FaultScore

2005 Honda Pilot transmission problems

176 of the 955 complaints about the 2005 Honda Pilot are about the transmission — 18% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 97,500 miles.

C

176

Complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Train 133 75.6%
Automatic Transmission 39 22.2%
Torque Converter 3 1.7%
Axle Hubs 1 0.6%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Honda Pilot year

2003 225 17.4%
2004 143 11.1%
2005 176 13.6%
2006 13 1.0%
2007 13 1.0%
2008 11 0.9%
2009 12 0.9%
2011 21 1.6%
2012 20 1.5%
2013 54 4.2%
2015 11 0.9%
2016 198 15.3%
2017 122 9.4%
2018 78 6.0%
2019 91 7.0%
2020 34 2.6%
2021 24 1.9%
2022 14 1.1%
2024 12 0.9%
2025 20 1.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 149,000 miles Roseville, CA

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at various speeds on several occasions, there was a cranking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that several unknown components needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the shocks, control arms, drive train and other unknown components needed to be replaced. The contact referenced the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V228000 (Structure); however, neither the VIN nor the year, make, or model was included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 149,000.

NHTSA complaint #11519514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapolis, IN

POWER TRAIN

MY CHILDREN BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR ME BECAUSE I LOST MY JOB DUE TO COVID AFTEREFFECTS AND I HAD TO RETURN MY KIA SOUL 2014 TO THE CREDITORS.I WAS DELIVERING FOOD BOXES TO THE ELDERLY WHEN THE AT TEMP LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO LOCKUP I HAD TO PULLOVER BECAUSE THE CAR WAS RUNNING HOT.IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING SO I COULDN'T GET HOME.I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT HAPPEN TO ME.GOGGLEING THIS HONDA BRAND THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL BUT NO HONDA RECALL THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS! AND SHOULD BE EITHER RECALLED OR TAKEN OFF THE MARKET AS NTO TO NEVER BE EVER RESOLD

NHTSA complaint #11399391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 133,945 miles Seminole, FL

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION COOLING MECHANISM IN LOWER PART OF RADIATOR FAILED CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE RADIATOR AND MIX WITH COOLANT. INTRODUCTION OF ANTIFREEZE INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED DAMAGE WHICH WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, HOSES, FLUSH THE ENGINE, ETC. EVEN WITH THIS AMOUNT OF REPAIR, INCREASE FAILURE RATE OF WATER PUMP, HEATER CORE OR ANY RUBBER SEAL OR GASKET EXISTS. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AS WELL AS A SEARCH ON THIS SITE REVEALS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHICH HAS NEVER RESULTS IN A RECALL. MY PILOT HAD JUST UNDER 134,000 MILES AND NOW IS UNDRIVEABLE. THE REPAIRS COST MORE THAN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL SO THAT THERE MAY BE SOME RELIEF FOR OWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED BY THIS KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11154153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Winthrop, ME

POWER TRAIN

WHEN DRIVING 30-50MPH MY 2005 HONDA PILOT SHUDDER/VIBRATES AS IF I'M DRIVING ON A RUMBLE STRIP. I BOUGHT MY PILOT AT 113,000 IN 2017 AND I NOTICED THE ISSUE FIRST AT ABOUT 120,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 134,000 MILES AND THE RESEARCH I'M DOING ON THIS ISSUE SUGGESTS THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH HONDA/ACURA TRANSMISSION AND OR TORQUE CONVERTERS. WHAT CAN I DO AT THIS POINT?

