2003 Honda Pilot Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
SRS airbag light stays on.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 256,000.
The contact, an attorney, was filing a complaint on behalf of a client who owned a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while his client was driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle struck the client's vehicle, causing the air bags to deploy. The husband did not sustain any injuries; however, the client's wife was rendered quadriplegic. The client's wife fractured her spinal vertebra and later passed away. The cause of death was believed to have been caused by the accident. There was a police report filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V501000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
RECALL NOTICE FROM HONDA
I WAS NOTIFIED BY AMERICAN HONDA THAT MY VEHICLE REQUIRED A SAFETY RECALL OF THE TAKATA HONDA PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR (RECALL # 19-076). UPON INSPECTION THE HONDA TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT "ONE OF THE SECURING STUDS FOR THE ASSEMBLY IS BROKEN AND REPLACEMENT OF THE DASHBOARD FRAME IS REQUIRED." AT THIS POINT MY "FREE" RECALL CAME WITH A CHARGE OF $820. AMERICAN HONDA WAS ONLY WILLING TO PAY 10%. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED IN 2015 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IN ALL LIKELIHOOD THE SECURING STUD WAS BROKEN DURING THAT SERVICE. AMERICAN HONDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO AND INSTEAD HAS DECIDED TO HOLD ME PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR.
MY 2003 HONDA PILOT HAS "SRS LIGHT ON" AT THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD. I WAS DRIVING IN OUR RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION AREA AND ABOUT TO PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY, THE SRS WENT ON. I AM NOT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE NOW UNTIL THIS FAULT HAS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. IF THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE INSTALLED AIR BAG, PLEASE HELP ME TO COVER THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT COSTS OF THIS FAULTY AIRBAG. THANK YOU.
AVISO URGENTE DE SEGURIDAD POR INFLADOR DEFECTUOSO DE BOLSAS DE AIRE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THEN TO THE RIGHT AND LOSS CONTROL OF THE WHEEL. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DEEP DITCH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSES OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WENT TO FLOW HONDA OF STATESVILLE DEALER (1003 FOLGER DR, STATESVILLE, NC 28625) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE AND SHOWED PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.
I TOOK MY PILOT TO THE HONDA DEALER FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL BUT THEY REFUSED TO RESET THE RED WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. DOES THIS MEAN THE AIR BAGS ARE STILL DEFECTIVE?
I WAS DRIVING ON SR 207 WHEN A TRUCK SIDESWIPED ME WHICH SENT MY CAR TO A DEEP DITCH. IT BRIEFLY LAID ON ITS SIDE THEN UP AND OUT THE DITCH BUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V501000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED LANDMARK HONDA (5125 DUKE ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304, (703) 823-8000) AND WAS INFORMED ABOUT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DECLINED THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE FEE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
SRS LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE. DIAGNOSTIC SCANNER STATES PROBLEM IS DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG INFLATOR OPEN OR INCREASED RESISTANCE.
2003 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN, IN 2011. *JS
THIS IS A FOLLOW UP OF A COMPLAINT FILE LAST YEAR- NHTSA ID NUMBER: 11045405. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A HONDA DEALER AS REQUIRED BY AMERICAN HONDA. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE OPDS MODULE WAS FAULTY. I CONTINUED TO CONTACT AMERICAN HONDA BY MAIL. THEY ADVISED THAT ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $775.00 DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE OPDS MODULE VERBALLY AS THEY WOULD NOT CORRESPOND TO ME IN ANY WRITTEN FORM.
THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER ON THE ROAD. IT WAS GIVEN/NO MONEY TO A JUNKMAN 5 YEARS AGO. PLEASE WE HAVE TRIED TO STOP THE NOTICES AND CALLS. PLEASE LET MOTOR VEHICLE KNOW THAT THIS CAR IS NO LONGER ON THE ROAD. WE HAVE CALLED HONDA SEVERAL TIMES TO STOP THESE NOTICES.
