2004 Honda Pilot seat problems

SEATS

I heard a loud pop come from under my driver's seat and the seat started rocking backwards. I got out of my car and checked underneath the seat. The front-left bracket securing the seat to the seat frame had completely sheared in half and the seat was no longer securely attached to the seat frame. This is a significant safety issue. When the car accelerates the driver's seat rocks backwards by ~45 degrees, making it extremely difficult to stay in control of the vehicle and safely steer the vehicle. It is also extremely unsafe in the case of an accident because A) the seat would not hold the driver securely in place, B) the driver would not be properly in position and restrained for the air bags to deploy, C) the seat belt is attached to the seat base and would not be able to fully function properly, and D) any passengers sitting in the 2nd row behind the driver's seat would be in danger of having the full force of the driver and the driver's seat slamming back against them. This is a known issue widely reported in Honda Pilot owners' forums. Yet Honda has not issued a recall. I took the vehicle into a Honda dealership to inspect the issue. They said that Honda no longer makes the part that would be required to fix this safety issue. This issue affects all 2003-2008 model year Honda Pilots. There were over 800,000 2003-2008 model year pilots sold and because of Honda vehicle's longevity there is a massive number of these vehicles still on the roads.

NHTSA complaint #11563917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

Brakes seem to stop suddenly Must brake slowly to avoid a sudden stop Seatbelt locks up if I do not pull it forward and leave room in the belt so that it isn't completely holding me in Also the driver seat will only adjust sideways.

NHTSA complaint #11522936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE AND WOULD ROCK BACKWARDS AS IF SOMETHING WAS BROKEN. I REMOVED THE SIDE COVER AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A FAILED SEAT MOUNT BRACKET THAT HAD BROKEN IN HALF. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDRIVEABLE UNTIL THE SEAT IS FIXED SINCE THE SEAT SWAYS BACKWARDS ON ACCELERATION WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY ACTIVE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN!

NHTSA complaint #11286727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

WHEN ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT, I HEARD A "POP" SOUND AND MY DRIVER SEAT SUDDENLY HAD A "ROCKING" ISSUE. THE DRIVER SEAT NOW ROCKS BACKWARD WHEN ACCELERATING, AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE AND DOING A VISUAL INSPECTION I FOUND THAT A METAL "L" SHAPED BRACKET THAT MOUNTS THE SEAT BOTTOM TO THE SEAT FRAME HAS SHEARED OFF AT THE RIVET POINTS. THIS CREATES A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AND I FEAR IN A CRASH, THE SEAT COULD BECOME UNATTACHED FROM VEHICLE INTERIOR COMPLETELY PUTTING OCCUPANT AT INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH FROM AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OR EJECTION FROM VEHICLE! DURING AN ONLINE SEARCH, I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE TO NHTSA...THOSE REPORT NUMBERS ARE 1058303; 10578612; 10567737; 10541789; 10505250; 10489089; 10488805; 10466947; 10455702. I CONTACTED HONDA AND WAS TOLD SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD!!! WHY DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE THE ISSUE IS FIXED?!? WITH SO MANY REPORTS ALREADY BEING LOGGED STATING THIS SAME PROBLEM, I WOULD THINK SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. THIS IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AT THE AIRBAG ISSUE THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #11280268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. WHILE ACCELERATING AND BRAKING, THE DRIVER'S SEAT UNINTENTIONALLY MOVED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. SPREEN HONDA (25050 REDLANDS BLVD, LOMA LINDA, CA 92354, (909) 799-7070) WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MOUNTING BRACKET FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #11270640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

ON 06/21/2014, I WAS ENTERING MY VEHICLE WHEN A BRACKET CONNECTED TO THE ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY (PART# 81630-S3V-A30) BROKE. THIS OCCURRED ON THE DRIVERS SEAT. DUE TO THIS, THE SEAT WAS NO LONGER SECURE TO THE FLOORBOARD AND STARTED ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. I SEARCHED HONDA PART RECORDS AND I WAS UNABLE TO FIND A SPECIFIC PART NUMBER ASSIGNED TO THIS BRACKET. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE BREAK. BUT, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE SEAT WAS UNSTABLE AND HARD TO KEEP IT STILL. A SEARCH OF NHTSA RECORDS FOUND THE FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE - 10583003, 10578612, 10567737, 10541789, 10505250, 10489089, 10488805, 10466947, 10455702. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE BROKEN BRACKET. IT APPEARS METAL FATIGUE MAY BE AN ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11221811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

THIS AFTERNOON AS I ENTERED MY CITY STREET PARKED, 2004 HONDA PILOT, FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE, I HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND AS I SAT DOWN. THE DRIVER'S SEAT, SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE SOUND, ROCKED BACK, OBVIOUSLY NO LONGER SECURELY MOUNTED. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE FRONT LEFT 'L' SHAPED SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET HAD SHEARED IN TWO, IN LINE WITH THE TWO HOLES THAT THE SECURING RIVETS PASS THROUGH. THE BRACKET FAILED AND TORE, APPARENTLY THE METAL IS NOT THICK ENOUGH TO RESIST THE FORCES PLACED ON THE SEAT. PERHAPS RELATED TO THE SIZE OF THE RIVET HOLES.

