Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| 1205 | 12/16/2005 | 10018873 | Srs diagnostic trouble code 81-64. *tt | 01/19/2006 | |
| 09012005 | 09/01/2005 | 10018466 | Troubleshooting tpms diagnostic trouble codes 32, 34, 36, or 38. *nm | 12/27/2005 | |
| 1105 | 11/16/2005 | 10018264 | Srs light & diagnostic trouble code 81-64. *tt | 12/19/2005 | |
| 060105 | 06/16/2005 | 10018198 | Cranks, won't start or intermittently cranks, won't start. *jb | 12/16/2005 | |
| 1204 | 12/16/2004 | 10018101 | 2nd & 3rd row grab rail lights sticking on/off. dealer visit request. *tt | 12/15/2005 | |
| 06012005 | 06/01/2005 | 10018023 | Multiple vsa, vtm-4, and pgm-fi dtcs. honda. servicenews. *tt | 12/13/2005 | |
| 07012005 | 07/01/2005 | 10018021 | Speedometer shops can transfer odometer mileage. honda service news. *tt | 12/13/2005 | |
| 05012005 | 05/01/2005 | 10016316 | Check fuel cap message in odometer display or mid. *sc | 09/08/2005 | |
| 405 | 04/16/2005 | 10016353 | Transferring odometer mileage at odometer r&r. *tt | 09/08/2005 | |
| 05162005 | 05/16/2005 | 10016300 | Chassis-multiple vsa, vtm-4, pgm-fi dtcs-if g302 is loose or not making good contact because of paint, etc., it can cause an intermittent or total loss of communication between the three units. *sc | 09/06/2005 | |
| 01162005 | 01/16/2005 | 10014750 | Replacement or updated navigation dvd disks. *eh | 05/09/2005 | |
| 01162005 | 01/16/2005 | 10014765 | 2nd & 3rd row grab rail lights sticking on/off. *eh | 05/09/2005 | |
| 01162005 | 01/16/2005 | 10014749 | Tpms sensor in memorization fails repeatedly. *eh | 05/09/2005 | |
| 11162004 | 11/16/2004 | 10014545 | 2nd and 3rd row grab rail lights sticking on/off. *eh | 05/04/2005 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||||
| SB-12-002 | 01/12/2012 | 10043248 | Honda: on some model vehicles, there is an alternator/starter tester (ast) module capable of testing alternators, installed on gr8 diagnostic battery station. *pe | 03/06/2012 | |
| 060105 | 06/16/2005 | 10018176 | Alternator condition ( no or low output). *jb | 12/16/2005 | |
| 1204 | 12/16/2004 | 10018089 | Alternator condition (no or low output) dealer visit request. *tt | 12/15/2005 | |
| 405 | 04/16/2005 | 10016355 | No or low alternator output - dealer visit request. *tt | 09/09/2005 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||||
| 060105 | 06/16/2005 | 10018197 | Battery collection. *jb | 12/16/2005 | |
| 805 | 08/16/2005 | 10016787 | Battery collection - dealer visit request. *tt | 10/07/2005 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||||
| SB-12-002 | 01/12/2012 | 10043248 | Honda: on some model vehicles, there is an alternator/starter tester (ast) module capable of testing alternators, installed on gr8 diagnostic battery station. *pe | 03/06/2012 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | ||||||
| EA11012 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) | 09/12/2011 | 09/17/2012 | Low Beam Headlights Stop Illuminating | 12V136000 | |
| 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.nhtsa.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. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 02/01/2012 | 1 | ||
| The climate control lights have gone out on the dashboard of our 2005 honda pilot and it has been a common complaint of other owners on internet forums. it becomes a hazard at night because the buttons do not illuminate which i believe is an extreme hazard that takes the eyes off the road for longer than needed to adjust settings. no other place in the dash has had the bulbs stop working but it seems to be happening to everyone's climate control lights. i think this is an extreme hazard similar to someone using a phone in the car and honda should be held responsible to correct the problems. *tr | |||
| 02/01/2012 | |||
| The climate control lights have gone out on the dashboard of our 2005 honda pilot and it has been a common complaint of other owners on internet forums. it becomes a hazard at night because the buttons do not illuminate which i believe is an extreme hazard that takes the eyes off the road for longer than needed to adjust settings. no other place in the dash has had the bulbs stop working but it seems to be happening to everyone's climate control lights. i think this is an extreme hazard similar to someone using a phone in the car and honda should be held responsible to correct the problems. | |||
| 08/08/2012 | 100000 | 1 | |
| While driving, airbag, (!), vsa, vtc and brake lights all lit up. horn stopped working as did all controls from steering wheel (cruise, radio airbag light). i pulled over, everything seemed to work but lights would not turn off. went to honda in ft pierce, fl. was told it's probably a low battery. replaced battery, lights all stayed on. contacted johnston honda in stuart, fl. head mechanic told me he had no idea what would cause this and if he ran it on diagnostics, it could take 8 hours at $80 an hour and he still may not find the problem. brought this lemon to local mechanic who ran on diagnostics for 2 hours. could not find problem so he did not charge. as almost all other complaints above, while driving at 35 to 40 the car starts to shudder as though it will turn off. was told it's possibly defective motor mounts. i have contacted american honda motor works in california with these issues and they essentially told me to 'gfy'. stated car is not their problem. *tr | |||