NHTSA complaint #11129685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rochester, NY

POWER TRAIN

2005 HONDA PILOT, WHEN CRUISING BETWEEN 35-45 MILES CAR SHUDDERS/VIBRATE NEVER FIXED SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11103654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 144,000 miles Wilmington, DE Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND THE KEY WAS NOT NEAR THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE VEHICLE CLEANING IT OUT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION TO THE HEAD AND INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, AND LEFT LEG THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO UNION PARK HONDA (1704 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, WILMINGTON, DE 19806), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE BODY DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

NHTSA complaint #11033183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 175,000 miles Crawley, WV

POWER TRAIN

THE REAR CRADLE WHICH HAS THE DRIVE SHAFTS AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS COME UNATTACHED FROM REAR CROSSMEMBER DUE TO THE ATTACHMENT POINTS RUSTING THROUGH LETTING CRADLE AND K MEMBER LOOSE FROM 2 OF THE 4 ATTACHMENT POINTS.THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON SEVERAL VEHICLES THAT I HAVE SEEN.THE CROSSMEMBER RUSTS OUT FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND LETS THE CRADLE LOOSE FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING COMPLETE SUSPENSION FAILURE AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11031709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Clinton, NJ

POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE IN MOTION, STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. ENGINE WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. MECHANIC FOUND RADIATOR HAD FAILED, ALLOWING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO MIX WITH ENGINE COOLANT. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AND RADIATOR REPLACED. COST OF REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $5,000. CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. RECEIPTS FOR REPAIR AND COMMUNICATION TO HONDA ARE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10971973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 138,000 miles Oklahoma, OK

POWER TRAIN

WHEN ACCELERATING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH THE CARS SHAKES AND VIBRATES. IF YOU LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE SHAKE WILL GO AWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10864071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 147,000 miles Tallahassee, FL

POWER TRAIN

MY VSA LIGHT AND MY VTM-4 WHEEL LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH ON THE GAS PETAL IT WOULD ACCELERATE. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET GOING HOME

NHTSA complaint #10853733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 142,000 miles Irvington, NJ

POWER TRAIN

MY 2005 HONDA PILOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY LOCAL MECHANICS SCANNED THE COMPUTER CODE P0741, TORQUE CLUTCH SOLENOID. AFTER HE REPLACE THE SOLENOID AND CLEARED THE CODE I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 50 MILES BEFORE THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. SO I TOOK IT BACK THE THE SHOP TO HAVE THE CODE SCAN AGAIN. THE SAME CODE, P0741 APPEAR IN HIS SCANNER. HE RECHECK THE REPLACEMENTAL PART FOR MALFUNCTION AND CONNECTION ISSUES WITH NO ISSUES. SO I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP TO HAVE A SECOND OPINION. THE TRANS SHOP EXAM THE TRAN AND FOUND NO ISSUES ALSO. BOTH SHOPS SUGGEST THAT THERE MUST BE AN INTERIOR ISSUE IN THE TRAN ITSELF. MY ONLY OPTION ARE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRAN OR DRIVE IT AS LONG AS IT IS DRIVING FINE. I THINK HONDA KNOW OF THIS INTERIOR ISSUE AND DON'T WANT TO RECALL THE VEHICLES. REPLACING A TRAN ISN'T A CHEAP FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10846060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Houston, TX

POWER TRAIN

THERE IS VIBRATION WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 35-45 MPH. SEEMS THERE ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION WHICH IS COMMON AMONG OTHER OWNWERS.

NHTSA complaint #10837563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1 miles Beaverton, OR

POWER TRAIN

AT 105,000 MILES I TOOK MY 2005 HONDA PILOT FOR SOME PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE-OIL CHANGE, TRANSMISSION SERVICE, AND AN AIR BAG RECALL. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED ON HIS TEST DRIVE. NOW THE D LIGHT IS BLINKING AND THE VEHICLE DOES SHUDDER BETWEEN 35-50 MPH. THE SERVICE WRITER ALEX SCHENBECK AT DICK'S HONDA IN HILLSBORO SAID HE DIDN'T NOTICE THE MECHANICS NOTE AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT THIS COULD BE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. ACURA ISSUED A RECALL ON THE MDX FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM CAUSED BY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THERE HAVE BEEN 208 COMPLAINTS ON THE 2004-2005 HONDA PILOT TRANSMISSION AND 66 COMPLAINTS ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER SPECIFICALLY. I WILL BE CONTACTING HONDA NORTH AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING A LOYAL HONDA CUSTOMER OR LOSING MY BUSINESS FOR LIFE.

