What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2004 Honda Pilot

Typical pattern

5.8% of complaints about the 2004 Honda Pilot came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2004 vehicle — around the middle of the 236 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 9.0 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (143 complaints), typically at 8.1 yr or about 106,000 miles.

Complaints
642
Median age at failure
9.0 yr
Median mileage
103,000 n=485
Crash / fire / tow
12% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
143 reports · 106,000 mi
8.1 yr
4.2%
Seats
87 reports · 126,000 mi
10.3 yr
24.1%
Air bags
81 reports · 100,867 mi
11.4 yr
14.8%
Electrical system
59 reports · 106,000 mi
9.4 yr
16.9%
Structure
42 reports · 105,000 mi
8.1 yr
11.9%
Engine cooling
28 reports · 85,000 mi
6.0 yr
3.6%
Suspension
27 reports · 160,000 mi
14.2 yr
7.4%
Engine
22 reports · 108,000 mi
9.9 yr
4.5%
Speed control
20 reports · 90,000 mi
6.9 yr
20%
Other
18 reports · 120,228 mi
13.5 yr
11.1%
Steering
17 reports · 120,333 mi
10.6 yr
11.8%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

19V501000 2019-06-27
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V499000 2019-06-27
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

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.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V182000 2019-03-06
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

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 containi

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.

18V268000 2018-04-26
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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.

An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

16V344000 2016-05-23
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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 Ac

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

15V320000 2015-05-28
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

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.

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.

14V700000 2014-11-04
Air bags

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 dep

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

14V353000 2014-06-20
Air bags

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.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

12V573000 2012-12-11
Electrical system:ignition:switch

Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Pilot and Odyssey and 2003 through 2006 Acura MDX passenger vehicles manufactured from November 26, 2001, through August 30, 2006. The interlock lever of the ignition switch may deform, which can allow the interlock function of a vehicle with an automatic transmission to be defeated.

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.

12V136000 2012-03-30
Exterior lighting:headlights:switch

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

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.

In owners’ own words

Engine cooling 37,000 mi 8 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING/PARKING CONSUMER SMELLED CHEMICAL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Engine cooling 85,000 mi 5.3 yr in service
2 ENGINE MOUNTS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT AT 85K MILES ON 04 HONDA PILOT. HONDA DEALERSHIP COST TO REPAIR IS $499. DISCOVERED MANY OTHER HONDA PILOT OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM AND QUESTIONING WHETHER THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Engine cooling 66,500 mi 5.3 yr in service
TOLD BY HONDA TECHNICIAN THAT TWO OF THE FOUR MOTOR MOUNTS ARE DAMAGED AND NEED REPLACEMENT. *TR
Electrical system 543 mi 1.1 yr in service
HONDA PILOT ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. SINCE PURCHASE DATE OF 10-12-04 IT HAS BEEN IN THE HONDA SERVICE DEPT 3 TIMES. ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND CYLINDERS ARE MISFIRING CAUSING THE PILOT TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE FOR AWHILE IT WILL START UP AGAIN AND USUALLY THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE IT WAS IN THE HONDA SERVICE DEPT. *JB

Other Pilot model years

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