2011 HONDA PILOT Engine Problems

I was driving along [XXX] , wheb I came to a stop at the stoplight at the intersection of [XXX] The vehicle shut off and couldn't restart. I had to tow it to a garage where the engine is being repaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

We have our truck services only at the dealership. My husband had the oil changed just two months ago. He had to take the truck back to the dealership last week because it was making a strange noise and when he checked the oil gage it was empty. When he got to the dealership the lady that helped us told us this was due to excessive oil consumption. I was able to look at the website www.vehiclehistory.com/articles/honda-pilot-excessive-oil-consumption-recalls and found out there is a documented issue with the 2009-2013 Honda pilots. I purchased this vehicle in 2013 and and did not have a problem until now. Honda needs to fix this as this fall under this recall even if the VIN number was not initially associated with this. This vehicle has only been serviced at Russ Darrow Honda in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I have never been advised of anything until now. I really need help with this. I have been a loyal Honda owner as this is my third Honda and I am not in position to purchase a new vehicle so please help. [XXX], [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

The owns a 2011 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle started shaking abnormally and almost stalled. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and waited for several minutes before the vehicle regained stability functionality and the vehicle stopped shaking. The VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) warning light illuminated. The failure had occurred five times. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine block was causing oil leaking from piston rings unto the spark plugs. The spark plug was replaced and the contact was advised to drive at speeds of 40 MPH or slower. The repair was provided as a temporary fix. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

The front cylinder head valve cover developed an erosion hole adjacent to the middle spark plug (#5) tube cutout. The valve cover is available for inspection. This portion of the valve cover is directly above the oxygen sensor on the exhaust manifold. Engine oil could leak onto the hot manifold and ignite, causing an engine fire. I have not taken this cover to a Honda dealer or independent service center as I do my own maintenance work on my vehicles. This failure occurred after 153,235 miles and there were no indications, messages, or symptoms. The hole was not leaking oil as it was filled with valve cover material that had degraded and turned into powder. The powder was easily dislodged after probing with a metal pick, leaving a hole in its place. The #5 ignition coil was inspected and was visually unremarkable. The engine was not misfiring. The MIL lamp was off and there were no DTC codes present. A web search found several other complaints about this issue (with pictures of incidents of greater severity) and it is not confined to Honda vehicles.

My Honda Pilot 2011 EXL w/ AWD displayed a flashing engine light while driving, which is a sign of a serious engine problem. When it was towed to the Honda dealership, the service representative told me that a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) of P0302 was recovered, which occurs when the spark plugs misfire, and is fully described in Honda's Service Bulletin 13-082: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10152434-0001.pdf. I was told by the Honda service rep that one spark plug was fouled and covered with engine oil, and that I needed to clean the pistons and replace three piston rings along with the spark plug, a $3500+ repair. This costly problem with some Hondas was the subject of a class action lawsuit (Soto v. American Honda Motors), and is known to cause a sudden loss of power while driving, putting the driver, passengers, and other nearby vehicles at significant risk. By way of background, I began experiencing intermittent and temporary electrical system failure and increased oil consumption as early as January, 2021, which was never fully diagnosed until it progressed to a state of engine failure in September. Honda was clearly aware of this problem, yet it failed to take preemptive action to protect Honda owners and others. Rather than recalling vehicles with defective Program Control Module (PCM) software/firmware and updating it on affected vehicles (a relatively inexpensive fix), they allowed drivers to continue to operate their Hondas, effectively playing vehicular Russian Roulette, until their engines failed catastrophically, like mine did.

