Used 2008 Honda Pilot SUV Consumer Reviews
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Noise
Bought this car used just before a 1800 mile round trip. The road noise is terrible unless the road is smooth as glass. Interstate highways that have been resurfaced caused so much noise that conversation or listening to the radio is impossible. Secondary roads very bad too. The car has new Goodyear Integrity tires. Is there any tire that will dampen road noise? The drivers seat is uncomfortable. At idle, the radiator cooling fan creates a rumble that resonates through the car. The AC fan just started creating a pulsing fan noise. I'm very dissatisfied and about ready to a loss on the price I paid and dump this car and go back to Ford or GM.
The most Practical car
i have owned this car for 2 years, i think this car is so nice, its comfortable, roomy, and has excellent performance. plus it is so practical for daily life. most people who own this car wont sell it easily, they just love it for all the perfect things in it like, the roomy interior, high performance, and excelllent handling. any one who has not tried this car, knows nothing about it, i really advise everyone to try it, and you'll certainly love it!
- EX-L 4dr SUVMSRP: $8,555108 mi away
- Special Edition 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,750148 mi away
- Value Package 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,995164 mi away
Just what a starting family needed
We got the outgoing 2008 Pilot EX-L at a great deal as the 2009's were coming in later that month. We are glad we went with the Pilot as this is my 4th Honda product. Chose the mocha metallic with saddle leather seats. The lighter color gave it the sense of more room and upscale over the gray available in the darker models. Lots of room for the baby's carseat and easy hook up to the latches. Tons of room in cargo area with 3rd row folded. Stroller and groceries fit with room to spare. Engine is very smooth and eases with on ramps and passing. The interior is a little dated, but after 5 years of this model, Honda has worked out all the bugs by now
Well built but ordinary
Driving in the Canadian winter is not fun, yet the Pilot, even at -45 degrees C runs fine. The traction assist will catch you unaware on ice corners and might cause you to over-correct. The get-up-and-go on ice is fantastic! Cold starts without plugging in are no problem, and the engine warms up very quickly. Feild of view for a tall person is limited by the side pillars I find myself leaning forward and back with a lot of head movement while checking intersections.
Safety # 1
I am recovering from a car accident. I was hit by a Cadillac Escalade. I was not moving, he T-boned me at approx 40 mph. I flipped over. The side airbag deployed, I had on my belt. I have 1 broken bone, fortunate to be alive. The police and hospital both said how lucky I am. You only get 1 chance in an accident, so choose the safest vehicle on the market. This has 5 stars, the top. This is a great vehicle to drive and very safe. I am going to buy the 2009.
My second Pilot
Picked up our 08 Pilot on the 27th of June. We had an 03 that was hit from the rear (60 MPH) by a full size pickup. I was stopped waiting for traffic to clear and don't remember the accident. Vehicle is totaled. The folks responding to the scene commented, "the Pilot saved me from serious injuries or worse". I walked away after a thorough checkup be the EMT folks. I love our vehicle. SAFE, comfortable and excellent driver.
Sunburn
The windshield goes so far back that my hands are perpetually sunburned and peeling. This is the only problem with the car, but it is a BIG ONE. Any ideas?
Awesome car. Best for the Buck.
I already own a 2004 Honda Pilot. I test drove comparable Toyota, Nissan, and Acura SUVs. Honda is the best car/value Bar none. They've made so much enhancements to the Pilot since 2004 that I feel like I am driving a different car. Navigation is easy to use and I love the XM radio. I also like the fact that rear camera and fog light is now standard on Navigation model. I simply love it.
Brakes & radio
I like my Honda pilot but at 25,000 miles my radio went shot, had to be replaced, and then I was told my back brakes had to be replaced at 25,000 miles. That's pretty bad when you can't even get at least 75,000 miles out of a new car. Not really happy right now.
Honda is Still Going Strong!
