2013 Honda PILOT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Honda PILOT has 366 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: 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 dri. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 12 crash reports 16 injuries

366

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

82 complaints

22%

• 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 DRI
• 2013 HONDA PILOT TOURING 4WD PURCHASED ON 2/2. BRAND NEW, ONLY 5 MILES. AFTER 3 DAYS OF OWNING, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN IT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE ENGINE RAN VERY ROUGH. SHE PULLED OVER, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AFTER A MIN OR 2 OF WAITING AND IT RAN
• 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 WHE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“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 DRI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

54 complaints

15%

• 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 FAILU
• 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 S
• 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 DRI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“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 FAILU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

47 complaints

13%

• AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OUT OF THE LOT, 17 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, A VIBRATION WAS FELT COMING THROUGH THE SEATS AT 75 MPH. AND MULTIPLE RESONANCE FREQUENCIES CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE CHASSIS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VIBRATION IS CONSTANT BETWEE
• WE NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. EITHER THE SEAM OF THE GASKET ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE WINDSHIELD OR THE INSTALLATION OF THE WINDSHIELD IS DEFECTIVE SINCE IT WAS LEAKING DURING A RAIN STORM. *TR
• I NOTICED WATER SITTING IN THE AREA WHERE THE PULL FOR THE GAS TANK. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO BRINGING A WET UMBRELLA INTO THE CAR. A FEW DAYS LATER I GOT MY CAR WASHED AND THE CAR WASH PERSON POINTED OUT WATER IN THE SAME SPOT. A FEW DAYS LATER WE GOT RAIN AND AGAIN WATER IN THE SAME AR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OUT OF THE LOT, 17 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, A VIBRATION WAS FELT COMING THROUGH THE SEATS AT 75 MPH. AND MULTIPLE RESONANCE FREQUENCIES CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE CHASSIS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VIBRATION IS CONSTANT BETWEE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

42 complaints

11%

• 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 FAILU
• PURCHASED NEW 2013 HONDA PILOT APPROXIMATELY 5/15/13. NOTICED OVER NEXT WEEK THAT BRAKE PEDAL HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL- REQUIRES PEDAL TO BE PUSHED MUCH FARTHER DOWN THAN SHOULD BE EXPECTED BEFORE THE BRAKES BEGIN TO ENGAGE, RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING TIME/LENGTH. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP ON
• BRAKE PEDAL WAS SPONGY AND SEEMED TO GO DOWN TOO FAR. WHILE STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED AND MAINTAINING A CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL IT WOULD SLOWLY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALER CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED SAME. APPROXIMATELY 4 WEEKS LATER W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

34 complaints

• AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE IS A VERY ANNOYING SHUDDERING AND VIBRATING AND GROWLING AT 45 MPH TO 68 MPH. JUST WHEN YOUR READY TO HAVE A SMOOTH RIDE ON THE HIGHWAY IT BEGINS TO SHUDDER IN ECO...ON A STRAIGHTAWAY WHILE FREE WHEELING AND WHILE I AM ON CRUISE CONTROL ... IF YOU ACCELERAT
• ONGOING DISTURBING SHUDDER OR VIBRATION APPARENTLY RELATED TO THE VCM/ECO FEATURE. THE RELATIONSHIP SEEMS TO CORRELATE WITH THE VISUAL ECO DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD. THE ISSUE CAN BE CATEGORIZED BY PROGRESSING THROUGH THREE STAGES OR MODES AS SPEED AND DRIVING CONDITIONS VARY. THE FIRST MODE CAN BE
• MY HONDA PILOT HAS BEEN EXPERIENING AN ENGINE CUT OFF AFTER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN -- WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS NOTHING HAPPENS FOR AT LEAST 4 SECONDS THEN I RECIEVE A RAPID ACCELERATION == I AM AFFRAIND THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF MY PILOT WHEN I AM NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE AFTER MAKI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE IS A VERY ANNOYING SHUDDERING AND VIBRATING AND GROWLING AT 45 MPH TO 68 MPH. JUST WHEN YOUR READY TO HAVE A SMOOTH RIDE ON THE HIGHWAY IT BEGINS TO SHUDDER IN ECO...ON A STRAIGHTAWAY WHILE FREE WHEELING AND WHILE I AM ON CRUISE CONTROL ... IF YOU ACCELERAT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 366 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 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 DRI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 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 FAILU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OUT OF THE LOT, 17 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, A VIBRATION WAS FELT COMING THROUGH THE SEATS AT 75 MPH. AND MULTIPLE RESONANCE FREQUENCIES CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE CHASSIS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VIBRATION IS CONSTANT BETWEE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: 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 FAILU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)