Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||||
| 010603 | 01/06/2003 | 10000976 | Evaluation of steering vibration. *tt | 04/09/2003 | |
| 011303 | 01/13/2003 | 10000985 | Front damper noise. *tt | 04/09/2003 | |
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||||
| 010103 | 01/01/2003 | 10001789 | Install the shift lock release slot cover correctly. *tt *jb | 07/18/2003 | |
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||||
| 1102 | 11/16/2002 | 10013782 | Power steering belt tension adjustment. honda tech line summary. *tt | 04/26/2005 | |
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||||
| 110102 | 11/01/2002 | 10005867 | Power steering pulley belt failure after service bulletin 02-055. *tt | 03/18/2004 | |
| 040103 | 04/01/2003 | 10003135 | Information on whether to replace the reservoir on a noisy power steering pump. *tt | 10/09/2003 | |
| 303 | 03/16/2003 | 10001834 | Power steering pump noise due to obstructed power steering reservoir filter. *tt | 07/22/2003 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 05/17/2012 | 63545 | 1 | |
| I have the same problem with the transmission and being able to remove my key even when it is not in park that has been reported by others. its led to an accident and a near one. *tr | |||
| 05/17/2012 | 63545 | ||
| I have the same problem with the transmission and being able to remove my key even when it is not in park that has been reported by others. its led to an accident and a near one. | |||
| 06/24/2012 | 127345 | 1 | |
| 2003 honda pilot ignition - at first we were having issues inserting the key into the ignition. then it progressed to needing to jiggle the key in order to get it to turn to any position of the ignition. the key would go in but it'd take several attempts, of a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes, before we could get the ignition to start. we read the manual and understood the importance of keeping the wheels straight - that seemed to help for a few attempts. now the key goes in but doesn't turn at all. with everything that has been documented about this issue from honda customers and the volume of customers it is affecting why isn't honda doing the 'right thing' and issuing a voluntary recall?! *tr | |||
| 06/24/2012 | 127345 | ||
| 2003 honda pilot ignition - at first we were having issues inserting the key into the ignition. then it progressed to needing to jiggle the key in order to get it to turn to any position of the ignition. the key would go in but it'd take several attempts, of a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes, before we could get the ignition to start. we read the manual and understood the importance of keeping the wheels straight - that seemed to help for a few attempts. now the key goes in but doesn't turn at all. with everything that has been documented about this issue from honda customers and the volume of customers it is affecting why isn't honda doing the 'right thing' and issuing a voluntary recall?! | |||
| 07/02/2012 | 146281 | ||
| Steering lock allows driver to remove the key from the steering column without placing the gear selector to park. car rolled backwards. there (luckily) was no damage and no one was hurt. car was also brought to the local honda dealer to repair problems with unlocking the ignition switch to start the car. key regularly became stuck in the keyhole. this could leave someone stranded repair for the ignition switch locking from was $518. the repair also fixed the gear selector issue (can no longer remove the key from the steering column without placing the selector in park). the main concern here is the possiblity that someone removes the key and the vehicel rolls into an unsuspectin person or strikes another vehicle. of secondary concern is for someone to be stranded because the mechanical ignition mechanism fails. | |||
| 04/08/2012 | 168000 | ||
| Having trouble inserting key into ignition. have to try multiple times, turning the key upside down, right side up, repetitive in & out, eventually it goes in, but afraid that eventually it will not work. called american honda as i saw multiple complaints online, but honda said they never heard of this problem and that it's not widespread enough for them to take notice. i'm afraid that i will not be able to get the key to work, so will take it to honda dealership for repair (apparently only dealership has to fix it because new keys will need to be programmed. there are 2 different choices for cost, one to just replace the ignition and get new keys, and another choice is to also change the door locks so that the new keys will open the door.) if you're havnig the same problem, please log a complaint so that it becomes widespread enough to take notice and may be those of us who pay/paid to get this issue repaired can get a refund. thank you! | |||
| 10/05/2002 | 6 | 10/05/2002 | |
