2011 Honda Pilot Suspension Problems

I HAVE A 2011 HONDA PILOT WITH ONLY 45,243 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SERVICE ON 10/05/20, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS ARE LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A WELL MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN VEHICLE, SO IT IS SURPRISING TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. MAY I KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR SIMILAR ISSUES?*DT *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING AT A STOP LIGHT SHE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT ARM. THE OTHER VEHICLE PASSENGER SPARE TIRE ON THE JEEP DETACHED FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TREATED FOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE POLICE TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.

THE BOLTS/ BUSHINGS THAT ATTACH THE LOWER LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT DAMPER BRACKET TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND THE SPINDLE NUTS ON THE PILOT ARE LOOSE AND VEHICLE MAKES NOISE NOW AND STEERING IS OFF.

I HAVE REPLACED COILS AND PLUGS DUE TO MISFIRE CODE PO302 TWO OR MORE TIMES. I HAVE HAD CV JOINTS REPLACED 2 OR MORE TIMES. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS AGO. I HAVE CONTACTED HONDA USA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ONLY TO BE TOLD THEIR ARE NO RECALLS EXCEPT TAKATA AIRBAG. ONLY TO FIND OUT THEIR IS A (KNOWN) PROBLEM WITH CYLINDER MISFIRES FOR MY VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THIS UP TO HONDA'S ATTENTION. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

I OWN A 2011 HONDA PILOT AND WAS TOLD MY COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS ARE BROKEN AND IT IS CRITICAL TO REPLACE THEM. I WAS TOLD THIS AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR AIR BAG RECALL. VEHICLE 8 YEARS OLD WITH NORMAL USAGE AND TO BE TOLD WOULD COST $1200 IS BEYOND CRAZY. WHAT ELSE IS WRONG WITH THESE VEHICLES. REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE AND HOW MANY PEOPLES VEHICLES HAVE THESE PROBLEMS AND THEY ARE DRIVING WITHOUT KNOWLEGE.

WE WERE JUST INFORMED THAT OUR COMPRESSION BUSHINGS ARE SHOT ON OUR 2011 HONDA PILOT AND THAT THEY ARE NOT COVERED. WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN SO FREQUENTLY ON PILOTS? WHY WOULD THIS NOT BE RECALLED. I COULD UNDERSTAND IF ONE OF THEM WENT, BUT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME AND BOTH WITH THE VERY SAME ISSUE SEEMS MORE OF A RECALL AND DEFECT THAN ANYTHING ELSE OR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. NOW I AM TOLD IT WILL COST CLOSE TO $900.

DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING AND BRAKING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS A SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION IS FELT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT DOES NOT LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL, HOWEVER IT RENDERS THE VEHICLE LESS STABLE UNDER BRAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT. WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE AND THE LOWER ARM COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. HONDA HAD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ITEM - A CLEAR INDICATION THAT THE PART IS NOT UP TO STANDARD - AND PRESUMABLY A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES WILL FACE A SIMILAR PROBLEM - WHICH IF UNADRESSED COULD LEAD TO FURTHER ACCIDENTS.

UNUSUAL NOISE (GRINDING/FRICTION) THAT PERSISTS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. TOOK IT TO BE LOOKED AT 3 TIMES THEN THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS. THEY SAID PREVIOUS MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT THE 2011 YET.

HONDA PILOT 2011 (<70K MILES). HAD CLUNKING SOUND FROM FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. DEALER REPLACED LEFT SHOCK ABSORBER, COVERED BY EXTENDED HONDA WARRANTY. HONDA REFUSED TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT SHOCK ABSORBER, WHICH IS AN ISSUE DUE TO THE UNEVEN WEAR. REAR SUSPENSION WAS REPLACED ALREADY TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE. HONDA PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2011 PILOTS, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE SUSPENSION TO FAIL AND COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE NOISE OR STEERING LOSS. IT IS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING THAT HONDA WOULD NOT COVER REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT SHOCK ABSORBER, WHICH IS QUITE OBVIOUSLY THE FLAW OF THIS VEHICLE.

