2013 HONDA PILOT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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4/5

★★★★

Safety Rating

360

Owner Complaints

14 Crashes 6 Fires

6

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

14

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2013 HONDA PILOT

The 2013 HONDA PILOT has received a total of 360 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. 14 technical service bulletins have been issued by Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (76 complaints), Power Train (53 complaints), and Structurebody (41 complaints).

Recalls for the 2013 HONDA PILOT

NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 2013 HONDA PILOT, potentially affecting up to 2,824,576 vehicles.

Recall 19V502000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

| 9,555 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.

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Recall 19V378000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

| 19,138 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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...

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Recall 18V661000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

| 1,355,406 vehicles affected

Defect: 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....

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.

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Recall 18V042000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

| 691,726 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.

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Recall 13V382000 — ENGINE

| 270 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: A worn piston may suddenly fail, causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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).

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Recall 13V016000 — AIR BAGS

| 748,481 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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...

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Owner Complaints for the 2013 HONDA PILOT

360 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 HONDA PILOT. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#11713298 | AIR BAGS | | N/A miles
The car was inspected by the authorized dealer, but it is still on the list.
#11710068 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
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.
#11710068 | POWER TRAIN | | N/A miles
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.
#11710068 | SERVICE BRAKES | | N/A miles
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.
#11682551 | AIR BAGS | | N/A miles
• 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.

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Safety Rating for the 2013 HONDA PILOT

The 2013 HONDA PILOT received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Test Category Rating
Overall Rating ★★★★ (4/5)
Frontal Crash ★★★★ (4/5)
Side Crash ★★★★★ (5/5)
Rollover ★★★★ (4/5)

Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2013 HONDA PILOT

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) has issued 14 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2013 HONDA PILOT. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

A25-060 — ENGINE

Service Bulletin - The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge. Oil adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire.

A13-082 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

"Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al.v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Case No. 3:12-cv-1377-SI (N.D. Cal.). The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align, which can lead to spark...

DOR-M9Y6F-06 — SUSPENSION

These 2 SKUs are Front Left/Front Right lower control arms. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for ball stud nuts with undersized flanges. Stud nuts with undersized flanges may cause the control arm ball stud to slip through the knuckle mount causing loss of vehicle control....

A13-082 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al.v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Case No. 3:12-cv-1377-SI (N.D. Cal.). The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align, which can lead to spark...

APaS09282017903 — EQUIPMENT

Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2011-2014 Odysseys & Pilots in Taffeta White with a customer complaint of the paint on roof peeling. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair...

A14-078 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

"SERVICE BULLETIN - UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THERE IS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION BETWEEN 30 AND 65 MPH. FOR 2WD AND 4WD VEHICLES, THE CALIBRATION VCM OPERATION COMBINED WITH THE ACTION OF THE LOCK UP TORQUE CONVERTER CREATES EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. ADDITIONALLY FOR 4WD VEHICLES, THE PROPELLER SHAFT’S CENTER SUPPORT BEARING BUSHING MATERIAL...

PILOT RR SUSPENS — SUSPENSION:REAR

"DEALER MESSAGE - AMERICAN HONDA (AHM) IS INVESTIGATING CERTAIN 2016PILOTS WITH A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. THE NOISE CAN BE DESCRIBED AS RATTLING OR CLUNKING. TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CAUSE OF THIS CONDITION, AHM WOULD LIKE TO COLLECT SPECIFIC...

WE - A15-045 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

"SERVICE BULLETIN - AMERICAN HONDA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION REAR LOWER ARM (COMPLIANCE) BUSHINGS TO 7 YEARS FROM THE ORIGINAL DATE OF PURCHASE OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST."

DLR MSG - RFV - — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2009-2013 Pilots with a complaint of vibration when braking, and the technician found the front lower control arm compliance bushings need to be replaced. To fully understand the cause of this occurrence, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to...

DLR MSG - 2009-2 — SUSPENSION

Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2009-2013 Pilots with a complaint of vibration when braking, and the technician found the front lower control arm compliance bushings need to be replaced. To fully understand the cause of this occurrence, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to...

Showing 10 of 14 technical service bulletins.

NHTSA Investigations for the 2013 HONDA PILOT

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the HONDA PILOT

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Other HONDA Models

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