Most common 2013 Honda Accord problems
Share of the 1,426 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Honda Accord complaints by model year
Best Accord years: 2023, 2011, 2012. Years to avoid: 2018, 2013, 2019, 2014, 2003. Compare all years →
2013 Honda Accord recalls (5)
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Honda Accord vehicles equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and a continuously-variable transmission. The affected vehicles were originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driveshaft assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD.
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Accord vehicles equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and a continuously-variable transmission that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shafts, replacing both the left and right drive shafts, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2021.
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Honda Accord vehicles. The case for the battery sensor, part of the battery management system, may allow water to get in, potentially causing an electrical short.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensor, free of charge. Dealers will perform an interim remedy of applying adhesive to the case to prevent water intrusion. The recall began November 8, 2017.
Fuel system, gasoline
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2013 Accord vehicles that are Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) II rated that were manufactured January 15, 2013, through April 5, 2013. The fuel tank neck may be out of specification causing the fuel pump to not properly seal to the fuel tank.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, nut and O-ring gasket free of charge. The recall began during August 2013. Honda's recall number is JA9. Owners may contact Honda at 1-310-783-2000.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 2013 Honda Accord:
Electric Power Steering Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-033 to investigate 24 complaints alleging loss of power steering while driving in model year (MY) 2013 Honda Accord vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS).Analysis of service data for the original 24 complaints and 33 additional complaints received after PE14-033 was opened found that 85 percent of the vehicles with diagnostic trouble codes…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Loss of Direction Control
On May 6, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA21-001) to assess a sudden loss of steering control, in Model Year (MY) 2013-2015 Honda Accord vehicles. Consumers alleged while driving the steering wheel would pull to the left or the right independently. Steering pull may pose a risk of loss of directional control.
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
Loss of Direction Control
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition dated October 19, 2020 requesting an investigation of an alleged defect in the steering system in Model Year (MY) 2013 Honda Accord vehicles. The petitioner alleges that MY2013 Honda accord vehicles are experiencing a sudden loss of steering control as the vehicle veers from its intended path of travel.
What 2013 Honda Accord owners say
Steering all 499 →
The contact owned a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30-35 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The driver was unable to turn the wheel. The vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a tree. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver had bruises and a concussion, and medical attention was provided. There was no air bag deployment. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The local dealer was contacted but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 195,000. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The VIN was not available.
My car started pulling to the left, and no service lights appear on the dashboard, so I took it to the Honda dealership for an alignment. After inspection, the service consultant took me into the garage, and with my car on a lift, the mechanic turned the steering wheel all the way to the right and upon releasing it, the wheel turns all the way back to the left on its own (very quickly). He said the electronic power steering rack is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced, at a cost of $2,800. I ask if this would be covered under warranty, as it is a serious safety concern. He said it is not. I request a copy of the quote to review options, and I leave the dealership. An hour later the service consultant calls back to say only the electronic steering module needs to be replaced (and not the rack) so the total cost will now be $745 (including an alignment). …
Electrical system all 417 →
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact purchased the vehicle on October 27, 2025. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale by an individual who was a registered dealer. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 105,000. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to immediately start. Several attempts were needed to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that there was exposure of red wiring on the underside of the vehicle, which could be a potential safety hazard. The dealer also informed the contact of an oil leak, a previous ABS replacement, a previous transmission replacement, and that the engine was not the original engine. …
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start. The contacted stated that the battery was replaced several times; however, the failure recurred approximately 3-4 months later. The vehicle was jumpstarted and was towed to a Toyota dealer, where the battery, the alternator and alternator belt were replaced; however, the failure recurred the following morning. Additionally, the contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V418000 (Electrical System); which the contact related to the failure; however, the contact had not received a recall notification from the manufacturer. The Honda dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. …
Engine & cooling all 186 →
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over. The contact stated that the engine intermittently turned over and then the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic however, the cause of the failure could not be determined due to no warning lights being illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle started jerking upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine, the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), the electric power steering, TPMS, Forward Collision Avoidance, and the Lane Departure warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.
2013 Honda Accord engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 26 / 35 / 30 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 34 / 27 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 33 / 25 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 28 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Honda Accord a good car?
Based on 1,426 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Accord rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the Accord at the same age. It is one of the Accord years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Honda Accord?
The steering — 499 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about rack and pinion › rack. Next are the electrical system (417) and engine & cooling (186).
How many recalls does the 2013 Honda Accord have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2013 Honda Accord, the most recent from June 19, 2025 (driveshaft). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Honda Accord?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2011 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2018, 2013, 2019, 2014 and 2003. See the full Honda Accord years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Honda Accord problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 miles; 55% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.