caliskier

Going to get rid of the Prelude, keep the liberty and get a Pilot. Have a family now, awesome stay at home wife and need to keep two family cars (in case I need to work on one). So been looking hard at the Pilot and Highlander, and actually even the Odyssey, though wife really wants the SUV and so do I. Anyway to the point. Have seen the stories about the VCM problems and the class action lawsuite. Excessive Oil Consumption in Honda Engines | HondaProblems.com

Have heard some people are replaceing plugs, others have replaced engines...

I buy a used car with the assumption that it will go 200,000 miles before a major failure. I have good experience there... 87 accord went 250k, current 2001 Jeep Liberty has 235k, 1995 Prelude has 244k.

What's your thoughts, anything to worry about here with the Pilot? The 8 year warenty does not do it for me and I do not want to buy a 75k car and replace the engine at 125k.

Thanks in advance...

caliskier

Anyone, Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

speedlever

I don't blame you for being cautious about a VCM engine. I am not a fan of them either and will not have one unless there is simply no other choice.

I believe if you get a 4wd version, it will not have VCM. At least that was true in 2006.

Also check the radiator/transmission connections as the Belleville washer tends to corrode and over time, may fail catastrophically mixing coolant and tranny fluid. Replace with an aftermarket radiator like the Silla, etc.

Todd00

AWD Pilot still has VCM.

Honestly, Ridgelines of that era seem to have far less problems than the Pilot does. Ridgelines do not have VCM.

If you're wanting a used SUV that's about 5 years old, I'd look at a 4Runner instead.

speedlever

Not for MY2006. When did Honda begin adding VCM to the 4WD models? Did that begin in 2009?

Todd00

Yep.

2009 Honda Pilot: Powertrain - Honda News[]=corporate&channel_slugs[]=honda-automobiles&content_types[]=releases&content_types[]=videos&content_types[]=photos

speedlever

Too bad. That will rule out the new Pilot as a consideration for replacement of our venerable 2006 with 112k miles and still running strong. Next up is the TB/WP service as I plan to keep this one for a long, long time.

Shadow1234

Sorry for digging up an old post but here is another vote for no on 09 Pilot. I am having issues with 2010 Pilot. See my thread that I just post here