Is The 2013 Honda Pilot A Good Car?

Is the 2013 Honda Pilot Reliable? J.D. Power gave the 2013 Honda Pilot a dependability rating of three out of five, which is standard for the auto sector.

Key Points

  • The five-speed automatic is blamed by complainants for the extreme vehicle shudder. Owners of the forum assert that the transmission might not be the sole offender.
  • There are a lot of people that like the 2013 Honda Pilot. Even though a small number of owners experienced transmission problems with the midsize SUV, most users say everything is OK with the car.
  • The 2013 Pilot is far from flawless. It is a member of the second generation, which is notorious for fluctuating cylinder management problems and frequent airbag recalls.
  • A little over 230 complaints have been filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over the 2013 Honda Pilot (NHTSA).
  • Over a fifth of the concerns are about its broadcast. The unplanned acceleration, vehicle rollaway, difficult shifting, and slowness to accelerate are the most common complaints.

How far can a 2013 Honda Pilot travel?

A Honda Pilot should last between 250,0000 and 300,000 miles if it is used sensibly and maintained on a regular basis. If you drive an average of 15,000 miles each year, as the majority of Americans do, it translates to 16 to 20 years of dependable service.

When did Honda Pilots begin experiencing transmission issues?

We don’t expect you to go out into the wilderness and try to buy an automobile that is over 20 years old. However, you might find one if you’re looking for a cheap used Honda Pilot. We’re here to advise you not to purchase it under any circumstances. This is by far the worst model year Pilot has ever produced. Users of the NHTSA and Car Complaints have encountered a lot of issues since 2003.

Users have specifically reported issues with the drivetrain, electrical, engine, and airbags. There are a lot more difficulties mentioned, but these are the biggest and most expensive. For instance, the NHTSA received reports of 105 gearbox issues, 123 electrical issues, and 112 drivetrain issues. It’s far simpler to avoid this paradigm given how frequently serious, expensive to fix problems like this occur. If you see a 2003 Pilot laying around, do not purchase it.

Furthermore, same issues reappeared for the 2005 model year a few years later. This one is still best to avoid even though they don’t happen as frequently as the 2003 model did. Even if this is a different model year, we wouldn’t anticipate anyone to be purchasing at the moment.

  • The average annual repair cost for more recent Pilots is $542, which is less expensive than the Ford Explorer’s average annual repair cost of $732.
  • The Pilot’s track record of dependability has one flaw: In 2013, a class action lawsuit involving an engine problem impacting more than 1.6 million automobiles was resolved. The 3.5-liter V6 engine used in 2009–2013 Pilots may malfunction or burn excessive amounts of oil, according to the lawsuit.
  • In a recent survey of the cars most likely to travel 200,000 miles, the Honda brand came in second. Although the Honda Odyssey minivan, which has the same platform as the Pilot, was listed in the study’s list of 16 cars projected to reach that mileage milestone, the Pilot was not.
  • The Honda Pilot is a dependable and reasonably priced SUV that, while not the most thrilling car on the road, should satisfy the ordinary driver for a decade or more of devoted service and can easily travel over 150,000 miles with proper maintenance.
  • Less than 100 complaints on vehicles from 2014 and later indicate that the Pilot has been a reliable vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The finest Honda Pilot was produced in what year?

The second-generation Pilot was produced from 2009 to 2015 and featured a number of extremely significant contemporary conveniences. The latter models had more streamlined and contemporary body lines even if the overall size and shape were similar to that of the first generation. 2015 is regarded as the Honda Pilot’s best year.

Second-generation automobiles still come with the 3.5-liter engine. To increase fuel efficiency, Honda, on the other hand, used cylinder deactivation technology. Depending on how much power is needed, the engine shuts down two or three cylinders at cruising speeds. Reducing the number of cylinders in use increases fuel savings. Because of this technology, the second-generation Pilot boasts much better EPA fuel-efficiency ratings.

Both the front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions score 20 mpg overall. On the interstate, all-wheel-drive cars earn 24 mpg, while front-wheel-drive models get 25 mpg. Given that second-generation vehicles continue to produce 250 horsepower, this represents a significant improvement over first-generation models.

Like the first-generation Pilot, the second-generation Pilot has experienced many airbag recalls during its entire production run. Early models up to 2011’s seat belt stitching has been recalled owing to faulty or inadequate stitching, which might lead to the seatbelt disengaging from the chassis in the event of an accident.

Due to loose nuts on the front suspension parts, which could result in steering loss, other early models are recalled. Premature piston wear in some Honda Pilot models from the 2013 model year may cause engine failure.

Honda Pilot’s Second-Generation Gets An Offroad Design

Honda was spot on with the second-generation Pilots’ use of current technology, just as it was with the first-generation models. Voice controls and satellite navigation have been added to The Pilot’s GPS game. Beginning with the 2013 model year, all Pilots were required to have a backup camera as standard equipment. Some second-generation vehicles included an XM radio, and the rear-seat DVD system was still available.

