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.
Whenever the A/C is on, the speakers will pop every 3-5 minutes. This happens independent of stereo operation. Research on the topic shows this is an old problem from the prior generation Pilot, and also exists on Acura TLX. Based on solutions found by forum members, the root cause is an under-engineered circuit for the A/C compressor clutch solenoid. Whenever the solenoid (de)activates the A/C compressor, a spike is emitted through the electrical system. When the vehicle is new, the clutch relays absorb the shock. As the relays wear, they can no longer absorb the electrical shock so the interference is heard through the stereo. Simply replacing relays is a stop-gap measure. The relays will continue to see the spikes and eventually they are ineffective from filtering the spikes. In my video below, the vehicle is only seven months old.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Whenever the A/C is on, the speakers will pop every 3-5 minutes. This happens independent of stereo operation. Research on the topic shows this is an old problem from the prior generation Pilot, and also exists on Acura TLX. Based on solutions found by forum members, the root cause is an under-engineered circuit for the A/C compressor clutch solenoid. Whenever the solenoid (de)activates the A/C compressor, a spike is emitted through the electrical system. When the vehicle is new, the clutch relays absorb the shock. As the relays wear, they can no longer absorb the electrical shock so the interference is heard through the stereo. Simply replacing relays is a stop-gap measure. The relays will continue to see the spikes and eventually they are ineffective from filtering the spikes. In my video below, the vehicle is only seven months old.
- Amory D., Oswego, IL, US