CarComplaints.com Notes: It's worrying when the top category for 2016 Honda Pilot problems are transmission problems. Owners report jerking when accelerating. Also as the first model year of the redesigned 3rd generation Pilot, it's not a good sign.
Honda released a TSB on October 29 2016 that's possibly related. The TSB deals with a "a judder from the torque converter lock-up clutch ... while driving between 20 and 60 mph" due to deteriorated transmission fluid resulting from "specific driving conditions". In the TSB, Honda states they are developing a software fix to try to keep the transmission fluid temperature within spec.
We are keeping a close eye on this defect trend because if certain driving conditions can affect transmission shifting in the first year of ownership, we'd hate to think what 10+ years will do.
spontaneous short-circuit cause heat/fire & loss of freon
Local dealer has had the vehicle for 5 days. Photos have been sent to Honda America, Honda Technical, Honda Sales, Honda Fire Marshall, etc.
I do not have the car in my possession to take photos - suffice to say that the bottom of the engine compartment, passenger side, near the front grill has the marks of a small burn. Wires and wire harness are bare. There is a hole in the AC hose system which caused all the "Freon" to leak. The plastic covering has melted away.
The most recent "theory" was that a technician left a towel in the engine compartment after my first oil change and it caught fire - so, too bad, it's $1800 to fix it, thank you. The oil change was almost exactly a month ago and at a different dealer - imagine that?! Funny thing though, when I said the oil change was a month ago, the towel theory was tossed out (of course if they bothered to look at the sticker the other dealer put in the window, they would have seen the date).
Some Honda Rep is supposed to be at the dealer tomorrow to tell me how, and yes, this is a direct quote, "Honda will take care of it all".
I really like my Pilot. Had an 05 that I traded fro this 2016 .... I DO NOT want this car back! They can give me a brand new, exact copy IF (IF IF IF) they actually know what happened ... OR if this might be the start of a recall chase, then I want a different type of vehicle.
Honda has provided a vehicle for me to drive in the interim.
Update from Jun 21, 2016: Now 10 days from first being left at the dealer and no no info ... American Honda has not been able to find out what caused the fire. The representative was on site this past Friday and was unable to lend any more insight.
The entire wire harness (into the dash) is being replaced plus the damaged AC hoses, etc. American Honda cannot say that his will not happen again.
I have asked for a "like for like" trade but now the dealer says I have to come up with $$$ to offset the negative equity in a four month old vehicle.
I am hopeful but growing more frustrated and losing confidence in the Honda name/product.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
spontaneous short-circuit cause heat/fire & loss of freon Local dealer has had the vehicle for 5 days. Photos have been sent to Honda America, Honda Technical, Honda Sales, Honda Fire Marshall, etc.
I do not have the car in my possession to take photos - suffice to say that the bottom of the engine compartment, passenger side, near the front grill has the marks of a small burn. Wires and wire harness are bare. There is a hole in the AC hose system which caused all the "Freon" to leak. The plastic covering has melted away.
The most recent "theory" was that a technician left a towel in the engine compartment after my first oil change and it caught fire - so, too bad, it's $1800 to fix it, thank you. The oil change was almost exactly a month ago and at a different dealer - imagine that?! Funny thing though, when I said the oil change was a month ago, the towel theory was tossed out (of course if they bothered to look at the sticker the other dealer put in the window, they would have seen the date).
Some Honda Rep is supposed to be at the dealer tomorrow to tell me how, and yes, this is a direct quote, "Honda will take care of it all".
I really like my Pilot. Had an 05 that I traded fro this 2016 .... I DO NOT want this car back! They can give me a brand new, exact copy IF (IF IF IF) they actually know what happened ... OR if this might be the start of a recall chase, then I want a different type of vehicle.
Honda has provided a vehicle for me to drive in the interim.
Update from Jun 21, 2016: Now 10 days from first being left at the dealer and no no info ... American Honda has not been able to find out what caused the fire. The representative was on site this past Friday and was unable to lend any more insight.
The entire wire harness (into the dash) is being replaced plus the damaged AC hoses, etc. American Honda cannot say that his will not happen again.
I have asked for a "like for like" trade but now the dealer says I have to come up with $$$ to offset the negative equity in a four month old vehicle.
I am hopeful but growing more frustrated and losing confidence in the Honda name/product.
- Tom C., Oxford, NC, US