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 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
90,504 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.
Lo beam headlights stopped working. Bulbs fuses and relays are good. High beams work ok. Lights stopped working and I discovered it at night when I went to drive the car home.
Honda corporate claims that my 2003 Honda Pilot issue was resolved in April 2014, as recall work (low beams quit working... high beams remain functional). My local dealership has no record of me being there, even though corporate is showing I was. I still have the same problem - my low beams do not work... high beams remain functional. The issue is present regardless of it being stationary, in motion, on any surface of any kind, turning or otherwise.
Lighting recall. There was a recall in 2012 affecting my 2003 Honda Pilot that I did not know about until my headlights went out while driving and almost wrecked. My low beams do not work but my high beams do, me and my child could of died from this. We were just driving as normal on a highway with no other traffic around and lights just stopped working. After pulling over I realised my hi beams still work. I do not understand why my recall isn't listed when a recall was issued
When I driving 95 N going to Connecticut there's a huge smoke on the hood and the other motorist behind me, he saw a lot of oil dripping on the street and he gave me a honk. I parked the car beside the highway and I opened the hood remove the negative battery to avoid the fire.
- East Windsor, NJ, USA
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The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. Over time, both plastic headlight covers became very opaque, which caused the headlights to appear dim and made visibility difficult. The contact's wife called a Honda dealer who stated that they were familiar with the issue, but could not assist. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that they could not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. While driving various speeds, the low beam headlights failed to illuminate. The contact stated that the high beam headlights were needed to drive at night. In addition, the brake lights would not illuminate when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the low beam terminal harness failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V320000 (air bags), 14V700000 (air bags), 12V573000 (electrical sysytem), and 12V136000 (exterior lighting); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Honda replaced the low beam headlight switch (nthsa ref #15V320000) in 2013 and now the same issue has happened again (both headlight low beams went out at the same time) and Honda says they are not liable. Its the same problem as before. It appears Honda simply replaced the faulty switch with another faulty without any kind of repair of different manufacturing of the new switch.
Both headlights went out. Vehicle has been previously recalled and repaired for this problem in 2012. Had to rely on high beams to get home. Replaced only one bulb which on inspection looked good. Both lights came on. Problem solved or so I thought. Wife drove the car yesterday and smoke began to come out from around the steering column. She drives with the headlights on even during the day. After turning off the lights and the car and allowing it to cool off, she made it home without the lights being on. Update 9/15/15 the vehicle was repaired. Updated 09/29/15
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact received a recall notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V351000 (air bag, exterior lighting, electrical system) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The car was moved into location, turned off, and the key removed leading to the driver thinking the car was in park, however the car was still in drive. The car was on a slight incline which caused the car to roll backwards down the driveway, across the street, roll over a tree, and crash into another tree causing significant damage.
Left work at night. Low-beams partially failed, but I didn't notice until I was going 55 mph on the highway. Had to use brights, and go to a gas station. Vehicle had to be towed, and checked by dealer. Dealer said using 3rd party headlight bulbs was the cause. Of interest, the car already had the low-beam failure recall fixed. Looks like this is still an issue after the recall, and using Honda oem bulbs is the only safe way to go. 3rd party bulbs were purchased from advance auto parts, and I'm unsure of the brand.
On 9/6/2012 Honda performed recall work on this vehicle, see NHTSA recall 12V-136. On 8/5/2013 I checked the vehicles lights and all were working. On 8/6/2013 while moving vehicle in driveway I noticed that both low beams were not illuminating even though the switch was turned on. The parking lights and high beams both worked, but the low beams did not work. On 8/8/2013 I took the vehicle to the local Honda dealer (roberts in downingtown, pa). The dealer's service representative reported that the recall work was fine and that the headlamp switch was broken. The cost of the headlamp switch is $190. I will pick up the vehicle later today, 8/8/2013. I am reporting this to provide data that might be useful as it relates to the safety recall. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The right rear taillight has fallen apart internally. There is a clear "half-dome" over the bulb on the brake light portion, inside the taillight unit that has fallen off and now is loose inside the unit itself. It appears that it is a "snap-on" installation when the unit is assembled. There is no-way to fix this without destroying the sealed unit. Dealer wants $150 for a replacement.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. While driving 35 mph, the headlights suddenly failed without warning. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The current and the failure mileages were 160,239.
Low beam headlights symptom when you turn the combination light switch to the headlight "on" position, the low beams may not come on. Probable cause in a rare case, the wire harness may have been misrouted, causing a terminal in the headlight wire harness connector to become heat-damaged, which may cause the low beam headlights to not come on.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Harrison, OH, USA