2006 Honda Pilot Body & Structure Problems

Your car's structural frame underneath the back is severely rusted and corroded. Your mechanic warns this is dangerous because the left side could potentially separate while you're driving—something that shouldn't normally happen even for a car of this age. This will likely require welding or replacement of the corroded frame sections to restore structural integrity.

Your 2006 Honda Pilot failed a state safety inspection due to severe rust and corrosion on the rear suspension and trailing arm. A state inspector advised you not to drive the vehicle because of the advanced corrosion. You researched this online and found it may be related to a known Honda recall, but the manufacturer confirmed your vehicle isn't included in that recall. Addressing this will likely require having a mechanic inspect the corroded suspension components and replace any damaged parts.

Your Pilot's subframe is rusting and pulling away from the vehicle body, which is a known design issue. While Honda has recalled the Ridgeline and CR-V for this same problem, your Pilot hasn't been recalled, and repair shops are reluctant to fix it. A patch kit exists for this issue, but getting it installed may require contacting Honda directly or finding a specialist willing to perform the repair.

WHILE MOVING SLOWLY IN A PRIVATE DRIVE AND TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE CAUSING THE CAR TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER PARKED CAR AND A SUPPORT POST OF A CARPORT

MY WIFE WAS TURNING INTO OUR GARAGE WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVED UP CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE GARAGE (AIR COMPRESSOR,GAS GRILL,SHOP VAC,SHELVING, AND OTHER THINGS)PUSHING THEM AGAINST THE BACK WALL BEFORE STOPPING AND ALLOWING HER TO TURN THE CAR OFF. SHE HAD THE BRAKE FULLY DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED BUT HAD NO CONTROL. THE CAR IS A 2006 HONDA PILOT WITH ABOUT 170,000 MILES.

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR NYS INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC CALLED ME TO TELL ME HE CANNOT PASS THE INSPECTION. THE REAR SUB-FRAME HAS SEVERE CORROSION. THERE ARE LARGE SECTIONS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. HE SAID NO ONE WOULD PASS THIS VEHICLE'S INSPECTION. HE SAID THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF THE REAR SUSPENSION TOTALLY COLLAPSING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE SAID JUST HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD HARD ENOUGH WILL CAUSE THIS. SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN CORROSION THIS BAD ON A 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE, EVEN IN NYS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AT BUERKLE HONDA (3360 HWY 61 N, ST PAUL, MN 55110, (651) 490-6600), THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE PART LOCATED BETWEEN THE FRAME AND THE BODY WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNT HAS SEPARATED FROM FRAME OF THE VEHICLE - CAR HAS NEVER GONE OFF ROADING - ALL HIGHWAY MILES - CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED - IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARKLEY HONDA (3401 S COLLEGE AVE FORT COLLINS, CO) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE REAR DOOR/HATCH OF OUR 2006 HONDA PILOT HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE LATCHING MECHANISM. THE ACTUAL MECHANISM ON THE REAR HATCH HAS BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME AND IS ABLE TO MOVE FREELY ABOUT. THIS CAUSES THE REAR HATCH TO NOT LATCH, LATCH PARTIALLY, OR LATCH BUT STILL ALLOW THE REAR HATCH TO SLIGHTLY MOVE. THE LATCHING MECHANISM IS ONLY BEING HELD IN PLACE (IN A CONFINED AREA) BY THE PLASTIC PANELING OF THE CAR. SINCE THE LATCH IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE FRAME, THE MOVEMENT OF THE MECHANISM DETERMINES IF THE REAR HATCH IS GOING TO LATCH OR NOT. WHEN IT IS LATCHED, THE ONLY ITEM SECURING THE MECHANISM IS THE PLASTIC PANELING. THE MECHANISM ITSELF IS NOT DEFECTIVE OR BROKEN HOWEVER; THE WAY THE MECHANISM HAS BEEN SECURED SEEMS TO BE THE ISSUE. THE MOST CONCERNING ASPECT IS HOW A DOOR LATCH MECHANISM COULD BECOME DISCONNECTED AND ALLOW FOR AN INCIDENT TO POSSIBLY OCCUR. *TR

NOTICED CLEAR COAT NON EXISTENT ON MOST OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS WHITE AND YOU CAN WIPE YOUR HAND OVER MOST ANY AREA (WET OR DRY) AND YOU WILL HAVE WHITE PAINT ON YOUR HAND. *TR

PAINT IS SHOT ON HOOD,CLEAR COAT IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

DRIVING ON THE CITY STREETS ABOUT 15 MPH AROUND A CORNER THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE WAS FRAYED. THE END OF THE CABLE WAS FOUND ON THE STREET ALONG WITH THE SPARE TIRE. THIS EVENT CAUSED NO DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIANS(HAPPENED IN FRONT OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AFTER DROPPING OFF MY KIDS). IF THIS INCIDENT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, IT MIGHT HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. *TR

WET FLOORS IN FOOTWELL AREA. COMMON PROBLEMS ON MANY YEARS OF PILOT/RIDGELINE VEHICLES. HONDA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE UNDER FACTORY BUMPER-BUMPER WARRANTY AND HONDACARE EXTENDED WARRANTY, YET HONDA IS AWARE AND ISSUED A TSB SURROUNDING FOOTWELL LEAKS. *JS

