2003 Honda Pilot: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Jun 8, 2018 · Suspension · 238,000 miles · MN

Using 4 wheel drive to pull my boat through the woods, 2 of the 4 rear axel mounts pulled out of the unibody frame after a loud clunk. Car was always maintained at the dealership. The vehicle is not repairable, this seems to be a design flaw.

Filed Aug 22, 2013 · Transmission · 55,000 miles · MI

1. Fall of 2011, when attempting to pick up speed car would began to sputter and shake. For safety, I wouldn't drive faster than approx. 35 MPH. Arriving at my destination, I put the car in park, took my foot off the brake. The engine revved and surged forward several times. Fuel injection cleaner remedied this. 2. 2012, when initially accelerating, gears would roughly change with a thumping sound. While driving and picking up speed, car would rev loudly. Brakes were applied to keep it from lunging forward. (very scary), but maintained control. Checked transmission fluid level, added 1/4 qt of transmission fluid. Problem persisted. Engine warning light came on. Drove it to the honda service department. Mechanic checked and test drove car. Advised about light flashing when in drive-(this had not occurred).they couldn't find the problem. Engine warning light reset. Returned to service department one week later when engine warning light came on again. Mechanic test drove and again couldn't find a problem. Warning light reset. Approx. 3 weeks later, warning light returned. Continued to drive cautiously. On aug 20, 2013 (driving approx 20 MPH) three houses from my home, my car changed gears with a loud clunk (sounded like something broke). I turned into the driveway and haven't moved or driven it since. My honda pilot has approx. 65,000 miles on the odometer. I believe honda motors and dealerships are aware of this recurring defect with the honda pilot models and is deliberately ignoring the consumers of their product. I've received several notices from honda dealers stating my 2003 pilot is in high demand. I am angry that I'm stuck with this wreck, but glad this junk was not passed on to someone else. In the meantime I'm without transportation and maybe forced to purchase another vehicle. Very depressed.

Filed Aug 7, 2012 · Transmission · 101,900 miles · FL

2003 honda pilot exl transmission problems, requiring replacement at 101,950 miles in june of 2012. The problem started with a single transmission slip and severe hard (shift) engagement while accelerating between 40 and 45 MPH. This problem happened intermittently for about two weeks and progressively increased in occurrence. Then reverse gear selection started slipping and failing to engage. From that point on, the pilot transmission began consistently slipping and slamming (hard shifting) all gears (including while in d1,d2 and d3) and the longer it was driven, the worse it got, even slipping and slamming the downshift gear changes making the car unsafe to merge into traffic and drive on the road. The hard shifting was becoming so severe that it felt like transmission gear tooth failure was eminent. No check engine lights, no flashing 'd' or trouble codes on the PCM were found, even with all of problems. The honda dealership where the car was regularly serviced recommended replacing the transmission with a 'remanufactured honda transmission' at a cost of over $6400, with no assistance from honda corporate. Filing a complaint with honda corporate only added to my disappointment, where the honda representatives I dealt with appeared to be more concerned about trying to turn a profit on replacing the defective transmission rather than being concerned about treating their customer fairly and or losing customer loyalty. Note, this pilot had the transmission 2nd/3rd gear oil-jet kit recall performed in 2004 and apparently, it only postponed failure of the transmission. Also, this pilot was never abused, always driven on paved roads, never towed anything and never had to use the vtm-4 wheel drive lockup mode. The transmission and differential fluids were replaced every 30,000 miles with honda fluids per the recommended maintenance schedule.

Filed May 15, 2012 · Engine · 168,920 miles · KS

Took pilot in for headlight recall wiring replacement. Mine had connector completely melted. Replaced. Was told on pickup that all three engine mounts were broke! That explains the clunk with acceleration . I drive this pilot like an old lady going to church. How all three are broke at the same time the odds are too high for that! Bad design?? Poor materials???called honda mum is the word,no recall on engine mounts,go figure for sure.

Filed Jan 10, 2012 · Transmission · 158,000 miles · CA

Vehicle transmission would not shift properly in lower gears; vehicle would not downshift to first gear, but would remain in neutral. Intermittently, vehicle would shift from first gear to second gear, then slips into neutral (engine would continue to rev, but vehicle would not move). Intermittent 'clunk' as transmission moves from one gear to another. When vehicle does not shift, poses a safety hazard as you cannot merge into traffic; or vehicle would not accelerate when attempting to merge, and would remain in neutral, holding up traffic behind. Highly dangerous condition, as driver cannot depend on vehicle to accelerate when required.

Filed Nov 19, 2010 · Transmission · 125,000 miles · NJ

Car clunked when accelerating, seemed to be slipping when shifting into gear, happened here and there and then happened more often. Told by the dealer that it needs a new transmission.

Filed Apr 30, 2009 · Transmission · 157,000 miles · CT

I am the original owner of a 2003 honda pilot with an automatic transmission problem. I travel frequently and currently have 157,000 miles on the odometer. My vehicle has been serviced as required and properly maintained. It has always given me problems with harsh shifting between gears, but due to lack of any code warnings, I've been advised by the dealer and personal mechanics that there were no concerns. As the primary driver of a vehicle, one can sense any changes in how an automobile drives and at 50,265 miles, I began to notice a change with the shifting of gears. Again at 87,767 I expressed concern, but still no codes. At 103,226 miles, my concerns grew and further checking and diagnosis indicated that there is hard shifting between gears, but no indications that a replacement of transmission was needed. On april 18, 2009 while traveling on the highway, I pressed the accelerator and experienced the engine 'revving' as though it was in neutral - there was no power. I had a total of 6 passengers in the vehicle. I maneuvered to the breakdown lane and restarted the engine. I brought the vehicle in for service and was advised to have the transmission replaced. On april 29, 2009, my vehicle was taken to a reputable transmission company to have the transmission replaced at a cost of $3,500. I purchased the pilot confident that I invested in a vehicle that will provide me assurance of no major powertrain issues. I felt strongly about honda's reputation so this is quite a disappointment. Upon researching this problem I have found numerous complaints from 2003 pilot owners with transmission failures (see edmunds.com forums). Is anyone reviewing the potential liability involved with the failures of these transmissions? Especially since I've experienced the loss of power and navigation ability! A potentially dangerous accident could have occurred. Are there discussions for a transmission recall?

Filed Jun 30, 2004 · Brakes · CA

Several months after buying our car in december of 2002, we noticed a clunking sound when we used the brakes when going forward. We were told this was normal and occurred after having just backed up. It was a transfer of the brakes from back to front. I had the service tech look at them and was told it was not a safety issues and honda would not address it. I have since talked to several honda owners who have never had this problem. Additionally, my brakes are getting worse and make the sound even if I don't back up first.