VehicleVerdict

2003 Honda Pilot engine problems

The 2003 Honda Pilot has 63 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 7% of the year's total, and the first year with meaningful reports in this category.

63

Engine complaints

7%

Share of year

4

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Pilot engine complaints by model year786 complaints2003: 63 complaints2004: 50 complaints2005: 91 complaints2006: 32 complaints2007: 24 complaints2008: 17 complaints2009: 39 complaints2010: 28 complaints2011: 36 complaints2012: 45 complaints2013: 83 complaints2014: 34 complaints2015: 23 complaints2016: 786 complaints2017: 463 complaints2018: 158 complaints2019: 225 complaints2020: 98 complaints2021: 96 complaints2022: 21 complaints2023: 9 complaints2024: 10 complaints2025: 21 complaints
Pilot engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

02V226000EngineAugust 28, 2002 · 17,551 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SEDANS, COUPES, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES, A TIMING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY ON THE WATER PUMP IS MISALIGNED AND COULD CAUSE THE TIMING BELT TO CONTACT A BOLT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD. EVENTUALLY THE BELT COULD BE DAMAGED AND FAIL.

Consequence

IF THE TIMING BELT BREAKS, THE ENGINE WILL STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WATER PUMP AND IF IT IS ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE PUMPS, THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 30, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

What owners report

“DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE APPROX 70 MPH FOR 150 MILES. THERE WAS A SMELL SIMILAR TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, NOTICED ACRID SMELL AND SMOKE OUT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE. LOTS OF SMOKE FOR 5 MIN THEN STOPPED COMPLETELY IN 30 MIN. ALL LEVELS OK, NO LEAKS, NO FAILURES, ALL WIRING…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 23, 2007 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2003 Honda Pilot have?

NHTSA has 63 complaints about the 2003 Honda Pilot engine — 7% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Honda Pilot engine?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the engine: 02V226000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.