I had shopped around for an SUV for six months. First, I looked at the 2008 Toyota Highlander and test drive it. Second, I checked out the 2008 Honda Pilot and test drive it. I was very pleased with the Value Package and the way the 2008 Honda Pilot handles the road. It is very smooth and quiet ride. I have always owned an Ford vehicle. My last vehicle was an 1998 Ford Explorer. There were several recalls with the tires, etc. However,I love my Ford. I am happy with my 2008 Pilot. I would recommend an Honda Pilot. It is an great SUV for your money. It holds value, and cost less on repairs. I wish it would offer 100,000 miles on extended warranty. Try it and you will love it.
Was great while it lasted!!!
Bought the '08 Pilot a week and half ago and today. I lost it to a rear end collision. The air bags did not deploy which was every odd to me because the lady that hit us was traveling at about 45 mph and we were at a dead stop for traffic. She pushed us about 10 feet forward from our original position and we hit a ford truck off set, the passenger side was toast. You can see where the crumple zones did their jobs to absorb the energy. Thank God my pregnant wife and 2 year old son where ok after the accident. If they total it I sure will get another Pilot.
Almost Perfect - One design flaw
I purchased my second Honda Pilot in March 2008 after being the happy owner of a 2005 Pilot. The vehicle is perfect for a large family as it seats 8 comfortably (kids in th rear). There is one flaw and it is identical to that in the 2005 model. When driving at speeds greater than 40 miles per hour, try opening the rear passenger windows ONLY! Start with the back right and you will notice a very loud hum or vibration. It is NOT a minor noise as it is almost deafening and pounds on your ears. I am not sure if Honda is aware of this problem. I thought it was just my own '05 model that was doing this however it is identical in the '08. The pilot otherwise is perfect!
Love This SUV and Fun to Drive
Just picked it up and it is the best SUV in its class. I drove many SUVs and nothing to compare to this little number.
Compromise well done
CR-V's gas mileage and handling is much better. However, the year-end discounted price was almost the same as CR-V, and one big car in the house wouldn't hurt. Didn't like the look of 2009 Pilot. It's a set of best compromises that we settled on.
Don't look for qas mileage
Purchased our Pilot in May of this year, while we like the ride, although the road noise is pretty bad, we feel safe in it and it is comfortable. However do not expect to come close to the EPA estimates on the window sticker, the last tank of gas was primarily in town driving, we got 10 mpg, the best we have gotten on the road was 18 mpg. We have 6000 miles on it and we are looking for something else in and SUV that will come closer to the EPA est. Our 36 foot motor home gets 8 mpg, so go figure.
Soccer-Mom Heaven
I traded my 2005 Civic in for this, but there was just never enough room. My DH is over 6' and the 2 kids are growing fast. I miss filling up for $35, but we took a 2 hour drive to shopping mall with 8 adults, and we were perfectly comfortable. We are leaving tomorrow for vacation, and have plenty of room to bring everything we could want, and we will be comfortable enough to take the scenic route. The DVD player is our first in-car system, and I am glad I finally gave in. We didn't get the NAV, because he prefers the Garmin after market.
Mycar
It's a good car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
"it's a Honda"
Well we finally pulled the trigger and purchased the 2008 Pilot EX-L AWD. We first test drove the VP, then the EX- L. The leather seats are far more comfortable, heated seats too! Nice...It handles very well, plenty of zip, and Honda reliability. I thought about buying an American product for about 2 seconds, then came to my senses. This is our third new Honda, Civic/Accord, now Pilot. My fellow Americans, before you buy anything else, test drive this car.
It's a Honda!!
This is one sweet ride. Have owned two other Honda's in past 10 years. Both sedans, needed more room to haul more people and stuff. The Pilot is just the ticket. The ride is smooth and very quiet. Leather heated seats are a nice plus. Room for 8 if needed. Smart styling and Honda reliability. I looked at other American made SUV's and could not do it. Honda reliability has a powerful way of keeping customers coming back. Honda's do seem to sell themselves. Well done Honda!!!
Great SUV
I have been researching this SUV for a while now and it far surpasses what I expected. The interior design is more for utility not luxury.
