Problems · by component
2004 Honda Pilot engine and engine cooling problems
28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Honda Pilot cite engine and engine cooling, 5% of all 544 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
28
5% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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]”
“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”
“HONDA DEALER TELLS ME DURING MY REGULAR SERVICE VISIT THAT MY FRONT ENGINE MOUNT IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY 2004 HONDA PILOT IS HARD TO DRIVE. 113,000 MILES. 526.00. SIDE MOUNTS WILL NEED REPLACING SOON. *TR”
“ON THE ABOVE DATE WHILE ON A LOCAL INTERSTATE MY CAR FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION. INSTEAD THE ENGINE REVVED AND THEN BEGAN CLUNKING AND MAKING HORRIBLE NOISES. I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE MOTOR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE WAS A "CATASRTOPHIC FAILURE" OF MY TRANSMISSION. I HAD HAD NO WARNING OF ANY KIND. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD ALL MY WARRANTY WORK DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION INCLUDING ALL TRANSMISSION WORK. MY DEALER ESTIMATED A REPAIR JOB COSTING $4,400. I GOT 2 OTHER ESTIMATES INCLUDING ONE FROM TRUSTED CAR MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME HE RECOMMENDED A JASPER TRANSMISSION (TOTAL REBUILD) AND IT INCLUDED A "WORK-AROUND" FOR MY MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR CAR'S TRANSMISSION "PROBLEM"”
“THE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE CRACKED. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO MOVE FREELY AND THE STEERING GETS HARDER. EVENTUALLY THIS WILL FAIL AND LEAD TO A LOT MORE DAMAGE/SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR”
“MY ENGINE MOUNTS ON MY 2004 HONDA PILOT WENT FOR THE SECOND TIME. MY CAR HAS 115,000. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW FROM THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND KEPT UP WITH ALL THE MAINTENANCE. *TR”
Showing 6 of 28 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.