2005 Honda Pilot: jerking or lurching

Filed Jun 14, 2022 · Body · CA

My vsa light came on when I was on the freeway and made my vehicle jerk almost pushing me into the next lane. It has been coming on and turns off when I restart the car and other cars of my same modal and year have recalls for this same issue but my vin yields no results for a recall.

Filed Nov 7, 2020 · Brakes, Electrical · 233,000 miles · KY

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.

Filed Aug 28, 2018 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 209,800 miles · CA

Car will apply brake to itself causin a swerve or a jerk and the vsa light will come on and as sson as u turn off the ignition the light will turn off. And will happen again when it wants too. Any car appky brake by itself is unsafe and will cause a accident especially when driver have no control of it... This needs to be addressed immediately and recalled and fixed. This is not the only honda pilot doing this. There were quite a few

Filed Dec 17, 2016 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 10 miles · IN

On cold temperatures, and while the car is moving on the highway, the brakes will suddenly apply all by itself and the vsa off and a triangle (with exclamation) light comes on the dashboard. This causes the vehicle to strongly jerk and swerve for a second. Turning off the vsa before driving, the sudden brake will not happen. I checked recalls for my VIN but there are no open recalls. Please investigate.

Filed Apr 18, 2016 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 120,000 miles · CA

I experienced a sudden involuntary unintended acceleration, while I was slowly pulling into a perpendicular parking space in at a medical center parking lot. This happened on a nearly empty tank of gas at about 3:15 pm on saturday 4/16/16. It was a hot day. The parking space was at a slight incline. I was moving very slowly nearly stopped, yet once I was about a third of the way into the space, while still gently breaking, my car suddenly lurched forward with tremendous force if I had completely floored the gas pedal. I reacted fast pushed the breaks hard with all my strength. Which engaged the antilock braking so I heard a "thud-thud thud" a loud repeated clunking-locking sound. My pilot did stop before hitting a tree and the vehicle in the facing parking space. I did not hear the engine rev to the degree of the sudden forward motion. Nor did I hear revving resolve once it stopped. It was a very odd and frightening experience that baffled my mind. I tried to sort out the cause for a while to see if maybe I had without knowing it put my foot on both pedals. But I don't think so. I had sandals on, and in trying to reproduce the situation, or the position my foot would have to have been in to do that, was awkward and I would have felt the pressure on my foot of putting on the gas. And I was only slowly pressing the break not jamming on the break ' until I braked to stop the speed of it lurching forward. The degree of acceleration was as if the gas pedal was put to the floor which was not what my breaking foot was doing. The car did come to a stop just in time to not hit what was at the front of the parking space. I did not hear the engine noise rev at all. My best guess at the time was something went terribly wrong with the mechanics or electrical signals of the fuel injection to move so suddenly forward. Now I am worried about the safety of this vehicle.

Filed Jun 30, 2014 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 162,829 miles · VA · 2 injuries

The first incident happened while turning, car came to a stop, jerked the wheel almost hitting another car; all without warning. A child passenger was in the back seat and was thrown forward hitting her head on the passenger front seat and seat belt locked causing her to have a seat belt bruise. Vsa (light), the vsa activation light (triangle with exclamation inside) were both illuminated. Suv was taken to local dealership to perform the recall work. Two weeks later, same thing but this time I was going about 55mph on highway, SUV came to almost a complete stop within a short distance. Grinding feeling and with the vsa indicator lights on. Almost hit someone when the wheel jerked and caused me to go into the right lane and almost hitting someone, kids were in the SUV one in the passenger side front and the other in back same side. Seat belt once again left a bruise on their chest and caused the front passenger to have strained his neck. This is a vehicle that cause great concern. I am now afraid to allow my son to drive this vehicle with this problem continuing. The dealership has said that they have performed the recall bulletin and I will need to fix this on my own. This is not satisfactory at all.

Filed Oct 21, 2013 · Electrical, Transmission · 110,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the transmission shifted gears in a jerking motion. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was advised that the computer system would need to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

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 Mar 23, 2013 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 87,200 miles · IN

While driving I went to apply my brakes to begin slowing down, I only applied a very small amount of pressure when a grinding noise started and lasted only a few seconds then a slight jerk as if my car was braking on its own and then a warning light turned on (exclamation inside a triangle and the vsa letters appeared) this stayed on until I turned off the car. This has occurred now 4 times. Fortunately I only have to drive 5 miles to work. Firstly, I am afraid to drive any distance especially on the highway should this get worse and secondly I have grandkids that I transport and am concerned that I could possibly be putting their lives in jeopardy!! I do hope that something is done or a recall is made so that this can be fixed.

Filed Dec 9, 2012 · Brakes · 120,000 miles · MD

While driving at low speeds (20-50 MPH) the car makes a low grinding noise and rapidly brakes/decelerates without the brakes being touched. This has been happening on and off for years; however, recently it has been happening on a daily basis. The driver (myself) and the passengers (usually my two children) in the car lurch forward as the car unexpectedly brakes. The brake lights do not come on when this happens. This is a major safety concern for my family and I. This is our family car and I am very afraid to drive my children anywhere in this car with the frequency of these incidents. In fact, on december 8, 2012 another car almost slammed into the back of us. I have done some research and have found that other 2005 honda pilot owners have had the same exact problem.

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 Mar 6, 2012 · Brakes, Electrical · 115,000 miles · AL

The first incident occurred while traveling at highway speeds. The car violently jerked forward 3 times and came to a complete sudden stop on the interstate. Luckily no one was following too close or we would have been rear ended. My foot was on the accelerator maintaining a steady speed, and it was like I stomped on the break rapidly three times and then the car came to a complete stop. We took the car to the honda dealership and they could not repeat the issue but said that the battery wasn't putting out the proper amount of amps and was likely resulting in the computer sending faulty messages. They replaced the battery. The car seemed to be fixed when the battery was replaced, but then the issue recurred about two months later at the end of february 2012. While accelerating at about 30 MPH, the car violently came to a sudden stop in the middle of the road. Again, we were lucky to not be not rear ended. We took the car to another auto shop, but they weren't able to duplicate the issue. They assessed the computer and noted a faulty egr valve and replaced it. The car drove fine for two weeks after that, then the issue recurred for a third time, again at about 30 MPH. The same thing occurred; the car came to a sudden stop in the middle of the road after the sensation of stomping on the breaks several times. The car is in the shop again, and they can't recreate the problem. Their assessment is leading them to believe there is a faulty ABS switch or brake booster. After several failed repair attempts, we aren't confident that anyone knows what the problem is. However, if you read the forums online, this is a problem that has been reported by dozens of people with my year, make/model and at the approximate mileage as my car. If we continue driving the car, we are scared we may injure ourselves or others.