MyCarTSB

2004 Honda Pilot Lights Problems

11 owner-reported lights complaints from NHTSA data

11
Complaints
1
Recalls
Jan 2004Dec 2022
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Lights Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #12V136000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V; MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2005 PILOT; AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVIC VEHICLES. IN MARCH 2012, HONDA FILED A DEFECT REPORT TO RECALL CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 PILOT VEHICLES. IN AUGUST 2012, HONDA INFORMED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS INCLUDING AN ADDITIONAL 820,789 VEHICLES INCLUDING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 PILOTS AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVICS. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES BEING RECALLED IS NOW 1,375,217. DUE TO TENSION FROM THE COMBINATION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, WEAR ON THE SURFACE OF THE ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CAN OCCUR, YIELDING COPPER OXIDE, WHICH INCREASES ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE. INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE MAY CAUSE THE TERMINAL ENDS TO MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.

Fix: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL HARNESS OR REPLACE THE LIGHTING SWITCH AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE ORIGINAL RECALL BEGAN IN APRIL 2012. OWNERS OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE SEPTEMBER 2012 EXPANSION WILL BE NOTIFIED IN SEPTEMBER 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.

Owner Complaints (11)

mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Oct 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SCHOMP HONDA (303-798-1500, LOCATED AT 1003 PLUM VALLEY LN, HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO 80129) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 204,000.

NHTSA #: 11266786
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Jan 2018

THE HEADLIGHT PLASTIC COVER HAS BECOME VERY CLOUDY AND PREVENTS THE HEADLIGHTS FROM PROPERLY ILLUMINATING THE ROAD AT NIGHT. THIS CAUSES IMPROPERLY LIGHTING WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS IS A PROBLEM ON ALL CARS WITH THIS TYPE OF COVER OVER THE HEADLIGHTS. THE PROBLEM IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY ALL MANUFACTURES AS THEY OFFER CLEANING OF THE LENSES FOR A COST. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO THE OWNER AS THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 11062153
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Dec 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

NHTSA #: 10810726
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Oct 2014

THE MODULES HOUSING THE REAR LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS, ON MY 2004 PILOT ARE DEFECTIVE; RED, PLASTIC REFLECTORS INSIDE BOTH MODULES OF MY VEHICLE HAVE DETACHED. THE MODULES ARE ONE PIECE IN DESIGN AND CANNOT BE OPENED OR REPAIRED. HONDA KNEW CERTAIN 2004 PILOTS HAD DEFECTIVE LIGHT MODULES BECAUSE IT ISSUED AN ADVISORY TO DEALERS TO REPLACE THEM. HOWEVER, HONDA REFUSES TO REPLACE THE MODULES ON MY CAR, SAYING THE CAR IS TOO OLD. THERE IS NO EXPIRATION DATE FOR SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10650713
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Sep 2013

THE HEADLAMPS BEGAN TAKING IN MOISTURE AND THEN SHORTING OUT EVERY TIME IT RAINS. WHEN YOU SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT IS AN OVERWHELMING PROBLEM IN PRIMARILY 2004-2006 HONDA PILOTS. I TOOK IT IN FOR THE WIRING RECALL BUT THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. THEY JUST SHORTED OUT AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES. ALTHOUGH THE WIRING WAS RECALLED, ONLY THE HEADLIGHTS COLLECT MOISTURE AND RUST. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1099 AND THEY HAVE CONTINUALLY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME BUT NEVER HAVE. ER.YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MAT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10544153
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Apr 2012

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED DUE TO SOME WIRING ISSUE. I NOTE THAT A RECALL WAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ON THE 2003 HONDA PILOT AND 2002-2004 HONDA CRV. MY 2004 HONDA PILOT HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE, BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. PLEASE REVIEW THIS ISSUE AND SEE IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER THE 2004 HONDA PILOT AS WELL AS THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10454230
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING,EQUIPMENT
Filed: May 2008

IN MAY 2007, U-HAUL OF KINGSTON, NY INSTALLED A TRAILER HITCH ON MY 2004 HONDA PILOT. ON APRIL 4,2008, MY TURNING SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING AND I SMELLED A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL. I SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER FOR APRIL 8, 2008. I STOPPED USING THE VEHICLE. THE CAR ALARM BEGAN TO GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT PROVOCATION. WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR TO BRING IT TO THE SERVICE APPT., IT WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE TECH'S LOCALIZED THE SMELL TO THE REAR OF THE CAR AND BEGAN INVESTIGATING THE TRAILER HITCH INSTALLATION. THE "HIGH ENERGY 3 TO 2 TAILLIGHT CONVERTER" HAD OVERLOADED AND THE CASING AROUND THE UNIT HAD MELTED THROUGH. *TR

NHTSA #: 10229305
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Dec 2007

HEAD LIGHTS BURN OUT EVERY 2-3MO.S DARREL WALTRIP TELLS ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND THAT THEY KNOW OF NO RECALLS ON THE VERY EXPENSIVE HALOGEN LIGHTS. I HAVE SPENT APPROX. 200.00 DOLLARS ON HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT. I THINK THIS WOULD WARRANT A FREE CHECK AND REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10211754
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Jan 2004

THE 2003 PILOT HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY WEAK AND DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD. THIS CREATES A VERY SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD ON THE FREEWAY ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS AS HIGH AS 70 MPH. THE PILOT'S HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE THE CURVES IN THE FREEWAY, AND CONSEQUENTLY, PILOTS CAN VEER OFF THE HIGHWAY AND GET INTO CRASHES. APPARENTLY, THE HONDA COMPANY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION. WE APPEAL TO NHTSA TO URGE HONDA TO RECALL AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. *JB

NHTSA #: 10055025
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Jan 2004

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY ILLUMINATE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA #: 10052602
lowEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Dec 2022

The backlight bulbs that illuminate your climate control buttons have burned out, making it difficult to see the controls in low light. This is a cosmetic issue that doesn't affect the climate system's operation. Replacing the burned-out bulbs behind the climate control panel should restore visibility.

NHTSA #: 11498240

Other 2004 Honda Pilot Issues