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2005 Honda Pilot Seats Problems

18 owner-reported seats complaints from NHTSA data

18
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
Jan 2021Dec 2009
Date Range

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

Owner Complaints (18)

highSEATS
Filed: Oct 2024

Your driver's seat bracket cracked and separated while you were leaning back, causing the seat to become unstable and rock back and forth. This caused your feet to slip off the pedals while reversing, which could have led to an accident. The seat bracket will need to be replaced or welded to restore proper support.

NHTSA #: 11618909
highSEATS
Filed: Jun 2023

Your driver's seat bracket has a broken weld, causing the seat to wobble and rock while you're driving. This issue has been reported by other Pilot owners across multiple model years (2004 and up) and appears to develop over time. Fixing this will likely require welding the bracket back together or replacing the entire seat bracket assembly.

NHTSA #: 11527465
mediumSEATS
Filed: Jan 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STANDSTILL REACHING BACK IN HIS SEAT THE SEAT RISER FRACTURED CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000.

NHTSA #: 11386696
mediumSEATS
Filed: May 2018

THE DRIVER SEAT LEFT FRONT BRACKET BROKE. THE CHAIR IS ABLE TO LEAN BACK AND IS UNSTABLE. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND I AM NOT HE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. IT SEAMS TO OF STARTED WITH THE 2004 MODEL AND IN THE CRV. A RECALL IS NEEDED. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE OVER A $1000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE BASE. THE BRACKET PART IS NOT BEING OFFERED. THIS IS CRAZY. I JUST SAT IN MY CHAIR AND REACHED TO THE REACHED TO MY BACKSEAT FOR A BAG AND IT SNAPPED. THANK GOOD MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE NOT IN THIS THING.

NHTSA #: 11096934
mediumSEATS
Filed: May 2018

THE BRACKET WHICH IS USED TO MOUNT THE SEAT TO THE VEHICLE BROKE AND THE SEAT IS NOT STABLE. THE BRACKET IS LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT IN THE FRONT LEFT SIDE (CLOSEST TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR). FROM WHAT I HEAR ON THE PILOTEERS WEB SITE, SEVERAL FOLKS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS DRIVING AND CAUSED ISSUES CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE, SINCE THE SEAT WOULD WANT TO RECLINE BACKWARDS WHEN ACCELERATING. I HAD TO BRACE MYSELF BY HOLDING ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA #: 11092611
mediumSEATS
Filed: Apr 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PIECE OF MEDAL FRAME WAS FRACTURED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

NHTSA #: 10978997
mediumSEATS
Filed: Oct 2016

THE DRIVERS SEAT FRAME BROKE WHICH I FEEL IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN IT BROKE. IT WASN'T TOO BAD AT FIRST, THE SEAT JUST ROCKED A LITTLE. AFTER AWHILE (COUPLE OF WEEKS) THE SEAT ROCKED MORE SEVERELY WITH EVERY START, STOP AND TURN. IF I WERE TO HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, I AM SURE THE SEAT WOULD NOT HAVE PROTECTED ME OR HELPED ME TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF MY 2005 PILOT. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $2185.00 TO REPAIR. IT TOOK THE DEALERSHIP LONGER THAN EXPECTED TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY REPAIR PARTS. THE ACTUAL COST A WAS BIT MORE $2233.00 PLUS TAX. AFTER VIEWING SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE DRIVER'S SEAT I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD BE PROACTIVELY CHECKING AND MAKING THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. IF THE SEAT SHOULD BECOME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE BASE THE DRIVER WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. POSSIBLY CAUSING A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE COST TO REPAIR SEEMS OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH FOR JUST A COUPLE OF SMALL PIECES OF METAL.

NHTSA #: 10918669
mediumSEATS
Filed: Jul 2016

WHILE LEANING BACK IN MY SEAT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF MY POCKET THE LEFT FRONT PART OF THE SEAT BROKE FREE. THE SEAT IS VERY UNSTABLE NOW WITH THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF THE SEAT ABLE TO MOVE UPWARD BY SEVERAL INCHES. IT TURNS OUT THAT A METAL BRACKET CRACKED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THIS DOESN'T GIVE ME ANY CONFIDENCE THAT THIS SEAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME. RESEARCH ONLINE HAS SHOWN THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. I WENT TO HONDA TODAY AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE SUSPECT PART IS 81630-S3V-A30

NHTSA #: 10882282
mediumSEATS
Filed: May 2014

MY DRIVERS SEAT BACK BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN I ENTERED MY VEHICLE. I HEARD A POP WHEN I SAT DOWN IN THE PILOT. MY SEAT BACK NOW HAS A LEAN. THE METAL SLIDE ADJUSTER ON THE RIGHT SIDE BROKE IN HALF. I GOT AN ESTIMATE FROM THE HONDA DEALER FOR 1600 TO FIX IT. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY CAR WAS NOT MOVING. I FEEL LIKE THAT PART IS DEFECTIVE. I NEVER HAVE HAD A CAR SEAT DO THIS EITHER. *TR