I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WAY THE ENGINE WAS BUILT, WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES INTO ECO-MODE 2 CYLINDERS SHUT OFF. IN THE 2011 MODELS, THE SAME 2 SHUT OFF EVERY TIME, THIS CAUSES THE OTHER CYLINDERS TO WEAR PREMATURELY. ENGINES ARE NOW BUILT TO RANDOMLY SHUT OFF 2 CYLINDERS. I'M VERY CURIOUS TO KNOW WHY A RECALL WAS NOT ISSUED L. SEEMS LIKE A VERY POOR BUSINESS PRACTICE ON HONDA'S PART. I GOT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I AM EXPECTING AND NEEDED A BIGGER VEHICLE BUT IT IS DEFINITELY NOT LOOKING LIKE I WOULD EVER RECOMMEND A HONDA TO ANYONE AT THIS POINT BASED ON THE FACT I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE DECEMBER 19TH AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR A MONTH. I'VE BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH AND AM NOT SURE WHEN I WILL GET THE VEHICLE BACK. IT'S COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. I GOT IN MY VEHICLE TO TAKE KIDS TO SCHOOL AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. INSTEAD OF TAKING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, IN THE MEANTIME EVERY LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON. ONCE WE GOT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAD THE TOOLS TO FIX WHATEVER WAS POTENTIALLY WRONG, WE WERE INFORMED OF THE ISSUE WITH THE CYLINDERS. I AM LOOKING INTO THE LEMON LAWS IN GEORGIA. IT IS INSANE THAT THE WARRANTY WILL ONLY COVER AN ENGINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, ONLY LESS MILES FOR 2400. SO IN ORDER TO GET AN ENGINE THAT I FEEL SAFE WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR, I HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET ANOTHER 3000. I WILL ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AS A RESULT OF THE WEAR ON THE ENGINE FROM HONDA'S FAULTY DESIGN.

Mileage: 172,000

MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME 6/28/19 AT MIDNIGHT. CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. RESTARTED AND DROVE SOME. SAME THING. MANY LIGHTS CAME ON. COASTED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY. TRIED ONE MORE TIME AND MADE IT HOME. MILES ON ODO: 118,279. THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED THE CA AND TRIED TO DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP. AFTER 3 MILES, THE SAME HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND HAD AAA TOW IT 5 MILES TO DEALERSHIP. AT DEALERSHIP, THE SAID MANY ERROR CODES CAME UP BUT THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). I PD $1,410.16 TO DO THIS ON JULY 2. I PICKED THE CAR UP AND DROVE LESS THAN A MILE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO START IT AGAIN AND THEN IT HAPPENED AS I COASTED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ANALYZED THE CAR, TALKED WITH HQ HONDA REPS AND THEY RECOMMENDED CHECKING THE SPARK PLUGS. THEY DID AND ALL 6 WERE BAD. HOWEVER, THEY WERE JUST REPLACED AT 102,42 MILES ABOUT 1 YEAR EARLIER. JULY 9. I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE DEALERSHIP TO THEIR CREDIT ONLY CHARGED ME $200 (COST OF LABOR). I WAS HESITANT TO REPLACE THEM AS I WAS NOT CERTAIN THEY HAD IDENTIFIED THE TRUE PROBLEM. I WAS SHOCKED AFTER SPENDING THE $1,400 THAT IT HAPPENED AGAIN. EVER SINCE THEN I AM WONDERING IF THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM ALSO CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM OF THE CAR JUST SHUTTING DOWN IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU FIND YOURSELF ON THE HIGHWAY. SO I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THIS AND TO SEE IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE. THANKS.

Mileage: 118,279

I HAVE REPLACED COILS AND PLUGS DUE TO MISFIRE CODE PO302 TWO OR MORE TIMES. I HAVE HAD CV JOINTS REPLACED 2 OR MORE TIMES. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS AGO. I HAVE CONTACTED HONDA USA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ONLY TO BE TOLD THEIR ARE NO RECALLS EXCEPT TAKATA AIRBAG. ONLY TO FIND OUT THEIR IS A (KNOWN) PROBLEM WITH CYLINDER MISFIRES FOR MY VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THIS UP TO HONDA'S ATTENTION. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

Mileage: 163,000

MY 2011 PILOT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN AUG 2011, HAS LESS THAN 68000 MILES AND I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CA, YET: MY BATTERY DIED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED APR 2018 (CAR WAS PARKED < 1HR AND WOULD NOT START, BUT STARTED FINE THE HOUR BEFORE). MY ENGINE CHECK TRANSMISSION SYSTEM LIGHT/WARNING CAME ON AND WE HAD TO ADD A QUART OF OIL ON JULY 18, 2019, EVEN THOUGH I HAD AN OIL CHANGE DONE IN MAY 2019 LESS THAN 500 MILES BEFORE. ON 7/24/19, MY FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED AND TODAY I HAD TO HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED NOT JUST A FUSE. I'M CONCERNED WHY A HONDA < 9 YRS OLD IS HAVING THESE ISSUES - BURNING OIL & MOTORS DYING. IS MY CAR A LEMON? CAN YOU PLEASE HELP TO ALLOW ME TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP SERVICE DO A FULL INSPECTION/FIX ON THE OIL ISSUE AT NO COST AND POSSIBLY A REIMBURSEMENT ON THE COST OF THE NEW WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR (PART & LABOR APPROX. $411 - I CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE LATER AS THE WORK IS BEING DONE TODAY)? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE IN ENSURING THAT MY CAR DOES NOT PROGRESS AS A LEMON. I HAVE BEEN A DEDICATED HONDA OWNER SINCE 1981 AND THIS IS THE FIRST ONE I'VE OWNED THAT HAS PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.

Mileage: 67,848

CONTINUED REPLACEMENT OF SPARK PLUGS AND BURNING TOO MUCH OIL. I'M NOW REPLACING SPARK PLUG #2 EVERY 6 MONTHS. WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE DRIVING, ALL ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE, ENGINE BEGINS TO SPUTTER AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE. NO OPTION AVAILABLE OTHER THAN TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. IN SOME CASES, SIMPLY THE ACT OF ACCELERATING TOO QUICKLY TO WILL CAUSE THE SAME ISSUE. VERY DANGEROUS! CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY THE CLASS ACTION AGAINST HONDA FOR THE 2011 HONDA PILOT ENGINE MISFIRE DIDN'T INCLUDE MY VIN# YET I CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE ENGINE MISFIRE? IT SHOULD BE APPARENT THAT THIS ISSUE WAS NOT SPECIFIC TO ONE MANUFACTURING PLANT AND THAT IT IS AN OVERALL DESIGN DEFECT. I PURCHASED MY 2011 HONDA PILOT BECAUSE I WANTED A SAFE AND RELIABLE VEHICLE. THIS ENGINE MISFIRE HAS LEFT ME SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CHILDREN AND DOGS IN TOW. THE OPPOSITE OF SAFE AND RELIABLE WITH A $30,000 PRICE TAG. VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT HONDA ISN'T STEPPING UP TO MAKE THESE REPAIRS.

Mileage: 149,000

MOVING KEY BACK AND FORTH IN DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK WILL RESULT IN ENGINE REPEATEDLY TURNING OVER, EVEN WITH NO KEY IN IGNITION. ENGINE DOESN'T ACTUALLY START BUT WILL CRANK BY ITSELF. CAR DOES NOT HAVE ANY TYPE OF REMOTE START INSTALLED. VIDEO OF EXAMPLE HERE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=YEFIB2TBMJ0

Mileage: 50,000

MY 2011 HONDA PILOT SHAKES GOING 80 OR MORE MILES PER HOUR. THE DASHBOARD SHAKES SO BAD THAT IT LOOKS LIKE ITS ABOUT TO POP OUT.

Mileage: 148,000

GOT A NEW BATTERY 36 MINS LATER THE CAR WAS ON FIRE

Mileage: 2

LATELY I'VE NOTICED MY 2011 HONDA PILOT HAS BEEN ACCELERATING SLOWER THAN NORMAL. I'VE DONE ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS. MY CAR HAS 100K MILES AND IS ALSO BURNING OIL. I THINK THE TWO ISSUES MIGHT BE CONNECTED.

MY 2011 HONDA PILOT HAS HAD A SEVERE SHUTTER WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP TO UP TO 40MPH. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN IN 2014. IT'S NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE JUST NORMAL ROAD DRIVING WHEN THE ECO MODE KICKS IN IT WILL ALSO SHUTTER TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO ACCELERATE TO GET IT TO STOP. I ALSO FIND THERE'S EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, EVEN HAVING TO REPLACE A MALFUNCTIONING SPARK PLUG THAT WAS COVERED IN OIL, WHICH ISN'T NORMAL EITHER. UPON CALLING THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM SO I HAD TO REPAIR IT OUT OF POCKET. RECENTLY MY CHECK ENGINE CAME ON SO I HAD IT SCANNED THE CODES THAT CAME UP CODES P3400, P3497 WHICH I UNDERSTAND HONDA HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN (NOT A RECALL) ABOUT THESE CODES & THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. HONDA IS NOT REPAIRING THESE KNOW ISSUES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S BEING PUT ON THE CONSUMER WHEN IT'S A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE...VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HONDA.

P0301 THROUGH P0304 HONDA ENGINE MISFIRE SETTLEMENT HONDA MANIPULATE THE DEALER TO MAKE FALSE ALLEGATIONS AND THE VEHICLE THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT. I WISH TO HAVE THE TRUTH COME TO LIGHT HOW THEY REFUSE TO SERVICE AND TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THEY RATHER NOT REPAIR IT EVEN THOUGH IT IS THERE. I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE MISFIRED. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE INTO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THEM TEST IT OUT AND THE DIAGNOSIS CAME BACK THAT I HAD TO CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS. IN WHICH I DID BUT NOW HONDA DOES NOT WISH TO REPAIR IT.

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION RESULTING IN SPARK PLUG MALFUNCTIONS. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED DURING ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS AS WELL AS WHILE BEING STATIONARY WITH VEHICLE RUNNING.

Mileage: 100,000

THE CAR STUTTERS WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS. THEY TOLD ME IT IS THE SPARK PLUGS AND THAT THERE IS A RECALL BUT NOT FOR MY VIN# ????? SAME CAR AND YEAR AS THE RECALL STATES. IT IS THE SAME ISSUES AS THE CARS THAT HAVE THE RECALL VIN#.

Mileage: 84,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. HALF AN HOUR AFTER THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS AWAITING INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

Mileage: 66,000

HONDA ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB #11-033) RELATED TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR AND VIN WAS IN THE RANGE OF THE VINS AFFECTED. I HAD TO REPLACE PISTON RINGS AND SPARK PLUGS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED HONDA, I WAS TOLD THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THOSE AFFECTED EVEN THOUGH I WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM BECAUSE MY PARTS WERE NOT LISTED AS COMING FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER. IF I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE; MAYBE THERE IS MORE THAN ONE HONDA MANUFACTURER THAT IS AT THE ROOT OF THIS PROBLEM!

Mileage: 168,000

WHILE SLOWING TO YIELD ONTO A HIGHWAY I WAS BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS STOPPED TO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AS I SLOWED TO A STOP, THE PILOT QUICKLY ACCELERATED TO 5000 RPM WHILE I'M PUSHING THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR AND CAME WITHIN INCHES ON CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE IN TO PARK. IT THEN DROPPED DOWN ON ITS OWN TO NORMAL IDLE. THIS IS A 2011 HONDA PILOT TOURING WITH 29,800 MILES.

Mileage: 29,800

MY 2011 HONDA PILOT TOURING HAD TO HAVE ALL 3 ENGINE MOUNTS AND THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT REPLACED. THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY ON ACCELERATION AND ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING AND PUT A LOT OF MILES ON MY VEHICLE. CURRENTLY I HAVE 128,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. I REALIZE THAT A VEHICLE WITH A HIGH NUMBER OF MILES WILL EXPERIENCE SOME WEAR TEAR, I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HAVE TO REPLACE MOUNTS THAT HOLD MY ENGINE IN PLACE. ALSO, I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH BUSHINGS AS THEY WERE BOTH RIPPED. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS SUV HAS COST ME A LOT MONEY IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE FAILING AT THE SAME TIME. I WILL HAVE TO RECONSIDER MY NEXT HONDA PURCHASE.

Mileage: 126,700

ON JULY 19, 2014 I HAD AN OIL APPOINMENTAT 1:30 TO HAVE MY FREE OIL CHANGE. OF COURSE THE DEALERSHIP HAS TO MAKE MONEY SOME HOW, SO MY SERVICE ADVISOR OFFERED THAT I HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED. SINCE I WAS GETTING THE FREE OIL I FELT AS THOUGH I NEEDED TO BUY FOR SOME SERVICE. SO THE DID BOTH OIL AND TRANSMISSION SERVICE. LEFT THE DEALSHIP NO MORE THAN TEN MINUTES LATER ON MY WAY HOME,MY PILOT STARTED SMOKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE AS I STOPPED AND WAS PRAYING THE LIGHT TURN GREE N SO I COULD GO I TURNED AND MORE SMOKE COME UP. I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN TO MY HOUSE WHICH WAS NOT FAR AWAY AND GOT MY HUSBANC TO COME BACK WITH ME ONLY TO FIND MY CAR COMPLETLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT OCCURED FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. NOW THE FIRE INSPECTOR THAT WAS HIRED BY MY INSURNCE COMPANY STATED THAT ON THE FIRST INSPECTION THERE WAS NO TRANSMISSION OIL IN THE CAR IT HAD ALL LEAKED OUT. TRANSMISSION IS VERY FLAMABLE. I WOULD COULD HAVE DIED IN THAT CAR. NOTHING WAS SALVAGABLE. I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH FOR SOMEOME TO CHECK ABOUT THIS. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MYT INSURANCE COMAPNY. I HAVE ALSO FILED A CLAIM AGAINST HONDA DIRECTLY AND OF COURSE I HAVE NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH. THIS WAS A DEVASTATING ACCIDENT/FIRE WHAT EVER THAT I HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH. I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP LEVEL AND THIS HAS REALLY PUT A SCARY SITUATION FOR ME. I AM VERY HESITATE ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS NOW. I HAVE LOTS OF PICTURES THAT I TOOK THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. FIRE TOTALLY BURNT MY CAR. PLEASE CONTACT ME [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 37,000

WHILE DOING ROUTINE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSA LIGHT, AND VTM-4 LIGHT ALL CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING NORMALLY SO I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT. THEN ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER THE VSA LIGHT AND VTM-4 LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. THEY SAID THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT A POSSIBLE CAUSE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE REGARDING RINGS AND PISTONS ON V6 HONDA ENGINES FROM 2009 TO 2013 THAT ALLOWS THE OIL TO SEEP PAST THE RINGS AND FOUL THE PLUGS AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FROM HONDA. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT THE ISSUE THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS REPORTING THAT CYLINDER 2 HAD MISFIRED ONCE (THEY DID NOT STATE THAT IT WAS DUE TO OIL FOULING THE SPARK PLUG BUT MY ADVISER IMPLIED THAT WAS THE CAUSE WHEN HE MENTIONED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE OIL LEVELS AND CHANGE THE OIL AT 5000 MILES). THEY REPLACED ALL OF THE SPARK PLUGS AND UPDATED THE VSA SOFTWARE PER A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN??) FROM HONDA. THE SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME THE ISSUE MIGHT NEVER REOCCUR, OR IT MIGHT, AND THAT I SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE OIL LEVEL MONTHLY, AND CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 5000 MILES MAX (I'VE USED MOBIL 1 FULLY SYNTHETIC SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW... AND SUPER UNLEADED GAS). IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN I'LL ATTEMPT TO PUSH THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE RINGS AND PISTONS AS THEY ARE DOING FOR SOME CUSTOMERS. IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN I'LL NEED TO SELL THE VEHICLE IN THE NEXT 3 YEARS BEFORE THE EXTENDED 8 YEAR WARRANTY ON THIS ISSUE EXPIRES, WHICH IS TOO BAD BECAUSE IT'S BEEN MOSTLY A GREAT VEHICLE, IN GREAT CONDITION, AND WITH LOW MILES. HONDA REALLY SHOULD BE DOING A RECALL ON THIS, BUT INSTEAD IT SEEMS THEY WOULD RATHER LOSE CUSTOMERS AND FUTURE SALES. *TR

Mileage: 41,000

I PURCHASED A 2011 HONDA PILOT IN OCTOBER 2014. FROM THE FIRST DAY OF DRIVING IT, I NOTICED A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN/ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WHEN THE ENGINE WAS SWITCHING INTO "ECO" MODE. THE VIBRATION CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, GAS PEDAL, AND FLOOR BOARD. IT BECOMES WORSE WHEN CRUISING AT A LOW RPM, OR WHEN CLIMBING A HILL (NO MATTER HOW STEEP THE HILL IS) WHEN THE ECO MODE IS ENGAGED. THE VIBRATION ONLY STOPS WHEN THE CAR IS REQUIRED TO INCREASE THE RPM, EITHER FROM MANUALLY DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, OR THE COMPUTER DECIDING IT NEEDS MORE POWER. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT EXPERIENCE THIS VIBRATION UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP AND THE ECO MODE ENGAGES. WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, THE ECO MODE DOES NOT KICK IN, AND THERE IS NO VIBRATION. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. VEHICLE CONSTANTLY VIBRATES/SHUDDERS AS ENGINE RUN IN ECO MODE AND AS VCM KICKS IN/OUT OR IS IN USE. I SEE HUNDREDS OF SAME COMPLAINT ON HONDA MESSAGE BOARDS AND ALL HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME RESPONSE FROM HONDA. THEY INDICATE IT IS NORMAL OPERATION AND NOTHING THEY CAN DO. ANYONE THAT'S DRIVEN A VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN A FEW HOURS CAN TELL YOU IT'S NOT NORMAL FOR A VEHICLE TO VIBRATE LIKE THAT. IN MY DRIVING, I FIND IT TO BE NOT ONLY ANNOYING, BUT VERY DISTRACTING AS I'M CONSTANTLY TRYING TO CHANGE SPEEDS/RPM, ETC. TO MAKE THE VIBRATIONS GO AWAY. THIS CONSTANT DISTRACTION IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I IMPLORE YOU TO GET HONDA TO OWN THE SITUATION AND FIND A FIX. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

