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Honda Pilot Driver's Seat Catches Fire

38 messages,  Last post on Dec 12, 2012 at 5:40 PM

You are in the Honda Pilot Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Pilot, Car Safety, SUV

Messages Page 4 of 5

#26 of 38 Same problem with 2004 Pilot Seat Heater by lrota

Mar 05, 2010 (2:34 pm)

I am having the same problem as other have noted here. 2004 Pilot with 39K miles. Drivers seat heater becomes dangerously hot on right side of seat cushion. We have stopped using the seat heater due to concern. I see that the NHTSA complaint databse has several complaints on this issue for 2004 and 2005 Pilots. I called Honda Customer Service. I got a call back from an upper level representative who was very rude, refused to acknowledge any problems with the seat heaters and refused to remedy the situation. They will not extend the warranty for this issue even after I told them that it was safety issue and there are other identical complaints for this problem. I plan to escalate with certified letter to Honda Customer Service and to NHTSA. Class action lawsuit time?

#27 of 38 same problem here! by rf530

Mar 13, 2010 (9:06 am)

2004 pilot, 62,000 miles original owner. Recently my wife started complaining that the right side of driver seat cushion is burning hot. We don't use it anymore and I will be following up with Honda on this.
 
Please provide any updates with dealer/Honda USA and I will do the same.
 
Thanks.

#28 of 38 Re: Same problem with 2004 Pilot Seat Heater [lrota] by lrota

Mar 13, 2010 (2:25 pm)

Replying to: lrota (Mar 05, 2010 2:34 pm)
3/13 Update - Since corporate district customer service rep refused to provide any warranty or goodwill on this obvious early safety defect, I then took it to local dealer. They quickly acknowledged that there was a problem as they felt the hot spot. They told me they would contact factory and get back to me. Next day they called and said factory wanted them to take apart the seat and identify exactly what was going wrong. They would not charge for diagnosis. They found damage to heater element and to foam in seat ( melted). Dealer told me they would find out from factory if they would cover anything. That afternoon, factory told them they would cover 90% of parts and labor to replace all damaged items. As the total bill for parts and labor came out to about $950(!!!), I accepted their offer as the Pilot is a 2004 and out of warranty. I thought it was fair to pay the $95. Kudos to the local dealer for getting factory to pay up for an obvious safety problem even if our of warranty. I just read today that Mazda has issued recall for RX-8 or for fires in their heated seats and are suing Magna who supplies the heaters for their seats.

#29 of 38 Re: same problem here! [rf530] by lrota

Mar 13, 2010 (2:29 pm)

Replying to: rf530 (Mar 13, 2010 9:06 am)
Our hot spot is at same exact location you and others describe ( right hand side of drivers seat bottom cushion). Do not use your heater until it is repaired..there have been fires. Also, you can go to the government website www.nhtsa.gov and print ourt reports from about 4 other 2004 and 1 2005 Pilot owners who have had fires or smoke. All complaints tend to be on 2004 Pilots with 30000 to 50000 miles.

#30 of 38 Re: Same problem with 2004 Pilot Seat Heater [lrota] by lrota

Mar 18, 2010 (12:17 pm)

Replying to: lrota (Mar 05, 2010 2:34 pm)
Update 3/18 - Instead of working with corporate customer service, who refused to acknowledge any problems or offer to investigate, I took it to local dealer. They confirmed that seat heater was getting dangerously warm. They contacted factory and got factory to pay for 90% of parts and labor which I thought was far considering it was technically our of warranty ( but low miles , 39K). So kudos to the local dealer!

#31 of 38 Re: DRIVER SEAT CATCHES FIRE [ejyy] by gmac10

Jan 03, 2011 (1:20 pm)

Replying to: ejyy (Dec 28, 2009 3:59 pm)
I have a 2004 pilot, I noticed last winter that the driver seat was getting too hot. I have set up an appointment with my local dealer (HVAC lights ALL went out). They said they would take a look. Will update post after the inspection.

#32 of 38 Re: DRIVER SEAT CATCHES FIRE [solo] by slimiam

Feb 26, 2011 (1:43 pm)

Replying to: solo (Dec 04, 2007 8:38 pm)
We've had a similar problem. No fire, but unbearable heat and now it doesn't work at all. Our vehicle was still under the extended warranty, but the dealer said the seat heaters were not a covered item. I guess I need to complain to higher ups.

#33 of 38 Re: DRIVER SEAT CATCHES FIRE [slimiam] by lrota

Feb 26, 2011 (1:56 pm)

Replying to: slimiam (Feb 26, 2011 1:43 pm)
My dealer got Honda Corporate to pay 90% of the repair cost despite fact that we were well out of the standard warranty period and had no extended warranty either.
 
I went to the dealer with a handful of printouts from the Internet showing many complaints specific to the 2004 pilot driver side seat heater.
 
I first called the regional Honda rep and they refused to do anything, even when I complained it was a safety issue due to reported fires.
 
So I recommend going back to the dealer and tell him its a safety issue and let them negotiate with corporate.

#34 of 38 Re: DRIVER SEAT CATCHES FIRE [lrota] by bogiejim

Mar 12, 2011 (11:09 am)

Replying to: lrota (Feb 26, 2011 1:56 pm)
I have a 2006 Pilot with about 55K miles, out of warranty. On my drive home last night my wife and I both noticed that odor of an electrical or plastic overheating problem. I had my driver seat heater on high and at the same time noticed it was much warmer than normal. I turned if off right away, the odor remained for the rest of our ride, about 15 minutes. Once home I felt both the top of the seat cushion and also felt underneath. It had cooled down, but I parked in the driveway outside the garage. This morning all was okay, but I am not using the seat heater until I can have it looked at. Sounds like I will end up having to fight to have Honda pick up most of the repair tab as others have mentioned here. This certainly seems like an issue that would require a recall. What does it take, someone being seriously injured or killed in a fire? Have others with the 2006 model year had similar experiences?

#35 of 38 Complain on the NHTSA website by vrm

Sep 08, 2011 (7:50 pm)

Posting messages on this forum will not force Honda to act.
 
Please go to the NHTSA wesbsite and fill out the online form. State all the facts accurately. When the volume of customer complaints exceeds a certain threshold, NHTSA will initiate an informal inquiry.
 
Last year, Toyota learned a harsh and expensive lesson. Its Honda's turn now.

Messages Page 4 of 5

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