NHTSA #: 10592862
mediumSEATS
FireFiled: Dec 2011

DRIVER HEATED SEAT STARTED ACTING UP A COUPLE YEARS AGO. IT WOULD WORK IN SPURTS AND THEN NOT AT ALL. BROUGHT THIS TO ATTENTION OF MY HONDA DEALER, WHO COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I AM UNSURE OF EXACT DATE OR MILEAGE SINCE I TOOK THEM AT THEIR WORD. AT THIS POINT IN 2011 THE SEAT NOW HAS ONE SEARING HOT SPOT, WHEN IT WORKS, AND EMITS A BURNING ODOR. THE HOT SPOT IS SEARING HOT AND WILL LITERALLY LEAVE A RED BURN MARK ON YOUR THIGH. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE HEATING ELEMENT WITH A SHORT AND I CONSIDER A LIVE ELECTRICAL SHORT A SAFETY AND LIABILITY ISSUE. I AM REPORTING THIS AS A FIRE SINCE THEIR IS A BURNING AND SMOKE ODOR . I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH HONDA ECONOMY SUPERSTORE, HIXSON TN AND WILL UPDATE MY COMPLAINT ACCORDINGLY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10438542
mediumSEATS
Filed: Nov 2011

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT SPLIT IN SEVERAL PLACES AND WHEN WE TOOK IT TO BE REPAIRED THE SPECIALIST NOTED THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT HAD SCORCHED THE SEAT IN SEVERAL PLACES AND WAS IN DANGER OF CATCHING ON FIRE. WHOLE ELEMENT HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND SEAT REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10436607
mediumSEATS
Filed: Dec 2010

THE WELD FAILED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET ON ONE SIDE OF THE SEAT CAUSING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO MOVE AND ATTEMPT TO RECLINE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10372456
mediumSEATS
CrashFiled: Jun 2010

WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT IN A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE FRONT SEATS BROKE ON A REAREND IMPACT. THE BACKS OF THE FRONT SEATS ACTUALLY BROKE. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE. MY WIFE AND I BOTH HAVE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO OUR BACKS AND WERE WANTING TO KNOW IF HONDA WAS RESPONSIBLE. WE ARE BOTH DISABLED BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10336280
mediumSEATS
FireFiled: Dec 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BECAME SO HOT THAT IT BURNED A WHOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND HER COAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HEATING QUILT FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA #: 10297478
mediumSEATS
CrashFiled: Jul 2007

WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, AN INFINITI G35 IMPACTED MY VEHICLE IN THE REAR AT 35 TO 40 MPH. BOTH FRONT SEATBACKS IN MY 2005 HONDA PILOT EX COLLAPSED IN THE CRASH RESULTING IN SPRAINS/STRAINS TO MY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S BACK AND NECK. MY DOCTOR ALSO COMMENTED THAT THE HEAD RESTRAINTS ARE TOO SHORT FOR MY HEIGHT (6 FT.).

NHTSA #: 10198057
mediumSEATS
Filed: Jun 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA PILOT. ON MAY 31, 2007, THE CONTACTS SON BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE MIDDLE PASSENGER ROW SEAT BELT WHILE SLEEPING. THE TENSION ON THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN UNBUCKLED, WHICH CAUSED IT TO DIG INTO HIS STOMACH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT OFF. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 29,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,800. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED AT NO COST. UPDATED 08/07/07 *TR

NHTSA #: 10192409
mediumSEATS
Filed: May 2005

HEADREST OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS ARE REALLY FAR AWAY. THIS CAUSES SERIOUS NECK STRAIN AND PAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE HEADREST OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT IS A DOUGHNUT HOLE TYPES HEADREST. THIS HEADREST IS NOT ADJUSTABLE AND SITS FAR BACK AWAY FROM THE BACK. SO, IT DOES NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE NECK. QUITE A FEW PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 10120143
mediumSEATS
Filed: Mar 2005

HEADREST OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS ARE REALLY FAR AWAY. THIS CAUSES SERIOUS NECK STRAIN AND PAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE HEADREST OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT IS A DOUGHNUT HOLE TYPES HEADREST. THIS HEADREST IS NOT ADJUSTABLE AND SITS FAR BACK AWAY FROM THE BACK. SO, IT DOES NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE NECK. QUITE A FEW PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE CHECK HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM DISCUSSIONS AND HTTP://WWW.HONDA-PILOT.ORG DISCUSSIONS. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA #: 10114138

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