2009 Honda Pilot Suspension Problems

Shortly after purchasing this vehicle, you discovered multiple serious safety issues that weren't disclosed during the dealer's inspection: the brakes were installed incorrectly, both front control arms and struts were severely worn, the engine was misfiring, and one strut wasn't working at all. A independent mechanic found evidence the car had been in a significant accident with underside repairs, contradicting the dealer's claims. The dealer's service department twice claimed everything was fine despite these obvious problems. These suspension and brake issues make the vehicle unsafe to drive and will likely require replacing brake components, control arms, and struts.

Your dealer informed you that your compliance bushings are leaking and need repair. Honda issued a bulletin about this issue but never contacted you about it. Since your vehicle is out of warranty, Honda says you must pay for the replacement parts and labor yourself.

AT 72,563 MILES I EXPERIENCED VIBRATION AND A GROWLING NOISE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AT ALL SPEEDS. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

AUGUST 2015 I RECEIVED THE LETTER ABOUT DEFECTIVE COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS. I HAD MINE REPAIRED BY MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER. I IMMEDIATELY SENT IN MY REPAIR BILL AND REQUESTED INFORMATION. THAT WAS AUGUST 2015 AND I HAVE NOT HEARD ONE WORD BACK FROM HONDA AND WE ARE NOW IN DECEMBER. THERE ONCE WAS A TIME THAT HONDA QUALITY WAS AMAZING, BUT I SUPPOSE THAT EVEN HONDA BUYS INFERIOR PRODUCTS FROM CHINA AND TRIES TO PASS THEM OFF AS QUALITY LEAVING THE CONSUMER HOLDING THE BAG. REMEMBER WHEN THE CUSTOMER WAS ALWAYS RIGHT!! - R.I.P.

AFTER READING THE DREADED COMPLIANCE BUSHING ISSUE ON A FEW HONDA PILOT OWNER'S FORUMS AS WELL AS SAFERCAR.GOV, I THOUGHT ABOUT CHECKING MY VEHICLE TO SEE IF I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SURE ENOUGH, THE BUSHINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE HAVE LEAKED. JUST LIKE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES FROM OTHER OWNERS, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY DURING BRAKING.

THE COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS ON MY PILOT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE OLD PART WAS REPLACED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BUSHINGS. SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING. ALSO, SMELL OF BURNING GREASE DUE TO LEAKING ENTERING AIR CIRCULATION. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER BEARS THE BURDEN OF REPLACING THE BUSHINGS. THIS DEFECT CAN LEAD TO A SAFETY ISSUE IF DEFECTIVE AND NOT REPAIRED . *TR

TOOK MY 2009 HONDA PILOT IN TO THE HONDA DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND FRONT BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT 1. FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING & BRACKETS $750.00 + TAX THE BUSHINGS INSIDE THE BRACKET ARE CRACKING. JUST PURCHASED THE CAR FROM OURISMAN HONDA IN LAUREL, MD IN NOVEMBER 2011. DID NOT REPLACE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THE COST. CONSIDERING REPLACEMENT IN 2/2015 DUE TO THE VIOLENT SHAKING THAT I EXPERIENCE WHEN BRAKING OR DRIVING OVER 60MPH. I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO INCUR THIS EXPENSE ESPECIALLY SINCE HONDA WAS AWARE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. *TR

THE COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS ON MY PILOT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE OLD PART WAS REPLACED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BUSHINGS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS PRO KEMP AND MADE CHANGES. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER BARES THE BURDEN OF REPLACING THE BUSHINGS. THIS DEFECT CAN LEAD TO A SAFETY IF DEFECTIVE AND NOT REPAIRED. *TR

SAME AS MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE. COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS WENT OUT. SHAKING WHEN I BRAKE VERY BADLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND BECAME UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT TWO SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND UPDATED THE PCM COMPUTER SOFTWARE IN THE VEHICLE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS HAD BEEN LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

WHEN TO DEALER'S SHOP LAST WEEK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPLIANCE BUSHING WAS LEAKING AND TORN. I RESEARCH THE INTERNET AND NOTED THAT IT IS COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. I'M PAYING A STEEP MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IS THERE ANY INVESTIGATION GOING ON FOR THIS PROBLEM? *TR

I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS IN THIS NEWER VEHICLE. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IS AWARE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NEWER MODEL PILOTS LIKE MINE. THE COST OF REPLACING THEM IS CLOSE TO $1,000. WOULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND MAKE THE MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT? MY REQUEST IS TO HAVE HONDA MAKE A RECALL ON THE PILOTS AND REPLACE THE FRONT COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS AND REFUND THOSE OF US COSTUMERS THAT HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT CAUSING OTHER ISSUES ON THE CAR. THANK YOU! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED THE BUSHING ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL HUMMING SOUND AND A VIBRATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES TO HAVE A FRONT AND REAR ALIGNMENT PERFORMED, AS WELL AS THE ROTORS REPLACED. THE REPAIR WOULD LAST FOR A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. MOST RECENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED, WHICH COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.