2013 Honda Pilot Problems: 13 Known Issues

On the 2009, 2013, 2016, 2018-2019 Honda Pilot, owners report a visor that will not remain raised and can drop into their view; other owners describe hinges that are difficult to move. Individual reports describe a failed spring or cracked retaining piece, not one confirmed cause in every vehicle. Inspected owner reports describe 2009, 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2019 Pilots. They include both drooping and stiff hinges; the illustration represents drooping only, not every report or trim.

On the 2009-2015 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6, the soft-touch upper dashboard and upper door-panel trim degrade under heat and UV exposure, becoming tacky, glossy, and gooey to the touch, attracting dust and lint and creating windshield glare. Honda treats sun/heat damage as environmental damage not covered under its limited warranties. It is common in hot/sunny climates.

On the 2003, 2005-2006, 2009-2015 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6, the second-row seat's fold/tilt mechanism fails when the release cable comes loose/frays or the plastic tab on the top latch is cut through by its actuating wire. The lever moves but the latch won't release, so the seat won't fold flat for cargo or won't tilt/slide forward for third-row access. It's a frequently reported ownership annoyance across early Pilot generations.

On the 2009-2015, 2019-2022 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6, the backup camera fails to display a live image, showing a black, flickering, or lined screen when reverse is selected. On 2009-2015 Pilots the common cause is water/condensation intrusion into the tailgate-mounted camera housing that corrodes the unit; on 2019-2022 Pilots (and 2018-2023 Odyssey and 2019-2023 Passport) a defective rearview-camera wiring harness was recalled (NHTSA 23V-431) for flickering/black screens. Because it is a federally required safety device, a dead camera is more than a convenience issue.

On the 2009-2015 Honda Pilot 3.5L J35 V6, second-gen Pilots are prone to starter-motor and starter-cable degradation: owners report a single click or slow/no crank, often with a corroded or burnt main copper starter cable terminal as the failure point. The starter sits low and is exposed to heat and moisture, and corroded battery posts or the starter feed cable can starve the starter of voltage, producing intermittent no-start conditions before outright failure.

On the 2003, 2005-2006, 2009-2015 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6, on the Pilot's dual-zone rear A/C system, the front vents blow cold but the rear vents blow warm. Common causes are a clogged or stuck-closed rear expansion valve (starving the rear evaporator of refrigerant), a plugged rear evaporator, or a stuck rear blend-door actuator holding the rear in the heat position. A dirty screen on the rear blower can also reduce cooling. It is a widely reported complaint on family-hauler Pilots.

On the 2009-2020 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6, the plastic air-mix (blend door) actuator behind the dash, near the left side of the glove box, strips its internal gears over time. When it fails the vehicle loses the ability to modulate temperature (air is stuck all-hot or all-cold and cannot be blended), and a repetitive clicking/ticking noise is heard from behind the dashboard as the actuator hunts for a position it can no longer reach. It is one of the most frequently reported HVAC complaints across Pilot generations.

On the 2009-2014 Honda Pilot, owners of second-generation Pilots report a humming, growling, roaring or droning noise and vibration from a front wheel that was fixed by replacing the front wheel bearing, in one case at under 16,000 miles. American Honda asked dealers for parts from 2009-2014 Pilots with this complaint to investigate the cause. The inspected front-bearing owner reports concern 2009, 2010 and 2012 Pilots. Honda’s October 2013 parts-collection request covered 2009–2014; it was an investigation request, not a recall, confirmed cause or universal repair bulletin.

On the 2003-2013 Honda Pilot, owners report the steering wheel shaking and the brake pedal pulsating when braking, especially from highway speed, with dealers or shops describing the front rotors as warped. Several report it returning after rotors were resurfaced or replaced. The inspected braking-vibration owner reports concern 2003, 2009 and 2011 Pilots. The wider 2003–2013 listing is generation context, not proof that every year has a defect.

On the 2009-2020 Honda Pilot 3.5L J35 V6, on the J35 V6, the rubber valve cover gaskets and the integrated spark plug tube seals harden and shrink with age and heat, allowing oil to weep onto the hot exhaust manifolds (burning-oil smell) and, more seriously, to pool down inside the spark plug wells. Oil saturates the ignition coil boots and shorts the spark, producing misfires and a Check Engine Light. The rear (firewall-side) bank is hardest to access, so the leak is often neglected until misfires appear.

On the 2009-2015 Honda Pilot 3.5L J35Z4 V6, honda describes excessive vibration between 30 and 65 mph from the interaction of VCM calibration and converter lock-up. On qualifying 4WD vehicles, the center-support bushing can also transmit vibration in cold conditions. Earlier-year shudder reports remain owner reports. Honda 14-078 covers 2012 Pilot with PCM/VIN splits and 2013–2015 Pilot. Separate 2009–2011 owner reports describe shudder but are not covered by that bulletin. Propeller-shaft replacement is a qualifying 4WD branch only; never display it as a 2WD repair.

On the 2003-2015 Honda Pilot, honda 04-040 describes rear noise and judder when turning from contaminated or overdue VTM-4 fluid. Pink drained fluid indicates water contamination and may not be cured by fluid replacement. Original VTM-4 four-wheel-drive Pilots, 2003–2015. The August 2008 Honda 04-040 document says 2003 and later, but predates the 2016 redesign; do not extend it to i-VTM4 or two-wheel-drive vehicles.

On the 2013-2022 Honda Pilot, honda Pilot models with white paint (Taffeta White, White Diamond Pearl, White Orchid Pearl) suffer from paint defects causing peeling, bubbling, and flaking primarily on roof and tailgate. Defect stems from problems in Honda's "three-stage" white paint application manufacturing process. Class action lawsuit filed (dismissed in 2025). Honda issued warranty extensions via Service Bulletin 19-055 (2013-2015 Taffeta White) and 19-057 (2013-2016 White Diamond Pearl), for vehicles with a moonroof, covering paint to 7 years from original purchase with no mileage limit. These extensions apply only to 2013-2016 models; later Pilots are not covered by them.