Family-friendly features have also become more prevalent. Twelve cupholders in total are included with the second-generation Pilot. The number of 12-volt power outlets was reduced to three due to the loss of one of the original three. However, a 115-volt power outlet with a standard household socket soon became accessible, enabling the family to bring along gadgets like phone chargers and portable game systems. The second-generation Pilots could tow up to 4,500 pounds, much like the first.

The second-generation Pilots may be obtained in earlier versions for less than $10,000, but if you want one with all the bells and whistles, expect to pay more over $10,000. The most appealing models in terms of technology are those from 2013 and later. If you can do without a primary backup camera and make a few other minor changes, buying a model made before 2013 can save you a ton of money. Overall, you can obtain a superb second-generation Pilot for $15,000 or less.

What is the Honda Pilot’s main issue?

The transmission breakdown issue is likely the most significant of all the issues Honda Pilots encounter. Fortunately, this issue mostly affects the 2003 model. Other Pilot models have seen a few rare transmission failure incidences, though.

which is more trustworthy Toyota Highlander or a Honda Pilot?

The information above makes it evident that the Toyota Highlander outperforms the Honda Pilot in every category, including safety features and fuel efficiency. The Highlander is a much better choice if you’re searching for a three-row SUV that is incredibly dependable in this situation.

Is a Honda Pilot purchase worthwhile?

The Honda Pilot is a solid midsize SUV, that much is true. With three rows of comfortable seats, a sizable load area, and a high-quality cabin, it succeeds on almost all counts. Thanks to a strong base V6 engine and a good balance of handling ability and ride comfort, driving it is also not boring.

What kind of mileage does a Honda Pilot have to have?

Any car or SUV lasting 200,000 miles, much less 300,000, can be challenging to envision. Only 1% of all vehicles exceed 200k miles, 9% of SUVs do, and only 0.3% of all vehicles reach 300k, according to the most recent dependability study from iSeeCars. Despite not making the 300k list, the Pilot came in at number eleven on the list most durable SUVs.

There are outliers and reports that defy the statistics, as there are in most things in life. There is a question and answer section on the website Vehicle History where users can, you guessed it, ask questions and get answers from other users. One such question is “How long do Honda Pilots last?” and the 44 responses range from the low 100,000s to the mid 300,000s.

A 2008 Pilot owner claims to have driven it everyday for 372,000 miles, and a 2004 Pilot owner claims to have driven it every day for 346,000 miles or more.

In fact, the majority of posters who had fewer than 200k miles on their Pilot had only recently bought it, and they all claimed it was still in good shape.

Are Honda Pilot vehicles dependable?

Breakdown of the Honda Pilot’s reliability rating. The Honda Pilot has a 3.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating, which places it 13th out of 26 midsize SUVs. It has cheaper ownership costs than the national average due to the $542 average annual repair cost.

How much does a Honda Pilot transmission replacement cost?

Depending on the car, a brand-new Honda Pilot transmission could cost over $3,500, yet basic transmission maintenance like fluid changes and fluid flushes can sometimes be had for less than $150.

How frequently should a Honda Pilot have its gearbox fluid changed?

With regards to Transmission Fluid Change The majority of brand-new cars come with automatic transmissions. There is therefore not much maintenance must be done. However, the majority of owner’s manuals advise changing the gearbox fluid every 90,000 to 120,000 miles.

Hondas or Toyotas have a longer lifespan?

Toyota triumphs thanks to better ratings all across and a more adaptable lineup. Honda automobiles do, however, have some advantages, particularly in the SUV market. In the hybrid and plug-in car categories, Honda and Toyota are almost equally competitive. But what advantages does each brand’s owner receive?

Benefits of Owning a Honda

Speed is one area where Honda outperforms Toyota, particularly in sedans like the well-liked Civic and Accord. The quickest vehicle in the lineup even though it isn’t a true sports car is the Civic Type R. It has a 306-horsepower turbo-four-cylinder engine that can reach 60 mph from 0 in less than five seconds.

Honda aspires to be the best in the SUV market, and the CR-V is a fantastic compact SUV because of its effective drivetrain, spacious interior, and upmarket cabin.

Where Honda Lags Behind

The midsize Honda Ridgeline vehicle outperformed the Toyota Tacoma and had a respectable towing capability. However, Honda doesn’t sell full-size trucks. The Toyota Tundra, a rival, can pull 8,000 more pounds than the Ridgeline.

Honda automobiles additionally lack cutting-edge infotainment options like smartphone connectivity. Although this maker doesn’t scrimp on safety features, a mid-sized touchscreen and smartphone connectivity cost extra. The controls are also a source of frustration for some customers.

Why Everyone Loves Toyota

Regarding the characteristics offered, Toyota vehicles are quite valuable. In contrast to the Honda Accord, which only has Bluetooth and one USB port, the Camry base trim features smartphone integration, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a USB port, and satellite radio.

Additionally, Toyota vehicles typically outlive any Honda models. Consumer reports-based statistics show that Toyota is the second most dependable automaker after Mazda, with the Corolla being the most dependable vehicle. Honda’s average reliability rating didn’t even place it in the top 10.