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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 17 of 40

#160 of 392 Re: Pilot Tranny Warning Signs [albert72] by 12bdriving

Feb 19, 2010 (3:39 pm)

Replying to: albert72 (Feb 18, 2010 5:49 am)
On the normal schedule, the first change is at 15k, the second at 30k and then each subsequent is 30k apart.
 
On the severe schedule, the first change is at 7500k, the next is at 15k, and then it is at every 15k after that. If you live in a snowy/icy climate where the VTM-4 is going to engage, it is probably advisable to lean towards the severe schedule. I have changed mine about every 20k.
 
Here is a link to a 2004 Pilot Owners Manual, that may help as you look at the vehicle. http://www.autoownermanuals.com/manuals.item.1675/PI0404O00160B.pdf
 
Honda Dealers charge about $60 to $80 to perform it in Minneapolis. If you have someone else change it STRESS and get in writing that they will only use VTM-4 fluid from Honda and not ATF fluid in it. Bad news otherwise.
 
I understand it is actually very easy to do yourself, but I have no desire, it's my wife's car and I'd rather spend the time with our kid. It comes in 1 gallon containers and the capacity is about 3 quarts.
 
Good luck with your search. Other than the transmission, it is a fine automobile. We just put 97000 on ours and really the only other stuff I had done was shocks, struts, tie rod ends and a few other suspension parts at 90k and then of course tires at about 60k.

#161 of 392 Re: 03 Pilot Transmission problems [kcos] by pod_in_sc

Feb 24, 2010 (8:58 am)

Replying to: kcos (Jan 29, 2010 11:45 am)
kcos, your story is a duplicate of mine, only my mileage is 107K. Did you receive any help from Honda? Obviously, the transmission is a dud with these vehicles. I was a big Honda fan until now. If Honda doesn't fess up, I'll never buy another one!

#162 of 392 Re: 03 Pilot Transmission problems [pod_in_sc] by txman0u812

Mar 12, 2010 (4:21 pm)

Replying to: pod_in_sc (Feb 24, 2010 8:58 am)
Unfortunately I too have had my transmission fail at just over 107 K on my 04 Honda Pilot. I wish I could say this has been my only problem. I have owned many vehicles over the years and have never had the problems that I have had with my Honda. Just before the extended warranty expired, the oil pan gasket failed, the rear main seal failed and the AC went out. Now I am being told that I need to pay $4400 for a new transmission. I contacted Honda after my dealership offered to take a whopping $600 off of the price. I am still waiting to hear back from Honda but can already tell you that this will be the LAST Honda I ever buy. I purchased a Honda based on their reputation as a reliable vehicle but have had just the opposite experience. Has anyone had much luck with contacting Honda? The woman I spoke with basically gave me a scripted speech and said not to look for Honda to pay much if anything at all.

#163 of 392 Re: 03 Pilot Transmission problems [txman0u812] by gatdammit

Mar 13, 2010 (3:25 pm)

Replying to: txman0u812 (Mar 12, 2010 4:21 pm)
American Honda was no help to me either. I asked her if she though 100K miles was considered the useful life of their drive train and she went right back to the script of "sir, this vehicle is out of warranty and American Honda is not inclined to assist..."; that's when I hung up.
 
I got very lucky through a dealership that I hadn't spend a dime at. Push through the service department up to the regional manager. If you've taken care of it, especially at their service department, they usually cut you a deal.

#164 of 392 Re: 03 Pilot Transmission problems [gatdammit] by weezer502

Mar 14, 2010 (7:15 pm)

Replying to: gatdammit (Mar 13, 2010 3:25 pm)
We just got a new transmission and torque converter for our '03 Pilot with 79K miles. Thanks to reading this discussion...I mentioned to the dealer (quoting us $5200) that we would like to see what Honda can do for us. They said the goodwill credit usually only applies up to 7 years or 75K miles. They ended up working out a credit through their Honda representative and we paid $1800. Also, we had all our work and maintenance done through that dealership. We also called Honda ourselves but the service dept ended up helping us more.
  The new transmission is only warranteed for 36K miles which isn't something we wanted to pay $5200 for. At least now it may be worth something as a trade-in. If I would have known about this common problem, I would have traded it in last year as soon as I noticed the transmission slipping in 2nd gear (but before the engine light came on).

