2003 Honda Pilot: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Feb 20, 2025 · Electrical, Transmission · NC

Water leaked into front floors of vehicle soaking the carpet and the fuse panels in the floor. Yes it is available. Fuse boxes had standing water building up behind them slowly dumping water into them causing shorts in electrical system which could have caused the car to catch on fire. Yes the problem has been confirmed. No the vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than mechanic. The only signs of the problem I noticed was the carpet was soaked and couldn't understand why. The battery died randomly one night after locking the doors. No other signs were noted.

Filed Aug 31, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · 89,000 miles · AL · fire

The contact owned a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated she was informed by her daughter that the inside passenger side of the vehicle was on fire. The contact extinguished the fire with water. The fire department arrived afterward and informed that the electronic software was the cause of the fire. The contact was unsure if a fire report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries or medical treatments needed. The contact notified a local mechanic regarding the failure and was informed of the same information which the fire department provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

Filed Jul 18, 2017 · Lights · 168,000 miles · VA

While driving smoke came from steering column, since that low beams went out but high beams work.

Filed Sep 25, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 220,000 miles · WI · fire

Parked the car. Came back about 10 minutes later, heard loud like shots fired, rounded the corner to see it was our airbags popping...the car was on fire under the hood, and going to the dashboard. Called 911 and by the time the fire dept. Came ( 1 mile away) the whole car was engulfed. The whole car destroyed, all that was left was the shell no seats no dashboard no license plates nothing left. We complied to all recalls and took it to a honda dealership each time for repairs. We had a steering column fire about 2-3 years ago driving along and the car filled with smoke, it was a electrical fire, but pulling over turning off the engine put out the fire. Had it repaired immediately. A week before the big fire we felt the column and it was hot...but cooled after we parked it. Then days later is when it burned to the ground, even the tires were gone. Honda doesn't care about our loss, and of course it's not their fault. P.s. In 2007 we got hurt in that same car we were stopped on the side of the road ( we were in the car) and a truck crossed the line and hit us head on. Our seat belts didn't hold us in, they loosened and airbags did not deploy. We were hurt and honda said the truck hit us too high is why the airbags didn't deploy. That sounds ridiculous. The seat belt shoulder straps didn't hold us cause we weren't moving also sounds ridiculous. Honda didn't care then either.

Filed Jun 4, 2013 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · AZ · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the transmission failed without warning. On a separate occasion, the passenger side relay speaker caught on fire. The fire was contained by the contact. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was advised that the wiring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Oct 24, 2012 · Brakes · 159,000 miles · TN

A new master cylinder from american honda installed by a honda dealership failed less than 1/4 mile from the dealership. The failure was detected by the brake pedal not coming to a complete stop when pressed though this was not very noticeable. Pressing the brake caused brake fluid to leak from the master cylinder and would have eventually caused enough loss so that the brakes would not work. The master cylinder had been replaced along with the front-left brake cylinder due to the front-left brake cylinder sticking closed according to the dealership. The original brake cylinder failure caused enough smoke to cause the driver to initially believe the car was on fire.

Filed May 29, 2012 · Fuel system · 99,975 miles · FL

I was driving my wife's 2003 honda pilot stopped at light and when I started to drive away started to smell gasoline vapors coming into vehicle. Drove home and smell continued after shutting vehicle off. Next morning drove to honda dealer on tyndall parkway, in panama city florida, waited all day for an answer from service department, finally 1500 hrs on friday, they told me the fuel line had separated at joints and couplings and that was the smell I experienced. They kept the vehicle since then awaiting parts to repair fuel line. I was told parts would not arrive until tuesday 5-29-2012, they still haven't, was told again they would be available on 5-30-12. They also advised me it would cost$ 250, for part and total bill would be $1300, when I asked why so much, they stated labor would be for 11 hrs and cost $1150. Being it was a safety concern agreed to pay as my wife has ms and is handicap and having to keep a window open in 90+ temp. Would cause her ms to flair and possible relapse. .1). My question is why wasn't this vehicle recalled as a safety hazard with possible effects from gasoline fumes exposure and possibility of catching on fire of vehicle which both could have lead to possible death or injury of handicap individual or vehicle occupants. And is it common for the fuel line to break in this model vehicle? 2). Does honda allow for 11 hrs to replace and repair the fuel, and what is their responsibility in the matter of this incident? Not to notify owners of possible injury or death due to faulty equipment of their vehicles. I want a response from honda on these issues. 3). And a investigation into these concerns involving fuel line burst and connections involved here. And will this dealer provide written information as to why this happened and will they notify honda headquarters and customer services of this incident? Updated ivoq 06/06/12 ....updated 06/18/12 *bf

Filed Feb 19, 2010 · Electrical · 144,844 miles · FL

Smoke came out of the steering column while driving. Had car towed to honda dealership. Honda found burnt connector in the headlight switch due to an electrical short. Replaced entire headlight switch part number 35012-s5a-307, 7743875-35999 set, combination switch.

Filed Nov 25, 2006 · 79,000 miles · MO

Same situation as released in odi case number 10172900. I had a tremendous amount of smoke coming from the dash. The smell of burning plastic or circuit board was strong. After the incident, my rear dvd headphone outputs, both wired and wireless, no longer function. Took the pilot to a dealer and they could not confirm the failure of the headphone outputs even though I requested that they put in a dvd to test the system. They did not have one available. The dealer would only pull the radio unit and recommend that I replace that unit. When I asked if they had tested the unit, the response was that they could not test the unit. The unit would have to be sent somewhere for test and possible replacement. They could not guarantee that this would fix the problem. To view the area behind to dvd player, I was advised that it would take a technician 8 plus hours to remove the necessary dash elements in order to get into the cavity containing the dvd player. There was a definite resistance to explore the suggestions I had as to why there may have been smoke. All I know is the there was enough smoke to require me to pull off the road and my daughter and I to "bail" out of the car.

Filed Mar 28, 2005 · Brakes, Electrical · 14,000 miles · NJ · fire

While parked in a lot the vehicle caught on fire . The cause has yet to be determined. The fire department stated that it was an electrical failure, but was not sure. *ak consumer stated there was no indication of any problem. No hesitation nor any warning lights. The vehicle had less than 1000 miles when the master cylinder failed. *bf