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First Drive: 2009 Honda Pilot

When the new 2009 Honda Pilot turned up as a concept at the Detroit Auto Show in January, most observers were decidedly underwhelmed. Unlike many other recent crossovers, notably the GM Lambdas, Honda chose to go with a decidedly more utilitarian look for the second-generation Pilot. As Honda officials explained when we gathered for a preview drive of the 2009 Pilot, they wanted to retain the "Utility" in CUV and a big part of that involved maximizing the useful interior volume within the Pilot's relatively modest exterior dimensions. That means a boxy shape that provides room for up to... Read More

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    Honda Pilot
    Official: Honda announces 2015 Pilot Special Edition
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    Honda doesn't have any exciting new mechanical or aesthetic changes for the 2015 Pilot eight-passenger crossover, but it is adding a new trim level to give families a compromise between the EX and EX-L models. The new Special Edition trim is available on either the front-wheel or all-wheel drive versions of the Pilot, and it adds Pewter Gray aluminum ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Official: GM midsize SUVs lead IIHS safety tests, Honda Pilot disappoints [w/videos]
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    General Motors finally has something to celebrate about. The 2014 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain aced the latest round of small overlap front crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety among nine midsize SUVs, and they both scored a Top Safety Pick+ accolade. However, Honda, Mazda and Kia fared badly with their entries earning Poor ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Report: Honda settles class-action lawsuit over oil-burning V6s
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    Although we hadn't heard of this issue before, Automotive News reports that Honda has agreed to settle a massive class-action lawsuit brought against it for engine trouble potentially affecting nearly 1.6 million vehicles. The lawsuit includes Accord (2008-12), Odyssey (2008-13), Pilot (2009-13) and Crosstour (2010-13) models equipped with the 3.5-liter ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Official: 2014 Honda Ridgeline keeps on truckin' with new special edition model
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    Like many smaller trucks, the Honda Ridgeline has been left to stagnate on the market for far too many years. With production of the current model reportedly winding down later next year before production of the next-gen model picks up in 2016, Honda is sending the 2014 Ridgeline out with some style courtesy of a new Special Edition trim level. The new ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Report: Honda could halve its US lineup without crimping its sales much [w/video]
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    Taking a detailed look at the Honda lineup in the US, it isn't hard to see the strength of some models and the weaknesses of others. A recent report on Autoline Daily points out that its five core models – the Accord, Civic, CR-V, Odyssey and Pilot – make up a full 93 percent of Honda's sales in the US. Through April, Honda has sold 419,798 ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Recalls: Honda recalling 183k cars and crossovers over unintended braking issue
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    A recall has been issued for nearly 183,000 Honda and Acura brand vehicles from the 2005 and 2006 model years. The problem stems from a potential malfunctions to the vehicles' stability control and braking systems. Drivers have reported a malfunction to Honda's Vehicle Stability Assist system, though to date, no crashes or injuries have been reported as ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Recalls: Honda recalling 748k Odyssey and Pilot models over airbag concern
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    American Honda today announced a recall of approximately 748,000 Odyssey and Pilot models due to faulty airbag concerns. The vehicles in question are Odyssey minivans from the 2011 to 2013 model years and Pilot crossovers from the 2009 to 2013 model years. According to a statement from Honda, driver's side airbags in the affected vehicles were ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Report: Honda recalling 871,000 SUVs and minivans over rollaway fear
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    Honda is recalling 871,000 SUVs and minivans for an issue in which the vehicles may roll away after the key has been removed from the ignition. Ninety-two percent of the recalled vehicles, or 807,000 vehicles, are in the US. According to a report from Reuters, the effected vehicles include certain numbers of the Honda Odyssey and Pilot, as well as the ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Video: Honda warns off Mama's boys in new ad
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    It's not the fault of Honda that Christmas-themed advertising now comes before Thanksgiving. But if it's going to be that way, we can at least thank Honda for giving us the cringe-worthy but we-know-it-all-too-well hovering mother celebrating the technology in the new Honda Pilot. The commercial will make you consider avoiding dear Mama for a while if ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Report: Honda Pilot, Odyssey models investigated for rollaway risk
