2013 Honda Pilot Body & structure Problems

The factory clear coat and paint on the roof of this 2013 Honda Pilot are delaminating and peeling away from the metal. The failure began about 1.5 years ago and continues to spread; in places it has now progressed through the paint to bare metal that is corroding and rusting. The vertical body panels remain glossy and intact while the entire horizontal roof has failed - a top-down failure pattern consistent with a defective factory finish rather than wear or environmental exposure. This matches a well-documented paint-adhesion defect in Honda vehicles of this generation: Honda issued warranty-extension service bulletin 19-057 for 2013-16 Pilots in White Diamond Pearl after identical roof peeling, a companion bulletin covers other white finishes, and an active class-action lawsuit alleges the same peeling and delaminating paint defect across 2013-and-later Honda and Acura vehicles. As the paint separates, detached clear-coat material can lift off the moving vehicle, and the exposed roof metal is now corroding. The affected roof/body panel is available for inspection upon request. No warning lamps applied; the defect is visible. The vehicle was not in a crash, and there was no fire and no injury. I am reporting this so it is documented as a manufacturing defect affecting colors beyond those the manufacturer has chosen to cover.

NHTSA ID

11745465

Incident

Dec 1, 2024

Significant paint chipping

NHTSA ID

11656727

Incident

Apr 25, 2025

Paint has peeled completely off of areas of the body--including the roof above the windshield and others. This peeling has occurred without any physical damage to the body itself

NHTSA ID

11642984

Incident

Feb 14, 2017

I purchased the vehicle and in May 2023 I noticed a small bubble on the paint on the roof of the car near the windshield on the left, above the driver's side. I went to the closest Honda Dealer and the gentleman at the shop dismissed me saying the car's warranty was expired. A few months later, the bubble popped and a part of the paint peeled off. I called the dealer Arlington Honda and was told by a manager Jeremy Hardman to take my car to one of 2 Autobody shops he provided me with for inspection. I went to Schaumburg Autobody who inspected the vehicle and found more affected areas behind the sunroof. They determined it to be defective sealer that is not adhearing to the metal. I sent an email to Jeremy Hardman and called that Honda dealer I was told Jeremy no longer works at that dealer and transferred me elsewhere. I was told to contact Honda Corporate. Meanwhile, the paint has now peeled further, the metal is now completely exposed which will lead to rust formation causing further damage. Also making my car look old and poorly maintained. Since its near the windshield, moisture from snow, rain etc will cause damage where water will start to make its way into the vehicle causing further damage there as well. I have attached pictures to show the metal exposure from the peeling and pictures where you can see the sealant coming off. I would like instructions on how to proceed from here to initiate a recall asap due to poor paint/sealer quality and/or improper application. Instructions for a temporary solution to avoid further damage. I also found an article. Please see [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11631923

Incident

May 22, 2023

paint peeling above windshield

NHTSA ID

11597826

Incident

Jun 16, 2023

Paint bubbling up all over vehicle.Roof,hood,rear tail gate,doors and paint peeling off. Had same problem between windshield and roof and American Honda repaired it.Now entire car is bubbling and paint peeling off.

NHTSA ID

11522422

Incident

May 10, 2018

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the fog lights and exterior lights became inoperable. The contact noticed there was rust underneath the hood. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact also needed to add additional power steering fluid three times per week. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering gear box, power steering lines, water lines and hoses needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the power steering reservoir, power steering cooling lines, power steering line rem pump, and power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000.

NHTSA ID

11503381

Incident

Oct 1, 2022

Mileage

177,000 mi

Paint peeling on my 2013 Honda Pilot - passenger side roof between moon roof and front windshield. Paint color is the white pearl. Seeing many reports of paint issues with this type of vehicle and paint color.

