32 of the 877 complaints about the 2003 Honda Pilot are about the lighting — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 104,950 miles.
32
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LO BEAM HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. BULBS FUSES AND RELAYS ARE GOOD. HIGH BEAMS WORK OK. LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND I DISCOVERED IT AT NIGHT WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME.
NHTSA complaint #11207412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HONDA CORPORATE CLAIMS THAT MY 2003 HONDA PILOT ISSUE WAS RESOLVED IN APRIL 2014, AS RECALL WORK (LOW BEAMS QUIT WORKING... HIGH BEAMS REMAIN FUNCTIONAL). MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS NO RECORD OF ME BEING THERE, EVEN THOUGH CORPORATE IS SHOWING I WAS. I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM - MY LOW BEAMS DO NOT WORK... HIGH BEAMS REMAIN FUNCTIONAL. THE ISSUE IS PRESENT REGARDLESS OF IT BEING STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON ANY SURFACE OF ANY KIND, TURNING OR OTHERWISE.
NHTSA complaint #11193049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LIGHTING RECALL. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2012 AFFECTING MY 2003 HONDA PILOT THAT I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT UNTIL MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST WRECKED. MY LOW BEAMS DO NOT WORK BUT MY HIGH BEAMS DO, ME AND MY CHILD COULD OF DIED FROM THIS. WE WERE JUST DRIVING AS NORMAL ON A HIGHWAY WITH NO OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND AND LIGHTS JUST STOPPED WORKING. AFTER PULLING OVER I REALISED MY HI BEAMS STILL WORK. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY RECALL ISN'T LISTED WHEN A RECALL WAS ISSUED
NHTSA complaint #11156680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN, SINCE THAT LOW BEAMS WENT OUT BUT HIGH BEAMS WORK.
NHTSA complaint #11006237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN I DRIVING 95 N GOING TO CONNECTICUT THERE'S A HUGE SMOKE ON THE HOOD AND THE OTHER MOTORIST BEHIND ME, HE SAW A LOT OF OIL DRIPPING ON THE STREET AND HE GAVE ME A HONK. I PARKED THE CAR BESIDE THE HIGHWAY AND I OPENED THE HOOD REMOVE THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TO AVOID THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10995655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. OVER TIME, BOTH PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS BECAME VERY OPAQUE, WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO APPEAR DIM AND MADE VISIBILITY DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT'S WIFE CALLED A HONDA DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE, BUT COULD NOT ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #10978543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE NEEDED TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #10917845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS), 14V700000 (AIR BAGS), 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSYTEM), AND 12V136000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10750026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HONDA REPLACED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT SWITCH (NTHSA REF #15V320000) IN 2013 AND NOW THE SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED AGAIN (BOTH HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME) AND HONDA SAYS THEY ARE NOT LIABLE. ITS THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. IT APPEARS HONDA SIMPLY REPLACED THE FAULTY SWITCH WITH ANOTHER FAULTY WITHOUT ANY KIND OF REPAIR OF DIFFERENT MANUFACTURING OF THE NEW SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #10732478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY RECALLED AND REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 2012. HAD TO RELY ON HIGH BEAMS TO GET HOME. REPLACED ONLY ONE BULB WHICH ON INSPECTION LOOKED GOOD. BOTH LIGHTS CAME ON. PROBLEM SOLVED OR SO I THOUGHT. WIFE DROVE THE CAR YESTERDAY AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT FROM AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. SHE DRIVES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON EVEN DURING THE DAY. AFTER TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS AND THE CAR AND ALLOWING IT TO COOL OFF, SHE MADE IT HOME WITHOUT THE LIGHTS BEING ON. UPDATE 9/15/15*CW THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 09/29/15
NHTSA complaint #10731652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAG, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10704473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE CAR WAS MOVED INTO LOCATION, TURNED OFF, AND THE KEY REMOVED LEADING TO THE DRIVER THINKING THE CAR WAS IN PARK, HOWEVER THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE CAR WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, ROLL OVER A TREE, AND CRASH INTO ANOTHER TREE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10663045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT WORK AT NIGHT. LOW-BEAMS PARTIALLY FAILED, BUT I DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL I WAS GOING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD TO USE BRIGHTS, AND GO TO A GAS STATION. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, AND CHECKED BY DEALER. DEALER SAID USING 3RD PARTY HEADLIGHT BULBS WAS THE CAUSE. OF INTEREST, THE CAR ALREADY HAD THE LOW-BEAM FAILURE RECALL FIXED. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS STILL AN ISSUE AFTER THE RECALL, AND USING HONDA OEM BULBS IS THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO GO. 3RD PARTY BULBS WERE PURCHASED FROM ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, AND I'M UNSURE OF THE BRAND.
NHTSA complaint #10605699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ON 9/6/2012 HONDA PERFORMED RECALL WORK ON THIS VEHICLE, SEE NHTSA RECALL 12V-136. ON 8/5/2013 I CHECKED THE VEHICLES LIGHTS AND ALL WERE WORKING. ON 8/6/2013 WHILE MOVING VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY I NOTICED THAT BOTH LOW BEAMS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. THE PARKING LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS BOTH WORKED, BUT THE LOW BEAMS DID NOT WORK. ON 8/8/2013 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER (ROBERTS IN DOWNINGTOWN, PA). THE DEALER'S SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THAT THE RECALL WORK WAS FINE AND THAT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH WAS BROKEN. THE COST OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH IS $190. I WILL PICK UP THE VEHICLE LATER TODAY, 8/8/2013. I AM REPORTING THIS TO PROVIDE DATA THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL AS IT RELATES TO THE SAFETY RECALL. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10534296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
2003 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL 12V-136 CONCERNING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS *TGW ON DECEMBER 7, 2011, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO THE A/C NOT WORKING. THE DEALER FOUND THE BLOWER MOTOR TRANSISTOR WAS FAULTY. THE AC TRANSISTOR WAS REPLACED AND RE-TESTED AND OPERATING NORMALLY. THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO REPLACE THE AC TRANSISTOR, THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING. THE VERY NEXT MORNING, SHE DISCOVERED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE NO LONGER WORKING. ON DECEMBER 13, 2011 BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 142.06. IN APRIL 2012. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OFF FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN COME BACK ON AGAIN. ON MAY 10, 2012, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL, STATING THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL WOULD BE REPLACED, AND IF NECESSARY THE COMBINATION LIGHTING SWITCH WOULD BE REPLACED TOO. ON THE SAME DAY SHE RECEIVED THE NOTICE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE DEALER, THE LOW BEAMS WEREN'T WORKING AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE LOW BEAM BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ASKED THE DEALER, WOULD REPLACING THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR RESPONDED BY SAYING NO, AS THE TERMINAL HAD NOTHING TO WITH THE LOW BEAM. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND LATER THAT AFTERNOON, THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS WERE WORKING AGAIN. ON MAY 21, 2012. THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS FAILED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE COMBINATION LIGHT SWITCH AND NOT THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL. THE LOW BEAMS ARE CURRENTLY NOT WORKING, WHICH IS FORCING THE CONSUMER TO USE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. *JB UPDATED 09/06/12.
NHTSA complaint #10461605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LENSES CAME OFF INSIDE THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT BRAKE LIGHT COVER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COVER WOULD FRACTURE EASILY ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 07/18/12
NHTSA complaint #10459551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT HAS FALLEN APART INTERNALLY. THERE IS A CLEAR "HALF-DOME" OVER THE BULB ON THE BRAKE LIGHT PORTION, INSIDE THE TAILLIGHT UNIT THAT HAS FALLEN OFF AND NOW IS LOOSE INSIDE THE UNIT ITSELF. IT APPEARS THAT IT IS A "SNAP-ON" INSTALLATION WHEN THE UNIT IS ASSEMBLED. THERE IS NO-WAY TO FIX THIS WITHOUT DESTROYING THE SEALED UNIT. DEALER WANTS $150 FOR A REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10439917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160,239.
