Dealer Message - On August 29, 2019, American Honda launched five revised and one new Warranty Extension paint bulletins. Please review the following summary of requirements within these bulletins and share with the appropriate staff to ensure proper claim submission.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Honda Pilot body problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Honda Pilot have filed 42 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 60,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
42
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Pilot | 3 |
| 2011 Pilot | 16 |
| 2012 Pilot | 8 |
| 2013 Pilot (this page) | 42 |
| 2014 Pilot | 17 |
| 2015 Pilot | 7 |
| 2016 Pilot | 46 |
| 2017 Pilot | 15 |
When does it fail?
Of the 42 body complaints filed for the 2013 Honda Pilot, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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.
What stands out
Owners have filed 42 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 19 model years of Honda Pilot in our records for body problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body 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 warranty extension only applies to 2013 Odyssey and 2013-15 Pilot vehicles painted NH-578 Taffeta White. The exterior paint on the roof and/or tailgate may peel off. American Honda is extending the warranty on the paint of the affected vehicles to 7 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limit. This warranty extension does not apply to other paint issues like rock chips, scratches, bird droppings, sap, wraps, dents, collision damage, customer-induced damage, etc.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - This warranty extension only applies to 2013-14 Odyssey and 2013-16 Pilot vehicles that are painted NH-603P White Diamond Pearl. The exterior paint on the roof and/or tailgate may peel off. American Honda is extending the warranty on the paint of the affected vehicles to 7 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limit. This warranty extension does not apply to other paint issues like rock chips, scratches, bird droppings, sap, wraps, dents, collision damage, customerinduced damage, etc.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Owner Notification Letter - On some 2013-14 Odyssey and 2013-16 Pilot models, the exterior paint on the roof and tailgate may peel off. To ensure your confidence in your vehicle, American Honda is extending the warranty on the paint in these areas to 7 years from the original date of purchase.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Owner Notification Letter - On some 2013 Odyssey and 2013-15 Pilot models, the exterior paint on the roof and tailgate may peel off. To ensure your confidence in your vehicle, American Honda is extending the warranty on the paint in these areas to 7 years from the original date of purchase.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Paint peeling dominates complaints on 2013 Pilots, particularly white models. The failure typically starts as bubbling on the roof near the windshield or sunroof, progresses to chipping, and escalates to large sections peeling away in sheets—sometimes overnight—exposing bare metal and gray primer. Owners describe this happening at 4–7 years and mileages of 31,000–92,000, regardless of regular maintenance, garage storage, or careful washing and waxing. One body shop confirmed seeing a pattern of white Hondas with the same failure and noted 1,500 owners on a Facebook group sharing the issue; another reported the problem likely stems from Alabama-plant manufacturing.
Beyond targeted roof peeling, owners report overall paint fading and oxidation spreading across hoods, doors, and body sides, turning chalky and dull. After dealers repaint only the roof under recall, the newly painted section appears shiny while the rest looks heavily faded—a cosmetic and rust-risk problem one owner estimated at $8,000 to fully address.
Paint-adhesion failures appear rooted in defective primer or sealer not bonding to metal, confirmed by independent shop inspections. Honda issued a TSB for roof and tailgate peeling but only partially addressed the issue through recalls and limited dealer coverage (often 50–60% of repair costs). Dealers cite expired warranties and regional management decisions to deny full coverage.
Water intrusion at the windshield gasket and A-pillar grommet also surfaces, causing interior mold and mildew. Sun visor latches fail, dropping visors into the driver's sightline during driving.
Same Honda Pilot body reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Paint peeling and chipping on roof near windshield and sunroof
Paint peels in sheets or large patches from the roof, primarily between the windshield and sunroof, exposing bare metal and gray primer. Owners describe this occurring across multiple 2013 Honda Pilots, particularly white vehicles. The failure appears to initiate as bubbling, then progresses to flaking and full section peeling. Owners report this happens despite proper vehicle maintenance and storage.
