Problems with 2005 Honda Pilot POWER TRAIN

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. the contact stated that he noticed transmission fluid leaking from the vehicle after parking. the vehicle was towed to the mechanic for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure and current mileage was 84,000. updated 10/17/13*lj

On our way home to nj from a family trip to canada we stopped for a bathroom break in the "middle of nowhere" maine. the car hesitated to go when stepping on the gas. i managed to drive down the road, the "temp" light went on, then i pulled over. i checked the fluids....the transmission fluid was milky red. we were lucky to have cell phone service to call for a tow. i had my family, wife and two younger kids in the car. we waited for over 30 minutes for the tow truck to arrive, he had to call for transport for my family. we managed to find a service center that was willing stay open to fix our car. the car needed a new radiator and have the transmission flushed ($800), a valve broke sending coolant into the transmission. we learned that other 2005 pilots had the same problem of which there was a recall for this issue on the 2004 pilots, honda would not do anything! (as a side note, i had some seat leather replaced and the color match was that of a 2004 pilot). since the day of the repair the transmission is very rough/bucking while shifting gears. to date, besides routine maintenance, oil changes and small parts, i have replaced the timing belt, starter, water pump, and the radiator. to have the transmission replaced would be a very costly repair. this was our family travel car and i now will only take the car around town for fear that the transmission will go. i was not in the market for a new car but due to this situation i need to get rid of this car! *tr

The transmission line that goes into the radiator was dislodged and all the transmission fluid leaked out as well as coolant. the car had been driven about 4 miles and was parked at the time of the incident. there was no visible damage to the transmission line or the radiator but both had to be replaced according to the honda dealer.the cost of replacement was $641.55 and none of this was covered by honda. we believe that this is a serious defect in the honda pilot and is a major problem in both the honda pilot and odyssey van. this connection was not damaged and simply let loose. it has occurred in many other vehicles at different amounts of mileage from my vehicle. this connection should never come loose under normal driving conditions and is a serious defect with significant safety concerns. the repair person at the dealer told me that they are seeing a lot of these problems and that the line simply blows out under the pressure from inside the radiator (he said about 110 psi) honda should be held responsible for this defect and all honda pilots and odyssey vans should be recalled and the defect corrected before serious injuries occur. we believe you should investigate this further and have honda take corrective action. as i investigated this i determined that in some cases the coolant and radiator fluid mix together and cause serious damage to the transmission. this is caused by the same problem but the repair cost go into the thousands $ because of the damage to the transmission. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving 3 mph, the temperature gauge spiked as coolant began overflowing from the radiator. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that transmission fluid was found in the radiator and radiator fluid was found in the transmission. as a result, the radiator, transmission cooler, transmission and all of the lines from the transmission would need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 83,000.

Got into vehicle today. placed car into drive and the car would not accelerate. i placed it back into park and then back to drive. it finally kicked into gear. i got on the highway and drove approximately 30 miles with no problems. i made a quick stop. when i started my car again it did the same thing. i drove about a mile and the transmission starting slipping badly. it stopped accelerating completely. i had it towed to the dealer. i was informed by the dealer that the radiator had failed and had mixed with the transmission fluid. was told the radiator and the transmission would need to be replaced. wake up ntsb. this has been reported consistently to you as a complaint and posted on numerous forums online. this is definitely a problem with this model and honda is not stepping up. make them answer the complaints. most people do not have $5000 to repair an 8 year old car. *tr