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    The Office of Defects Investigation within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking at the 2003 and 2004 Honda Odyssey (above) and Pilot (right) over a potential roll-away issue. On vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, the ignition park-shift interlock is the suspected culprit. A possible malfunction allows drivers to ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Recalls: Honda expands headlight recall to include 820k Civic, Pilot models
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    Back in March, Honda issued a recall of 554,000 CR-V and Pilot crossovers due to faulty headlamps. But last month, the automaker quietly issued an expansion of this recall that includes 820,000 Civic and Pilot models from the 2002-2003 and 2004-2005 model years, respectively. Honda began notifying owners of these newly affected vehicles in September. A ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Arcimoto will build 15 EVs for more testing
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    Now, more on whether Arcimoto will become the little electric motor that could. The Oregon-based maker of three-wheeled battery-electric vehicles, is planning to build a pilot fleet of 15 vehicles, the company said in its newsletter last month. The company said it benefitted from exhibiting the EV at the EVS26 conference in Los Angeles in May, and made ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Podcast: Autoblog Podcast #290
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    Small pickup rumor for Chrysler, IIHS crash avoidance technology report, Jeep Wrangler death wobble Episode #290 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week Chris, Dan, and Zach chat about the zombie-esque rumor of automakers considering a small pickup of some sort, the IIHS report about crash avoidance systems, and the Jeep Wrangler death wobble ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Podcast: Autoblog Podcast #289
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    2013 Ford F-150 Limited and SVT Raptor, BMW Toyota partnership, Mobius SUV, Supercharged Jaguar XJ Episode #289 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Chris, Dan, and Zach are joined by Mike Levine and Raj Sarkar of Ford Motor Company to chat about the F-150 Limited and 2013 Raptor. Other topics include the official announcement of a BMW/Toyota ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Report: NHTSA opens safety investigations into Toyota, GM and Honda crossovers
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    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is evidently keeping itself very busy these days, as the federal agency has just announced it is launching or renewing investigations into Toyota, Honda and General Motors crossovers. 2006-2008 model year Toyota RAV4 crossovers are under review for allegations of rear tie-rod rust which can result in ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Recalls: Honda recalls 554,000 CR-V and Pilot crossovers over lighting issue
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    Honda is recalling 554,000 crossovers to repair the low-beam headlights. The models affected are the 2002-2004 Honda CR-V (pictured above) and 2003 Pilot. A possible fault with in the headlight switch wiring could cause the low beams not to work. We don't need to tell you why that's hazardous. Honda will notify owners beginning in late April, at which ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Recalls: Honda recalls 2012 Pilot, Acura MDX crossovers over possible fuel leak
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    American Honda is recalling some 8,709 crossovers due to a possible fuel leak. The 2012 Honda Pilot and its upscale platform-mate, the Acura MDX, are affected by this recall, which is expected to begin in mid-March. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the vent shut float valve cases in the fuel tank assemblies of these ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Recalls: Honda expands airbag recall again, still searching for 640 airbags
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    Honda is still looking for a few needles in its haystack of 2001-2003 models, as it expands a recall that dates back to 2008. The recall concerns defective driver's airbag inflators, and it's a serious issue, one that has already resulted in a dozen injuries and at least one death. The recall covers the 2001 and 2002 Accord, 2001 to 2003 Civic, 2001 to ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Report: Honda to boost vehicle and engine production in Alabama
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    Honda seems to believe that America's car-buying slump is coming to a close. According to Automotive News, the automaker has announced that it will spend $84 million to grow engine and light truck production at its Lincoln, Alabama assembly plant. The money will be used to help create an additional 100 jobs and should see the facility increase its total ...

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    Honda Pilot
    Cars.com $37,000 SUV shootout yields unexpected results [w/poll]
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    Cars.com recently lined up seven new vehicles for a $37,000 SUV shootout. The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, 2012 Dodge Durango, 2012 Ford Explorer, 2012 Honda Pilot, 2012 Kia Sorento, 2011 Mazda CX-9 and 2011 Toyota Highlander all squared off against one another in a range of evaluations, including a one-day highway drive and family testing. If you happen to ...

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