general problems of the 2013 Honda Pilot - part 1

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 10 mph, the check engine warning light, the traction control warning light, and an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that oil was seeping through the piston rings and was leaking onto the spark plugs. Additionally, the dealer diagnosed that cylinder #1 was misfiring. The dealer determined that the piston rings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 13v382000 (engine) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 86,680.

I recently purchased 2013 Honda Pilot (89,000 miles) and can hear a distinct intermittent hum only when the vehicle is traveling between 45 and 50 mph. I have taken it to the dealer to repair it twice, but they have not found a problem. Ball bearings are fine, transmission fluid was changed, but hum is still there. This model is known to have transmission problems, and I don’t want issues down the road.

Burn oil more then usual smokes when accelerating hard . Premature spark plug failure, cylinder 1, 2 , 3 have alot of oil build on them causing failure.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle experienced rough idling. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN and the warranty had expired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 13v382000 (engine) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

Having a vcm system problem on vehicle, tighten gas cap, check engine light, vtm-4 light, misfire in 3. Took to buerkle Buick after reading about class action lawsuit. They were absolutely no help. Said without a code could not help. Bought new gas cap and replaced purge valve, changed oil. Good for a bit then car went into limp mode. Took to a local mechanic, he adjusted valves, ran great but would not come out of limp mode. Replaced vcm solenoid, still in limp mode. It is sad that this is a known problem but because they settled they don't have to recall these vehicle in the mean time we all get screwed.

While on the highway with our family of 5 all the check engine light, vcm-4 along with traction control light came on. The car began to slow down and would not accelerate when the gas pedal was pushed. The vehicle has been towed to Honda who apparently knew that this happens in this year, make and model vehicle because they had offered an extended warranty coverage on this issue which has since expired and no longer covered for us. Why wasn't this a recall? this is a major engine issue that costs thousands of dollars to fix.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the vehicle started to stall with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle off the highway and the vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a premature engine piston wear which was linked to NHTSA campaign number: 13v382000 (engine) however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact was given an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

I am writing this complaint since Honda has so many issues with their vehicles and it has boiled down to my 2013 Honda Pilot which has an engine check light issue related to p0301 – bank 1 piston ring issue. There was a class action suit on the same and noted in their service bulletin 13-082. However, the attorneys of both parties Honda and the plaintiffs reached some kind of deal even with the national highway safety board (federal agency) and many vehicles of 2013 were left out of the extension of warranty or repair of this issue, even though a certified dealer of Honda checked my 2013 Honda and confirmed it was the same issue. The deal done by these parties have not reached many owners of Honda Pilots for this issue. This is a disgrace to Honda and would encourage all car owner’s past, present and future to buy other cars other than those made by Honda. They have not yet resolved my issue even after all these months of trying. Even lawyers involved these in past cases have refused to help or talk on the matter. What are they hiding or what deals made w Honda, plaintiff, and the highway safety board? I am an original believer of buying toyotas, however I got a recommendation from family members and friends to get the Honda Pilot who have similar vehicles of both Hondas and toyotas, even though I was very reluctant to buy a Honda due to the horrific stories I have heard about Honda vehicles and experience w Honda personnel. So, I got a Honda Pilot 2013 and my terrible recent experience w the car issues and the customer service a Honda corporate proved the terrible stories I had heard to come true. I had contacted Honda to resolve my issue on case which was due to a Honda know issue on the piston ring issue also confirmed by the Honda mall of GA dealership on 11/2/22. The behavior of the case manager, mr. Kantar kennedy was atrocious and disgusting. They have closed the case 3 times. Not resolved. Nhtb and Honda are not resolving this issue.

During my commute home from work my vehicle began shaking as if it was going to stall. The orange check engine light began to flash. I used my scanner and it read the code p0303. I took it to a mechanic the following day and they stated the engine is burning excessive oil and misfiring due to Honda’s variable cylinder management system. The oil is soaking the rear three spark plugs from continuously turning on/off while driving causing the engine cylinders to misfire. They stated it is not safe to drive due to possible shut off, power loss, acceleration loss, and damage to the other car systems. I have regular maintenance done to the vehicle but due to the vcm system it will continue to have the same issues. I paid a lot of money for a “reliable” car but the mechanic is saying I need a new motor.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at 65 mph, the check engine warning light, the vehicle stability control (vsc) warning light, and the traction control warning light illuminated. The message "emission check" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the cylinder #1 was misfiring due to oil leaking onto the spark plugs. The dealer diagnosed that the piston rings were beginning to fail; however, the spark plugs were replaced as a temporary repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 13v382000 (engine) as the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 81,250.