On 6/17/2013 during my daily commute to work i was driving at a normal speed of 65mph when i noticed the "d" gear light on the dashboard started to blink continuously. when i got to work i looked into my owner's manual which informed there may be a problem with the transmission and i should take the vehicle to the honda dealership. when i took the vehicle to the dealership where i mind you i just spent almost $700.00 on 6/15/2013 for suspension maintenance informed that this issue is very popular with the honda pilots and it's most likely my 4th gear pressure switch for the transmission. they then informed me that it will cost $350.00 to replace this part. when i previously looked up the part needed and how to possibly diy; i found that the part only cost between $34.00 and $40.00 and a beginner can change this part in about 45 minutes to an hour. so why is the dealership charging me $350.00 to change a part that cost $34.00 - $40.00 and an hour labor; does technician make $310.00 an hour these days?! honda usa knows that they have a defective part on the honda pilots and refuse to conduct a recall because they rather cheat their customers than have a smaller bonus! there are articles on-line of drivers transmissions locking up because of this issue which is extremely dangerous; honda and all other automotive makers need to be held accountable for all faulty parts within their product just any other company. *tr

Radiator failed, causing loss of transmission fluid, causing loss of motion. the car stopped dead in the road and could not move on its own power. from contact with other honda pilot and honda ridgeline owners, i learned that this type of failure occurs frequently at around 100,000 miles. the single radiator unit cools both the engine and the transmission fluid. *tr

As soon as i stopped in front of my house, i saw fluid pouring from the front right engine area.fortunately for me, the problem occurred at that moment. there were no symptoms of, or dash board alerts previous to that.( and nothing on the street) the car was towed on a flatbed to my service center,which is a certified honda service center.. apparently there was a line failure that allowed antifreeze and transmission fluid to mix and go into the transmission. the radiator was replaced and coolant flushed. the transmission was flushed 6 times with 28 quarts of transmission fluid and after driving 16 miles i am aware that the tranny is compromised and am going back to flush again. my service man made it clear that there is no guarantee on the transmission. i am a woman who maintains her car diligently and could not have done anything to prevent this catastrophic failure and upon researching the problem, find other honda owners experiencing the same thing. it is up to honda to step up and recognize a design/product flaw and perhaps recall others before it happens to them. i sincerely hope honda realizes that this is an opportunity to do the right thing and fix the problem. *tr

Driving at approx. 30-35 mph when without warning i experienced high rpm's and the vehicle wouldn't go into gear. when i stopped the car and looked under the hood there was fluid everywhere, even down the side of the car. after having the pilot towed to my local repair facility it was determined that the lines that run the coolant had failed and transmission fluid anti freeze had mixed together and were introduced into the transmission. this happened immediately! i had the radiator replaced and the transmission flushed 27 times in order to completely clear the systems. this process cost me $1000 and the repair shop told me they could not guarantee that the transmission would not fail as they had no idea whether there was internal damage or not. well, it didn't work! the transmission is making noises that it never had before and shifting almost at will. my dilemma now is replace the transmission or replace the vehicle. there is absolutely no way anyone could anticipate this problem or do anything to prevent it because of the way this was engineered. when i bought this pilot i did so believing that i would be the one to decide when it was time for me to buy a new vehicle, not honda! i have owned 4 honda's in the past but this will be my last. *tr

As i try to increase speed, the engine will sputter as if it doesn't want to shift to the next gear. this is particularly noticeable in the range of 25-50 mph. i have to let off the gas in order for the car to shift to the next gear successfully. if i continue to give it gas it continues to sputter until i let off the gas. *tr

I have a 2005 honda pilot sometime shuddering between 30-40 mph. to make the shudder stop, i press or release the accelerator briefly. after checking on line about this problems with over 300 complaints. they all state that the torque converter cause the vibration. honda still not recall. couple of times someone almost rear end me. please look into this problem. *tr

