2003 Honda Pilot Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 224 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2003 Honda Pilot, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 122,493 miles. The words owners use most often: “automatic transmission” (11% of reports).
- 224power train complaints
- 122,493median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Automatic transmission: mentioned in 25 of 224 complaints (11%)
- Second gear: mentioned in 21 of 224 complaints (9%)
- Torque converter: mentioned in 20 of 224 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2003 Honda Pilot at $5,800, and half of them between $3,850 and $6,500.
Based on 25 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2013), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 198 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 224 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 3 an injury.
Honda Pilot power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Pilot | 3 | 13% | — |
| 2025 Pilot | 22 | 11% | 22,000 |
| 2024 Pilot | 12 | 10% | 20,000 |
| 2023 Pilot | 10 | 7% | — |
| 2022 Pilot | 16 | 10% | 18,000 |
| 2021 Pilot | 25 | 6% | 20,000 |
| 2020 Pilot | 35 | 7% | 56,994 |
| 2019 Pilot | 93 | 10% | 31,700 |
| 2018 Pilot | 78 | 18% | 51,000 |
| 2017 Pilot | 122 | 13% | 40,000 |
| 2016 Pilot | 201 | 12% | 47,500 |
| 2015 Pilot | 11 | 10% | 55,000 |
| 2014 Pilot | 7 | 6% | 18,500 |
| 2013 Pilot | 54 | 20% | 3,000 |
| 2012 Pilot | 20 | 12% | 4,839 |
| 2011 Pilot | 21 | 7% | 45,000 |
| 2010 Pilot | 6 | 5% | 109,369 |
| 2009 Pilot | 12 | 9% | 82,115 |
| 2008 Pilot | 11 | 8% | 101,842 |
| 2007 Pilot | 13 | 6% | 99,000 |
| 2006 Pilot | 13 | 5% | 105,487 |
| 2005 Pilot | 176 | 26% | 97,500 |
| 2004 Pilot | 142 | 26% | 106,000 |
| 2003 Pilot | 224 | 31% | 122,493 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: On some mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage.
Risk: Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
Fix: On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission to identify gears that have already experienced discoloration due to overheating. If discoloration exists, the transmission will be replaced if discoloration is not present, the dealer will perform the revision to the oil cooler return line. The recall began on april 21, 2004, for pilot, odyssey, and mdx owners. Owners of the accord vehicles will start receiving letters on june 28, 2004, and on june 29, 2004, for owners of the tl and cl vehicles. Owners should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle violently jolted forward with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The failure had…
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle failed to shift into gear properly, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware…
Water leaked into front floors of vehicle soaking the carpet and the fuse panels in the floor. Yes it is available. Fuse boxes had standing water building up behind them slowly dumping water into them causing shorts in electrical system which could have caused the car to catch on fire. Yes the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Honda Pilots have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 224 owner complaints about power train for the 2003 Honda Pilot (31% of the 720 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Honda Pilot power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 122,493 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2003 Honda Pilot?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,800 (half paid between $3,850 and $6,500), from 25 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2003 Honda Pilot?
The most frequent phrase is “automatic transmission”, in 25 of 224 complaints, followed by “second gear” (21).
Other 2003 Honda Pilot problems
- Electrical System problems (129)
- Air Bags problems (115)
See all 2003 Honda Pilot problems or power train problems across all Pilot years.