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2013 Honda Pilot Other Problems

23 owner-reported other complaints from NHTSA data

23
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
Jan 2016Nov 2020
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (23)

highUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jul 2025

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.

NHTSA #: 11672818
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2023

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.

NHTSA #: 11536160
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2021

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WE WERE LOADING AN ITEM ON ROOF RACK. THE ITEM LIGHTLY TAPPED THE GLASS SUNROOF AND IT SPIDER CRACKED ALL THROUGHOUT. ON THE WAY HOME, THROUGH NORMAL CITY STREETS, AT SUB-HIGHWAY SPEED, GLASS STARTED RAINING DOWN ON THE FRONT TWO SEATS. THIS GLASS IS NOT TYPICAL WINDSHIELD SAFETY GLASS. SHARDS ARE SMALL AND SHARP AND WENT EVERYWHERE.

NHTSA #: 11398647
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Filed: Nov 2020

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE CODE WAS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY EXTENSION BY HONDA. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY AGREED AND REPLACE 4 OF THE 6 MISFIRING PISTONS. THEY RECOMMENDED I REPLACE THE OTHER 2 PISTONS AT MY COST. I DID NOT. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM AND THAT'S WHY THEY WEREN'T REPLACING THEM. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THEY ALSO REPLACED SCORED BEARINGS. UPON PICKING UP MY VEHICLE, I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TO FIX A BUSHING THAT THE DEALER RECOMMENDED BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE WAS ALSO MAKING A TINGING NOISE I WANT LOOKED AT. IT WAS NOT MAKING THIS NOISE PRIOR TO BEING REPAIRED AT DEALER. MY MECHANIC FIXED THE BUSHING AND SUGGESTED I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AS THE ISSUE WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE BURNING OIL WHICH WAS A RESULT OF THE BAD PISTONS. IT WAS THEN THAT THE DEALER TOLD ME ABOUT THE SCORED BEARINGS. THEY SAID THEY WENT TO THEIR REP BECAUSE THERE WAS DAMAGE. I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. (APPARENTLY THIS WAS KNOWN WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR THE FIRST TIME). THE REP FOR THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THEM THAT BECAUSE MY OIL CHANGES WERE DONE AT A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND NOT AT THE DEALERSHIP, NO GOOD WILL WOULD BE GIVEN AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE AT MY OWN COST, AS WELL AS THE WRECKED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, ALSO A RESULT OF THE BURNED OIL FROM THE BAD PISTONS. THE DEALER SUGGESTED I CONTACT AMERICAN HONDA. I DID SO AND AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS THE DEALER WAS INFORMED BY AMERICAN HONDA THAT THE DECISION WAS UP TO THE REP. THE DEALER REACHED OUT TO THE REP AGAIN AND AGAIN REP REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE A VEHICLE WHICH I STILL HAVE 2.5 YEARS OF PAYMENTS (I'VE OWNED IT FOR 2.5 YEARS) THAT CANNOT NOT BE DRIVEN. HONDA SHOULD FIX THIS AS THE PROBLEM IS A RESULT OF THE THE DAMAGE CAUSE BY THEIR FAULTY PISTONS! **NOTE: DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATE**

NHTSA #: 11375793
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
FireFiled: Oct 2020

I DROVE TO WORK FIRST THING IN THE MORNING (10 MILES) AND PARKED. I NOTICED 10 MINUTES LATER THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE? FROM MY LOCATION, I COULD SEE THE FIRE COMING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE CLOSER TO MY FRONT TIRE. THE FIRE MELTED MY WHOLE DASH AND ENGINE. FRONT TIRES SEEM TO BE PARTLY INTACT FROM FIRE. THE CAR DROVE FINE WITH NO TROUBLES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED???