Honda Pilot First Impressions
Safety and reliability is what made me look at the Pilot to replace a Toyota minivan. For the value of the current incentives, it is too good to pass up. It is a great choice for a family vehicle. The interior is logical and the exterior, well, it's a traditional SUV look. I like the Pilot but I wouldn't label it as a stand out. I do recommend it for its practical purpose and Honda's good safety name. I also feel that Honda treats their customers better.
"The best SUV ever made"
I have only had my SUV for a few weeks. However it is such a smooth riding vehicle it's the best ever!
Bad gas mileage
Been driving the 08 Pilot AWD for almost 3 months and City driving averages 13.2 mpg. Very disappointed.
Foreign car Kool Aid drinkers
I recently leased a 08 Pilot for my wife after seeing a great lease price. Our 06 Chevy trailblazer was coming off lease and although the Chevy was excellent, we opted for Honda due to the deal. The gas mileage claims are true. A 4,500lb., 4 wheel drive Chevy with 291 HP!, gets better mileage! The Honda will be in the shop 4 times due to the drive Line vibe issue someone else wrote about. Keep in mind I have been driving GM'S mostly, and they are much smoother, a lot quieter and have knocked Honda and other foreign cars off the initial and long term quality charts recently. This certainly is not like my 1998 Accord EX coupe. I miss my Chevy. Honda does have better interior
Belt noise
Would like to write a review, unfortunately, the car was been in repairs since I bought it. Heard squeaking like a fan belt slipping on day one. Returned it to dealer and they started replacing parts, (belt tensioner, alternator). Seems like they are just guessing. Tomorrow is day three and maybe will get it back then, maybe not. Fourth new Honda, third in 8 years. Will see how dealer/ Honda handles it. So far obviously not impressed. Performance and fuel economy are guesses, less than 100 miles on it. Fun to drive, it's a practicable conveyance or should be.
Pilot power
The Pilot has Power on the road. I did a lot of research on several automobiles I was interested in and decided on the Pilot. I love the Pilot and I feel I made the best decision for my family. The Pilot had everything I needed in safety, comfort, and style. It had the best ratings and beat out all the other SUVs in its class. It also had the best value in price. The service at DCH Paramus Honda (NJ) was great, and my salesman was terrific. I will recommend them to family and friends whenever they need a new car. Go for the Honda Pilot, you will make the right decision.
Honda Pilot Rocks!!!
At first I was nervous about driving an SUV. But when I got my Pilot and started driving it, I loved it. I wouldn't go back to driving a car for anything. Awesome drive, safe, roomy, and great in the winter snow, windows never fog up!!! This is the one of the best SUV out there must test drive.
Poor build quality
Bought a brand new 2008 Pilot EX in southern California in Feb 2008. A day later, replaced a defect door trim, and about 30 days later spotted many rusty parts underside the car. Some of them appear to be very rusty and must have started a while ago. Contacted both dealer and regional Honda office. They claimed that surface rusts are not covered by the warranty and declined to fix it. So before you decide to buy a Honda, it might be a very good idea to check out the underside paint carefully. We never expect this poor paint quality. We also have a 1999 Camry. Even today, it shows no underside rust at all.
Great car but no 3rd row air
I looked at GMC Arcadia, Dodge Journey, Hyundai Veracruz, Toyota Highlander and bought Honda Pilot SE. 3rd row seating, awd, and dvd were the main features I was looking for. I went on an hour long trip today with the kids in the 3rd row. They were complaining it was too hot. To my surprise, no 3rd row air vent? Disappointed but I guess we'll eventually figure out the right temperature for everyone in the car.
Great Vehicle
I love my Pilot. Only issue after 25K miles is a new battery replacement, which was done under warranty. The car has a comfortable ride and great seating capacity, which with carpooling we fill up every day. We love the DVD player, though on the freeway we have to turn it up to MAX to hear it. When taking on a heavy load (like once we loaded it with boxes of books)the rear of the car bottoms out. Sunroof is a little too slow to open and close. Other than that, a near perfect car.