NHTSA complaint #10436132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SYMPTOM WHEN YOU TURN THE COMBINATION LIGHT SWITCH TO THE HEADLIGHT "ON" POSITION, THE LOW BEAMS MAY NOT COME ON. PROBABLE CAUSE IN A RARE CASE, THE WIRE HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED, CAUSING A TERMINAL IN THE HEADLIGHT WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO BECOME HEAT-DAMAGED, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO NOT COME ON.
NHTSA complaint #10398379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLAMPS ON 2003 HONDA PILOT SIMPLY STOP WORKING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10276863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2003 HONDA PILOT. ON THE EVENING OF 11/09/06 SHE WAS ATTENDING AN EVENT. WHEN SHE STARTED UP THE TRUCK SHE COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF PARK. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING IT BACK ON A COUPLE OF TIMES SOMEHOW SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN LATER ON WHEN SHE DROPPED OFF A FRIEND AND LEFT THE CAR IN PARK WHILE SHE LET HER FRIEND OUT. SHE TRIED THE SAME TACTIC AS BEFORE AND AFTER A FEW TIMES SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF PARK. WHEN SHE RETURNED HOME SHE TOLD ME OF THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE GARAGE AND STARTED THE TRUCK UP AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME. I BEGAN TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THAT WHEN THEY CAME ON I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. THERE WAS NO HAZARD LIGHT OF ANY KIND TO INFORM US OF THIS MALFUNCTION AND THAT IT WAS TIED TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS. MY WIFE DROVE OVER 60 MILES THAT EVENING AND MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HAD HER BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING. I TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND THEY REPLACED A SWITCH, FP # 5615215, DESCRIPTION SW.STOP 36750-S84.
NHTSA complaint #10173119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HONDA PILOT HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LIGHT TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. ONLY A FEW FEET IN FRONT OF VEHICLE ARE ILLUMINATED, AND A SHARP CUT-OFF LINE BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS IS CLEARLY VISIBLE AT A DISTANCE THAT IS NOT FAR ENOUGH TO SAFELY DRIVE AT NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10082975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2003 HONDA PILOT ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HONDA KNOWS OF THE SITUATION AND WILL NOT TAKE ANY ACTION.
NHTSA complaint #10039102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY NEW 2003 HONDA PILOT ARE LIKE A SMALL POCKET FLASHLIGHT EXTREMELY DIM AND INSUFFICIENT FOR NIGHT DRIVING PLEASER HELP ME REMEDY THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10018651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LIGHT TOO WEAK, CANT SEE MORE THAN 20 FEET. NOT ENOUGH ILLUMINATION. *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770154
NHTSA complaint #10009411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHTS LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO ADJUST THE LIGHTING PROJECTION. WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED IT THIS WAS A DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC.
NHTSA complaint #10017617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS ON THE NEW HONDA PILOT ARE WEAK AND FAIL TO ADEQUATELY ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD. IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN USING A SPOTLIGHT VS A FLOODLIGHT. THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN IN USE JUST SEEM TO DISAPPEAR INTO THE NIGHT. YOU CAN SEE BUT THE LIGHT IS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH IN MY OPINION. I THINK THE HIGH BEAMS SHOULD BE MORE LIKE A SPOTLIGHT IN LIGHTING UP THE ROAD AHEAD. I THINK IT IS A DEFINITE DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #10005016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LIGHT IS NOT ENOUGH ILLUMINATE AT NIGHT VERY RISKY WHEN TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT ON A HIGHWAY. WE HAVE STOP DRIVING AT NIGHT AFTER FOUND OUT. DT
NHTSA complaint #770286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT THE CONSUMER CAN ONLY SEE ABOUT 25 FEET AHEAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *TS *JG *NLM
NHTSA complaint #8023308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY WEAK AND DO NOT SUFFICEINTLY ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD. THIS CREATES A VERY SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD ON THE FREEWAY ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS AS HIGH AS 70 MPH. THE PILOT'S HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. DT
NHTSA complaint #769397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.