Honda Pilot shudders when changing gears-any ideas? It is a 2005 year model.
 

I have started noticing my 2005 Honda Pilot shuddering when changing gears. This seems to happen no matter if I blast the gas or take it easy. It quits if I let off on the gas. I have plenty of fluid in the transmission and it does not happen every shift or every 10 shifts.

Re: Honda Pilot shudders when changing gears-any ideas? It is a 2005 year model.
 

Based on what I know about 05+ Odysseys, which have the same issue.
It sounds like a torque converter issue. Most people I know are able to continue to drive it with out catastrophic failure, but would eventually need to be addressed. It all depends on the type of driving you do.

Hope that helps.

Re: Honda Pilot shudders when changing gears-any ideas? It is a 2005 year model.
 

This is correct. The torque converter is slipping and will over time get worse and the converter will start to come apart and ruin the transmission.
So replacement is not going to be avoided for long.

Re: Honda Pilot shudders when changing gears-any ideas? It is a 2005 year model.
 

Service the trans using Honda fluid and take the car to the dealer to have the PCM updated. There is an update that changes the shift map and can help if the problem hasn't gotten to the point to where the TC has to be replaced.

Re: Honda Pilot shudders when changing gears-any ideas? It is a 2005 year model.
 

If you bought it new, you should have received a notice from Honda for an extended warranty. You can google for it too. It basically extend the power train warranty for the car but it is not a recall. Honda calls it a "judder" during shifting of the transmission. Call your dealer to find out if they will take your car in for a ECM update. It is supposed to reprogram the AT shifting pattern to reduce the "judder".