2013 Honda Pilot Complaint Log

2013 HONDA PILOT TOURING 4WD PURCHASED ON 2/2. BRAND NEW, ONLY 5 MILES. AFTER 3 DAYS OF OWNING, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN IT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE ENGINE RAN VERY ROUGH. SHE PULLED OVER, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AFTER A MIN OR 2 OF WAITING AND IT RAN NORMAL. SHE THEN CONTINUED HER DRIVE TO WORK WITHOUT ISSUE. A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT, I HAD THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK, I DETERMINED THAT AFTER A COLD START, IF YOU WENT UP TO AROUND 2800-3000 RPM, THEN ENGINE WOULD RUN VERY ROUGH AND CHECK ENGINE WOULD FLASH UNTIL YOU SHUT THE CAR DOWN. SINCE I COULD REPLICATE THE ISSUE, I CALLED FOR A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT, THE CHECK EMISSIONS SYSTEM LIGHT ALSO TRIGGERED. ON MONDAY 2/18, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND GOT A LOANER ACCORD. ON MONDAY, THE CALL FROM THE DEALER WAS, NOTHING IS WRONG. I ASKED IF THEY DID IT AFTER A COLD START SINCE MY WIFE SAID THAT WHEN DROPPING THE CAR OFF. UH, NO, SO THEY KEPT THE CAR. TUESDAY MORNING THEY SAID THERE WAS AN ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE OIL PUMP IN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING OUT TOO MUCH OIL PRESSURE WHICH WAS TRIGGERING SOME SENSORS IN THE VCM SYSTEM. THIS WAS CAUSING IT TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THEY SAID THEY WOULD ORDER A REPLACEMENT OIL PUMP AND I'D BE ON MY WAY. LATER ON WEDNESDAY, THEY CALLED BACK TO SAY THEY WERE ON BACKORDER AND I'D HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MORE DAYS. ON THURSDAY, THEY CALLED BACK TO SAY THEY WON'T HAVE A REPLACEMENT OIL PUMP UNTIL APRIL. THE HONDA FACTORY REP SAID TO ORDER A NEW SHORTBLOCK AS A REPLACEMENT AS IT HAS AN INSTALLED OIL PUMP. *TR

SEVERE HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AT LOW SPEEDS...NO RESPONSE FOR 1 TO 2 SECONDS...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO TURN OR PULL INTO MOVING TRAFFIC...PROBLEM IS SPORADIC BUT FREQUENT(2-3 TIMES PER WEEK. *TR

WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE DAY ONE (JANUARY 18, 2013) WITH OUR 2013 HONDA PILOT EX 4WD. THE PROBLEM IS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION WHEN THE ENGINE DROPS DOWN FROM HIGH ECO MODE (4 CYLINDERS) TO LOW ECO MODE (3 CYLINDERS - IF I UNDERSTAND THE ECO CYLINDER REDUCTION SYSTEM CORRECTLY). IT IS SMOOTH IN HIGH ECO MODE BUT AS SOON AS IT DROPS DOWN, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES/RUMBLES SIGNIFICANTLY. IT IS MY WIFE'S PRIMARY VEHICLE AND I DO NOT LIKE TO DRIVE IT FOR THAT REASON. I DO NOT HAVE AN INDEPENDENT AUDIBLE VIBRATION ALTHOUGH WHEN IN LOW ECO MODE IT MAKES A SOUND AS WELL AS A VIBRATION WITH THE VIBRATION BEING THE MOST PRONOUNCED. IT IS ODD THAT ONE PART OF THE ECO MODE IS SMOOTH AND THE OTHER PART IS ROUGH. I CAN PREDICT WHEN THE ROUGHNESS WILL OCCUR WHEN TRAVELING ON A RELATIVELY FLAT ROAD WITH GRADUAL INCLINES AND DECLINES. WHEN THE ROAD DECLINES, THE LOW ECO MODE ENGAGES AND THE VIBRATION INITIATES AND CONTINUES UNTIL THE ROAD BEGINS TO INCLINE AT WHICH TIME THE ECO MODE TRANSFERS FROM ITS LOW MODE TO ITS HIGH MODE AND THE VIBRATION STOPS IMMEDIATELY. THE VIBRATION IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH AND IS COMPARABLE TO RIDING ON SMOOTH ASPHALT AND THEN THE SURFACE CHANGING ABRUPTLY TO A ROUGH OIL AND CHIP ROAD SURFACE. WE HAD A 2009 HONDA PILOT LX 4WD WITH THE SAME ECO SYSTEM AND THERE WAS NO VIBRATION IN LOW ECO MODE. HAS ANYONE HAD A SUCCESSFUL FIX/REPAIR OF THIS ISSUE? IT IS VERY ANNOYING TO ME AND THIS CANNOT BE NORMAL BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. IF NOTHING CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM, IS THERE A METHOD TO SHUT OFF THE LOW ECO SYSTEM FROM ACTIVATING BUT STILL HAVE THE HIGH ECO SYSTEM OPERABLE. I WOULD RATHER HAVE A SMOOTH RIDE AND SACRIFICE SOME GAS MILEAGE THAN BE TORMENTED BY THIS VIBRATION. THE VIBRATION IS SO OBVIOUS THAT IT CANNOT BE IGNORED ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE DRIVING IT. IT VIBRATES IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE IN GENERAL. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA PILOT (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THIRD ROW SEAT HEAD REST WOULD BLOCK THE CONTACT'S REAR VIEW WHEN DRIVING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN PLACING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE THIRD ROW SEAT, THE HEAD REST WOULD PUSH THE CHILD RESTRAINT FORWARD WHEN LOWERED. WHEN THE HEAD REST WAS RAISED, THE METAL BAR WOULD CONTACT THE CHILD'S HEAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE ALTERED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE AT NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT. WHEN DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD TRAVEL PARTIALLY TO THE FLOORBOARD ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN TRAVELING OVER A FLAT SURFACE OR WHEN THE CYLINDER WAS IN THIRD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED THAT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE FOR THE VIBRATION OR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE DEALER LOOSENED THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION BOLTS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,400.

VIBRATION AT 1500 RPM. STOPS WHEN RPM GO ABOVE 2000 OR LESS THAN 1400. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE (2013 HONDA PILOT EX-L) ON 11/26/12 AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO FEEL AN ANNOYING VIBRATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN ECO MODE. THIS VIBRATION CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, CONSOLE. SEATS AND THROUGHOUT THE CABIN. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE ON LEVEL STRETCHES OF ROADWAY WHEN APPLYING LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE FUEL PEDAL. THE VIBRATION OR "FLUTTER" DIMINISHES WHEN MORE PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE FUEL PEDAL. WHEN TAKEN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER CONTACTING HONDA CUSTOMER CARE I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE CHECKED INTO AND HAVE HEARD NOTHING FURTHER..... *TR

2013 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMERS WRITE IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SHUDDERS, PULSATES AND VIBRATES INTERMITTENTLY DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SHUDDER, PULSATING AND VIBRATION OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY DURING ANY AND ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY HONDA REPRESENTATIVES AD TECHNICIANS THAT VIBRATION WAS CAUSED BY THE VARIABLE CYLINDER CONTROL SYSTEM AND IT USUALLY STARTED AFTER 1000 MILES. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HONDA WAS WORKING ON A FIX, BUT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A SOLUTION IN THE FUTURE. ALSO, THERE WAS A VERY DISTINCT AND CONSTANT PULL TO THE LEFT IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE FUEL SYSTEM ALERT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE TANK WAS FILLED WITH GAS. THE CONSUMER WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE DEALER, TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE GAS GAP. THE ALERT LIGHT WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SHIFTED HARSHLY AND IT FELT AS THOUGH HE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. *JB

THE VCM (VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT) SYSTEM CAUSES JERKING AND VIBRATIONS, PERIODICALLY, DURING THE CHANGE FROM "ECO" MODE TO FULL CYLINDER OPERATION. I HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER DRIVE WITH ME AND ON THAT TRIP, THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE SALES AND SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEING A PROBLEM. I NOW SEE THAT HONDA HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE COMPANY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND FIX THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM.

AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OUT OF THE LOT, 17 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, A VIBRATION WAS FELT COMING THROUGH THE SEATS AT 75 MPH. AND MULTIPLE RESONANCE FREQUENCIES CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE CHASSIS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VIBRATION IS CONSTANT BETWEEN 65 MPH TO 78 MPH (HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AND IT GET WORST DURING LONGER PERIODS OF DRIVING. THESE FREQUENCIES OF VIBRATIONS ARE TRANSMITTED TO YOUR LOWER BACK CAUSING STRESS AND BACK PAIN. IN ADDITION THE INTERIOR PARTS OF THE CAR (DASH, PANELS, RADIO, CENTER CONSOLE, DVD, ETC.) ARE BECOMING LOOSE AND IT CAN BE FELT DURING DRIVING CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE PASSENGERS. MULTIPLE REPAIRS ATTEMPTS ARE BEING PERFORMED BY HONDA DEALERS AND THEY DECIDED TO TELL THE COSTUMERS THAT THIS IS PART OF THE CAR DESIGN SINCE THEY RE-DESIGNED THE CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION TO BE STIFFER FOR THE 2013 MODELS. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ARE BEING REPORTED BY DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS AROUND THE US BUT NOT REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED AND WILL NOT BE PERFORMED. WE DO NO'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL A TIRE/WHEEL BECOMES LOOSE AND KILL A FAMILY OR MULTIPLE FAMILIES ON THE HIGHWAYS BECAUSE OF AN UNSAFE CONDITION ON THESE VEHICLES. ALSO, POWER STEERING PROBLEMS AND BRAKE ISSUES (AFTER LONGER PERIODS OF DRIVING, 2+HRS) HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITHOUT BEING CORRECTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. *TR

VEHICLE HESITATES/ AND SHAKES AT 45 AND 60 MPH, VERY SCARY. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP IN BLUFFTON SC MARCH 2014 AND MAY 2014. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER ACQUIRING MY NEW PILOT IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR I HAD AND INCIDENT WHEREBY AT A LOW SPEED I LOST ALL CONTROL OF SPEED AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DID NOTHING AND THE CAR BEHIND ME NEARLY HIT ME. IT TROUBLED ME, BUT THOUGHT IS WAS JUST SOMETHING ODD.. UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND AGAIN. I HAVE DEVISED A RESPONSE (REMOVE PRESSURE FROM THE ACCELERATOR ENTIRELY AND REAPPLY PRESSURE). THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANYONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO REACT EVEN THOUGH ONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS. I REALIZE I AM NOT ALONE, NOR IS THIS AN ISOLATED INSTANCE TO MY CAR. BROWSE THE FORUM WWW.PILOTEERS.ORG AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTINGS RELATED TO THIS AND IT SEEMS TO AFFECT BOTH 2012 AND 2013 PILOTS. HONDA HAS NEITHER ACKNOWLEDGED NOR ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY TIME THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, THAT THE BRAKES WOULD SHUTTER AND THAT THERE WAS A VIBRATION ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROTORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE RE-FINISHED. THE REPAIR WAS MADE HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO THEN REPLACED THE ROTORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

75% OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS IN ECO MODE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHUDDERS. THE EFFECT VARIES FROM ANNOYING TO SEVERE. IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. THESE ARE THE SAME CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED BY NUMEROUS OWNERS. I EXPECT MAJOR PRE-MATURE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN. HONDA REFUSES TO ADMIT TO THE DEFECT AND HAS NO FIX FOR THE DEFECT. RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!! *TR

MY HONDA PILOT HAS BEEN EXPERIENING AN ENGINE CUT OFF AFTER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN -- WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS NOTHING HAPPENS FOR AT LEAST 4 SECONDS THEN I RECIEVE A RAPID ACCELERATION == I AM AFFRAIND THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF MY PILOT WHEN I AM NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE AFTER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN --- PLUS, WHEN I ENTER MY GARAGE AFTER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE CARE DOESN'T RESPOND FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS == THEN I EXPERIENCE A VERY RAPID ACCELERATIOIN -- I AM AFFRAID THAT ONE DAY I WILL HIT MY GARAGE DOOR.