Honda Pilot
2003-05 modelsMODERATE OVERLAP FRONT TEST
OVERALL EVALUATION:
| Structure/safety cage | Injury measures | Restraints/dummy kinematics | |||
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| Head/neck | Chest | Leg/foot, left | Leg/foot, right | ||
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Important: Frontal crash test ratings can be compared only among vehicles of similar weight.
Good
Acceptable
Marginal
Poor
Test details:
The Honda Pilot was introduced in the 2003 model year.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has evaluated the crashworthiness of the Pilot in two 40 mph frontal offset crash tests into deformable barriers. In the first test, the frontal airbags deployed late, with the result that high forces were recorded on the dummy's head, indicating the likelihood of head injuries. This led Honda to modify the frontal airbag deployment characteristics on models produced after August 18, 2003. Also, Honda initiated a safety improvement campaign to modify at its cost vehicles produced earlier.
The Institute tested a second Pilot with the modified airbags, and the airbags inflated much earlier. Ratings of the Pilot are based on the results of the second test, except structural performance is based on both tests.
Honda has told the Institute that the 2006 models are sufficiently re-engineered that the the ratings for 2003-05 models will not carry over.
Restraints/dummy kinematics — Dummy movement was well controlled in the second test. After the dummy moved forward into the airbag, it rebounded into the seat without its head hitting any stiff structure that could cause injury.
Injury measures — In the second test, measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.
Left to right:
- Action shot taken during the second of two frontal offset crash tests.
- The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after both crash tests indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained reasonably well (second test shown).
- Dummy movement was well controlled. During rebound, the dummy's head hit only the head restraint, as indicated by smeared greasepaint.
- Forces on the legs and feet were low, indicating that significant injury was unlikely.
Additional features:
- Side airbags: front seat-mounted torso airbags
- Antilock brakes
- Electronic stability control (2005 models)
Tested vehicle specifications:
- 2003 Honda Pilot EX 4wd
- Class: Midsize SUV
- Weight: 4,351 lbs.
- Side airbags: front seat-mounted torso airbags
- Wheelbase: 106 in.
- Length: 188 in.
- Width: 76 in.
- Engine: 3.5 L V6
- EPA ratings: 17 mpg city | 22 mpg highway
