2003 Honda Pilot: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Oct 23, 2021 · Transmission · NC

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2021 We traveled down OLD Dallas Hwy toward Gastonia, North Carolina. Transmission slipped and motor revved very high without forward speed. Attempting to put transmission into reverse caused similar slippage. Returning on Hwy 321 toward Dallas, north carolina, the transmission slipped and the car would not reach highway speed. Turning onto Hwy 279 to go home, the Honda would not go into gear at first, then slippage so that other cars almost struck our car which was unreliably stumbling. We have found there is a recall number 04V176000

Filed Nov 7, 2019 · 180,000 miles · NY

We have owned this truck since february 2019. This situation has occurred on the city streets as well as on the highway. The speed would vary between 35mph and 65mph. While we were driving with 4 small children in our truck, the truck wouldn't switch gears. Our foot would be on the gas, but the truck wouldn't accelerate. Sometimes the truck will be in park and we'll go to shift into (d) and it won't shift. It has happened many times. (I have selected the most recent date of occurrence below, but this has happened many times on different days. I do not have photos, as this is a motion thing. I do not have documentation at the moment, but will be taking it to a mechanic this week.) I have estimated the milles on the truck, but I believe it is less than 180k.

Filed Aug 4, 2017 · Transmission · 163,420 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. While driving 30 MPH through a residential area, the vehicle failed to accelerate. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road turn, turned off the engine, restarted the vehicle, and continued driving. However, the vehicle still failed to accelerate and would not shift out of gear. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who stated that the transmission failed. The failure recurred three to four times. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 163,420.

Filed Jan 30, 2016 · Transmission · 137,800 miles · NY

While driving, I was stopped at a red light. When the light turned green I made a right hand turn and started to increase my speed. The RPM's increased at a very rapid rate, but the car did not shift. I was unable to accelerate my speed and there was a whirling noise in the engine. I tried manually shifting into a lower gear, but I was still unable to accelerate without the RPM's rising. I eventually had to shift into neutral three times before the car would automatically shift.

Filed Mar 12, 2015 · Acceleration, Transmission · 139,500 miles · CA

Driving vehicle on freeway, went to accelerate vehicle did nothing. Took my foot off gas, tried again, nothing. Got in slow lane, finally engaged but had to go slow on freeway. Engine light comes on. Next day vehicle wont shift from 3rd gear, can only go 35 MPH and engine revs up. The drive light starts flashing. Next day cant shift into reverse either. Take to transmission shop, they say no reverse, no 3rd gear, fluid is full but smells burnt. Pulled codes p0730 incorrect gear ratio and p0780 shift malfunction. Recommended transmission replace. I only have 139,000 miles and don't drive it crazy. Also found there was a transmission recall on this year pilot. I call honda so they can look it up, he says yes it was done to my car, but doesn't show on my carfax report?

Filed Sep 18, 2012 · Transmission · 220,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the transmission would not shift into any gear. The vehicle was taken previously to the dealer in 2004 for a recall repair under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 04v176000 (power train: automatic transmission). The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for this most recent failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 220,000.

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 Jul 5, 2011 · Airbags, Transmission · 70,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. The contact stated the air bag light remained illuminated and the transmission would not shift into second gear. The manufacturer advised that the air bag and the transmission recall were performed on the vehicle and the vehicle should be taken back to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 149,000.

Filed Apr 21, 2011 · Transmission · 136,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact smelled a strong burning odor inside of the vehicle. The engine warning indicator illuminated and remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. The transmission would not shift into third or fourth gear. In addition, the vehicle failed to accelerate over 40 MPH. The vehicle was previously repaired in january of 2005 for a recall under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 04v176000 (power train:automatic transmission) however, the remedy was insufficient. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure mileage was 136,000.

Filed May 10, 2010 · Transmission · 105,000 miles · OK

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. While traveling at speeds of 25 MPH, the contact attempted to accelerate the vehicle would not accelerate over 25 MPH. In addition, the gear shift selector would not shift into first, second or third gears and the check engine light would sporadically illuminate on the dashboard. The dealer informed the contact that the transmission had failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileages were 105,000.

Filed Sep 3, 2009 · Transmission · 85,284 miles · MA

Car jolted forward while driving on the highway. Very scary. It didn't shift properly afterwards. While pressing the accelerator on a slope, for example, it didn't shift and then jolted forward. In one occasion that I put the car in the r gear, and it didn't go backwards. Checked with a honda dealership, and told that the entire transmission needs to be replaced.

Filed Nov 28, 2006 · Transmission · 48,384 miles · VA

I was coasting to a stop when the transmission in my 2003 honda pilot suddenly and abruptly down shifted. It was like someone suddenly jabbed the brakes on my car. I took the car into the shop for transmission replacement the same day. The check engine light came on and the drive indicator light started flashing on the way to the shop. Also the transmission stuck in second gear, the limp home mode, and would not upshift. The only way I could keep the transmission from violently down shifting or sticking in second gear was to manually shift through the gears. The dealer replaced my transmission within one week at a little over 48,000 miles because it was under extended warranty. The dealer now claims after my complaint they will warrant the replacement rebuilt transmission for 36,000 miles and three years. This helps, but honda should give me the same extended 93 month and 109,000 warranty that will be given to numerous other honda and acura owners due to a class action suit. Today the american honda motor company said they will not extend my warranty. Hopefully, someone will start another class action suit for honda pilots. The most important issue is that this poor honda transmission design that is prone to defect is also a definite safety issue since it can take full vehicle control away from operators without notice. Perhaps all affected hondas and acuras should receive new redesigned transmissions.