2005 Honda Pilot Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 176 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2005 Honda Pilot, 26% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 97,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “torque converter” (19% of reports).
- 176power train complaints
- 97,500median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $5,700typical repair cost reported by owners
- 18%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 33 of 176 complaints (19%)
- Transmission fluid: mentioned in 33 of 176 complaints (19%)
- Radiator failed: mentioned in 13 of 176 complaints (7%)
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 2005 Honda Pilot at $5,700, and half of them between $1,350 and $7,250.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2010–2017), 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 168 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 176 complaints, 2 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 (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the 2005 Honda Pilot. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at various speeds on several occasions, there was a cranking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was…
My children bought this vehicle for me because i lost my job due to covid aftereffects and i had to return my kia soul 2014 to the creditors.i was delivering food boxes to the elderly when the at temp light came on and the transmission started to lockup i had to pullover because the car was running…
Transmission cooling mechanism in lower part of radiator failed causing transmission fluid to leak into the radiator and mix with coolant. Introduction of antifreeze into the transmission caused damage which would require replacement of transmission, radiator, hoses, flush the engine, etc. Even…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2005 Honda Pilots have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 176 owner complaints about power train for the 2005 Honda Pilot (26% of the 679 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 2005 Honda Pilot power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 97,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2005 Honda Pilot?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,700 (half paid between $1,350 and $7,250), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2005 Honda Pilot?
The most frequent phrase is “torque converter”, in 33 of 176 complaints, followed by “transmission fluid” (33).
Other 2005 Honda Pilot problems
See all 2005 Honda Pilot problems or power train problems across all Pilot years.