Are you familiar with Honda Pilot problems?
The Honda Pilot is a Honda SUV that entered production in 2002. This mid-size crossover SUV was initially aimed at the North American market. The general size of the car is particularly noted as its selling point.
The independent suspension and unibody construction both contribute to the car’s off-roading capabilities as well. Which were greatly appreciated by the general public.
This version of the Honda Pilot lasted until 2008. Though years 2004 to 2008 all had their own changes. From minor changes like seat adjustability to its 2006 facelift.
After 2008, Honda Pilot became larger. Utilizing a new J35Z4 3.5-liter V6 i-VTEC engine. This new Honda Pilot boasted many minor changes as well such as redesigned headlights and two-position memory seats.
The changes for this generation were mostly oriented toward entertainment and comfort.
The generation ended its run in 2015. And was quickly replaced with the 2016 series. The new series was far sleeker in appearance. It had a 10 percent reduction in drag area, which made Honda Pilot better aerodynamics.
The whole car was given more lights. This includes standard LED brake and tail lights, LED daytime running lights, and LED headlamps with automatic high-low beam switching. However, it did lose one of the seats which put it down to seven.
A ton of new safety features were added to Honda Pilot such as LaneWatch, Blind Spot Information, and rear cross Traffic Monitor. The engine has been reworked as well with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that provides direct injection and a start-stop system. This provides a nice addition to the functionality of the entire car.
The fourth and current generation of Honda Pilot got a heavy upgrade to a 10-speed automatic engine. Also, six different trims to fit your style exist as of 2022.
Honda Pilot Problems
With Honda Pilot’s many iterations, we also see many concerning problems. Some were solved between series, and some persist.
However, all are important to know about. Acting on symptoms we recognize that signify those issues being a good way to prevent further damage,
- Transmission failures
Transmission failure comes first in terms of problems experienced by our Honda Pilot. It is among the issues that are exclusive to the 2003 model, so other years will be safe from it.
However, transmission problems that occur in Honda Pilot cars are extremely pricey. [1]
Transmission issues lead to serious symptoms in our car, making gear shifting exceptionally tricky and sometimes unavailable. If you are experiencing transmission problems, it will be harder to even control the car. Which can lead to some risky situations in traffic, potentially resulting in a crash.
Though transmission problems are exclusive to 2003, it’s possible for them to appear independently on other models, keeping an eye out in order to prevent future costs.
- Excessive oil consumption
For a more standard issue, we have excessive oil consumption. Car consuming excessive amounts of oil is a common problem not only across multiple Honda Pilot models but all SUVs.
The vehicles start consuming far more oil than usual, usually leading to our oil reserves being quickly expanded. Although it’s not as serious, it’s still an issue that can surprise us if not monitored.
Running out of oil suddenly is never good. It is less present nowadays, but it pays to keep an eye out. [2]
This particular issue tends to show up after 100,000 miles. The cause of the issue usually being wear and tear of parts.
Although consumption isn’t dangerous by itself as long as we fill up the car, letting the car sit on low oil can make our engine overheat and get damaged.
- Peeling paint
Paint peeling isn’t the most troubling part of the functionality of our car but it does affect our car’s appearance. Peeled paint isn’t the nicest thing to see on a car especially if it covers more of our car. [3]
We can see early symptoms of this issue as the car’s paint starts to flake. However, if the issue does get bigger, we will have some painting expenses to do. As these grow, we will likely have our chassis exposed to some follow up problems that could appear.
- Fuel injector failure
The next issue ties into the use and function of our fuel injectors. The problem with the fuel injectors in our Honda Pilot has a high chance of appearing. The issue is especially common with more recent Honda Pilot models, with 2016 being the most susceptible to this problem.
Our fuel injectors may suffer these issues from 60,000 miles onwards. Which is recently early for a car that’s likely to be driven daily. Fuel injectors are a very important part of the combustion process, and their malfunction heavily affects the functionality of the vehicle. [4]
Not only does this issue impact our car’s functionality, but it’s also an expensive one to fix. A considerably bad issue with the fuel injector will result in thousands of dollars in repairs.
- AC doesn’t work properly
Air Conditioning is an important part of any car. Especially during hot months when its malfunction could become impactful on our very driving capabilities. Heat and sweat can impair our handling, even if the car is working fine.
Honda Pilot has had issues with its air conditioning for a while now. The system would fail to blow cold air, either not regulating the temperature at all or increasing the heat.
The possible causes of the issue include poor O-ring compression but problems with mold plugging up the system aren’t unheard of. [5]
Solutions to Honda Pilot Problems
Thankfully, the issues we experience with Honda Pilot can generally be taken care of. No matter the issue, there’s generally something we can do to help us maintain the car.
As far as issues with oil consumption go, we can avoid a lot of the more serious issues by observing the state of our car’s oil tank. Look out for any signs of corrosion or wear and tear.
These are early showcases of excessive oil consumption. Additionally, by utilizing common maintenance, we can spot issues that stem from other parts of the car and affect oil consumption.
Transmission issues are a mixed bag when it comes to solutions. If the issue stems from low transmission fluid, we can quickly refill it for a simple fix.
However, more complex issues will require a visit to the mechanic. Transmission issues generally require special tools to deal with them, which is why a specialist is required.
The paint peeling problems are generally widespread in causes. Applying for paint protection film is one of the preventative measures. Using car washing supplies that aren’t abrasive is also required.
Additionally, automated car washes can quickly cause the paint to peel. Of course, washing the car and waxing it consistently is mandatory. It keeps up the health of our paint job. Honda also provides coverage for some paint peeling issues.
Honda pilot problems
Should the fixes fail, we will have two options to turn to. The first one is to check if the issues are covered under Honda’s recall policies.
With the possibility to resolve the problems without spending a lot of money. If that fails, we will have to dedicate some funds to repair the problem. The cost we pay now can prevent heftier issues that could come as a cause of issues getting worse.
Related: Honda HRV Problems
Conclusion
With the number of Honda Pilot problems, we can still take some prerequisite ways of fixing them. The prominent parts such as cracked paint, excessive oil consumption, and transmission problems should be taken care of fast.
Even if our solutions fail, there is always a chance a part of our Honda Pilot is covered under warranty or recalls. Either can cut or even nullify costs of repair which is something that comes in handy. Small prices of repairs are still nice to remove from our budget, so it pays checking.
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