2005 Honda Pilot: engine failure

Filed Sep 7, 2018 · Acceleration, Airbags · 190,000 miles · NH · crash · 2 injuries

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably and crashed into a stationary police cruiser. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The driver and the front passenger sustained injuries that did not require medical attention. The contact's vehicle was damaged and was towed to a tow yard. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. Two weeks earlier, while driving approximately 10 MPH, the brakes seized momentarily and released when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

Filed Sep 9, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 140,000 miles · OH

On 9-9-15, our 2005 honda pilot abruptly stopped on emerald parkway - police assisted. Leaking fluid was clumpy red/brown and vehicle hot. Shop today says radiator and transmission and possibly engine need replaced and instructed us to contact a honda dealer. This is our second safety complaint on this vehicle - 1st was dangerous "phantom braking" or inadvertant application on brakes in 2012, which honda subsequently recalled in 2013. After reading thru complaints, I see the exact same problem - transmission line in radiator suddenly came loose and transmission fluid leaked into radiator and coolant leaked into transmission, ruining both has occurred numerous times. We anticipate a very expensive repair.... We are thankful this did not occur on the highway, during rush hour or with any of our 3 kids in the vehicle, and are angered at honda's failure to recall this as well - as some said they did for 2003 and 2004 models?

Filed Sep 5, 2014 · Seat belts · 200,000 miles · PA · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the passenger in the middle section was stuck with the seat belt around his neck. The contact merged to the shoulder of the road, attempted to release the passenger but the seat belt seized, and the seat belt buckle was stuck. The passenger sustained injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Filed Jul 18, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 38,333 miles · MI

I had been driving for about 15 minutes when car suddenly failed to maintain speed and slowed from 45 MPH to 30-35 MPH. I could not get car to accelerate, engine was audibly strained and smoke was shortly evident from under hood. I put on my emergency flashers and pulled off the road as soon as it was safe to do so. No warning lights were illuminated. Smoke ceased when I turned the engine off. Upon exiting the car I observed a heavy stream of brown oily liquid draining from hood and additional blue oily fluid following shortly thereafter. I checked the fluid levels to find totally depleted transmission fluid and rapidly diminishing engine coolant. I called my honda dealer service dept. And was advised not to drive the car and to have it towed to the service dept. Which I did. It was determined that a hose had disconnected and the radiator would need replacement. He could offer no explanation as to what caused the problem stating it had not seen it before. Total cost: $825.00. Given the many internet complaints of this identical problem unreported to official agencies combined with those reported to honda corporate and the federal safety agency I am unconvinced that all honda dealerships are unaware of this issue. I am, however, totally convinced that serious injury or death would have resulted had I been driving on a crowded highway at 70 MPH when this hose disconnected causing an instantaneous loss of speed with impending engine failure. I am equally convinced that honda corp. Is negligent in not admitting this to be a manufacturing defect worthy of a voluntary recall and financial reimbursement to it's customers. The federal safety agency is negligent in it's lack of attention to the serious nature of this problem and failure to mandate a recall.

Filed May 16, 2014 · Steering · 120,000 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the steering wheel seized and began to vibrate. The vehicle came to an abrupt stop and the vsa warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was unable to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was 122,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Dec 11, 2013 · Brakes · 50,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stability assist (vsa)warning indicator illuminated as the steering wheel seized. The steering wheel independently released after several seconds and the vehicle resumed normally. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and repaired under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 13v092000 (service brakes, hydraulic , traction control system) however, after the recall remedy was performed the failure recurred twice and the vehicle was taken back for repairs each time. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Jul 26, 2013 · Electrical · 102,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. The contact stated that the key became stuck in the ignition. The contact was able to remove the key after some time however, the steering wheel then seized. As a result, the contact was unable to reinsert the key into the ignition. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The failure and current mileages were 102,000.

Filed Jun 8, 2013 · Engine · 84,000 miles · NY

While driving at approx. 45 MPH, the engine blew out the middle front spark plug (I believe it's #5) and coil pack damaging the radiator and stalling the vehicle. The spark plug was original and had never been touched. The spark plug threads were stripped requiring an insert to repair the head. The coil pack was broken and the twisted wires blew the ignition coil fuse. The expelled coil pack and/or spark plug (I never did find the spark plug) also put a hole in the radiator requiring replacement.

Filed Apr 30, 2013 · Airbags · MA

My air bag light was on and I was not able to get an inspection sticker. I brought it to the honda dealer in seekonk, ma to find out what was wrong and they said it was a sensor that needed to be replaced and cost $450.00. I would think since this is a safety issue there was some recall ? They told me if I was hit on the left side of my car the airbag would not work. Not to mention I have already had to replace the engine in 2009! The car was only 4 years old.

Filed Jul 24, 2012 · Steering · 167,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH the front wheels and steering wheel seized abnormally. The contact mentioned that the vsc warning lamp illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable diagnose the failure but stated that they would replaced the yaw sensor and the ABS sensor as a temporary remedy. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 167,000.

Filed May 28, 2012 · Brakes · 90,000 miles · KS

My 2005 honda pilot brakes have automatically seized up a total of 5 times in the last year but 4 times in the last 3 weeks (may 2012). All 4 times it has happened have been at low speeds (10-20 MPH, thankfully!!!) and within 5 minutes of starting up after it has sat for an extended period of time. I have taken it into the honda dealer twice in the past three weeks (may 2012) the day after it occurred and both times they could not duplicate or find a problem. The first three times the vsa light came on but no code tripped in the computer system. The last two times it happened no dashboard indication occurred. It occurred 3 weeks ago, 1 week ago and yesterday back to back so the problem seems to be intensifying. So far, for a temporary fix, I have turned off the car and restarted it and the problem seems to stop for a while. As mentioned previously, yesterday the brakes seized up as I was driving but no dash indication came on. Because I was in the middle of an intersection, once the brakes released, I a decided to drive forward to try and get it out of the intersection only to have them seize up again about 100 meters later. I quickly turned off the car and restarted it and was able to safely return home where it sits currently.

Filed Feb 3, 2011 · Engine · 79,000 miles · MA

High engine whining sound. With only 78,00 mi, dealer told me I needed new engine mounts. Upon checking the internet I've found many other cases where this happens and it's all around 80,000. Sure sounds like a design flaw.