Imagine this: you’ve just used your remote start to cool down your 2017 Honda Pilot on a scorching day. You place your child in their car seat, your key fob nestled in your bag in the second row. You close the rear door, ready to get into the driver’s seat, and in a split second – click – the doors lock. Your child is trapped inside, and the keys are with them. This terrifying scenario isn’t just a hypothetical; it’s a reality faced by some Honda Pilot owners, highlighting a potential auto-lock malfunction that every parent should be aware of.
This exact situation unfolded for one 2017 Honda Pilot EX-L owner, turning a routine school pick-up into a moment of sheer panic. After remote starting the vehicle to combat the 100-degree heat, the owner unlocked the doors, secured their 19-month-old child, and placed their bag – containing the key fob – in the second row. Upon closing the rear door, the automatic locks engaged instantaneously. This wasn’t a delayed lock after a period of inactivity; it was immediate, trapping the key fob inside with the child.
The immediate concern was the rising temperature inside the car. While the remote start kept the engine running and the AC working initially, the fear of the system shutting off and the car rapidly heating up was overwhelming. Attempts to open any door or the trunk proved futile – the system was securely locked.
In a desperate situation, the parent contacted their spouse, who thankfully was nearby. However, the second key fob was at home, adding precious minutes to the rescue. The husband raced home, retrieved the spare key, and rushed to the location, a harrowing 15-20 minute ordeal. Even though the remote start kept the car cool for a portion of this time, the anxiety of the unknown – how quickly the car would heat up once it shut off – was agonizing. The owner could only watch their child for signs of overheating, a helpless spectator in a potentially dangerous situation.
This incident underscores a critical safety concern: a car should never automatically lock with the key fob inside. While modern vehicles are equipped with auto-lock features, these are typically designed to prevent accidental lockouts, not cause them when the key is detected inside the vehicle. The experience shared by this Honda Pilot owner is not an isolated case, with reports surfacing of similar incidents, suggesting a potential flaw in the auto-lock system of certain Honda Pilot models.
It’s crucial to emphasize that this is not about user error or misunderstanding key fob operation. The owner explicitly stated they have performed the same sequence of actions countless times without issue. This points towards an intermittent malfunction, a glitch in the system that can trigger the auto-lock in error, even when the key fob is inside the car. The fact that the spare key, which had never been used, was also needed eliminates theories of key fob confusion or glitches related to multiple key fobs.
For owners of 2017 Honda Pilots and similar models, this incident serves as a stark warning. While remote start is a convenient feature, and automatic locking systems enhance security, a malfunction in these systems can create dangerous situations, especially when children are involved. Until Honda addresses these concerns and provides a definitive solution, preventative measures are paramount.
How to Minimize the Risk of Auto-Locking Issues in Your 2017 Honda Pilot:
- Never leave your key fob inside the vehicle unattended, even for a moment. Develop a habit of always taking your keys with you when exiting the car.
- Manually unlock the driver’s side door with the physical key if you are concerned about auto-locking. This bypasses the electronic system and ensures you have a mechanical way to re-enter the vehicle.
- Keep your spare key fob readily accessible. Whether it’s with a spouse, in a secure location at work, or in a readily accessible spot at home, knowing you have a backup plan is crucial.
- Be vigilant about unusual auto-lock behavior. If you notice your Honda Pilot locking automatically in situations where it shouldn’t, have it checked by a certified Honda technician immediately.
- Contact Honda Corporate to report any auto-lock malfunctions. Raising awareness about these issues is the first step towards prompting a recall or a fix.
While the convenience of modern car technology is undeniable, reliability and safety are paramount, especially when it comes to family vehicles. The auto-lock issue reported by this Honda Pilot owner and others highlights a potential safety flaw that Honda needs to investigate and rectify to prevent future incidents and ensure the safety of their customers and their families.
