2004 HONDA PILOT Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Honda Pilot. This model year has 544 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
Before you buy — check the actual VIN
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2004 Honda Pilot Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Seat-Related Issues
Airbag Malfunctions
Considering a 2004 Honda Pilot?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Honda Pilot. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 142 | 5 | 1 | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 85 | — | 12 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 81 | 11 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 60 | 7 | 3 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 50 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 42 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 27 | 2 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 22 | 3 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 21 | 4 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 18 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 16 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 13 | 2 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 12 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Honda Pilot. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 544 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
Honda sold America cars that they knew were rusted less than five years and they still letting people drive these cars that are rusted at the bottom
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that at the time of purchase, the odometer mileage reading was 160,000. After obtaining a Carfax Report it was discovered that the previous mileage was 337,000. The contact also indicated that the instru…
The steering became extremely loose over time on my Honda Pilot posing significant safety concerns because of it. The tires adamantly follow all the divets, lines, grooves, and bumps in the road causing me to lose control of the vehicle very easily in poor driving conditions. Thi…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase September 2024, the vehicle mileage was 139,…
When I took my car for tire installation at Walmart on [XXX] , the technician declined to install the tires, he stated "your vehicle is unsafe to lift up for tire installation because of rust". I was on my driving it to a body shop when something snapped near the right rear tire …
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition briefly failed to turn. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manuf…
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact entered the vehicle and the front passenger attempted to secure the seat belt however, the seat belt failed to retract. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagno…
I heard a loud pop come from under my driver's seat and the seat started rocking backwards. I got out of my car and checked underneath the seat. The front-left bracket securing the seat to the seat frame had completely sheared in half and the seat was no longer securely attache…
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ACTIVATED. I TOOK MY 2004 HONDA PILOT WITH CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATE NUMBER [XXX] TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IN HEMET CALIFORNIA ON DECEMBER 14 2022 TO CHECK THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A $100.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE BECAUSE THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED …
Transmission locks up when vehicle has been driven for a short time
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP CHARGES $100.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. I WAS TOLD IT'S NOT PART OF THE AIRBAG RECALL AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY. MY VEHICLE IS 20 YEARS OLD. I BELEIVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH AIRBAGS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. IN THE CA…
Brakes seem to stop suddenly Must brake slowly to avoid a sudden stop Seatbelt locks up if I do not pull it forward and leave room in the belt so that it isn't completely holding me in Also the driver seat will only adjust sideways.
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 m…
lights that illuminate the functions/buttons of the climate control system burned out
Confirmed with local mechanic that the rear cross member of the sub-frame needs to be replaced immediately. Badly rusted and is a safety issue.
I bought this 2004 Honda Pilot new in 2004 in Louisville. In 2018 I drove to Florida without incident. While here in Florida I have had a problem with oil leaking. Than the compressor for the air went out and I took it straight to the dealer here. They told me it was not worth fi…
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…
My hood latch isn't holding when I'm highway driving at 60MPH. The hood will pop open. I've seen the new recall on the news for the newer vehicles but it is also happening on my 2004. I believe that year needs to be added to the list.
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 l…
WAS ON HIGHWAY AND STARTED JERKING REAL HARD WHERE I ALMOST HIT A CAR HEAD ON WAS GOING 55 FOR SURE SCARED ME TO DEAD AND PULLED OVER AND CALLED MY BOYFRIEND HE CAME TO ME AND GOT IN IT AND IT WOULDN'T GO FORWARDS BACKWARDS NOTHING SO HE WENT AND GOT TRAILER AND HAULED TO HIS HOU…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2004 Honda Pilot.
Recalls for 2004 Honda Pilot
13 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2004 Honda Pilot. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2004 Honda Pilot — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Honda Pilot reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2004 Honda Pilot has 544 NHTSA owner complaints, 29 crash-related, and 13 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (142 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Honda Pilot?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (142 complaints). #2: Seat-Related Issues (85 complaints). #3: Airbag Malfunctions (81 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Honda Pilot?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2004 Honda Pilot?▾
The 2004 Honda Pilot has 29 crash-related complaints and 14 fire reports out of 544 total NHTSA complaints. 36 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2004 Honda Pilot have any recalls?▾
Yes — 13 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2004 Honda Pilot. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2004 Honda Pilot?▾
The 2004 Honda Pilot has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Honda Pilot reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2004 Honda Pilot
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.