2003 Honda PILOT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
720 owner complaints analyzed
13 distinct recall campaigns
117,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 536 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 117 of 720 complaints (16.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 207 | 28.7% |
| Braking behavior | 63 | 8.8% |
| Steering behavior | 49 | 6.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 30 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 117 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 105 |
| Air Bags | 100 |
| Electrical System | 97 |
| Seats | 32 |
| Unknown Or Other | 31 |
| Engine | 25 |
| Suspension | 25 |
Power Train: 117; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 105; Air Bags: 100; Electrical System: 97; Seats: 32; Unknown Or Other: 31; Engine: 25; Suspension: 25
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 58 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 35 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 77 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 184 |
| 150,000 and above | 145 |
Under 25,000: 58; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 77; 100,000 to 149,999: 184; 150,000 and above: 145
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (184). 184 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 30 |
| 2004 | 59 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 52 |
| 2010 | 66 |
| 2011 | 37 |
| 2012 | 66 |
| 2013 | 61 |
| 2014 | 36 |
| 2015 | 82 |
| 2016 | 31 |
| 2017 | 27 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2002: 20; 2003: 30; 2004: 59; 2005: 20; 2006: 19; 2007: 13; 2008: 18; 2009: 52; 2010: 66; 2011: 37; 2012: 66; 2013: 61; 2014: 36; 2015: 82; 2016: 31; 2017: 27; 2018: 21; 2019: 22; 2020: 13; 2021: 5; 2022: 6; 2023: 8; 2024: 1; 2025: 5; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 207 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 63 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10089908 · 2004-08-27 (August 27, 2004)
TRANSMISSION RECALL 04V176000, HONDA [phone removed]. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090345 · 2004-09-03 (September 3, 2004)
AFTER THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RECALL 04V17600 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED WHEN SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007895 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER MORE THAN 3" DEEP, INSTEAD OF THE WATER BEING DIVERTED OUT AND AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, IT IS DIVERTED AS A MASSIVE WALL OF WATER ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS NECESSARY TO IMMEDIATELY BRAKE, AS VISION IS 100% OBSTRUCTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 DIFFERENT DAYS. TWICE IT WAS DURING HEAVY RAIN, WHERE WATER WAS POOLING BY THE CURB, BUT WAS NOT YET OVER THE CURB. ONCE IT WAS DURING DRY WEATHER, BUT THERE WAS A DEEP PUDDLE OF WATER IN A LOW SPOT IN THE ROAD. IN ALL 3 SITUATIONS IT POSED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZA…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015375 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011077 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION YOU CAN HEAR A THUMPING SOUND, IT'S A CONSTANT THUMPING. IF ONLY THE BACK 2 WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN, THE SOUND OF THE WIND PASSING THROUGH THE CAR IS DEAFENING. IT CREATES A BOOMING THAT IMMEDIATELY AFFECTS THE EAR DRUM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023250 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING HONDA PILOT EX-L ON A LOCAL STREET AT 35 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL SEEMS TO HAVE HIT SOMETHING OR SKIDDED. ATTEMPT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE BY MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTED IN THE SUV GOING OUT OF CONTROL. WHILE STILL ON THE ROAD, ANY ATTEMPT TO STEER THE VEHICLE CAUSED IT GO IN AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION. FINALLY, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND LANDED BACK ON THE WHEEL IN A DITCH BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND TWO CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS, AGES 1 AND 4, ESCAPED UNHURT IN THE BACK SEAT. THE CAR SUSTAINED …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074981 · 2004-06-08 (June 8, 2004)
1. CAR WAS PARKED AT A MARINA FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS 2. ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN DRIVERS AUTOMATIC SEAT CONTROLLER STARTED A FIRE AND DESTROYED SEAT AND DOOR 3. HONDA SAID IT WAS MY FAULT AND SAID TO HAVE MY INSURANCE PAY FOR IT - I'M ELECTING TO TAKE THEM TO COURT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 48,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107121 · 2005-03-28 (March 28, 2005)
WHILE PARKED IN A LOT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE . THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, BUT WAS NOT SURE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM. NO HESITATION NOR ANY WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 1000 MILES WHEN THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *BF *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10267320 · 2009-04-30 (April 30, 2009)
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I TRAVEL FREQUENTLY AND CURRENTLY HAVE 157,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AS REQUIRED AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED. IT HAS ALWAYS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS WITH HARSH SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, BUT DUE TO LACK OF ANY CODE WARNINGS, I'VE BEEN ADVISED BY THE DEALER AND PERSONAL MECHANICS THAT THERE WERE NO CONCERNS. AS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF A VEHICLE, ONE CAN SENSE ANY CHANGES IN HOW AN AUTOMOBILE DRIVES AND AT 50,265 MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A CHAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 157,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10267320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10267458 · 2009-05-01 (May 1, 2009)
THE HONDA PILOT 2003 WHICH HAS 134500 MILES ON IT STARTED TO REV UP WHILE ACCELERATING AND LURCHING FORWARD VIOLENTLY. ONCE WHILE TRYING TO GET ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY STALL AS IF PUT IN A NEUTRAL AND LURCHED BACK TO 50MPH SPEED IN FEW SECONDS. LUCKILY NOT BODY IS BEHIND BUT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. HAD THE VEHICLE TO HONDA CAR DEALER WHO SERVICED THE VEHICLE 1 WEEK BACK AND THEY SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WAS QUOTED $4000 FOR THE REPAIR. CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE…
Owner-reported narrative. 134,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10267458 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003414 · 2003-01-26 (January 26, 2003)
THUNKING NOISE FROM GAS TANK WHEN STOPPING. IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE BAFFLES BUT HONDA DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003414 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017017 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)
EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE FROM A STOP OR COME TO A STOP I HEAR A THUMPING NOISE FROM FUEL SLOSHING AROUND IN THE TANK. THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL TANK IS RIGHT UNDER THE FLOOR BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. IT IS VERY LOUD AND ANNOYING TO HEAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017017 at NHTSA ↗