Airbag is deactivated due to failure of both crash sensors on the vehicle. Replacement parts are on national backorder.
2005 Honda Pilot electrical problems
57 complaints (8% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 119,000.
- owner complaints
- 57
- of this car's complaints
- 8%
- typical mileage
- 119,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Wiring: front underhood2
- Ignition1
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 electrical problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2005 Honda Pilot electrical
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Low Beam Headlights Stop Illuminating
This investigation was prompted by Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 11-017, and was based on reports from consumers alleging that both low beam headlights stopped illuminating simultaneously.Some complainants also reported that the combination switch (switch) that controls the headlights and turn signals, and/or its electrical wiring harness connector were damaged by overheating.ODI's PE information request letter asked Honda for certain data on model years (MY) 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2003-2008 Element, 2001-2005 Civic, and 2000-2001 S 2000 vehicles.Analysis of complaint and Honda data show that a complete low beam headlight circuit failure occurs in models with 2-bulb headlight systems (i.e., a single bulb on each side for high and low beam).Models with 2-bulb systems include MY 2002-2004 CR-V, 2003-2005 Pilot, 2001-2003 Civic, and 2003-2008 Element.Models with 4-bulb headlight systems (i.e., two bulbs on each side, one for high and one for low beam) have different electrical circuits for the headlights and do not experience the same failure mechanism as the 2-bulb system.MY 2000-2001 S 2000 models with 2-bulb high intensity discharge headlights also have different electrical circuits for the headlights and do not experience the same failure mechanism.Honda introduced the 4-bulb headlight system in CR-V in MY 2005, in Pilot in MY 2006, and in Civic in MY 2004.On March 29, 2012 Honda submitted a defect information report (DIR) to recall 554,428 vehicles, including MY 2002-2004 CR-V and MY 2003 Pilot.In the DIR, Honda stated that tension from the combination switch wiring harness to the electrical terminal for the low beam headlight circuit could cause a small amount of motion as the combination switch was operated.This motion, over time, can wear the surface of the terminal creating copper oxide, increasing electrical resistance, which may cause the terminal to melt within the harness connector.ODI continued its investigation, and on August 31, 2012 Honda submitted another DIR to recall an additional 820,789 vehicles.This report included the MY 2002 Civic vehicles which were not subject to a prior safety recall (04V‑086) for headlights, all of MY 2003 Civic, and MY 2004-2005 Pilot.Honda's DIR advised that operation of the turn signal switch lever at high speed and/or with heavy force can cause movement between the combination switch body and the sub-harness wiring connector.This can cause wear and continued movement can create copper oxide, increasing electrical resistance, and potentially causing the terminal to melt within the harness connector. Please see both DIRs at http://www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/recalls/ under safety recall 12V‑136 for complete details.Honda also provided additional information on the Element model, stating that it was not recalled due to it's very low failure rate.Honda sold 301,497 Element vehicles in the United States and received 17 reports, while ODI received one report (see VOQ 10395219).Honda's technical explanation for the low rate, which was submitted under request for confidentiality, is that the headlight switch, as installed in the Element, reacts differently to the forces applied to it as compared to the recalled models.See attachment for additional information.
EA11012
What 2005 Honda Pilot owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Ignition switch locked will not turn.
Was traveling down the road, had an electrical burning smell coming from my dash and around steering wheel. Low beams then shut off going down road pulled over but still had high beams but no low beams.
I parked my car in front of my house at 10pm the following morning my neighbor came to tell me my car was on fire. It had been raining the previous night. My driver window was not completely closed so rain got in my car. There was black smoke coming out of the window. When I opened my door, the driver seat & driver door was on fire. I grabbed the hose & put out the fire.
