2005 Honda Pilot Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2005 Honda Pilot has a Complaint Index of 65 and ranks 8th worst out of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Brakes (28% of complaints) and transmission/powertrain (26%) lead the problem areas, with 13 recalls on file, mostly airbag inflators.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 65/100
- #8 of 21 Pilot years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 679
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 13
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 42
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 8
- Injuries
- 46
- Top issue
- Brakes
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 15 city / 20 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 46 / 2
Top 2005 Honda Pilot problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report airbag deployment sending gray substance onto skin, causing burns during low-speed crashes.
- Some describe sudden loss of steering control tied to a steering column recall, leading to crashes into medians.
- Others report brake failure while shifting from reverse to drive, with the vehicle accelerating into parked cars.
- Owners describe smoke coming from the A/C and heater vents in the dash, sometimes shortly after purchase.
- Front seatbacks have collapsed during rear-end collisions, causing back and neck injuries to occupants.
- A driver-side seat heating element reportedly overheated and burned through the seat cushion and a passenger's coat.
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 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2005 Pilot a Complaint Index of 65, ranking it 8th worst among 21 Pilot model years, with a Caution verdict. Brakes and transmission/powertrain issues make up over half of its 679 complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Honda Pilot?
- Brakes account for 28% of complaints (191 cases, median mileage 103,000), followed by transmission and powertrain issues at 26% (176 cases, median mileage 97,500), and engine problems at 19%.
- Does the 2005 Honda Pilot have airbag recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for the 2005 Pilot, most involving driver or passenger frontal airbag inflator replacement, spanning campaigns from 2014 through 2019.
- How does the 2005 Pilot compare to other model years?
- The 2005 Pilot's Complaint Index of 65 is worse than years like 2014 (index 0, Best verdict) and 2015 (index 10, Best verdict), but better than 2006 (index 90, Avoid) and 2016 (index 100, Avoid).
- What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Honda Pilot?
- The 2005 Pilot is EPA-rated at 17 mpg combined (15 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800.