8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,600
Average Mileage:
95,150 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (4 reports)
  2. transmission rebuild (2 reports)
2004 Honda Pilot transmission problems

transmission problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2004 Honda Pilot:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2004 Honda Pilot Owner Comments

problem #6

Sep 292015

Pilot LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

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

This just started happening to me in the past few months. First I thought I was driving over a "washboard" road, then realized that since it was a road I drive every day and I don't experience it at that spot every day it must be something in the car. It is now happening more frequently. I wonder if it is related to the flashing D light, which happened for the first time last month.

- kmholet, Earlysville, VA, US

problem #5

Feb 052013

Pilot LX 6cy

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

2004 honda pilot was recalled for a design flaw at 17,500 mi. Band aid fix (oil jet part inserted) at 17,500.

Transmission now failing completely like a million other owners of the car are experiencing and Honda should compensate for!! Have only owned Honda's in my lifetime but they are not the same dependable car mfg. they used to be! This is a SAFETY issue and they should be held accountable before they kill someone with their transmissions they know are no good!!

- Kimberley A., Haddam, CT, US

problem #4

Apr 012011

Pilot EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles

I want to first stress that Honda needs to rethink this problem in the Honda Pilots for 2003 and 2004. There are not hundred but thousands of complaints about the transmission problems and Honda will not step up and take care of the problems. I will never again buy a Honda. I bought my car new and it is and was a beautiful car but the transmission problems has got to the point that I leave it sit in my driveway and drive my 2nd car. How sad, I am lucky to have a second car but what about the people who don't have a second car. I will not put my child in that car so I just let it sit. In the past years I have always told people when they asked yes I would but another one it a minute and several of them bought them off my advise. Now in the past 2 months alone I had to talk 2 people out of buying them because Honda will not step up and admit there is a problem with the transmissions nor will they help resolve the problems. Shame Shame on Honda.

- mcerneskie, Aliquippa, PA, US

problem #3

Nov 172011

Pilot Granite Edition V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,700 miles

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

I am so very disappointed to find that the torque converter problem I have been experiencing in my 2004 Pilot (which I otherwise am in love with) has now developed into enough of a problem that I am to the point where I am nervous to take my car out, with my kids in it especially. I found that the last few days it has shuddered violently on startup and almost stalled and from doing my internet research (hours of it in the last 2 years) I have found that countless numbers of people suffered the EXACT SAME PROBLEM and Honda has so far refused to acknowledge any problem at all. I am now stuck with waiting for it to fail completely as I cannot afford at this point in time to just go have a new transmission put in and that is the only fix. I did have the tranny fluid changed and some anti-shudder added as I read was suggested on several other posts, and that did help an awful lot with the shudder on shifting from 2-3, but now the problem has progressed. I am just so utterly disappointed that Honda, a company that I truly believed in as a compassionate car maker, will not admit to the problem even existing :(((

- unhappyhonda :(, Courtenay, BC, canada

problem #2

Jan 012006

Pilot LX 3.2L.V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

Since we purchased the car used in 2006 (2004 Honda Pilot) it has had a shutter issue in the transition of gears happening between 25 miles per hour to 40. It has progressively gotten worse. It is not to the point where we need a new transmission as it happens every 3 to 5 minutes while driving. I contacted the dealer and they said NO recall on our model/year. I have researched it on-line and it appears it is very common and I do not intend to buy another Honda again.

- Leslie M., Fortson, GA, US

problem #1

May 022011

Pilot EXL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

The car has been "shuttering" when maintaining a speed between 20 & 30 MPH. I took it into Amco and they did a full diagnostic. No codes came up and everything looked fine except they said the transmission fluid was red. They gave me a quote to do a soft overhaul. I've asked them to do the transmission fluid service instead, to see if they will help with the problem before committing to an $1,800 (minimum) overhaul. WTH?

I bought a Honda expecting to be able to drive my car into the ground without problems like this. Anyone have any advice? I know it's smarter to take care of transmission problems earlier rather than later so that you don't screw other things up, but what other things can I do... if anything?

- aligaterr, Pulaski, VA, US

Not what you are looking for?