Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated she was informed by her daughter that the inside passenger side of the vehicle was on fire. The contact extinguished the fire with water. The fire department arrived afterward and informed that the electronic software was the cause of the fire. The contact was unsure if a fire report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries or medical treatments needed. The contact notified a local mechanic regarding the failure and was informed of the same information which the fire department provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.
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 of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,118.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated before accelerating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the catalytic convertor was replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
I notice you guys had other 2003 Honda Pilot transmissions recalls. I checked mine with the vin # and my car happens to not be included on that recall. To be honest everything stated on that recall is what exactly is happening on my car Can you please help thanks my car would get high rpms or jerk while driving or just rev and not move it changes all the time seems that also the colder the car is or not ran till the next day seems to drive normal but after car worms up it's starts to drive then rpm's jump high I got to let go of the gas in order for it to get its 2 nd shift and randomly it'll like hard jerk while driving like a hard stop then countinues at speed
Owner driver was stopped on red light along with 20 other cars , the driver was last in the lane and other driver did not applied brakes, this vehicle was banged from the back. Body damage was repaired by westminster Honda in costa mesa . California, body repair cost of $ 3,500 was paid by insurance company of the person who was at fault, the auto transmission replacement cost of $ 6,500 was recovered from the me who was not at fault. The question is at that time the air bag was not deployed because of fault? After that I got recall notice from American Honda for two air bags driver side and passenger side, the notice came in the month of January 2015, first they delayed the repair task by making an excuse that they are very busy and first appointment is available on February 28 th at auto nation Honda in gilbert az then I got an e mail and a call from dealer that the parts are on back …
Car ran away in reverse as if it had a mind of its own. Full weight on the brakes but the car kept accelerating. Crashed into utility pole encircled with old car tires. Car bounced off and then crashed into the pole over and over again. Hit gear shift into forward. Engine screaming really high revs, car raced forward and I did everything I could to avoid hitting parked vehicles and a pond as car kept going faster. With nowhere to head but golf course or highway, I steered onto a farm field and drove a half mile until I was able to pull out the keys from the starter which stopped car. I did not think I was injured at time but I ended up with whiplash which meant I lost about six months income. Honda refused compensation, or paid for any of the repairs of the car with exception of the key interface for starter . Honda claimed that nothings wrong with car. Said had my foot on accelerator. …
In the morning, on January 27, I had my 2 year old and 4 year old in the vehicle and I was driving my son to school. Less than a mile from home, going between 30-35mph, I tapped the brakes as I approached a bend in the road and after a brief initial pause (as you would expect), the car suddenly started rapidly accelerating - I started pressing the brakes to no avail - vehicle did not slow down - at this point I was in the curve and was unable to keep the vehicle on the road. I hit a small tree and continued careening out of control until I crashed in a ditch, hitting a wood hydro pole (thankfully not concrete) - both airbags deployed - I suffered a broken ankle, bruised ribs and seat belt abrasions - my 2 year old required stitches on her eye lid and eyebrow due to impact with her cup that she was holding at the time (we're lucky her sight wasn't affected). …
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. Upon starting the vehicle and shifting into drive, it failed to move. In addition, while the vehicle was at a stop light or while making turns, the vehicle continued idling. The check engine indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to jeff wyler Honda of colerain (8950 colerain ave, cincinnati, oh 45251, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the vehicle misfired and the transmission and gasket needed to be cleaned and replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 284,469.
Driving on the interstate approx 70 MPH for 150 miles. There was a smell similar to an electrical problem, noticed acrid smell and smoke out the rear view mirror. Pulled off the interstate. Lots of smoke for 5 min then stopped completely in 30 min. All levels OK, no leaks, no failures, all wiring cool, no shorts, all instrument OK. Waited approx 45min then drove 150 miles home with no problems. The next morning the car checked out OK. The fire burned approx 18 inches of insulation and scorched the passengers firewall in several places. Why did this happen?
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH and the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle stalled as the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted. The contact mentioned that the check engine warning light illuminated several times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 128,000.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
On certain minivans, sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles equipped with v6 engines, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned and could cause the timing belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head. Eventually the belt could be damaged and fail.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the water pump and if it is one of the defective pumps, the water pump and timing belt will be replaced. Owner notification began August 30, 2002.
Engine complaints in other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2003 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 62 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2003 Honda Pilot, 9% of the model year's 720 complaints. The component named most often is engine (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Honda Pilot engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-226 (engine, Aug 28, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Honda Pilot engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 2 fires and 3 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.