NHTSA #: 11365646
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Sep 2020

PAINT POPPING OFF TOP ABOVE WINDSHIELD

NHTSA #: 11361343
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: May 2020

ISN'T MY VEHICLE. I'M TRYING TO BUY THIS VEHICLE BUT I FOUND THAT INFO IN THE CARFAX. FIVE STAR AUTOMOTIVE SOUTHBRIDGE, MA 508-765-0257 4.9 / 5.0 14 VERIFIED REVIEWS VEHICLE SERVICED OIL AND FILTER CHANGED A/C REFRIGERANT RECHARGED 2/2/19 206,087 MI. MASSACHUSETTS INSPECTION STATION STURBRIDGE, MA PASSED SAFETY INSPECTION PASSED EMISSIONS INSPECTION 3/13/19 207,860 MI. FIVE STAR AUTOMOTIVE SOUTHBRIDGE, MA 508-765-0257 4.9 / 5.0 14 VERIFIED REVIEWS VEHICLE SERVICED OIL AND FILTER CHANGED 3/19/19 207,996 MI. LUNDGREN HONDA AUBURN, MA 508-832-6200 4.6 / 5.0 211 VERIFIED REVIEWS VEHICLE SERVICED 3/28/19 107,178 MI. CONNECTICUT INSPECTION STATION WATERBURY, CT PASSED EMISSIONS INSPECTION POTENTIAL ODOMETER ROLLBACK THERE ARE SIGNS OF POTENTIAL ODOMETER ROLLBACK HERE, SO VERIFY THE MILEAGE WITH THE SELLER. I KNOW I WOULD.

NHTSA #: 11325852
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jul 2019

PAINT BETWEEN THE SUNROOF AND FRONT WIND SHIELD PEELING OFF.

NHTSA #: 11229521
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: May 2019

VEHICLE IS PARKED IN A CARPORT IN THE EVENINGS AND IN A CARPORT AT WORK DURING THE WEEKDAYS. THE PAINT ON THE ROOF BETWEEN THE SUNROOF COMPLETELY PEELED OFF IN SHEETS, LEAVING THE META UNDERNEATH EXPOSED.

NHTSA #: 11206107
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2019

THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE. EVERYTIME WE OPEN A DOOR TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR IMMEDIATELY CLOSES. I BELIEVE IT IS A DOOR CHECK ISSUE. THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE WHEN TRYING TO GET SMALL KIDS IN AND OUT , THE DOORS DO NOT STAY OPEN, EVEN IF WE ARE ON COMPLETELY FLAT GROUND. ALSO WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE 3RD SEAT ROW, THE DOOR CLOSES ON ONES FACE, CAUSING ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN. I HAVE A NEPHEW WHO HAD HIS FINGER BADLY SMASHED IN THE DOOR DUE TO THIS SAME ISSUE ON ANOTHER HONDA PILOT. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE THAT SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED OR RECALLED TO BE FIXED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR PAST 3 YEARS.

NHTSA #: 11196821
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2019

PAINT STARTING COMING OFF FIRST SMALL CIRCLE THEN MORE AND MORE IT GOES FROM SIDE TO SIDE BETWEEN MY SUNROOF AND WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA #: 11183877
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Feb 2019

PAINT IS PEELING OFF BETWEEN WINDSHIELD AND SUN ROOF, ON THE HOOD AND FRONT FENDERS. VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD AND IT CLEARLY DELAMINATING, WHICH IS A FACTORY DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA #: 11181230
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jan 2019

PAINT ON ROOF OF CAR IS PEELING IN SHEETS TO THE BARE METAL. THE DAMAGE IS ON THE ROOF BETWEEN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND SUNROOF. IT APPEARS TO BE A BAD PAINT MIXTURE AT THE PLANT AND HONDA IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MANUFACTURING DEFAULT. THIS CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING ISSUES WITH PAINT PEELING ALL THE WAY TO THE BARE SHEET METAL. I'M CONCERNED AS THE METAL IS NOW EXPOSED AND THE ELEMENTS WILL CAUSE DAMAGE (RUST/CORROSION) TO THE METAL AND COMPROMISE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE ROOF AND THE METAL THAT HOLDS THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA #: 11171474
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jul 2018

ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHILE STATIONARY AND EXTREME VIBRATIONS WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA #: 11113266
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: May 2018

WHILE DRIVING ON I65 NORTH OF BIRMINGHAM, AL AT 65-70 MPH WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES CLOSE BY, WE HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN NOTICED WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AIR COMING INTO THE CABIN. WE PULLED BACK THE SUNROOF SHADE SLIGHTLY AND NOTICED SHATTERED GLASS. WE PULLED OVER TO FIND ABOUT A 4 INCH HOLD IN THE SUNROOF WITH SHATTERED GLASS ALL AROUND IT. WE BROKE OFF AS MUCH AS WE COULD SO OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE DAMAGED BY THE DEBRIS.