NHTSA complaint #10824133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Boise, ID

POWER TRAIN

WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS TO ABOUT 30 MPH YOU FEEL A SHUDDER IN THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER MOMENTARILY LOSING INERTIA, THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO INCREASE SPEED AND CONTINUE WITHOUT HESITATION. I'VE HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT AND THEY THINK IT MAY BE A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10821661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Galena, OH

POWER TRAIN

WHEN ACCELERATING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH THE CARS SHAKES AND VIBRATES. IF YOU LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE SHAKE WILL GO AWAY. HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE.

NHTSA complaint #10812042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomfield, NJ

POWER TRAIN

MY PILOT 2005, 45000 MLS. IS RUNNING VERY GOOD BUT FROM 3 MONTH AGO THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE VTM-4 IS ON AT THE SAME TIME SOME TIMES IN OFF AND ALWAYS BACK. THIS HAPPEN WHEN THE ENGINE START AND STAY ON, SOMETIMES ON THE ROAD IS OFF BACK AGAIN ON ENGINE LIGHT AND VTM-4.

NHTSA complaint #10795245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 148,000 miles Huntsville, AL

POWER TRAIN

D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AS I WAS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. AFTER I STOPPED I CHECK GAS COVER AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVELS. BOTH OK. HAPPENED AGAIN SO I WENT TO GET CODE READ...THROWING CODE P0872 AND CODE 0700. I HAD THIS PROBLEM A FEW YEARS AGO AND HONDA FIXED PROBLEM FOR ALMOST $500. WHY IS IT HAPPENING AGAIN?

NHTSA complaint #10788968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Grand Rapids, MI

POWER TRAIN

AT SPEEDS UP TO APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CAR RANDOMLY HAS A SHUDDER OR VIBRATION. IT IS NOT FELT IN THE STEERING BUT IN THE BODY OF THE CAR. WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED HARDER OR IF THE GEAR SELECTOR IS MOVED TO D3 THE SHUDDER STOPS. THIS OCCURRED FROM 60K MILE WHEN PURCHASED TO NOW AT 170K MILES. DEALER CAN'T IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM BUT RECOMMENDS A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER. HONDA AMERICA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE AGE. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. HONDA IS IGNORING THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS. IT POINT TO TRANSMISSION ISSUES. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, ROTATED, REBALANCED, REALIGNED AND IT HAD NO EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10783094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,746 miles Mount Laurel, NJ

POWER TRAIN

THE VEHICLE JUMPS ON AND OFF AND I TEND TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH STEERING. FURTHER CHECK REVEALED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10781647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 112,234 miles Warrenville, SC

POWER TRAIN

TRAVELING ABOUT 35 TO 45MPH WE FEEL A SHUTTER ONCE YOU SPEED UP IT GOES AWAY.ALSO SEE A FLUTTER IN ENGINE RPM.

NHTSA complaint #10777723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Muscatine, IA

POWER TRAIN

WHEN I SLOW DOWN FROM GOING HIGHER THEN 40 MILES PER HOUR MY PILOT SHUDDERS BETWEEN 35 AND 40. IT QUITS AT ABOUT 35 BUT IT STARTED HAPPENING A YEAR AGO AND DOES IT EVERY TIME I DRIVE NOW. I HAVE READ ON LINE OF OTHER PILOTS DOING THE SAME THING. SEEMS TOME THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE AS WELL AS A SAFETY ONE IF MY TRANSMISSION QUITS BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER AS A DEALER ONCE TOLD ME. I DON'T WANT TO PAY THE COSTS OF A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN IT SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT. I AM GETTING AIRBAG RECALL FIXED THIS WEEK I PLAN TO ASK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10763498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Dublin, OH