NHTSA ID

11421076

Incident

Jun 13, 2021

PAINT TURNED DULL AND CHALKY AFTER LESS THAN 5 YEARS AND NOW BEGINNING TO PEEL AT 7 YEARS

NHTSA ID

11384754

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

60,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY THIRD HONDA, A 2013 HONDA PILOT IN 2017 FROM MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP. IN 2019, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM AMERICAN HONDA STATING THAT WE COULD HAVE THE COST OF REPAINTING OUR RECALLED VEHICLES COVERED IF WE HAD DAMAGE. AT THAT TIME, I DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE PAINT ON MY PILOT. WELL, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, A HUGE AMOUNT OF PAINT ON MY ROOF WAS MISSING ALL OF A SUDDEN. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA AS IT STATED ON THE RECALL NOTICE AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL PERIOD AND MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. NEVERTHELESS, I WAS TOLD A CLAIM WAS OPENED ON MY BEHALF AND THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSIS. I WAS THEN SENT TO AN AUTHORIZED BODY SHOP FOR AN ESTIMATE. AFTER HAVING TO CONTACT AMERICAN HONDA AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, I WAS TOLD BY THE BODY SHOP THAT HONDA WOULD ONLY COVER 60% OF THE $1700 COST (WHICH WAS ONLY FOR THE ROOF TO BE REPAINTED) AND THAT EVENTUALLY THE REST OF THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO START TO PEEL. I FEEL CHEATED AND THIS IS TRULY A LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE ON THE PART OF AMERICAN HONDA AND PROCTOR HONDA. HOW DO YOU SELL VEHICLES KNOWING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PAINT COMING OFF AND THEN NOT BE WILLING TO FIX THE ISSUE??

NHTSA ID

11384726

Incident

Dec 1, 2020

Mileage

53,000 mi

THE PAINT AROUND THE MOONROOF OF MY 2013 HONDA PILOT WAS PEELING. IT'S WHITE DIAMOND PEARL.

NHTSA ID

11353262

Incident

Feb 10, 2020

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED ENTERING HER DRIVEWAY, WHEN HER HUSBAND NOTICED THE PAINT PEALING FROM THE ROOF AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER AUTOMATION HONDA VALENCIA LOCATED AT 23551 MAGIC MOUNTAIN PKWY, VALENCIA, CA 91355, (661) 200-9110, WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEEDING TO REPAINT THE DAMAGE AREA. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ID

11326345

Incident

Feb 22, 2020

Mileage

71,000 mi

THE PAINT ON TOP OF PILOT JUST ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD AND BEFORE THE SUNROOF IS PEELING. I'VE SEEN LOTS OF OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I WASHED THE PILOT AND SAW THE PAINT HAS BUBBLES AND HAD CHIPPED ALREADY. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT AND NOTICED THERE IS NOW A BIG PART OF THE PAINT THE PEELED AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

11325597

Incident

May 22, 2020

Mileage

60,000 mi

PAINT CHIPPING, COMING RIGHT OFF ON THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323331

Incident

Dec 14, 2019

ON 2018, THE PAINT ON THE ROOF BEGAN TO PEEL IN CHUNKS BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND MOONROOF. ADDITIONALLY, THE WHOLE BODY PAINT BEGAN TO FADE REGARDLESS OF HOW OFTEN IT WAS WASHED AND WAXED. THE ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY WERE ONLY WILLING TO PAINT THE ROOF AND SIDE BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A VEHICLE RECALL MATTER. THE ROOF HAS BEEN FIXED BUT NOW THE CAR LOOKS AWKWARD AS ONE PORTION IS VERY SHINY WHILE THE REST LOOKS HORRIBLY FADED. THE REST OF THE PAINT HAS ONLY BECOME WORSE AS THE TIME PROGRESSED. WHY ISN'T ANYONE AT HONDA CORPORATE NOT FIXING THIS? IT IS A KNOWN QUALITY DEFECT AND NO FIX IS BEING DONE. I ASKED A BODY SHOP FOR A QUOTE TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WOULD BE TO PAINT THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. $8000.00 TO FIX THE ISSUE!!!

NHTSA ID

11317339

Incident

Jun 18, 2018

Mileage

85,000 mi

2013 HONDA PILOT WITH ONLY 31K MILES AND PAINT IS PEELING OFF. HONDA ISSUES A TSB BULLETIN AND ARE COVERING ROOFS AND TAILGATES THAT ARE PEELING. SO THEY HAVE ADMITTED THERE IS A PAINT DEFECT BUT THE PROBLEM IS ITS THE SAME PAINT/PRIMER USED ALL OVER THE CAR. MINE IS PEELING AT TO OF BACK DOOR AND AROUND FRONT AND BACK WINDOW. I KNOW IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. BODY SHOP SAID THEY'VE SEEN A GOOD DEAL OF WHITE HONDAS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE AND SAID THERE IS OBVIOUS DEFECT IN PRIMER CAUSING PAINT ADHERENCE ISSUES. THEY ARE 1500 PEOPLE ON A FACEBOOK PAGE THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE ALSO. HOW CAN HONDA CONTINUE TO GET AWAY WITH TREATING CUSTOMERS THIS WAY. THIS IS MY 4TH HONDA BUT ITS LOOKING LIKE MY LAST UNLESS HONDA STEPS UP AND DOES THE RIGHT THING!!!