NHTSA #: 11092074
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Jul 2017

IT WAS A SUNNY AND VERY HOT DAY, TEMPERATURES ABOVE 90 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE WAS PROCEEDING WEST ON A 2 LANE IN TOWN STREET, WITH NO CURBS, WITH ONE VEHICLE IN FRONT, STOPPED AT THE INTERSECTION TO A 2 LANE HIGHWAY. AS THE VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING THE RAILROAD TRACKS, WITH A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES FOR THE STOP SIGN AFTER THE RAILROAD TRACKS. AS THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR ACCELERATED TOWARDS THE HIGHWAY. AT THIS POINT, THE DRIVER SAID, 'IT'S NOT STOPPING'IT'S NOT STOPPING.' TO THE OVER 2 PASSENGERS OF THE CAR. THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF THE CAR, WAITING TO TURN ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND CAR GETTING READY TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY, AS WELL AS A CAR ON THE HIGHWAY NEAR THE INTERSECTION. THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BREAKS WITHOUT THE CAR BREAKING AND VEERED TO THE LEFT TO TRY TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT. AS THE CAR ACCELERATED, IT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT AND BOUNCED OFF THE LEFT BACK BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT AND CAME TO A STOP. THEY CARS WERE NOT MOVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED BUT THE CAR IN QUESTION WAS NOT STOPPING EVEN WITH THE BREAKS APPLIED, FOOT ON THE BRAKE PETAL, FOOT NOT ON ACCELERATOR. IT WAS ACCELERATING. THE CAR WAS PUT INTO PARK. THE CAR SEEMED TO 'HAVE A MIND OF IT'S OWN' NOT BREAKING BUT ACCELERATING. THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN CAUSE FOR THIS AS OF THIS TIME. A COUNTY DEPUTY WAS IN THE AREA AND CAME OVER TO THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA #: 11010302
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Feb 2017

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY HONDA PILOT TOURING MANY MANY TIMES THERE HAS BEEN A HESITATION WHEN EXCELERATING BUT AFTER THE HESITATION IT EXCELERATES. UNTIL THE TIME I WAS GOING UP A HILL ON THE FREEWAY I EXCELERATED AND NOTHING HAPPENED - ABSOLUTELY NO EXCELERATION AT ALL. I HAD LITERALLY A SECOND TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO. I DECIDED TO USE MY MOMENTUM TO MOVE INTO THE SLOW LANE - IN FRONT OF AN 18 WHEELER - AND KEPT MOVING TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. I TRIED TO START MY CAR AGAIN AND IT STARTED BUT STILLL NO EXCELERATION. I SHUT IT OFF AND TRIED AGAIN AND IT WOULDN'T START. WE WERE 40 MILES TOO FAR FOR THE HONDA TOWING BUT JUST A FEW MILES SHORT WITH AAA. WE HAD AAA TOW IT TO OUR HOME DEALER. THE DEALER COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS DEBRIS IN THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR CAUSING FUEL TRIM FAILURE. LABOR FOR THIS WAS $120.00. MY CAR HASN'T COMPLETELY STOPPED AGAIN BUT IT STILL DOES ITS HESITATION THING. I SEE FROM READING THIS ARTICLE THAT ISN'T JUST MY PROBLEM. I THINK THIS SHOULD TELL HONDA THEY HAVE A PROBLEM THEY NEED TO ADDRESS.