I bought the 2005 pilot ex in 2009. brought it back to the dealer after 1 month of driving for hesitation in the transmission. dealer couldn't find the problem. thought this must be how it shifts. have always noticed a slight radiator fluid smell. no one could find any leak. about 3 years later at 110,000 miles, transmission fluid and radiator fluid mixed when the radiator gave out. we were out of town and on our way home leaving us on the side of the road to be towed back into town (approx 30 miles) and had to spend an extra night until the repairs were finished. $637.00 repair for the radiator. 2 months later noticed the air conditioner not working. took it to our local guy who said it wasn't hooked up right when they replaced the radiator. correct hookup, pressure test and recharge air system was $186.00. a week later after explaining the radiator problem to my local repair guy we had the transmission flushed twice to try to save us from future transmission trouble. $292.00 for the transmission flush related to the radiator failure. now a month and a half later we have a shudder between 35 and 45 mph and a noise at about 55 mph that sound like a piece of metal dropping off the car. asked the local repair shop and transmission repair shop and they both said the transmission was damaged and needed to be replaced. went with the transmission place, after reading all the similar stories of other 2005 honda pilots, the dealers will over charge and not even admit to this known issue. the stories of the same problem happening again made us go with the most competent repair shop who does this every day. so it's the fourth of july and we are without the family car today. should be able to pick it up tomorrow with the rebuilt transmission for $3,915.00. total bill; $5,031.00 for a failed radiator. this is wrong. honda should acknowledge this issue and be made to recall it. *tr

I took it in for a recall. i was told that the front and right engine mounts are "cracked". at about 25-45 mph there is a noticeable shudder under the hood. in searching the nhtsa database i find many other reports of this shudder and several saying that engine mounts are a problem in this model. the reports are in several areas including engine, suspension, drive train, transmission. it seems the engine mounts could be a common denominator. if the mounts go it could cause a catastrophic failure including loss of control. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the vehicle suddenly decelerated and she was unable to continue driving. the contact mentioned that the temperature gauge illuminated and smoke started to emit from underneath the hood. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnose that the transmission and radiator fluid mixed. as a result, the radiator and transmission needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included on any recalls. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 97,000.

I was driving to work when 2005 honda pilot stated trailing a liquid. drove a quarter of a mile to work to find coolant and transmission fluid leaking from the front of the vehicle. had it towed to a transmission shop found that the radiator failed causing coolant and transmission fluid to leak out. radiator replaced, transmission flushed and serviced, and coolant system flushed final repair cost $900. this is a common failure for the honda pilot and should be checked out and resolved for others.*tr

I was driving the 2005 honda pilot about 20 to 30 mph . the time was about 7:15 am. the roads were wet after some misting light rain. i heard a relatively loud noise that startled me. the noise lasted for perhaps 2 seconds. it sounded as if the brakes were inadvertently being applied and grabbing or perhaps something was wrong with the transmission or rear end. i do not remember that the brakes were being applied at the time, but it is possible that they were. i kept driving and was then much more attentive to there possibly being something wrong with the car. about one minute later i heard an almost identical loud sound. i do remember that i was braking at the time, but due to being startle, it is possible that i may not remember such. the vehicle may have decelerated, but to the best of my recollection, i do not believe that the vehicle deceleration was severe. i drove the vehicle to the local honda dealer. i was told that the mechanic test drove the vehicle and could not repeat the problem and that he could not find anything wrong with the vehicle. then the service manager talked to me about what possible might have caused the loud noise and he test drove the vehicle with me inside. he directed the vehicle with the left wheels on the pavement and the right wheels on the grass. then he rapidly applied the brakes. the vehicle made a loud noise and to my memory the noise sounded like the noises i had encountered previously. he said that this noise was from the abs system engaging. i was very please with the attention of the service manager and his customer interaction. note: the printed paper shop invoice recorded : "customer states it feels like brakes are sticking. problem is intermittent." my above incident description provides a more complete description of the incidents. *tr

On a 3 hour trip, driving at highway speed when engine power dropped to allow only 30-40mp and approximately 6000 rpm. after cooling down, it was able to get back to highway speed. next day, the exact same issues started occurring. had it towed back to dealership. dealership indicated that the transmission had blown and it would cost approximately $5,000 to replace. *tr