The car stalled on highway while I was driving it . The check engine light went on randomly and it just stopped . Had it towed to our local gas / service station and they replaced #2 cylinder spark plug . They told us it should be seen by a mechanic bc they thought engine was bad. We took it to mechanic , ( took over 10 days to get it in ) and they said the #2 spark plug that had just been replaced was saturated in oil bc the oil was getting past piston rings . This car has only 86k miles on it .

The contact owned a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 45- 50 mph, the engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA action number: rq24013 (engine). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that rod bearings and piston ring replacements were needed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case and assisted with the repair fees. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

The engine rod failed and blew apart. Car is still running but could just stop at anytime and caused an accident.

Since purchasing new in 2013, experienced ongoing issues with vcm. Noticable vibration/shudder at all speeds except during heavy acceleration. Taken to dealer mant times. They are able to reproduce but state no fix available. It's how the car was made. In addition to vibration, engine makes a chirping noise when accelerating through vibration. I believe they are related although neither have been able to be fixed. No warning lights illuminate. I purchased this car for the 4wd as I live in snow/ice climate. However, excessive vibration/shudder makes driving in these conditions (any conditions) unsafe due to constant need to fluctuate acceleration/ deceleration to help minimize vibration/shudder to regain sense of control. If you maintain speed while vibrating on snow/ice you feel like you are losing control. This vibration has to have a long-term effect on engine/car integrity. It's strong enough that some day I imagine I'll come to a stop and at that very moment, every screw will have come loose/undone from years of vibrating and I'll be left sitting in the seat holding just the steering wheel with the car in parts all around me.

June 20, 2021 this is my third Honda Pilot. I owned a 2004, 2008 and now a 2013 Honda Pilot since September 23, 2019. And yes, both 2004 and 2008 vehicles had recalls, transmission and engine problems. Fast forward to today, my Pilot wasn't being driven on a daily basis due to covid-19 pandemic from March 23, 2020 to present (teleworking from home). However, while driving my vehicle heading home on June 11, 2021, the vsa indicator, malfunction indicator lamp and the vtm-4 system indicator lights lit up on the instruction panel. I took my vehicle to pohanka Honda in capitol heights, maryland on Saturday, June 12, 2021 but they told me that it would cost approximately $160. 00 to run diagnostic test for the lights and that they were booked for the day and to come back on Monday morning, June 14, 2021. Instead, on Monday afternoon, I took my vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed me that the oil is burning and spilling onto the engine and the engine light came on while they were test driving the car. The independent mechanic recommends that the engine and all six spark plugs be replaced. The independent mechanic also told me to researched the issues. And upon further investigation on the NHTSA website, I found that the issues are linked to the NHTSA campaign number: 13v382000 (engine). However, my VIN number is not under recall. Even though there are approximately 258 total complaints for the 2013 Honda Pilots and of those, 59 were engine complaints, I am shocked that Honda has not addressed this issue as of June 2021. That is just totally unacceptable and I am so over Hondas period. I will be contacting Honda of America for assistance with this repair. Thanks.

The car is from 2013 doesn’t have a lot miles and the transmission already starting present rallying noises when backing up. I did take to a mechanic and stated that have residue but they not sure if is that or something else. .

While driving vehicle obd shows code p0304. Vehicle had poor acceleration while misfiring. Took vehicle into Honda dealership and they state a re-ring of four cylinders needed. This is consistent with the "soto class action settlement" in the "Honda misfire case" that resulted in a service bulletin and extension to the warranty. Dealership states although this vehicle meets the model and year criteria for this problem, the VIN shows it was built in a factory that does not qualify for the remedy to be paid for by Honda. Dealership agrees it is the same problem and same maintenance action required as the other vehicles that are covered by the class action law suit. Honda America refuses to remedy the problem. This is a safety issue that Honda refuses to take care of even though it is well known from other same model/year vehicles. Please help!.

The engine is making an idling noise only when the car starts in the morning. Takes time for car to increase speed.

Misfired 2nd cylinder, excessive carbon and oil fouling on spark plug. Ignition coil needs replaced quickly.

Tl the contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. While driving approximately 65 mph, the check engine and vtm-4 indicators illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

When my Pilot goes into eco mode there is considerable vibration that can be felt in the steering wheel, gas pedal, interior door panel if your leg is resting against it, also there is enough reverb in the cab that at times it can irritate your inner ear. Its the worst around 45 to 65 but can be felt at most speeds. It doesn't matter whether its city or highway its present whenever eco is on at cruising speed. I took my Pilot to the dealer I purchased it from to give them the opportunity to trouble shoot the issue. Initially I thought it was the transmission but they said it was the engine going into eco mode and that it was normal. I have never had a vehicles engine produce the amount of vibration that this one does and to be told its normal to me is unacceptable. I have since read many threads and complaints about this same issue on the internet. This needs to be addressed with Honda and they need to provide a solution. We bought this vehicle in the summer of 2015, have owned it less that a year and this issue makes it a very undesirable vehicle to own and if Honda doesn't provide a solution for this we will most likely get rid of this vehicle and never buy another Honda again nor recommend this manufacturer.