When: 4–7 years of ownership, mileage range 31,000–92,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Large paint patches peeling off in sheets; Visible bare metal and gray primer; Paint bubbling before peeling; Paint flaking and chipping during driving; Paint continuing to peel progressively over time
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships offered 50–60% coverage of repainting costs. One estimate cited $1,700 for roof repainting alone; aftermarket quote of $8,000 for full vehicle repainting. Some dealers covered full repair under recall; others denied coverage citing expired warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued a TSB for roof and tailgate peeling on some 2013 Pilots. A 2019 recall notice mentioned coverage for repainting if damage existed, but many owners found recall and warranty had expired by the time peeling was observed. Honda corporate directed owners to local dealers; dealers invoked regional 'DPMS' (Dealer Performance Management System) decisions and cited warranty expiration. American Honda Customer Service opened claims but often resulted in partial coverage only.
Paint fading and oxidation on exterior surfaces
Paint becomes dull, chalky, and faded across roof, hood, sides, and trunk area within 4–5 years, despite regular washing and waxing. Owners note the paint deteriorates regardless of vehicle storage (garaged or not) and maintenance routine. After partial repainting (e.g., roof only under recall), the newly painted section appears shiny while the rest of the vehicle looks heavily faded, creating an uneven appearance.
When: 4–7 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Overall paint dullness and chalky texture; Fading on roof, hood, sides, and trunk; Uneven appearance after partial repainting; Paint deterioration despite regular washing and waxing
Repairs/costs cited: Full vehicle repainting quoted at $8,000 by aftermarket body shop. Dealers offered partial repainting under recall coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers addressed roof peeling under recall coverage but did not address overall fading; owners note Honda has not issued a full solution for the fading defect.
Paint adhesion failure due to defective primer or sealer
Body shop and owner inspections indicate defective sealer not adhering to metal substrate, and primer exhibiting poor adhesion properties. One owner noted Honda issued a TSB acknowledging the primer defect as the root cause of paint peeling across white Pilots. A body shop reported seeing a pattern of adhesion failures in white Hondas from what is believed to be the Alabama plant, and noted 1,500 owners on a Facebook group reporting the same issue.
When: Manifests 4–7 years after manufacture
Symptoms owners cite: Paint peeling despite no external damage or scratches; Sealer separating from metal substrate; Poor primer adhesion identified by body shops; Widespread pattern among white 2013 Pilots
Repairs/costs cited: Identified through inspection at Schaumburg Autobody and other independent shops; body shops noted this is a known defect pattern.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued TSB acknowledging primer/paint adhesion defect on roofs and tailgates. Owners report Honda has admitted the defect exists but has not issued a full recall for all affected surfaces.
Water intrusion at windshield seam and A-pillar grommet
Water leaks into the vehicle interior from the windshield gasket seam and from a faulty grommet on the right front passenger A-pillar. Leaking occurs during rain and causes mold and mildew to form on the dash pad, front carpet, and carpet padding. One instance involved dealership inadvertently breaking the windshield while attempting to replace the seal.
When: Early ownership period; one case reported within first 30 days of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Water pooling in vehicle interior near gas tank pull area; Water leaking from top of windshield during rain; Mold and mildew formation on interior trim and carpet; Water entry from A-pillar grommet
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership identified bad seal and attempted replacement, breaking windshield in process; new windshield ordered, delaying vehicle return by ~9 days of a 30-day period.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer assistance mentioned; issue handled at dealership level.
Sun visor latch failure
Front driver's side sun visor fails to remain latched in the up position and drops down during driving, blocking driver visibility. Plastic latch securing the visor has cracked, causing the failure. Occurs at 55,000 miles.
When: 55,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sun visor dropping down while driving; Loss of driver visibility; Cracked plastic latch mechanism
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda of Pasadena dealership and manufacturer were notified; no assistance was offered.
Synthesized from 42 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I purchased my third Honda, a 2013 Honda pilot in 2017 from my local Honda dealership. In 2019, I received a recall notice from american Honda stating that we could have the cost of repainting our recalled vehicles covered if we had damage. At that time, I did not have any issues with the paint on my pilot. Well, a couple weeks ago, a huge amount of paint on my roof was missing all of a…
Paint turned dull and chalky after less than 5 years and now beginning to peel at 7 years
I purchased the vehicle and in May 2023 I noticed a small bubble on the paint on the roof of the car near the windshield on the left, above the driver's side. I went to the closest Honda Dealer and the gentleman at the shop dismissed me saying the car's warranty was expired. A few months later, the bubble popped and a part of the paint peeled off. I called the dealer Arlington Honda and was told…
Had body trouble with your 2013 Honda Pilot?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2013 Honda Pilot?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 42 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 29 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 50,000 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 80,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body 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.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Honda/Pilot.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.