CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2012-2013 Honda Pilot have a small complaint trend of owners reporting the engine hesitates sometimes when accelerating.

While it's not a widespread trend with the Pilot, it's a little concerning because of the possibly safety ramifications. While it's certainly something to keep in mind, most Pilot owners are not experiencing this problem.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,741 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Honda Pilot miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2013 Honda Pilot Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #32

Aug 022023

Pilot

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Toms River, NJ, USA

problem #31

Jan 232021

Pilot

  • 155,000 miles
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.

- Tualatin, OR, USA

problem #30

Dec 012020

Pilot

  • 53,000 miles
I purchased my third Honda, a 2013 Honda Pilot in 2017 from my local Honda dealership. In 2019, I received a recall notice from american Honda stating that we could have the cost of repainting our recalled vehicles covered if we had damage. At that time, I did not have any issues with the paint on my Pilot. Well, a couple weeks ago, a huge amount of paint on my roof was missing all of a sudden. I contacted american Honda as it stated on the recall notice and was told the recall period and my warranty had expired. Nevertheless, I was told a claim was opened on my behalf and that I needed to take the car to my local Honda dealership for a diagnosis. I was then sent to an authorized body shop for an estimate. After having to contact american Honda and the local dealership multiple times, I was told by the body shop that Honda would only cover 60% of the $1700 cost (which was only for the roof to be repainted) and that eventually the rest of the vehicle will also start to peel. I feel cheated and this is truly a lack of customer service on the part of american Honda and proctor Honda. How do you sell vehicles knowing that there is an issue with the paint coming off and then not be willing to fix the issue??

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #29

Nov 092020

Pilot

  • 131,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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**

- Valley Falls, NY, USA

problem #28

Oct 212020

Pilot

  • 128,000 miles
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??"

- Braidwood, IL, USA

problem #27

Sep 232020

Pilot

  • 114,521 miles
Paint popping off top above windshield

- Wendell, NC, USA

problem #26

May 242020

Pilot

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- West Hartford, CT, USA

problem #25

May 222020

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
The paint on top of Pilot just above the windshield and before the sunroof is peeling. I've seen lots of owners having the same problem. I noticed this when I washed the Pilot and saw the paint has bubbles and had chipped already. I have been driving it and noticed there is now a big part of the paint the peeled away.

- Pittsburg, CA, USA

problem #24

May 112020

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 20 miles
I thought finally I could start enjoying the luxury in a car but Honda company painted my face shame by making me feel disappointed with their product. My car steering is so hard for me a woman, the air conditioning will not blow to the right direction even when I set the mode, the belt is not properly positioned, the roof paint is peeling off in less than a year I bought it, this is 2013 vehicle, this really broke my heart as a single mother, I have a lot on my plate already, now add all these. Somebody please help me, I'm loosing it, please help me😭😭😭😭

- Columbus, GA, USA

problem #23

Mar 042019

Pilot

  • 90,000 miles
The car is making these horrible noises. The dealership claims everything was find when they sold it to us. We took it back a few days later for them to fix it and they claimed to fix it but never did. We have taken it to multiple mechanics and they can not figure out what it is after have it at least 3 or 4 days. It's like a vibration/grinding noise. The alignment is fine but it still pulls and the steering wheel is off. It always makes a grinding noise and the vibration and grinding starts when you are driving and it hits a constant speed even when you dont use the cruise control.

- Bay Springs, MS, USA

problem #22

May 012019

Pilot

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Paint between the sunroof and front wind shield peeling off.

- Newburgh, IN, USA

problem #21

Dec 242018

Pilot

  • 45,000 miles
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.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #20

Apr 052017

Pilot

  • miles
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.

- Kodiak, AK, USA

problem #19

Jan 012017

Pilot

  • 87,000 miles
Paint starting coming off first small circle then more and more it goes from side to side between my sunroof and windshield.

- Statham, GA, USA

problem #18

Feb 082019

Pilot

  • 87,000 miles
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.

- Covington, KY, USA

problem #17

Dec 072018

Pilot

  • 81,000 miles
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.

- Granada Hills, CA, USA

problem #16

Oct 222018

Pilot

  • 70,000 miles
Rear door is not opening, switch does not respond to pressing, you hear the unlocking sound and light turns on but door wont open, this is not an electrical door that opens by itself, this is a main issue since I cannot open the door to put my kids strollers, etc. By doing so much pressure in the door, I took off the handle and broke one of the pins. Is anybody experiencing the same issue ?

- Belleville, NJ, USA

problem #15

Apr 012018

Pilot

  • 80,000 miles
I have majot paint removal on the roof of my Honda Pilot. It just comes off in sheets when we are driving. We took it to our local Honda dealer and they said we didn't wax the car enough and that was why it was happening. A car that is 5 years old should not have paint coming off in sheets. It is so bad that I now have to worry about the roof getting rust because the paint comes off down to the metal.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #14

Jan 092018

Pilot

  • 55,000 miles
When driving on the highway between the speed of 60-80 mph, the steering wheel shakes very noticeably making it very uncomfortable to drive with the vibration. I have had tires replaced and the wheels rebalanced and nothing seems to fix the problem. I have been dealing with this for months and no service station is able to fix the problem. Fearing that something may happen when driving on the highway or when my children drive the car. Safety is my number one concern when getting into a vehicle and it is very upsetting that I bought a brand new car to avoid the unknown problems of a used vehicle. Upon doing some research on the internet to find a solution to my problem, I have discovered that every Honda Pilot owner is complaining about the same issue and that Honda does not want to fix the problem.

- Valhalla, NY, USA

problem #13

Jul 242017

Pilot

  • miles
Electrical issue while stationary and extreme vibrations while driving.

- Mandeville, LA, USA

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