2013 HONDA PILOT Recalls, Complaints & Safety

The car was inspected by the authorized dealer, but it is still on the list.

Repeatedly there has been a cylinder 1 misfire causing the check engine light to activate. The vehicle starts to shake and idling is rough. It has happened repeatedly over the past 3-4 years. In 2025 it happened in August, October and December despite repeated maintenance. Error codes that have popped up due to the issue primarily include cylinder 1 misfires a known and documented issue related to the faulty VCM system. The problem has repeatedly been identified by multiple mechanics. I use my vehicle primarily to transport my children to and from school. We have all been in the car during these misfires endangering their safety. At many of the times when the misfires have happened my children have been in the car and any engine failure while operating the vehicle puts them in danger. My children are ADHD/autistic and during the times the vehicle has broken down while driving it has caused them extreme distress. The vehicle is available for inspection at any time. I have reached out to Honda repeatedly to have the issue resolved however despite repeated promises the vehicle would be fixed due to recalls and extended warranties Honda officials have repeatedly made erroneous claims and insist my vehicle's vin needs to be approved for any repairs. This is a well documented known issue for this make and model due to the faulty VCM system causing oil to get into the cylinders leading to the misfires and piston ring wear and corroded spark plugs. All I am requesting is for Honda to make the necessary repairs so my vehicle is safe to transport my children. I have kept up with the maintenance of the vehicle. The problems we have experienced are directly caused by the known VCM/MIL failures. Also we have consistently had codes come up for the ABS as well. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act Honda is responsible for making the repairs.

• The side airbags on the passenger side, extending from the front passenger seat to the back, deployed without cause. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. • The airbags deployed while driving, forcing us to pull over immediately in an unsafe location on a very busy road with two young kids. My son was sitting on tue passenger side in the middle section near the window and was at risk of being severely injured by the airbag deployment. All passengers were put at risk due to the airbags and because stopping on a busy road created an additional safety hazard. • No, the problem hasn’t been reproduced or confirmed yet. • Yes, two police officers and a tow truck operator inspected the vehicle at the scene. Both confirmed that there was no crash, collision, and no visible damage to the car, and were unsure why the airbags deployed. They said it was “really weird” and unexplained. • No, there were no warning lights, error messages, or other symptoms before the airbag deployment.

Vcm2 light appearing causing bank 2 to stop working, vibration and rpm not being able to go above 3000 or 5000

The VSA/ABS lights came on and I took it to the repair shop. The mechanic told me that the VSA/ABS module is bad and needs to be replaced. He said this is a very common problem in my vehicle type. He said the anti-lock brakes won't work which can be dangerous. He said the parts are always backordered and can take months to come in and they are extremely expensive. They range from $1200-$2400 for the part only. I researched the problem online and it seems to be a common problem across many Honda models and years. Many people have taken apart the modules themselves and have repaired them. They mention that the connective wires on the modules are extremely thin and not recommended for circuit boards. The thinness of the connective wires causes the failure.

Significant paint chipping

Paint has peeled completely off of areas of the body--including the roof above the windshield and others. This peeling has occurred without any physical damage to the body itself

I purchased the vehicle and in May 2023 I noticed a small bubble on the paint on the roof of the car near the windshield on the left, above the driver's side. I went to the closest Honda Dealer and the gentleman at the shop dismissed me saying the car's warranty was expired. A few months later, the bubble popped and a part of the paint peeled off. I called the dealer Arlington Honda and was told by a manager Jeremy Hardman to take my car to one of 2 Autobody shops he provided me with for inspection. I went to Schaumburg Autobody who inspected the vehicle and found more affected areas behind the sunroof. They determined it to be defective sealer that is not adhearing to the metal. I sent an email to Jeremy Hardman and called that Honda dealer I was told Jeremy no longer works at that dealer and transferred me elsewhere. I was told to contact Honda Corporate. Meanwhile, the paint has now peeled further, the metal is now completely exposed which will lead to rust formation causing further damage. Also making my car look old and poorly maintained. Since its near the windshield, moisture from snow, rain etc will cause damage where water will start to make its way into the vehicle causing further damage there as well. I have attached pictures to show the metal exposure from the peeling and pictures where you can see the sealant coming off. I would like instructions on how to proceed from here to initiate a recall asap due to poor paint/sealer quality and/or improper application. Instructions for a temporary solution to avoid further damage. I also found an article. Please see [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owned a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 45- 50 MPH, the engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Action Number: RQ24013 (Engine). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that rod bearings and piston ring replacements were needed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case and assisted with the repair fees. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

The lights(traction control light, check engine,) in the dash come on and go off intermittently and vehicle display reads check emissions system and check VSA (vehicle stability assist) I got the vehicle scanned for the codes it throws and the print out was for the power train control module the piston rings all of them failed emission test! The dash lights come on for two to three weeks at a time and than just go off while the lights are illuminated I have no traction control no eco mode and the car doesn’t get the correct power while accelerating speed sometimes it gets too much power and accelerates too high causing the vehicle to take off and without any kind of traction

paint peeling above windshield

I made an 8:40 am appointment to fix the 2018 airbag recall (18V-042) and after arriving at the service center was told it would take two days to fix because they were unexpectedly busy, and, they would be unable to give me a loaner vehicle or facilitate it's dropoff when complete. This does not work for us and leaves us exposed to unacceptable safety risk.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the check engine warning light, the traction control warning light, and an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that oil was seeping through the piston rings and was leaking onto the spark plugs. Additionally, the dealer diagnosed that cylinder #1 was misfiring. The dealer determined that the piston rings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V382000 (Engine) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 86,680.

