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severe Owners of the 2013 Honda Pilot have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Pilot | 29 |
| 2010 Pilot | 30 |
| 2011 Pilot | 64 |
| 2012 Pilot | 19 |
| 2013 Pilot (this page) | 17 |
| 2014 Pilot | 9 |
| 2015 Pilot | 9 |
| 2016 Pilot | 13 |
| 2017 Pilot | 3 |
Of the 17 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 Honda Pilot, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
All 2 active airbags recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator for 2010-12 Accord and Other Listed Years and Models (Expires September 30, 2028)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall. If you completed the repair described by this service bulletin on or before May 10, 2019, make sure to use the Warranty Claim Information provided below.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The 2013 Honda Pilot shows a pattern of airbag system failures across multiple failure modes. Most serious: the passenger occupant-detection sensor incorrectly disables the airbag even when a properly-sized passenger (114 lbs documented) is seated. Honda reportedly told dealers that anyone under 150 lbs can inadvertently trigger the sensor off. One owner replicated the issue in front of dealer technicians and a dealership reset had no effect.
A second owner reported passenger-side airbags deploying without any collision, forcing an unsafe stop on a busy road with children aboard. Law enforcement confirmed no crash had occurred and found the deployment unexplained.
Owners also report the airbag warning light coming on randomly or staying lit for years, starting from when the vehicle was new. One complaint details an SRS module failure that rendered the entire system non-functional; the dealer refused to repair it. In two separate crashes, only one airbag deployed when multiple should have. Additionally, Takata recall campaigns have left owners unable to complete repairs because dealers report parts unavailable or claim the recalls don't apply to their specific VINs despite receiving official recall notices.
Same Honda Pilot airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2016
Passenger-side occupant detection sensor incorrectly signals airbag 'off' even with passengers well above the 65 lb threshold. Honda reportedly confirmed to dealers that passengers under 150 lbs can inadvertently disable the sensor, preventing airbag deployment in a crash.
When: At least from 2013 model year onward; narratives document incidents in 2014
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag 'off' indicator lights on with occupant seated in passenger seat; Sensor disables even with 114 lb passenger present; Issue persists after dealer circuit reset
Repairs/costs cited: Findlay Honda reset circuits without resolving the underlying sensor fault
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda corporate reportedly informed dealers that passengers under 150 lbs may disable the sensor and airbag deployment
Side airbags extending from front passenger seat to rear deployed without any collision, crash, or impact. Law enforcement and tow operator confirmed no accident had occurred and were unable to explain the deployment.
When: While driving on busy road; no mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags deployed while vehicle in motion with no collision; No prior warning lights or error messages; Deployment forced unsafe pullover on busy roadway
Airbag warning light illuminates randomly while driving or remains on persistently. Multiple owners report the issue began when vehicle was new.
When: Since vehicle purchase; 2013 models documented
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light comes on randomly while driving; Light illuminates intermittently for years after purchase; No other symptoms or diagnostic feedback provided
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) module failure rendered entire airbag system non-operational. Dealer refused to repair SRS module, citing it as beyond warranty or service scope.
When: Timeframe not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags non-functional; SRS module defective
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated they would not repair SRS module
Passenger airbag sensor fails to remain armed when occupant under 15 lbs is positioned on seat, though design intent is typically to disable for children that light.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag turns off with very light occupant on seat
During vehicle collisions where multiple airbags should deploy, only one airbag (usually passenger-side) deploys while driver-side or other expected airbags fail to deploy. One incident involved heating system malfunction after deployment.
When: At 89,000 and 98,000 miles respectively
Symptoms owners cite: Only passenger-side airbag deploys despite multi-directional impact; Driver-side airbag fails to deploy when expected; Vehicle heating system failed to shut off after one deployment
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle deemed total loss by insurance; second incident did not receive manufacturer notification
Owners received Takata recall notifications but dealers reported parts unavailable or stated recall was not applicable to their specific VIN, leaving owners uncertain about safety status and unable to complete repairs.
When: Recall campaign 18V661000 and 18V-042 referenced; issued 2018
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received but parts not in stock; Dealer states recall not applicable to specific VIN; One owner discovered airbag had already deployed but was not disclosed by dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Parts unavailable; one dealer did not perform repair despite recall letter
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall campaigns issued (18V661000, 18V-042); parts availability issues; dealers reported VIN-specific exemptions
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
Takata recall. Traded in to briarwood Ford ann arbor mi. Unknown damage
Received a recall letter in the mail. Do I just take it to the nearest Honda dealership to have repaired? Will there be any out-of-pocket costs, and is this something that we'll be reimbursed for in the form of a rental car until it's fixed? We also lease a 2015 Nissan leaf. VIN: [xxx]. We received a letter in the mail for this car as well. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of…
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
Based on the 17 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 76,192 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.