I bought this vehicle brand new just under 5 years ago and have 62,000 miles on it. In the past week, a "Transmission System Problem" flashed up on my dashboard twice. Both times, I was on the highway driving at 65mph plus and had been on the road for approximately 45 mins. No driveability issues.

I took it to the dealership yesterday. The service summary is "VERIFIED TRANS CODE SET IN SYSTEM CODE P0741 TORQUE CONVERTOR CLUTCH PERFORMANCE OR STUCK OFF. I PERFORMED TROUBLESHOOTING FOR THAT CODE. ONE STEP CALLED TO DRAIN THE FLUID THROUGH A STRAINER AND CHECK FOR METAL OR CLUTCH DEBRIS. THERE IS SOME VERY SMALL METAL FLAKES THAT COULD BE GETTING INTO THE INTERNAL PRESSURE VALVES CAUSING FAILURE. HONDA CALL TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IF ANY DEBRIS IS FOUND. AT THIS POINT THE TRANS IS GOING OUT DUE TO THERE IS NO DRIVABILITY PROBLEM. PER HONDA TRANS REPLACEMENT NOW OR VERY SOON."

I'm frustrated that this occurred so soon after the powertrain warranty expired since it would be $8900 out of pocket. I read online that it's normal to have some metal flakes and wonder if further investigation on the issue is needed. I'm not very familiar with cars and would like some input on this before I make a decision on how to move forward.

Thanks in advance.

I would disable the VCM and drain/fill the fluid 3x before shelling out that coin on a new tranny. Also change the inline filter too as it is probably plugged too.

 

I feel your frustration. I got a brand new EXL 2019 in 2019. We started having the transmission slipping around 30,000 miles. We’ve done the three time train and fill but it continues to do this sporadically, now have 52,000 miles on it. Every time we take it into the dealer they say they can’t replicate it, and in their defense it is never doing it when I take it there. It doesn’t do it all the time but when it does, it’s a very violent shutter we have not had the transmission system problem light come on, but I feel like it’s only a short time away. I am not confident this vehicle will be reliable in the future. I’m also free to drive any distance, including kids, soccer games in tournaments, far away, or on vacation, Everyone says to install the VCM disabler., three times drain and fill when you change the oil, and even a transmission cooler. But my question is why should we have to do all this stuff when you’ve got a brand new car it makes no sense whatsoever that you have to manipulate a new vehicle. What that does not say for the brand. trying to decide what to do. This car was supposed to last us a good 10+ hassle free years as I have since retired since purchasing this. Very disappointed in Honda.

 

Everyone says to install the VCM disabler., three times drain and fill when you change the oil, and even a transmission cooler. But my question is why should we have to do all this stuff when you’ve got a brand new car it makes no sense whatsoever that you have to manipulate a new vehicle. What that does not say for the brand.

This could be considered a design flaw, as they discontinued the 6-speed after 2020 models and that along with it, no new Pilots have the need for the inferior non full synthetic ATF known as DW-1. These comments are based on my own experiences of owning this vehicle and those of others who comment on this forum. But please if you will, just know that not all hope is lost in preserving the life of your transmission (your investment). And regardless of yours/my opinion of Honda, disabling the VCM will stop the vibrations from being transferred into the transmission that cause the torque converter clutch lock issue which can lead to early transmission failure. Early symptoms of this issue is a fluctuating rpm gauge when cruise control is locked on. If this is allowed to continue, the torque converter will be damaged. Dirty, old, overheated ATF will quicken failure.
The 3 x drain and fill is only needed to be performed one time to remove the old blackened DW-1 caused by this issue. Once the fluid is clean and vibrations from the VCM are stopped. You can regain some confidence in your vehicle (For anyone who DIYs, I’d recommend switching to a full synthetic product like Valvoline MaxLife ATF. It will do a better job protecting your investment.). The recommended 30k mile ATF drain and fill service interval, may not be adequate enough for your particular driving habits, as city street driving or long periods of stop and go driving can make transmission temperature rise. The ATF may need to be drained and filled sooner. Checking the color of the ATF will give you a good indication of the need to do a drain and fill sooner. Keep in mind that a single 3.5 quart drain and fill only refreshes the 9 quarts in the system.
Heat is a transmission killer. The addition of a transmission cooler helps to preserve ATF quality and is added protection for your transmission against heat. Some say it’s overkill. Honda says you don’t need it if you don’t tow. I believe it to be a necessity for these large vehicles. Especially if DW-1 is still being used. It’s a small investment considering that transmission replacement can run $10,000.

