Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2013 Honda Pilot
The 2013 Honda Pilot has several recall campaigns, notably for airbags and engine issues, with moderate owner complaints. The main concerns include potential engine wear due to manufacturing errors and airbag inflator problems. Use caution when purchasing, and ensure all recall repairs are completed and verified.
NHTSA data on file today
The 2013 Honda Pilot has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 272 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #19V502000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V378000 Improperly Installed Passenger Air Bag Inflator NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V661000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V042000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V382000 Premature Engine Piston Wear NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V016000 Driver's Airbag Module may be Missing Rivets NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 80 complaints
- Power Train 54 complaints
- Structure 47 complaints
- Service Brakes 40 complaints
- Unknown or Other 35 complaints
- Air Bags 18 complaints
Of the 272 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 272 complaints, owners report 12 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Known issues to inspect
Premature piston wear
How to check: Ask if engine had recall service for piston treatment.
Faulty airbag inflator
How to check: Confirm all airbag recalls were addressed with documentation.
General brake complaints
How to check: Inspect for uneven brake pad wear and test brake feel.
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Listen for engine knocking or hesitation.
Red flag: Persistent knocking sounds
- 02
First minute idling
What to check: Check for any warning lights on dashboard.
Red flag: Engine-related warning lights
- 03
Low-speed driving
What to check: Feel for any hesitation or rough shifts.
Red flag: Harsh gear shifting
- 04
Highway acceleration
What to check: Observe any unusual vibrations or noise.
Red flag: Vibrations at high speeds
- 05
Braking
What to check: Evaluate smoothness and efficiency of brakes.
Red flag: Brakes feel spongy or unresponsive
- 06
Parking
What to check: Note any difficulty or noise when steering.
Red flag: Steering feels heavy or unusual sounds
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Has the engine recall been completed?
- Were all airbag recalls addressed?
- What regular maintenance has been performed?
- Any recent issues with brakes or suspension?
- Do all electronics function correctly?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- Recall repair records
- Full service history
- Accident history report
- Title and registration documents
- Current odometer reading
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2013 Honda Pilot at the time. AI output can be wrong; confirm anything you find with a mechanic.
Next step
Looking at a specific 2013 Honda Pilot? Check the actual car
This checklist covers the model. From your free try.vin dashboard you can go further — paste the seller's listing for a deal score, or drop their photos for an AI condition report.