2013 Honda Pilot Driver assistance Problems

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light, the brake warning light, and the traction control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the pressure sensor had malfunctioned and the VSA module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and stated that the parts was unavailable. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the part unavailable and did not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was 74,000.

NHTSA ID

11541120

Incident

Oct 28, 2022

Mileage

74,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11439632

Incident

Nov 7, 2021

THE ENGINE IS MAKING AN IDLING NOISE ONLY WHEN THE CAR STARTS IN THE MORNING. TAKES TIME FOR CAR TO INCREASE SPEED

NHTSA ID

11349326

Incident

Mar 4, 2020

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE FRONT END STARTS TO VIBRATE AS THE CAR IS MOVING ON STREETS, ROADS, HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. NOT DURING A TURN, YET. JUST MOVING FORWARD. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT AS OF YET BUT, I AM FEARFUL THAT THE VIBRATION WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO STOP IN TIME TO SAVE MY LIFE AS WELL AS WHO EVER I HIT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE PILOT WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING. THEY CALLED WITH A BILL FOR 1,052.00 FOR COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS. THIS CAR IS SIX YEARS OLD WITH 61,026 MILES, WAY TOO YOUNG TO BE COSTING ME THAT MUCH MONEY FOR A 'FRONT / REAR STABILIZER', THAT SHOULD BE A PROBLEM AT MAYBE 200,000 MILES. WILL I EVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA? LET'S SEE!!!!! HMMMM. I'M THINKING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID

11233488

Incident

Apr 30, 2019

Mileage

60,000 mi

I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35MPH IN A CITY STREET AND SLOWLY APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. OUT OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR ACCELERATED WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID

11192590

Incident

Mar 25, 2019

Mileage

2 mi

ENGINE/PISTON/RING ISSUE. RINGS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY IN ONE OF PISTONS ( FACTORY/ASSEMBLY ERROR) RESULTED IN OIL LEAKING AND THROWN ON ENGINE , CAUSED 2 SPARK PLUGS TO FAIL, THIS CAUSED ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND THEN THE VSA AND VTM-4 CAME ON AND THE ECO LIGHT STOPPED WORKING...WE WERE TRAVELLING 70 MILES AN HOUR ON HIGHWAY. WE WERE REALLY AFRAID WHEN THE VTM-4 LIGHT CAME ON! WE HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD, FOR FEAR OF RUINING THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.. WE COULDN'T GET THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF, FINALLY VTM-4 LIGHT WENT OFF AND ON THE OTHER LIGHTS STAYED ON...IT WAS CONFUSING.... BECAUSE THE LIGHTS WERE FALSE INDICATORS DUE TO BEING CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE LIGHT. THIS MALFUNCTION CAUSED THE VSA AND VTM-4 AND ECO LIGHT TO COME ON FALSELY. CREATING PANIC WHILE TRAVELLING 70 MILES AN HOUR ON INTERSTATE. CREATING THE FALSE IMPRESSSION THAT THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM HAD BEEN ACTIVATED WHILE TRAVELLING AT A SPEED OF 70 MILES AN HOUR. SUGGESTION:.... ENGINE LIGHT SHOULD BE SEPARATE FROM OTHER WARNING SYSTEM LIGHTS..THIS INCIDENT OCCURED APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES FROM OUR HOME ON A SUNDAY ..WE TOOK AUTOMOBILE TO DEALER MONDAY A.M. AND HAD REPAIR OF PISTON/RING GASKETS ETC IT WAS DETERMINED THE OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE FALSE INDICATORS.. .

NHTSA ID

10902999

Incident

Aug 28, 2016

Mileage

51,000 mi

SIMILAR TO NHTSA # 10819872 (ATTACHED PDF). VEHICLE GAS PEDAL/ACCLERATION BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF GAS AND MANEUVERING LEFT/RIGHT OR AROUND A CURVE. TRYING TO RE-ENGAGE WILL TAKE 3 SECONDS OR NOT AT ALL. REMEDY IS TO TAKE FOOT OFF GAS AND PUMP THE GAS PEDAL. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE LEARNED TO BRAKE TORQUE TO REGAIN GAS PEDAL CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE 9/2013 AND IT IS NOW 3/2016. ALSO SPEED VARIES 10-20 MPH AND MILEAGE IS NOW 13000. ALMOST ACCIDENTS UNTIL I GOT USED TO IT.

