2003 Honda Pilot Electrical System

I am the original owner of my 2003 Honda pilot and had to replace the front driver side door actuator years ago. Now all the remaining 3 doors need to have the door actuators replaced. If you're outside the car you cannot open the door. Using the key remote or putting the key into the front door keyhole will NOT unlock or lock the door. You have to be inside the car and lift or depress the lock button to get them to open or to lock it. This is a very dangerous situation for if an emergency should occur and it's necessary to either exit the vehicle or enter you won't be able to. I know the later year Honda's has had recalls on door actuators.

Reporting an important safety issue I experienced due to random engine stalling on my 2003 Honda Pilot, typically after driving for a few minutes. The engine would crank for several seconds or sometimes start immediately after stalling, but no diagnostic trouble codes were ever stored. The vehicle had stable fuel trims and idle, and multiple components including the EGR valve and valve clearance were serviced without resolving the issue. Ultimately, the root cause was traced to a failing PGM-FI (fuel pump) relay located under the driver’s dash. After replacing the relay close to two months ago, the stalling stopped completely. This issue could pose a safety risk if the engine stalls in traffic, especially in a hazardous area where there’s no breakdown lane (construction zone, etc.) , and I believe this factor should consider this a known failure point in aging vehicles of this model. Attached are two images of the new relay zip tied under the driver’s footwell (could not remove the bad relay since it was too difficult to remove from its bracket).

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle however, the ignition switch failed to turn. The ignition switch warning light was 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 200,000.

VEHICLE HAD A LACK OF COMPUTER FUNCTION WOULD NOT START. ALL DASH LIGHTS LITE IGNITION NON FUNCTIONAL WHEN TEST PLUG PUT ON OBD PLUG ALL PROBLEMS CLEARED VEHICLE NOW OPERATES CORRECTLY VEHICLE HAD JUST PASSED STATE INSPECTION AND OPERATED CORRECTLY FOR 3DAYS.

WHEN I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION AND THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP ON ME. AND ENDED UP NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE AT ALL. THERE WAS A PIECE STUCK INSIDE AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A LOCKING MECHANISM WITH IT THAT WAS JAMMED AND THERE WAS NOTHING I WAS ABLE TO DO SO I EITHER NEEDED TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS WARPED OR MALFUNCTIONED. AND I NEEDED TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY RECALLS BECAUSE THEY RECALLED THE IGNITIONS BEFORE ON THIS YEAR,MAKE AND MODEL BEFORE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. MY VEHICLE WAS IN A SHOP. MY WHEEL BEARING AND HUB WAS BEING PLACED ON. WHEN THEY WENT TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THERE MECHANIC GARAGE IT REFUSED TO TURN OVER THERE WAS AN IGNITION PIECE WAS BROKEN OFF. WHEN THEY ENDED UP GETTING IT OUT OF THEIR GARAGE IT I HAD TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL MANUALLY FROM UNDERNEATH AND IT JUST STARTED TO ROLL. SO THEY HAD TO HOLD THE BRAKES. IT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO MY RESIDENCE. *TR

WAS ABLE TO PULL MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN MY 2003 HONDA PILOT IS PARKED AND IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER IN DRIVE POSITION. I ALREADY HAD MY IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED TWICE (USING MY OWN DIME); HONDA HAS A PARTIAL RECALL (NHSTA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12V573000 AND HONDA RECALL NO. S73/S74), BUT A HONDA REP TOLD ME THAT MY PILOT "IS NOT AFFECTED."

WINDOW REGULATORS STOP WORKING AND WINDOW CAN CRASH WHEN DRIVING. SO FAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO REGULATORS AND ONE WINDOW.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START UPON TURNING THE KEY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND THEN TURNED OFF, IT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON AUGUST 26, 2017. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE BATTERY TO DISENGAGE THE ENGINE AND THE IGNITION KEY WAS ABLE TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TITANS HONDA IN TYSONS CORNER, VIRGINIA, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REINSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE STATIONARY, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 06264304. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) APPLIED DIRECTLY TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM. KEY IS DIFFICULT TO INSERT INTO IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. ONCE INSERTED, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN.

THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN GEAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IN 2013 AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE IGNITION FAILURE RECURRED TWO YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

ABOUT A MONTH AGO I TRIED TO USE MY SPARE KEY AND THE KEY WOULDN'T WORK IN MY IGNITION. SO, I LOCATED MY REGULAR KEYS AND THEY KEY WORKED AS IT SHOULD. LAST WEEK MY NORMAL KEY WOULD GO INTO THE IGNITION BUT, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE KEY DID FINALLY TURN AND I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. LATER THAT DAY, I WENT TO LEAVE MY HOUSE FOR WORK AND AGAIN THE KEY WOULD GO INTO THE IGNITION BUT, NOT TURN THE IGNITION. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF INSERTING AND REMOVING THE KEY IT FINALLY WORKED AGAIN. IT CONTINUED TO WORK FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. I SPOKE WITH MY MECHANIC AND HE SUGGESTED I GET THE IGNITION REPLACED BEFORE IT GOT TO A POINT WHERE IT WOULDN'T START AN IN HIS OPINION THE IGNITION WAS DETERIORATING QUICKLY. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE A DEALER ONLY REPAIR. I DID ASK TWO OTHER MECHANICS IN THE AREA & I REACHED OUT TO A LOCKSMITH, THEY ALL SAID DUE TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE ALARM & THE LAZER CUT KEY STYLE IT WAS A DEALER ONLY PART. I STARTED TO GOOGLE THE ISSUE & SAW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM & I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD WORK DONE ON THE IGNITION WITH A PREVIOUS RECALL BUT, THEY FELT THIS ISSUE WAS UNRELATED AND WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. THE NEXT MORNING THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION WOULD NOW TURN BUT, I WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY, LEAVING MY CAR A PRIME TARGET FOR THEFT. I DROPPED THE CAR OFF THIS MORNING & I MADE A CALL INTO CORPORATE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. IT WAS ALSO SUGGESTED I FILE A COMPLAINT HERE BY ONE OF THE MANY OTHER 2003 PILOT OWNERS ON ANOTHER FORUM: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/HONDA/PILOT/2003/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/IGNITION_SWITCH_PROBLEM.SHTML TOTAL COST OF REPAIR $538.89

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS), 14V700000 (AIR BAGS), 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), AND 12V136000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN TO THE ON POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AND PARKED MY CAR AND TOOK HER INSIDE LIKE I ALWAYS DO. WHEN I CAME OUTSIDE AND UNLOCKED MY CAR (WITH THE KEY) MY KEY WOULD NOT GO IN THE IGNITION - LEAVING ME STUCK AND LATE FOR WORK AND HAVING TO USE MY AAA TOWING BECAUSE I COULDN'T EVEN DRIVE IT TO THE SHOP - THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL***I HAVE SEEN MANNNYYYYYY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE EVEN MY TOW TRUCK GUY STATED THIS MODEL AND YEAR AND (KNOWN) FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND NOW WILL COST ME 450.00 TO FIX. A IGNITION SWITCH IS NOT NORMAL WARE AND TARE - ITS NOT LIKE TIRES OR TIMING BELT OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED - THIS IS COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR CONSUMERS - THIS WILL DEFINITELY BE A PROBLEM IF SOMEONE GETS HURT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY CANT EVEN GET THE KEY IN THERE IGNITION - LAWSUITS WILL HAPPEN IF A RECALL IS NOT MADE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION SLOT ENTIRELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE KEY TO ENTER AND ONCE IT WAS IN, IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

