2013 Honda Pilot Power Train

I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND STATED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF REPORTS REGARDING ISSUES WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER OF THE HONDA PILOT. SIGNIFICANTLY, REPORT STATES THAT THERE IS SHUDDERING AND VIBRATION DURING SHIFT CHANGE. THIS WAS ADDRESSED TO THEM WHEN I HAVE MY CAR WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW. THEY SAID IT IS JUST THE WAY IT WAS DESIGN BUT HONESTLY, IT WAS REALLY ANNOYING. SO NOW, AFTER ABOUT 95,000 MILES, AN ISSUE CAME UP. I DO BELIEVE THAT THESE TWO EVENT ARE RELATED. PLEASE CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS MATTER. THE SHUDDERING/VIBRATIONS HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING, DECCELERATING, AT IDLE, FROM A STOP AND ACCELERATES, WHEN MAKING A TRUN WHILE ACCELERATING SLOWLY.

MOTOR LOST A CYLINDER AT 85,000 MILES DRIVING AT 60 MPH.

WHILE DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY WITH MY FAMILY, THE RADIATOR BLEW UP AND SPILLED THE FLUIDS INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR HOOD THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE COMPARTMENT A MESSAGE POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD SAYING ENGINE IS OVER HEATING AND IT STOPPED. THIS CAR ONLY HAS AROUND 46000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT SEEMS LIKE HONDA ISSUED RECALL FOR RADIATOR PROBLEMS ONLY ON 2017 HONDA PILOTS. BUT, THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO EXIST IN OTHER OLDER MODELS ALSO. IT IS SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT HONDA AND NHTSA LOOK CAREFULLY INTO THIS PROBLEM, ISSUE RECALL FOR OTHER OLDER MODELS AND FIX THE PROBLEM TO SAVE SOME LIFE'S.

ON THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017, I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND FLUIDS CHECKED IN MY 2013 HONDA PILOT. I DROVE HOME 26 MILES AWAY AND AVERAGE SPEED OF 65 MPH. THE NEXT DAY, I DROVE FROM SUMMERVILLE TO ROME TO CAVE SPRING ~ 60 MILES. LATER THAT DAY I HAD TO DRIVE BACK TO CAVE SPRING AND THEN HEADED HOME. ABOUT 15 MILES OUT OF ROME, DRIVING 65 MPH ON A 4 LANE DIVIDED HWY, MY CAR JUST STOPPED MOVING. I PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I MANAGED TO COAST TO A STOP AND PULL ONTO THE SIDE OF THE HWY. THE AIR CONDITIONING AND RADIO WERE WORKING, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, BUT THERE WAS NO PULL FROM THE MOTOR. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAS TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE TO COME GET ME. AFTER 15 MINUTES, I TURNED THE ENGINE ON, AGAIN, AC AND RADIO WORKING FINE, BUT NO ACCELERATION, AND COULD NOT GET IT TO MOVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AT ALL. I HAD TO GET A WRECKER TO HAUL THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON MONDAY, I CALLED ABOUT THE CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE MECHANICS HAD BEEN OUT DRIVING THE CAR AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I OFTEN HAVE TO DRIVE TO ATLANTA ON BUSINESS, AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. IN FACT, I TOLD THE DEALER TO KEEP THE CAR UNTIL THEY FIX IT.

THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE A DESIGN FLAW. MANY THREADS EXIST ONLINE DISCUSSING THE SAME. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS STRANGE BEHAVIOR WHEN SHIFTING FROM P TO D AND LURCHES FORWARD. IN ADDITION SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS IS PROBLEMATIC AT TIMES. LOTS OF SHUDDERING AND VIBRATIONS. I HAVE TAKE. TO DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH NO SUCCESS IN GETTING REPAIRED. DEALER DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEMS. I BELEIVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU

PARKED ON LEVEL PAVED SHOULDER OF SMALL-TOWN 2-LANE ROAD IN UPSTATE NY. PLACED TRUCK IN PARK, AND VERIFIED TRUCK SHIFTER IN PARK. LEFT TRUCK IDLING IN PARK TO KEEP A/C GOING DURING BRIEF STOP TO WALK TO REAR PASSENGER DOOR TO HAND ITEM FROM REAR FLOOR BACK TO TODDLER. AS I APPROACED REAR DOOR, TRUCK (WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED/BUMPED) ENGAGED AND BEGAN DRIVING AWAY UNDER POWER, NOT ROLLING. CHASED TRUCK AND PARTIALLY JUMPED IN (SHORT LEGS). ATTEMPTED TO PUT TRUCK IN PARK TO STOP IT, BUT SHIFTER IN PARK ALREADY, REFOCUSED ON TRYING TO TURN OFF KEYS. TRUCK HAD ENOUGH TORQUE TO DRIVE ACROSS 2-LANE ROAD, FULLY/EASILY DRIVE OVER CURB, THEN DRIVE DOWN INTO GULLY WITH ME ONLY PARTIALLY INSIDE. WHEN TRUCK GOT STUCK AT BOTTOM AND STALLED, FINISHED CLIMBING INSIDE AND TURNED OFF TRUCK. RE-VERIFIED SHIFTER STILL IN PARK. WITNESS AND HUSBAND ALSO VERIFIED SHIFTER STILL IN PARK. MANAGED TO JUST AVOID HITTING BIG TREE AND SETTING OFF AIRBAG. TODDLER UNINJURED, I DIDN'T APPEAR INJURED AT TIME, BUT LEGS AND KNEES BANGED UP REQUIRING DOCTOR'S VISIT. VEHICLE TOWED OUT OF GULLY AND SUPERFICIALLY REPAIRED ENOUGH TO CAUTIOUSLY DRIVE HOME TO MD FOR FULL REPAIR.

PURCHASED VEHICLE USED AS A HONDA CERTIFIED VEHICLE ON 10/23/14. DURING TEST DRIVE WE DID NOT NOTICE VIBRATION IN DRIVE TRAIN - POSSIBLY BECAUSE FLUIDS WERE COLD. DURING A ROAD TRIP 2 WEEKS AFTER ABOVE DATE, WE NOTICED A VIBRATION IN 51, 52, 53 MPH RANGE. FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION OR TORQUE CONVERTER WAS TRYING TO SHIFT UP OR DOWN. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED PROBLEM, SERVICE WRITER TOOK FOR A TEST DRIVE AND EXPLAINED THAT HE FELT IT WAS WHEN ENGINE WAS GOING INTO "ECONOMY" MODE AND HALF THE CYLINDERS WERE SHUTTING DOWN.???? ON A LATER ROAD TRIP ON MORE OPEN HIGHWAY, WE NOTICED SAME VIBRATIONS IN 61, 62, 63 MPH RANGE - I WATCHED THE ECON. DASH LIGHT AND IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY CHANGE WHEN WE FELT VIBRATIONS. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND I DROVE VEHICLE WHILE SERVICE WRITER WATCHED, LOOKED, AND LISTENED. HE SAID HE COULD FEEL VIBRATION BUT UNTIL A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THEY MIGHT SPEND MANY HOURS/DAYS TRYING TO FIND PROBLEM BUT NOT LOCATE IT. WE ARE KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT NOTHING SERIOUS DEVELOPS AND ENDANGERS LIVES OR VEHICLE! *TR

ANY TIME ECO MODE VCM (VEHICLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT) ENGAGES ENGINE SHUDDERS AND ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES UNTIL ECO MODE DISENGAGES UPON INCREASED ACCELERATION. *TR

VEHICLE HAS ROLLBACK ON INCLINES AND TRANSMISSION DOES NOT LOCKUP TO HOLD POSITION WHEN FOOT IS TAKEN OFF OF BRAKE (ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT ). TOLD BY HONDA SERVICE MANAGER WHERE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THAT THIS IS NORMAL WITH HONDA'S... HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE DO THIS BEFORE. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS CONDITION? *TR

