2014 Honda Accord Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Accord most often report intermittent no-start conditions — pressing the start button produces a click but the engine does not crank — along with electric power steering assist that drops out and dashboard warning lights appearing together. Oil consumption and cold-start engine rattles are also frequently described, and most of these reports arrive between roughly 35,000 and 110,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Intermittent no-start / clicking from the push-button start

   • 306 complaints (31%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (207 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 41 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe pressing the start button and hearing a click with the dash lights and accessories coming on but no cranking, sometimes needing several attempts or many minutes before the engine catches. Several complaints say the battery and alternator tested fine and that a starter replacement was the eventual fix; others mention shifting into neutral or cycling the ignition as a workaround. Complaints also note the problem is unpredictable and unrelated to temperature or drive length. Reported from roughly 36,000 to 105,000 miles, with no clear pattern by weather or time of day.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the car cold and warm several times during a test drive and ask whether the starter has been replaced. A slow or clicking crank on repeated attempts is worth investigating before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I believe it is a starter issue. When I go to start the vehicle it will often stall and not the start the first couple times and I can hear it try to start but fail. The car only has 39k miles on it and I was doing my research and a lot of other people have this same issue with their 2014 Accord. I think this should be considered a recall and fixed by Honda or refunded for repair by Honda.”

   NHTSA complaint #11299484, filed 2020-01, 39,000 miles

   “We have an intermittent problem with the car starting. We found an online thread on the subject with workaround tricks. Sometimes putting the car in neutral and starting it from there works, but not consistently. What works most often is turn key one notch, wait 3 seconds, turn again and wait until lights go away, then again and then it starts. What is this issue? Is there a recall that can fix this issue?”

   NHTSA complaint #11339714, filed 2020-07, 70,000 miles
2. 2
   Forward collision avoidance

   Warning lights on together (VSA / ABS / FCW failure

   • 327 complaints (33%)
   • median 58,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (152 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,800 (median of 47 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe several dashboard lights — traction control, tire pressure, ABS, brake and steering — illuminating at once, often along with a forward collision warning or lane departure failure message. Owners report the warnings sometimes clear on restart and return within minutes of driving, and that dealers diagnosed a faulty VSA modulator or control unit, a part some describe as expensive and backordered. Others mention the forward camera shutting down in hot weather until it cools. Reported from about 55,000 to 190,000 miles, in some cases triggered by hot outside temperatures.

   Recall 17V4180001 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the ignition on, confirm no warning lights stay lit and ask whether the VSA modulator or ABS module has been replaced. Test the forward collision and lane departure warnings on a short drive if the car has them.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am receiving a fws failure light on my dashboard. I took it to the dealer and they advised that the module that controls that system needs to be replaced at a cost of about $1800. It is my belief that Honda should pay the cost to replace this module. It is not a matter of normal wear and tear. Additionally there is a recall Honda DTC u0416/68 for another model.”

   NHTSA complaint #11383373, filed 2020-12, 191,000 miles

   “Been having electrical problems since we got the car. Year 3 we needed new starter, new back up camera. This year driver's window would work only work some of the time. In june when I started all the dashboard lights came on with ABS system power failure warning. It would go on and off as I drove. Then the car started jerking as it was driven and finally stayed on and was on everytime we started. Needs a new modulator-control unit which is $1,400 and has been backordered since mid june. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11353325, filed 2020-09, 84,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out while driving

   • 244 complaints (25%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 4.9 yrs old (126 state mileage)
   • 20 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,525 (median of 36 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe the steering wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn, sometimes at highway speed and sometimes at low speed or when shifting into reverse, occasionally with the power steering warning symbol on the dash. Some owners say restarting the car restored assist, and several reports mention diagnosis of a steering rack or EPS control unit needing replacement, with the problem returning in at least one case. A few complaints tie the loss of assist to other warning lights appearing at the same time. Reported across a wide range, from about 28,000 to over 150,000 miles, in both cold and dry conditions.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the EPS torque sensor update or warranty extension was applied, and check for any stored EPS codes. Steering should feel consistent at low speed and on a straight highway stretch.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Steering wheel suddenly locked up on me as I was driving down a 2 lane city street. Conditions were dry, and was in a residential area, so speed limit was 35. Upon not being able to steer the car I ended up hitting a cable line wire, and was spun into the front yard of some townhomes. I ended up also hitting some large rocks and landing in between 2 large trees. Upon coming to a stop, I then realize that the impact had also caused my side airbags to deploy. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11415808, filed 2021-05, 125,000 miles

   “I was driving and my steering wheel locked up and it was hard to turn I was heading to work on the highway and the same problem happened when I was driving back home”

   NHTSA complaint #11387392, filed 2021-01, 58,645 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 56 complaints (6%)
   • median 68,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2025

   Owners report the oil level dropping far faster than expected, in some cases describing a quart or more used per thousand miles and the check-oil light coming on more and more often. Complaints mention soot around the exhaust, low or empty dipstick readings, and dealers measuring oil use; some reports reference clogged oil control rings as the explanation. A few owners also describe oil leaks or an oil smell after driving. Reported mostly between about 40,000 and 130,000 miles, with several at low mileage for the age of the car.

   Recall 15V1210004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the dipstick level and look for a fuel or burnt-oil smell, and ask whether any oil consumption test has been done. Reviewing oil change records helps show how often oil had to be added between services.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car is burning oil. 1. There is black sutt around the exhaust. 2. Checked the engine oil dipstick and there was no oil in the car. Car has less than 45000 miles on it. Vehicle was parked and left for about 2 hours. Please investigate. Thanks!”

   NHTSA complaint #11316376, filed 2020-03, 45,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Honda Accord. The contact stated while having routine maintenance performed on her vehicle, she was informed that the oil level was very low. The contact stated that the check oil warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the frequency of the check oil light had increased and that the time between having the oil topped off and check oil light had gone from several months to only several weeks. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11510473, filed 2023-03, 127,000 miles

Buying note. Look closely at the starting behavior, the steering assist and the oil level, since those are the three areas owners mention most; a pre-purchase inspection and the service records matter more here than mileage alone. Confirm any open recalls by VIN and ask what has already been repaired.

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.