| 08/08/2012 | 100000 | ||
| While driving, airbag, (!), vsa, vtc and brake lights all lit up. horn stopped working as did all controls from steering wheel (cruise, radio airbag light). i pulled over, everything seemed to work but lights would not turn off. went to honda in ft pierce, fl. was told it's probably a low battery. replaced battery, lights all stayed on. contacted johnston honda in stuart, fl. head mechanic told me he had no idea what would cause this and if he ran it on diagnostics, it could take 8 hours at $80 an hour and he still may not find the problem. brought this lemon to local mechanic who ran on diagnostics for 2 hours. could not find problem so he did not charge. as almost all other complaints above, while driving at 35 to 40 the car starts to shudder as though it will turn off. was told it's possibly defective motor mounts. i have contacted american honda motor works in california with these issues and they essentially told me to 'gfy'. stated car is not their problem. | |||
| 08/13/2012 | 60000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. the contact stated that while using either turn signal, the headlights temporarily fail. the contact stated that over time, the headlights have completed failed. the vehicle was not taken to a mechanic and was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that nhtsa campaign id number: 12v136000 (exterior lighting: headlights: switch) was not related to their issue. the failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 64,696. mh | |||
| 08/13/2012 | 60000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. the contact stated that whenever the contact uses the turn making the head lights temporarely go out. the contact stated this happens whether you are making a left or right hand turn. the contact stated that they used to be able to jiggle the switch and it would come back on, but now the headlights have failed altogether. the contact received nhtsa recall campaign id number: 12v136000 (exterior lighting: headlights: switch), but when the contact spoke with the manufacturer they were told this was a separate issue. the failure mileage 60,000 and the current mileage was 64696.rl | |||
| 04/18/2007 | 1 | ||
| All the dashboard lights in a/c heating panel burned out. every one, and just in this panel. all the other dashboard lights are fine. this seems to be a common complaint with this model and is widely reported in honda pilot forums. the is a safety problem when driving at night. one is forced to turn on the interior dome lights to adjust the dashboard controls. *tr | |||
| 04/18/2007 | |||
| All the the dashboard lights in in a/c heating panel burned out. every one, and just in this panel. all the other dashboard lights are fine. this seems to be a common complaint with this model and is widely reported in honda pilot forums. the is a safety problem when driving at night. one is forced to turn on the interior dome lights to adjust the dashboard controls. | |||
| 08/19/2012 | 1 | ||
| I had just returned from montana on saturday night (to spokane, wa); when i attempted to start my car sunday morning, my key got stuck in the ignition. i worked on it for 90 plus minutes and finally was able to get it out of the ignition. during this time however, the key did not ever turn in the ignition therefore everything remained locked. i immediately tried the same key on the drivers door; no luck. it did however open the back hatch and the passenger door, both manually (the battery needed to be replaced in the key, so i was using it the old fashioned way until i got a new battery). so, with this information i went down to larry miller honda, downtown spokane in a borrowed vehicle. while there i was approached by a salesman and i explained my dilemma: unable to turn key in ignition, therefore unable to get my car moving at all!..he then instructed me to spray wd 40 into the ignition switch and the door locks. and informed me that the service depart. was not open but we went back there because there were some employees working on some vehicles. when we got back there, the salesman asked the service dept worker if he thought spraying wd40 into my ignition switch would work, the serviceman agreed. so i got some wd 40, sprayed away as directed, no luck. monday: went back to honda, where one of the managers told me never spray wd40 into ignition, this will gum it up...and now it will cost me 600.00 or so to replace ignition system. he also stated they have been doing alot of these lately because of gummed up ignitions on the pilot. i asked if this did not raise a flag for them and possibly a problem. he then said i would need to get a whole new key, re-program it and then get a new ignition set w/ new keys and re-program them. i said that honda gave me the wrong information resulting in destroying my ignition and that they should be resp. more. *tr | |||
