2003 Honda Pilot Automatic Transmission Problems
- 105
- 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 105 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- automatic transmission · 17 records
- engine light · 12 records
- transmission failure · 11 records
- second gear · 11 records
- check engine · 10 records
- transmission failed · 10 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 44 |
| 60–100k mi | 31 |
| 150–400k mi | 6 |
| 30–60k mi | 5 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Automatic Transmission
Car jolted forward while driving on the highway. Very scary. It didn't shift properly afterwards. While pressing the accelerator on a slope, for example, it didn't shift and then jolted forward. In one occasion that i put the car in the r gear, and it didn't go backwards. Checked with a honda dealership, and told that the entire transmission needs to be replaced. *tr
ODI 10282741
Automatic Transmission
I am the original owner of a 2003 honda pilot that has been serviced regularly. I was on ca highway 80 when the "d" light suddenly started flashing then the gears started to stick. The car would not go into overdrive and i had to suddenly slow the car on the highway to 40 mph. I pulled off as soon as it was safe and was unable to put the car in reverse nor get it into overdrive. Had to drive it at an unsafe speed on…
ODI 10279367
Automatic Transmission
Transmission problems, slipping not going into second gear, experienced intermittently, brought in for repair in may 2009 dealer could not find a problem. Transmission problems increased in june, "d" light flashing, slipping near accident trying to pull into traffic and transmission did not engage engine just revved; dealer replaced a part for $800. Transmission problems increasing in frequency, more slipping not…
ODI 10277917
Automatic Transmission
2003 honda pilot 140k miles. Transmission slips out of gear when accelerating. The "d" indicator began to flash then the car would act like a manual transmission trying start from a dead stop in 4th gear. *tr
ODI 10275182
Automatic Transmission
Transmission failed to engage next gear slipping. Was merging highway traffic and hardly avoided another car coming from behind me. Seen other customers complaining on 2003-2004 pilot transmissions fails same way soon after 100kmiles. *tr
ODI 10275065
Automatic Transmission
Our 2003 honda pilot's (with 85,000 miles) check engine light came on approximately 6/1/09. We recently just purchased this pilot and are the second owners. The car was bought and serviced at the local honda dealership right up until we bought it. Anyhow, we were driving on the highway and the car began to downshift and the car slowed down rather violently as we pulled off on the exit ramp. The rest of the drive…
ODI 10274311
Automatic Transmission
2003 honda pilot, 95k miles, transmission light came on and then started flashing, slipping or popping between gears, acceleration is gone, went downhill very quickly. I logged onto various websites and see the same transmission problems reported by many early model honda pilot owners i am extremely disappointed as i expected a honda to be top notch. *tr
ODI 10274154
Automatic Transmission
Feb 2009 noticed transmission was periodically slipping at 86,000 miles, 1000 over extended warranty. Did not malfunction when my mechanic checked it. I was passing a truck going uphill at approximately 65mph when the transmission downshifted to first gear on its own and slammed to almost a complete stop. Everything in my car was thrown forward. Took it to a mechanic where i was traveling and he recorded the code…
ODI 10274004
Automatic Transmission
Blinking d light on 2003 honda pilot transmission. Dealers say they don't know the cause. Edmunds forum full of same complaint, same evasive answer. Transmission about to fail. *tr
ODI 10269842
Automatic Transmission
Nhtsa recall campaign number: 04v176000 this recall was performed on my vehicle, now the vehicle has started slip and shift hard, the vehicle has had issues with the "d" flashing during normal driving conditions, but resets when the car is shut off. I'm afraid that the as state on the recall consequence: quote: "gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash." i did some research…
ODI 10275300
Automatic Transmission
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…
ODI 10267458
Automatic Transmission
While driving 2003 honda pilot check engine light came on and engine revved up while seeming to coast and then jolted forward. Car has 109,000 miles. Brought to dealership and was informed there was an internal issue with transmission and failure of control module. Entire transmission needs to be replaced. According to dealer repair shop it was coded as an incorrect gear ratio. This should not be happening to a…
ODI 10266681