Pilot w/Piston Slap
I got a great deal on the Pilot and thought this was going to be a great new car. After purchase I noticed a noise when it shifted gears when cold. Two dealers said it was piston slap and all Honda had it. Funny it didn't make it when just revving the engine.
Great SUV
Had a 2004 Pilot loved it and bought the 2wd 2008. Great car and love the Honda's reliability.Gas mileage on the 2wd seems much better than my 2004. Live in Ohio and 2wd doesn't seem much different than my 2004 awd. Love the XM feature on the radio, no more looking for stations on trips.
Love It!!!
I love this car!!! I call it 'the beast'. It is so much fun to drive, has great pick-up, and I feel very safe in it as well. It is a 'SOLID' car, and as a new Mom safety is very important to me. If you're in the market for this class of car don't buy until you test drive a Pilot. We had a very rough winter this year, and I never had any problems in the ice, slush and/or snow.
Loving The Pilot
We recently traded in a Volvo XC90 for the Pilot and are loving it. The interior is quite spacious and having a third row seat is a wonderful convenience. The interior integrity compared to other makes we looked at does not compare. I think we will keep this car for awhile.
VP AWD great regional leasing
I leased AWD VP due to Honda great regional leasing program. Test drove both the EXL & VP, found the EXL's heated leather seat is far more comfortable and better support. EXL has lumbar support that VP does not have. The radio and climate control knobs seem to be designed for right- hand steering because the most-use knobs are located on right instead of left side. I traded the Odyssey since I want 4x4 for New England winter ice/snow and for the 90 degree turn from main street to long slope leading to my home.
Love this Purchase!
Anyone looking for a GREAT deal on an 8 passenger SUV needs to take a look at the 08 Pilot. Honda is GIVING these things away to make room for the new 09 Pilot's that hit the lots over the next week or so. I was able to get my EX-L for under the TMV price and the dealer had added pin stripes, wheel locks, mud flaps and a cargo tray. I love this vehicle. I'm in sales and have already driven 5k miles in 2 months and it's a breeze to get in and out of. Huge storage space with the 3rd row folded down. It is noisy on the highway and the body lean in corners takes a little getting used to but the overall ride is nice. I looked at the VeraCruz, Journey, Pacifica and CX-9 and the Pilot is best
Outstanding
This vehicle was thought through very well when designed. Great room for its class size. Gas mileage exceptional. I have heard a lot of negative comments about road noise. I have not experienced this road noise and feel it rides very smooth and quiet. AWD works well for normal winter and typical off road driving. Would not recommend taking it on the Rubicon trail but will hold its own on basic rough terrain. Thumbs up again Honda for a job well done.
Our New Pilot
Nice Crossover SUV. Smooth driving and roomy. NO mechanical complaints, only had it 6 days. It's a Honda, it better not have any! It is made in the US however.
Not what I expected from Honda :(
After only one months of ownership, about 1300 miles driven, the car broke down. The following warning lights came on: "check engine", "VSA", "4 wheel drive" and "!" The car was barely moving and I called the dealership for a tow. It took 3 days to figure out what was wrong with the Pilot. Apparently some pin came out around the fuse box. Nothing major but what an aggravation! This is not my first new car purchase but my first Honda. I never expected the car to go down in 1 month. Never happened with any of my other cars. Actually, in 20 years of driving, I never had to call a tow. Now I am not sure if the car is less reliable in general than I expected or if it just had this one thing.
Love it!
I traded in a 2006 Accord SE for a 2008 Pilot VP. I got a great deal because SUVs are no longer in high demand and the new body style was due out the following week. I only use about 2-3 gallons more per week than I was using in the Accord, so a few extra bucks in gas is well worth the extra room for my kids (car seats, stroller, sports gear, etc). It was actually cheaper than my Accord and my insurance has decreased. Go figure.