I recently purchased 2013 Honda Pilot (89,000 miles) and can hear a distinct intermittent hum only when the vehicle is traveling between 45 and 50 mph. I have taken it to the dealer to repair it twice, but they have not found a problem. Ball bearings are fine, transmission fluid was changed, but hum is still there. This model is known to have transmission problems, and I don’t want issues down the road.

Burn oil more then usual smokes when accelerating hard . premature spark plug failure, cylinder 1, 2 , 3 have alot of oil build on them causing failure.

Wires burnt to headlights as a result of overheating wires; resulted in both low beam headlights going out while driving. It seems like Honda has had this problem previously in older Pilot models. Unsure of why they are making newer vehicles with the same issues.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light, the brake warning light, and the traction control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the pressure sensor had malfunctioned and the VSA module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and stated that the parts was unavailable. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the part unavailable and did not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was 74,000.

Paint on roof of my 2013 Honda Pilot. First bubbled up the white paint - now 2 large areas the size of basketballs just above the front window. The paint has chipped off and the metal shows underneath. Have an appt to bring to dealer to inspect. Heard its common on 2013-14 Honda's in white. This brings down the value! My vehicle only has 100k.

Having a VCM system problem on vehicle, tighten gas cap, check engine light, vtm-4 light, misfire in 3. Took to Buerkle Buick after reading about class action lawsuit. They were absolutely no help. Said without a code could not help. Bought new gas cap and replaced purge valve, changed oil. Good for a bit then car went into limp mode. Took to a local mechanic, he adjusted valves, ran great but would not come out of limp mode. Replaced VCM Solenoid, still in limp mode. It is sad that this is a known problem but because they settled they don't have to recall these vehicle in the mean time we all get screwed.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle experienced rough idling. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN and the warranty had expired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V382000 (Engine) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

While on the highway with our family of 5 all the check engine light, VCM-4 along with traction control light came on. The car began to slow down and would not accelerate when the gas pedal was pushed. The Vehicle has been towed to Honda who apparently knew that this happens in this year, make and model vehicle because they had offered an extended warranty coverage on this issue which has since expired and no longer covered for us. Why wasn't this a recall? This is a major engine issue that costs thousands of dollars to fix.

I am writing this complaint since Honda has so many issues with their vehicles and it has boiled down to my 2013 Honda Pilot which has an engine check light issue related to P0301 – Bank 1 Piston Ring Issue. There was a class action suit on the same and noted in their Service Bulletin 13-082. However, the attorneys of both parties Honda and the plaintiffs reached some kind of deal even with the National highway safety board (Federal Agency) and many vehicles of 2013 were left out of the extension of warranty or repair of this issue, even though a Certified Dealer of Honda checked my 2013 Honda and confirmed it was the same issue. The deal done by these parties have not reached many owners of Honda Pilots for this issue. This is a disgrace to Honda and would encourage all car owner’s past, present and future to buy other cars other than those made by Honda. They have not yet resolved my issue even after all these months of trying. Even lawyers involved these in past cases have refused to help or talk on the matter. What are they hiding or what deals made w Honda, plaintiff, and the Highway Safety Board? I am an original believer of buying Toyotas, however I got a recommendation from family members and friends to get the Honda pilot who have similar vehicles of both Hondas and Toyotas, even though I was very reluctant to buy a Honda due to the horrific stories I have heard about Honda vehicles and experience w Honda personnel. So, I got a Honda pilot 2013 and my terrible recent experience w the car issues and the customer service a Honda corporate proved the terrible stories I had heard to come true. I had contacted Honda to resolve my issue on case which was due to a Honda know issue on the Piston ring issue also confirmed by the Honda Mall of GA Dealership on 11/2/22. The behavior of the case manager, Mr. Kantar Kennedy was atrocious and disgusting. They have closed the case 3 times. Not Resolved. NHTB and Honda are not resolving this issue.

Paint bubbling up all over vehicle.Roof,hood,rear tail gate,doors and paint peeling off. Had same problem between windshield and roof and American Honda repaired it.Now entire car is bubbling and paint peeling off.

