2005 HONDA PILOT Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Honda Pilot. This model year has 678 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
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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 2005 Honda Pilot Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Brake System
Airbag Malfunctions
Considering a 2005 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 2005 Honda Pilot. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 176 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Brake System | 136 | 10 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 120 | 22 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 96 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 91 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 57 | — | 4 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 46 | 7 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 38 | 2 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 37 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 36 | 3 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 30 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 23 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 23 | 4 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 22 | 2 | 3 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 13 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 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 2005 Honda Pilot. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 678 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
Power steering high pressure line leaking on exhaust and almost caused fire Dangerous. Lines need to be recall or replace
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that shortly after refueling, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration, causing the speed to increase to approximately 45 MPH while approaching stopped traffic. While pressing the brake pedal to avoid a colli…
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 25-35 MPH, the vehicle slowed down unexpectedly, and the brake pedal was hard and slow to respond when depressed. The contact stated that the steering wheel was pulling to the left, and it was difficult to…
The rear trailing arm, normally attached to the rear suspension is clearly corroded and came detached when driving under 25 mph up a road. The SAME issue Honda had to do a recall on their 2005 CRV model. Researched Honda Pilots, in our (Midwest) area, EVERY SINGLE 2005 Pilot had …
I was leaning back looking backwards while reversing and the front left seat bracket on the driver’s seat cracked and separated resulting in my seat turning into a rocking chair and my feet coming off of the pedals. It could have ended in an accident.
Airbag is deactivated due to failure of both crash sensors on the vehicle. Replacement parts are on national backorder.
The rear suspension got detached from a collapsed/rusted Frame. Item # 11 Sub-Frame, Rear Suspension Part # 50300-S9V-A01 The suspension is rubbing against the rear tires since the Bolt Flange (14x125 item# 14 part # 90160-S0X-A00) can’t be supported by the rusted/ collapsed …
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while waiting in line at a gas station, she smelled a burning odor, and there was smoke coming from the steering wheel. The contact was turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that upon activating the l…
The rear subframe attaches to the unibody has rotted and almost fell off the car
The drivers side seat bracket has a broken weld causing the seat to wobble & rock while driving the vehicle. From the Pilot Driver’s online forum it’s been known as a common complaint that Honda is not willing to confess to or interested in resolving as a safety design flaw as …
Ignition switch locked will not turn.
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at various speeds on several occasions, there was a cranking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechani…
My Honda pilot has rust on one of the subframe mounts causing it to come loose from body. Honda issued a technical service bulletin about it for an investigation from nhtsa. But, the dealer is acting like there is no such thing with the known issue and repair kit they made to fix…
Was traveling down the road, had an electrical burning smell coming from my dash and around steering wheel. Low beams then shut off going down road pulled over but still had high beams but no low beams.
I parked my car in front of my house at 10pm the following morning my neighbor came to tell me my car was on fire. It had been raining the previous night. My driver window was not completely closed so rain got in my car. There was black smoke coming out of the window. When I open…
My vsa light came on when I was on the freeway and made my vehicle jerk almost pushing me into the next lane. It has been coming on and turns off when I restart the car and other cars of my same modal and year have recalls for this same issue but my vin yields no results for a re…
On dry asphalt the vehicle stability control (VSC) periodically activates forcing the car either off the road or into the opposing lane. This has occurred 3 times in the past year, always on dry asphalt going in a straight line. Thankfully I live in a rural area, were there oth…
Travelling on interstate w/ cruise speed set @ 70 mph. VSA (vehicle stability assist) engaged with a brief grinding noise & pulled to the right. Very startling event. VSA activation indicator triangle light came on, as well as, the VSA system indicator light. Have experienced…
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at 20 MPH, the low beams of the vehicle went out inadvertently, almost causing the contact to crash into another vehicle that was coming from the opposite direction. There were no warning lights illuminated. Th…
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the passenger’s side airbag light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s impact sensor needed to be repla…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2005 Honda Pilot.
Recalls for 2005 Honda Pilot
15 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2005 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.
2005 Honda Pilot — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2005 Honda Pilot reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2005 Honda Pilot has 678 NHTSA owner complaints, 42 crash-related, and 15 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (176 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Honda Pilot?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (176 complaints). #2: Brake System (136 complaints). #3: Airbag Malfunctions (120 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2005 Honda Pilot?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2005 Honda Pilot?▾
The 2005 Honda Pilot has 42 crash-related complaints and 8 fire reports out of 678 total NHTSA complaints. 46 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2005 Honda Pilot have any recalls?▾
Yes — 15 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2005 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 2005 Honda Pilot?▾
The 2005 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 2005 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.