| 08/15/2012 | 156234 | 1 | |
| Vehicle low beams stopped working. further investigation showed charred wire and melted connector. this issue has been recognized by honda for the same model on an earlier model year (nhtsa id 12v136000). honda part designations and failure description match recall. i would recommend honda expand recall to cover all effected vehicles. *tr | |||
| 08/15/2012 | 156234 | ||
| Vehicle low beams stopped working. further investigation showed charred wire and melted connector. this issue has been recognized by honda for the same model on an earlier model year (nhtsa id 12v136000). honda part designations and failure descripton match recall. i would recommend honda expand recall to cover all effected vehicles | |||
| 07/21/2012 | 140000 | 1 | |
| While driving home after dark, we suddenly lost both dim headlights. have tried replacing bulbs, fuses, relays, steering column switch and nothing as worked. checked recalls online and this same problem happened in the 2003 pilot to which there was a recall. same parts i understand. luckily, there was no traffic and we were able to stop and figure out that we still had bright lights and could continue home, but having 3 children in the car and driving blind was a horrific experience and this should be added to the list of recall. *tr | |||
| 07/21/2012 | 140000 | ||
| While driving home after dark, we suddenly lost both dim headlights. have tried replacing bulbs, fuses, relays, steering column switch and nothing as worked. checked recalls online and this same problem happened in the 2003 pilot to which there was a recall. same parts i understand. luckily, there was no traffic and we were able to stop and figure out that we still had bright lights and could continue home, but having 3 children in the car and driving blind was a horrific experience and this should be added to the list of recall. | |||
| 05/05/2012 | 145000 | ||
| The low beams quit working, the wires in the terminal switch kit burned up. this vehicle uses the same kit as the 2003 that was recalled. i have had to replace the wiring twice within three months. i reported this problem to honda and they will not honor it as a recall even though the same part was recalled for 2003 part. there was smoke coming from my steering column and a burning smell. this appears to be a fire hazard. | |||
| 04/16/2012 | 75000 | ||
| This has happened several times to my wife and daughter over the past month or so. they are driving along at any rate of speed and all of a sudden the car looses all power and the vehicle abruptly slows down and then recovers and begins running again. during this time the lights on the dashboard go out and flash and there is a popping sound at times. the last time it happened there was loss of all electrical to dash board system including the radio. the radio needed the code reentered which is normal for when all battery power is lost to the vehicle. i had this checked by a mechanic and they were unable to locate any problems. they checked the alternator, battery, connections and the system for any errors and nothing can be found. this is consistent with all other complaints associated with the esa, vsa/vsc and electrical systems as reported on this forum. i believe there is a major and dangerous bug in the system causing the car to loose power and control and any rate of speed. i also informed honda customer service but they said that they are unaware of any problems (or i should say owning up to any of thier problems) and to issue a complaint through this forum. i'm afaid it's going to take a major accident and a loss of life, which is bound to happen based on the fact that the car comes to an abrupt halt, in order for honda to own up to thier responsibility of spending the effort to identify this problem and issue a recall and get this fixed. i've been a honda owner (currently 3 cars) for over 23 years. i'm beginning to loose loyalty and faith in the company and will definately strongly consider making a change to another make on my next purchase. please honda own up to the problem before someone is killed! | |||
| 02/17/2010 | 119000 | ||
| My wife called me one morning on her way to the shop. she was frantic saying my steering wheel is smoking. i don't know what to do. i'm just about a minute from the shop. should i pull over or just try to make it to the shop? i told her if if it's not too bad and she is that close just keep coming unless it gets worse. when she made it to the shop, i pulled off the plastic cover around the steering column. and found the yellow wire going to the headlamp switch burnt. the molex plug and headlamp switch were also melted. i called local honda dealer and asked them if their was a recall for this. they said no. also saying this never happens. i had to purchase a new headlamp switch and make repairs to the wiring and plug. i own an automotive shop. if not this would have been a very costly repair. i also have pictures of the burnt wire and molten plug and switch if needed. | |||