POWER TRAIN

ON 9-9-15, OUR 2005 HONDA PILOT ABRUPTLY STOPPED ON EMERALD PARKWAY - POLICE ASSISTED. LEAKING FLUID WAS CLUMPY RED/BROWN AND VEHICLE HOT. SHOP TODAY SAYS RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION AND POSSIBLY ENGINE NEED REPLACED AND INSTRUCTED US TO CONTACT A HONDA DEALER. THIS IS OUR SECOND SAFETY COMPLAINT ON THIS VEHICLE - 1ST WAS DANGEROUS "PHANTOM BRAKING" OR INADVERTANT APPLICATION ON BRAKES IN 2012, WHICH HONDA SUBSEQUENTLY RECALLED IN 2013. AFTER READING THRU COMPLAINTS, I SEE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM - TRANSMISSION LINE IN RADIATOR SUDDENLY CAME LOOSE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED INTO RADIATOR AND COOLANT LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION, RUINING BOTH HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. WE ANTICIPATE A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR.... WE ARE THANKFUL THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR OR WITH ANY OF OUR 3 KIDS IN THE VEHICLE, AND ARE ANGERED AT HONDA'S FAILURE TO RECALL THIS AS WELL - AS SOME SAID THEY DID FOR 2003 AND 2004 MODELS?

NHTSA complaint #10762599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,000 miles Elgin, IL

POWER TRAIN

AFTER COMING HOME FROM WORK I NOTICED A DRIP LINE IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN I TURNED AROUND I SAW A POOL OF MILKY RED LIQUID UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD I SAW THAT THE COOLANT OVERFLOW BOTTLE WAS IN FACT OVERFLOWING WITH THIS MILKY RED LIQUID. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SERVICE STATION I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILED IN THE RADIATOR CAUSING THE COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 2005 PILOT AND THAT NOW THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT AT A COST OF $2500 PLUS THE COST OF REPLACING THE RADIATOR AND LINES, TOTAL BILL $3500. I AM TOLD AND I HAVE SINCE RESEARCHED THAT HONDA IS AWARE IF THIS ISSUE AND HAS NOT AT LEAST WARNED OWNERS THAT THE RADIATOR WILL MOST CERTAINLY FAIL, HAD THEY INFORMED ME I WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE RADIATOR BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. I RECENTLY CAME BACK FROM A 1500 MILE ROAD TRIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS LUCKY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE ROAD AT SPEEDS OF 70MPH. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HONDA HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE AFTERMATH OF A KNOWN FAULTY PART AND THE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO NEED.

NHTSA complaint #10761493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Sherwood, AR

POWER TRAIN

THE POWERTRAIN HAS A VERY IRRITATING VIBRATION WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH OR HOLDING IT AT 35 - 40 MPH. THE VIBRATION LASTS ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND HAS A VERY ODD NOISE THAT HAPPENS AT THE EXACT SAME TIME. KIND OF LIKE DEEP BASE. ALL INFO I CAN FIND POINTS TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND MY MECHANIC SAYS ALL HIS INFORMATION POINTS TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER ALSO.

NHTSA complaint #10733379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 135,300 miles Oakdale, MN

POWER TRAIN

CAR SHUDDERS OCCASIONALLY AROUND SPEEDS 30 WHILE ACCELERATING, THE SHUDDER LASTS FEW SECONDS AND STOPS. THIS COULD HAPPEN ONLY ONCE OR SEVERAL TIMES IF YOU CONTINUE TO DRIVE AROUND SPEEDS 30 MPH. FROM HONDA FORUMS IT LOOKS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SAME YEAR HONDA PILOTS AND ACCURA RDX. DRIVING WITH SUCH AN CONDITION SHAKES THE DRIVER FOR AN UNKNOWN VEHICULAR BEHAVIOUR THAT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT/ FATALITY. IT IS SUGGESTED HONDA CORP MAY BE ASKED TO PUT A RECALL FOR ALL VEHICLES IN THIS MANUAFCTURE YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #10717028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 151,415 miles Seattle, WA

