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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,622 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2003 Honda Pilot Owner Comments

problem #8

Sep 052006

Pilot 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

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

: the contact stated the SRS light illuminated indicating a problem with the seatbelts or the airbag system. The vehicle was taken to the service dealer. The diagnostic did not identify any problem so the warning light was reset. After three days, the warning light illuminated again. The service dealer was notified, but the manufacturer was not.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #7

Apr 122006

Pilot

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
First, I had both: A frontal impact with a deer and a rear collision with another car and none of my air bags deployed. Dealer informed me that the impact on both occasions was not a severe/hard impact, therefore airbag did not open. They must be waiting for a few consumers to die before recalling these airbags and a lawsuit. It cost me over $3K to fix the damages on both ends. Anyway, my SRS light came on and stayed on since this past April. I took my Pilot to my dealership and they told me that I need my "cable reel" replaced. They informed me that the cost to fix my Pilot would be $400=$300 labor + $100 part and it is there way of robbing me blind. I told them to not performed the fix until I got a second opinion. They did reset the light for me but the SRS light came back minutes after they return it to me. Well, the second opinion at leesburg Honda dealership close to my house want to rape my wallet of $1000 +. they are telling me that my air bag is bad and that I need to replace it or I will fail my va inspection. They told me that they are mechanics and specialize in repairing broken\damage car equipments. They are not engineers and can not explain to me why my air bag would go bad. The limited warranty does not cover since I am over my 3 yrs\36K miles. So basically to get my car fix, I have to pay to replace a defective part that was sold to me as new when I purchased my vehicle. Who should I believe or which dealership knows what they are doing?

- Leesburg, VA, USA

problem #6

Sep 212005

Pilot 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,536 miles
The SRS light came on the dash panel. This came on without any previous incidents or problems. There was another recall on a separate issue, and while at the dealer for recall repair, the dealer inspected the SRS light. The dealer made the determination that the airbag was not working. The dealer believed cell phone use had shorted the sensor of the SRS. He tried to reset it. Two miles after leaving the dealership, the light again illuminated and has been on since this time. The consumer called the dealership and they said the repair would cost 300 dollars. No repairs or corrections have been made at this time.

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #5

Oct 012004

Pilot

  • miles

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

SRS light came on. Took Pilot to Honda service to handle recall and presumably correct light problem. Service person said problem was not recall related, instead said problem was SRS control unit. Since vehicle has over 36K miles, this was not covered by warranty.

- Fairfax Station, VA, USA

problem #4

Sep 102004

Pilot 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,466 miles
Air bag light came on. Dealer stated that the cost may not be covered under warranty. The consumer stated this was a recalled item last year. The dealer stated a sensor went bad under the passenger seat. The service advisor stated the consumers problem had not do with the recall.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #3

Mar 182003

Pilot

  • 4,700 miles
When using a lap top computer in the vehicle the SRS light came on indicating that the air bags had been deactivated. The electronic waves hit the back of the seat causing this defect. The problem happened repeatedly when the lap top was used in the front seat. The dealer turned the airbags on, on several occasions but cannot stop the occurrence.

- Ada, OK, USA

problem #2

Jul 012003

Pilot 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,000 miles
3 times we had the SRS light come on and stay on in our 2003 Pilot. The second time they replaced the sensor again (warranty), but informed us that there was some sort of rf inside the vehicle interferring with the SRS side airbag in the driver seat. The technician noted that it could be the use of cell phone or television. We had routinely used a portable dvd player in the Pilot with ac power inverter plugged into the cigarette lighter. We used this for about a year with no problems. We tried the inverter one more time and without even connecting the dvd player, the SRS light came on. This inverter was powered under the limit labeled on the cigarette lighter. They replaced the whole airbag controller this time which I think probably corrected the problem and is why it kept recurring. But now we are afraid to try again since we got a firm warning from the technician that we aren't supposed ot use inverters in the lighter and if this happens again, they won't cover it! I think they build these SUV's knowing that people will use the receptacles for power, they even label them with voltage limits. I think if there are limitations known, we should be informed exactly what they are so we don't have to eliminate all usage.

- Deep River, IA, USA

problem #1

Oct 062003

Pilot 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,275 miles
While traveling 50 mph another driver turned in front of my Pilot without signaling. The whole right front of my vehicle was pushed in. The problem was that the air bags didn't deploy and according to witnesses the seat belt didn't lock. As a result I bounced off steering wheel twice. 2 days later I received a recall notice from Honda saying that air bags are not deploying or deploying late. I believe that my injuries would have been less severe had the air bags deployed and/or the seat belt locked.

- Lakeland, MI, USA

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