NHTSA complaint #11209543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

LEANED BACK AND TURNED AROUND TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND LEFT FRONT SEAT BRACKET ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BROKE. HAVE TO BRACE MYSELF WHILE ACCELERATING FORWARD SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE HAVE READ MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. AFRAID THE OTHER BRACKETS WILL BREAK SHORTLY AFTER. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11143423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DOWN A CITY STREET, THE DRIVERS SEAT BEGAN TO MOVE- SPECIFICALLY BEGAN TO SHIFT BACKWARDS UPON ACCELERATION. UPON ACCELERATION, THE SEAT LEANS BACK AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL SIGNIFICANTLY. INSPECTION BY MECHANIC SHOWED THE SEAT BRACKETS HAVE SHEERED OFF DETACHING THE FRONT LEFT CORNER FROM THE SEAT FRAME.

NHTSA complaint #11113619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET HAS CRACKED AND IS NOW SPLIT OPEN. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND DRIVER HAD TURNED AROUND AND LEANED BACK TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN SEAT BRACKET CRACKED. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT NOW IS LOOSE AND ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AFRAID ENTIRE SEAT WILL BREAK LOOSE FROM MOUNTING POINTS. NOTE: MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THIS SAME DEFECT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED ON THE INTERNET, ACROSS MULTIPLE HONDA PILOT YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #11078656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS A BRACKET THAT BROKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND I ALMOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT CAUSED ME TO LEAN BACK VERY FAR IN THE SEAT AND MY STEERING AND ACCELERATION WAS AFFECTED. I WAS EXITING ONTO A FREEWAY AND ALMOST COLLIDED WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THIS BRACKET IS LOCATED ON THE DRIVES SIDE THAT HOLDS A MOTOR THAT MOVES THE SEAT UP AND DOWN; IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE LEFT SIDE PANEL FOR THE SEAT CONTROLS. BRACKET HAS TWO RIVETS HOLDING IN PLACE. WAS HOPING THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT BECAUSE I FOUND LOTS OF INCIDENTS REPORTED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #11050938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, NOT IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR DRIVING OFF-ROAD. SAT DOWN AND FOUND DRIVER'S SEAT UNEXPECTEDLY WILL NOW TILT BACK, RAISING THE LEFT FRONT OF THE SEAT. THE SEAT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SECURE, NOR WOULD IT BE SAFE IN AN ACCIDENT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN INEXPLICABLY (PART 81660-S3V-A30). THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A WEAR PART - ONE OF THE METAL BRACKET PIECES HOLDING THE SEAT BOTTOM TO THE BODY I GUESS JUST SHEARED OFF ALONG THE RIVET LINE. A BRIEF WEB SEARCH FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, SO I'M SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL BY HONDA. THE DEALER QUOTED A REPAIR PRICE OF APPROXIMATELY $1,850.

NHTSA complaint #11048074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

FRONT LEFT BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE DRIVERS SEAT TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE SNAPPED. THIS IS A COMMON, KNOWN DEFECT AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11044916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

MY HUSBAND (195 LBS) REACHED IN HIS POCKET TO GET HIS WALLET AND THE METAL BRACE HOLDING THE SEAT BROKE. THE SEAT IS NOW NOT STILL WHEN DRIVING. WHAT WORRIES ME IS, WHAT IF I HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT? THE AFOREMENTIONED BRACE SHOULD HOLD UNDER MUCH MORE RIGOROUS SITUATIONS. THERE APPEARS TO BE A LOT OF 2004 HONDA PILOTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT SAME BREAK, AS NOTED ONLINE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FLAW AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT THEIR EXPENSE. PER ONLINE COMMENTS, THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING $1200 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE FAILED. I AM BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR ASSESSMENT ON MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2017, AT 1:00P.

NHTSA complaint #10993693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS LEANING. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WELD WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BRACKET WAS FRACTURED AND THE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA complaint #10933672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

WHILE LEANING BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO REMOVE MY WALLET TO PURCHASE GASOLINE I HEARD "POP" AND THEN THE SEAT SEEMED TO BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT LEFT OF THE SEAT WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE STEEL BRACKET HOLDING THE TOP ASSEMBLY OF THE SEAT TO THE BOTTOM ASSEMBLY OF THE SEAT TORE CLEAN THROUGH.

