Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Honda Pilot airbags problems
severe 109 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
109
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
22crashes
27injuries
What stands out
Of the 18 model years of Honda Pilot we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 109.
Owners have filed 109 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2005 Pilot has a troublesome track record with airbags. Owners report two overlapping problems: widespread front impact sensor failures and unresolved Takata inflator defects.
Front-impact sensor failures start around 100,000 miles but can occur earlier. The SRS warning light comes on and stays on. Dealers diagnose faulty left or right sensors (error codes 41-11 and 42-11), quoting $285–$500 for replacement plus $38–$115 diagnostic fees. Owners refuse the bills, reasoning a safety component shouldn't fail without a crash, especially when a similar sensor recall exists for the 2005 Odyssey. Some note the protective sheathing around connectors peels back, exposing wiring to moisture and debris.
Takata inflator replacements drag on. Multiple owners received official recall notices but could not get appointment dates because parts weren't available. Dealers report indefinite backorders. A few owners waited over a month on loaner vehicles waiting for parts that never arrived.
Worst case: airbags don't deploy in crashes. Multiple owners document broadside and head-on collisions at 20–70 mph where zero airbags inflated. Occupants struck door frames and dashboards, sustaining concussions, broken ribs, permanent hearing loss, cervical injuries, and lumbar fractures. One owner blamed the missing side-curtain airbag for permanent tinnitus and hearing loss.
One owner reported thermal burns and embedded chemical residue after deployment during a collision. Honda and dealerships have declined to investigate or recall either the sensor failure pattern or the deployment failures.
Same Honda Pilot airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Front impact sensor failure (electrical/wiring)
Front-left and/or front-right impact sensors fail to signal properly, causing the SRS warning light to illuminate. Owners report the yellow protective sheath pulling back from the sensor connector, exposing wiring junctions to moisture and debris. Diagnostic codes 41-11 (left) and 42-11 (right) are logged. Sensors themselves may not be damaged but connections degrade over time.
When: Typically 100,000+ miles; some reports as early as 79,000 miles. Often occurs during routine operation with no crash history.
Symptoms owners cite: SRS/airbag warning light illuminates and stays on continuously; Light may be intermittent before becoming permanent; Vehicle parked for extended periods may trigger light upon restart; No collision or impact preceding failure
Codes mentioned: 41-11, 42-11
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor replacement costs $285–$450 per sensor depending on dealer; owners report $220–$500 repairs. One owner paid $477 ($127 parts + $350 labor). Dealers frequently charge $38–$115 diagnostic fee separately. Parts sometimes on backorder. Owners refuse repairs, citing safety feature should not fail.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda does not acknowledge widespread failure pattern. No recall issued despite similar recall on 2005 Honda Odyssey. Dealers deny coverage under factory warranty.
SRS control module failure
The main SRS computer unit malfunctions, generating false error codes for impact sensors even though the sensors themselves test okay. Dealerships report they have seen this defect 'a lot recently' but Honda does not acknowledge it as a design issue.
When: High mileage (137,000+ miles noted in one complaint), or suddenly after vehicle sits idle.
Symptoms owners cite: SRS warning light illuminates; Diagnostic codes logged for impact sensors (41-11, 42-11) but sensors visually and electronically okay; Main SRS computer unit flagged as 'not working properly'
Codes mentioned: 41-11, 42-11
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quoted $1,000 for SRS unit replacement, with possible additional $900 for sensor replacement if unit repair fails. Owner refused, citing manufacturer defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda does not warranty the SRS unit. No recall issued. Dealerships privately believe it should be covered as safety hazard but Honda refuses.
Takata airbag inflator rupture risk
2005 Pilots equipped with Takata inflators face risk of inflator rupture or explosion due to improper chemical storage and manufacturing defects in propellant. Owners report their vehicles not being recalled despite regulatory acknowledgment that certain model years carry degraded inflators with potential to spray metal shards into the cabin.
When: At any time; risk increases in high-humidity regions (Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina). Degradation is time and climate dependent.
