Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the steering wheel and seats would frequently shock her and other occupants while inside the vehicle. The contact stated that her check engine and TPMS warning lights would intermittently flash on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer twice for repair; however, the failure remained. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they requested a blueprint of the vehicle's wiring mechanism from the manufacturer. Despite receiving the blueprint and rewiring the vehicle, the mechanic was unable to correct the failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure by the contact, but they offered no assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact stated that after inserting the key into the ignition switch, the ignition switch would not turn, and the engine could not be started. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the ignition switch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The ignition switch was replaced, and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 57,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 113,000. The contact paid for the vehicle in full, and when the Title arrived, it was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 224,000. The contact reached out to the dealer. However, the dealer had not responded.
I am writing to express my frustration and disappointment regarding the ongoing VSA/ABS module failure in my 2013 Honda Civic Si. This issue, common among Honda vehicles from 2013-2017, has caused significant stress, both financially and emotionally. The ABS module in my vehicle has malfunctioned, affecting the vehicle's anti-lock braking and stability assist systems. This is a serious safety concern, as the failure could impair the car's ability to brake effectively, especially in adverse driving conditions. The failure of this critical component puts my safety, and the safety of others, at risk.I took my car to two separate service centers, a certified Honda dealer and a Honda tuner shop, both of which confirmed the ABS module failure. They quoted over $2,200 for installation and reprogramming of a new module, which itself costs approximately $1,800. …
The component that has failed is the abs modulator system. The problem with the abs modulator failing on me puts me and my family at great risk including death because the abs modulator works alongside with the brakes, power steering and the vsa system all of which are the main components to a cars safety. Yes I have take my Honda to a certified technician who informed me that the and modulator has gone bad and will need to be replaced immediately due my safety alongside everyone who is on the road. Lastly when I first purchased the car everything my worked fine and their were no problems whatsoever until one day I was driving down the road and suddenly the abs light, power steering light, vsa light, and brake light all turned on which led to my car having horrible performance alongside my brakes feeling sloppy as well as my steering literally moving even though I was going straight. …
There are four lights with a warning that shows up and stay on Check Brake, Power Steering, ABS and VBS Systems. These four lights occurs immediately or even occasionally delayed but they appear everytime my vehicle is running. It is the VSA System per service repair shop. This is a known problem for the Honda Civic 2013 and also Honda Accord. My concern is when these lights are present there is a safety hazard issue. A recall should HAPPEN. My thorough research shows that it should've been a recall in the USA for vehicles in 2012-2013 regarding an expansion of VSA Non-compliance Recall: 2012-2013 Honda Fit done free of charge. This article was July 23, 2013 and it was a little over 48,000 vehicles. They all qualified for a repair if indicated. The repairs happened in Thailand but not USA. The repairs are very, very costly. I'm the only owner of my vehicle and purchased new.
I was driving 35 MPH toward a busy intersection when I lost my brakes and power. A service message "IMA CHECK SYSTEMS" light lit up on the dash. I lost brakes and power while entering an intersection putting myself and other drivers in danger of an accident narrowly missing a container truck. The car shut off with my front end in the intersection. I was able to restart the car and drive it to the nearest garage. They connected the code machine to the vehicle showing "P1437." I then had my car towed to the nearest Honda dealership. They told me my VIN was not listed under service bulletin 20-030 even though my car fit all of the parameters and showed the same code(s). After giving me a quote of $1900+ to fix the issue, they are claiming to have fixed the problem but I am questioning if the real issues were fixed and if I am responsible for any costs.
Air bag warning comes on intermittently . Has increased to a weekly occurrence. I've recorded 27 instances in the last 6 months that this has happened. Occurs when starting car after sitting and also just comes on when driving. Have had seat sensors and seat belt replaced which did nothing. Problem still exists. I am not going to put any more money into an unsafe vehicle. Research shows that this is a common consumer complaint and a safety problem . Airbags for this model were recalled through the 2012 model year. Certainly appears that the 2013 model year should have been included.
The airbag light comes on sporadically - almost all of the time when it's cold, and then on/off when it is warmer. Throws the code B0001-13 - Open or Increased Resistance in Driver's Airbag Inflator. Brought it to the dealership and they told me that I needed to get the whole driver's side airbag replaced (to the tune of $1300 dollars). With the plethora of recalls surrounding 2000s to 2010s Civics, I have a hard time believing this shouldn't be covered under some sort of recall, especially with the amount of other people online who have experienced the same issue.
The hybrid motor DC to DC convert failed. When this fails it stops providing 12 V power to the rest of the vehicle resulting in multiple systems stopping or working very slowly. This vehicle does not have a traditional alternator. There was a TSB and an extended warranty offered to some models, but not all included in the VIN range for this vehicle. The vehicle was scanned and pulls the same codes as the TSB notes as the issue.
Electrical complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2013 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the electrical system of the 2013 Honda Civic, 12% of the model year's 319 complaints. The component named most often is horn (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Honda Civic electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2013 Honda Civic. 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 Civic electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles, and 39% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system 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.