2012 HONDA PILOT Complaints

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY HONDA PILOT 2012 LX SINCE NOV 2012, THOUGH HAVE BEEN VISITED HONDA ABOUT 03 TIMES FOR BRAKES, THE CURRENT MILES ARE APPROX 37400 MILES AND ALREADY RESURFACED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS 2 TIMES, THIS IS DUE TO THE VEHICLE WEIGHT PER HONDA, IT SEEMS THE ISSUE IS WITH ROTORS, EVEN AFTER DRIVING REALLY CONSERVATIVELY THE ROTORS GET UNEVEN REALLY FAST, I SINCERELY BELIEVE THE ROTORS NEED TO BE OF BETTER QUALITY AND HENCE REPLACED BY HONDA. *TR

SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING OUT AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE WILL HESITATE AND BOG DOWN FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT "KICKS IN" AND THEN THERE IS A "SURGE OF POWER". THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AT THE LEAST AND ALSO VERY DANGEROUS AS ONE COULD EASILY GET REARENDED OR WORSE YET GET CAUGHT IN THE INTERSECTION IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME I WAS BARELY ABLE TO ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO HONDA DEALERS OF THIS EXISTING PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION OR ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. SOMEONE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE THIS GETS THEIR ATTENTION. SEE LINK BELOW OF COMPLAINTS. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2012/HONDA/PILOT/VEHICLE_SPEED_CONTROL/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

PROBLEM: WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A RESISTANCE/HESITATION THAT IS FELT IN THE GAS PEDAL AND THE ENGINE HAS TROUBLE INCREASING RPM'S. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. CASE I: WHILE IN A PARKING LOT, TRYING TO PICK UP A LITTLE SPEED. GAS PEDAL HAS RESISTANCE AND ENGINE WON'T PICK UP SPEED. I KEEP MY FOOT STEADY ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN PILOT PICKS UP SPEED IN A UNEXPECTED RUSH. HIGH LEVEL OF DANGER DUE TO PEOPLE PRESENT IN THE AREA; AS THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED AMOUNT OF SPEED. CASE II: ROAD TYPE: THREE LANE ROAD IN EACH DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC. WHILE IN THE LEGAL U-TURN LANE, I OBSERVE THAT THERE IS ENOUGH DISTANCE TO MAKE A U-TURN. FROM A STOP I TRY TO PICK UP SPEED (I WAS AIMING FOR 5K RPM'S, I KNOW HOW FAR TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO GET THAT RESPONSE). A GREAT RESISTANCE AND LACK OF RESPONSE FROM THE GAS PEDAL WAS FELT. THERE WAS MINIMAL ACCELERATION HAPPENING AND THEN AFTER ABOUT 6 TO 8 SECONDS, THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO GET TO 6K RPM'S. AS THE CARS APPROACHED FASTER I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. AS THERE HAVE BEEN MORE CASES, THESE ARE TO TWO MOST DANGEROUS ONES. *NOTE: THE RESISTANCE/HESITATION OF THE GAS PEDAL HAPPENS UNDER ANY TEMPERATURE IN THE CABIN. *TR

ON APRIL 30 2014 MY WIFE [XXX] ENTERED THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA CAMPUS IN THE 2012 HONDA PILOT. SHE APPROACHED THE GUARD BOOTH AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS CAN BE VERIFIED AS THE GUARD STOPPED HER AND THEY HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE TO PARK. [XXX] THEN ACCELERATED OUT OF THE GUARD BOOTH WHILE MAKING AN IMMEDIATE LOW SPEED RIGHT TURN DOWN A RAMP INTO A PARKING GARAGE. FROM THIS POINT THE HONDA PILOT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DOWN THE RAMP AS SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND FAILED TO BRAKE. IT JUMPED A SMALL MEDIAN AND EVENTUALLY HIT A CONCRETE BLOCK WALL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP. [XXX] MAINTAINS THAT SHE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING THE DESCENT DOWN THE RAMP UP THE MOMENT OF IMPACT AND THE CAR WAS STILL CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE AND BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. I CONTACTED HONDA AND SUBMITTED A WRITTEN REQUEST THAT THE EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) BE TESTED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM HONDA CALLED ME ON SEPTEMBER 6 (I WAS ONLY GIVEN A FIRST NAME OF [XXX]) HE EXPLAINED THAT ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 19 A TECHNICIAN EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT NO PRE ACCIDENT DATA COULD BE RECOVERED. HE EXPLAINED THAT WHILE THE 2012 HONDA PILOT HAS AN EDR ONLY SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECORD PRE ACCIDENT DATA AND THAT MINE DID NOT HAVE THIS ABILITY. HE ALSO SAID THAT I WOULD NOT RECEIVE A REPORT OR ANY CONFIRMATION IN WRITING ABOUT THE INCIDENT OR SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER MANUAL INDICATES THAT EDRS HAS THE ABILITY TO RECORD DATA UP TO 30 SECONDS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT IT WILL REPORT IF THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE WAS BEING ACTIVATED AT THE MOMENT OF IMPACT. IT WILL ALSO INDICATE THE VEHICLE SPEED. MY REQUEST IS THAT HONDA FOLLOW THROUGH AND TEST THE EDR TO DETERMINE IF THE BRAKES AND OR ACCELERATOR MALFUNCTIONED AS [XXX] MAINTAINS AND SUPPLY THE RESULTS TO ME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2012 HONDA PILOT TOURING. AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW DAYS, I TUNED INTO A CONSIDERABLE VIBRATION IN MY SEAT MOSTLY AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS. I BELIEVE IT IS THE SAME SHUDDER THAT OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. I HAVE BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON 2 OCCASIONS SO FAR AND THEY HAVE BALANCED, ROTATED, AND EVEN PUT NEW WHEELS FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE ON IT. I SWEAR I CONTINUE TO FEEL IT AND HONDA TECHS INCLUDING THE MASTER TECH SAY IT DRIVES NORMAL. IT DRIVES ME INSANE AND I CONTINUOUSLY ADJUST SPEEDS TO AVOID IT FROM HAPPENING WHICH IS DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY. IT ALSO PULLS CONSIDERABLY TO THE LEFT EVEN WHEN THE ROAD SLOPES RIGHT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IF SOMEONE EVER DRIFTED WHILE DRIVING, IT IS STRAIGHT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC! I ALSO WONDER ABOUT LONGEVITY OF THE TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER ETC. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE EXCITED DRIVING A NEW CAR, AND NOW I AM FRUSTRATED THE ENTIRE RIDE EACH AND EVERY TIME. I REGRET THIS PURCHASE. THIS HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT I WANT TO RETURN OR TAKE A LOSS AND TRADE IT FOR ANOTHER CAR MANUFACTURER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN A $42,000 VEHICLE. OTHER THAN THIS SOLE ISSUE, I LOVE THE PILOT. I DECIDED TO ADD MY ENTRY TO HOPEFULLY HELP GET HONDA'S ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE AND RESOLVE FOR THOSE OF US EXPERIENCING THIS. *TR

