17 of the 166 complaints about the 2008 Honda Pilot are about the engine — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 88,000 miles.
17
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE
My car accelerated on its own and when I applied the brakes, they didn’t work. I hit a tree on my property and damaged my property and my car.
NHTSA complaint #11503685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
STATE INSPECTION FAILD, check engine light, bank 1 Catalytic Converter Internal Failure and bank 2 Catalytic converter Internal Failure, passenger side axle to be leaking, power steering pump to be leaking, power steering reservoir tank to be leaking, front and rear brake pad
NHTSA complaint #11466153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE SHIFTED GEARS TO NEUTRAL AND CONTINUED TO DEPRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE FORCEFUL UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED BIANCHI HONDA (8430 PEACH ST, ERIE, PA 16509, (814) 868-9678) AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 179,942.
NHTSA complaint #11408254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND WAS PULLED OFF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VSA SENSOR AND YAW RATE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #11404666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
NEW CAR, PROBLEMS JUST UNCOVERED.
NHTSA complaint #11353973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE PILOT HAVE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, THE FIRST FEW YEARS WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW I USED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR OIL CHANGES AND THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT OIL CONSUMPTION UNTIL I STARTED CHANGING THE OIL MYSELF WHEN I NOTICED THAT OVER THE COURSE OF 3 MONTHS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES I ONLY GET LESS THAN 50% OIL OUT THAN I PUT IN. I AM VERY STRICT ON OIL CHANGES AND STICK TO 3000 MILES OR 3 MONTHS (WHICHEVER COMES FIRST).
NHTSA complaint #10891896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10884641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HONDA PILOT WAS STRUCK (TBONE) AT 65 MPH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND DRIVER WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND LEANED ON THE GAS. CAR WENT INTO FULL REV AND CRASHED INTO A WALL WHERE THE FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED. HOMELESS MAN WAS SLEEPING BEHIND THE WALL AND WAS STRUCK BY THE RUNAWAY HONDA PILOT. SHOULDN'T THE VEHICLE OF SHUT DOWN AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT? FUEL INERTIA OR CUT OFF DID NOT ENGAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10706361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
MY WAS DRIVING THE UNIT FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES FROM THE STARTING POINT. THEN, ALL THE LIGHTS OF THE DASHBOARD TURN ON. WHEN SHE TRIED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, A BLACK SMOKE START TO GO INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND A ENGINE FIRE STARTED. RAPIDLY, SHE LEFT THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE AND THE FIRE CONSUMED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS DECLARED TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10679002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
IN DECEMBER 2012 WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 70MPH ON A HIGHWAY, MY PILOT BEGAN BUCKING, AND FITTING BACK & FORTH. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAD TO DISASSEMBLE THE ENGINE, AND DETERMINED THE #5 PLUG HAD COME OFF, AND WAS RATTLING AROUND DAMAGING THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENGINE BLOCK, CYLINDERS, ETC AT A COST OF $9000. IT WAS ABOUT 2-3K OVER THE WARRANTY, AND PAST WARRANTY BY 2 MONTHS. HONDA PAID 90% OF THE BILL, AND I PAID 10%. TODAY... VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCE, EXCEPT THIS TIME IT'S LEAKING A COFFEE LOOKING LIQUID. ASSUMING OIL MIXED WITH COOLANT... STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALERSHIP AS TO CAUSE OF LEAKING FLUID, AND APPEARANCE OF MIXED FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #10592540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE #5 SPARK PLUG EXPLODED AND A PIECE DROPPED INTO THE CYLINDER DAMAGING THE WALL AND PISTON. THE 4WD/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE THERE WERE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES, I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO "TURN OFF" THE 4WD/TRACTION, BUT IT IS AUTOMATIC AND SINCE SOME WHEELS WERE LOSING POWER IT WOULD JUST COME BACK ON. THEN THE CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, SO I ENDED UP HAVING IT TOWED. WHEN THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE CAR THEY FOUND THE #5 (ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER INSTALLED) SPARK PLUG HAD LITERALLY EXPLODED AND A PIECE DROPPED INTO THE CYLINDER, RUINING IT. THE WHOLE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, IT HAS BEEN A TIMELY AND COSTLY EXPERIENCE. EVEN THOUGH MY CAR HAD A 100K WARRANTY UNDER HONDA CARE THE ENGINE THEY REPLACED MINE WITH LASTED ONLY 2700 MILES AND NOW WE ARE BACK TO REPLACING THAT ONE, TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
NHTSA complaint #10584475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CATALYTIC CONVERTER BANKS 2-4 FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10505913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY HONDA OFTEN GETS THE ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON AND THEN A FEW DAYS LATER THE LIGHT IS OFF.. WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON, I HAD TAKEN IT TO DEALER IN WHICH THEY UPDATE MICROSOFT BUT IT COMES BACK AGAIN. THE DEALER RUNS THE CAR INTO THE COMPUTER AND DOESN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH ENGINE OR NOTHING ELSE.. BUT THE LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF OFTEN..
NHTSA complaint #10479651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, SHE STARTED SMELLING BURNING OIL FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHITE SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
NHTSA complaint #10450314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
RADIATOR CORE FAILURE IN 2008 HONDA PILOT EX-L. OEM RADIATOR FAILED DUE TO LEAK AT CRIMP BETWEEN PLASTIC CAP AND CORE.
NHTSA complaint #10447399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY, A TRUCK KICKED UP A ROCK. THE ROCK BOUNCED BACK AND UNDER MY VEHICLE. I HEARD A POPPING NOISE. WHEN I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE A SHORT WHILE LATER, I HEARD A HISSING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. THERE WAS A FLUID LEAKING. I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT, AND THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM MY AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER, WHICH NOW HAS A HOLE IN IT.
NHTSA complaint #10318084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY SEVERAL OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. DEALER ANALYZED A BROKEN TIMING BELT AND REPLACED BELT AND HEADS. TAKING CAR BACK TO DEALER FOR ENGINE NOISE WHICH STARTED AFTER REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10237199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.