NHTSA complaint #10916669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SEAT WOULD MOVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT FELT AS THOUGH IT WOULD DISLODGE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BOLT HAD FRACTURED AND THAT DRIVERS SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10886250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

THE DRIVERS SEAT LOWER METAL BRACKET BROKE CAUSING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO BE UNSTABLE WHEN SITTING IN THE SUV AND WHEN ACCELERATING. I HAVE SEEN AT SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS BOTH ON THIS WEB SITE AND IN THE HONDA PILOT FORUM. I CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT ASKING FOR A REPAIR WHO REFERRED ME TO HONDA USA. I CALLED AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO HONDA AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH IS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS VEHICLE WERE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT THE SEAT WOULD LIKELY BREAK LOOSE AND THROW THE DRIVER AND THE SEAT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I JUST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE .

NHTSA complaint #10883715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2004 HONDA PILOT EX-L AND HAVE HAD ONLY VERY MINOR ISSUES UP UNTIL NOW. YESTERDAY, WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A GREAT DEAL OF PLAY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK. ASSUMING AN ANCHOR BOLT WAS LOOSE, I CHECKED THE LEFT FRONT SEAT AREA WHERE THE MOVEMENT WAS THE GREATEST AND DISCOVERED THE LEFT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY ARM ALMOST COMPLETED SHEARED FROM THE MAIN ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY. THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT IS NOW SEVERELY COMPROMISED AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE SEAT WILL BECOME DETACHED IN ANY ACCIDENT. I'VE NOTED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT SAME PIECE ON THIS AND OTHER WEBSITES.

NHTSA complaint #10865696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

BRACKET ON LEFT FRONT POWER SEAT BROKE; IT HOLDS THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR; AND SEAT ROCKS BACK AND IS NOT FASTENED AT LEFT FRONT TO THE CAR. VERY DANGEROUS AND MUST BE FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10861048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

THE HEATING ELEMENT ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT GETS SO HOT YOU HAVE TO TURN IT OFF TO KEEP FROM GETTING BURNT. IT GETS SO HOT YOU CAN'T STAND IT. IT HAPPENS ON BOTH THE HI AND LO SETTINGS. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME BUT WHEN IT DOES IT CONTINUES UNTIL THE HEATER IS TURNED OFF. AS MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, I'D THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT CAUSE A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT GETS HOT FAST. ONE TIME WHEN I NOTICED IT WAS GETTING HOT BEFORE I COULD GET IT TURNED OF IT GOT SO HOT I COULD HARDLY STAND IT. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR THE REACTION TO IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT HAS HAPPENED IN ALL SORTS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10853877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE DRIVER SEAT, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BOLT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLT BETWEEN THE SEAT AND SEAT FRAME ASSEMBLY WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

NHTSA complaint #10850880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

THE DRIVER'S SEAT POPPED AND NOW TILTS BACKWARDS FROM THE LEFT. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE EXACT PROBLEM OTHERS HAVE REPORTED TO NHTSA REGARDING THIS YEAR MODEL: THE LEFT SIDE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE MOTOR FOR THE POWER SEAT BACK BROKE ALONG THE RIVET LINE. THIS HOLDS THE SEAT BOTTOM TO BODY OF THE SEAT. THIS WAS PERFECTLY DESCRIBED IN A COMPLAINT LODGED 4/25/2015 FROM TAMPA, FL. THIS APPEARS

NHTSA complaint #10846321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

LEFT FRONT BRACKET ON DRIVER SEAT HAS BROKEN ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANY OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. WIFE PARKED IN DRIVE WAY LEANED BACK TO EXIT VEHICLE AND THE BRACKET BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #10788324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

THE SEAT BEGAN MOVING EARLIER TODAY AND THEN WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THE SEAT STARTED ROCKING. IT SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME DETACHED FROM THE CAR ON THE FRONT LEFT. WHEN ACCELERATING IT ROCKS BACK AND WHEN BREAKING IT ROCKS FORWARD. MY HUSBAND LOOKED AND THE METAL BRACKET HAS BROKEN COMPLETELY. IT SEEMS VERY UNSAFE AND WOULD BE EXTREMLY WORRIED THAT IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY WHEN YOU ARE THRUST EVEN FARTHER INTO IT OR IF THE OTHER SIDE WERE TO BREAK AND YOU BE THROWN OUT REGARDLESS OF HAVING A SEATBELT.

NHTSA complaint #10778183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

WE NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC PANEL COVERING THE DRIVER'S SEAT CONTROLS CAME DETACHED. SHORTLY AFTER THE SEAT BEGAN ROCKING SLIGHTLY. FINALLY, THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THE SEAT NOW ROCKS FREELY. IT IS SCARY AND DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WHILE THE SEAT RESPONDS TO ALL MOVEMENT. IT WILL NO LONGER ALLOW YOU TO INCREASE THE INCLINE OF IT, SO IT'S RECLINED AT THE SAME TIME. WHAT STARTED AS TWO SCREWS BREAKING FREE FROM THE DECORATIVE LEVER COVER QUICKLY TURNED INTO A MAJOR STRUCTURAL ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10759017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.