2008 Honda Pilot
Solid SUV. Average performance for HP and torque. Average gas mileage - could be better; about 13 mpg in city driving. Solid build and ride, good comfort, excellent value due to the big discounts on 2008 Pilot's. Value is what sold me. Looked at Murano, Acura RDX, RAV4 w/V6, and Honda CR-V. So far so good...
Safe, reliable, and oh so sweet!
We have been driving our new VP AWD Pilot for almost a month now and absolutely love it! We decided to take the plunge because of the horrible weather we've been having in the MidWest and we also plan to start a family soon. I've owned many Honda's, so owning a Pilot was always a goal of mine. I have to say that it has delivered up to my expectations hands- down. We plan to add a few extras like a towing package, all season floor mats, and a remote starter in the near future. We only went with the base VP model without all the bells and whistles and everyone still compliments on how nice and luxurious it looks. We were comparing the Pilot to many other SUV's and it easily beat them out.
First midsize SUV
I bought a new '07 CRV 11 days ago but took it back and got an '08 Pilot. I have never had a SUV before but it rides nice and is very comfortable. Gas mileage doesn't look very good but for a 2-ton vehicle I guess it will be OK.
Solid Vehicle
This is my fourth Honda, and they have been great. Nice powerful engine, smooth ride, easy ergonomics, good feel to the vehicle. Lots of room for my kids and Labrador (who can watch movies in the back). Nice ride.
Love This Vehicle
I love this vehicle. It is everything I could have asked for in a suv. I love the fact that it seats eight. I don't know how comfortable it would be for an adult to sit in the third row but kids would be just fine back there. My husband bought this vehicle for me for my 30th birthday and I am ecstatic!
First Honda, so far so good
After totalling my Chevy TrailBlazer, and then rushing to buy a GMC Yukon, I wanted a vehichle with a fold flat third row, 4wd, rear entertainment system, and lots of extras. I found it all with my Pilot Special Edition, with kids we knew we didn't want leather. I haven't had to use the 4wd yet, but hope it's everything Honda promises. It seems noiser than my Yukon, and not as comfortable, but I was willing to compromise given the rest of the goodies. The gas mileage is reasonable. In town, I get about 16-17 mpg, and 20-21 on the highway (at ~70mph). So far, everything rings true to the Honda value.
Meaning of a family SUV
The Pilot is very stable if a little boaty at high speeds but it keeps good balance. Very roomy and the interior is well laid out. Went from an FX35 to a Pilot and I don't regret it one bit!
Nice Truck, Very Good Value
Bought to replace an aging Isuzu Rodeo we're very happy with our Pilot. The Pilot is comfortable, a pleasure to drive, and of course Honda reliability. Acceleration is very good and noise levels are reasonable. The 2nd and 3rd row seats are easy to use and, folded down, they provide a large cargo area. Leather trim is nicely done and the two-tone effect of the Saddle color is attractive.
Best of all worlds
We replaced our 2005 Chrysler Pacifica (boat) with this truck and are loving it. The Pilot is so much lighter on it's feet and nimble in the urban jungle. Driving is quiet and smooth on all roads and it's great in the snow! Wife loves that it heats up quick on sub-zero MN winter mornings. Husband loves the acceleration and visibility from sitting up high in the cockpit. Kids love the DVD and parents love the wireless headsets for quiet long trips to grandparents.
2008 Honda Pilot VP 2WD
I feel I got a great trade in price on my 2003 Chevy Trailblazer (many elec issues on Trailblazer) and a great drive out price on my new Honda Pilot VP. It's been a very nice and solid SUV. Ive owned 5 SUVs. True about the wind noise with only one window or only rear windows open. I usually just crack a 3rd window to prevent this noise. The 2009 new design addressed the tight drivers side armrest issue a bit. Still could use more drivers side comfort area. The Pilot has been very reliable, comfortable, great rear cargo area. Wish there was a option for NO 3rd row seat. I never use it. At 38,000 miles I have a rather serious engine warning light on. Manual says might be emissions issue