2005 pilot was repaired under vsa recall in 2013. As of the last couple of weeks, again I experienced same exact vehicle safety issues prior to repair. This past week while I had my three children in the car, we almost lost our lives. A semi driver instead risked his own lives to keep from slamming in the back of us. We took our pilot to honda dealership that has serviced our vehicle over the years and they do not want to recognize issue and instead point to the same thing I am now reading here online. The dealership service department states it is the yaw sensor as the issue, not faulty repair. It is not a coincidence that pilot owners are now once again are experiencing the same issues all over again. How many lives will be lost or changed for the worst before honda is forced to reckon with this issue? This is wrong and unacceptable. There are other poor design flaws that we think also may have cost us so much more money, such as the vvt issues. However, the vsa repair issue is not something that can be overlooked and must be dealt with now. Specifically, my experience mostly on flat surfaces with exception of one time on a slight incline at a stop light. Both in town driving and intersate and all dry weather conditions except one occasion. The vsa light flashed, vehicle applied brake at without my foot on brake pedal. My foot was on accelerator at the time vehicle was being harshly stopped by the brakes applied. This caused the vehicle to make a bucking motion or jerking motion, also I've experienced the slight swerve. I was driving in a straight direction all of the times this occurred since the repair in 2013. It depended on the amount of pressure and length of time the vehicle acted up. Everything is just as it did prior to the repair in 2013, nothing is any different, all the same. Yet, honda wants to say I need to cover repair.
For the second time this week my 2005 honda pilot suddenly loses all power and dies, both times I was in a dangerous intersections. It scared me 2 death.
The yaw rate lateral acceleration sensor is faulty and should be included in honda's 2013 recall of the vsa. The vehicle has the exact symptoms of the vsa recall, which was fixed on my vehicle. I purchased the car last year with very low miles, only drove for a few months before it started having issues. Started out having the vsa triangle light on dash and losing power (limp mode) only after coming out of a turn after driving vehicle for awhile. Increased to the point where after roughly 30 minutes of the vehicle running the vsa issue would happen at least once during the drive. Severity of the vsa/limp mode got worse, no power for longer at a time and the horrible grinding noise directly underneath cabin. Took to honda complaining of these issues, couldn't replicate it so nothing was wrong. One month ago, my vehicle started having the un-commanded braking problem. Driving at 55 MPH, the slightest touch to the brakes causes the vehicle to hard brake, causing a swerve at least going that fast. It has done this un-commanded braking more than once, I have been afraid to drive it and at least got it 30 minutes to my honda dealer, which I also purchased the vehicle from. It was diagnosed with the faulty yaw rate lateral acceleration sensor. I have argued with honda for the last three weeks over the issue, ultimately to be told that it was not included in the final recall, even though the investigation names the yaw sensor as possibly being implicated in the malfunction. $994 for the sensor alone. It is absolutely dangerous and even the dealer recommends it be fixed immediately, yet honda has declared no fault.
The brakes are applying randomly without applying pressure on the brake pedal. The vsa light remains illuminated and it is unsafe to drive. 13v092 is the recall bulliten I believe applies to my vehicle, but when I search my VIN, it shows no unrepaired recalls. I have verified that the vsa subharness has not been installed prior to my purchase of the vehicle. My manufacture date falls between the timeline of this recall and also my VIN begins with 2hk, which is specified in campaign 13-026 as requiring vsa sub harness installed. I have taken it to my local honda dealer and they have told me that it does not qualify for the recall because it is "VIN specific".
Over the last year, we experienced the car's dash warning lights turning on for 1-2 seconds and the radio makes a puff sound prior to this occuring...this has been reported prior on your system. See incident# 10458594. Second issue is regarding the interior lights for the heating / AC console. The lights don't work. This has also been reported on your system. See incident # 10440512, 10418459, 10345735. Both issues occur when driving the vehicle.
Starter/electrical the lights on the dashboard continues to come on and stay on. Also the starter does not want to start at times.
Questions about the 2005 Honda Pilot electrical
Does the 2005 Honda Pilot have electrical problems?
Owners have filed 57 complaints about the electrical of the 2005 Honda Pilot, 8% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2005 Honda Pilot electrical problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 119,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Honda Pilot electrical?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Honda Pilot have the most electrical problems?
The Honda Pilot model years with the most electrical complaints are 2016 (583 complaints), 2019 (267 complaints) and 2017 (266 complaints).
Other 2005 Honda Pilot problems
Transmission 176Brakes 134Airbags 120Driver assistance 100Engine 90Acceleration 46Suspension 38Steering 37Lights 34Body 23Seats 22Seat belts 13Wheels 9Fuel system 7Tires 7Visibility 6Locks 1
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