KnownCarProblems2005 Honda Pilot Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 679 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Honda Pilot, most often about the transmission (26% of complaints, typically around 97,000 miles). It is 5th of 24 Pilot model years by number of complaints and has 13 recalls.
Most common 2005 Honda Pilot problems
Transmission
176 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle hubs.
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle would vibrate excessively when driving at low speeds. The vibration would cease once the vehicle would reach 50 MPH. Once the contact slowed down and proceeded to accelerate, the vibration would return. The contact was advised by his personal…
My 2005 Honda Pilot shudders and vibrates when accelerating around 35-40. Once I get slightly past this speed range the vibration stops.
Brakes
134 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 100,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, antilock.
Brakes actuated on their own several times. Car came to abrupt stop momentarily but then the brakes released on their own. Starting happening today and occurred six times during a couple mile car ride. Only happened sporadically. Not sure what to do at this point.
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact was driving approximately 60 MPH when the brakes engaged independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised the contact that the vehicle stability assist (vsa) master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Prior to the failure, the…
Air bags
120 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 121,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
I am the original owner of a 2005 Honda Pilot. My problem is that the airbag light has come on in my vehicle. I was told by the dealership that my airbags will not deploy in case of a crash. I had to initially pay 100 dollars just to get them to look at it and now I am having to wait up to 2 months for the part that…
Suddenly, our SRS dashboard light came on and will not go off. After looking at the owner's manual, we promptly set-up a service appt at Honda to diagnose/fix the problem as it relates to an important vehicle safety feature. In the meantime, a family member who works in the auto repair industry used his computer to…
Stability control
97 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 110,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic (asc).
As I was approaching a left turn lane I applied the brakes gently and the left front brake momentarily grabbed causing the vehicle to swerve into the oncoming traffic and the vsa lights activated. This has occurred 9 times in the last 300 miles. I took the vehicle to the dealer immediately and they told me they could…
Accelerating at relatively low speed, usually just after stopping, heard audible "pop" through car radio, ABS and emergency brake lights came on. Car braked rapidly, even though foot was on accelerator and not touching the brake pedal. Forced car to almost a complete stop. This same sequence of events happened three…
Engine
90 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 98,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Temperature gauge started to rise. I stopped the car and found the radiator had failed internally. The coolant was mixing with the atf. All the atf fittings to the radiator showed signs of rusting. In my opinion the radiator design and manufacturing are faulty.
My Pilot has a very bad shake in the steering wheel whenever I reach speeds of 70mph. I've had three wheel balances (one road force balance), two alignments, rotors and brakes checked with no issues with those items. I've had to of the motor mounts replaced on the vehicle since I purchased it which I never had to do…
Electrical
57 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 119,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition.
My wife called me one morning on her way to the shop. She was frantic saying "my steering wheel is smoking. I don't know what to do. I'm just about a minute from the shop. Should I pull over or just try to make it to the shop?" I told her, if it's not too bad and she is that close just keep coming unless it gets…
I tried to turn my headlights on in my driveway and the low beams would not come on. I shut the car off and tried again, and the low beams came on. After the low beams started working again I tried to turn the high beams on, and they would not work, and have not worked since. I spoke to the dealer and they said that…
Speed control
46 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 107,000 miles.
As I was approaching a left turn lane I applied the brakes gently and the left front brake momentarily grabbed causing the vehicle to swerve into the oncoming traffic and the vsa lights activated. This has occurred 9 times in the last 300 miles. I took the vehicle to the dealer immediately and they told me they could…
On 06/15/2014, around 6:00pm, while approaching a curve at approx 30 MPH lightly applied brakes. Brakes locked up and vsa light came on. Had the car checked by dealership and told me the problem is the sensor of vsa, it happens mor and more often for last couple of months.
Suspension
38 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 99,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear, front.
