2013 Honda Pilot
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 271 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 23 Pilot model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 12 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 12 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleJun 27, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
Campaign 19V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleMay 16, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
Campaign 19V378000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleSep 27, 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.
Campaign 18V661000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleJan 9, 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Accord Crosstour, Fit and Pilot, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V, and 2010 Acura ZDX and Honda Insight vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are B0K and L0J.
Campaign 18V042000 on NHTSA.gov
EngineAug 27, 2013
Honda is recalling certain model year 2013 Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles and certain model year 2013 Odyssey vehicles. During manufacturing of the engine piston, it is possible that the heat treatment process was not properly applied, resulting in the piston having an insufficient hardness level, making it more susceptible to premature wear.
A worn piston may suddenly fail, causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine short block free of charge. The recall began on September 16, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's recall numbers are JB4 (Honda Odyssey) and JB5 (Honda Pilot).
Campaign 13V382000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsJan 18, 2013
Honda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Pilot and 2011-2013 Odyssey passenger vehicles manufactured from March 13, 2008, through December 21, 2012. One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing.
The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda dealer. The dealer will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Campaign 13V016000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
54 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Engine, Feb 23, 2013
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE (2013 HONDA PILOT EX-L) ON 11/26/12 AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO FEEL AN ANNOYING VIBRATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN ECO MODE. THIS VIBRATION CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, CONSOLE. SEATS AND THROUGHOUT THE CABIN. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE ON LEVEL STRETCHES OF ROADWAY WHEN APPLYING LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE FUEL PEDAL. THE VIBRATION OR "FLUTTER" DIMINISHES WHEN MORE PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE FUEL PEDAL. WHEN TAKEN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER CONTACTING HONDA CUSTOMER CARE I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE CHECKED INTO AND HAVE HEARD NOTHING FURTHER..... *TR
Power train, Engine, Feb 10, 2013
WHILE SLOWLY BACKING OUT OF PARKING PLACE INTO THE STREET, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED OUT-OF-CONTROL TO VERY HIGH RATE. CAUGHT OFF GUARD, THE ENGINE RPM WAS NOT NOTED, BUT DRIVER QUICKLY DECIDED THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO TURN OFF IGNITION. THERE WAS NO MAT ON PEDAL, AND DRIVER DOES NOT OPERATE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WITH TWO FEET. ENGINE RE-STARTED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. *TR
Power train, Feb 7, 2013
PURCHASED A 2013 HONDA PILOT ON 12/28/12. I BEGAN TO NOTICE A VERY ANNOYING VIBRATION/SHUDDER IN THE CAR AS WELL AS HEAR A RUMBLING NOISE. IT'S OCCURRING AT MANY DIFFERENT CONSISTENT SPEEDS AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGHER SPEED WHERE IT MAY NOT OCCUR. I FIND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MAINTAINING A CONSISTENT SPEED. SO, WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVING THE STATED 65MPH SPEED LIMIT, I MUST INCREASE MY SPEED TO GREATER THAN 65MPH IN ORDER FOR THE RUMBLING NOISE AND VIBRATION TO STOP. OBVIOUSLY, SPEED LIMITS ARE POSTED FOR SAFETY REASONS. ADDITIONALLY, I FEEL THIS DEFECT SEVERELY DIMINISHES THE RESALE VALUE OF THE $34,000 VEHICLE AS I'M SURE ANYONE WHOM NOTICES THE VIBRATION/SHUDDER/RUMBLING FEELING AND SOUNDS WILL NOT BE INTERESTED IN BUYING THE VEHICLE FOR FAIR MARKET VALUE. I AM ALSO QUESTIONING THE LONG TERM IMPACT OF THIS JUDDER'/VIBRATION WILL HAVE ON THE VEHICLE. MY EFFORT TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER CONTINUES, BUT THUS FAR THEY HAVE TOLD ME IT'S TORQUE CONVERTER JUDDER AND IT'S A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. I'VE RESEARCHED TORQUE CONVERTED JUDDER PROBLEMS AND FEEL THERE HAS TO BE A SOLUTION, YET HONDA MORE THAN LIKELY DOESN'T WANT TO ABSORB THE COST OF REPAIRS AS THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN MANY OF IT'S PILOTS. ON THIS WEB SITE THE ISSUE WAS ALSO REPORTED IN THE 2012 VEHICLES. THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHER OWNERS VOICING THEIR DISPLEASURE WITH THIS PROBLEMS ON OTHER WEBSITES. ONE BEING WWW.PILOTEERS.ORG. YOUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Jan 22, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE AT NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT. WHEN DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD TRAVEL PARTIALLY TO THE FLOORBOARD ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN TRAVELING OVER A FLAT SURFACE OR WHEN THE CYLINDER WAS IN THIRD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED THAT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE FOR THE VIBRATION OR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE DEALER LOOSENED THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION BOLTS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,400.