2005 Honda Pilot Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
65/100
#8 most-complained of 21 Pilot years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2005 Honda Pilot has 679 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 65 out of 100 — #8 highest of 21 Pilot model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is brakes (191 complaints, 28% of the total). Complaints report 42 crashes, 8 fires, 46 injuries, and 2 deaths.
- Complaints
- 679
- Recalls
- 13
- Crashes / fires
- 42 / 8
- Injuries / deaths
- 46 / 2
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 15 city / 20 hwy
Top 2005 Honda Pilot problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes191 (28%)
- Transmission & Powertrain176 (26%)
- Engine131 (19%)
- Airbags120 (18%)
- Electrical System78 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires47 (7%)
- Structure & Body45 (7%)
- Steering37 (5%)
- Other28 (4%)
- Seat Belts13 (2%)
2005 Honda Pilot recalls
13 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V501000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,657,752 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
- NHTSA 19V499000Jun 27, 2019Airbags3,947 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
- NHTSA 19V182000Mar 6, 2019Airbags1,101,534 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
2005 Honda Pilot fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15 MPG
- Highway
- 20 MPG
- Combined
- 17 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Honda Pilot a reliable year?
- Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Honda Pilot ranks #8 of 21 among Pilot model years (Complaint Index 65/100, verdict: Caution). It has 679 complaints and 13 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Honda Pilot?
- The most reported problem areas are brakes (191 complaints), transmission & powertrain (176 complaints), and engine (131 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 102,000 miles.
- Does the 2005 Honda Pilot have any recalls?
- Yes — NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for the 2005 Honda Pilot, most recently reported 2019, covering airbags, brakes, electrical system, and steering.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Honda Pilot?
- EPA rates the 2005 Honda Pilot at 17 MPG combined (15 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.