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.
Chirping at cold start. Most obvious when outdoor temperatures are below 40F. Issue started in winter 2018, however this year it is repeatable enough to show the dealer for troubleshooting and resolution. I have a 6-year/100,000 mile extended warranty, underwritten by American Honda.
Dealer keeps my vehicle overnight and provides me a loaner car. The following morning, service advisor contacts me and indicates technician could not repeat the problem. He requested I show the technician the following morning. The next morning (day two), I meet the technician and I show him the sound directly. The technician agrees the sound is internal to the engine.
A TSB has been issued to address this very noise; it entails adding a shim to a timing belt pulley. The shim adds clearance between the timing belt and the timing belt housing/cover. Service advisor contacts American Honda who administers the extended warranty.
Service advisor informs me American Honda will not offer to resolve the issue. It is 'noise only' and no functional loss. If I wanted the TSB fix applied, I would pay for the parts and labor out of pocket. The service advisor offers to have the timing belt replacement done 40,000 miles prematurely ($800 for timing belt and water pump), so I could save on the labor of having the TSB applied. I would still pay $35 for the shim specified in the TSB.
I declined the premature timing belt replacement and TSB application. I will be requesting a prorated refund of the HondaCare extended warranty. I am patiently waiting the release of the 2021 Toyota Sienna.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Chirping at cold start. Most obvious when outdoor temperatures are below 40F. Issue started in winter 2018, however this year it is repeatable enough to show the dealer for troubleshooting and resolution. I have a 6-year/100,000 mile extended warranty, underwritten by American Honda.
Dealer keeps my vehicle overnight and provides me a loaner car. The following morning, service advisor contacts me and indicates technician could not repeat the problem. He requested I show the technician the following morning. The next morning (day two), I meet the technician and I show him the sound directly. The technician agrees the sound is internal to the engine.
A TSB has been issued to address this very noise; it entails adding a shim to a timing belt pulley. The shim adds clearance between the timing belt and the timing belt housing/cover. Service advisor contacts American Honda who administers the extended warranty.
Service advisor informs me American Honda will not offer to resolve the issue. It is 'noise only' and no functional loss. If I wanted the TSB fix applied, I would pay for the parts and labor out of pocket. The service advisor offers to have the timing belt replacement done 40,000 miles prematurely ($800 for timing belt and water pump), so I could save on the labor of having the TSB applied. I would still pay $35 for the shim specified in the TSB.
I declined the premature timing belt replacement and TSB application. I will be requesting a prorated refund of the HondaCare extended warranty. I am patiently waiting the release of the 2021 Toyota Sienna.
- Amory D., Oswego, IL, US