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Though I've NEVER serviced this transmission (other than having the factory recall to install the oil cooler kit several years ago), I believe in modern vehicles that failing at even 156K miles is unacceptable.
Anyway, as expected, $3800 - $4300 (estimate provided this morning) for the repair. I just spent $1250 a month ago repair the AC (Compressor failure). Aside from these two very expensive failures, this Pilot has been a rock.
I'm concerned about the trans failing again in the future, as the warranty I get with this rebuilt is 1-year or 12K miles.
While in top gear, transmission pressure probably builds as load on engine increases until it downshifts. I've noted accelerating forces a downshift, or I can manually shift to D3. Either action gets rid of the problem. So, perhaps it's tied to light engine load with high vacuum transitioning gradually to lower vacuum and creating a vibration that is amplified by a cracked or broken motor mount (essentially a temporary harmonic??). I've heard Honda's motor mounts are pretty weak. I think there are three for the engine and two for the transmission on a 2003/04 model.
I'm new to this site and haven't tried to find engine mount complaints.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed with all the other tranny complaints here, but you have to believe that we with issues are a very low % of all the Pilots Honda cranks out. It has had 0 other issues in 7 years...
Any advice as to whether we should to to an independent garage to rebuild the transmission with 1 year warranty (at $2,400) -- or, go to the dealership and have it completely replaced (at over $4,000)? And with a 3 year warranty.
Any advice as to whether we should to to an independent garage to rebuild the transmission with 1 year warranty (at $2,400) -- or, go to the dealership and have it completely replaced (at over $4,000)? -- With a 3 year warranty.
The 60k miles is too far, and pulling a boat will make the interval shorter for sure.
We noticed that when driving it, it would slow down and revv and then buck like kicking into gear. It got really bad really fast. Come to find out the trasmission oil was leaking into the radiator. We had to get a new radiator and had to have it flushed out several times. Came very close to needing a new transmission for $3500. I find this completely unacceptable for a car that only has 62k on it.
I just wanted to share our frustration.....
Save all your receipts and log it in your manual. I am confident this will be a class action someday. I am going to forward this and the other Honda/Acura V6 tranny failure threads to Consumer Reports - again. They still rate the early pilot very well and if you trust them, like I always have, its important they realize the problem.
Good Luck. When the dealer replaces your pressure sensors next, have the tow truck # handy...
I am an owner of a 2003 Honda Pilot and my transmission needs replacing at 139,000 miles. Actually, I'm not sure if that is accurate, if I recall correctly there was a recall on this vehicle due to a defect that affected the speedometer and mileage readout. Regardless, the car has been serviced at the dealership according to the Honda maintenance schedule since day 1. Actually, this is my third Honda, purchased new from the same dealership, all 4 have had all scheduled maintenance at this dealership. This vehicle was a part of the recall, and some other class action related to the invalid mileage which ended up extending my warranty. Nonetheless it is now out of warranty.
Only problem with the vehicle has been a motor mount and rear main seal needing to be replaced last November. No noticeable shifting problems. Wife was driving when the vehicle "stalled", check engine light. Had it towed into the dealership expecting something along the lines of a sensor or valve needing replacing. Got the call that the transmission fluid was dark and my transmission needed to be replaced. Say what!
Was quoted $2890 for a rebuilt transmission with a warranty of 12 months, or $4000 for a new transmission with a 3 year warranty. I couldn't freaking believe I was getting a caller telling me a HONDA transmission needed replacing at 139,000 miles. I googled, found this forum, called the service manager the next day and asked about a goodwill repair.
I got a call back, the district and dealership offered to pay 15% each for a new transmission with a 3 year warranty for $2896. $6 more than the original minimum hit I would be taking. I felt defeated at this point and told them to go ahead and install the new transmission at 30% off.
I called the number posted here for American Honda to ask for more help. They took my contact information and told me they would be calling me back. They called me back today and basically told me they owed me nothing, the transmission was beyond its warranty, it was a mechanical failure, yadda yadda yadda. I told them I would no longer be a customer of Honda Motor Corporation. She then proceeded to tell me that the offer of a 30% discount could be rescinded by the dealership and regional director. They expected me to be happy paying almost $3K for a transmission that was recalled, incorrectly fixed, and probably known to be defective.
Once she started basically threatening me I got so pissed I probably said quite a few things I shouldn't have, involving lawyers, verbal contracts, the BBB, the state Attorney General, and so on.
There have been Honda's in my family since the late 70's, none, not a single one before this Pilot, had a powertrain failure in 200,000+ miles of use. Honda has obviously lost their way, a shame, really.
So now the American Honda rep is calling the district manager and dealership, possibly getting them to rescind the offer of a 30% discount after I already told them to go ahead with the work, and then the rep is supposed to call me back.
My advice, DON'T BUY A HONDA. If they are willing to treat a life-long loyal customer like me this way, what will happen the next time they drop a ball on YOU? If you own a Pilot that is anywhere near the end of its warranty period, GET RID OF IT, immediately.
I'm still holding out hope Honda will take me up on my offer of keeping a life-long customer by making this right. Will post here when I find out what happens next...
And I have had other problems that cost me over $1000 to repair which I gladly paid. I understand the difference between normal wear and tear and something that was defective and improperly fixed.
What it all boils down to for me is this, does Honda want to keep a loyal life-long customer, or not? It will cost them approximately $2000 to $3000 to do that. I have spent in the range of $60-80,000 at this dealership in the last 15 years. I will continue to spend my money there if I am happy with the quality of the product and service, up until this point I have been. It has little to do with specific warranty coverage periods or number of miles. No perfectly maintained, non-abused, single owner, modern automatic transmission for a passenger vehicle should need a complete replacement within 140000 miles. No one would buy a vehicle, new or used, with that expectation, unless the $3000-$4000 was taken off of the front-end cost.
Only have 90,000 miles on it, and now they want $5000 for a new transmission. Ouch.
This is by far the worst and most expensive incident that has ever happened to any of the vehicles I've owned (Mazda, BMW, Nissan...)
And I thought Honda's were supposed to be solid....
My wife bought an Acura TL and I'm so disappointed with the stereo and nav system in it - basically the technology is at least 10 years old and sucks. Ok maybe the Ford Fusion isn't having the best review with the new MyTouch system, but at least they are going out on a limb and innovating, Honda's still resting on its success from 10 years ago...
We have taken the car to the same dealership for all our services plus we just bought a Ridgeline from them a few months ago...
Thanks
This all started happening after the dealer flushed the tranny fluid. They did not follow the instructions in the owner's manual (to flush, fill, run car, flush, fill again.) So when I was having these problems, I had them do it again. They said that Honda did not require them to follow the procedure as specified in the owner's manual! What????
Prior to all these problems, we had a "D" light flashing but that stopped. And one day after being stuck in an hour of traffic, the car bucked and made a loud noise, (both in drive and reverse) but that stopped also.
Very frustrating that we keep bringing it back to the Honda dealer and they cannot figure out what is wrong. This is a safety issue and feel like I am going to get rear ended! Help!!!
http://www.carconsumers.org/index.htm
We'll see what they think. Also told them about the similar issue with shared tranny on Odyssey, MDX, Accord.
Wrote Consumer Reports couple years ago since they STILL give the 1st gen pilot highest ratings but nothing ever came of it.
Save your receipts!!!