2011 PILOT TOURING WITH 75K MILES ONE IT STARTED SHAKING WHEN BREAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS A FEW MONTHS AGO. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK ON THE CAUSE OF THE SHAKING, AND THEY REPLACED BUSHINGS AS PART OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, CLAIMING THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT AFFECT THE SHAKING AT ALL. I THEN TOOK TO FIRESTONE FOR TIRES AND BREAKS, WHO IDENTIFIED A BUSTED LOWER LEFT TIE ROD AND GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $1100 TO FIX. IT ONLY HAS 75K MILES ON IT, WHY THESE SUSPENSION/BREAKS/WHEEL ISSUES ALREADY?? MY VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN I BREAK AND I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, BUT THE LABOR IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE DISASSEMBLED. I HAVE BEEN A LIFELONG HONDA IS VERY WRONG HERE.

ROTORS BEGAN TO PREMATURELY WARP AT ABOUT 20K MILES. DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS AS A COURTESY SERVICE. WARPING PROBLEM RE-APPEARED AT APPROXIMATELY 30K. WARPED ROTORS CAUSED SEVERE VIBRATIONS THROUGH STEERING COLUMN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS MAKING FOR UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. HONDA TECH MENTIONED THAT HONDA USED ROTORS WITH A SOFTER MATERIAL IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE SQUEALING PROBLEM ON PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS. HOWEVER, THIS RESULTED IN WARPING PROBLEMS ON NEWER MODELS AS CAR IS HEAVIER AND THESE ROTORS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT IN STOPPING THE VEHICLES WITHOUT CAUSING SIGNIFICANT WEAR. AT 55K MILES, I DECIDED TO REPLACE ROTORS WITH A THIRD PARTY SINCE HONDA REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND REPLACE MY ROTORS EVEN THOUGH I HAD REPORTED THE PROBLEM WELL BEFORE THE STANDARD FACTORY WARRANTY PERIOD OF 3 YEARS / 36K MILES. TECHNICIAN ALSO DISCOVERED CRACKED COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS ON FRONT END.

I JUST PURCHASED MY 2011 LESS THAN 30 DAYS AGO. I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT ABOUT 5 TIMES THE PROBLEM IS WITH A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER BUMPS. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT WAS A RAINY NIGHT AND YOU COULD NOT HEAR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE CAR AND THE ROAD WAS WET. NOT THAT IT IS DRY YOU HEAR IT AT EVERY SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. TOOK TO SERVICE TO FIND THAT THE COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS ARE CRACKED AND IT WILL ALSO NEED STRUTS. THIS IS CRAZY A CAR LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD NEED THIS ALREADY. HONDA HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHY WONT THEY FIX THIS. THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT IT. YOU ARE LOOKING AT ALMOST $1500 TO HAVE THESE 2 PROBLEMS FIXED. I HAVEN'T SEND IN MY 1ST CAR PAYMENT. THIS IS JUST CRAZY. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS AT ALL. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD NEVER SEE OR KNOW UNTIL YOU TAKE THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM HONDA FIX THIS. YOU ARE LOSING YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS BEHIND THINGS LIKE THIS

STEERING WHEEL MAKING KNOCKING NOISES WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEED, ESPECIALLY LEFT. ALSO HAD REALLY BAD VIBRATION NOISES WHEN BRAKING FROM HIGH SPEEDS. HAD TO CHANGE PADS AT OWN COST. COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS WERE CHANGE AS PART OF A SERVICE WARRANTY BULLETIN.

LEAKING FRONT COMPLIANCE BUSHING

2011 HONDA PILOT HAS CRACKED, LEAKING COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS. NOW WHENEVER I PRESS ON THE BREAK PEDAL AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 30MPH THE WHOLE LARGE VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHAKES UNTIL I TAKE MY FOOT OFF IT, AND ON A DOWNSLOPE IT FEELS AS IF THE PILOT DIVES FORWARD WITH NO INTENT OF STOPPING.. HONDA IS AWARE OF THE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACTLY SAME PROBLEM. HONDA HAS REDESIGNED THE PART TO BE REPLACED IN WHEN PILOTS COME IN FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. WHY IS HONDA ALLOWED TO GO ON CHARGING CUSTOMERS WHO PAID ALMOST $40,000 FOR A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE WITH NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE? I AM REQUESTING THE NHTSA WOULD INVESTIGATE AND PUT PRESSURE ON HONDA TO MAINTAIN QUALITY STANDARDS ON ITS VEHICLES. MY HONDA PILOT IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD WITH 45K MILES! *TR

IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS THE "STRUTS" HAVE FAILED. THE FIRST TIME WE WERE CHARGED TO REPLACE THEM. THEN WITHIN TWO WEEKS APPROXIMATELY, THEY BROKE AGAIN. NOW THE CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR THE SAME REASON. WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS, BUT THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. WE HAVE USED THE CAR (E.G.: 6500 MILES) BUT CERTAINLY NOT DRIVEN IT IN ANY UNUSUAL WAY. *TR

I WAS TOWING A TRAILER WITH A MOTORCYCLE IN IT. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH AND THE FRONT END STARTED TO VIBRATE REALLY BAD. I DROVE TO A FRIENDS HOUSE AND LEFT MY TRAILER THERE BECAUSE I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN. I DIDN'T NOTICE THE VIBRATION ONCE THE TRAILER WAS REMOVED. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 54,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE VIBRATION CAN BE PRETTY BAD WHEN I'M STOPPING HARD AND ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING. I'VE HAD THE TIRES CHANGED AND ROTATED SO I KNOW IT'S NOT THE TIRES. I ALSO HAVE A REAR LEFT TAIL LIGHT THAT KEEPS GOING OUT. I'VE CHANGED IT TWICE BUT IT'S NOT BURNED OUT. I THINK IT MUST BE A SHORT. NOW THE RADIO LIGHTS HAVE STARTED TO GO DIM. I FIRST NOTICED THIS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. WE GOT A HARD RAIN THIS WEEKEND AND WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR THE NEXT MORNING THE HEADLINER WAS WET AROUND THE SUNROOF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2011 HONDA PILOT AT THE DEALERSHIP (GREG MAY HONDA IN WACO, TEXAS) 5 TIMES FOR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS AND THEY YET HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM. IT IS MAKING BOTTOMING OUT SOUNDS ON WHITE ROCK ROADS THAT CAN BE HEARD AND FELT THROUGH THE FLOOR. ALMOST TO THE POINT OF JARRING PASSENGERS. I HAVE HAD BOTH REAR TRAILING ARMS REPLACED AT WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I SUGGESTED TO THEM MAYBE SHOCKS. BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM. I AM AT MY WHITS END WITH THIS PROBLEM. I FEAR THAT EVENTUALLY SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE TRAILING ARMS BOLTS ARE MADE OF RUBBER WHICH DOES NOT LOOK SAFE TO ME. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JULY AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE THEN. PLEASE HELP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

REAR SUSPENSION IS LEAKING. MY SUV IS LESS THAN 3 YRS OLD AND ONLY HAS 21351 MILES. *TR

THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND VIBRATED WHEN BREAKS WERE COMPRESSED AT HIGH SPEED. STEERING WHEEL ALSO VIBRATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTORS WOULD NEED TO BE FIXED, BUT WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS LEAKING AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $750. I STATED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT THAT OLD, WAS NEVER DRIVEN 'OFF ROAD,' AND WAS JUST OVER 50,000 MILES. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A MUST FIX PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER PILOTS. THE DEALER CHECKED WITH HONDA ABOUT GETTING A BREAK ON THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND HONDA AGREED TO SUBSIDIZE PART OF THE COST. MANY CONCERNS MOVING FORWARD ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF THIS PART. THIS IS NOT A REASONABLE REPAIR FOR A RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE MARKETED AS A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE.