While driving at normal town speed (~25mph) car began overheating and speed dropped. pulled car over to cool. started to drive slowly home and symptom repeated. car towed to honda. they diagnosed as radiator and transmission fluid mixing due to failure in the radiator. damaged the transmission that needed to be totally replaced, along with a radiator and transmission cooler. engine also needed extensive flushing. suggested cost was $6400 without labor. after repairs, engine damage could be assessed. this appeared to be a minor failure in the radiator that destroyed a separate system and might have damaged the engine. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the transmission shifted gears in a jerking motion. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was advised that the computer system would need to be reprogrammed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

I own a 2005 honda pilot. i have had an issue that is increasingly getting worse- when driving 30-45 mph, the engine/transmission starts to shudder. if i let off the accelerator it will let up. it is scary, the whole vehicle jolts repeatedly. if the engine is jolting so dramatically, i can only imagine that the stabilization of the engine is being put in jeopardy. in doing some research, i have found that i am one of hundreds, if not thousands of people with the same problem and complaint. i feel that this is the manufacturer's defect that should be addressed and resolved by honda promptly. the concern is not only for the vehicle itself, but mostly for the lives that these vehicles carry. please give attention to our complaint before a serious accident occurs. we have paid for a safe and reliable car, so please give us one. thank you for your attention and consideration, please help nhtsa! *tr

D light transmission flash and i stop the car to try reset ignition key. the d light no flash now. but i think that it will have problem my transmission later on. for my safety concern i need a recall for my car about this issue. thanks for your cooperation to keep highway safe. *tr

The vehicle shutters at approximately 35 mph while acceleration. the vehicle then had the same episode happen while on the highway at 60 mph while acceleration. i have experienced these episodes several times within the last month. i believe that the issue is progressing and i am concerned about my safety. i have investigated several forums online with many posts that have the same issues with the honda and sister acura. i would like honda to step up and be held responsible for the repair. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the transmission began to slip gears and the engine rpms increased. the vehicle began to decelerate independently with the transmission becoming unresponsive. the contact coasted the vehicle to his residence where it was towed to an independent mechanic. the mechanic rebuilt the transmission to correct the failure. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 54,000.

2005 honda pilot - seal or transmission cooler failed and leaked transmission fluid into the radiator. no warning lights or indicators were evident. owner noticed leaking fluid from the radiator overflow. both parts now require expensive replacement. vehicle has 86,000 miles and never experienced issue before. however, there are several posts on the internet concerning the exact same issue, with little or no apparent acknowledgement by honda of this broad issue. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. the contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a traffic stop the vehicle hesitated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnose that the coolant fluid was in the transmission and transmission fluid was in the radiator. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the failure mileage was 129,504 and the current mileage was 130,500. ....updated 10/11/12 *bf updated 10/16/2012 *js

When accelerating the vehicle begins to shudder, jerk and lose power while accelerating from 0-40mph. steering wheel begins to shake, acceleration seems to stall. at higher speeds on freeway there is some shuddering but not as noticeable. braking or reducing speed does not immediately stop the shuddering. its almost predictable at low speeds. loss of power during acceleration feels as if the vehicle could stall especially when turning left with on coming traffic approaching. *tr

2005 honda pilot with 106,750 miles. i was stopped at the red traffic light, when the light turned green, vehicle would not move. i changed gears from park to drive and vehicle would still not drive. vehicle towed to nearest honda dealer. dealer informed me that there was a leak in the transmission cooling line in the radiator. coolant fluids mixed with transmission fluid. dealer will replace radiator($400), refill coolant, replace thermostat, atf lines, changed atf fluid 3 times to remove contaminants. total labor $685, total parts $800++. i've been searching online and this seems to be a major issue with honda pilot, acura mdx and honda ridgeline. radiator/transmission cooling line leak is a safety issue especially when driving in an interstate highway. *tr

The vehicle started to "shudder" at medium speed, and two to three days later while accelerating to highway speed the transmission blew up, creating loud banging noises and spilling transmission fluid onto the roadway. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. the contact stated that he noticed there was a puddle of a red colored fluid under the vehicle. in addition, the contact noticed that the automatic transmission cooler had leaked into the radiator. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and inspected. the dealer stated that the failure was common with the vehicle model. the vehicle was repaired by replacing the upper and lower hose, the radiator, the thermostat and the automatic transmission. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the current mileage was 78,500. the failure mileage was 77,145.

