The 2005 Honda Pilot has 9 recalls, the most serious being the well-known Takata airbag defect affecting both the driver and front passenger inflators, where the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
A separate airbag concern involves vehicles where a front passenger airbag may have been installed incorrectly during a prior replacement; an improperly seated inflator can deploy in an unexpected direction in a crash, raising the risk of injury. On the fuel system side, certain Pilots have a fuel tank that can be damaged in a crash and leak fuel, which creates a fire risk if an ignition source is present. There is also a brake-related issue: the electronic stability control system can briefly apply brake force on its own, and if the driver presses the brake pedal at that same moment, the system may amplify the braking far beyond what the driver intended.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front airbag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front airbag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Driver air bag inflators installed during previous recalls or as service parts may explode during a crash when the air bag deploys due to a manufacturing defect.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator with a different inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the passenger air bag and replace the module assembly if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator can rupture during a crash due to chemical breakdown from long-term exposure to heat and humidity.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver air bag inflator may rupture due to moisture and manufacturing variations that develop over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Vehicle Stability Assist system may unexpectedly apply brakes for a moment without driver input, or amplify braking force beyond what the driver requested, potentially causing crashes and injury.
What the fix does
Dealers will install an updated wiring harness with a capacitor in the VSA modulator to correct the malfunction.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some fuel tanks were not manufactured to proper specifications, which could cause problems with the fuel system.
What the fix does
The dealer replaces the fuel tank with a properly manufactured one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
