Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
The VSA/ABS lights came on and I took it to the repair shop. The mechanic told me that the VSA/ABS module is bad and needs to be replaced. He said this is a very common problem in my vehicle type. He said the anti-lock brakes won't work which can be dangerous. He said the parts are always backordered and can take months to come in and they are extremely expensive. They range from $1200-$2400 for the part only. I researched the problem online and it seems to be a common problem across many Honda models and years. Many people have taken apart the modules themselves and have repaired them. They mention that the connective wires on the modules are extremely thin and not recommended for circuit boards. The thinness of the connective wires causes the failure.
It was a sunny and very hot day, temperatures above 90 degrees. The vehicle was proceeding west on a 2 lane in town street, with no curbs, with one vehicle in front, stopped at the intersection to a 2 lane highway. As the vehicle was approaching the railroad tracks, with a slight incline, the driver applied the brakes for the stop sign after the railroad tracks. As the driver applied the brakes, the car accelerated towards the highway. At this point, the driver said, 'it's not stopping'it's not stopping.' to the over 2 passengers of the car. There was a car in front of the car, waiting to turn onto the highway and car getting ready to cross the highway, as well as a car on the highway near the intersection. The driver continued to apply the breaks without the car breaking and veered to the left to try to avoid the car in front. …
Repeatedly there has been a cylinder 1 misfire causing the check engine light to activate. The vehicle starts to shake and idling is rough. It has happened repeatedly over the past 3-4 years. In 2025 it happened in August, October and December despite repeated maintenance. Error codes that have popped up due to the issue primarily include cylinder 1 misfires a known and documented issue related to the faulty VCM system. The problem has repeatedly been identified by multiple mechanics. I use my vehicle primarily to transport my children to and from school. We have all been in the car during these misfires endangering their safety. At many of the times when the misfires have happened my children have been in the car and any engine failure while operating the vehicle puts them in danger. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated the vehicle burned a quart of oil every 20 miles. The contact stated that the vehicle fails to accelerate of 20 MPH, smoke was seen coming from the engine compart, as wheel as the power brake assist fails. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle to basney Honda (3820 grape rd, mishawaka, in 46545) where the vehicle was diagnosed with a piston ring failure. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 161,000.
Brake failure at stop sign. Driver crashed into a pole, suffered severe injuries including bleeding in the brain and broken ribs.
I have a 2013 Honda Pilot ex 4wd with 52,610 miles on it. In very cold weather (around 5 degrees f or less) the brakes don't function correctly when the car is first started. There is a lot of pedal resistance and it only goes down about a third of the way or less. During this time, the brakes are barely engaging (it takes 3 feet to make a stop that would normally only take 6 inches). Then suddenly the pedal will go down all of the way and the brakes will be working. Sometimes it corrects itself almost right away on the first push, other times it takes several minutes to correct. In all but one occasion, this happened while parked, however, it has happened once on the road on an extremely cold (sub 0 f) day (notably on that day it had been stored inside overnight prior to the trip). …
As posted by several other customers, I have had multiple problems when the brakes are applied at moderate to high rates of speed going downhill. The car begins to vibrate or waver. I have now had the rotors shaved the third time and am sure they will need replacement soon. Each time they repair it lasts for a short period of time. I have been told in the past this is common with this vehicle. I called Honda corporation and they could not have cared less. They said it was all do to "normal wear and tear". The dealer service department was as helpful as possible, but they need to escalate these issues to corporation so the consumer is protected. It is very frightening to feel that vibration during downhill braking. I owned a 2011 Honda Pilot and never had this issue so it is something in the design or parts for the 2013 model. …
Honda Pilot 2013 vehicle front rotors were turned very early in vehicle ownership due to shake/shimmy/poor braking ability of vehiicle. Vehicle is now back in shop and Honda recommends replacement of front rotors due to severe warping. Vehicle skaes/shimmies and difficulty braking is again experienced. Service advisor explained Honda has manufactured the rotors with "cheap" materials and encourages "no sudden braking or hard-stepping brakes " (of course Honda refuses financial compensation for rotor replacement.) I have serious concerns about Honda using cheap and potentially dangerous materials for braking system components. I drive very conservatively and the vehicle has never experienced "harsh braking". I fear for my safety and the safety of others that Honda does not stand responsibly behind the safety of it's Honda Pilot 2013 and its rotor problems.
When driving on the highway between the speed of 60-80 MPH, the steering wheel shakes very noticeably making it very uncomfortable to drive with the vibration. I have had tires replaced and the wheels rebalanced and nothing seems to fix the problem. I have been dealing with this for months and no service station is able to fix the problem. Fearing that something May happen when driving on the highway or when my children drive the car. Safety is my number one concern when getting into a vehicle and it is very upsetting that I bought a brand new car to avoid the unknown problems of a used vehicle. Upon doing some research on the internet to find a solution to my problem, I have discovered that every Honda Pilot owner is complaining about the same issue and that Honda does not want to fix the problem.
Brake complaints in other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2013 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the brakes of the 2013 Honda Pilot, 15% of the model year's 271 complaints. The component named most often is power assist (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Honda Pilot brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2013 Honda Pilot, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Honda Pilot brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 26,000 miles, and 49% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.