2004 Honda Pilot Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 142 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2004 Honda Pilot, 26% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 106,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “torque converter” (23% of reports).
- 142power train complaints
- 106,000median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,450typical repair cost reported by owners
- 24%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.
- Torque converter: mentioned in 32 of 142 complaints (23%)
- Automatic transmission: mentioned in 22 of 142 complaints (15%)
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 2004 Honda Pilot at $5,450, and half of them between $3,700 and $6,550.
Based on 14 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2009–2013), 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 130 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 142 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 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 | 10% | 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.
Transmission locks up when vehicle has been driven for a short time
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the transmission was shifted into drive(D) and the vehicle shuddered. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V176000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the…
I was approaching a stop sign and slowing down to < 10 miles and the engine continued to slow down and the car started to push forward while I was totally pressing on the brake - it did not want to stop and kept pushing forward. I wasn't sure what was happening and quickly put it in neutral. My…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2004 Honda Pilots have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 142 owner complaints about power train for the 2004 Honda Pilot (26% of the 544 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 2004 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 106,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2004 Honda Pilot?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,450 (half paid between $3,700 and $6,550), from 14 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2004 Honda Pilot?
The most frequent phrase is “torque converter”, in 32 of 142 complaints, followed by “automatic transmission” (22).
Other 2004 Honda Pilot problems
- Seats problems (85)
- Air Bags problems (81)
- Electrical System problems (60)
See all 2004 Honda Pilot problems or power train problems across all Pilot years.