2013 Honda Pilot Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2013 Honda Pilot has a complaint index of 35, ranking 14th worst out of 21 model years and earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Pilot years. Engine problems (34% of complaints, median 3,775 miles) and 6 recalls are the main concerns, but far fewer complaints than the 2016 or 2019 Pilots.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 35/100
- #14 of 21 Pilot years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 271
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 12
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 12
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17.5 city / 24.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 12 / 0
Top 2013 Honda Pilot problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Engine reportedly stalls or lurches at low speed, in one case causing a low-speed crash into a concrete barrier at 16,000 miles.
- Owners describe the vehicle rolling away after being placed in park, with the brake and shifter both engaged.
- Some owners report sudden unintended acceleration or the vehicle moving forward on its own while parked and idling.
- A vehicle fire was reported starting under the hood and spreading into the dashboard after the car had been parked and locked for several hours.
- Brake failure while braking on a downhill approach to an intersection led to a crash in one report.
- Power door locks and the tailgate lock were described as working intermittently, raising concern about children being locked inside.
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 to other Pilot model years, the 2013 rates 'Good' with a complaint index of 35 and ranks 14th worst out of 21 years tracked. It has fewer complaints (271) than higher-risk years like 2016 (1,703 complaints) or 2019 (904 complaints).
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Honda Pilot?
- Engine issues make up 34% of complaints (91 total, median failure mileage 3,775), followed by structure and body issues (21%) and transmission and powertrain issues (20%, median failure mileage 3,000).
- Does the 2013 Honda Pilot have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2013 Pilot, covering airbag inflators and modules and an engine piston heat-treatment defect that led Honda to replace engine short blocks.
- How does the 2013 Pilot compare to the 2014 and 2015 Pilot?
- The 2014 and 2015 Pilots rate 'Best' with complaint indexes of 0 and 10, lower than the 2013's index of 35, making those two years the stronger picks among nearby model years.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Honda Pilot?
- EPA rates the 2013 Pilot at 20 mpg combined (17.5 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250.