Problems · by component

2003 Honda Pilot suspension problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Honda Pilot cite suspension, 4% of all 746 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
32
4% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“severe erosion of my undecarriage, metal just falls off from under the car. My fuel tank leaks and gas pours out. It has been deemed unsafe to drive by my Honda dealer, but has a good engine and other parts. It has been severely impacted by rust and erosion. The previous owner was a resident of Chicago, where salt is used, which I believe influenced this defect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2023Steering, Suspension, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11555099
“My 2003 Honda pilot rear subframe suspension is rusting and causing control issues. This is a common problem on the 2003-2008 Honda Pilots. In Honda TSB 21-019 Honda states " The subframe mounts may pull away from the body of the vehicle (see images below), but extensive testing has concluded that vehicle stability will be maintained." This is NOT true. Other Honda's have experienced similar issues and Honda has issued a safety recall. There should be a safety recall for the 2003-2008 Honda pilots for this subframe rust issue. Please see: [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2023SuspensionODI 11535319
“Honda did not contact me for a year and a half I have been waiting for them to replace my air bag, no response!!! I’ve left numerous messages and still no response I gave a 1 year old daughter, we almost got hit by a car and if it had hit us something could’ve happened! Because I had to swerve off road my suspension and power steering are messed up because of pot holes,Just so I wouldn’t hit and impact the passenger side of me my car where airbag is bad and nothing would’ve happened to us, not that it was our fault the driver was driving almost right into us!I blame Honda for this disaster would could have been very bad! Of course the other driver drove away like nothing happened! So now I am stuck at home not able to go to work and bring my daughter to doctors appointments and invade of in emergency my vehicle is not safe enough to get us anywhere! I am asking god to bless us in this case and count all the blessings he has given us! I don’t have a lot of money to pay for repairs and this is the only car I’ve ever purchased and owned. If there is any way anyone could help please! Maybe a new Honda would be nice for Christmas, but hey a girl can dream right! Thank you for your time!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 15, 2022Steering, Suspension, Unknown or otherODI 11493686
“REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTING LOCATIONS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING THE REAR SUSPENSION TO HANG DOWN. THE FRONT MOUNTING POINTS OF THE REAR SUSPENSION ARE NOT DAMAGED YET. WAS NOTICED AS A NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND FOUND DURING TIRE INSPECTION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2021Suspension, StructureODI 11396159
“THE REAR SUB-FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THIS 2003 HONDA PILOT IS EXTREMELY RUSTED EXPOSING THE SUSPENSION CROSS-MEMBER BOLT WHICH IS SIMILARLY RUSTED. AN INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA PILOTS AND A POTENTIAL HIGH-RISK POINT OF FAILURE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2019SuspensionODI 11229553
“USING 4 WHEEL DRIVE TO PULL MY BOAT THROUGH THE WOODS, 2 OF THE 4 REAR AXEL MOUNTS PULLED OUT OF THE UNIBODY FRAME AFTER A LOUD CLUNK. CAR WAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRABLE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2018SuspensionODI 11100503

Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.