2003 Honda Pilot: recalls and complaints

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• 19V49900027 Jun 2019Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
• 19V50100027 Jun 2019Air Bags / Frontal / Passenger Side / Inflator Module
• 19V1820006 Mar 2019Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
• 18V26800026 Apr 2018Air Bags / Frontal / Passenger Side / Inflator Module
• 16V34400023 May 2016Air Bags / Frontal / Passenger Side / Inflator Module
• 15V37000015 Jun 2015Air Bags / Frontal / Passenger Side / Inflator Module
• 15V32000028 May 2015Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
• 14V7000004 Nov 2014Air Bags
• 14V35300020 Jun 2014Air Bags
• 12V57300011 Dec 2012Electrical System / Ignition / Switch
• 12V13600030 Mar 2012Exterior Lighting / Headlights / Switch
• 04V17600015 Apr 2004Power Train / Automatic Transmission
• 02V22600028 Aug 2002Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine

1. 19V499000Received 27 Jun 2019. 3,947 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

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

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.

   Report filed by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.). Manufacturer campaign number Q5A, Y58. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 12 Aug 2019.

2. 19V501000Received 27 Jun 2019. 1,657,752 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal / Passenger Side / Inflator Module

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

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

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.

   Report filed by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.). Manufacturer campaign number E5D, X5C. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 12 Aug 2019.

3. 19V182000Received 6 Mar 2019. 1,101,534 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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 containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.

   Report filed by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.). Manufacturer campaign number U40,M45,O41,G44. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 10 Apr 2019.

4. 18V268000Received 26 Apr 2018. 1,335 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal / Passenger Side / Inflator Module

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

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

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.

   Report filed by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.). Manufacturer campaign number C1X, N2L, U2M. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 22 Jun 2018.

5. 16V344000Received 23 May 2016. 1,790,894 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal / Passenger Side / Inflator Module

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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 Acura MDX, 2005-2008 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2008 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2008 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling model year 2002-2004 Odyssey and model year 2003-2004 Acura MDX, Honda Element, and Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

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

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA0, KA1, KA2, and KA3.

   Report filed by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.). Manufacturer campaign number KA0, KA1, KA2, KA3. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 29 Jun 2016.

6. 15V370000Received 15 Jun 2015. 3,498,481 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal / Passenger Side / Inflator Module

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to January 18, 2005, 2003-2007 Honda Accord vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to August 28, 2007, 2002-2004 Honda CR-V vehicles, 2002-2003 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 19, 2001, to July 12, 2003, 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 19, 2002, to June 19, 2003, 2003 Honda Element vehicles manufactured June 25, 2002, to July 31, 2003, and 2003 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured November 26, 2001, to August 21, 2003. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU4, JU5, JU6, and JU7. Note: Vehicles that have already received a replacement passenger air bag inflator as part of the recall remedy for an earlier campaign such as 14V353 or 14V700 (Honda recall numbers S95, JH6, JH7, JH8, JH9, JJ0, JJ1, JJ2, JJ6, JM5 and JM6) are not included in this recall. However, this recall does supersede 13V132 and 14V349. Note: On December 18, 2015 Honda informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2004 Honda CR-V vehicles in addition to additional model year 2003 CR-V vehicles.

   Report filed by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.). Manufacturer campaign number JU4, JU5, JU6, JU7. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 1 Jul 2015.

7. 15V320000Received 28 May 2015. 6,281,043 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received an inflator of a different design, and therefore are not included in this recall and do not require additional servicing. Note: This recall fully supersedes recalls 08V-593, 09V-259, 10V-041, 11V-260, 14V-351 and 15V-153. Honda's numbers for this recall are JQ9, JR0, JR1, JR2, JR3, JR4, JR5, JR6, JR7, and JR8.

   Report filed by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.). Manufacturer campaign number JQ9 & JR0-JR8. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 1 Jul 2015.

8. 14V700000Received 4 Nov 2014.