| 12/18/2011 | 115000 | ||
| 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 ocurred; 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. | |||
| 06/15/2011 | 90000 | ||
| Srs warning light goes on and stays on for days, then goes off and seems ok for a while. sometimes it comes on briefly and goes off. lately it has come on again and has not gone off for a couple of weeks straight. there has been no accident or airbag deployment in this vehicle. | |||
| 05/14/2011 | 81756 | ||
| Srs wargning light on. dealer determined that both srs front impact sensors are faulty and needed to be replaced. front airbaigs would not deploy if needed. | |||
| 04/14/2011 | 65000 | ||
| While driving on city road i heard a loud bang and smoke appeared under the vehicle. the vehicle then started running very rough so i pulled off the side of the road. i got out of vehicle and found a coil laying on the ground along with some other plastic pieces. i had the vehicle towed to my mechanic. my mechanic examined the vehicle and found that a spark plug had blown completely out of the engine block head along with the blown coil that i had picked up. the spark plug was never recovered even though i returned to the scene of the incident. | |||
| 02/20/2009 | 65000 | ||
| Both the left and right airbag sensors for my 2005 honda pilot exl failed six months apart. in the first case, in february 2009, the sensor light came on while we were driving back to pennsylvania from north carolina. examination at the honda dealer in pa determined that one of the two front sensors had failed due to corrosion and an electrical short. the unit was replaced. six months later the sensor light came on again and it was determined that the other sensor failed. the cause of the failure was corrosion and an electrical short. in both cases, the airbag would not have operated had their been an accident. the dealer claimed the failures were, just one of those things. having worked with passive restraint systems in the past and having worked with nearly all automobile companies (including toyota and honda in japan), i doubted this explanation. these were improperly manufactured and sealed sensors and corrosion/failure was inevitable. this is a rare failure if the components are manufactured properly. | |||
| 03/07/2010 | 70000 | ||
| Driving along highway, headlights fail to turn on. brights work. unable to use headlights for any driving. checked fuses all good, though incorrect marking on a 15a fuse slot that is 20a. all lights bulbs are good, even replaced to be sure. found melted 16 pin connector with combination stalk switch. unable to repair yet. | |||
| 02/20/2009 | 58000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. while driving 40 mph, the vehicle slammed into brake mode and came to a complete and sudden stop. the failure continued for several minutes, causing items to be thrown from the seat onto the floor. during the failure, the vehicle stability assist warning indicator was illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing, which produced a low battery voltage code and a brake sensor code. the dealer tested and replaced the battery. they also notified the manufacturer and opened a case. the failure and current mileages were less than 58,000. | |||
| 10/08/2005 | 3500 | 2 | 08/15/2005 |
| Dt : contact stated on october 8, 2005 the vehicle started by itself. he vehicle will be taken to the dealer on october 17, 2005. there was no forewarning and no noise. there was no remote starter on this vehicle. this is a 2005 honda pilot. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 12/27/2006 | 16766 | 0 | 06/30/2005 |
| On june 30th, 2005 i purchased a new 2005 honda pilot with 65 odometer miles as a personal family vehicle. on december 27, 2006 my 18 year old son was driving the vehicle go shopping in ventura ca. at approximately 11:00 am when he noticed smoke coming from the a/c / heater vents in the dash area. he pulled the vehicle over to investigate. after he pulled over he turned the ignition switch off and realized that smoke was also coming out of the hood and engine compartment. he called 911 to dispatch a fire truck, but before they arrived the vehicle became engulfed in flames and subsequently the engine area and interior were destroyed. the fire crew put out the flames but could not save the vehicle. it was considered a total loss. it is my opinion that the vehicle manufacturer should be responsible for my damages because i have not altered the vehicle's configuration in any manner and something mechanically wrong with the vehicle caused the fire. i would appreciate any assistance you can lend me to resolve this situation. *nm | |||