2013 Honda Pilot Engine Problems
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2013 Honda Pilot, 29% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 5,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “eco mode” (14% of reports).
- 79engine complaints
- 5,500median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 33%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Eco mode: mentioned in 11 of 79 complaints (14%)
- Piston ring: mentioned in 7 of 79 complaints (9%)
- Spark plugs: mentioned in 7 of 79 complaints (9%)
- Vibration felt: mentioned in 5 of 79 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 57 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 79 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 2 a fire.
Honda Pilot engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Pilot | 33 | 16% | 4,298 |
| 2024 Pilot | 11 | 9% | — |
| 2023 Pilot | 13 | 9% | 36,000 |
| 2022 Pilot | 34 | 21% | 71,551 |
| 2021 Pilot | 108 | 24% | 30,000 |
| 2020 Pilot | 101 | 21% | 11,650 |
| 2019 Pilot | 235 | 26% | 44,298 |
| 2018 Pilot | 157 | 36% | 80,873 |
| 2017 Pilot | 474 | 51% | 43,434 |
| 2016 Pilot | 771 | 45% | 61,700 |
| 2015 Pilot | 22 | 20% | 51,000 |
| 2014 Pilot | 31 | 27% | 27,000 |
| 2013 Pilot | 79 | 29% | 5,500 |
| 2012 Pilot | 35 | 20% | 22,650 |
| 2011 Pilot | 31 | 11% | 66,924 |
| 2010 Pilot | 28 | 25% | 87,500 |
| 2009 Pilot | 35 | 26% | 104,500 |
| 2008 Pilot | 10 | 8% | 99,889 |
| 2007 Pilot | 14 | 7% | 133,532 |
| 2006 Pilot | 22 | 8% | 112,000 |
| 2005 Pilot | 48 | 7% | 107,000 |
| 2004 Pilot | 22 | 4% | 106,650 |
| 2003 Pilot | 25 | 3% | 145,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine
Problem: Honda is recalling certain model year 2013 Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles and certain model year 2013 Odyssey vehicles. 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.
Risk: A worn piston may suddenly fail, causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine short block free of charge. The recall began on September 16, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's recall numbers are JB4 (Honda Odyssey) and JB5 (Honda Pilot).
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Diagnosed by CMA Honda dealership - need piston ring replacement due to the ongoing issue and Service Bulletin SB-10099310-9340. This was under 8 year warranty from date of purchase, but this just started happening at 155k miles and in 2026. I purchased this in 2016. Although it is out of the…
Recalls without notification; 1) Engine- recurring problem piston seal leak - continual replacement of coils & spark plugs. Engine light on VTM-4, traction bar symbol on, engine missing. [XXX] 2025: [XXX] ][XXX] Oil change 7 days later wrench & engine light gone [XXX] * 2 days later it came on…
Multiple mechanics have told me itâs spark plugs and piston ring and issues. I constantly get my oils changed when Iâm at 10% and never let it run out of gas. Constantly babied this thing. It only has 145k miles on it. Had 111k when I bought it in 2022! I barely put miles on this and the fuel…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Honda Pilots have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 79 owner complaints about engine for the 2013 Honda Pilot (29% of the 271 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Honda Pilot engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 5,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2013 Honda Pilot?
The most frequent phrase is “eco mode”, in 11 of 79 complaints, followed by “piston ring” (7).
Other 2013 Honda Pilot problems
- Power Train problems (54)
See all 2013 Honda Pilot problems or engine problems across all Pilot years.