| 2003 honda pilot. consumer states mechanical problems with the vehicle *tgw the consumer stated the drive light began to flash intermittently from the beginning of ownership. the dealer told the consumer it was related to the gas cap not being secured properly. however, once the transmission was replaced the light no longer flashed. on august 19, 2003 the vehicle was taken to the dealer due to a hesitation issue, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. four months later, the check engine and srs lights illuminated. also, the vtm lights were flashing. on september 8, 2005 the transmission light began flashing. the consumer was informed that a special part had to ordered. the consumer also stated the power steering pump and gear box had to be replaced. also, the egr, v-tec seals and o-ring were all replaced to rectify the engine light problem. the timing belt and left and right control arm links were replaced. the inner and outer cv boots were replaced. on february 8, 20011 while driving 70 mph, the transmission suddenly downshifted almost causing a complete loss of control of the vehicle. the next day, the vehicle was taken to the dealership, where the consumer was informed the transmission had failed again. *jb | |||
| 10/03/2010 | 103000 | ||
| Steering rack failure 2003 honda pilot | |||
| 05/15/2009 | 73333 | 1 | |
| Vehicle will not accept key, after playing with it finally get the key into the ignition, but will not start. play and play with ignition and car finally starts. take to honda dealership in el cajon ca , they say because of weight of keys, have a total of 3 keys on my chain, that it has worn out the key and the tumblers in the ignition. they make a new key, it goes right in but the ignition is still not turning over, have to get a ignition. they replace the ignition but now i have two heavy honda keys because the new ignition is a sidewinder and it comes with a key that they can't program to fit the doors. now my key chain is heavier than before. this cost me $850.00. *tr | |||
| 02/09/2007 | 25 | 02/01/2003 | |
| 2003 honda pilot recalled due to transmission problems; avery green motors in vallejo ca purportedly fixed the recall problem. two years later, the entire transmission failed and was replaced, at my own cost of $4,700. honda refused to assist with the cost, even though it was apparent their fix at time of recall was deficient. at same time, avery green did a periodic maintenance check, or which i was charged several hundred dollars. 3 months later, the power steering failed. avery green failed to detect any problem with the power steering pump during the maintenance checkup. i am told the repair will be very costly as it will be necessary to replace both the pump and the drive train to which it is connected. this car is a lemon, and honda should be required to do competent repairs under recalls and maintenance checks. *nm | |||
| 04/21/2006 | 65000 | 1 | 08/06/2003 |
| I was driving west on highway. i was driving in the left lane at a speed of approximately between 70 to 72 miles per hour. my vehicle swerved towards left a bit, and to compensate that i tried to steer towards right. at this time, vehicle went out of control and i had no control over the steering. the vehicle went to the next lane and spun one time and went towards the left lane. it then changed direction and was facing north, went four lanes over and hit the median head-on and this collision brought the vehicle to complete halt. both air bags were deployed and vehicle had extensive damage. it looks like, it was a mechanical failure which led to the crash. *jb | |||
| 02/12/2003 | 4600 | 1 | 10/27/2002 |
| While backing out of the drive way and turning the steering wheel in either direction you can hear a thumping sound, it's a constant thumping. if only the back 2 windows are rolled down, the sound of the wind passing through the car is deafening. it creates a booming that immediately affects the ear drum. *jb | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - POWER STEERING FLUID | |||
| 11/16/2002 | |||
| While consumer was merging from one lane to another. driver turned steering wheel and it locked up. consumer had vehicle towed to dealership. dealership indicated that the power steering pulley assembly had broken completely off of the vehicle. ts | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||
| 11/14/2003 | 5813 | 2 | 01/04/2003 |
| Greetings, we just experienced our second power steering pump failure on our pilot. we have approximately 5,000 total miles on the vehicle which we special ordered and received in january 2003 (today is november 14, 2003). we do not drive it much except for family trips. i have a potential theory to bounce off you good folks... being an engineer, i was a bit concerned about the power steering pump not being flooded by the fluid reservoir. i was even more concerned that the reservoir was below the pump. i was assured by the salesman that there were no issues with the arrangement. i later learned about the reported pulley failures. again i was assured that was fixed by a new design. well, now we have two pump failures with only 5000 miles on the vehicle. by failure i mean that the pump started making excessively loud whining noises consistent with dry gear mesh noise. we brought it into the dealer prior to driving to the point of