NHTSA ID

11302425

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

24,000 mi

EXTERIOR PAINT: TAFFETA WHITE VEHICLE PAINT FADING AFTER 4-5 YEARS FROM ROOF TOP, SIDES, BACK TRUNK AREA, AND HOOD.

NHTSA ID

11255088

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

PAINT IS PEELING

NHTSA ID

11229655

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

COMPLAINTS INVOLVING PAINT PEEL FROM HONDA PILOT RECALL. VEHICLE PAINT IS PEELING AT ROOF LINE COMMON TO WHERE WINDSHIELD INSTALL AND SUNROOF INSTALL. QUALITY OF PAINT IS NOT ISSUE. MANUFACTURING PROCESS IS THE ISSUE. MOST LIKELY A RESULT OF POOR WORKMANSHIP DUE TO PREPARATION OF METAL PRIOR TO APPLICATION OF PAINT EITHER MANUALLY OR ELECTROSTATIC APPLICATION. WILL REQUEST FULL REPAINT OF VEHICLE FROM DEALERSHIP AT MANUFACTURE EXPENSE. VEHICLE IS GARAGED IN 70-75 DEGREE ENVIRONMENT AND IS DRIVEN TYPICAL MILES FOR AGE OF VEHICLE. NO KNOWN EXTERNAL ISSUE SUCH AS CHEMICAL SPILL HAIL OR OTHER DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED ON AREA OF CONCERN OR ANY OTHER AREA. ORIGINAL OWNER OF VEHICLE. BOUGHT NEW FROM EXCELLENT DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP HAS DONE 100% OF ALL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS INCLUDING TIRE REPLACEMENT, TUNE UPS, ETC.

NHTSA ID

11221864

Incident

Jun 22, 2019

Mileage

95,517 mi

THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF OF MY PILOT. IT IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. WORRIED ABOUT POTENTIAL RUST AND COMPROMISE OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE CAR. HONDA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THOUGH IT IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11206401

Incident

Jan 20, 2019

Mileage

92,000 mi

LARGE SECTION OF WHITE DIAMOND PEARL PAINT PEELED AWAY FROM THE ROOF OF VEHICLE BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SUNROOF. FURTHER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET INDICATES THIS IS A WIDESPREAD DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY AND HONDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR IS AN ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED ACROSS THE HONDA LINE WITH WHITE VEHICLES FROM THEIR ALABAMA PLANT. I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN 2 OTHER WHITE PILOTS WITH SAME PEELING IN MY AREA ALONE ALONG WITH MANY PHOTOS FROM OTHER OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

NHTSA ID

11205895

Incident

Feb 5, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi

PAINT PEELING IN MULTIPLE AREAS ON VEHICLE. STARTED ON INSIDE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER ALONG HOOD LINE AND ROOF BETWEEN TOP OF WINDSHIELD AND SUNROOF. PAINT PEELING IS SHOWING UP IN NEW PLACES AND PROGRESSIVELY PEELING DAILY.

NHTSA ID

11204478

Incident

Apr 13, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

PAINT PEELED OFF ON ROOF BETWEEN WINDSHIELD AND MOON ROOF WHILE DRIVING. APPROXIMATELY 10' BY 12' IS THE SIZE OF THE PEEL. THE AREA OF THE PEEL HAS NEVER COME IN CONTACT WITH ANY FOREIGN OBJECTS NOR WERE THEIR ANY SCRATCHES OR DENT OR DINGS.

NHTSA ID

11204377

Incident

Apr 27, 2019

Mileage

55,900 mi

THE PAINT ON MY WHITE 2013 HONDA PILOT BEGAN TO FAIL IN 2017. THE PAINT HAS FAILED AND WAS LITERALLY PEELING OFF IN SHEETS BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND MOONROOF. IT'S VERY CLEAR THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE SINCE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF WHITE HONDA VEHICLES EXPERIENCING PAINT FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11204118

Incident

Jul 14, 2017

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SUN VISORS, WHICH SHOULD BE LATCHED AND OUT OF THE WAY WHILE DRIVING, DROPPING DOWN BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW CAUSING A SERIOUS PROBLEM. (THE PROBLEM EXISTS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING ON A ROUGH OR REPAIRED ROAD.)

NHTSA ID

11181093

Incident

Feb 10, 2019

Mileage

45,000 mi