2004 Honda PILOT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
544 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
104,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 410 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 94 of 544 complaints (17.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 124 | 22.8% |
| Braking behavior | 42 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 25 | 4.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 21 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 2.0% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 1.5% |
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 | 94 |
| Seats | 79 |
| Air Bags | 77 |
| Electrical System | 47 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 44 |
| Structure:Body | 29 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Suspension | 22 |
Power Train: 94; Seats: 79; Air Bags: 77; Electrical System: 47; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 44; Structure:Body: 29; Engine: 22; Suspension: 22
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 36 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 26 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 48 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 71 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 129 |
| 150,000 and above | 100 |
Under 25,000: 36; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 48; 75,000 to 99,999: 71; 100,000 to 149,999: 129; 150,000 and above: 100
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (129). 134 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 35 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 26 |
| 2010 | 49 |
| 2011 | 46 |
| 2012 | 63 |
| 2013 | 48 |
| 2014 | 36 |
| 2015 | 55 |
| 2016 | 38 |
| 2017 | 27 |
| 2018 | 29 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
2004: 35; 2005: 12; 2006: 10; 2007: 10; 2008: 11; 2009: 26; 2010: 49; 2011: 46; 2012: 63; 2013: 48; 2014: 36; 2015: 55; 2016: 38; 2017: 27; 2018: 29; 2019: 20; 2020: 10; 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 5
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 124 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 42 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 25 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 10067991 · 2004-04-28 (April 28, 2004)
A BRAND NEW (2 WEEKS) PILOT WITH LESS THAN 500 MILES. I AM NOW HEARING A CLUNKING/THUMPING NOISE WHEN I SHIFT THE GEAR FROM D->N AND THEN IN TO R. THIS NOISE IS NOT HEARD WHEN SHIFTING JUST FROM N->R. LOOKS LIKE THIS NOISE IS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS KIND OF PROBLEM SO SOON IN A BRAND NEW VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067991 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10084029 · 2004-08-02 (August 2, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED AND JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. TMECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10084029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059254 · 2004-02-18 (February 18, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING. SERVICE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND NOT TO BE ALARMED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080181 · 2004-06-30 (June 30, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5 TO 10 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES FRONT BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE LIKE GRINDING. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE THREE TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068228 · 2004-05-03 (May 3, 2004)
AT SPEEDS EXCEEDING 70 MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION WHICH CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, GAS PEDAL, AND AT TIMES THE FLOOR OF THE WHOLE VEHICLE. THIS USUALLY OCCURS AT 73-74MPH. AFTER REPEATED SERVICES AND BALANCING OF TIRES THE DEALERSHIP TOOK THE TIRES TO PERFORM A ROAD FORCE TEST. THIS RULED OUT THE TIRES CAUSING THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE 4TH ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE VIBRATION A HONDA CASE MANAGER SAID THAT IT COULD BE A "CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE". THIS WAS NOT MENTIONED BY THE SALES PERSON AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND I BELIEVE IT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100901 · 2004-12-01 (December 1, 2004)
CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL ARE NOT LIGHTED AND ARE THE ONLY WAY TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I WAS DRIVING AND TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT BUTTON TO ENGAGE WHEN I RAN ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, LUCKLY THERE WAS NO WRECK. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT BUTTON IN THE DARK IS DISTRACTING FROM THE DRIVING PROCESS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052671 · 2004-01-08 (January 8, 2004)
BRAND NEW HONDA PILOT EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THAT THE INTERIOR CAB LIGHT FOR NO APPARENT REASON WILL TURN ITSELF ON AND SHUT ITS SELF OFF AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 SECONDS. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS NOT FUNCTIONING AS WELL AS FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW GETS STUCK AND WILL NOT GO DOWN. DEALER SERVICE SAYS POSSIBLE GHOST IN VEHICLE!! WILL BRING INTO SERVICE ON JAN 10, 2004. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080618 · 2004-07-08 (July 8, 2004)
STATIC AND FAILURE OF RADIO TO PLAY. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY SO THE DEALER HAS YET TO "HEAR" THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053661 · 2004-01-08 (January 8, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE UNTIL ANOTHER MOTORIST INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND FOUND THAT A HOLE WAS IN THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071933 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER HEARD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. IN ADDITION, DEALER SAID THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IT'S NORMAL. *LA *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10384504 · 2011-02-25 (February 25, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10384504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429214 · 2011-10-09 (October 9, 2011)
THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY. I PAID $4500 FOR REBUILT TRANSMISSION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429214 at NHTSA ↗