2013 Honda Accord Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 Accord most often describe electric power steering trouble: the wheel pulling or turning on its own, or assist cutting out and leaving heavy steering. Electrical complaints are next, mainly repeated no-start or slow-crank episodes traced to the starter, plus dash warning lights tied to the ABS/VSA electronics. Engine issues center on oil consumption, and a smaller group of complaints covers driveline and fuel pump faults that are the subject of open recalls.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering pulls or turns on its own; assist drops out

   • 497 complaints (35%)
   • median 51,278 mi at 4.5 yrs old (269 state mileage)
   • 19 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,700 (median of 55 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe the steering wheel pulling sharply to one side with no driver input, sometimes while turning or at low speed, and at other times the power assist simply quitting so the wheel becomes very hard to turn. Several owners say the condition comes and goes, and restarting the car sometimes restores assist temporarily. Dealers commonly diagnosed a failed electric power steering gearbox or torque sensor; some replaced the steering motor or control unit first without resolving it, and owners were often told the repair was not covered. Most reports fall between roughly 45,000 and 125,000 miles, at all speeds and in everyday conditions.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at low and highway speed and check whether the wheel tracks straight with hands off briefly, and whether assist feels even in both directions. Ask whether the EPS torque sensor warranty extension or related software update was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on the freeway the electronic power steering went out making the car extremely difficult to steer. I was able to muscle the steering with brute force and get the car home. After sitting in my driveway for a few hours the problem improved (the power assist was back) but the car makes scraping sound when the wheels are turning.”

   NHTSA complaint #11388389, filed 2021-01, 38,000 miles

   “Yesterday morning, (5-10-21), I was leaving for work in my Accord. There was suddenly no steering and I was unable to make the right turn out of my driveway. Had this happened on a winding road I'd be a 3500 lb. Base jumper with no parachute. Taking it to a dealer, terrified to drive the car after repairs.”

   NHTSA complaint #11416084, filed 2021-05, 114,926 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Slow or failed starting, grinding starter

   • 444 complaints (31%)
   • median 49,656 mi at 5.1 yrs old (305 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 71 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners describe pressing the start button and hearing a grind or rattle, or needing several attempts before the engine catches; some had the car fail to start entirely and be jump-started. Complaints frequently mention batteries and alternators replaced without fixing it, and dealers or independent shops then identifying the starter. A few owners link the symptom to a Honda technical bulletin on starting and reference it in their complaints. Reported from about 21,000 miles upward, more often noted on the first start of the day or in cold weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Start the engine from cold and listen for a grind or rattle. Ask whether the battery, alternator or starter has been replaced, and whether dash warnings appear on startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car just got 22,000 miles but has problems with the starter. I joined a forum of people who own same type of my car. There are many people has same problems with mine. Some lucky people got the problem when the car has 80,000 miles. Some unlucky people got the problem with the low miles on the car as me. I think Honda need to have a recall for starter problem of Honda Accord 13 model.”

   NHTSA complaint #11343725, filed 2020-08, 21,000 miles

   “The car has intermittent starting issues. I have had the battery and alternator changed and checked and there appear to be no issues there. Online forums suggest that this is a endemic starter issue with Honda accords. Sometimes the car will start with ease. Other times it will not start at all. When it does not start I have to jump it, but when I take it to the auto shop afterwards they tell me that there are no apparent issues with the battery or alternator.”

   NHTSA complaint #11311604, filed 2020-02, 65,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   ABS and stability warning lights, module faults

   • 177 complaints (12%)
   • median 60,311 mi at 4.9 yrs old (60 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 40 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe clusters of dashboard warnings lighting up together, including ABS, traction control, stability assist, tire pressure and a steering symbol, sometimes with a forward-collision system failure message. Owners report dealers diagnosing failed ABS modules, modulators or control boards, and in some cases parts were on backorder or the repair was quoted at significant cost. A few say the lights returned after repair. Mostly reported between about 65,000 and 150,000 miles, often with no other drivability change.

   Recall 17V4180001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Turn the key to start and confirm all warning lamps go out; a lingering ABS or VSA light is worth diagnosing before purchase. Ask whether the battery sensor recall work was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am getting error readings on my 2013 Honda Accord exl, v6 that the fcw has failed which is causing other error lights (tire pressure, traction, etc). I have only 65,000 miles on this car. Should this failure occur at this small mileage? Should this not be a recall issue?”

   NHTSA complaint #11360183, filed 2020-09, 65,000 miles

   “To begin with I've had to change my battery atleast 4 times(one time it exploded with battery acid)in the last 2 years. Also 6 different lights in the panel are on(brake/ABS/tire pressure/a steering wheel with an !/maintenance/power steering. I recently purchased 4 new tires from firestone and got the car aligned the mechanic said he tried to reset the notification on the dashboard but it wouldn't turn off. I also had a family mechanic put it under the computer which diagnosed an electrical issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11322432, filed 2020-04, 60,000 miles
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Driveline and fuel pump faults covered by recalls

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe sudden loss of power while driving, in one case tied to the driveshaft and in another to the fuel pump, with the vehicle needing to be towed. Owners report dealers confirming recall eligibility but declining to replace parts judged serviceable, and at least one owner disputed a driveshaft inspection result. Others describe sputtering and a delay restarting after a power loss. Reported in the 53,000 to 160,000 mile range, during normal driving.

   Recall 25V422000Recall 20V769000Recall 23V858000Recall 13V297000

   What to check: Check the VIN against open recalls and ask for proof the driveshaft and fuel pump campaigns were completed. Inspect the driveshaft for corrosion and ask whether the fuel pump has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11689536, filed 2025-09, 160,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle started sputtering and lost motive power. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over, and there was a delay in restarting the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the failure was due to the fuel pump. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11611819, filed 2024-08, 153,000 miles

Buying note. The steering complaints dominate this model year, so a test drive that includes low-speed turns and a highway stretch is worth doing carefully, along with a check for the EPS warranty extension. Confirm open recall work on the driveshaft and fuel pump, and ask about starter and oil consumption history before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.