Ask the Car People.SM


Honda Pilot Transmission Problems

392 messages,  Last post on Mar 07, 2013 at 5:52 AM

You are in the Honda Pilot Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Pilot, Transmission, SUV

Messages Page 1 of 40

#1 of 392 Transmission problems '03 Pilot by baltovet

Jan 28, 2007 (10:37 pm)

At approximately 136,000 miles, I began to notice a bit of a jerk when the car shifted up. This was intermittent, and sometimes occurred between 1st and 2nd, and other times between 2nd and 3rd. Occasionally I would notice it from 3rd to 4th. The problem became more regular and when I had my scheduled service at the dealer, I mentioned it, and was subsequently told that no problems were noted when the technician drove the car. A couple of weeks later, the problem was constant, and this time the dealer said I had an internal problem, and they did not work on transmissions, but only replaced them with a new or rebuilt unit. I subsequently took the car to a local AAMCO service facility, and after inspection, was informed that the transmission was badly damaged. The mechanic that fixed my transmission said that he has seen quite a few Pilots come in at nearly 140,000 miles with the same kind of damage- that it almost always involves the 3rd gear, and this subsequently leads to failure of the transmission. He even went as far as to say that he believes that Honda has a problem with these transmissions.
I'm wondering whether anyone else has had a similar problem. I know there was a recall several years ago that involved a minor modification to the transmission, but when I brought my Pilot to the dealer, they said it was not affected. This is my first Honda, and it has had all service done regularly by the dealer. Perhaps 140,000 miles is considered about normal before a transmission wears out in such a vehicle, but I assumed it would last longer.
 
Any thoughts???

#2 of 392 Re: Transmission problems '03 Pilot [baltovet] by blackexv6

Jan 29, 2007 (4:53 pm)

Replying to: baltovet (Jan 28, 2007 10:37 pm)
140,000 miles is not bad for an automatic transmission. However, I believe you should get 200k-300k from a transmission. I've heard of many older '80's & '90's Honda Accords, Civics, Toyota Camry, etc. getting high mileage with the original transmissions.
 
If you didn't know '99-'03 Honda V6 transmissions are prone to premature failiure. There is a class action suit against Honda for these early failures.
 
link title
 
You may want the Honda dealer to look at the car. Tell them you are aware of the hig failure rates of the V6 transmissions. Many people have reported receiving discounted transmissions (Honda pays for the trans, you pay the labor).
 
Good luck. If this was your only problem after 140k then you didn't get too bad of a deal.

#3 of 392 Re: Transmission problems '03 Pilot [blackexv6] by baltovet

Jan 30, 2007 (6:45 am)

Replying to: blackexv6 (Jan 29, 2007 4:53 pm)
I'm not exactly complaining, but it cost me $4700.00 for the repair. I was quoted more by my Honda dealer. Hopefully the repair will last me to 300.000 miles.

#4 of 392 Transmission problems, Honda Pilot 2004 by ahaymd

Feb 26, 2007 (9:50 am)

I have a Honda Pilot 2004, with approximately 60 K miles and it has a transmission problem. While drving on the Highway at 65 mph, the transmission came on and the VT-4 light came on. I am 100% sure, I had not push the VT-4 light on. When I tried to slow down, the engine / trasmission started to rumble. When I maintained the speed above 60 mph, the sound went away. I assume the VT-4 (4 wheel drive had automatically engaged it self). When I pushed the VT-4 button (located below the Hazard light button), nothing happened. In other words, the VT-4 light was still on. Please note, the light on the VT-4 button was not on and pushing it did not engage or disengage the VT-4 light on the dashboard. Any suggestions, before I bring it in to the dealer? Please help.

#5 of 392 ????? by pjhrtd

Mar 02, 2007 (9:21 am)

Hi, I just bought my first Honda it is a Honda Pilot 2003.It has 62,000 miles on it. My qusetion is I would like to know if there is a problem or a trick in shifting my car into a lower gear, It will not shift down into d3,2,1. It just stops at Drive. and also how do I use the vtm-4 lock I didn't get a manual on the car when I bought it I have ordered one but still have not recevied it.I am asking this because if there is a trick to unlocking or disengaging the trany lock without having to take it into a dealer and being charged a astronomical fee for them to show me the trick. thank you PJ

#6 of 392 Re: pjhrtd by steelblu

Mar 03, 2007 (7:42 pm)

I own a 2007 Pilot with Vtm-4 and you can only engage it when the vehicle is stopped and shifting to, first, second or Reverse only. The biggest caution is to not operate Vtm-4 on dry pavement damage may occur to the rear differential. Vtm-4 is to be used to get you out of a stuck condition such as a pile of snow. Once you are out of your stuck condition unlock Vtm-4 by pressing the Vtm-4 button or shifting to D or D3. As for why you can't shift down. I don't know. Good Luck PJ!

#7 of 392 FOLLOW YOUR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE! by sddoc07

Mar 06, 2007 (2:37 am)

136,000 miles in a 2003 Honda Pilot?? And I thought I drove a lot...
 
I have a 2003 Honda Pilot LX with 52,000 miles on it. It runs great but I have noticed that the engine hesitates to upshift to a lower rpm at low speeds, ESPECIALLY when it is going downhill. I would like to know if anyone has this problem??
 
But in any case, the thing I wanted to emphasize to everyone is that they have to make sure to change out their transmission fluid when Honda recommends to. I have noticed that my transmission smooths much faster and smoother when this is done and I've been told that the fluid gets black mighty quick. I think that this may be a byproduct of the tranny problems.
 
pjhrtd - you need to get your car checked out, there is no special way to downshift other than hitting the brake (but i'm sure you have no problem with that)

#8 of 392 Re: MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE Tranmission Shift Points [sddoc07] by justaveragejoe

Mar 09, 2007 (9:08 am)

Replying to: sddoc07 (Mar 06, 2007 2:37 am)
I have noticed that in my 2007 Pilot, the upshifts (1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd) occur later than I would expect, even with very light throttle pressure. Just as a test I performed a hard acceleration (about 3/4 throttle) in 2nd gear and I almost hit red-line before it shifted to 3rd. Since the transmission is electronically controlled, I am not sure if there are shift valves that can be adjusted, but I am going to ask the dealer at the 5000 mile service.
 
I agree with you service recommendation. I would suggest draining the tranny at 15,000, it's easier than changing the oil since there is no messy filter.

#9 of 392 Re: MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE Tranmission Shift Points [justaveragejoe] by krak73

Mar 30, 2007 (8:59 pm)

Replying to: justaveragejoe (Mar 09, 2007 9:08 am)
To: justaveragejoe hi there i just bought 07 pilot and have the same problem with shifting it is worse when is very cold i also have a 04 and i don't have that problem did you figured out what the problem is ???? anything from the dealer mine said that there is nothing wrong i did go to 2 different ones and the same i hate that cause i know that it is not normal

#10 of 392 Re: MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE Tranmission Shift Points [justaveragejoe] by mercara

Mar 31, 2007 (7:17 pm)

Replying to: justaveragejoe (Mar 09, 2007 9:08 am)
The manual says that when the engine/transmission is cold, the shifts happen later than usual. Was your engine cold when you saw this symptom?

Messages Page 1 of 40

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement