Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 transmission fluid was flushed 3 times; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failure recurred while the vehicle is shifted into drive(D) and D3. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
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 daughter who drives the car to school was sitting in the passenger seat and was completely shocked. I have been driving for 30+ years and at that moment felt things were totally out of my control. Extremely off to see a car keep going when you are trying to stop. I could 100% have hit someone if there was a car in front of me as I went two car lengths before realizing what was happening. I turned the car off. Started again and it was fine. This happened on Saturday, March 26th, 2022. I have not taken the car to the dealer. There were no lights or anything indicating any warning.
Transmission locked up while driving and wont drive after I stored the vehicle Iam glad no one was behind me on the freeway there is a extremely huge problem with this transmissions the government needs to get this kind of vehicles checked out at Honda before someone loses his life
My wife was smashed between an opened driver's door and a pole because the the car rolled backward. The safety's problem in this car is: that you can remove the key from the ignition while the car's engine is still running, remove the keys from the ignition when the gear in other than park gear, or engine shuts off and vehicle not in park. My wife was injured yesterday because the car was not in park and the vehicle squeezed her between an open door and a pole outside. That happened because in this car the engine shuts off and she was able to remove the key from ignition while the car in neutral... This is a major safety issue when the key can be removed while the engine is still running or in any other gear other than the park status..... This is all happened in a parking lot. Stationary and right after she parked the car .
Okay I've only owned this vehicle about 5 or 6 months when I first got it didn't have any trouble after about 2 weeks I noticed when I would back up and made like a growling sound but no trouble with the transmission drove it no trouble except for some electrical trouble for some reason my battery kept going dead at night it had a garage check it out and they said there's a short somewhere and we started pulling bulbs and fuses didn't find anything so I had to unhook the battery each night so I don't have to get a jump in the morning okay on to the next issue is no problems until this past Sunday the 7th of October and I had pulled into a country exxon station left it running ran inside the door for 2 seconds back out my car was gone hear it had jumped gear roll backwards and thank god it didn't hit anybody or hit the pump is stop within inches so I got in it put it back in park it was …
OK the vehicle stalls on hills, becoming nearly impossible to proceed, and simultaneously emits a grinding-scraping sound seeming to come from the front-end portion of the undercarriage. So, far it has always managed to continue running/moving forward during and after. It just feels like the automatic transmission is badly, and near the end of slipping/failing. I looked up it's value on a website, and a warning box popped up notifying me that my Pilot's year make & model has 6 separate manufacturer's recalls. Upon looking further, I see that-indeed-one recall is for the automatic transmissions! Then, when I did another search, specific to my VIN #, I saw that my particular Pilot does not have any recall on it. …
Pilot rolled away while it was parked, I had key in my hand, it hit a concrete flower pot. Damaging my right fender bumper mirror.policeman got inside Pilot took key in and out of ignition several times,while it was in gear. I drove the car to Honda dealership told them what happened. They admitted it should not do that, but did nothing to help. After hearing of recall in jan. I contacted Honda about the incident telling them they should fix my Pilot since it was there fault this accident happened. They had me send them information about what happened. The police report ect.they had me take the Pilot to dealership and leave it 5 hours. …
I was parked in the driveway on a completely flat surface. I put the car in reverse to back out of the driveway. I touched the accelerator pedal lightly to get the car moving, the car accelerated wildly. I stomped on the brake, which went to the floor. I had time to look down and see that my foot was on the brake pedal and to stomp on the emergency brake. The car did not slow down at all. The vehicle continued accelerating until it smashed into a tree going approximately 30 MPH (estimated). A couple hours before the wreck a previously unseen brake error light came on the dash. The shop it was taken to refused to look into the brakes, accelerator, master cylinder or the transmission. They stated there were no codes triggered, though they could provide no proof that they even had the necessary equipment to read the codes. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. When the gear was shifted into park, while releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle would attempt to roll backwards. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle rolled backwards or forward regardless if it were uphill or downhill. The failure recurred numerous times and each time the brake pedal was being released. The vehicle was taken to Genesis Honda (located on 8931 highway 92 woodstock, ga 30189) where a preliminary diagnostic test was performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the issue could be the shifter, and that further diagnostic testing was needed. The vehicle was not repaired due to the diagnostic fees. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle to a local dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 188,523.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the engine warning light illuminated and when the vehicle was in first gear and attempting to place the vehicle in second gear, the gear would seize in first gear and was unable to shift into second. The contact stated the vehicle was previously repaired for NHTSA campaign number: 04V176000 (power train) however, the failure recurred. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed the automatic system, the automatic transmission, system, and the clutch failed. As a result, the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
Remedy: 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.
Transmission complaints in other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2004 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 142 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2004 Honda Pilot, 26% of the model year's 544 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (44 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Honda Pilot transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-176 (automatic transmission, Apr 15, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Honda Pilot transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 106,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.