SUV SHUDDERS NOTICEABLY BETWEEN 45 TO 74 MPH WHEN VCM ENGAGES FROM ECO MODE TO 6 CYLINDER. DEALER INFORM ME IT IS A NORMAL FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

MY 2013 HONDA PILOT SHAKES AND RUMBLES WHEN I HIT 20 MPH! WHEN THE ECO LIGHT FLIPS ON, MY CARS STARTS SHAKING. IT'S SO ANNOYING. I HAVE BEEN SAVING AND SAVING MY MONEY FOR MY DREAM CAR, AND NOW I HATE MY HONDA. I HAVE DRIVEN CR-V, AND ACCORD, AND LOVED THEM. THIS CAR IS A HORRIBLE RIDE! I JUST WANT TO DRIVE IN PEACE. *TR

WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, VEHICLE EMITTED AUDIBLE NOISE FROM WITHIN CABIN AND OUTSIDE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A CLUSTER OF FAST METALLIC CLAPPING/SNAPPING NOISES. THE NOISE WAS ACCOMPANIED AND FOLLOWED BY AN OBSERVED SHAKE AND HESITATION TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE. EVENTUALLY, THE MOTION TO TRANSITION INTO A ZERO GAS COASTING SPEED, WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A LURCH TO VEHICLES DEFAULT DRIVE WHEN PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. THE FIRST NOTICEABLE INCIDENT OF THIS BEHAVIOR WAS EXPERIENCED IN THE NOVEMBER 2013 TIME FRAME, WHILE IN A DRIVE-THRU AT A RESTAURANT, WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, AND AFTER ORDERING, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WHILE PERFORMING THIS TRANSMISSION SHIFT. THE VEHICLE IS WITH THE DEALER FOR A REPEAT SERVICE CALL TO OBSERVE THIS PATTERN OF SHIFT CHANGE BEHAVIOR. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A FEW MORE INCIDENTS OF THIS HAPPENING, BUT THESE TWO ARE THE MOST NOTICEABLE THAT CAN BE RECOLLECTED AT THIS TIME. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2013 HONDA PILOT TOURING MODEL ON MAY 3, 2013. OVER TIME, AND NOW WHENEVER I DRIVE BETWEEN 35-45 MPH THE CAR SHUDDERS AND VIBRATES. IT OCCURS IN VCM MODE AND IS NOW PRESENT WHETHER IN VCM MODE OR ACCELERATING. THERE IS NO VIBRATION THRU THE STEERING WHEEL. I FEEL IT THRU THE CAR SEAT, BACK, AND CENTER STORAGE LID. PASSENGERS HAVE REMARKED "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR CAR?" AT 30 MPH THE CAR DRIVES VERY SMOOTH. BY 35 MPH IT'S LIKE DRIVING A DIFFERENT CAR. THE VIBRATION IS GETTING MORE PRONOUNCED AS MILES ACCRUE. *TR

AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE IS A VERY ANNOYING SHUDDERING AND VIBRATING AND GROWLING AT 45 MPH 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. *TR

WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE DAY ONE (JANUARY 18, 2013) WITH OUR 2013 HONDA PILOT EX 4WD. THE PROBLEM IS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION WHEN THE ENGINE DROPS DOWN FROM HIGH ECO MODE (4 CYLINDERS) TO LOW ECO MODE (3 CYLINDERS - IF I UNDERSTAND THE ECO CYLINDER REDUCTION SYSTEM CORRECTLY). IT IS SMOOTH IN HIGH ECO MODE BUT AS SOON AS IT DROPS DOWN, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES/RUMBLES SIGNIFICANTLY. IT IS MY WIFE'S PRIMARY VEHICLE AND I DO NOT LIKE TO DRIVE IT FOR THAT REASON. I DO NOT HAVE AN INDEPENDENT AUDIBLE VIBRATION ALTHOUGH WHEN IN LOW ECO MODE IT MAKES A SOUND AS WELL AS A VIBRATION WITH THE VIBRATION BEING THE MOST PRONOUNCED. IT IS ODD THAT ONE PART OF THE ECO MODE IS SMOOTH AND THE OTHER PART IS ROUGH. I CAN PREDICT WHEN THE ROUGHNESS WILL OCCUR WHEN TRAVELING ON A RELATIVELY FLAT ROAD WITH GRADUAL INCLINES AND DECLINES. WHEN THE ROAD DECLINES, THE LOW ECO MODE ENGAGES AND THE VIBRATION INITIATES AND CONTINUES UNTIL THE ROAD BEGINS TO INCLINE AT WHICH TIME THE ECO MODE TRANSFERS FROM ITS LOW MODE TO ITS HIGH MODE AND THE VIBRATION STOPS IMMEDIATELY. THE VIBRATION IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH AND IS COMPARABLE TO RIDING ON SMOOTH ASPHALT AND THEN THE SURFACE CHANGING ABRUPTLY TO A ROUGH OIL AND CHIP ROAD SURFACE. WE HAD A 2009 HONDA PILOT LX 4WD WITH THE SAME ECO SYSTEM AND THERE WAS NO VIBRATION IN LOW ECO MODE. HAS ANYONE HAD A SUCCESSFUL FIX/REPAIR OF THIS ISSUE? IT IS VERY ANNOYING TO ME AND THIS CANNOT BE NORMAL BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. IF NOTHING CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM, IS THERE A METHOD TO SHUT OFF THE LOW ECO SYSTEM FROM ACTIVATING BUT STILL HAVE THE HIGH ECO SYSTEM OPERABLE. I WOULD RATHER HAVE A SMOOTH RIDE AND SACRIFICE SOME GAS MILEAGE THAN BE TORMENTED BY THIS VIBRATION. THE VIBRATION IS SO OBVIOUS THAT IT CANNOT BE IGNORED ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE DRIVING IT. IT VIBRATES IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE IN GENERAL. THANK YOU. *TR

VIBRATION AT 1500 RPM. STOPS WHEN RPM GO ABOVE 2000 OR LESS THAN 1400. *TR

PURCHASED A 2013 HONDA PILOT ON 12/28/12. I BEGAN TO NOTICE A VERY ANNOYING VIBRATION/SHUDDER IN THE CAR AS WELL AS HEAR A RUMBLING NOISE. IT'S OCCURRING AT MANY DIFFERENT CONSISTENT SPEEDS AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGHER SPEED WHERE IT MAY NOT OCCUR. I FIND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MAINTAINING A CONSISTENT SPEED. SO, WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVING THE STATED 65MPH SPEED LIMIT, I MUST INCREASE MY SPEED TO GREATER THAN 65MPH IN ORDER FOR THE RUMBLING NOISE AND VIBRATION TO STOP. OBVIOUSLY, SPEED LIMITS ARE POSTED FOR SAFETY REASONS. ADDITIONALLY, I FEEL THIS DEFECT SEVERELY DIMINISHES THE RESALE VALUE OF THE $34,000 VEHICLE AS I'M SURE ANYONE WHOM NOTICES THE VIBRATION/SHUDDER/RUMBLING FEELING AND SOUNDS WILL NOT BE INTERESTED IN BUYING THE VEHICLE FOR FAIR MARKET VALUE. I AM ALSO QUESTIONING THE LONG TERM IMPACT OF THIS JUDDER'/VIBRATION WILL HAVE ON THE VEHICLE. MY EFFORT TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER CONTINUES, BUT THUS FAR THEY HAVE TOLD ME IT'S TORQUE CONVERTER JUDDER AND IT'S A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. I'VE RESEARCHED TORQUE CONVERTED JUDDER PROBLEMS AND FEEL THERE HAS TO BE A SOLUTION, YET HONDA MORE THAN LIKELY DOESN'T WANT TO ABSORB THE COST OF REPAIRS AS THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN MANY OF IT'S PILOTS. ON THIS WEB SITE THE ISSUE WAS ALSO REPORTED IN THE 2012 VEHICLES. THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHER OWNERS VOICING THEIR DISPLEASURE WITH THIS PROBLEMS ON OTHER WEBSITES. ONE BEING WWW.PILOTEERS.ORG. YOUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *TR