Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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). …
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while attempting to complete a left turn, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to coast into a nearby parking lot, where the failure persisted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with failures with the driveshaft and steering gearbox. The driveshaft was repaired at that time. The contact stated that while leaving the independent mechanic at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly veered to the left, prompting the contact to immediately return the vehicle to the independent mechanic. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the steering gearbox. The vehicle was not repaired. …
On a clear, rural, dry blacktop county highway at approximately 10:00AM December 19,2018 while driving at 50 miles per hour I suddenly lost steering control of my 2013 Honda Accord. This was instantaneous causing car to move to the right. When I steered to the left the car over-corrected and drove into the left ditch. My effort to straighten the car caused it to hit the frozen ditch bank parallel to left side of car. Side air bags deployed and car came to rest in adjacent hay field. My T-12 vertebra was broken, among other injuries. Cost to repair the car was $8,802.16. I always thought this was my fault, but recently I have experienced strange and unsettling steering glitches with this car. My spouse has also recently mentioned that he has noticed steering glitches while driving this Honda Accord.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH and slowing to exit the highway, the steering wheel was turned to the right and seized. The contact pulled over and stopped the vehicle. The vehicle was turned off and restarted several times however, the power steering feature was inoperable. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the EPS torque sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact researched online and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 15-056 EPS Torque Sensor (Steering). The contact had spoken to the dealer and to the manufacturer but was informed that the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 115,008.
The contact owns a 2014 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving approximately at 55 MPH, the power steering failed and the steering wheel veered to the left independently. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and safely came to a stop. The contact stated that when she placed the vehicle into park and turned off the engine, the steering wheel again turned to the left with no driver input. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact later drove the vehicle to a dealer who diagnosed and determined that the vehicle needed to have the steering rack and pinion assembly replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact's mother owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. The driver turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power steering control module (PSCM) had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not covered under an unknown recall campaign. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
While using a curved exit ramp my steering locked and I could not turn the wheel and lost control of ability to steer hitting the curb and damaging both the tire rod and rack steering. I could not turn the wheel to move the vehicle and required a tow to move the vehicle. This was an extremally dangerous situation in where I could have easily been hit by another vehicle or been seriously injured. There was a light that did flash on the dashboard but only for a second. There was no other indication that there was a problem with the vehicle. Honda service has indicated to me they are aware of any issues with steering on my make and model. I have have a substantial repair bill as the vehicle is not drivable.
The contact's spouse owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the steering wheel turned to the left independently and failed to remain straight. The contact stated that while turning the vehicle, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with charging system failure and determined that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, she lost control of the steering wheel. The power steering assists warning light is illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The independent mechanic stated that the electronic power steering control module had failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the electronic power steering control module had failed and was a manufacturer's defect. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the case was opened. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA investigations
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…
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.
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.
Steering complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2013 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 499 complaints about the steering of the 2013 Honda Accord, 35% of the model year's 1,426 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion › rack (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Honda Accord steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2013 Honda Accord, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Honda Accord steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 21 crashes, 1 fire and 16 injuries and 1 death to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.