Transmission cooling portion of radiator failed causing transmission fluid to leak into the radiator and mix with coolant. transmission drained and caused car to stop. introduction of antifreeze into the transmission caused damage to the transmission resulting in need to replace transmission. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. the contact stated that, while driving, the vehicle made a loud noise as if there was a flat tire. the front and rear driver and passenger side tires were changed however the noise persisted. the contact stated that when attempting to brake, the vehicle would shake abnormally. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop and inspected. the failure was related to the transmission and the 4x4 feature. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was unavailable. the approximate current and failure mileage was 54,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. while driving approximately 20 mph, the engine power reduced significantly and without warning. the contact continued to drive and upon reaching the destination an inspection underneath the hood was performed. the contact noticed a dark brown milky substance leaking from the radiator. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who advised the contact that the transmission and engine would need to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 67,000.

While driving in a residential area, my 2005 honda pilot slipped out of gear multiple times and finally would not drive at all. i pulled the vehicle to the side of the road and shifted it into park. i waited a few minutes and tried to shift back into drive. the vehicle shifted into drive, but was unable to drive more than approximately 15 mph. i drove the vehicle in this manner for approximate half a mile to my destination. from there i had the honda pilot towed to an repair facility. the mechanic inspected the 2005 honda pilot and informed me that the vehicle's radiator had failed internally. this allowed the engine coolant and transmission fluid to mix. subsequently the coolant was circulated through the transmission and had caused damage to it. this is what had caused the vehicle to slip out of gear and ultimately render it unable drive. *tr

Transmission shudder between 35-40 mph. this is a well known problem that is caused by a failing torque converter. *tr

Traveled ~15 miles at highway speed. exited highway onto secondary roads thru a busy town. traveling approx 30 mph. car shuddered and speed dropped to about 10 mph. transmission wouldn't shift out of low with rpm approaching 4000 rpm. stopped at light, car stalled all sensor lights came on and flashed. got it restarted, had to put in low to move...got it moving at ~3500 rpm, went a block to get off the main road into parking lot. cooling fan running, but temp gauge showed no issue. puddle of brown fluid formed under passenger side front of engine. looked like fluid sprayed through front passenger side of engine compartment no indication on sensor lights or temp gauge that anything wrong prior to stall and all sensor lights came on. had car towed to honda...they diagnosed as 2 transmission cooling lines burst mixing the transmission and cooling fluid. fix options...1) flush cooling & tranny system 5-7 times, replace radiator, filter, and lines for $1600-1800 but won't know if transmission needs replacing. 2) full replacement of radiator, lines and transmission $3800 or if option 1 chosen and subsequently transmission needs to be replaced it would cost the initial $1600-1800 plus an additional $4000 for a total of approx $5800. no indicator from dealer of the problem history for this vehicle. had previously complained about shudder and the dealer replaced a wheel bearing first, then when kept complaining they replaced my rotors saying the rotors had warped ...after being resurfaced only ~3600k miles prior. learned lesson....investigate any problems on -line before you accept the dealer explanation. *tr

There is a shuddering in the transmission that is getting worse over time. it seems to be happening around 35-40 mph. i have changed the fluid, and spoke to numerous mechanics, and they all seem to just blow it off . or say they never heard of it before. but while reading the forums on the internet, there are many people who are experiencing the same issue with these vehicles and similar vehicles with the same drive trains. this should be investigated for a recall of the transmission or torque converter before someone gets killed. *tr

Intermittent vibration in the front passenger side when accelerating, at about 30-35 mph. sometimes just slightly noticeable and sometimes significant enough so that the entire vehicle vibrates for a few seconds. we just purchased it used yesterday and did not notice the vibrations while test driving it. *tr

