Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Honda Pilot problems

Owners filed 544 complaints about the 2004 Honda Pilot with NHTSA between Jan 2004 and Aug 2025. The most-cited component is power train (142).

Complaints
544
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
29
Reported by owners
Fires
14
Reported by owners
Injuries
36
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train142
  2. Seats85
  3. Air bags81
  4. Electrical system60
  5. Structure42
  6. Engine and engine cooling28
  7. Suspension27
  8. Engine22
  9. Vehicle speed control21
  10. Steering16
  11. Seat belts13
  12. Exterior lighting12
  13. Service brakes, hydraulic12
  14. Visibility11

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200435
200512
200610
200710
200811
200926
201049
201146
201263
201348
201436
201555
201638
201727
201829
201920
202010
20212
20224
20235
20243
20255

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

142 reports5 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the transmission was shifted into drive(D) and the vehicle shuddered. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V176000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the transmission fluid was flushed 3 times; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failure recurred while the vehicle is shifted into drive(D) and D3. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2023Power trainODI 11511628

Seats

85 reports12 fires
“I heard a loud pop come from under my driver's seat and the seat started rocking backwards. I got out of my car and checked underneath the seat. The front-left bracket securing the seat to the seat frame had completely sheared in half and the seat was no longer securely attached to the seat frame. This is a significant safety issue. When the car accelerates the driver's seat rocks backwards by ~45 degrees, making it extremely difficult to stay in control of the vehicle and safely steer the vehicle. It is also extremely unsafe in the case of an accident because A) the seat would not hold the driver securely in place, B) the driver would not be properly in position and restrained for the air bags to deploy, C) the seat belt is attached to the seat base and would not be able to fully function properly, and D) any passengers sitting in the 2nd row behind the driver's seat would be in danger of having the full force of the driver and the driver's seat slamming back against them. This is a known issue widely reported in Honda Pilot owners' forums. Yet Honda has not issued a recall. I took the vehicle into a Honda dealership to inspect the issue. They said that Honda…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2024Seat belts, SeatsODI 11563917

Air bags

81 reports11 crashes8 related recalls
“AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ACTIVATED. I TOOK MY 2004 HONDA PILOT WITH CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATE NUMBER [XXX] TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IN HEMET CALIFORNIA ON DECEMBER 14 2022 TO CHECK THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A $100.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE BECAUSE THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE AIRBAG RECALL PROGRAM. MY VEHICLE IS 20 YEARS OLD AND I'M WORRIED THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG IS UNSAFE AND COULD BE ACCIDENTLY ACTIVATED AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. MY VEHICLE HAS OVER 300,000 MILES. AS OF TODAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2023, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP IS STILL ON. IS THE ACTIVATED AIR BAG WARNING LAMP COVERED UNDER THE AIR BAG RECALL PROGRAM?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2023Air bagsODI 11542991

Electrical system

60 reports7 crashes3 fires1 related recall
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that at the time of purchase, the odometer mileage reading was 160,000. After obtaining a Carfax Report it was discovered that the previous mileage was 337,000. The contact also indicated that the instrument cluster had been replaced and the air bag and check engine warning lights were inoperable, and the driver’s side air bag had been removed from the vehicle. The VIN was not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2025Electrical systemODI 11679076

Structure

42 reports2 crashes1 fire
“I bought this 2004 Honda Pilot new in 2004 in Louisville. In 2018 I drove to Florida without incident. While here in Florida I have had a problem with oil leaking. Than the compressor for the air went out and I took it straight to the dealer here. They told me it was not worth fixing. Since then I have had 2 mechanics look underneath the car and said it was so rusted that the frame was dangerous and they could not risk fixing it. I have checked with other Honda owners only to find out this is a problem with numerous Honda years and no one fix this problems because of liability . I have photos of the rusted out rear-end and the frame is not attached. You can find owners trying to weld the rear-end back on. No one will repair my compressor because of the rust and damage. When I had it at the dealers they did not mention this problem at all. They just said it was not worth fixing. My car has about 200000 miles but has has its service. This has to be a major recall or replacement. We could have had a major accident over this and didn't know [XXX] Please call or forward communication. [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2022Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, StructureODI 11475588

Engine and engine cooling

28 reports1 crash
“MY 2004 HONDA PILOT HAS A SHUDDER AT 30 MPH. IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU ARE DRIVING OVER THE RUMBLE STRIPS. I AM STARTING TO EXPERIENCE POOR SHIFTS AT OTHER SPEEDS NOW AS WELL. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY THE RESULT OF A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER. REPAIRS INCLUDE REPLACING THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS UPDATING THE PCM. HONDA RECALLED OVER A MILLION 2003/2004 PILOTS BUT MY VIN IS JUST PASSED THE LAST VIN RECALLED. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY 2005 PILOT OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. ACURA ALSO ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT REPAIRS THE FAULTY COMPONENTS FOR ALL 2003 AND 2004 MDX OWNERS (INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY). HONDA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILED TRANSMISSIONS IN THE LATER 2004 PILOTS AND 2005 YEARS AS WELL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10450707
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

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