NHTSA ID

10851766

Incident

Sep 24, 2013

Mileage

100 mi

ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND THERE IS NO RESPONSE FROM THE MOTOR FOR ALMOST 2 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND ALSO WHEN SLOWING DOWN ON THE FREEWAY ( SLOW DRIVER AHEAD ) THEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO PASS AND AGAIN, NO RESPONSE FROM THE MOTOR FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS IS VERY INTERMITTENT AND I HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT ON DEMAND. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. IT CAN BE A BIT SCARY.

NHTSA ID

10690986

Incident

Jul 24, 2013

Mileage

1,500 mi

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 BRAKE 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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653422

Incident

Nov 7, 2014

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650547

Incident

Sep 14, 2013

Mileage

100 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10622383

Incident

Feb 1, 2014

Mileage

4,500 mi

VEHICLE SHUTTERS TERRIBLE AT CERTAIN SPEEDS/RPM. HAVE TO ADJUST ACCELERATION TO GET IT TO STOP. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. NOT NORMAL OPERATION FOR A NEW VEHICLE. IT'S CRIMINAL THAT HONDA CLAIMS ITS NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563777

Incident

Jan 8, 2014

Mileage

5,000 mi

EVERYTIME I REACHED A CERTAIN SPEED THEN TRY TO MAINTAIN IT BY SLIGHTLY PRESSING ON THE GAS, THE ENGINE STARTS TO SHUDDER/VIBRATE. IT IS REALLY ANNOYING AND IT CONCERN ME A LOT. THE ISSUE HAPPENS IN DIFFERENT SPEED. I BROUGHT THIS COMPLAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID THAT EVERYTHING IS WORKING NORMAL WITH THE CAR. SO, I JUST GET A LONG WITH IT. THEN AFTER A FEW MORE MONTHS, THE VIBRATION IS GETTING WORSE AND IT IS GETTING IN MY NERVES. I BROUGHT IT BACK YO THEM BUT THE SAME THEY ONLY GAVE ME THE SAME REASON. MY SISTER AND SOME FRIENDS HAVE HONDA CARS WITH ECO MODE ALSO. HOW COME THAT THEY DON'T EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I AGREE WITH SOME COMPLAINANTS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IT BOTHERS THE DRIVER WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE THAT VIBRATION FROM THE ENGINE. IS HONDA JUST WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE FROM A CAR CRASH WITH THE PILOT BEFORE THEY MAKE A MOVE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. I JUST HOPE THAT THEY BRING THIS ISSUE TO THE HIGHER OP OF HONDA BEFORE SOMEONE'S LIFE WILL BE TAKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10559429

Incident

Jun 6, 2013

Mileage

2,713 mi

VCM (VEHICLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT) ISSUE: I PURCHASED A 2013 HONDA PILOT FROM ZIMBRICK HONDA (MADISON WI) IN NOVEMBER 2013. SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE I HAVE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED AND HAVE GRAVE CONCERN REGARDING THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN WHEN IN THE VEHICLE. DRIVING THE NEW VEHICLE HOME I NOTICED A RUMBLING AND SHUTTERING VIBRATION ISSUE AT VARYING SPEEDS BUT MOST CONSISTENT WITH RPM BETWEEN 1,000-2,000 ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN BACKING OFF THE ACCELERATOR OR AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHES CONSTANT SPEED AND ECO LIGHT IS ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ZIMBRICK HONDA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE VIBRATION IS PART OF THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND IT IS DUE TO THE VCM AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT UNTIL HONDA COMES OUT WITH A WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ONLY 2,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND ANNOYED WITH THE HONDA PILOT AND HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCERN REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE VCM ISSUE. THIS SHOULD NOT BE PART OF THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE HONDA PILOT AND I BELIEVE HONDA SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558520

