2003 Honda Pilot problems
Owners have filed 877 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Honda Pilot. Electrical system is the most reported problem area, at 15% of complaints. After that come drivetrain & axles (13%) and air bags (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 877 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 15% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 56 and 16
- Injuries and deaths
- 60 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 120,000 miles 642 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 59 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 36 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 27 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 42 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 76 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 72 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 109 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 74 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 62 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 37 |
| 200k+ miles | 48 |
What the data shows
Among the 642 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 120,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 130,000 miles (99 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 56 complaints mention a crash; 16 complaints mention a fire; 60 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 11th most-complained-about out of 24 model years of the Honda Pilot with enough data (233 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 13 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The contact, an attorney, was filing a complaint on behalf of a client who owned a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while his client was driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle struck the client's vehicle, causing the air bags to deploy. The husband did not sustain any injuries; however, the client's wife was rendered quadriplegic. The client's wife fractured her spinal vertebra and later passed away. The cause of death was believed to have been caused by the accident.
Vehicle driver side hit side of mountain causing it to go down hill on passenger side. Rolled over three times. No air bags deployed. Person sitting in passenger seat received a scalp injury, but no loss of consciousness. Vehicle was on a dirt road and was traveling between 20 and 25 MPH.
Honda pilot hit in rear by geo, both backs of front seats broke and hit back seats. Child in car seat hit feet. Drivers head hit DVD player, leg hit under dash from falling back, hurt left shoulder and head. Passenger felt hit in back. Both had headaches and taking to er.
I own a 2003 honda pilot exl,lately I've had problems with the switch not wanting to turn on or unlock steering wheel. What should I do...I've own two other hondas and had the same problems.(98 accord,98 civic);their was recall on them. Is their a recall on the honda pilot switch or steering column.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the rear axle separated from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the subframe replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 209,000. The VIN was not available.