2004 Honda Pilot seats problems

Filed Jan 6, 2024 · Seat belts, Seats · TX

I heard a loud pop come from under my driver's seat and the seat started rocking backwards. I got out of my car and checked underneath the seat. The front-left bracket securing the seat to the seat frame had completely sheared in half and the seat was no longer securely attached to the seat frame. This is a significant safety issue. When the car accelerates the driver's seat rocks backwards by ~45 degrees, making it extremely difficult to stay in control of the vehicle and safely steer the vehicle. It is also extremely unsafe in the case of an accident because A) the seat would not hold the driver securely in place, B) the driver would not be properly in position and restrained for the air bags to deploy, C) the seat belt is attached to the seat base and would not be able to fully function properly, and D) any passengers sitting in the 2nd row behind the driver's seat would be in danger of having the full force of the driver and the driver's seat slamming back against them. This is a known issue widely reported in Honda Pilot owners' forums. Yet Honda has not issued a recall. I took the vehicle into a Honda dealership to inspect the issue. They said that Honda no longer makes the part that would be required to fix this safety issue. This issue affects all 2003-2008 model year Honda Pilots. There were over 800,000 2003-2008 model year pilots sold and because of Honda vehicle's longevity there is a massive number of these vehicles still on the roads.

Filed May 19, 2023 · Brakes, Seat belts · TN

Brakes seem to stop suddenly Must brake slowly to avoid a sudden stop Seatbelt locks up if I do not pull it forward and leave room in the belt so that it isn't completely holding me in Also the driver seat will only adjust sideways.

Filed Dec 3, 2019 · Seats · 247,371 miles · CO

Upon entering the vehicle and sitting in the driver's seat, I heard a loud pop and then noticed that the seat was extremely loose and would rock backwards as if something was broken. I removed the side cover and found that there was a failed seat mount bracket that had broken in half. The vehicle is currently undriveable until the seat is fixed since the seat sways backwards on acceleration which could lead to an accident. I am not aware of any active recall for this issue but I believe it should be investigated as it is a major safety concern!

Filed Nov 15, 2019 · Seats · 190,000 miles · IL

When accelerating away from a stop light, I heard a "pop" sound and my driver seat suddenly had a "rocking" issue. The driver seat now rocks backward when accelerating, after researching online and doing a visual inspection I found that a metal "l" shaped bracket that mounts the seat bottom to the seat frame has sheared off at the rivet points. This creates a hazard when driving and I fear in a crash, the seat could become unattached from vehicle interior completely putting occupant at increased risk of injury or death from airbag deployment or ejection from vehicle! During an online search, I found several other reports of the same issue to the federal safety agency...those report numbers are 1058303; 10578612; 10567737; 10541789; 10505250; 10489089; 10488805; 10466947; 10455702. I contacted honda and was told since the warranty was expired, there was nothing they would do. This is a safety hazard!!! Why does someone have to be killed before the issue is fixed?!? With so many reports already being logged stating this same problem, I would think something would be done about it. This is just as dangerous at the airbag issue that resulted in a recall.

Filed Oct 24, 2019 · Seats · 150,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 honda pilot. While accelerating and braking, the driver's seat unintentionally moved forward and backwards. Spreen honda (25050 redlands blvd, loma linda, ca 92354, (909) 799-7070) was contacted, but no assistance was offered. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the mounting bracket fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Jun 21, 2019 · Seats · 141,700 miles · TX

On 06/21/2014, I was entering my vehicle when a bracket connected to the adjuster assembly (part# 81630-s3v-a30) broke. This occurred on the drivers seat. Due to this, the seat was no longer secure to the floorboard and started rocking back and forth. I searched honda part records and I was unable to find a specific part number assigned to this bracket. The vehicle was parked at the time of the break. But, while driving the vehicle the seat was unstable and hard to keep it still. A search of the federal safety agency records found the following complaints regarding the same issue - 10583003, 10578612, 10567737, 10541789, 10505250, 10489089, 10488805, 10466947, 10455702. I took pictures of the broken bracket. It appears metal fatigue may be an issue.

Filed May 23, 2019 · Seats · 161,000 miles · NY

This afternoon as I entered my city street parked, 2004 honda pilot, from the driver's side, I heard a loud snapping sound as I sat down. The driver's seat, simultaneously with the sound, rocked back, obviously no longer securely mounted. Upon inspection I found the front left 'l' shaped seat mounting bracket had sheared in two, in line with the two holes that the securing rivets pass through. The bracket failed and tore, apparently the metal is not thick enough to resist the forces placed on the seat. Perhaps related to the size of the rivet holes.

Filed Oct 27, 2018 · Seats · 234,211 miles · MN

Leaned back and turned around to back out of parking space and left front seat bracket on the driver's side front broke. Have to brace myself while accelerating forward something needs to be done have read multiple occasions of this happening to other people. Afraid the other brackets will break shortly after. I have not been able to find anything to fix this problem.

Filed Jul 25, 2018 · Seats · 177,000 miles · KY

While driving approximately 35 MPH down a city street, the drivers seat began to move- specifically began to shift backwards upon acceleration. Upon acceleration, the seat leans back away from the steering wheel significantly. Inspection by mechanic showed the seat brackets have sheered off detaching the front left corner from the seat frame.

Filed May 4, 2018 · Seats · 210,000 miles · CA · fire

I am the original owner of the 2004 pilot. Vehicle has always been well kept and maintained with honda dealer. Wife was driving when drivers seat started feeling hot like a burn on her back. Started smelling something burning. She pulled over and got out of vehicle.the back part of the seat was smoking and smoldering so immediately turned off the seat heater. Got the fire out and back part of leather has a brown scorch mark and leather cracked. The smell lasted for hours. Left the windows opened all night and left vehicle parked outside of the garage for fear of fire again. Honda needs to look into this. I searched on the internet to find this is not an isolated incident. This is dangerous to think what could happen if not able to get out of the vehicle so quickly.