My Honda Pilot vibrates and hums when the eco light comes on. I notice it at lower speeds and rpms, not sure if it is transmission or engine, mentioned to my service tech but they could not find and issue.

This has happened several times: car is a stopped or slowly rolling and you step on the gas to get into traffic floor to the floor and the car doesn't move. The newest incident today is the car was in motion going approximately 10 mph when it completely died. All power lost, could not steer and had to pump the break several times to stop. Dealership says verbally over phone no open recalls on car and unless they can recreate, they probably can't fix anything. I am going to get killed with my baby in this car.

Cracked or damaged piston ring or rings. . . Spark plug damaged. . . . "in my opinion"the engine will never be reliable, it will never be right. . . At 12,000 miles. . . .

Tl - the contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while waiting at a traffic light, there was a sudden increase in engine rpms and the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable diagnosed the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 1,200. Pm.

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph and attempting to enter a parking garage, the vehicle jerked violently and crashed into a concrete barrier. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 16000.

Sometimes when starting out and making left or right hand turn after being stopped at a stop light or stop sign, the engine will hesitate and bog down for a few seconds before it "kicks in" and then there is a "surge of power". This is very annoying at the least and also very dangerous as one could easily get rearended or worse yet get caught in the intersection in oncoming traffic.

The vehicle starts to shudder and vibrate at various speeds. You must slow down or speed up to get it to stop vibrating. We bought this Honda Pilot because we drive on a lot of slick roads. I feel this makes it very unsafe for my family. Along with being unsafe, it is very annoying and with it being a new vehicle, we should not have to accept this. The dealership says it is a normal operation of vcm. American Honda tells me the same thing. I don't agree.

The engine vibrates and makes a noticeable noise when driving slow or when feathering the gas pedal.

Whenever I drive between 35-45 mph the car shudders and vibrates. There is no vibration thru the steering wheel. I feel it thru the car seat, back, and center storage lid. Passengers have remarked "what's wrong with your car?" at 35 mph the car drives very smooth. By 35 mph it's like driving a different car. The vibration is getting more pronounced as miles accrue.

I have a 2013 Honda Pilot, less than 1 month since purchase. At speeds from 20 mph to 70 mph my engine and car will, vibrate, shudder. There is also a low frequency noise that seems to vibrate in my ear which is also quite a distraction. It seems to happen most when I am on a flat or slight incline. The only way to get it to stop is to either speed up or let off the gas. This is very distracting while driving at highway speeds, and very frustrating since it is a new vehicle. I have taken it back to the Honda dealership and they said that they feel the problem, but they said that american Honda states that this is normal for this vehicle. I do not understand how this could be normal. A rough feeling, vibrating cabin and shuddering engine is not a normal operating car. It feels like something will break or come loose, which makes me very nervous as my children commute with me every day.

When slowing down to make a left turn, as I start the turn the engine hesitates and there is no response. The car seems to have no power and coasts 4 or 5 seconds before responding normally. This is very dangerous in high traffic conditions. This problem has also occasionally occurred starting off from a traffic signal, and making right turns.

Vehicle vibration/rumbling/shuttering at speeds around 35-55mph. Apparently due to vcm(vehicle cylinder management system) most noticeable when backing off accelerator after vehicle reaches constant speed and eco light is on, but can occur weather eco light is on or not. Vibration is felt through out entire vehicle but as a driver, it is felt through the seat, steering wheel and center console. This vibration is very unpleasant and annoying. Vehicle was taken back to the dealer due to us just purchasing it with only 10 miles on it. The first time they rebalanced the tires. This did not help. Second time I took the service manager out for a test ride to show him what I meant. He felt the same vibration/shutter/rumble. We then went back to the dealership and took out another new Honda Pilot that was on the lot. The road test came back with the same results. Service manager then told me that the vibration I was feeling was due to the vcm as the different cylinders fired and that there was nothing they can do about it and that I would just have to deal with it until Honda comes out with a way to correct the problem, which as far as he knows they have no intention to do so. Apparently Honda says that this is part of normal operation. I paid over $36,000. 00 dollars for this vehicle and feel that is not normal operation, and that Honda needs to correct this.

Engine vibration in eco mode. It has grown steadily worse since new. This is completely unacceptable for a well engineered vehicle.

When trying to accelerate at low speeds or from a stop, there is a 2-5 second hesitation and then a surge. This has happened several times a week since we bought the vehicle. The scariest part is that it is unpredictable. It is especially dangerous when entering busy traffic, which we have a lot of. We have complained to the dealer every time we have taken the vehicle in for regular maintenance. Of course they say they can't make it fail when they test drive it.