2013 Honda Pilot Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
27/100
#12 most-complained of 16 Pilot years
The 2013 Honda Pilot has a complaint index of 27 and ranks 12th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Pilot years. It has 271 complaints, 6 recalls, and its top problem area is the engine.
- Complaints
- 271
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 12 / 4
- Injuries / deaths
- 12 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17.5 city / 24.5 hwy
Top 2013 Honda Pilot problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine91 (34%)
- Structure & Body56 (21%)
- Transmission & Powertrain54 (20%)
- Brakes43 (16%)
- Other35 (13%)
- Airbags18 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (6%)
- Fuel System13 (5%)
- Electrical System12 (4%)
- Steering12 (4%)
What owners report
- Engine can jerk violently at low speed, in one case causing a crash into a concrete barrier at an early mileage.
- Some engines burn a quart of oil roughly every 20 miles, paired with failure to accelerate past 20 mph, visible smoke, and loss of power brake assist.
- A parked vehicle reportedly shifted itself out of park and began driving away unattended.
- Owners report the passenger-side frontal airbag deploying in a crash while the driver-side airbag failed to deploy.
- Door locks and the tailgate lock have worked intermittently, with the tailgate locking at unexpected times.
- A vehicle caught fire under the hood and spread to the dashboard after being parked and unused for several hours.
2013 Honda Pilot recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V502000Jun 27, 2019Airbags9,555 vehicles
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.
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.
- NHTSA 19V378000May 16, 2019Airbags19,138 vehicles
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.
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 numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
- NHTSA 18V661000Sep 27, 2018Airbags1,355,406 vehicles
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.
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.
2013 Honda Pilot fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 24.5 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2013 compared with other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Honda Pilot reliable?
- Compared with other Pilot model years, the 2013 has a complaint index of 27 and ranks 12th worst of 16 years tracked, giving it a "Good" verdict relative to the rest of the lineup.
- What problems does the 2013 Honda Pilot have?
- NHTSA complaints show the top problem area is the engine (91 complaints, 34% share), followed by structure & body (56 complaints), transmission & powertrain (54 complaints), and brakes (43 complaints).
- Does the 2013 Honda Pilot have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2013 Pilot, covering airbags (multiple campaigns) and one engine recall (13V382000) for improperly heat-treated engine pistons requiring short block replacement.
- What year Honda Pilot should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaint index data, 2016 (100), 2017 (80), 2019 (87), and 2025 (93) carry "Avoid" verdicts, while 2013, with an index of 27, is rated "Good" among Pilot years.
- How many miles do 2013 Pilot engine problems occur at?
- The engine problem area shows a median mileage at failure of 3,775 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.