Found transmission fluid leaking on floor and can see fluid on under side of vehicle. Technician found leak was from left side of transmission-due to casting spot in case allowing fluid to leak. Date of failure 12/12/2006. Mileage date of failure 572. Transmission was replaced . *jb
2007 Honda Pilot powertrain problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 13 powertrain complaints filed for the 2007 Honda Pilot, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 19 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a pattern of powertrain issues across 2007 Pilots, starting early in vehicle life. Rear differential groaning and grinding on tight low-speed turns has appeared as new as 500–1000 miles; one owner's differential was low on fluid at the dealer, but fluid service didn't fix the noise. Two narratives specifically mention this may be a production defect, with one requiring complete differential replacement.
Transmission problems dominate the complaints. One owner had a factory clip left attached to the transmission line clamp, causing fluid leakage and transmission failure at 55,000 miles. Owners report transmission breakdowns around 100,000–150,000 miles, with jerking, loss of power, and inability to accelerate. One owner notes that Honda covered identical transmission failures on a 2002 Odyssey (same platform, same parts) but refused warranty on his Pilot. A transmission oil cooler failure allowed coolant into the transmission in at least one case.
Unintended acceleration events appear in three narratives, with no diagnostic codes found and dealers unable to identify causes. One owner also reports the transmission moving forward when shifted into reverse about half the time. A casting defect in the transmission case caused fluid leakage as early as 572 miles, requiring replacement.
Same Honda Pilot powertrain reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Rear differential groaning/noise on tight turns
Groaning, whirring, rumbling, or grinding noise from rear differential when making sharp turns at low speed, particularly on cold starts. Occurs regardless of temperature after initial warmup. Can persist even after fluid service.
When: 500-1000 miles; cold starts before warmup
Symptoms owners cite: groaning noise at rear; whirring noise; grinding noise; low rumbling; occurs on tight radius turns at low speed
Repairs/costs cited: Complete differential assembly replacement ordered in one case; fluid service ineffective in another; defect suspected to be production line issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda authorized dealers performed inspections and fluid service; complete replacement of defective differential assembly ordered
Transmission line clamp failure with fluid leak
Factory clip attached to transmission line clamp not removed during production, causing excessive fluid leakage and transmission failure to respond.
When: 55,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine revs highly when accelerator depressed; transmission fails to respond; excessive fluid leaking from transmission
Repairs/costs cited: Manufacturer defect: clip should have been removed at production; vehicle was repaired at dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer diagnostic identified clip issue; vehicle repaired
Transmission failure and loss of power
Transmission becomes inoperable or loses driving capability, with jerking, loss of forward motion, and inability to accelerate. Some instances involve D indicator blinking before power loss.
When: 100,000-150,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: transmission fully inoperable; jerking without warning at 50 mph; loss of forward motion; unable to accelerate; D indicator blinking before power loss; violent vibration
Repairs/costs cited: One owner states transmission broke at 100k miles; another case unable to be diagnosed by dealer; owner notes Pilot and Odyssey share same platform and parts, with known defects Honda previously covered on Odyssey
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda refused warranty coverage for 2007 Pilot transmission failure despite covering similar failures on 2002 Odyssey; dealer unable to diagnose in at least one case
Transmission oil cooler leak into transmission
Transmission oil cooler failure allows coolant to leak into transmission, causing loss of forward motion and stranding vehicle on highway.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: coolant leaking into transmission; loss of forward motion; vehicle stranded
Repairs/costs cited: Owner states this is a well-known problem; dealer passes repair cost to consumer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented; owner states Honda ignores the problem
Transmission fluid leak from casting defect
Transmission fluid leaking from casting spot in transmission case allowing fluid escape.
When: 572 miles
Symptoms owners cite: transmission fluid leaking on floor; fluid visible on underside of vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Leak from casting spot in case; transmission was replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Transmission was replaced
Unintended acceleration
Engine revs and accelerates without driver input on accelerator pedal. One incident at traffic light with engine at 5k RPM; another with all warning indicators illuminating and engine revving when brake pedal depressed.
When: At stop/low speed; one incident at 150,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: sudden unintended acceleration; engine revs without accelerator input; engine revs when brake pedal depressed; all warning indicators illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic found no engine code and could not identify cause; dealer unable to diagnose or repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to diagnose; no recall identified; manufacturer not notified in some cases
Transmission shift anomaly in reverse
Vehicle moves forward for a few feet when shifted into reverse, even on downward slopes, requiring brake application before reverse engages properly. Occurs intermittently, about 50% of the time.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: moves forward when put in reverse; occurs 5 out of 10 times; occurs regardless of slope direction
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Purchased a 2007 Honda crv ex-l AWD on 12/04/06. At 1000 miles I began to hear a noise coming from the rear differential upon turning sharply to the right and left at slow speeds. The vehicle was cold during this time and would cease any noise after driving 5 to 10 miles and warming up. Took the vehicle to the original Honda dealer and the service dept. Promptly inspected the rear differential…
Honda 2007 cr-v ex 4wd purchased from white plains Honda, ny on 11/22/06 brand new vehicle, 3 weeks old, 500 miles major failure of rear 4wd differential assembly - complete replacement required customer observed groaning noise occurs at rear of vehicle whenever tight radius turns are made at low speed such as turning in/out of parking spaces. Problem occurs regardless whether vehicle is…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2007 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 powertrain problem on the 2007 Honda Pilot?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 92,611 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2007/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.