2013 Honda Pilot: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Feb 25, 2017 · 53,000 miles · AZ

Ever since I bought my honda pilot touring many many times there has been a hesitation when excelerating but after the hesitation it excelerates. Until the time I was going up a hill on the freeway I excelerated and nothing happened - absolutely no exceleration at all. I had literally a second to decide what to do. I decided to use my momentum to move into the slow lane - in front of an 18 wheeler - and kept moving to the shoulder and stopped. I tried to start my car again and it started but stilll no exceleration. I shut it off and tried again and it wouldn't start. We were 40 miles too far for the honda towing but just a few miles short with aaa. We had aaa tow it to our home dealer. The dealer couldn't replicate the problem. They said they thought there was debris in the mass airflow sensor causing fuel trim failure. Labor for this was $120.00. My car hasn't completely stopped again but it still does its hesitation thing. I see from reading this article that isn't just my problem. I think this should tell honda they have a problem they need to address.

Filed Jan 12, 2016 · 42,000 miles · NJ

The car hesitates and does not accelerate, especially when making a turn or slowing down and then accelerating in traffic. It does accelerate after it pauses, it is very scary to have it stop and not move. This VIN was not part of the recall announced today, but the problem is exactly what is happening with my car. Will there be more recalls for this problem? We have brought it to the honda dealer when it was new, and again before the warranty ran out. They deny that there is a problem. It is no longer under warranty.

Filed Nov 4, 2015 · 43,000 miles · FL

Stalls and hesitates when turning left especially on roundabouts

Filed Feb 9, 2015 · Engine · 500 miles · CO

Ever since purchased new, the engine hesitates at 10 MPH when accelerating. I have taken it to the dealer repeatedly, but they do not give me any reason for why this is happening. It happens periodically about two to three times a week. Presently vehicle has 15,000 miles on it. This is dangerous as I might be changing lanes, accelerating forward, or turning a corner, when the vehicle hesitates. I have also reported this to american honda, with no explanation given by them either.

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 Sep 18, 2014 · Engine, Steering · 5,500 miles · FL

Intermittently when starting to drive after being stopped at 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 and also very dangerous as someone could easily get rear-ended or worse yet get caught in the intersection in oncoming traffic. There is also vibration and shutter at certain speeds and seems to be worst when eco mode kicks in and when driving conservatively. There is also a pull in the steering upon acceleration.

Filed Sep 8, 2014 · Fuel system · 1,000 miles · NY

Severe hesitation when trying to accelerate at low speeds...no response for 1 to 2 seconds...extremely dangerous when trying to turn or pull into moving traffic...problem is sporadic but frequent(2-3 times per week.

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 May 22, 2014 · Engine · 15,000 miles · SC

Vehicle hesitates/ and shakes at 45 and 60 MPH, very scary. Took car to dealership in bluffton sc march 2014 and may 2014. Dealership could not reproduce problem.

Filed May 19, 2014 · Engine · 1,200 miles · NY

Tl * the contact owns a 2013 honda pilot. The contact stated that while waiting at a traffic light, there was a sudden increase in engine rpms as the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 1,200.

Filed Feb 24, 2014 · Transmission · 11,800 miles · CA

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.

Filed Jan 16, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 600 miles · MN

When slowing down to make a left turn, as I start the turn the engine hesitates and there is no response. The car seems to have no power and coasts 4 or 5 seconds before responding normally. This is very dangerous in high traffic conditions. This problem has also occasionally occurred starting off from a traffic signal, and making right turns.