2005 Honda Pilot: sudden loss of power

Filed Jul 10, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 51,000 miles · IN

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.

Filed Oct 31, 2015 · Engine · 157,000 miles · NY

Loss of power on highway even when accelerator engaged. Had to pull over the shoulder. Vehicle could not be driven. Smoke was coming from the rear of vehicle but sent away after engine was shut off. Vehicle had to be towed. Service department at nearest honda dealer cited a radiator leak that likely got into the transmission line.

Filed Oct 11, 2014 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 122,100 miles · IL

On numerous occasions during the ownership of the car, especially when it is raining, damp, or snowing while driving the car for no reason it loses power. The steering wheel locks, and the car acts as if the battery has been disconnected. This has happened more than 20 times. This is a defect. I am reporting, because I realize this needed to be reported. It is a safety issue. This loss of electrical power has occurred with the original battery, as well as two other batteries over the life of the car. It appears to be electrically related. The loss of power results in the steering wheel locking and no power. Luckily, each time this has happened, I was driving at 30 miles per hour. If this ever occurred on the highway, it could resulted in an accident.

Filed Dec 9, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 89,100 miles · MI

I was driving up a hill when my vehicle started to lose power and high rpms upon acceleration. Was not able to climb hill so I pulled over and turned the car off. Restarted and made it a short distance before it stopped. I was fortunate to get out of harm's way prior to the car giving out completely.the vehicle had to be towed. A mechanic took a look at the vehicle and explained that transmission and radiator were both ruined and would both need to be replaced. He indicated that transmission fluid and radiator fluid mixed causing the malfunction and it also has caused the need for flushing of the engine. I have noticed that several other owners have made internet posts about the same problem. This issue should be under consideration for a recall by honda as it sounds like a common occurrence that is the result of a design flaw. It is potentially very dangerous as this happens with no warning and causes the vehicle to stop functioning. Obviously, this would be very dangerous if it occurs at highway speeds. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Filed Oct 21, 2013 · Engine, Fuel system · 96,000 miles · PA

I was on a circular on-ramp to a highway. My vehicle started losing power upon acceleration so the engine revved but car slowed down. I made it off the ramp to the highway and was able to pull off to the shoulder. The car has an automatic transmission so I thought maybe it wasn't clicking into place properly but it was. I noticed a puddle of fluid. I had it towed to a mechanic who said that the transmission cooling line blew out & the radiator will have to be replaced along with the adapter because there are no threads left on the radiator to grab the connector. He said it was something that's not supposed to happen. It was a mechanical failure. I have read several posts on line on a number of web sites from owners with this same problem. Most people have also replaced their transmissions because the radiator and transmission fluids ruin both when mixed together. My car is still at the mechanics, so I don't know about the transmission yet, but the posts indicate that the car is never the same. I was lucky that I had enough juice to pull over to safety. Apparently there are no recalls from honda in spite of the numerous complaints that I've seen. Repairs are expensive & this problem seems to occur mostly within the 100,000 mile range, give or take. If I get rid of the car before or after fixing it, it would only be a problem for the next consumer & that's not really fair. I feel that honda should reimburse current owners for transmissions and radiator replacements on those cars that have had the problem and recall/repair the parts on the ones that haven't. I feel that this is an important issue because my car could have come to a complete stop on the highway and caused a serious & potentially fatal accident. Honda needs to take responsibility for this defect before someone gets hurt or killed. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.

Filed Oct 21, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 150,000 miles · MI

Had a sudden failure of the transmission cooling portion of the radiator causing a loss of power to the rear wheels while driving on the highway at 70 MPH. If this had happened on a busy freeway it would have been very dangerous. Upon doing an internet search I see that hundreds of 2005 honda pilots have suffered the same sudden failure of the exact same part causing the same condition. This usually results in damaging the transmission and costing thousands to repair. This is absolutely a safety hazard. Honda refuses to acknowledge that any problem exists. It is plainly evident that a manufacturing defect of this part exists. Any engineer who examines the data of hundreds and hundreds of accounts posted on the internet must come to the same conclusion. This is defective! This is dangerous! Owners should be partially compensated for the expense of repair. Honda should be held accountable for a knowingly defective part.

Filed May 3, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 135,000 miles · CA

When accelerating the vehicle begins to shudder, jerk and lose power while accelerating from 0-40mph. Steering wheel begins to shake, acceleration seems to stall. At higher speeds on freeway there is some shuddering but not as noticeable. Braking or reducing speed does not immediately stop the shuddering. Its almost predictable at low speeds. Loss of power during acceleration feels as if the vehicle could stall especially when turning left with on coming traffic approaching.

Filed Nov 9, 2012 · Acceleration, Brakes · 99,000 miles · CA

I saw on the news that the federal safety agency was investigating a brake issue on the honda pilot 2005. I experienced a similar issue but thought it was a glitch as it only happened one day (although it happened twice that day). I've finally gotten around to filing an official report both with honda and the federal safety agency to hopefully aid in the investigation. The braking issue happened on two separate occasions on the same day, roughly 2 months ago. The first incident happened on the freeway. I was going the speed limit when all of a sudden I felt like the car completely lost power. The lights on the dashboard flashed, my speed decreased suddenly although I still had my foot on the gas. It only last a few seconds and then I regained control of the vehicle. An hour later, when I was off the freeway, it happened again, but this time I was going 25 miles an hour driving on city streets. Same exact issue where it felt like the car computer shut down with no power for a few seconds. It hasn't happened since, but I'm very scared that it may happen at any time again. We only have one car and have a 1 year old. I hope honda and the federal safety agency make progress into identifying the issue. Please let me know if I can contribute any more information. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Sep 1, 2012 · Transmission · CA · crash

Took my 2005 pilot in for major service 100k . Vehicle has been maintained with regular intervals of fluid replacement and oil changes at non honda shops but with certified compatible products from valvoline. Mileage on car is 107,928. Picked up car was running great. Within 7 miles flashing d light engine warning light stays on and car feels like its losing power and won't shift. Dealer says its coincidence. No slowing of transmission no warning when dealer did major service and all point inspection with honda diagnostic computer. Contacted dealer was told car should be drivable to bring it in. Car stalled out jerked back and rpms soared almost causing me to get rear ended while traveling at 35 miles an hour. Drove car 20 miles an hour and jerked back again causing me to be stuck in the middle of an intersection. Pulled over turned car off and back on only engine silhouette still on and drove 20 MPH to dealership. Car in dealership mileage is 107953 and am told its a complete transmission failure on a sealed transmission that dealer couldn't detect three days earlier. No warning system or failed warning system on a very dangerous major car failure. I was also told that it was an emissions problem even car has been though my car passed smog in may 2012 with above average rating. My point is why is there no warning or detection to this potentially life threatening car failure?????

Filed Sep 11, 2011 · Transmission · 144,500 miles · OH

While driving the vehicle, it lost power even with applying a lot of pressure to the gas pedal. Immediately pulled over. Turned vehicle off and back on - could not shift it into drive. Check transmission fluid - extremely low. Vehicle had just been service at dealer 1-2 weeks prior to this incident. Added transmission fluid - vehicle would shift into drive but not d3, d2, etc. Drove to hotel nearby. Next morning checked fluid - again, extremely low then noticed chocolate milk substance spewing from reservoir near radiator/washer fluid reservoir. Immediate called dealer, had it towed and just learned that the transmission and radiator are both completely ruined. This seems completely unreasonable for under 145,000, especially given the other complaints of this nature that I've seen on line. Thank you.