 

I drove the route where the warnings appeared after my visit with Honda and no warning appeared. I guess the draining and topping up (not 3x) May have helped. Will keep an eye on it.

I read on another post that someone was able to replace the transmission for $1500 since they were 6 months past the warranty. I reached out to Honda to see if they would cover me as I haven’t had the vehicle for 5 years and am only over the warranty by 2k.

 

Definitely work with dealer. Hopefully they will cover it. After that, do the VCM disable.

If Honda won't do anything, do 2 more D&F on the tranny fluid and if you want to keep it, disable the VCM. No good time to get a new car but if not confident for future, get rid of it while things are working.

as Tets said why should we have to do this? Sadly all manufacturers have issues, some worse and more expensive than others. Buying a new model is always riskier IMO. At least looking at 2-3 year old designs lets you search forums for things to look for and decide. Sadly it took multiple years for the 6 speed tranny issues to show up for many. If I had known I probably would have gotten the 9 speed (or something totally different). Being here at PIloteers was a main incentive to buy HondaCare before factory warranty expired. It at least gives me 4 more years from now and 78k miles to iron out issues or decide to replace.

 

Update:
Honda has agreed to cover most of the cost to replace the transmission. The cost to me is $538.76.

 

$ucks that you need to pay at all but as a comparison to what you were looking at, I'd say excellent deal.

Once you get it back, get a VCM disabling device and keep up on fluid changes. A D&F 1x per year or every 20k shouldn't break the bank especially if you do it yourself.

A small investment and pretty easy IMO even if not very mechanically inclined is MItyVac 7201 You can suction out the fluid, measure and refill. If you can check the oil, you can change it with this.

In 10 minutes I did that on my FIL-Jeep. Pressure sensor issue and I know it had 1.5qts of thicker viscosity oil. Suctioned all, refilled with correct, reset trouble code, light came back on next day so now need to change the sensor. His has all skid plates so changing in driveway is a PITA otherwise. I did multiple of that on other vehicles the same way (tranny/oil/power steering) since I bought it.

 

I bought this vehicle brand new just under 5 years ago and have 62,000 miles on it. In the past week, a "Transmission System Problem" flashed up on my dashboard twice. Both times, I was on the highway driving at 65mph plus and had been on the road for approximately 45 mins. No driveability issues. I took it to the dealership yesterday. The service summary is "VERIFIED TRANS CODE SET IN SYSTEM CODE P0741 TORQUE CONVERTOR CLUTCH PERFORMANCE OR STUCK OFF. I PERFORMED TROUBLESHOOTING FOR THAT CODE. ONE STEP CALLED TO DRAIN THE FLUID THROUGH A STRAINER AND CHECK FOR METAL OR CLUTCH DEBRIS. THERE IS SOME VERY SMALL METAL FLAKES THAT COULD BE GETTING INTO THE INTERNAL PRESSURE VALVES CAUSING FAILURE. HONDA CALL TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IF ANY DEBRIS IS FOUND. AT THIS POINT THE TRANS IS GOING OUT DUE TO THERE IS NO DRIVABILITY PROBLEM. PER HONDA TRANS REPLACEMENT NOW OR VERY SOON." I'm frustrated that this occurred so soon after the powertrain warranty expired since it would be $8900 out of pocket. I read online that it's normal to have some metal flakes and wonder if further investigation on the issue is needed. I'm not very familiar with cars and would like some input on this before I make a decision on how to move forward. Thanks in advance.

I had the same issue it started after I put new tires on my truck. Now they put another transmission in my Honda pilot as soon as I drove over 65 for more than 45min the warning came on again. Now I have to bring it back to the mechanic to try and figure this out.

 

Our warning light has come on a handful of times but no noticeable change in driveability. From reading above can you help give me a little more insight on the following?
On the option to drain and fill. Is this the same as having the dealer flush the transmission? Please give more insight to this. Also do filters need replaced in this process? Please advise. Thank You.

 

Flushing is not recommended even by Honda. There are no filters other than an external small one under the hood area on the 6 speed transmission which you didn't state you have or not which is a cylinder shaped device. Other filters are internal to the transmission and can not be changed unless the transmission is split apart.

