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:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
82,392 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.

2003 Honda Pilot miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2003 Honda Pilot Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #29

Sep 182022

Pilot 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Honda did not contact me for a year and a half I have been waiting for them to replace my air bag, no response!!! I-??ve left numerous messages and still no response I gave a 1 year old daughter, we almost got hit by a car and if it had hit us something could-??ve happened! Because I had to swerve off road my suspension and power steering are messed up because of pot holes, Just so I wouldn-??t hit and impact the passenger side of me my car where airbag is bad and nothing would-??ve happened to us, not that it was our fault the driver was driving almost right into us!I blame Honda for this disaster would could have been very bad! Of course the other driver drove away like nothing happened! So now I am stuck at home not able to go to work and bring my daughter to doctors appointments and invade of in emergency my vehicle is not safe enough to get us anywhere! I am asking god to bless us in this case and count all the blessings he has given us! I don-??t have a lot of money to pay for repairs and this is the only car I-??ve ever purchased and owned. If there is any way anyone could help please! Maybe a new Honda would be nice for Christmas, but hey a girl can dream right! Thank you for your time!

- Kealia, HI, USA

problem #28

Oct 012021

Pilot

  • miles
Both rear axel mounts rusted away from the subframe while being driven by my teenage driver. This caused the tires to lean inward and caused mounts to rest on the muffler system. The vehicle is available for inspection, but has not been inspected since it is not mobile or safe to drive. The safety of my child and others were at risk, as this failure could have caused an accident. There were not warning lamps or messages, but rust was noticeable underneath the vehicle.

- Lore City, OH, USA

problem #27

Jan 012022

Pilot

  • miles
Keep getting misfires had mechanic replace coils & plugs but still getting obd codes for misfires of cylinders why ?? also keeps jerking & I nor a mechanic do not know why

- Greencastle, PA, USA

problem #26

Sep 142020

Pilot

  • 178,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When I accelerate to 40 mph there is a grinding sound coming from my truck. It will continue until about 45 mph and then stops. This issue is random and intermittent and the mechanics have not been able to replicate the problem to identify it. It started shortly after I purchased the used vehicle in 2011 but it was infrequent now it is happening a lot more frequently.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #25

Dec 292019

Pilot

  • 131,000 miles
I found this car ad on facebook after test driving I decided to purchase it for3,000 they original asking price was $3,400 for the Honda Pilot with 131,000 miles. I offer them $2,900 and met at 3,000. When I came back to make the purchase the pink slip was already filled out. I didn't think of it. After going to the dmv to start to the registration of vehicle I had to go get a smog inspection. Thats when the car did not pass and they inform me that car battery was either disconnected or the car was not running for awhile. So I decided to drive the car enough so the computer can generate some data. Today I decided to get a carfax report and the odometer last reported was way above what was presented to me. They advertise the car at 131K and the odometer also read 131K. Since I found this ad on facebook, I noticed they had deleted the ad and block me. I realized they block me by searching the profile of whom sold me the vehicle. Then I used someone else profile and was able to see their profile. The car was located in 13657 van nuys blvd pacoima ca in a city street.

- Agoura Hills, CA, USA

problem #24

Dec 152019

Pilot

  • miles
Honda Pilot 2003 cranked up started driving, after a min or two it shut off and wouldn't crank back up. I've replaced the main relay and a new fuel pump but when you put the key in and try to start it, it doesn't turn over all the way. It wants to but won't. also more electrical issues along with radio and head lights. Something is terribly wrong and ive put alot of money into trying to find out what it is and have been guaranteed that part will fix it but no luck. New parts help but not with turning over and starting.

- Deland, FL, USA

problem #23

Nov 062019

Pilot

  • 180,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We have owned this truck since February 2019. This situation has occurred on the city streets as well as on the highway. The speed would vary between 35mph and 65mph. While we were driving with 4 small children in our truck, the truck wouldn't switch gears. Our foot would be on the gas, but the truck wouldn't accelerate. Sometimes the truck will be in park and we'll go to shift into (D) and it won't shift. It has happened many times. (I have selected the most recent date of occurrence below, but this has happened many times on different days. I do not have photos, as this is a motion thing. I do not have documentation at the moment, but will be taking it to a mechanic this week.) I have estimated the milles on the truck, but I believe it is less than 180K.