My Pilot has a very bad shake in the steering wheel whenever I reach speeds of 70mph. I've had three wheel balances (one road force balance), two alignments, rotors and brakes checked with no issues with those items. I've had to of the motor mounts replaced on the vehicle since I purchased it which I never had to do…
I took it in for a recall. I was told that the front and right engine mounts are "cracked". At about 25-45 MPH there is a noticeable shudder under the hood. In searching the NHTSA database I find many other reports of this shudder and several saying that engine mounts are a problem in this model. The reports are in…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Honda Pilot recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began august 12, 2019. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are q5a and y58.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2003 acura 3.2cl, 2002-2003 3.2tl, 2003-2006 mdx, 2001-2007 honda accord, 2001-2005 civic, 2003-2005 civic hybrid, 2001-2005 civic gx ngv, 2002-2006 cr-v, 2003-2011 element, 2002-2004 odyssey, 2003-2008 pilot and 2006 ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began august 12, 2019. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are e5d and x5c.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 acura mdx, 2005-2012 rl, 2003-2007 honda accord, 2001-2005 civic, 2003-2005 civic hybrid, 2001-2005 civic gx ngv, 2002-2006 cr-v, 2003-2011 element, 2007-2008 fit, 2002-2004 odyssey, 2003-2008 pilot, and 2006-2014 ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began april 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is o41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is u40.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling specific 2003 acura 3.2cl, 2013-2016 ilx, 2013-2014 ilx hybrid, 2003-2006 mdx, 2007-2016 rdx, 2002-2003 3.2tl, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 tl, 2010-2013 zdx and 2001-2007 and 2009 honda accord, 2001-2005 civic, 2003-2005 civic hybrid, 2001-2005 civic gx ngv, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 cr-v, 2003-2011 element, 2007 fit, 2002-2004 odyssey, 2003-2008 pilot, and 2006-2014 ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began june 22, 2018. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are k1p, and m1o.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 honda accord and pilot, 2010 accord crosstour, 2001-2011 civic, 2002-2011 cr-v, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 element, 2007 and 2009-2013 fit, 2010-2012 insight, 2002-2004 odyssey, and 2012 ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan march 2017. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are kd9 and ke0.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 acura mdx and honda cr-v vehicles, 2005-2011 honda element vehicles, 2005-2012 acura rl vehicles, 2006-2012 honda ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 honda fit vehicles and 2005-2008 honda pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, if not included in "zone a" above, honda is recalling certain 2005-2006 acura mdx and honda cr-v vehicles, 2005-2009 acura rl and honda element vehicles, 2007-2008 honda fit vehicles, 2005-2008 honda pilot vehicles and 2006-2009 honda ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, ke
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began june 27, 2016. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are ka0, ka1, ka2, and ka3.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 acura mdx, 2005-2011 acura rl, 2005-2006 honda cr-v, 2003-2011 element, 2007-2008 fit, 2003-2008 pilot, 2002-2004 odyssey, and 2006-2011 ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, honda is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 acura mdx, 2005-2008 acura rl, 2005-2006 honda cr-v, 2003-2008 element, 2007-2008 fit, 2003-2008 pilot, 2002-2004 odyssey, and 2006-2008 ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on july 1, 2015. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to september 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after september 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already rec
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 accord, 2001-2005 civic, 2001-2004 honda civic gx, 2003-2005 honda civic hybrid, 2002-2006 cr-v, 2003-2011 element, 2002-2004 odyssey, 2003-2008 pilot, 2006 ridgeline, 2003 acura 3.2cl, 2003-2006 acura mdx, and 2002-2003 acura 3.2tl vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Air bags
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerâs frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began january 26, 2015. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Full defect summary
American honda motor co. (honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 honda civic, 2003-2004 civic cng and element, 2002-2005 cr-v, 2002-2004 odyssey, 2003-2005 accord, pilot, civic hybrid, and acura mdx, 2005 acura rl and 2006 honda ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in alabama, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, u.s. Virgin islands, saipan, guam, and american samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Air bags
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerâs frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during august 2014. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Full defect summary
American honda motor company, inc.'s (honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 accord, civic, cr-v, pilot and acura mdx, model year 2003-2004 odyssey and element, and model year 2005 acura rl, and 2006 honda ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in california, and equipped with takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Traction Control System
Risk: Sudden inadvertent braking, especially without illumination of the brake lights, may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Owners will be notified and instructed to take their vehicles to a dealer of their respective brand. The dealer will install a partial wiring harness containing a capacitor for the vsa modulator, free of charge. The affected model year 2005 pilots will have their ground connection tightened. The recall began on april 22, 2013. Honda owners may contact honda automobile customer service at 1-800-999-1009, and select option 4 or go to www.recalls.honda.com; acura owners may contact 1-800-382-2238, and select option 4, or go to www.recalls.acura.com.
Full defect summary
Honda is recalling certain model year 2005 pilot vehicles manufactured july 29, 2004, through august 29, 2005; model year 2005-2006 acura mdx vehicles manufactured september 16, 2004, through september 22, 2005; and model year 2005 acura rl vehicles manufactured march 1, 2004, through june 29, 2005. An electrical capacitor may have been damaged during the manufacturing of the vehicle stability assist (vsa) control module causing intermittent, automatic, minor brake application. However, if the driver applies the brakes while the vsa is malfunctioning, the vehicle may come to an abrupt stop. Additionally, due to a loose ground connection, certain model year 2005 pilots have a vsa system that may apply partial brake force, without the illumination of the brake lights, whether or not the driver is using the brakes.