POWER TRAIN

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (VSA) LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED ME OF RECALL AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE TO DEALER. I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO TELLS ME THAT THE CAR IS NOT UNDER THE MARCH, 2013 RECALL, EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE ISSUES ARE THE SAME AS THE ISSUES WHICH LED TO THE 2013 RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10716370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 107,000 miles Metuchen, NJ

POWER TRAIN

ON OUR WAY HOME TO NJ FROM A FAMILY TRIP TO CANADA WE STOPPED FOR A BATHROOM BREAK IN THE "MIDDLE OF NOWHERE" MAINE. THE CAR HESITATED TO GO WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS. I MANAGED TO DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD, THE "TEMP" LIGHT WENT ON, THEN I PULLED OVER. I CHECKED THE FLUIDS....THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS MILKY RED. WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE CELL PHONE SERVICE TO CALL FOR A TOW. I HAD MY FAMILY, WIFE AND TWO YOUNGER KIDS IN THE CAR. WE WAITED FOR OVER 30 MINUTES FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE, HE HAD TO CALL FOR TRANSPORT FOR MY FAMILY. WE MANAGED TO FIND A SERVICE CENTER THAT WAS WILLING STAY OPEN TO FIX OUR CAR. THE CAR NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED ($800), A VALVE BROKE SENDING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. WE LEARNED THAT OTHER 2005 PILOTS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF WHICH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON THE 2004 PILOTS, HONDA WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING! (AS A SIDE NOTE, I HAD SOME SEAT LEATHER REPLACED AND THE COLOR MATCH WAS THAT OF A 2004 PILOT). SINCE THE DAY OF THE REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY ROUGH/BUCKING WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. TO DATE, BESIDES ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, OIL CHANGES AND SMALL PARTS, I HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, STARTER, WATER PUMP, AND THE RADIATOR. TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WOULD BE A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. THIS WAS OUR FAMILY TRAVEL CAR AND I NOW WILL ONLY TAKE THE CAR AROUND TOWN FOR FEAR THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO. I WAS NOT IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW CAR BUT DUE TO THIS SITUATION I NEED TO GET RID OF THIS CAR!

NHTSA complaint #10680336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,500 miles Whittier, CA

POWER TRAIN

WHEN I AM GOING IN A SPEED RANGE ABOUT 35 MPH I GET LIKE SHUDDER/GRINDING SOUND COMING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE PILOT. I AM GETTING VERY CONCERN BECAUSE I'VE DRIVEN OTHER PILOTS AND THEY ALL DO THE SAME AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #10669409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Deer Park, WA

POWER TRAIN

HEARD A WEIRD NOISE WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT IT WAS, TRANNY FLUID WAS BUBBLING OUT OF THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW. HAD THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR REPLACED BY AUL, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY CO. THEY SENT A USED TRANNY AND WITHIN A WEEK IT WAS SHAKING THE WHOLE CAR ON THE DOWNSHIFT AT 35-40 AND 60MPH. ANOTHER USED TRANNY WAS SENT. ON DAY ONE, BEGAN NOTICING THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES AT 40-45 AND 60-65MPH ON THE UPSHIFT. I AM WAITING FOR MY MECHANIC TO BE AVAILABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND REQUEST ANOTHER TRANNY. THIS WILL BE NUMBER THREE IN THREE MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #10669415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Herndon, VA

POWER TRAIN

MY HONDA PILOT 2005 SHUDDERS AT ABOUT 35-50 MPH SPEEDS. THE SHUDDERING LASTS FOR ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS. THE SHUDDERING GOES AWAY BY EITHER INCREASING OR DECREASING THE SPEED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW YEARS. TODAY I AM SITTING AT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SHUDDERING AND THE HONDA TECHNICIAN MENTIONED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. I RESEARCHED ON THIS SITE AND THERE ARE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS ISSUE. I WAS WONDERING WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. THANKS

NHTSA complaint #10668603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2005 Honda Pilot problems

← Full 2005 Honda Pilot report