2013 Honda Pilot acceleration problems

Filed Nov 7, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · IA

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.

Filed Aug 14, 2020 · Acceleration, Engine · CA

The engine is making an idling noise only when the car starts in the morning. Takes time for car to increase speed

Filed Mar 30, 2019 · Acceleration, Transmission · 2 miles · AL · crash · 5 injuries

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.

Filed Mar 26, 2016 · Acceleration · 100 miles · NY

Similar to the federal safety agency # 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.

Filed Feb 26, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 1,500 miles · TX

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.

Filed Nov 7, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · NY

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.

Filed Oct 27, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 100 miles · GA

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.

Filed Aug 14, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 4,500 miles · OR

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.

Filed Feb 10, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 5,000 miles · MA

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.

Filed Jan 10, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 2,713 miles · 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.