Lights: switch
Risk: If the terminal ends melt within the wiring harness connector, the low beam headlights may become inoperative, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the low beam terminal harness or replace the lighting switch as necessary, free of charge. The original recall began in april 2012. Owners of vehicles involved in the september 2012 expansion will be notified in september 2012. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Full defect summary
Honda is recalling certain model year 2002 through 2004 cr-v; model year 2003 through 2005 pilot; and model year 2002 and 2003 civic vehicles. In march 2012, honda filed a defect report to recall certain model year 2002 through 2004 cr-v and certain model year 2003 pilot vehicles. In august 2012, honda informed the agency that it was including an additional 820,789 vehicles including certain model year 2004 and 2005 pilots and model year 2002 and 2003 civics. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,375,217. Due to tension from the combination switch wiring harness, wear on the surface of the electrical terminal can occur, yielding copper oxide, which increases electrical resistance. Increased electrical resistance may cause the terminal ends to melt within the wiring harness connector.
Steering: column
Risk: Loss of steering control can cause a vehicle crash without prior notice.
Fix: Owners were notified by telephone on january 25, 2005, and arrangements were made to have their vehicles towed to their dealers and have the repairs performed. The recall began on january 25, 2005.
Full defect summary
On certain minivans and sport utility vehicles, the steering column may be incorrectly assembled, which could result in a loss of steering control.
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: In a crash, the fuel tank could be damaged and leak fuel. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers replaced the fuel tank. All owners were notified by telephone on november 10, 2004.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles, some fuel tanks were improperly manufactured.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Vehicle stability assist malfunction
Summary
On march 14, 2013, american honda motor co., inc. (honda) submitted a defect information report to NHTSA identifying a defect in the vehicle stability assist (vsa) system in approximately 183,576 model year (my) 2005 honda pilot, acura rl and my 2005-2006 acura mdx vehicles (NHTSA recall no 13v-092).the population and failure counts provided pertain only to the my 2005 honda pilots that were the subject of this investigation.honda's recall addresses two conditions in the vsa system that could result in inappropriate brake activation.the first condition is related to a manufacturing concern with a capacitor in the vsa electronic control unit (ecu) circuit board.according to honda, vsa systems
Vehicle stability assist malfunction
Summary
The vehicle stability assist (vsa) system in the model year (my) 2005 honda pilot vehicles integrates braking control strategies for anti-lock braking, traction control, electronic stability control and brake assist functions. The system consists of a vsa modulator (an electronic control unit and electronic/hydraulic actuator) that receives data from an integral brake pressure sensor and from wheel speed sensors (four wheels), the steering wheel angle sensor and a combination yaw rate and lateral acceleration sensor.allegations of unexpected braking appear to be related to inappropriate activation of the brake assist (ba) function.the ba system is designed to minimize stopping distances in e
Vehicle stability assist malfunction
Summary
In a letter dated april 9, 2012, a consumer petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged stability control failures in model year (my) 2005 honda pilot vehicles. The petitioner alleged that, in the malfunctioning of these systems, steering failures occur and the brakes apply involuntarily. On june 4, 2012 the office of defects investigation (odi) opened defect petition dp12-002 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted. The vehicle stability assist (vsa) system in the my 2005 honda pilot vehicles integrates braking control strategies for anti-lock braking, traction control, electron
Low beam headlights stop illuminating
Summary
This investigation was prompted by preliminary evaluation (pe) 11-017, and was based on reports from consumers alleging that both low beam headlights stopped illuminating simultaneously.some complainants also reported that the combination switch (switch) that controls the headlights and turn signals, and/or its electrical wiring harness connector were damaged by overheating.odi's pe information request letter asked honda for certain data on model years (my) 2002-2006 cr-v, 2003-2008 pilot, 2003-2008 element, 2001-2005 civic, and 2000-2001 s 2000 vehicles.analysis of complaint and honda data show that a complete low beam headlight circuit failure occurs in models with 2-bulb headlight systems
Questions about the 2005 Honda Pilot
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Honda Pilot?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (176 complaints, typically around 97,000 miles); brakes (134 complaints, typically around 100,500 miles); air bags (120 complaints, typically around 121,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Honda Pilot have?
- 13 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 27, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Honda Pilot?
- It is 5th of 24 Pilot model years by number of complaints, with 679 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.