Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2013 Honda Pilot — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2014 to Dec 2014
The most reported issue is structure problems (36 complaints). 11 complaints involved crashes. 4 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (6)
NHTSA Campaign: 18V661000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V502000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V378000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 18V042000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V016000
Component: AIR BAGS
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V382000
Component: ENGINE
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.
Risk: A worn piston may suddenly fail, causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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).
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 265)
Engine →6 issues
Your engine warning light came on while driving at 45-50 MPH. The dealer diagnosed worn rod bearings and piston rings that needed replacement. This is a known issue Honda is tracking (NHTSA Action RQ24013), and the manufacturer helped cover repair costs. The fix involves replacing the rod bearings and piston rings inside the engine.
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While driving at low speed, your check engine light came on along with the traction control warning light. The dealer found that oil was seeping past the piston rings and leaking onto the spark plugs, causing cylinder #1 to misfire. Your engine needs new piston rings to fix this problem.
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Your engine is burning oil faster than normal, and you may notice smoke when you accelerate hard. The spark plugs are failing prematurely, particularly in cylinders 1, 2, and 3, which have excessive oil buildup on them. This issue typically requires cleaning or replacing the spark plugs and investigating the cause of the oil buildup, which could involve valve cover gaskets or piston ring issues.
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Your engine is experiencing issues related to the Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system, with warning lights appearing for the check engine, VTM-4, and cylinder 3 misfire. You've already replaced the gas cap, purge valve, adjusted valves, and replaced the VCM solenoid, but your car remains stuck in limp mode (reduced power mode). The local mechanic and dealership have been unable to fully resolve the problem despite multiple repair attempts. A full VCM system diagnostic and potential replacement of additional emission control components may be needed to clear the limp mode condition.
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Your check engine light came on while driving at 20 mph, and you noticed the engine was running rough. The dealer determined your engine needed to be replaced, but your warranty had expired and your vehicle wasn't covered by a related recall. This happened at around 97,000 miles.
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Your 2013 Honda Pilot makes an intermittent humming sound that only occurs when driving between 45 and 50 mph. The dealer has inspected it twice and checked the ball bearings and transmission fluid without finding a cause, but the noise persists. This could indicate a transmission issue, though the exact source hasn't been identified.
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Air Bags →3 issues
Your car's airbag system was inspected by an authorized Honda dealer, but your vehicle remains on a recall or issue list. This suggests the dealer may not have fully resolved the airbag concern during inspection.
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Your side airbags deployed suddenly while driving with no apparent cause, forcing you to pull over on a busy road in an unsafe location. Your passenger side airbag posed a serious injury risk to your son who was sitting near the window, and the emergency stop created additional danger for all occupants. Police and tow operators confirmed there was no crash, collision, or visible damage, and found the deployment unexplained with no warning signs beforehand. This issue will likely require a full diagnostic scan of your airbag system and possibly replacement of the side airbag control module or sensors.
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You scheduled an appointment to have a recall repair done on your airbag system (recall 18V-042), but the service center said it would take two days instead of the expected time and couldn't provide a loaner vehicle or arrange to drop your car off when finished. This left you without reliable transportation and concerned about a potential safety gap while your vehicle was being repaired.
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Structure →3 issues
The paint on your vehicle has completely peeled off in several areas, including the roof above the windshield, without any visible damage to the body itself. This appears to be a paint adhesion failure rather than damage from an accident or impact. The fix will likely involve sanding down the affected areas and repainting them to restore the finish.
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Your car's paint is chipping significantly in multiple areas. While this doesn't affect how your vehicle runs, it can expose the metal underneath to rust over time. You'll want to address this sooner rather than later to prevent corrosion and maintain your car's appearance. A repair would likely involve sanding the affected areas and repainting them to match your vehicle's original color.
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The paint is peeling above your windshield. This is a cosmetic issue that doesn't affect how your car drives or your safety. The repair would likely involve sanding down the affected area and repainting it to match your car's finish.
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Unknown Or Other →2 issues
Your check engine light is coming on and your engine is running in a reduced power mode, causing rough vibration and limiting your RPMs to between 3,000 and 5,000. Bank 2 of your engine (the cylinders on one side) has stopped firing properly. The issue likely stems from a problem with the variable cylinder management system or related engine sensors.
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Your car's roof paint is bubbling and peeling off in large areas above the front windows, exposing bare metal underneath. You've noticed this is a reported issue on 2013-2014 Honda Pilots with white paint, and it's affecting your car's resale value at 100,000 miles. The dealer will need to inspect the damage and likely strip and repaint the affected roof areas.
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Power Train,service Brakes,engine →1 issue
Your 2013 Honda Pilot has experienced repeated cylinder 1 misfires that trigger the check engine light, causing rough idling and shaking. This has happened multiple times over several years despite maintenance, and multiple mechanics have confirmed the issue is related to a faulty valve cover gasket system (VCM) that allows oil into the cylinders. The misfires create a safety concern, especially when your children are in the vehicle. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the valve cover gasket, spark plugs, and addressing any piston ring wear caused by oil contamination.
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Service Brakes →1 issue
Your VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) and ABS (anti-lock brake) warning lights are on, indicating the ABS module has failed and needs replacement. Without a working ABS module, your anti-lock brakes won't function, which can be unsafe in emergency braking situations. The replacement module is expensive ($1,200–$2,400) and often backordered for months. The failure appears to be caused by thin wiring inside the module that degrades over time.
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Structure,unknown Or Other →1 issue
You noticed a bubble in the paint on your roof near the windshield in May 2023. The bubble eventually popped and paint peeled off, exposing bare metal underneath. An auto body shop determined the problem was defective sealer not properly adhering to the metal. As more paint continues to peel, exposed metal is now at risk of rust, and water may seep into the vehicle near the windshield. Addressing this will likely require repainting the affected roof area and reapplying proper sealer or sealant to prevent moisture damage.
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Power Train,fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
Your dashboard warning lights (traction control, check engine) are turning on and off unpredictably, and your display shows "check emissions system" and "check VSA" messages. The diagnostic scan indicates your piston rings have failed an emissions test, which is causing these warning lights to stay on for 2-3 weeks at a time. While these lights are on, your traction control and eco mode don't work, and your car's acceleration becomes unpredictable — sometimes lurching forward with too much power and no traction control to manage it. This will likely require engine work to replace or repair the piston rings and address the emissions system failure.
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Exterior Lighting →1 issue
Your headlight wires overheated and burnt out, causing both low beam headlights to stop working while you were driving. This left you without proper forward lighting on the road. The fix will likely involve replacing the burnt wiring harness and headlight assemblies to restore proper electrical connections and function.
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Service Brakes, Hydraulic,electronic Stability Control (esc) →1 issue
When you start your Pilot, the ABS warning light, brake warning light, and traction control light all come on at once. A mechanic diagnosed that your brake pressure sensor has failed and your Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) module needs to be replaced. Both the dealer and Honda stated these parts are unavailable, so the vehicle hasn't been repaired yet.
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