Symptoms owners cite: No symptoms; risk is latent until crash occurs; Possible metal fragmentation during deployment if inflator ruptures
Repairs/costs cited: Takata recall inflator replacement (under NHTSA campaigns 14V351000, 14V353000, 14V700000, 16V344000) is required. However, parts remain unavailable for months to years in many cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple NHTSA recall campaigns issued (14V351000, 14V353000, 14V700000, 16V344000). Some 2005 Pilots reported as not recalled despite matching model-year profiles. Owners in high-humidity states report recalls not applied to their vehicles. Parts shortages delay recall completion indefinitely in some cases.
Airbag non-deployment in crashes
During moderate to severe frontal and side-impact collisions, airbags fail to deploy. Multiple owners report broadside, head-on, and angle crashes where no airbags deployed despite severity meeting deployment thresholds. Some vehicles have reportedly had sensor failures; others show no prior warning or fault codes.
When: During actual collision events ranging from 15 mph to 70 mph impacts. Some vehicles involved in crashes with SRS light already illuminated; others with no prior warning.
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during frontal impact; No side-curtain airbag deployment during broadside impact; Occupant head/neck/body strikes door frame, steering wheel, windshield, dashboard; Vehicle may be totaled; occupants sustain serious injuries
Repairs/costs cited: No repair possible after non-deployment. Vehicles totaled. Occupants sustained concussions, permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical radiculopathy, broken ribs, lumbar fractures, knee injuries, shoulder reconstruction, and neck injuries.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturers (Honda) advised owners no assistance available. Some owners report Honda stated 'no issue' with deployment system despite crash evidence. No investigation or recall specific to deployment failure reported.
Airbag sensor failure post-recall service
Within weeks of completing a Takata airbag recall replacement, both front impact sensors fail simultaneously. Owners believe the recall replacement procedure or part incompatibility induced the sensor failure. Dealers deny causation but owners note pattern across multiple vehicles.
When: Within 2–8 weeks after Takata recall inflator replacement completed.
Symptoms owners cite: SRS warning light illuminates days to weeks after recall service; Diagnostic codes 41-11 and/or 42-11 logged; Both sensors reportedly fail at same time
Codes mentioned: 41-11, 42-11
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor replacement quoted ~$500. Owner refused, suspecting dealer-induced defect from recall work or incompatible replacement part.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claim replacement part incompatibility does not exist and procedures are correct. No investigation or recall amendment issued.
Airbag deployment-related burn injuries
Upon deployment during a minor collision, airbag released gray chemical residue that caused severe thermal burns to occupant's hands, face, and skin. Substance was embedded in skin and caused severe discomfort requiring multiple physician visits.
When: During airbag deployment at time of right-front-wheel impact collision.
Symptoms owners cite: Thermal burns to hands and face; Chemical residue (gray substance) embedded in skin and clothing; Swelling, pain, bruising
Repairs/costs cited: Occupant treated by physician twice; prescribed ointment and pain medication. No follow-up injury documentation provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No record of dealer or manufacturer contact in this narrative. No investigation reported.
Recall parts unavailability and service delays
Owners receive official NHTSA recall notices for Takata inflators but dealerships cannot complete repairs because replacement inflators are not in stock and delivery timelines are indefinite. Owners wait months to years with defective airbags, unable to drive safely. Dealerships provide no firm scheduling.
When: Ongoing from 2014 through 2016 for same vehicles; some owners still waiting after 6+ months.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle received recall notice; Dealership unable to obtain parts; No delivery date communicated; Owner left driving vehicle with known defect
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed. Owners bear expense of keeping vehicle or loaner costs. One owner waited from March to April 2015 (one month) on loaner; others waited 2+ months.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaigns 14V351000, 14V353000, 14V700000, 16V344000 issued. Honda and dealerships cite parts distribution disconnect and unavailability. No accelerated supply plan or loaner policy enforced. Owners directed to 'watch for updates.'
Synthesized from 109 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Honda Pilot?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Honda Pilot?
It's a meaningful issue. 109 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 69 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 91,000 and 150,000 miles, with the median around 123,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 91,000; a quarter make it past 150,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Honda/Pilot.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.