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2003 Honda Pilot fuel system problems

16 complaints (2% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 116,040.

owner complaints
16
of this car's complaints
2%
typical mileage
116,040
crashes
0
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Storage: tank assembly
    4
  • Storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
    1
  • Storage
    1
  • Fuel injection system: fuel rail
    1
  • Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Honda Pilot fuel system problems in other years

200320052010201520202025

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2003 Honda Pilot owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 14, 2023 · Fuel system, Steering · GA

severe erosion of my undecarriage, metal just falls off from under the car. My fuel tank leaks and gas pours out. It has been deemed unsafe to drive by my Honda dealer, but has a good engine and other parts. It has been severely impacted by rust and erosion. The previous owner was a resident of Chicago, where salt is used, which I believe influenced this defect.

Filed Mar 24, 2020 · Fuel system · 260,000 miles · GA

Gas leaked from the top side of fuel tank under the driver side of vehicle. It has done this two times now while being filled up at two separate gas stations. Both of which were smooth flat surfaces. It does not overflow from the nozzle insert where you pump gas at. It comes from somewhere on the top side of tank and leaks until the gas goes below the spot from which it leaks.

Filed Dec 19, 2019 · Electrical, Fuel system · FL

Honda pilot 2003 cranked up started driving, after a min or two it shut off and wouldn't crank back up. I've replaced the main relay and a new fuel pump but when you put the key in and try to start it, it doesn't turn over all the way. It wants to but won't. Also more electrical issues along with radio and head lights. Something is terribly wrong and ive put alot of money into trying to find out what it is and have been guaranteed that part will fix it but no luck. New parts help but not with turning over and starting.

Filed Oct 27, 2018 · Engine, Fuel system · 197,000 miles · MD

Vehicle will stall while driving and then fail to start unless left off from 15 to 30 minutes vehicle will periodically fail to start. This happened driving on the expressway and was able to drift over to shoulder while avoiding being run into. The last instance a police officer kindly helped push the vehicle off a busy city street as so I could wait for a tow to the dealership again. They continue to say they cannot replicate the problem and have replaced multiple and expensive parts but to no avail.

Filed Aug 4, 2015 · Fuel system · 146,000 miles · IL

For few years I have been noticing terrible mileage, but thought the car was getting older. For definitely an year, there is a noticeable smell of gasoline in the car, again thought its the sign of an old car. But, last weekend I realized that this is a safety issue and finally got around whats happening. The fuel started dripping at the fuel tank - fuel line and is dripping at 1 drop per minute .. Not sure if it drips at the same rate all the time. Reading at all the complaints, it seems like the federal safety agency would only consider anything after someone dies. Sounds like useless posting over here, but just doing it for the benefit of others. This car had been leaking for a while, though the drip started very recently, thus giving very low mileage. This is a safety issue which should result in a recall.

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 Sep 15, 2011 · Fuel system · 116,040 miles · AR

I initially noticed a gasoline smell in the garage. Then, after filling the gas tank one day, and parking in the garage overnight, I discovered a puddle of gasoline on the garage floor! The gas is leaking from the fuel tank, at the seam or joint where the tank's integral cylindrical "tube" projection transitions to the flat surface of the tank. The rubber filler hose clamps onto this tank tube, but the leak is in the tank "tube joint seam" only. Light finger pressure on the side of the tube results in a more obvious leakage rate. I contacted honda owner link, and was told that a dealer had to confirm my observation before honda could help with this safety defect. I took the car in, and the service tech reported "fuel leak at the filler neck. Tank has no road damage. Tank will need to be replaced. Fuel is leaking at this time." I waited another 2 hours for the service manager to contact and receive a response from the honda dpsr. She declined any "goodwill" assistance "due to miles and year of vehicle". The quote to replace this safety defect is $1200, and no one at honda accepts any responsibility. I have tried to elevate this dangerous safety defect within honda, and have been told it is not a safety defect because there is no the federal safety agency action in place. I was told that the only further elevation avenue beyond the honda dpsr was to file this the federal safety agency complaint, and wait for enough similar fuel tank failures to be registered by the federal safety agency. Meanwhile, gasoline is leaking from my defective pilot fuel tank, and my only choices are to run it out of fuel and park it, or to pay $1200 myself to correct the honda design or manufacturing defect in this fuel tank. I do not understand how honda can deny responsibility for this extremely dangerous safety defect, when their technician has confirmed that it is integral to the fuel tank, and that the tank has not been damaged in driving.

Filed Mar 15, 2010 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 135,000 miles · GA

I'm not of that scared of sticking gas pedals kind on person. Just want to file this incident to probably help others to avoid problems in the future. After car being parked for three weeks at airport when first started it I had and issue with the stuck gas pedal. Fortunately I was in the parking gear when I first pressed the pedal, otherwise could be an accident on the parking lot if I was in the drive gear. I just pulled the pedal back with my toe and pressed and pulled it couple times more before it started working ok. Before that I felt it little mushy after long parking periods especially in the relatively cold days in georgia autumn/winter but it was coming away after driving the car daily. When I got back home I rectified the problem by pouring some oil in the throttle cable jacket and lubricated the pedal axis as well. Had no problems since than so far.

Filed Feb 9, 2010 · Fuel system, Transmission · 56,000 miles · CA

My honda pilot has an unfixable life threatening defect. It is sticking gas pedal. Usually it sticks after the night in the garage and I need to idle until the engine is hot and then the pedal unsticks. But sometimes it happens while driving. This defect makes the car absolutely unpredictable while driving and could easily lead to the fatal accident. Actually, one time out of four when it happened while driving I was very close to such accident. First time I encountered this defect when my new car was still on warranty nov 4, 2004. Since than the authorized honda dealer has tried to fix this defect more than four times. They replaced the throttle body but all the attempts to fix it were unsuccessful. The problem is still there. I?m very concerned and scared to drive this car at this point as this defect not only directly jeopardizes my life but also the life of my 6-year old daughter who is almost always with me in the car. The american honda stated that it was not anymore responsible for this defect because it?s unfixable and anything else concerning this defect from now on is my responsibility.

Filed Mar 8, 2007 · Fuel system · 1 miles · 00

After coming to a complete stop, there is a loud thumping that comes from the rear of the vehicle. It scares the heck out of you and you think someone has hit you! Took it to several mechanics and the honda dealer in brantford, ontario and although honda acknowledges the problem as a related to fuel tank design they are refusing to do anything about it.

Questions about the 2003 Honda Pilot fuel system

Does the 2003 Honda Pilot have fuel system problems?

Owners have filed 16 complaints about the fuel system of the 2003 Honda Pilot, 2% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2003 Honda Pilot fuel system problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 116,040 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2003 Honda Pilot fuel system?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Honda Pilot have the most fuel system problems?

The Honda Pilot model years with the most fuel system complaints are 2019 (199 complaints), 2016 (195 complaints) and 2017 (142 complaints).

Other 2003 Honda Pilot problems

Transmission 224Electrical 129Airbags 115Engine 62Body 47Seats 40Lights 32Steering 32Suspension 32Brakes 25Acceleration 20Visibility 15Tires 10Seat belts 9Locks 8Driver assistance 5Wheels 2

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