2003 Honda Pilot: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 875 complaints
875
Total Complaints
120,000mi
Median Mileage
Power Train
Top Issue
56
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
78,945
25th Percentile
120,000
Median Mileage
151,250
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Power Train
116
Automatic Transmission
105
Air Bags
100
Electrical System
97
Seats
32
Unknown Or Other
31
Engine
25
Suspension
25
Engine And Engine Cooling
22
Steering
22
Severity Assessment
56
Crashes
16
Fires
60
Injuries
1
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"THE 2003 HONDA PILOT HAS A VIBRATION IN THE TIRES THAT THE DEALER HAS HAD IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES, SINCE DAY ONE TO TRY TO FIX THE TIRE VIBRATION (70 MPH AND UP, SOMETIMES FELT AT LOWER SPEEDS). THE TIRES STILL EMITS A STEADY AND OBVIOUS VIBRATION THAT EMINATES FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND SEATS. I..."
"CANNOT RISE HEAD REST FOR A TALL PERSON. IT COULD CAUSE NECK INJURIES IF CONSUMER HIT BRAKES OR IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK"
"CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH ALL WINDOWS CLOSED. THEN PASSENGER OPENED REAR WINDOW, AND VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS FALLING APART. THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE. CONSUMER HAD TO OPEN TWO WINDOWS TO STOP LOUD NOISE. *AKTHERE IS ALSO A LOUD BOOM NOISE HEARD WHEN THREE OF THE WINDOWS ARE OPEN..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Power Train
116 complaints
25th: 109,500 mi
Median: 136,000 mi
75th: 160,000 mi
Automatic Transmission
105 complaints
25th: 85,284 mi
Median: 106,000 mi
75th: 128,000 mi
Air Bags
100 complaints
25th: 93,454 mi
Median: 142,000 mi
75th: 179,000 mi
Electrical System
97 complaints
25th: 110,500 mi
Median: 134,000 mi
75th: 161,500 mi
Seats
32 complaints
25th: 58,000 mi
Median: 114,193 mi
75th: 147,598 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 127
FL: 71
NY: 56
NJ: 45
TX: 43
GA: 38
MD: 37
IL: 33
PA: 31
VA: 28
Who Files Complaints?
16.7%
Original Owners
83.3%
Second+ Owners
Honda Pilot — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (14)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V182000 | 06/03/2019
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.
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 serv
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V501000 | 27/06/2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V499000 | 27/06/2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Inflator Module
Campaign 18V268000 | 26/04/2018
An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Inflator Module
Campaign 15V370000 | 15/06/2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU4, JU5, JU6, and JU7. Note: Vehicles that have already received
Air Bags
Campaign 14V700000 | 04/11/2014
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Inflator Module
Campaign 15V320000 | 28/05/2015
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.
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
Inflator Module
Campaign 16V344000 | 23/05/2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Air Bags
Campaign 14V353000 | 20/06/2014
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Switch
Campaign 12V573000 | 11/12/2012
Removal of the ignition key when the gear selector of a vehicle with an automatic transmission has not been shifted to the park position can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated shift interlock lever and, if necessary, replace any necessary part of the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on February 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hon
Switch
Campaign 12V136000 | 30/03/2012
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.
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
Carrier/Rack
Campaign 08E013000 | 05/02/2008
WHEN MOVING THE BIKE ARM BRACKET TO ITS DOWN POSITION, THIS PINCH BOLT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING SEVERE LACERATION OR AMPUTATION TO THE USER'S FINGERTIPS OR HAND.
OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391) TO OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS OR OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Engine
Campaign 02V226000 | 28/08/2002
IF THE TIMING BELT BREAKS, THE ENGINE WILL STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WATER PUMP AND IF IT IS ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE PUMPS, THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 30, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN
Automatic Transmission
Campaign 04V176000 | 15/04/2004
GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPER
Extend Your Transmission Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Change transmission fluid at manufacturer intervals — not 'lifetime' fluid
- Come to a full stop before shifting from reverse to drive
- Don't ride the brakes on hills — use a lower gear
- Check transmission fluid level and color monthly — dark fluid needs changing
- Address slipping, hard shifts, or delayed engagement immediately
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28