Dealer message - American Honda (AHM)is investigating certain 2013-2014 Odysseys, Pilots & Ridgelines with a complaint of steering wheel vibration due to wheel/tire imbalance. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to your attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Honda Pilot steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Honda Pilot have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 57,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Pilot | 13 |
| 2010 Pilot | 6 |
| 2011 Pilot | 34 |
| 2012 Pilot | 11 |
| 2013 Pilot (this page) | 12 |
| 2014 Pilot | 4 |
| 2015 Pilot | 3 |
| 2016 Pilot | 17 |
| 2017 Pilot | 8 |
When does it fail?
Of the 12 steering 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
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
Dealer message - American Honda (AHM)is investigating certain 2013-2014 Odysseys, Pilots & Ridgelines with a complaint of steering wheel vibration due to wheel/tire imbalance. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to your attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2013-2014 Odysseys, Pilots & Ridgelines with a complaint of steering wheel vibration due to wheel/tire imbalance. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to your attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2010 Odysseys, 2010 & 2013 Accord V6s & Pilots with a complaint of the steering wheel vibration and pulsation/vibration in the front brake when braking. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2010 Odysseys, 2010 & 2013 Accord V6s & Pilots with a complaint of the steering wheel vibration and pulsation/vibration in the front brake when braking. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2013 Honda Pilot report steering shake and vibration across multiple scenarios. Several describe high-speed vibration (60–80 mph) that shakes the steering wheel and affects vehicle control, persisting despite tire replacement, wheel rebalancing, and alignment work. A few mention the shake gets worse during braking or when eco mode activates. One owner needed tire replacement, bushing service, stabilizer bar work, wheel balancing, alignment, tie rod replacement, and CV axle service—the vibration remained.
Steering pulls to the left are reported by multiple owners. Dealers performed alignments; one was corrected once, but the pull returned and worsened with continued driving. Another owner notes a "distinct and constant pull to the left."
Power steering problems appear in one narrative at 177,000 miles: the owner was adding fluid three times per week. A dealer diagnosed that the power steering gear box, lines, and related components needed replacement; an independent shop identified similar failures in the pump, reservoir, and cooling lines.
One owner experienced simultaneous loss of power steering and brakes when the engine stalled without warning during highway driving, creating an immediate safety hazard. Emergency brake release also failed the same day. Honda was unable to replicate the stall.
Ignition key issues—key won't turn or won't insert into the lock—are reported as intermittent problems that worsen over time.
Same Honda Pilot steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Steering wheel vibration and shake at highway speeds
Steering wheel shakes noticeably during highway driving, typically 60–80 mph, making the vehicle uncomfortable and potentially unsafe to control. Vibration is intermittent and persistent despite tire replacement, wheel rebalancing, and alignment corrections. One owner also reports shake worsens when brakes are applied or eco mode activates.
When: Starts after 20,000 miles; occurs intermittently during highway driving above 50–60 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shake and vibration at 60–80 mph; Vibration and shudder at certain speeds; Shuddering during braking; Vehicle vibrates above 50 mph; Shudder worsens in eco mode
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement, wheel rebalancing, wheel alignment, tie rod replacement, CV axle replacement, bushing service, and stabilizer bar work performed; vibration persisted. Dealer attributed some vibration to variable cylinder control system.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda stated variable cylinder control system may be cause and said they were working on a fix but may not have a solution.
Steering pulls to the left
Vehicle pulls to the left during normal driving. Alignment corrections only provide temporary or slight improvement. Problem worsens as the vehicle accumulates miles.
When: Reported at various mileages; one instance at 5,000 miles after initial alignment
Symptoms owners cite: Distinct and constant pull to the left; Vehicle pulls left and gets worse with continued driving; Pull to left after alignment performed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed wheel alignment; technician found nothing wrong on first visit but corrected alignment at second visit (5,000 miles). Pull returned and worsened.
Power steering fluid loss and system failure
Power steering system fails at high mileage with rapid fluid depletion. Owner was adding fluid three times per week. Both dealer and independent mechanic diagnosed multiple power steering component failures including gear box, pump, reservoir, lines, and cooling lines.
When: At approximately 177,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fluid loss requiring refilling three times per week; Loss of power steering function
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed: power steering gear box, power steering lines, water lines and hoses needed replacement. Independent mechanic diagnosed: power steering reservoir, power steering cooling lines, power steering pump, and power steering line pump needed replacement. Vehicle not repaired.
Simultaneous power steering and brake loss during engine stall
Engine stalled without warning or check-engine light during highway driving between side roads and highway entrance. Power steering and brakes were lost concurrently, creating immediate safety hazard. Emergency brake release handle also malfunctioned the same day.
When: During normal highway driving; no specific mileage stated
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected engine stall without warning lights; Loss of power steering during stall; Loss of brakes during stall; Emergency brake release handle not working or releasing brake appropriately
Repairs/costs cited: Manufacturer instructed dealer to install data logging module to record 15 seconds before and after stall. Honda could not replicate issue and returned vehicle to owner.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda could not replicate the stall and sent vehicle back. Dealer recorded data but no diagnosis provided.
Ignition key sticking or not turning
Ignition key becomes stuck and will not turn to start the engine, or will not insert into the ignition lock. Issue is intermittent but worsens over time, leaving owner concerned about being stranded.
When: Intermittent; occurring more frequently as time goes on
Symptoms owners cite: Key will not turn in ignition lock; Key will not go into ignition key lock; Must insert and remove key multiple times before it turns; Problem occurs randomly and worsens over time
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner noted that several people have reported the issue and believe Honda is aware of it.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I have had shaking in steering wheel at 60-70 MPH and brakes cause the car to shudder. The brakes grabbed when lightly touched them at 70 MPH to avoid a truck that pulled into my lane. Afraid that vehicle will lose control due to sudden brake and shudder in steering.
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2013 Honda Pilot?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 36,000 and 177,000 miles, with the median around 57,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,000; a quarter make it past 177,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.