actual failure. here is the theory... i suspect that the power steering pump cannot hold enough vacuum in the fluid supply line to maintain lubrication of the pump. once the engine has set for a longer period of time, the pump could lose it's prime and begin to run dry on the next usage of the vehicle. if not running completely dry, maybe there is enough loss of prime to cause cavitation in the pump. could it be that if this is not caught soon enough that the heat generated causes thermal expansion of the gear sets resulting in the pump seizing up? if the pump seizes up, would it then be possible to present enough force by the serpentine belt to create enough torque to sheer off the pulley? let me know what you think. i am certainly going to have a discussion with my dealership on this (again). *la | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 01/28/2007 | 30000 | 1 | 03/14/2003 |
| Tl* - the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. while driving at 30 mph the vehicle swung to the left and struck a tree. the contact sustained injuries. the contact was wearing a seat belt. the airbags deployed. there were no warning indicators. the vehicle was destroyed. the component failure was not diagnosed. the contact has pictures.a police report was taken. the failure mileage was 30,000. *ak | |||
| 11/02/2002 | 07/01/2002 | ||
| The vehicle lost power steering components which caused a loss of steering control. dt | |||
| 11/20/2002 | 1 | 08/01/2002 | |
| As i was exiting the expressway about 50 mph it became clear very quickly that the power steering had failed but the engine was running fine. it took much effort to negotiate the turn and thought i may crash into the guard rail but did not i proceded carefully about mile where my appointment was and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. a pully had broken off and was laying in the engine compartment upon inspection. this vehicle had a major recall regarding the water pump that involved the losening and disassembly of many componets in the same area of the engine. this problem was very serious in the sense that i had no warning that a problem existed with the steering until exiting the expressway, had my spouse been operating the vehicle she may not had been able to negotiate the exit ramp. dt | |||
| 10/16/2002 | 1 | 08/01/2002 | |
| Power steering pulley just broke off. the bolt remained in place. the pulley just sheered off the bolt very strange. i was backing up when it happens. i contacted the dealer they came and towed the car away. the car is still at the dealer. they told me they had never seen that before. i suspect it may be a deffective part. dt | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||
| 06/07/2007 | 48353 | 1 | 05/28/2003 |
| I just got off the expressway and was making a slow turn into a parking lot when the inner tie rod broke. i did not run over anything or hit anything, and the dealer found no evidence of such. the tie rod broke while going less than 5 mph , and i lost control of the left front wheel. i had to have the car towed, rent a car, and did not pick up the car until the monday night after the incident. i live 3 hours away from where this occurred, and had to leave the truck. the dealer was very surprised and had never seen this before. it was such an unusual incident that no dealers had the part and it had to be special ordered.*ak honda agreed to pay for the part only after i called to complain but i still had to pay $467 in labor as well as for the rental and tow. i called honda directly to see if they wanted the parts to inspect ( i have it in my possession) and investigate but they want me to pay for shipping it back to them or deliver it to a local dealer. the main reason i called their headquarters in the first place was to make them aware of a possible safety issue. i do not feel i should make the effort or expense to send it back to them for them to see if there is a defect, which in my opinion there is. my truck had 48353 miles at the time. the repairing dealer gave me the part after i asked for it. if this would have happened a few minutes earlier i would have been driving 55 mph and probably would have lost control of the vehicle. | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 05/16/2004 | 1 | ||
| There is a distinct and constant vibration on the steering wheel of my 2003 honda pilot when it reaches speeds between 70 and 75 mph. honda has tried balancing tires, aligning front end, rotating tires, replacing tires, etc. and the problem is still present. they have had my pilot for the past two weeks trying to correct this situation. *ak | |||
| 05/06/2004 | 06/15/2002 | ||
| Sustained vibration at 73mph & 78mph. vibration felt through steering wheel. dealer checked tire balance twice and found no problems. | |||
| 5 | 09/01/2002 | ||
| The buttons were improperly manufactured, and have very sharp edges that have caused several cuts during normal vehicle operation. this same issue has been reported in the following discussion (http://www.honda-pilot.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=615) dt | |||