2011 HONDA PILOT EX-L WITH 46750 MILES HAS CRACKED COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS. PER DISCUSSIONS WITH SERVICE WRITER AT LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP, THIS HAS BECOME A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON 2010 TO 2012 PILOTS. THEY STRONGLY RECOMMEND REPLACING THEM. UPON LOOKING UP THE ITEM ON THE INTERNET, THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF NOISE BY HONDA OWNERS ABOUT HAVING TO REPLACE THIS BUSHING ON VARIOUS MODELS AND YEARS. APPARENTLY, HONDA HAS OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF REDESIGNING THIS BUSHING. IF VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, ONE HAS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BUT IN A FEW CASES IT APPEARS THAT HONDA REDUCED THE COST OR MAY OF FIXED IT FOR FREE AFTER THE OWNERS PRESSED THEIR CASE. THE ONLY TIP OFF THAT I HAD ABOUT A PROBLEM WAS A SLIGHT THUMPING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. OTHERS PER THE INTERNET HAD PULLING TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER OR JUDDERING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES OR PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. I AM NOT SURE HOW GREAT OF A SAFETY ISSUE THIS IS OR COULD BE IF THESE BUSHINGS WERE TO BREAK BUT IT IS APPARENT THE HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NOT LETTING ANYBODY KNOW ABOUT OTHER THAN WHEN YOU TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE AND YOU ARE TOLD ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST. *TR

THE CAR AT 50 MPH WOULD LOOSE CONTROL WHEN YOU GO OVER A BUMP ON THE ROAD AND IF THE SURFACE OF THE HIGHWAY IS IRREGULAR IT SLIDE SIDEWAY AND BOUNCES UP AND DOWN WE TOOK IT IN A FEW TIMES TO THE HONDA SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK ONE TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE PRESSURE OF THE TIRES AND ANOTHER TIME I NEEDED NEW BRAKES SO HERE I AM WITH A CAR THAT IS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE I AM GOING TO TRY AGAIN TOMORROW TO BRING IT IN TO THE HONDA SERVICE AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL FIX IT. *TR

NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. FEEL EVERY LIKE BUMP IN THE ROADS. ALSO WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP AND TURNING OR BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, I FEEL/HEAR A HARD VIBRATION ON BRAKE. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY STATED WARPED ROTORS...TO NEW TO HAPPEN. GOT FULL BRAKE JOB AT $340. DROVE OFF, ISSUE STILL PRESENT. AT THIS VISIT TIRES WERE ROTATED AND BALANCE TOO. NEXT DAY ALSO NOTICED ALL 4 RIMS WERE DAMAGED FROM THE TOOL THAT REMOVED MY TIRES. TOLD SUPERVISOR EVERYTHING I LEARNED ABOUT OTHER PILOT OWNERS AND THIS POSSIBLE DEFEAT OF ROTORS. THEY STILL HAVE MY TRUCK (4 DAYS SO FAR) TRYING TO IDENTIFY ISSUE. THEY DO AGREE THERE IS AN ISSUE. THEY ARE GOING TO DO ROAD FORCE BALANCING NEXT. I WILL FIGHT FOR A REFUND OF THIS BRAKE JOB AND WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE UNTIL I AM SATISFIED. *TR

UNEVEN WORN OUT REAR RIGHT TIRE CAUSED BY SUSPENSION ROD BENDING DUE TO AN ACCIDENT RELATED AS CLAIMED BY HONDA AUTOMOBILE. THE VIDEO OF THE BEND I HAVE DO SHOWED OTHERWISE, SUSPENSION ROD DO NOT APPEAR AS ANY IMPACT RELATED, IT APPEARED AS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WHICH HONDA IS AVOIDING TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR. AND WHICH TYPE OF IMPACT WILL CAUSE SUCH A SUSPENSION ROD TO BEND WITHOUT AFFECTING OTHER SURROUNDING FRAGILE COMPONENTS. ALSO WHY IS THE IMPACT VERY ISOLATIVE, NEAT AND APPEARED CORRODED. *TR

I MAKE REFERENCE TO 2011 HONDA PILOT RECALL FROM NHTSA: 10V640000 OF 12/16/2010. SINCE I BOUGHT A SIMILAR VEHICLE ON 12/11/2010, I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I WROTE TO THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESS IN CALIFORNIA SEVERAL WEEKS AGO REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MATTER AND AS OF THIS DATE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ANSWER. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE THREE WEEKS FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED MORE THAN 60 DAYS HAS PASSED, REGARDING THE AIR BAG ISSUE. UPDATED 10/27/16.*JB

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 2ND, 2010 AND WERE TURNING ON THE STREET WE LIVE ON WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL JUST LAID OVER. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT EITHER THE BOLTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AT THE FACTORY OR POSSIBLY THEY JUST BROKE.THESE WERE THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SPINDLE ON. *TR