Excessive vibration, speeds above 50mph vibrates the entire vehicle.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the fog lights and exterior lights became inoperable. The contact noticed there was rust underneath the hood. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact also needed to add additional power steering fluid three times per week. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering gear box, power steering lines, water lines and hoses needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the power steering reservoir, power steering cooling lines, power steering line rem pump, and power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle started to stall with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle off the highway and the vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a premature engine piston wear which was linked to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V382000 (Engine) however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact was given an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 40-50 MPH, there was an accident ahead where a trailer crashed into a deer causing the deer to impact the front driver's side of the vehicle. The front passenger-side air bag was the only air bag that was deployed. The front driver-side air bag failed to deploy. After the front passenger air bag deployed the vehicle heated up rapidly and failed to shut off. There were two children seated in the rear of the vehicle. A police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

Crash

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at 65 MPH, the check engine warning light, the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) warning light, and the traction control warning light illuminated. The message "Emission Check" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the cylinder #1 was misfiring due to oil leaking onto the spark plugs. The dealer diagnosed that the piston rings were beginning to fail; however, the spark plugs were replaced as a temporary repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V382000 (Engine) as the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 81,250.

During my commute home from work my vehicle began shaking as if it was going to stall. The orange check engine light began to flash. I used my scanner and it read the code P0303. I took it to a mechanic the following day and they stated the engine is burning excessive oil and misfiring due to Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management system. The oil is soaking the rear three spark plugs from continuously turning on/off while driving causing the engine cylinders to misfire. They stated it is not safe to drive due to possible shut off, power loss, acceleration loss, and damage to the other car systems. I have regular maintenance done to the vehicle but due to the VCM system it will continue to have the same issues. I paid a lot of money for a “reliable” car but the mechanic is saying I need a new motor.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that when he exited the vehicle, he heard a cracking sound coming from underneath the driver’s seat. The contact stated he looked around the driver’s seat and noticed that the bottom of the driver’s seat frame was fractured in three locations. The contact inspected the frame of the front passenger’s seat and noticed one crack. The contact stated he called the local dealer and they informed him that there was no recall associated with the VIN and suggested he contact the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The manufacturer informed the contact that the seat repair would be at his own cost. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

Passenger Airbag fails to turn itself off when under 15 LBS is positioned on the seat.

The car stalled on highway while I was driving it . The check engine light went on randomly and it just stopped . Had it towed to our local gas / service station and they replaced #2 cylinder spark plug . They told us it should be seen by a mechanic bc they thought engine was bad. We took it to mechanic , ( took over 10 days to get it in ) and they said the #2 spark plug that had just been replaced was saturated in oil bc the oil was getting past piston rings . This car has only 86k miles on it .

Brake failure at stop sign. Driver crashed into a pole, suffered severe injuries including bleeding in the brain and broken ribs.

Crash 1 injured

the engine rod failed and blew apart. Car is still running but could just stop at anytime and caused an accident.

Since purchasing new in 2013, experienced ongoing issues with VCM. Noticable vibration/shudder at all speeds except during heavy acceleration. Taken to dealer mant times. They are able to reproduce but state no fix available. It's how the car was made. In addition to vibration, engine makes a chirping noise when accelerating through vibration. I believe they are related although neither have been able to be fixed. No warning lights illuminate. I purchased this car for the 4wd as I live in snow/ice climate. However, excessive vibration/shudder makes driving in these conditions (any conditions) unsafe due to constant need to fluctuate acceleration/ deceleration to help minimize vibration/shudder to regain sense of control. If you maintain speed while vibrating on snow/ice you feel like you are losing control. This vibration HAS to have a long-term effect on engine/car integrity. It's strong enough that some day I imagine I'll come to a stop and at that very moment, every screw will have come loose/undone from years of vibrating and I'll be left sitting in the seat holding just the steering wheel with the car in parts all around me.

The car is from 2013 doesn’t have a lot miles and the transmission already starting present rallying noises when backing up. I did take to a mechanic and stated that have residue but they not sure if is that or something else..

June 20, 2021 This is my third Honda Pilot. I owned a 2004, 2008 and now a 2013 Honda Pilot since September 23, 2019. And YES, both 2004 and 2008 vehicles had recalls, transmission and engine problems. Fast forward to today, my Pilot wasn't being driven on a daily basis due to COVID-19 Pandemic from March 23, 2020 to present (Teleworking from home). However, while driving my vehicle heading home on June 11, 2021, the VSA Indicator, Malfunction Indicator Lamp and the VTM-4 System Indicator lights lit up on the instruction panel. I took my vehicle to Pohanka Honda in Capitol Heights, Maryland on Saturday, June 12, 2021 but they told me that it would cost approximately $160.00 to run Diagnostic test for the lights and that they were booked for the day and to come back on Monday morning, June 14, 2021. Instead, on Monday afternoon, I took my vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed me that the oil is burning and spilling onto the engine and the engine light came on while they were test driving the car. The independent mechanic recommends that the engine and all six spark plugs be replaced. The independent mechanic also told me to researched the issues. And upon further investigation on the NHTSA website, I found that the issues are linked to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V382000 (ENGINE). However, my VIN number is not under Recall. Even though there are approximately 258 total complaints for the 2013 Honda Pilots and of those, 59 were engine complaints, I am shocked that Honda has not addressed this issue as of June 2021. That is just totally unacceptable and I am so over Hondas period. I will be contacting Honda of America for assistance with this repair. Thanks.

Paint peeling on my 2013 Honda Pilot - passenger side roof between moon roof and front windshield. Paint color is the white pearl. Seeing many reports of paint issues with this type of vehicle and paint color.

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.