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BRAKING THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. CONFIRMED BY DEALERSHIP: WARPED ROTORS/ LIMITED BRAKE PAD USE: TO BE PRECISE 2 MILLIMETERS OF BRAKE PAD USE. MILEAGE IS UNDER 26,000, 2 & 1/2 YEAR OLD CAR. I AM AN AVERAGE DRIVER. IN MY OPINION TO HAVE THE ROTORS WARP WITH LIMITED USE ON THE BRAKE PADS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE FROM THE START. HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP IS STIPULATING WEAR AND TEAR WITH A $600 BILL INCLUDING REPLACING MY LIMITED WORN BRAKE PADS. I'M SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER WITH THIS DEFECT. ABSOLUTELY ABSURD! *TR

GOOD MORNING, THIS SEEMS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM ON OUR VEHICLE. WHEN WE COME DO A STOP AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATES (2-3 SEC.). IN THE MEANTIME, I'M STILL PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DOWN TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO GO. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE CATCHES, BUT THEN WANTS TO TAKE OFF (ACCELERATE FAST). RECENTLY, MY WIFE SAID SHE CAME TO A STOP, WENT TO CROSS THE STREET, AND AS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE, SHE COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO GO AND EVENTUALLY HAD TO STOMP THE PEDAL TO AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. I HAVE ATTACHED A LINK TO A HONDA FORUM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AND IT DOESN'T SEEM HONDA HAS A SOLUTION. HONDA FORUM REGARDING ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.PILOTEERS.ORG/FORUMS/82-2012-2015-PILOT/31680-HESITATION-ANYONE-ELSE-NOTICE.HTML I WORRY ABOUT THIS HESITATION NO ONLY FOR MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY, BUT ALSO OTHERS THAT OWN THIS VEHICLE. THIS HESITATION ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY HONDA. *TR

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

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VTM4 LIGHT COME ON AFTER OVER AN HOUR OF DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE CAR SMELLS HAS WHILE DRIVING AND THE FUEL CONSUMPTION IS NOT EFFICIENT. IN ADDITION WHEN THE CAR SITS IN THE GARAGE FOR A FEW DAYS, MAYBE 2-3, AND I START DRIVING, THE WHEELS MAKE SOME DEEP BRUSHING NOISE. THIS GETS WORST WHEN I BRAKE. SOMETIMES IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING UNDER THE HOOD OR AROUND THE ENGINE. *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN MAY 2012, THERE WAS A SEVERE 'PULSING' VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING FROM SPEEDS > 60MPH. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THIS WAS BECAUSE IT SAT ON THE LOT WITHOUT BEING MOVED, AND 'MACHINED' THE RUST OFF THE ROTORS, WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED AT APPROXIMATELY 35000-40000 MILES. AGAIN THE DEALER SAYS IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR ROTORS, AND THEY NEED TO BE RESURFACED AND THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED. I OWNED A 2004 PILOT AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH IT IN THE 100,000 MILES I DROVE IT. MY DRIVING HABITS HAVE NOT CHANGED. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE ROTORS ON THIS MODEL - BRAKING DISTANCE IS LONGER THAN MY PRIOR MODEL AND THE VIBRATION/PULSING IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO CAUSE A CONCERN FOR SAFETY. *TR