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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,481 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the engine rpms increased up to 3000. His foot was on the brake pedal but the vehicle continued to lunge forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the idle air control system had an internal failure on the ac motor which needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance because there were no recalls available. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 118,612. Updated 06/01/11 updated 06/02/11
I own a 2003 Honda Pilot. Two of the four engine mounts are bad. From people I have talked to, it seems to be a common problem in many, many Honda Pilot. It seems to me to be defective for so many people to be having the same costly problem.
- the contact stated that the 2003 Honda Pilot ex-L's check engine light turned on along with the variable torque management 4- wheel drive light. She stated that on any given day or at any speed these lights may turn on together or one at a time. The contact stated didn't have any problems with driving the vehicle when this happened. The contact had an appointment with the dealership on 02/28/07. The contact felt thiswas a safety problem, will submit follow up information from the dealership after her appointment. The failure mileage was 45000 and the current mileage was 46000.
- Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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I parked my 2003 Honda Pilot ex in my garage and found oil stains on the driveway. When I looked under the vehicle, all the oil had drained. I looked at the dipstick and there was less than 1/16th of an inch of oil. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. They found the timing belt was stripped. They also found that two of the valves were bent. All these were replaced but I am concerned that more damage has occured to the engine by driving without oil.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Germantown, MD, USA