGAIN ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES ALL OVER AGAIN. HOW MANY LIVES WILL BE LOST OR CHANGED FOR THE WORST BEFORE HONDA IS FORCED TO RECKON WITH THIS ISSUE? THIS IS WRONG AND UNACCEPTABLE. THERE ARE OTHER POOR DESIGN FLAWS THAT WE THINK ALSO MAY HAVE COST US SO MUCH MORE MONEY, SUCH AS THE VVT ISSUES. HOWEVER, THE VSA REPAIR ISSUE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE OVERLOOKED AND MUST BE DEALT WITH NOW. SPECIFICALLY, MY EXPERIENCE MOSTLY ON FLAT SURFACES WITH EXCEPTION OF ONE TIME ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AT A STOP LIGHT. BOTH IN TOWN DRIVING AND INTERSATE AND ALL DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS EXCEPT ONE OCCASION. THE VSA LIGHT FLASHED, VEHICLE APPLIED BRAKE AT WITHOUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. MY FOOT WAS ON ACCELERATOR AT THE TIME VEHICLE WAS BEING HARSHLY STOPPED BY THE BRAKES APPLIED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A BUCKING MOTION OR JERKING MOTION, ALSO I'VE EXPERIENCED THE SLIGHT SWERVE. I WAS DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION ALL OF THE TIMES THIS OCCURRED SINCE THE REPAIR IN 2013. IT DEPENDED ON THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AND LENGTH OF TIME THE VEHICLE ACTED UP. EVERYTHING IS JUST AS IT DID PRIOR TO THE REPAIR IN 2013, NOTHING IS ANY DIFFERENT, ALL THE SAME. YET, HONDA WANTS TO SAY I NEED TO COVER REPAIR.

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!!

RAN INTO A LIGHT POLE WHICH HIT THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH RESULTED IN A BROKEN STERNUM FOR THE DRIVER

FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS WEEK MY 2005 HONDA PILOT SUDDENLY LOSES ALL POWER AND DIES, BOTH TIMES I WAS IN A DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS. IT SCARED ME 2 DEATH.

MY CAR WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE GAS. AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON I'M CONCERNED IT WILL EXPLODE LIKE THE ONES ON OTHER HONDA PILOTS.

THE YAW RATE LATERAL ACCELERATION SENSOR IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN HONDA'S 2013 RECALL OF THE VSA. THE VEHICLE HAS THE EXACT SYMPTOMS OF THE VSA RECALL, WHICH WAS FIXED ON MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE CAR LAST YEAR WITH VERY LOW MILES, ONLY DROVE FOR A FEW MONTHS BEFORE IT STARTED HAVING ISSUES. STARTED OUT HAVING THE VSA TRIANGLE LIGHT ON DASH AND LOSING POWER (LIMP MODE) ONLY AFTER COMING OUT OF A TURN AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR AWHILE. INCREASED TO THE POINT WHERE AFTER ROUGHLY 30 MINUTES OF THE VEHICLE RUNNING THE VSA ISSUE WOULD HAPPEN AT LEAST ONCE DURING THE DRIVE. SEVERITY OF THE VSA/LIMP MODE GOT WORSE, NO POWER FOR LONGER AT A TIME AND THE HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH CABIN. TOOK TO HONDA COMPLAINING OF THESE ISSUES, COULDN'T REPLICATE IT SO NOTHING WAS WRONG. ONE MONTH AGO, MY VEHICLE STARTED HAVING THE UN-COMMANDED BRAKING PROBLEM. DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH TO THE BRAKES CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HARD BRAKE, CAUSING A SWERVE AT LEAST GOING THAT FAST. IT HAS DONE THIS UN-COMMANDED BRAKING MORE THAN ONCE, I HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND AT LEAST GOT IT 30 MINUTES TO MY HONDA DEALER, WHICH I ALSO PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM. IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE FAULTY YAW RATE LATERAL ACCELERATION SENSOR. I HAVE ARGUED WITH HONDA FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS OVER THE ISSUE, ULTIMATELY TO BE TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FINAL RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE INVESTIGATION NAMES THE YAW SENSOR AS POSSIBLY BEING IMPLICATED IN THE MALFUNCTION. $994 FOR THE SENSOR ALONE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS AND EVEN THE DEALER RECOMMENDS IT BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY, YET HONDA HAS DECLARED NO FAULT.

WHILE DRIVING, OFTEN THE VSA WILL APPLY RANDOMLY WHEN THERE IS NO NEED TO. MOST OFTEN IT IS WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT THE VSA WILL ENGAGE DURING CITY DRIVING, WHEN BREAKING, AS WELL AS WHEN TURNING. IT CAUSES MY WHOLE VEHICLE TO SEIZE UP AND PULL TO THE SIDE. BECAUSE IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM, IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPLICATED WHEN I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC. THERE IS A VSA OFF BUTTON THAT I ENGAGE BEFORE DRIVING WHICH WAS SUGGESTED TO ME TO DO BUT EVEN WITH THE VSA TURNED OFF, THE VSA WILL (HOWEVER LESS FREQUENTLY), STILL ENGAGE AT RANDOM. IT IS SCARY FOR ME AS A DRIVER TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN AS I AM OFTEN DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN TOW.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND PULLED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE YAW RATE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND WAS HEARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VAN'S HONDA LOCATED AT (2821 S ONEIDA ST, GREEN BAY, WI 54304, (920) 499-5483) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIE RODS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 40 MPH MY RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP. WE CHANGED THE BRAKE CALIPER THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. LOOKING ONLINE IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE 2005 HONDA PILOT. I SEARCHED AND CALLED HONDA AND MY LOCAL DEALER. THEY SAID THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS OR SAFETY BULLETINS.

MAKE NOICE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CONTROL MODULE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V092000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.