- Selkirk, NY, USA

problem #22

Jul 172019

Pilot

  • 147,000 miles
While driving on the interstate the D indicator starts blinking. The next exit is still 10 miles away..I stop the car at a gas station for about 5 minutes. I then get back on the interstate to get home without getting in an accident or fatally injuring myself or others ! this has happened a few times whenever I go over 55-60 mph. So it seems to be when the transmission is changing from 3rd to 4th gear."? why haven't I received a recall for this transmission/powertrain problem ?? possibly campaign # 04V176000 and recall # P30. I only have 147,000 miles on my Pilot !! how many people have to get injured or even killed for this matter to be taken care of by someone or Honda ??"

- Oshkosh, WI, USA

problem #21

Oct 192018

Pilot

  • 197,000 miles
Vehicle will stall while driving and then fail to start unless left off from 15 to 30 minutes vehicle will periodically fail to start. This happened driving on the expressway and was able to drift over to shoulder while avoiding being run into. The last instance a police officer kindly helped push the vehicle off a busy city street as so I could wait for a tow to the dealership again. They continue to say they cannot replicate the problem and have replaced multiple and expensive parts but to no avail.

- Randallstown, MD, USA

problem #20

Nov 022017

Pilot

  • miles
My 2003 Honda Pilot's ignition switch started to fail to turn, over the past two weeks, preventing the car to start. I have to take the key out and reinsert it into the ignition, and thus far this solution is working. However over the last several days, it is happening more and more, to the point that I am afraid this malfunction of trying to get it to rotate out of position and into the "start" position will eventually fail to engage at all, leaving me stranded who knows where.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #19

Jul 032017

Pilot

  • 210,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Ignition key metal is harder than the ignition lock destroying the locking pins. Have had ignition lock repaired twice already and will require a third repair which will likely require new lock

- Boiling Springs, SC, USA

problem #18

Jun 162017

Pilot

  • 185,000 miles
In a trip to the park (20 minutes highway trip) the D indicator start blinking, park the car and turn off, turn it back on, and the light keep blinking all the way back home. It never happened before.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #17

Jun 062017

Pilot

  • 110,000 miles
Bought the car second-hand. SRS light was off during test drive in a neighbood and time of purchase. SRS light turned on in the middle of the drive home on the service road next to the highway. Unknown if it is just a sensor issue or there is a possible problem with the airbag safety response system.

- Rowlett, TX, USA

problem #16

Apr 062017

Pilot

  • 150,000 miles
Ignition third time it has broken

- Pueblo, CO, USA

problem #15

Jan 012010

Pilot

  • miles
First, door locks automatic now have to unlock myself, along wits the outside doors.alarm button no longer works to unlock. Door handles inside have been peeling and actually cut your fingers when opening the door, I have maswing tape in them and it's ugly, finally..lights inside are going out on radio, dimming on interior also.

- Vacaville, CA, USA

problem #14

Dec 062016

Pilot

  • 160,000 miles
Takata recall my SRS light is on and has not gone off. The manual saids it could be airbags.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #13

Sep 292016

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
I was on the hwy in the left lane an exhilarated then all of the sudden my SUV just braked suddenly without me pressing the brake causing a screech on the concrete. I moved to the right lane very cautiously. I drove about 15 miles then it happened again. I turned my emergency flasher on and drove another 5 miles when it happened again. I pulled onto the side of the road and called my husband to come drive behind me the rest of the way home. This is very scary. I just knew I was going to get rear ended. I love my Honda Pilot but now I can't drive it. I have no idea why or what is causing this problem! please help. Thanks, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #12

Feb 042016

Pilot

  • 92,600 miles
The ignition switch in our 2003 Pilot has a tendency of getting stuck. At times the key will not turn when fully inserted. This has been occurring with some regularity since we got the car in 2012. Just yesterday the key partially turned to where the lights on the dashboard went on, but the engine did not turn and the key got stuck there for several minutes. From other customers sharing, it appears that this is a somewhat common problem with this models which Honda is not taking responsibility for.

- West Valley City, UT, USA

problem #11

Jan 042016

Pilot

  • 137,700 miles
At first there was minor difficulty getting the key into the ignition where it would take two to three times to get it in. Within a week, it extremely difficult to get the key into the ignition so the car would start, taking anywhere from 5-10 each time to get the car started. I tried the spare key and it will not work at all.

- Odessa, NY, USA

problem #10

May 052015

Pilot 6-cyl

  • miles
I was involved in an auto accident. When I came to the inside of the car was smoking. The air bags were deployed and I had a three inch burned hole in my left arm. Now I have a permanent scar because of the airbag. I have pictures, police report and hospital reports. MA 10/19/2015 updated 12/05/2017

- Rex, GA, USA

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