Is the 2013 Honda Pilot a bad year?
273 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 85, 2.7× a quiet Pilot year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 2.7× the complaints of a quiet Pilot year, spread over 0k–68k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Pilot owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 6,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 85 (31%) | 0k–68k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 54 (20%) | 0k–24k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 47 (17%) | 42k–80k miles · ahead | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 42 (15%) | 9k–56k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 16 (6%) | 1k–40k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 9 (3%) | 6k–80k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 19 (7%) | 32k–90k miles · ahead | — |
| Fuel system | 13 (5%) | 8k–52k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 13 (5%) | 13k–78k miles · ahead | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Steering | 12 (4%) | 7k–55k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Seats | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 6,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 273 complaints: 12 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 8 say the car was towed.
10 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Whenever I drive between 35-45 MPH the car shudders and vibrates. There is no vibration thru the steering wheel.
Vibration, humming noise while in eco mode. At slower speeds while feather gas, eco can sometimes seems to get confused abruptly turn off causing a jolt like feeling.
Wife had to pull over on her way back from dropping my daughter off at dance due to check engine light coming on and front of car shaking noticeably.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 6,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Honda Pilot: 6
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. 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.
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)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain 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)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
During manufacturing of the engine piston, it is possible that the heat treatment process was not properly applied, resulting in the piston having an insufficient hardness level, making it more susceptible to premature wear. A worn piston may suddenly fail, causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing. The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 48
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Honda Pilot. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge
Piston ring effectiveness may be reduced due to excessive wear and oil sludge build-up, which can cause oil to adhere to the spark plug…
The front rocker arm oil control valve is leaking
The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align, which can lead to spark plug fouling
Neighbouring years
2012 Pilot: 173 complaints, keep it · 2014 Pilot: 116 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda Pilot year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Pilot years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Honda Pilot a bad year?
273 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 85, 2.7× a quiet Pilot year. At 6,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 2.7× the complaints of a quiet Pilot year, spread over 0k–68k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Honda Pilot?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (85), transmission and drivetrain (54), body structure (47), brakes (42), speed control (16). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 0k–68k miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 Honda Pilot have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-502), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-378), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-661), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-042) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.