#165 of 392 Re: 03 Pilot Transmission problems [weezer502] by blackqt

Mar 16, 2010 (7:26 am)

Replying to: weezer502 (Mar 14, 2010 7:15 pm)
My check engine light came on yesterday. I am just so stressed out about this car. I have had problems with it since I bought it 3 years ago. I'm just tired and mad now.
 
I will be going to my dealership today and hope that something happens that will allow me to get the car fixed, at least. Of course, I just don't have faith that I will be a repeat Honda owner. I used to only buy Toyotas but this new Honda had such rave reviews that I decided to try it. Now, I just don't see doing it again- unless the dealer works with me.
 
I don't know why those people at American Honda even exist. They were absolutely NO HELP. Even though they knew this vehicle had transmission problems and they knew I had the repair patch done on the car - back in 2004 - before I owned it, it took me visiting sites to be aware of the depth of this problem. Maybe now that Toyota is facing such challenges, I can get a good deal.
 
Hopefully, my dealer will step up and we will see....

#166 of 392 2004 pilot transmission problems by gustafson45

Mar 20, 2010 (12:24 pm)

I PURCHASED MY PILOT WITH 21OOO MILES AND HAVE ALL FLUIDS CHANGED AS THE MANUAL SAID, WITH HONDA PRODUCTS. MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD IT CHECKED RIGHTWAY AND HONDA DEALER SAID MY TORK CONVERTOR IS BAD. THE PILOT HAS 84000 MILES ON IT, SO HONDA WILL NOT FIX. THEY WANTED $3896.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION TO FIX IT AND SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE, YEA RIGHT. I CALLED SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS WHO ARE MECHANICS AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO A TRANSMISSION CLINIC IN MY AREA THAT THEY SAID WERE HONEST. SO I'M HAVING A NEW TORX CONVERTOR AND SWITCH INSTALLED FOR $785.00. THIS WILL BE MY ONLY HONDA THAT I WILL OWN, I'VE OWNED MANY CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH A TRANSMISSION, THIS WAS MY FIRST OFF SHORE CAR AND WILL BE MY LAST.

#167 of 392 Re: EGR or Torque Converter [tiriana] by casaded

Apr 29, 2010 (2:24 pm)

Replying to: tiriana (Dec 30, 2009 7:59 am)
Replaced my transmission a few weeks ago because transmission would not engage Drive after stopping at stop signs. Did not fix problem, carried it back and service dept couldn't duplicate problem so I decided it was just a fluke, the new trans needed to be broken in, whatever. It has gotten progressively worse so I've carried it back and they still can't duplicate the problem. Please let me know what you find out.

#168 of 392 Re: 2004 pilot transmission problems [gustafson45] by 12bdriving

Apr 29, 2010 (2:35 pm)

Replying to: gustafson45 (Mar 20, 2010 12:24 pm)
Good that you can get just the torque converter replaced. I had heard from several other people that the dealers are requiring that the torque converter and transmission be replaced as a pair.
 
Your Pilot was probably built in Canada or Alabama. Do you live in Hawaii?

#169 of 392 easy way to fill the tranny by aln2

May 14, 2010 (6:31 pm)

I bought a 2003 H P 2 years ago . It had had the recall oil jet installed but what a heck of a place to try to add fluid without contamination and frustration so I bought a $5 plastic oil pump that screws onto a 1 liter ATF container , changed the tubing to a smaller size and added the ATF through the dipstick tube . It was easy . Take care people .

Messages Page 17 of 40

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