NHTSA #: 10956928
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Sep 2016

TAKATA RECALL THE 2013 HONDA PILOT LEAKS WATER INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN IF THE CAR IS IN THE RAIN. SO MUCH WATER THAT THE CARPET AND PADDING UNDERNEATH ARE SOAKED AND WATER STANDING ON THE FLOORBOARD OF THE VEHICLE. THE PADDING AND CARPET EVEN AFTER CLEANING HAS BEGUN TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND MOLD BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES. AMERICAN HONDA ADMITS/SAYS IT IS A DESIGN FLAW OF THE CAR, BUT THAT IT IS OUR PROBLEM TO TAKE CARE OF AND NOT TO PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE EVER,

NHTSA #: 10910675
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jan 2016

THE CAR HESITATES AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A TURN OR SLOWING DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC. IT DOES ACCELERATE AFTER IT PAUSES, IT IS VERY SCARY TO HAVE IT STOP AND NOT MOVE. THIS VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL ANNOUNCED TODAY, BUT THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH MY CAR. WILL THERE BE MORE RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM? WE HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE HONDA DEALER WHEN IT WAS NEW, AND AGAIN BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THEY DENY THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA #: 10819872
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Nov 2015

STALLS AND HESITATES WHEN TURNING LEFT ESPECIALLY ON ROUNDABOUTS

NHTSA #: 10788189
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: May 2015

I NOTICED A GRINDING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN GEAR AND MOVING. THE NOISE GOT LOUDER WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO BE CHECKED OUT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE REAR ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS UNUSUAL. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT IS IS UNUSUAL AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE A 2003 HONDA PILOT THAT I DROVE FOR 10 YEARS. I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I KNOW HOW DANGEROUS MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE CAN BE AS I WAS DRIVING CAR WHEN THE MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED AND CAUSE LOST OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A CRASH THAT COULD HAVE KILLED THE FOUR OF US RIDING IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA #: 10722357
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2014

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 MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN --- PLUS, WHEN I ENTER MY GARAGE AFTER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE CARE DOESN'T RESPOND FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS == THEN I EXPERIENCE A VERY RAPID ACCELERATIOIN -- I AM AFFRAID THAT ONE DAY I WILL HIT MY GARAGE DOOR.

NHTSA #: 10585918
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2014

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 CHARACTERIZED AS A HOWLING (SIGNIFICANT AUDIBLE TONE CHANGE) FROM THE ENGINE RIGHT BEFORE THE VIBRATION BEGINS, WHICH IS THE SECOND MODE. THE SECOND MODE IS THE VIBRATION/SHUDDER MOST PREDOMINATELY AROUND 44 MPH, BUT CAN OCCUR AT OTHER SPEEDS - DEPENDING ON THE "LOAD" ON THE ENGINE. THE SHUDDER/VIBRATION CAN VARY FROM A HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION (LIKE GOING OVER SMALL NARROW RUMBLE STRIPS) TO A MORE PRONOUNCED SHUDDER, BOTH OF WHICH IS CAN BE FELT BY PASSENGERS AND/OR DRIVER. IN GENERAL, THE PILOT WILL VIBRATE/SHUDDER CONSISTENTLY, APPARENTLY WHEN THE VCM FEATURE IS IN TRANSITION. HOWEVER, ON TWO OCCASIONS, A THIRD MODE OCCURRED: VERY SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH OR SO, BY SURPRISE, THE PILOT SHOOK (FRONT END AREA) TO SUCH A INTENSE DEGREE THAT IT IMPULSIVELY CAUSED THE DRIVER OF THE PILOT TO PULL-OVER AND STOP. NOT KNOWING WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON IS CAUSING SOME TREPIDATION ABOUT WHETHER TO EVEN DRIVE THE CAR. TOOK PILOT INTO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED THESE MODES. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE VCM RELATED VIBRATIONS AND SAYS THAT IS THE WAY IT WORKS AND NOTHING THEY CAN DO. BUT, TO ME THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. A BRAND NEW (RATHER COSTLY) CAR SHOULD NOT BEHAVE THIS WAY. MOREOVER, IT SEEMS SUCH REGULAR ONGOING VIBRATION/SHUDDERING CAN QUICKLY NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE INTEGRITY OR LONGEVITY OF THE ENGINE/DRIVE TRAIN, ETC., AS MOST MECHANICAL THINGS GENERALLY DO NOT LIKE VIBRATIONS WHICH QUITE OFTEN IS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF WEAR AND TEAR. AS THE OWNER ONE MUST ASK THINGS LIKE: WILL THE ENGINE EVEN "SURVIVE" THIS IN THE LONG RUN? WILL THIS CAUSE MORE FREQUENT REPAIRS?

NHTSA #: 10567297

Other 2013 Honda Pilot Issues