I WANTS TO KNOW IF MY BECAUSE IS ON THE RECALL LIST
IN MID-OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED LIT DURING THE VEHICLE OPERATION. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER TESTING IT WAS DETERMINED THE OPDS MODULE AND SENSOR BACK WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THE TIME OF THE DETERMINATION THE VEHICLE HAD 227,544 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. DURING THE WEEK OF 10-21-17 I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. INC AT 800 999-1009 AND SPOKE TO WENDY. I RELATED THE ABOVE TO HER. I TOLD HER THAT IN THE WINTER 2006-207 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM AMERICAN HONDA INDICTING THAT THE OPDS CONTROL UNIT AND SENSOR HAD THE WARRANTY EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. I ASKED IF THIS WARRANTY HAD BEEN FURTHER EXTENDED AND SHE INDICATED IT HAD NOT BEEN. SHE DID SOME RESEARCH ON MY VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THESE COMPONENTS HAD BEEN REPLACED IN AUGUST OF 2011. I ASKED IF THEY COULD BE REPLACED AGAIN FOR NO CHARGE AND SHE SAID NO. SHE SAID TO CHECK WITH A HONDA DEALER AND THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP. I INDICATED THAT THE $1,550.00 QUOTE FROM THE SHOP THAT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WAS 35-40% OF THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE VEHICLE AND TO SPEND THIS AMOUNT ON THE REPAIR NOW WOULD NOT BE A WISE DECISION ON MY PART. I RETURNED TO MY RECORDS FOR THE VEHICLE AND I FOUND A RECEIPT FROM DELRAY HONDA LOCATED AT 3000 S. FEDERAL HIGHWAY, DELRAY BEACH FL. DATED AUGUST 20, 2011 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE OPDS SENSOR UNIT AND POSITION DETECTOR SYSTEM DETECTOR UNIT. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE AT NO CHARGE TO ME. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME WAS 147,892. I CALLED DELRAY HONDA AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE OF ABOUT $150.00 TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BEFORE THEY COUL GIVE AN ESTIMATE. I SAID I ALREADY HAD DONE THAT AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP UNLESS I PAID TO HAVE THE PROBLEM INVESTIGATED.
TAKATA RECALL. I TOOK MY HONDA PILOT TO CROWN MOTORS HONDA DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE AIRBAG RECALLS THEN WHEN IT WAS DONE I WAS JUST GIVEN THE KEYS AND THEN ANOTHER RECALL HAPPENED BUT I COULDN'T GET THE SECOND ONE FIX DUE TO THE PARTS BEING OUT OF STOCK THEN MY FRIEND DROVE MY HONDA PILOT AND HIT A DEER OMG THAT WAS MY FIRST ACCIDENT FOR MY HONDA PILOT AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER WENT OFF AND UGH WE WERE IN THE BACK ROADS OF OREGON AT NIGHT HEADING BACK TO CALIFORNIA ADD TO THAT WE HAD HER 2 KIDS AND MY 2 KIDS AND 2 OF THEIR FRIENDS BUT NO AIRBAGS EVER WENT OFF I THOUGHT THE SIDE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE WITH THE IMPACT. I GOT LUCKY THAT THE FRONT AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF SINCE IT WAS RECALLED AND I NEVER GOT IT FIXED
TAKATA RECALL.
VEHICLE DRIVER SIDE HIT SIDE OF MOUNTAIN CAUSING IT TO GO DOWN HILL ON PASSENGER SIDE. ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PERSON SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT RECEIVED A SCALP INJURY, BUT NO LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. VEHICLE WAS ON A DIRT ROAD AND WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 20 AND 25 MPH.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V370000 AND 15V320000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V349000 (AIR BAGS) WERE RECEIVED IN JANUARY OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
HONDA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONDUCT REPAIRS FOR AIR BAG RECALLS FOR MORE THAN 90 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE ON JANUARY 31 2015 AND THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AS OF TODAY MAY 9 2015.
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Quick Summary
The 2003 Honda Pilot has 93 Air Bags complaints on file. 10 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.