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.
The transmission seems to be failing. Honda says it should be replaced and that would cost thousands! If the transmission fails and a person is driving the car, it would most likely cause an accident. Hopefully Honda will come to it's senses and recalls the 2003 Honda Pilots and fixes the transmissions or we will hold them personally responsible and liable for any accidents or deaths.
We bought a used Honda Pilot and have only put 35,000 miles on it and the transmission is knocking! It skips gears revs the rpm's higher than intended. It sounds like gears broke off inside, I don't have the money to fix this problem, I can't trade the car in, and I still owe $6,000 on it. I NEED HELP! PLEASE! I feel like I'm stuck trying to fix what I can't afford! If there were so many bad reviews on this transmission at only 120,000 miles... why hasn't Honda fixed the problem!
Honda! Where's the quality gone? I thought Hondas were built to last wtf! Make some recalls Honda! You pay the bill. We bought this Pilot not knowing about all these terrible reviews. I can't afford to buy a new vehicle... my kids deserve a safe car that isn't going to burst into flames or cause some kind of accident. Please Honda, help me.
Update from Apr 7, 2015: Well, it's official, I now have a $5,000 lawn ornament. My husband took our 2003 Honda pilot out for a drive to see if the transmission would do with him what it would do with me. At first his little road trip went well he didn't hear any sounds from the transmission and everything was fine & he's just going to go take the pilot to put gas in it. He gets to the light to turn left on a busy intersection, stops, when it's his turn to go, well, the pilot decides that it doesn't want to go. Every time he tried to shift into drive the car would shut off. Meanwhile, the intersection traffic is trying to go around him. We are both very lucky that no one had hit him, the car quit working almost in the complete way of on coming traffic. Luckily, a city police officer happened to be near by and stayed with him till I was able to get the tow truck for him. The fear of my husband getting injured from this situation had me rushing to get to where he was. My heart was racing, everything else seemed a blurred now. I was incredibly afraid for his life. Thank you god for watching over my family. Calling around to many places to find an affordable way to fix the transmission seemed endless. I finally found a garage that would not only rebuild my existing transmission, but also warranty his work for 100,000 miles depending if it has to be rebuilt. I will know more later.
My Honda Pilot is mostly highway miles, all services were done on time. But recently the transmission just started slipping, it wouldn't go pass 30mph. It wouldn't engage to 3rd gear at all. I didn't know it was part of a recall when I bought it in OCT 2006. I had a Honda Civic before and I liked it. I just don't know what happened to Honda now, they usually have a good reliability rating.
- jeffrox1018,
chicago, IL, US
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The transmission seems to be failing. Honda says it should be replaced and that would cost thousands! If the transmission fails and a person is driving the car, it would most likely cause an accident. Hopefully Honda will come to it's senses and recalls the 2003 Honda Pilots and fixes the transmissions or we will hold them personally responsible and liable for any accidents or deaths.
- Juana C., Beachwood, OH, US