Incident

Nov 25, 2013

Mileage

100 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557077

Incident

Oct 12, 2013

Mileage

10 mi

OFTEN WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PETAL THE CAR HESITATES BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE DELAY IN ACCELERATION IS UP TO 3-5 SECONDS. OCCASIONALLY IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO STALL. WHILE IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE SUBURBAN AND RURAL AREAS SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN LATE AUGUST, THIS WEEK I HAD TO DRIVE INTO AND AROUND THE CITY. WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PETAL DOWN, THE CAR SIMPLY DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD AND THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, IT JUMPS FORWARD AT A RAPID RATE. TO CONTROL THE CAR IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP ONE FOOT ON THE GAS AND THE OTHER ON THE BRAKE IN CASE IT SURGES FORWARD AFTER THE HESITATION. THE PROBLEM IS WORST IN STOP AND GO DRIVING. IT IS FRIGHTENING , A DANGER TO ME AND MY PASSENGERS AND TO OTHER CARS NEAR ME. IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10549638

Incident

Sep 3, 2013

Mileage

25 mi

UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE IN AN AVOIDANCE SITUATION, I NOTICED THE SPONGY FEEL TO THE BRAKES. WHAT CONCERNS ME MORE, IS THAT DURING THE PROCESS OF THE EVENT, THE BRAKE PEDAL SETTLES DOWN TO BELOW THE HEIGHT OF THE ACCELERATOR AND IF YOUR FOOT ISN'T SQUARE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, YOU WIND UP HITTING THE GAS WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE.. I NEED TO TALK WITH SOMEONE. THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY A DEFECT IN DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10547673

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

750 mi

SHORTLY AFTER ACQUIRING MY NEW PILOT IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR I HAD AND INCIDENT WHEREBY AT A LOW SPEED I LOST ALL CONTROL OF SPEED AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DID NOTHING AND THE CAR BEHIND ME NEARLY HIT ME. IT TROUBLED ME, BUT THOUGHT IS WAS JUST SOMETHING ODD.. UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND AGAIN. I HAVE DEVISED A RESPONSE (REMOVE PRESSURE FROM THE ACCELERATOR ENTIRELY AND REAPPLY PRESSURE). THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANYONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO REACT EVEN THOUGH ONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS. I REALIZE I AM NOT ALONE, NOR IS THIS AN ISOLATED INSTANCE TO MY CAR. BROWSE THE FORUM WWW.PILOTEERS.ORG AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTINGS RELATED TO THIS AND IT SEEMS TO AFFECT BOTH 2012 AND 2013 PILOTS. HONDA HAS NEITHER ACKNOWLEDGED NOR ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536721

Incident

Feb 28, 2012

Mileage

1,000 mi

AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE IS A VERY ANNOYING SHUDDERING AND VIBRATING AND GROWLING AT 45 MPH TO 68 MPH. JUST WHEN YOUR READY TO HAVE A SMOOTH RIDE ON THE HIGHWAY IT BEGINS TO SHUDDER IN ECO...ON A STRAIGHTAWAY WHILE FREE WHEELING AND WHILE I AM ON CRUISE CONTROL ... IF YOU ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE, IT WILL CEASE FOR A SECOND AND BEGIN AGAIN.. I HAVE EVEN STAYED AT 68 MPH TO SEE HOW LONG IT WOULD LAST ON A STRAIGHT AWAY WHILE IT WAS SHUDDERING....AND IT CONTINUED ...UNTIL I DECELERATED.. I ALSO GET THESE SMALL BUCKS AND SURGES , . OR A FEELING OF PULLING ME ALONG BUT FEELING LIKE I AM GOING TO FALL OUT OF MY SEAT AT THE SAME TIME..IN ECO. UNTIL THE SHUDDERING STOPS AND THEN IT FEELS SMOOTH AGAIN, FOR A MINUTE....AND THEN THE SHUDDERING BEGINS AGAIN.... MY TIRES ARE BALANCED AND I HAVE HAD AN ENGINE MOUNT NEUTRALIZING... THE HONDA PILOT HAS VCM... IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO YOUR EARS THE VIBRATING...ON TOP OF YOUR PEACE OF MIND ON YOUR WAY HOME FROM A DAY AT WORK....LOOKING FORWARD TO RELAXING LISTENING TO THE RADIO TO EASE YOURSELF BEFORE YOU GET HOME TO YOUR FAMILY LIFE...WOW...NOT RELAXING AT ALL !!! SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE.... *TR

NHTSA ID

10503063

Incident

Mar 8, 2013

Mileage

446 mi