THE REAR DOOR/HATCH OF OUR 2006 HONDA PILOT HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE LATCHING MECHANISM. THE ACTUAL MECHANISM ON THE REAR HATCH HAS BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME AND IS ABLE TO MOVE FREELY ABOUT. THIS CAUSES THE REAR HATCH TO NOT LATCH, LATCH PARTIALLY, OR LATCH BUT STILL ALLOW THE REAR HATCH TO SLIGHTLY MOVE. THE LATCHING MECHANISM IS ONLY BEING HELD IN PLACE (IN A CONFINED AREA) BY THE PLASTIC PANELING OF THE CAR. SINCE THE LATCH IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE FRAME, THE MOVEMENT OF THE MECHANISM DETERMINES IF THE REAR HATCH IS GOING TO LATCH OR NOT. WHEN IT IS LATCHED, THE ONLY ITEM SECURING THE MECHANISM IS THE PLASTIC PANELING. THE MECHANISM ITSELF IS NOT DEFECTIVE OR BROKEN HOWEVER; THE WAY THE MECHANISM HAS BEEN SECURED SEEMS TO BE THE ISSUE. THE MOST CONCERNING ASPECT IS HOW A DOOR LATCH MECHANISM COULD BECOME DISCONNECTED AND ALLOW FOR AN INCIDENT TO POSSIBLY OCCUR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ROLLING DOWN THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, IT WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP. A POPPING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE WINDOW WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ROLL IT BACK UP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ACTUATOR FOR THE WINDOW FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,912.

2006 HONDA PILOT-SEVERE INTERIOR LEAK IN FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD, EXTENDING TO DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD. UNKNOWN HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING. THE CARPET IS SATURATED. THE CARPET PAD UNDERNEATH IS ALSO SATURATED. MILDEW, MOLD AND BODY RUST WILL DEVELOP. HONDA ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN (07-010) FOR THIS PROBLEM ON FEB. 8, 2007. DEALER DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR SERVICE BULLETIN WORK, DUE TO OUTSIDE OF THEIR 3 YEAR WINDOW. NO ACCIDENTS/ VEHICLE DAMAGE PRIOR TO FINDING SOAKED CARPET. REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE PER MANUFACTURER'S SCHEDULE. VEHICLE STILL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. LACK OF NOTICE ABOUT SERVICE BULLETIN CAN LEAD TO MOLD ISSUES, BY EXTENSION TO RESPIRATORY ISSUES. HONDA CAN PREVENT THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM BY NOTIFYING OWNERS, NOT WAITING FOR THEM TO DISCOVER SATURATED, SOAKED, AND IN SOME INSTANCES FROZEN CARPET INSIDE THE CAR. *TR

BEGAN NOTICING A MUSTY SMELL IN THE VEHICLE, FOLLOWED SEVERAL MONTHS LATER BY A SLOSHING SOUND THAT EVENTUALLY MANIFESTED ITSELF INTO A ROLLING WAVE OF WATER THAT SWEPT OVER MY FLOOR MATS. WATER IS SATURATING THE CARPETS (THINK OF A WET SPONGE) AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH UNDETERMINED POINTS AT OR NEAR THE FIREWALL. THIS DEFINITELY OCCURS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN RAIN, WHEN DRIVEN OVER WET AND SNOW-COVERED ROADS, AND WHEN SITTING IN A CAR WASH. I HAVE NOT DETERMINED IF IT OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE SITS UNUSED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER HAS REMOVED, CLEANED, REINSTALLED, AND RESEALED A "BODY PLUG" THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY IMPROPERLY SEALED AT THE FACTORY; YET, EVEN AFTER THIS SERVICE WORK, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. SEARCHING THE WEB, I'VE NOTICED OTHER HONDA PILOT AND RIDGELINE OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF WATER LEAKAGE PROBLEM; AND, WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS, DEALERS SEEM TO BE PUTTING "BAND AIDS" (CAULK) ON A VARIETY OF NOTED AND POTENTIAL ENTRY POINTS THROUGH THE FIREWALL, WHEEL WELLS, AND WELDED METAL JOINTS. *TR

THE NEW '2006 HONDA PILOT HAD LESS THAN 8000 MILES ON IT, AND WATER WAS SOMEHOW GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROOF AND UNDERNEATH THE CAR , AND WAS SOAKING THE FRONT CARPETS. I WOULD HAVE NEVER NOTICED IT IF I HAD NOT DECIDED TO VACUUM THE CARPETS. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS I NOTICED A DARK SUBSTANCE UNDERNEATH THE SEATS, AND NOW I REALIZED IT WAS WATER TURNED TO ICE. I REALIZED WHENEVER IT RAINED WATER GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, AND REMAINED FOR A FEW WEEKS UNLESS ONE TOOK OUT THE MATS. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F11733A I VISITED THE I ABOVE INTERNET SITE AND NOTICED I AM NOT ALONE. I HAVE SEARCHED FAR AND WIDE AND COULD NOT FIND THIS PILOT WET CARPET ISSUE TO BE EITHER A RECALL OR A SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. WAS HONDA TRYING TO KEEP THIS A SECRET? AS OF 05/08/2007 THE PILOT WAS STILL AT A HONDA DEALERSHIP BEING FIXED. THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE PATCHING UP ALL THE LEAKS. A COPY OF MY FIRST OF MANY INVOICES TO COME WAS ENCLOSED. WE PERFORMED BULLETIN 07-010. RECHECKED FOR LEAKS. WATER STILL COMING IN VEHICLE. WATER COMING IN BY FIREWALL WE REMOVED BLOWER MOTOR ASSEMBLY, REMOVED BOTH FRONT INNER FENDER WALLS, AND FOUND WATER COMING IN FROM PILLARS ON ROOF NEAR WINDSHIELD. WE SEALED THE BODY SEAM. WATER TESTED AGAIN. AND IT WAS NOT LEAKING ANYMORE. *AK I GUESS IT'S STILL LEAKING BECAUSE I AM STILL DRIVING A LOANER CAR.