I PARKED MY CAR IN THE HOSPITAL LOT. AFTER MY LATE AFTERNOON APPOINTMENT, I WAS ABOUT TO GO HOME. I WAS ABLE TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION BUT FAILED TO TURN TO START THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO CONTACT OR CLICKING SOUND EVEN I TRIED WITH A LITTLE FORCE TO TURN THE KEY. I CALLED THE TOWING COMPANY AND HE WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE. I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 5 MILES TO GET MY PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE AND PARKED AGAIN IN THE PARKING LOT. I WAS ABOUT TO GO HOME AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION BUT FAILED TO TURN TO START THE ENGINE. AGAIN, THERE WAS NO CONTACT OR CLICKING SOUND EVEN TO TRY WITH A LITTLE FORCE TO TURN THE KEY. I CALLED AGAIN THE TOWING COMPANY AND HE WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE. I DECIDED TO BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO STAY OVERNIGHT (EARLY BIRD). I PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVE THROUGH LANE AND SHUT-OFF THE ENGINE. I REMOVE THE KEY AND INSERTED AGAIN BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE KEY AND NOT ABLE TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED MY CAR PROBLEM AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY WAS WORN-OUT. THE NEW IGNITION ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED AND RE-KEYED, CUT AND PROGRAMMED NEW KEY. I SAVED THE OLD PART FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. I PAID $618.58 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I AM THINKING THIS REPAIR WAS SO EXPENSIVE. THE ESTIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,292.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO INSERT IN THE IGNITION. AFTER EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND START THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AT ALL. THE CONTACT USED THE SPARE KEY TO START THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO EJECT FROM THE IGNITION AND REMAINED IN THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,586.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION KEY SEIZED WITHIN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK LEVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE REMEDY CAUSED THE IGNITION KEY TO SEIZE WITHIN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,400.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

I TOOK MY 2003 HONDA PILOT IN TO REPAIR THE IGNITION RECALL. EVER SINCE THE REPAIR I'VE BEEN HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION. I NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH IT PRIOR TO THE SERVICE. I HAVE TO LITERALLY WIGGLE AND INSERT AND TAKE OUT THE KEY MANY TIMES FOR IT TO SIT RIGHT IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE FROM OTHER PILOT OWNERS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. HONDA DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME A DIAGNOSTIC FEE JUST TO SEE IF MY PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE WORK THEY DID FOR THE RECALL. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE CHARGED JUST TO CHECK IF THEY CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA PILOT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.

CAR KEY GOES IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN. THIS IS A DANGER WHEN YOU CAN NOT START THE CAR AND GET OUT OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I READ ON LINE MANY OTHER PILOTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HONDA HAS A BAD PART. HONDA WANTS $500 TO FIX A BAD PART THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD OUR MECHANIC (WHO WORKED WITH A LOCKSMITH) REBUILD THE IGNITION SWITCH BECAUSE OUR KEYS WERE FAILING TO TURN THE SWITCH, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. THIS REPAIR COST US ABOUT $400. WE ALSO HAD NEW KEYS CUT. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED. THE KEYS ARE NOT WORN, BUT THEY ARE STILL UNABLE TO TURN THE SWITCH UNLESS THEY GO IN "JUST RIGHT" -- WHICH MEANS 15+ MINUTES OF FIDDLING WITH THE KEY TO START THE CAR -- AND SOMETIMES IT JUST DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. THE LOCKSMITH WILL CHARGE US ANOTHER $400 TO REBUILD THE SWITCH AGAIN -- OR WE CAN PAY $535 (PLUS TAX) TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM REPLACE IT. [THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE DOOR LOCKS, BY THE WAY, WHICH WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE OPENED WITH THE OLD KEY -- AND COST ANOTHER $400 TO REPLACE.] WE HAVE STARTED LEAVING A KEY IN THE IGNITION AT ALL TIMES TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN USE THE CAR. ONCE WE GET IT IN THERE, WE JUST LEAVE IT THERE. WE DRAPE A SMALL TOWEL OVER THE STEERING COLUMN TO HIDE THE KEY, BUT THERE IT STAYS. IT'S A RIDICULOUS SITUATION, AND WE ARE NOT ALONE. I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ONLINE. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED? *TR