2003 Honda Pilot Electrical System Problems
- 90
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 90 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 4 indicate fire
What owners report
- ignition switch · 25 records
- turn ignition · 13 records
- failure mileage · 9 records
- electrical system · 8 records
- repaired failure · 7 records
- ignition turn · 6 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 32 |
| 150–400k mi | 22 |
| 60–100k mi | 8 |
| 30–60k mi | 4 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Air Bags · Electrical System
Parked the car. Came back about 10 minutes later, heard loud like shots fired, rounded the corner to see it was our airbags popping...the car was on fire under the hood, and going to the dashboard. Called 911 and by the time the fire dept. Came ( 1 mile away) the whole car was engulfed. The whole car destroyed, all that was left was the shell no seats no dashboard no license plates nothing left. We complied to all…
Fire reported
ODI 10639143
Electrical System
Car key goes in ignition and will not turn. This is a danger when you can not start the car and get out of a dangerous situation. I read on line many other pilots with the same problem. Honda has a bad part. Honda wants $500 to fix a bad part that needs to be recalled. *tr
ODI 10610001
Electrical System
We started to have trouble inserting the key in the ignition. Today the key wouldn't even go in after many attempts wiggling it. After twenty minutes trying had to leave car behind. Now i'm without a car and searching for recalls noticed that although there is none for this problem it is a huge problem with other pilot owners. *tr
ODI 10605465
Electrical System · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Faulty ignition. Key will not turn. Wafers in cylinder are malfunctioning. *tr
ODI 10689368
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Left work at night. Low-beams partially failed, but i didn't notice until i was going 55 mph on the highway. Had to use brights, and go to a gas station. Vehicle had to be towed, and checked by dealer. Dealer said using 3rd party headlight bulbs was the cause. Of interest, the car already had the low-beam failure recall fixed. Looks like this is still an issue after the recall, and using honda oem bulbs is the only…
ODI 10605699
Electrical System
2003 honda pilot. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall problems at dealership. *smd the consumer received a recall letter in the mail. However, when she visited the dealer, they refused to fix it, by stating the vehicle was not in their system. The consumer stated the vehicle was purchased in germany through the military. The consumer has since sold the vehicle. *jb
ODI 10577652
Electrical System
2003 honda pilot. Consumer requests reimbursement for ignition system recall repairs. *smd the consumer stated the dealer completed the repairs outlined in the recall, but charged him for the replacement and installation. *jb
ODI 10583785
Electrical System · Steering · Switch
Issue with honda pilot's ignition switch not fully engaging the park position. Received recall paper work ordering this issue to be fixed at local honda dealer free of charge. Recall paper work was signed by [xxx] chief recall management division. Local honda dealer, williston honda and chrysler performed the recall service on april 4, 2014. The recall job for a honda pilot was botched. The service mechanic refused…
ODI 10583435
Electrical System
I took my vehicle to repair a recall and [xxx] service manger said he will service all the recalls to the vehicle. The recall was something in reference to the ignition. To days later the vehicle will not shout off, the vehicle always make the sound as if the key was in the ignition. I took it back and [xxx] service manger said the do not touch anything around the ignition.... Now the vehicle shout off while driving…
ODI 10586558
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was unable to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 140,000.
ODI 10694110
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. The contact stated that he was unable to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 105,000.
ODI 10583543
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
There is a recall: http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=7018-en in addition the key and lock mechanism can be warn out where the key can fall out of the ignition while on a freeway or street. The car dies and you can't put the key back in and move the car. Happened to me had to tow the car have the recall done and had to pay for the ignition with replacement. The web shows 100 or 1000 of others with…
ODI 10559403
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. The contact stated the ignition switch failed the key could not be released from the ignition. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection and the contact was advised that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 140,000.
ODI 10537678
Electrical System
The key gets stuck in ignition and does not turn. After numerous attempts it finally turns and then i can start the car. I have noticed a lot other people are having this issue, called up honda and they said there is no recall for this symptom. *tr
ODI 10526203
Electrical System
Broken ignition tumbler: i had just finished running errands and was starting home when the key would not turn in the ignition. I had no warning there was a problem, all of a sudden it just would not turn...... Not even after multiple attempts. This left me stranded with my five children. I had to get the car towed to nearest honda dealership..that alone has set me back a couple hundred dollars...now dealership is…
ODI 10521538
Electrical System
Key cannot be inserted into ignition switch. Takes multiple attempts to insert key and once fully inserted key won't turn ignition. Takes numerous attempts and eventually key will turn ignition. *tr
ODI 10525860
Electrical System
2003 honda pilot. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall notice and seeks reimbursement for repairs. *smd the consumer stated he was denied reimbursement twice. The last rejection, was via telephone, in which he was told the symptom fixed at his expense was a sticky tumbler. The consumer explained that the symptoms included an initial interlock failure. The consumer stated the problems started with him…
ODI 10519278
Electrical System
Key will no longer turn in the ignition switch,it is also difficult to insert and remove the key ,take 6 min max sometimes, change keys and the same problem. I was told by service department that this is not a recall. Service department told me it going to cost me $500 or more material $200 and rest in labor i is there a recall in this area?this start to happen after i take my vehicles for a recall ,something to do…
ODI 10513475
Electrical System
Key will no longer turn in the ignition. It is also difficult to insert and remove the key. Assumed this was what the ignition recall was for, but was told by the service department that this is not covered and that they cannot fix the recall item unless i first get the ignition fixed. *tr
ODI 10512893
Electrical System
Key gets stuck in ignition, very frustrating when the key does not work. This effects the lock cylinders(tumblers). This should have been a very, straight forward issue honda would address. Also have a 2011 pilot (in addition to honda minivan) and concerned this will occur with new car. Understand wear and tear, but this is a basic function for ignition. Honda needs to address this issue. *tr
ODI 10522687
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
This problem is extremely common on all hondas and has never been addressed. The power door lock motors consistently go bad. So far, this has happened to the driver and passenger doors on my pilot. The honda dealer is asking for $300 per door!!! This needs to be recalled asap. *tr
ODI 10508838
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 12v573000 (electrical system). The contact stated that recently, the key was able to be removed from the ignition while the vehicle was not secured in park. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 161,000.
ODI 10509670
Electrical System · Steering
I was about to turn the key in the ignition but it could not get in. The key meets resistance and gets in after i tried several times. When i attempted to turn on the ignition, it wont budge and acted as if it was locked. Since then, i do not take the key off the ignition because i am afraid i will not be able to get it in. It is a really safety issue and honda refuses to address it voluntarily. I went on line and…
ODI 10508888
Electrical System
Key got difficult to put into the ignition switch. Then after a few days the key had to be jiggled to turn and then after two weeks the key will not turn. This is a safety hazard if you need to start the car quickly or if you are threatened and need to use your car to escape. *tr
ODI 10504287
Electrical System
Unable to turn key in ignition. Apparently this is an issue that many 2003 honda pilot owners are having. This can be a safety issue as it can leave someone stranded in a remote area as happened with me. If the malfunction is caused by a faulty part then honda should bare some of the responsibility and cost to correct the problem. *tr
ODI 10496316
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2003 Honda Pilot.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.