2008 Honda Pilot Body & Structure Problems

The rear subframe on both sides of your 2008 Honda Pilot has corroded and rotted away. This is reportedly a widespread problem affecting many Pilots of this model year. A compromised subframe can affect suspension stability and safety. The fix will likely involve replacing the rear subframe assembly on both sides.

Your Pilot's body has developed rust on the frame, which was discovered during a service visit for an unrelated noise issue. This rust is affecting the structural integrity of your vehicle's body. Addressing this will likely require rust removal, treatment, and possible welding or replacement of affected frame sections.

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE WELDED NUTS THAT HOLD THE LICENSE PLATE ON THE REAR CARGO DOOR ON MY 2008 HONDA PILOT. BOTH OF THE NUTS WERE WELDED ON A VERY THIN METAL FRAME INSIDE THE REAR CARGO DOOR AND FROM THE WEIGHT OF MY LICENSE PLATE FRAME AND FROM THE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING OVER THE YEARS, THE NUTS COMPLETELY BROKE OFF WHERE THEY WERE WELDED. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO ATTACH THE REAR LICENSE PLATE TO THE REAR CARGO DOOR AND IN MOST STATES THAT'S A TRAFFIC VIOLATION. I CONTACTED HONDA CORPORATE WITH THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY SO HONDA WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE. MY 2008 HONDA PILOT HAS 80,000 MILES AND IS 11 YEARS OLD, THIS PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY WEAR AND TEAR OVER THE YEARS AND HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIRS! IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO WITH THE SAME BODY STYLE AS MY 2008 HONDA PILOT, IF SO WE ALL NEED TO STAND UP AND DEMAND A RECALL CAMPAIGN. SO LET'S ALL TOGETHER DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!

REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DROPPED. IT SHOULD NOT FAIL IN THIS WAY THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BUT IT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN IN MOTION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN OR PART. I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE AND INSTALL PART AT MY COST. QUICK WEB SEARCH SHOWED THIS HAPPENING TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE.

THE PAINT ON THE TRIM PANEL ABOVE THE BACK WINDOW IS FADED AND THE CLEAR COAT IS PEELING.

MY WAS DRIVING THE UNIT FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES FROM THE STARTING POINT. THEN, ALL THE LIGHTS OF THE DASHBOARD TURN ON. WHEN SHE TRIED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, A BLACK SMOKE START TO GO INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND A ENGINE FIRE STARTED. RAPIDLY, SHE LEFT THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE AND THE FIRE CONSUMED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS DECLARED TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE. *TR

WATER IS COLLECTING ON DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS FLOOR AFTER RAIN. DOESNT MATTER IF CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. *TR

THE DOOR STOP CHECK WHICH SHOULD KEEP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING ON THE DRIVER'S LEGS AS ONE ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT ACTUALLY WAS NOT WORKING WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JANUARY OF 2014 WITH 59,900 MILES. THE DOOR WOULD NOT STAY OPEN WHEN PARKED ON THE SLIGHTEST OF INCLINES, AND A STIFF BREEZE WOULD BLOW IT SHUT. THE DOOR CLOSED ON MY LEFT LEG SEVERAL TIMES; I WAS NOT INJURED, OTHER THAN A NICE OUCH. IF THE DOOR CLOSES ON AN ELDERLY PERSON, THE INJURY COULD BE MORE SERIOUS. I REPLACED THE PART, # 72380-S84-A01 ON 29 MAY, 2014 AT THE HONDA STORE IN BOARDMAN, OHIO. COST WAS 46.00 SERVICE AND 21.10 FOR THE PART. I CAN SEND THE FAILED PART TO YOUR OFFICES IF SO DESIRED. THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE A SAFETY FAILURE AS THE DOOR SHOULD REMAIN OPEN WHEN ONE IS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER AND EXIT THE CAR. A FAILURE AT 60,000 MILES ALSO SEEMS PREMATURE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. WE HAVE FOUND THE HOOD TO BE IN OPEN POSITION (AJAR). ITS LIKE SOMEONE PULLED THE LEVEL AND THE HOOD OPENS, BUT THE SECONDARILY LATCH KEEPS IT FROM FLYING OPEN WHILE UNDERWAY. I WILL JUST REACH IN AND PULL THE SECONDARY LATCH TO OPEN THE HOOD AND CLOSE IT. I AM JUST AFRAID THAT THE HOOD WILL FLY OPEN ONE DAY WHILE WE ARE DRIVING, BUT THE SECONDARY LATCH IS DOING IT'S JOB. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT PANEL THEN BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FLEW ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ALE TO RETRIEVE THE PANEL AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS RIPPED FROM THE PANEL BY THE REAR BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED FOR REPAIR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

REAR TAILGATE LATCH MECHANISM FELL OUT OF MOUNT. 2 OF 3 SCREWS WERE FOUND COMPLETELY LOOSE AFTER PARTIAL REMOVAL OF REAR TAILGATE INTERIOR TRIM. ISSUE HAPPENED IN STORE PARKING LOT LOADING GROCERIES; TAILGATE WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT AND DROVE HOME AT SLOW SPEED WITH ALL DOME LIGHTS ON (HONDA DOES NOT GIVE A POSITION SWITCH OPTION FOR ON*DOOR*OFF AS I HAVE SEEN IN MANY OTHER VEHICLES OWNED). DUE TO SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE OF HAVING UNLATCHED TAILGATE OPTED TO EFFECT IMMEDIATE REPAIR UPON RETURN TO HOME ADDRESS. I HAVE REINSTALLED ALL 3 SCREWS AND USED BLUE LOCTITE THREAD LOCK AS IT APPEARS NO THREAD LOCK WAS PREVIOUSLY USED. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND WAS CONCERNED THAT A) VERY SMALL DIAMETER SCREWS RELATIVE TO SIZE OF ITEM BEING SECURED AND B) NO LOCKING MECHANISM TO HOLD TORQUE ON THE SCREWS. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF VARIOUS HONDA MODELS WITH SIMILAR ISSUE ON INTERNET AT HONDA OWNER DISCUSSION BOARDS. THERE ARE EVEN STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS WITH PHOTOS HOW TO FIX POSTED ON A HONDA OWNERS DISCUSSION BOARD; YET WHEN I CHECK HONDA'S OFFICIAL TSB LIST - THERE IS NOT EVEN 1 TSB FOR THE TAILGATE LATCH LOOSE ISSUE; SO IT IS LIKELY MANY OWNERS (AS MYSELF) HAVE OPTED TO TAKE THE DIY APPROACH FOR THE SOLUTION. MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION IS THIS IS POORLY DESIGNED SINCE THE ATTACHMENT MECHANISM (3 SCREWS) TO HOLD THE LATCH BODY TO THE TAILGATE PANEL COULD BECOME LOOSE FROM NOMINAL IN-CITY DAILY DRIVING (PROOF THAT THE TORQUE ON THE FASTENERS IS NOT HOLDING UNDER NORMAL USE). *TR