   Air Bags

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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 deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

   Report filed by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.). Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 26 Jan 2015.

9. 14V353000Received 20 Jun 2014. 133,207 units.

   Air Bags

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

   Report filed by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.). Manufacturer campaign number JH6,JH7,JH8,JH9,JJ0. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 12 Sep 2014.

10. 12V573000Received 11 Dec 2012. 807,161 units.

    Electrical System / Ignition / Switch

    Defect, in the NHTSA record

    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.

    Consequence, in the NHTSA record

    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.

    Remedy, in the NHTSA record

    Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated shift interlock lever and, if necessary, replace any necessary part of the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on February 22, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

    Report filed by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.). Manufacturer campaign number S73/S74. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 22 Feb 2013.

11. 12V136000Received 30 Mar 2012. 1,375,217 units.

    Exterior Lighting / Headlights / Switch

    Defect, in the NHTSA record

    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 surface of the electrical terminal can occur, yielding copper oxide, which increases electrical resistance. Increased electrical resistance may cause the terminal ends to melt within the wiring harness connector.

    Consequence, in the NHTSA record

    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.

    Remedy, in the NHTSA record

    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the low beam terminal harness or replace the lighting switch as necessary, free of charge. The original recall began in april 2012. Owners of vehicles involved in the september 2012 expansion will be notified in september 2012. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

    Report filed by HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.). Manufacturer campaign number S34, S51. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 27 Apr 2012.

12. 04V176000Received 15 Apr 2004. 1,099,796 units.

    Power Train / Automatic Transmission

    Defect, in the NHTSA record

    On some mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage.

    Consequence, in the NHTSA record

    Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.

    Remedy, in the NHTSA record

    On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission to identify gears that have already experienced discoloration due to overheating. If discoloration exists, the transmission will be replaced if discoloration is not present, the dealer will perform the revision to the oil cooler return line. The recall began on april 21, 2004, for pilot, odyssey, and mdx owners. Owners of the accord vehicles will start receiving letters on june 28, 2004, and on june 29, 2004, for owners of the tl and cl vehicles. Owners should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.

    Report filed by HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.). Manufacturer campaign number P30/P31. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 27 Apr 2004.

13. 02V226000Received 28 Aug 2002. 17,551 units.

    Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine

    Defect, in the NHTSA record

    On certain minivans, sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles equipped with v6 engines, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned and could cause the timing belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head. Eventually the belt could be damaged and fail.

    Consequence, in the NHTSA record

    If the timing belt breaks, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy, in the NHTSA record

    Dealers will inspect the water pump and if it is one of the defective pumps, the water pump and timing belt will be replaced. Owner notification began august 30, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.

    Report filed by AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 30 Aug 2002.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

• 2003 Honda Pilot
• All 2003 vehicles

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 28.

Complaints that report a crash

35

Complaints that report a fire

10

Injuries in the complaints

34

Deaths in the complaints

0

Date of the newest complaint

14 May 2019

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

1. 200313
2. 200412
3. 200513
4. 20068
5. 20077
6. 20087
7. 20099
8. 201010
9. 201111
10. 20129
11. 20136
12. 20143
13. 20154
14. 20168
15. 20174
16. 20187
17. 201913
18. 202011
19. 202110
20. 20225
21. 20235
22. 20246
23. 20254
24. 20261

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

• Honda Pilot: all model years
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• NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
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• NHTSA page of the 2003 Honda PilotThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2003 Honda Pilot?

17,767,918 units in 13 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.

How many recall campaigns does the Honda Pilot have for all model years?

NHTSA lists 62 recall campaigns for the Honda Pilot, model years 2003 to 2026. 13 of them name the 2003 model year.

Which component do the complaints about the 2003 Honda Pilot name most often?

Power Train: 211 of 800 component mentions, or 263.8 per 1,000. For all 2003 vehicles the figure is 121 per 1,000.

Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2003 Honda Pilot open?

2 investigations have no closing date in the NHTSA file, of 5 that name this model year.