Vcm (vehicle cylinder management) issue: I purchased a 2013 honda pilot from zimbrick honda (madison wi) in november 2013. Since the first day I bought the vehicle I have been very disappointed and have grave concern regarding the safety of my children when in the vehicle. Driving the new vehicle home I noticed a rumbling and shuttering vibration issue at varying speeds but most consistent with RPM between 1,000-2,000 especially noticeable when backing off the accelerator or after the vehicle reaches constant speed and eco light is on. I took the vehicle to zimbrick honda and they informed me that the vibration is part of the normal operation of the vehicle and it is due to the vcm and that there was nothing they could do about it until honda comes out with a way to correct the problem. I have only 2,000 miles on the vehicle and am very disappointed and annoyed with the honda pilot and have significant concern regarding the safety of the vehicle due to the vcm issue. This should not be part of the normal operation of the honda pilot and I believe honda should correct the problem.
2013 Honda Pilot acceleration complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 16 of 16, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Vehicle vibration/rumbling/shuttering at speeds around 35-55mph. Apparently due to vcm(vehicle cylinder management system) most noticeable when backing off accelerator after vehicle reaches constant speed and eco light is on, but can occur weather eco light is on or not. Vibration is felt through out entire vehicle but as a driver, it is felt through the seat, steering wheel and center console. This vibration is very unpleasant and annoying. Vehicle was taken back to the dealer due to us just purchasing it with only 10 miles on it. The first time they rebalanced the tires. This did not help. Second time I took the service manager out for a test ride to show him what I meant. He felt the same vibration/shutter/rumble. We then went back to the dealership and took out another new honda pilot that was on the lot. The road test came back with the same results. Service manager then told me that the vibration I was feeling was due to the vcm as the different cylinders fired and that there was nothing they can do about it and that I would just have to deal with it until honda comes out with a way to correct the problem, which as far as he knows they have no intention to do so. Apparently honda says that this is part of normal operation. I paid over $36,000.00 dollars for this vehicle and feel that is not normal operation, and that honda needs to correct this.
Often when I step on the gas petal the car hesitates before accelerating. The delay in acceleration is up to 3-5 seconds. Occasionally it feels like the car is going to stall. While it has been happening in the suburban and rural areas since we bought the car in late august, this week I had to drive into and around the city. When I press the gas petal down, the car simply does not move forward and then, without warning, it jumps forward at a rapid rate. To control the car it is necessary to keep one foot on the gas and the other on the brake in case it surges forward after the hesitation. The problem is worst in stop and go driving. It is frightening , a danger to me and my passengers and to other cars near me. It should be repaired.
Upon applying the brake in an avoidance situation, I noticed the spongy feel to the brakes. What concerns me more, is that during the process of the event, the brake pedal settles down to below the height of the accelerator and if your foot isn't square on the brake pedal, you wind up hitting the gas while trying to stop the vehicle.. I need to talk with someone. This is most certainly a defect in design.
Shortly after acquiring my new pilot in february of this year I had and incident whereby at a low speed I lost all control of speed and the car began to slow down. Pressing the accelerator did nothing and the car behind me nearly hit me. It troubled me, but thought is was just something odd.. Until it happened again, and again. I have devised a response (remove pressure from the accelerator entirely and reapply pressure). This is a dangerous situation for anyone who does not know how to react even though one should not have to do this. I realize I am not alone, nor is this an isolated instance to my car. Browse the forum www.piloteers.org and there are numerous postings related to this and it seems to affect both 2012 and 2013 pilots. Honda has neither acknowledged nor attempted to fix this problem.
At various speeds there is a very annoying shuddering and vibrating and growling at 45 MPH to 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.. I also get these small bucks and surges , . Or a feeling of pulling me along but feeling like I am going to fall out of my seat at the same time..in eco. Until the shuddering stops and then it feels smooth again, for a minute....and then the shuddering begins again.... My tires are balanced and I have had an engine mount neutralizing... The honda pilot has vcm... It is very uncomfortable to your ears the vibrating...on top of your peace of mind on your way home from a day at work....looking forward to relaxing listening to the radio to ease yourself before you get home to your family life...wow...not relaxing at all !!! Something is definitely wrong with my vehicle....
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