THE TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE IS SHUDDERING OR SHIFTING ABNORMALLY WHEN DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

I WAS STOPPED IN A DRIVE THRU WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND 2 VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. SUDDENLY ,WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE, MY TRUCK LUNGED FORWARD HITTING THE TRUCK IN FRONT ON ME AND FORCING THAT TRUCK TO HIT THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF THEM. BUT IT DIDN'T END THERE. WHEN MY TRUCK ORIGINALLY LUNGED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND AFTER HITTING THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, MY TRUCK ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UP AND DOWN AND MY TRUCK CONTINUED TO BOUNCE OFF AND ON THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT I PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND WAS PUSHING AS HARD AS I COULD TRYING TO MAKE MY TRUCK STOP. I WAS PRACTICALLY STANDING ON THE BRAKES, BUT I HAD NO CONTROL. THE REVVING AND BOUNCING OFF AND ON THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME WENT ON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. FINALLY, MY LEGS GOT TIRED FROM PUSHING SO HARD ON THE BRAKES I JUST TOOK THEM OFF AND THE TRUCK JUST STOPPED MOVING AND ENGINE STOPPED REVVING. WHEN ALL OF THIS WAS HAPPENING, MY SENSORS NEVER WENT OFF. ALTHOUGH WHEN MY TRUCK CAME TO A STOP , I PUT IT IN PARK AND GOT OUT TO SEE IF THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME WAS OK. I NOTICED THAT I WAS WITHIN 2 INCHES OF HER BUMPER AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY TRUCK, THE SENSOR WAS ONLY BEEPING. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA WHO ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO HONDA OF BOWIE, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT AN INSPECTOR FROM AMERICAN HONDA AND THE SERVICE MANAGER FROM HONDA OF BOWIE WOULD INSPECT THE TRUCK THOROUGHLY. AFTER DOING SO, THEY INFORMED MY HUSBAND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I FEEL THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS TRUCK AND I AM VERY NERVOUS AND ANXIOUS WHEN DRIVING IT. I FEEL HONDA HAS LET ME DOWN AND IS REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 75,760

VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW IN 2011. NO ISSUES UNTIL MID 2012. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START CAR, THE STARTING SEQUENCE WORKS BUT ENGINE DOES NOT TURNOVER. THE STARTER CLICKS, BUT NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, CAR HAD TO BE JUMPSTARTED TO GET STARTED. BATTERY TEST WAS CONDUCTED WITH NO ISSUES. THE SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH TIMES IT HAPPENED, THE CAR EVENTUALLY STATED WITH NO ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN CA, SO COLD WEATHER IS NOT A FACTOR. BATTERY CHECKS EACH TIME INDICATE NO ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY. MOST RECENT TIME, ON 2/23/14, SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 6,000

OUR 2011 HONDA PILOT STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CLOSEST HONDA DEALERSHIP. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF SENSORS AND A STARTER BEING REPLACED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ENGINE FAILURE CAME FROM A SHREDDED TIMING BELT. SERVICE DEPARTMENT PUT ON NEW BELT AND COULD NOT FIND ROOT CAUSE OF BELT FAILING AT 26,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 26,100

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING OIL EXCESSIVELY AND SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHORT BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. *TR

Mileage: 3,000

WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THIS MORNING, I HEARD A HIGH-PITCHED GRINDING NOISE - SOMETHING I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE. DRIVING AT 30MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES ROUNDING A CORNER. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REVVING UP SO I QUICKLY SHIFTED IT INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THEN SHIFTED IT INTO DRIVE AND CONTINUED ON. *TR

Mileage: 40,008