 

Sorry, I have a 2017 Pilot EX-L. Which I'm assuming is the 6 speed? The recommendations above to make transmission last longer are to drain and fill 3x and disable VCM. What I am trying to determine is on the 3x drain and fill is that something I need to just do myself or will a dealership do that? Secondly someone said above the filter could be clogged so I'm assuming if you do a 3x drain and fill you would want to change that filter also?

 

So I did a 3x drain on my 2017 EX-L and fill test drove the car all good. That was Sunday. Installed an S VCM on Tuesday. Drove the cat the rest of the week no lights. On that Saturday and Emissions Problem light came on. It went off a day or 2 later. I bought an OBD II scanner. Pulled a P219A code. Light came back on today. This light has never come on for us before. I'm assuming this has something to do with installation of S-VCM device. Any thoughts insight into what I should do?

 

Is the vcm vital to the operation of the vehicle. I’m concerened that if I disable it what other problems will arise.

 

No, it's not vital and a disabler won't harm anything.

 

Log date - Dec 15th: I recently went through this ordeal. Dealer completed the 3x flush. Issue returned within two month. Dealer replaced torque converter. Issue returned within a few month. Dealer replaced fuel injectors and delivery system. Issue returned 2 months later.
At this point the 200km warranty was over by 2K. The dealer worked with Honda Canada and a new transmission was ordered and installed.
So far, I have received $18 worth of warranty repairs. Happy I purchased the extended warranty.
Pick up the vehicle on Monday morning. Drove it for a week and today traded it in for an 2025 Pilot with the reliable 10 speed transmissioon.
I have lost any faith I had left in the 6-speed transmission. I hope the next iteration of the Pilot has less issues.

 

I certainly hope that you are right. You have the new V6 engine with DOHC and hydraulic lifters. All the best to you!

 

My honda pilot is at 124,000 miles. I’ve had the emissions light come on at 65k miles. Code was stuck valve. Light went away. Recently, I’ve had erratic jerking in town and transmission light flashed on and emissions light. Turned it off/on and car was fine. Light stayed on for a couple days. It comes and goes every couple weeks. Took to honda and could not duplicate. Light came on and luckily did not turn off before I took in. Honda replaced torque converter. Did not fix. Still lags at 22pmh. Took it back. Can’t duplicate. Codes back on. They replaced wire harness to transmission. It’s still slipping at 22mph. When my gas is low..I get erratic jerking. Turn car on/off. It resets.It seems most smooth when gas tank is full. Waiting for light to come back on to take it in again.

 

Did they check your low pressure fuel pump? There is a service campaign on those, and this is one of symptoms of failing, even before it throws a P0087 code.

 

I have a 2019 Touring with the 9 speed trans. We live in the mountains in the northwestern corner of Massachusetts. We're at 112K miles and have had all scheduled service done at the Honda dealer. We had the spark plugs replaced and the timing belt and valve adjustments service at 105K. A month ago we pulled out of the driveway and within a minute we had the dash lit up like a Christmas tree with all kinds of warnings going off and vehicle went into limp mode. Drove it home at about 9 mph and took to Honda Dealer next morning. Lights were still on, but no limp mode got it there no problem. They diagnosed as battery fan motor $500 and problem went away. They also did the water pump recall while it was there. A few weeks later we left on a trip to my wife's family in Michigan about 700 miles. About 100 miles into the trip, on I-88 near Cooperstown, NY, while on cruise at around 70, ascending a mountain (guessing 1600 feet or so, enough for a climbing lane) all of a sudden seemed to lose power and we slowed to a stop in the breakdown lane and the "Transmission System Problem" warning came on the screen. Wasn't sure what to do, kind of in the middle of nowhere decided to turn the car off for a few minutes and then turned it back on and the car seemed to drive normally. Finished the trip to Michigan with no problems although I did not use cruise the rest of the way. I drove the car around there for the week we were there with no problems and then drove back 700 miles to home all with no problem. Have not had the issue recur since. Been looking on Piloteers and see many problems with transmissions (mostly 6 speeds) and expensive repairs. I have the tow package and the transmission cooler (dealer) installed. From all I am reading I am thinking I should have the 3X transmission fluid change and install the S-VCM and hopefully it will be good to go or is that only for the 6 speeds?. Just made the last payment on it seems that is usually when the big problems occur with vehicles.