Our 2005 honda pilot has been pretty good for last seven years and 132,000 miles, although we wanted to keep it to 200,000 miles. last saturday, out of nowhere, it started to leak thick, pink liquid on our driveway. it appeared to me, and after looking at the owner's manual, that the issue was the radiator. it was a cold day so i started to drive to the dealer, watching the engine temperature light on the way. the car only went two miles before transmission stopped working. the car has now been at a local repair shop for a week and three days while i rent another vehicle. it is my understanding that this is a common issue in pilot's after going over 100,000 miles (catastrophic radiator failure that leads to transmission failure). honda should make certain that owners replace the radiator components that lead to this catastrophic failure before the owner has to replace both the radiator and the transmission. i would have certainly bought a new car if i had known this was coming up on the horizon, but now my investment in this vehicle will be too high to get rid of it. it seems that with some preventive maintenance, $5000 to $7000 of repairs could have been avoided, and i bet the honda dealer does not offer me $5k to $7k in trade in. *tr

Started experiencing a shudder when accelerating between 35-40 mph. apparently, this seems to be a large problem with the 2005 honda pilots. the issue is intermittent and two shops were not able to reproduce the issue. both shops told me they have seen this issue before in the pilot and mdx. the problem is still intermittent but getting worse. *tr

There is an obvious shudder when my honda pilot reaches 35-40 mph, i have 107,000 miles on the pilot. we just started feeling the shudder so i decided to go online to see what could possibly cause this before i shell out tons of cash on a bunch of "well this should fix it" and it doesn't. i binged "my 2005 honda pilot is shaking when i drive" and about the 5th site down i found a site that contained complaints about my issue only they called it a shudder, now i'm terrified because the individuals on this site have had complete transmission failure and i now know that the little shudder that i feel is the only warning and i still don't know how long i have and i can get a rebuilt transmission but that is doomed to fail also. honda is in denial about the situation even though several have called and asked for assistance with repairs and complaints about how much the repairs are and how people are placed in danger because of the failure, i am afraid to let my newly licensed 16 and 17 yr old drive the car because drivers education didn't teach them how to handle transmission failure and i don't want them hurting themselves or anyone else. this is a safety issue that requires a new transmission replacement, not a patch or code or a rebuild that's going to breakdown after a few ten thousand miles. clearly this is a problem and some investigating on behalf of the consumer needs to be done to keep us safe. *tr

When the vehicle gets to about 30 mph you feel a shudder in the transmission. after momentarily losing inertia, the vehicle is able to increase speed and continue without hesitation. i've had the dealer check it and they think it may be a faulty torque converter. this has been ongoing for a number of years.

Car started to slip out of gear with no warning at all on the highway and started to shudder. got off the highway and suddenly car wouldn't move in the middle of an intersection...just started overheating and then there was a huge puddle of on the ground. had to have it towed to the honda dealer where we were told the hoses had failed and we needed new hoses and radiator after that is replaced we will find out if we need a new transmission. total cost will be approx: $6,000. looked on http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f1155f7/299!keywords=#msg299 and see that there are a number of people with this same issue happening. apparently this is the same trans that is in the 2003 which was recalled. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. the contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to accelerate from stops with an abnormal increase in engine rpms. the vehicle eventually stopped accelerating completely. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that there was a catastrophic failure of the radiator and transmission. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileages were 112,776. updated 02/03/12*lj updated 03/21/12

The first incident occurred while traveling at highway speeds. the car violently jerked forward 3 times and came to a complete sudden stop on the interstate. luckily no one was following too close or we would have been rear ended. my foot was on the accelerator maintaining a steady speed, and it was like i stomped on the break rapidly three times and then the car came to a complete stop. we took the car to the honda dealership and they could not repeat the issue but said that the battery wasn't putting out the proper amount of amps and was likely resulting in the computer sending faulty messages. they replaced the battery. the car seemed to be fixed when the battery was replaced, but then the issue recurred about two months later at the end of february 2012. while accelerating at about 30 mph, the car violently came to a sudden stop in the middle of the road. again, we were lucky to not be not rear ended. we took the car to another auto shop, but they weren't able to duplicate the issue. they assessed the computer and noted a faulty egr valve and replaced it. the car drove fine for two weeks after that, then the issue recurred for a third time, again at about 30 mph. the same thing occurred; the car came to a sudden stop in the middle of the road after the sensation of stomping on the breaks several times. the car is in the shop again, and they can't recreate the problem. their assessment is leading them to believe there is a faulty abs switch or brake booster. after several failed repair attempts, we aren't confident that anyone knows what the problem is. however, if you read the forums online, this is a problem that has been reported by dozens of people with my year, make/model and at the approximate mileage as my car. if we continue driving the car, we are scared we may injure ourselves or others. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. the contact stated that the cooling line that lead to the transmission burst, causing the vehicle to stall. the dealer diagnosed that the lines and the transmission would need to be replaced. the manufacturer denied any assistance with repairs to the failure. the dealer was in the process of repairing the vehicle. the failure and the current mileage was 106,700.

Noticed vehicle left a large puddle in the driveway. checked under hood and it appeared something had leaked/sprayed in the engine compartment towards the passengers side. took to mechanic. diagnosis of problem (paraphrased as best as i can recall)- transmission cooling part failed and leaked into radiator causing trans fluid and antifreeze to mix, flow through engine and spray out. mechanic stated it's something he doesn't see often and it's a major repair (think 1k). a quick search of the internet shows this is an issue with 05 honda pilots and that honda is not taking responsibility for it. this is obviously a design flaw or defect and they are doing nothing. hopefully the problem was caught/addressed in time to repair without having caused additional major damage to my engine. unacceptable. *tr

I would be driving in the 30 mph range and the vehicle would start to shudder when changing gears. the distraction causes me to stop in traffic and suddenly pull over. pohanka honda in salisbury, md states it is a bad torque converter. there are hundreds of complaint about this issue on the internet about the 2005 honda pilot, but complaints reflect there was no recall. now i am out of warranty. if i am not contacting the correct entity, please refer me. thank you. *tr

I began to experience a slight shudder when vehicle speed reached 35 mph. not sure cause at the time so had tires and wheels checked and had mechanic try and replicate. no indication of a problem was noted and frequency at first was occasional but began to increase in frequency and duration. problem has become worse but always between 35-45 mph and disappears as speed increases. i have contacted dealer and was informed that there had not been any unusual increase in problems like this and would have to check it out. also informed no existing recalls or notices were on file. contacted my transmission service rep. and was informed the transmission was very likely failing and would probably need to be replaced. his estimate to replace $4000-$4500 ! 55,000 miles on vehicle?????? *tr

Transmission is slipping when you try to accelerate in any speed. *tt

I drove up a steep drive way, i heard a grinding noise and my car stopped without me touching the brakes. i didn't know what was going on, so i put the car in neutral and put it back into drive and it seemed to be ok for the moment. i dropped my daughter off at a class and i proceeded to run a couple of errands. about one mile from where the stopping started the car did it again. it is like i slammed on the brakes but, i was not even touching the brakes at all. it proceeded to get worse and worse. the slamming on the brakes would happen every few feet. i was able to drive slowly to a nearby garage. the said i had a rear axel broken. we had the repairs done and the car seemed ok for a couple of months. yesterday, 1-10-12 as i was taking my daughter to school i drove about .5 of a mile in our neighborhood and after i stopped at a light and started to accelerate the car did it again. this time my vsa light came on. we took it to a nearby garage and they said the vsa module needed to be reset. we picked up the car and it drove around 2 miles and it was fine then later in the day we backed out of the garage and the car started to slam on the brakes again about one house away. it wouldn't stop it did it over and over every few feet. we called a tow truck to come take it back to the garage. *tr