cars news 10: 2016 Honda Pilot Elite Update 4: Unresolved Transmission Issues

In the last update, we provided a riveting play-by-play of how we diagnosed and confirmed a noise problem in our Pilot’s transmission, ultimately leading to a full replacement unit by our local Honda dealer, under warranty, at 21,428 miles. The ZF nine-speed transmission in our Pilot had been called out by nearly every staffer who sampled it for its slow shifts, fussy reverse gear engagement, and overall lazy feel.

Would the new, replacement unit be any better? Did we get a lemon from the start? Were crisp, energetic shifts now on tap via pedal and paddle shifter?

Nope.

I had been driving the Pilot with its new transmission for over a week when I started hearing something else; a little voice in my head that would shout at the beginning and end of each work day, “Dagnabbit, I really hate this transmission.”

There is just so much slop in it, particularly if you push the little green button that engages the ECO Assist System. In the name of fuel economy, this mode adds slack to the throttle (among other things), making the whole powertrain feel even more unresponsive. A note I sent myself for this update: “Last night, leaving work, I toed down the throttle and nothing. Kept going. Still no movement. I finally just matted the throttle to the floor (for about a half-second) and lifted immediately (foot covering brake pedal). It finally lurched forward.”

I find an additional jolt of slop when parking on a gentle downhill at my local beach for my morning surf. Before shutting off the ignition, I push the P button for park, lift my foot off the brake, and the car lurches forward for what feels like 6 inches (probably less than half that). The sloppy sensation makes me wonder which Honda engineer thought this was acceptable. This is the same company that started racing F1 in the 60s, now builds the NSX in Ohio, and currently races under the same banner as McLaren? Soichiro must be spitting fire from his grave.

Maybe it is not some engineer’s fault that the the ZF-supplied transmission is so poor. Perhaps fault lies with a bean counter, but somebody at Honda thought it made sense, and it doesn’t.

More on our long-term 2016 Honda Pilot here: