Problems · by component

2004 Honda Pilot suspension problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Honda Pilot cite suspension, 5% of all 544 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
27
5% of all complaints
Crashes
2
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
“The steering became extremely loose over time on my Honda Pilot posing significant safety concerns because of it. The tires adamantly follow all the divets, lines, grooves, and bumps in the road causing me to lose control of the vehicle very easily in poor driving conditions. This is especially exaggerated during inclement weather such as snow or rain. Recently, due to the steering looseness, I lost control of the vehicle and hit a mailbox damaging the entire right side of the vehicle. Please help to work with Honda to resolve this issue. Thank you!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 1, 2025Steering, Suspension, WheelsCrash reportedODI 11664243
“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
“WHEN GETTING WORK DONE BY LICENSED MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR FRAME BEING SOO RUSTED THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER WAS NOT ATTACHED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO ATTACH IT TO. I WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIX IT AND I SHOULD CONSIDER GETTING RID OF IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 25, 2020Steering, Suspension, Unknown or otherODI 11330863
“2004 HONDA PILOT DRIVER SIDE REAR SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER RUSTED AND FALLING APART. STARTED TO RUST AROUND 2010 THEN WORST AT 2019. ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE IS RUSTED AND BAD. THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS NO ISSUES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 25, 2020Suspension, StructureODI 11301869
“RINSING WITH WATER OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE AFTER EXPOSURE TO SALTED ROADS AFTER SNOWFALL (ROUTINE PRACTICE) I NOTICED FLAKES OF RUST BENEATH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE TO OBSERVE EXTENSIVE CORROSION OF THE CROSS MEMBER THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION STRUTS ARE ATTACHED TO. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AREA WHERE THE STRUT IS CONNECTED IS CORRODED TO THE EXTENT WHERE THE MOUNT IS PARTIALLY EATEN AWAY AND A LARGE HOLE HAS FORMED. THE OTHER STRUT MOUNTING AREA IS CHARTING THE SAME COURSE AND IS SUBSTANTIALLY CORRODED. SHOULD A STRUT DISCONNECT FROM THE VEHICLE A LOSS OF CONTROL WOULD OCCUR. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE IS 107000. NO OTHER PARTS OF VEHICLE APPEAR TO BE CORRODED TO A LEVEL APPROACHING THE REAR. I WILL LOOK AT THE FRONT END TO INSPECT MORE CLOSELY FOR CORROSION DAMAGE AND TO TAKE PICTURES. VEHICLE WAS PARKED (STATIONARY) WHEN THE CORROSION WAS OBSERVED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2019SuspensionODI 11180840
“REAR SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER SUPPORT RUSTS OUT DUE TO DESIGN. OVER TIME WATER IS THROWN FROM TIRE AND RESTS IN THE SUPPORT NUT AREA. OVER TIME RUST BUILDS UP AND THE SUPPORT BREAKS THROUGH THE REAR CROSS MEMBER. NO WAY FOR THE WATER TO ESCAPE. I AM SUPPLYING ONE PICTURE OF MY CAR SHOWING WHERE RUST HAS STARTED. TWO ADDITIONAL PICTURES ARE FROM THE SHOP FIXING MY CAR FOR ANOTHER ISSUE SHOWING ANOTHER CUSTOMER WITH THE SAME ISSUE, BUT MUCH WORSE. YOU CANNOT BUY THE CROSS MEMBER DUE TO HOW THE CAR IS MADE. SO THE FIX IS TO CUT OUT THE RUST AND WELD IN A NEW SUPPORT. THE CAR SHOP WILL RUST PROOF AND PUT A WATER RESISTANT FOAM OVER THE NEW SUPPORT NUT ENSURING THE RUST WILL NOT RETURN. MY COST OF THIS REPAIR FOR BOTH SIDES IS JUST SHY OF $2000. MY OPINION IS THIS IS A FACTORY DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY HONDA. NO RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE EXIST, AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BACK END SUPPORT POTENTIALLY COLLAPSING AS YOU ARE DRIVING. THE ISSUE WAS CAUGHT BY THE TRANSMISSION SHOP DOING OTHER WORK ON 12/18/2018. THEY JUST FIXED THE OTHER CUSTOMER'S PILOT (2004) WITH THE SAME ISSUE (PICTURES I ATTACHED) AND HAD THE FORESIGHT TO LOOK AT MY 2004 PILOT. SO FOR…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2018SuspensionODI 11162277

Showing 6 of 27 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.