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. While driving between 15-20 mph on normal road conditions, the automatic transmission hesitated intermittently when shifting from first to second gear. There were no warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent transmission shop for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that there were mechanical failures in the transmission.…
ODI 10267917
Automatic Transmission
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…
ODI 10267320
Automatic Transmission
2003 honda pilot. 2nd gear going out. Seems to have chipped teeth on gear. I contacted honda. They told me that my pilot had already been looked at back in 2004. My mechanic says that this is without a doubt a direct result of original recall on this model. This all began with my "d" flashing. Now my second gear is grinding and about to o out. *tr
ODI 10274386
Automatic Transmission
My 2003 honda pilot was recalled for a potential transmission failure. The inspection/remedy was performed in 2004. Now the transmission has failed with the exact same failure the recall was intended to remedy. While traveling a dealer in miami (brickell motors) worked with a regional honda rep and offered a 50% reduction in the cost of a rebuild transmission. Upon returning home the local dealer (coggin honda)…
ODI 10265443
Automatic Transmission
My 2004 honda pilot makes a loud rattling or vibrating noise that i can feel when the car is going about 35 - 60 mph. I notice it daily on my way to and from work. Since i live where there is no honda dealer nearer than 150 miles, i've asked local mechanics to try to determine the source of the vibration. I've found out that the problem may be a bad torque converter, and will be quite costly to repair. *tr
ODI 10347024
Automatic Transmission
Transmission failure on 2003 honda pilot with 135,000 miles. *tr
ODI 10264316
Automatic Transmission · Mechanical
My 2003 honda pilot had a transmission recall a few years ago, which was reportedly performed by honda. 3-14-09 it was serviced by honda, for a light that came on indicating a transmission problem. After the service, on 4-2-09, my husband was driving on the highway and the transmission locked up this almost caused a serious accident, on 275 during rush hour in cincinnati, due to a sudden slowing of the vehicle…
ODI 10264961
Automatic Transmission
For the past 6 months, i am having this blinking "d" light on the transmission while driving on my 2003 honda pilot suv. I believed this has to do with the premature failure of the transmission that could cause serious injury to passengers and yet there is no recall yet by honda america to alert the owners of this serious defective transmission problem on this 2003 honda pilot car. *tr
ODI 10286961
Automatic Transmission
My car had a transmission recall notice in 2004. I took the car in july 2004 and supposedly the problem was corrected. However, after that time, my car seemed to downshift very roughly and was jerky when putting into gear. Last year my transmission locked up while going down a hill. While, the car behind me did not hit me, my abrupt halt caused at least 3 cars behind me to rear end each other. I had the transmission…
Crash reported
ODI 10304464
Automatic Transmission · Engine And Engine Cooling
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda pilot. While driving approximately 5 mph on normal road conditions and proceeding from a stop sign, the engine began to rev. There was suddenly a 3-5 second delay before the vehicle was shifted into gear. The check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel and it remained lit until the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but…
ODI 10250878
Automatic Transmission
Car started to ride rough at 75k miles with "d" light flashing intermittently. Dealer mis-identified the problem for about 5k miles but eventually determined that the car needs an entire new transmission. Car now has just over 80k miles. Very short life for a transmission. *tr
ODI 10266624
Automatic Transmission
We purchased a used 2003 honda pilot in april 2007. We were aware that there had been a previous transmission recall in 2004 and our vehicle had been serviced as part of that recall. It is now july 2008 and we were just told by the dealer that services our car that the transmission needs to be replaced at a cost of $3700, and that price is after a $1000 contribution from honda. The vehicle has 93150 miles on it.…
ODI 10233477
Automatic Transmission
Twice had transmission failure in 2003 pilot. First at approximately 68,000 miles and second at approximately 120,000 miles (approx 60,000 per transmission). So much for honda reliability! Tranmission replaced first time by dealer at the cost of extended warranty payment. Second replacement dealer would not assist and had to fight to get honda to assist. After a lot of effort and follow up on our part, honda agreed…
ODI 10413150