CarComplaints.com Notes: Beware the 2003 Honda Pilot once the odometer reaches 100k miles, when two problem defect trends have shown up: transmission failure & ignition switch problems.
Typically a locksmith can fix the ignition switch or it can be replaced for around $700. However the transmission failure is a far more expensive problem, with the average repair cost at well over $3,000. A major transmission recall of over 1 million Honda vehicles back in 2004 dealt with transmission damage due to overheating, but 2003 Pilot transmissions have continued to fail.
My 2003 Pilot’s driver seat busted somewhere in the undercarriage frame and now the seat rocks backwards and forwards in an unsafe manner. The following is an account of my contact with Honda:
Dear Sir:
Re: Case 05112984
Recently I phoned your customer service recall department to find out whether or not there was one for a broken driver seat on a 2003 Pilot. In a very business manner I was told there was not; then I asked to speak with someone further up the ladder and she politely said I would only get the same answer. After some persistence, finally I was given another contact which proved equally unsatisfactory.
I Googled “Broken driver seat Honda Pilot†and discovered I was not the only one to have this issue, albeit a small percentage. Given Honda’s propensity for safety and, one may add, promotional sensitivities I am amazed I met with total disregard in the statement, “Your vehicle is out of warranty.â€
I apologize for raising mawkish overtures; however, I am a pensioner on a limited budget unable to afford the expense of replacement and as such hope Honda may find, in their corporate heart, a willingness to replace or at least assist with recompense.
And, I received the same off hand assistance with the Better Business Bureau.
The fact that the driver’s seat is prone to breaking seems a definite hazard and one which could lead to a death.
The plastic cover surrounding the driver's side power seat adjustment levers became loose and began to snag on things. The controls still worked for several months despite the loose cover, but eventually stopped working. Fortunately it is stuck in a position that fits me and I'm the only usual driver. I cannot find any loose connections (just the loose cover). It may be that this problem could be fixed by replacing a fuse, but I haven't tried yet.
- Melissa R.,
FRONT ROYAL, VA, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My 2003 Pilot’s driver seat busted somewhere in the undercarriage frame and now the seat rocks backwards and forwards in an unsafe manner. The following is an account of my contact with Honda:
Dear Sir: Re: Case 05112984 Recently I phoned your customer service recall department to find out whether or not there was one for a broken driver seat on a 2003 Pilot. In a very business manner I was told there was not; then I asked to speak with someone further up the ladder and she politely said I would only get the same answer. After some persistence, finally I was given another contact which proved equally unsatisfactory. I Googled “Broken driver seat Honda Pilot†and discovered I was not the only one to have this issue, albeit a small percentage. Given Honda’s propensity for safety and, one may add, promotional sensitivities I am amazed I met with total disregard in the statement, “Your vehicle is out of warranty.â€
I apologize for raising mawkish overtures; however, I am a pensioner on a limited budget unable to afford the expense of replacement and as such hope Honda may find, in their corporate heart, a willingness to replace or at least assist with recompense. And, I received the same off hand assistance with the Better Business Bureau. The fact that the driver’s seat is prone to breaking seems a definite hazard and one which could lead to a death.
- Jeff L., Atlanta, GA, US