Is the 2004 Honda Pilot a bad year?
544 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 142, 12× a quiet Pilot year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 87k–138k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Pilot owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 108,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 142 (26%) | 87k–138k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| SeatsSTANDS OUT | 85 (16%) | 94k–168k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 81 (15%) | 62k–156k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 60 (11%) | 76k–144k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 49 (9%) | 70k–121k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 42 (8%) | 80k–157k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 27 (5%) | 61k–193k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Brakes | 22 (4%) | 60k–134k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 21 (4%) | 75k–140k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 18 (3%) | 75k–136k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 16 (3%) | 73k–163k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Seat belts | 13 (2%) | 67k–166k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 12 (2%) | 80k–180k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 12 (2%) | 24k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 108,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 544 complaints: 29 mention a crash · 14 mention a fire · 29 report an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Aug 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Not sure if this is consider a power train problem, but no option regarding a transmission or torque converter in the box.
2004 Honda pilot shudders/vibrates violently at 30-50MPH. RPM gauge moves up and down. It does this every time I drive it for the past 2 years and Honda says they know nothing about it and can't replicate it.
While driving at a steady speed of 35-45 MPH the car experiences shuddering for about 5 seconds at irregular intervals.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 108,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Honda Pilot: 13
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The interlock lever of the ignition switch may deform, which can allow the interlock function of a vehicle with an automatic transmission to be defeated. Removal of the ignition key when the gear selector of a vehicle with an automatic transmission has not been shifted to the park position can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. If the terminal ends melt within the wiring harness connector, the low beam headlights may become inoperative, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
A pinch bolt exists between the bike arm bracket and the upright assembly of the "Hitch" Style bicycle rack. When moving the bike arm bracket to its down position, this pinch bolt has the potential of causing severe laceration or amputation to the user's fingertips or hand.
Certain sport utility vehicle's certification labels may contain incorrect vehicle weight and tire size information.
On some Mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage. Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 31
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Honda Pilot. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Troubleshooting of diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P1456 and P1457
Corrosion of the frame rail that supports the rear subframe may occur on some vehicles that are commonly driven in harsh environments
In certain vehicles, the driver s (Front) airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Ignition Interlock Failure - Rollaway
Low Beam Headlights Stop Illuminating
Neighbouring years
2003 Pilot: 720 complaints, consider selling · 2005 Pilot: 677 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Honda Pilot year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Pilot years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Honda Pilot a bad year?
544 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 142, 12× a quiet Pilot year. At 108,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 87k–138k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Honda Pilot?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (142), seats (85), air bags (81), electrical system (60), engine (49). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 87k–138k miles.
How many recalls does the 2004 Honda Pilot have?
13 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-501), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-499), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-182), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-268) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.