2013 Honda Accord Problems and Recalls (1,417 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2013 Honda Accord is Steering (31% of 1,417 owner reports). There are 5 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Steering — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 1,417 complaints · 5 recalls

What problems show up on the 2013 Honda Accord?

446 of 1,417 filings named Steering (31% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (277 reports).

There are 5 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Electrical, Transmission / driveline, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2012 has 369 reports on file; this year has 1,417. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2013 Honda Accord

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 5 campaigns on file below.
  2. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  3. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Steering. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Steering 446 complaints · 31.5% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 67
  • Fires 9
  • Injuries 59
  • Deaths 1
All Honda Accord years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Steering (STEERING) appears in 446 of 1,417 owner complaints (31.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. Steering (STEERING): 446 complaints, 31.5% of reports Steering (STEERING) 16 crash reports 446 · 31.5% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 277 complaints, 19.6% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 4 crash reports 4 fire reports 277 · 19.6% Engine (ENGINE): 140 complaints, 9.9% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 2 crash reports 1 fire reports 140 · 9.9% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 87 complaints, 6.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 crash reports 87 · 6.1% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 55 complaints, 3.9% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 crash reports 55 · 3.9% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 36 complaints, 2.5% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 14 crash reports 36 · 2.5% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 34 complaints, 2.4% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 crash reports 34 · 2.4% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 33 complaints, 2.3% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 13 crash reports 1 fire reports 33 · 2.3% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 33 complaints, 2.3% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 1 crash reports 33 · 2.3% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 278 complaints, 19.6% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 9 crash reports 3 fire reports 278 · 19.6% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Steering (STEERING) 446 31.5% 16 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 277 19.6% 4 crashes · 4 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 140 9.9% 2 crashes · 1 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 87 6.1% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 55 3.9% 5 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 36 2.5% 14 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 34 2.4% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 33 2.3% 13 crashes · 1 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 33 2.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 278 19.6% 9 crashes · 3 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2012; the first recall shown was reported in Jul 2013. 2012-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2013-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 2013-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2013-Q3: 45 owner reports 45 2013-Q4: 25 owner reports 25 2014-Q1: 26 owner reports 26 2014-Q2: 20 owner reports 20 2014-Q3: 27 owner reports 27 2014-Q4: 33 owner reports 33 2015-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 2015-Q2: 31 owner reports 31 2015-Q3: 49 owner reports 49 2015-Q4: 28 owner reports 28 2016-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 2016-Q2: 29 owner reports 29 2016-Q3: 33 owner reports 33 2016-Q4: 20 owner reports 20 2017-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2017-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2017-Q3: 34 owner reports 34 2017-Q4: 56 owner reports 56 2018-Q1: 38 owner reports 38 2018-Q2: 31 owner reports 31 2018-Q3: 45 owner reports 45 2018-Q4: 21 owner reports 21 2019-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2019-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2019-Q3: 27 owner reports 27 2019-Q4: 20 owner reports 20 2020-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 2020-Q2: 18 owner reports 18 2020-Q3: 31 owner reports 31 2020-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2021-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 2021-Q2: 56 owner reports 56 2021-Q3: 47 owner reports 47 2021-Q4: 34 owner reports 34 2022-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 2022-Q2: 25 owner reports 25 2022-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 2022-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2023-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 2023-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2023-Q3: 34 owner reports 34 2023-Q4: 23 owner reports 23 2024-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 2024-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2024-Q3: 29 owner reports 29 2024-Q4: 18 owner reports 18 2025-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2025-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2025-Q3: 30 owner reports 30 2025-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2026-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 2026-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2026-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2026-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2012 Oct 2026 Recall campaign 13V297000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V297000 Recall campaign 17V418000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V418000 Recall campaign 20V769000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V769000 Recall campaign 23V858000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V858000 Recall campaign 25V422000 ◆ Recall campaign 25V422000 Investigation PE14033 ● Investigation PE14033 Investigation EA19001 ● Investigation EA19001 Investigation DP20005 ● Investigation DP20005 Investigation EA21001 ● Investigation EA21001 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002
  • Campaign 17V418000 was reported 1,731 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V769000 was reported 2,898 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V858000 was reported 4,002 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 25V422000 was reported 4,550 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2012-Q4 Owner reports 7
2013-Q1 Owner reports 21
2013-Q2 Owner reports 32
2013-Q3 Owner reports 45
2013-Q4 Owner reports 25
2014-Q1 Owner reports 26
2014-Q2 Owner reports 20
2014-Q3 Owner reports 27
2014-Q4 Owner reports 33
2015-Q1 Owner reports 16
2015-Q2 Owner reports 31
2015-Q3 Owner reports 49
2015-Q4 Owner reports 28
2016-Q1 Owner reports 17
2016-Q2 Owner reports 29
2016-Q3 Owner reports 33
2016-Q4 Owner reports 20
2017-Q1 Owner reports 10
2017-Q2 Owner reports 32
2017-Q3 Owner reports 34
2017-Q4 Owner reports 56
2018-Q1 Owner reports 38
2018-Q2 Owner reports 31
2018-Q3 Owner reports 45
2018-Q4 Owner reports 21
2019-Q1 Owner reports 18
2019-Q2 Owner reports 32
2019-Q3 Owner reports 27
2019-Q4 Owner reports 20
2020-Q1 Owner reports 21
2020-Q2 Owner reports 18
2020-Q3 Owner reports 31
2020-Q4 Owner reports 17
2021-Q1 Owner reports 17
2021-Q2 Owner reports 56
2021-Q3 Owner reports 47
2021-Q4 Owner reports 34
2022-Q1 Owner reports 17
2022-Q2 Owner reports 25
2022-Q3 Owner reports 21
2022-Q4 Owner reports 12
2023-Q1 Owner reports 16
2023-Q2 Owner reports 14
2023-Q3 Owner reports 34
2023-Q4 Owner reports 23
2024-Q1 Owner reports 21
2024-Q2 Owner reports 19
2024-Q3 Owner reports 29
2024-Q4 Owner reports 18
2025-Q1 Owner reports 10
2025-Q2 Owner reports 16
2025-Q3 Owner reports 30
2025-Q4 Owner reports 14
2026-Q1 Owner reports 16
2026-Q2 Owner reports 9
2026-Q3 Owner reports 8
2026-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 13V297000
Recall campaign 1 17V418000
Recall campaign 1 20V769000
Recall campaign 1 23V858000
Recall campaign 1 25V422000
Defect investigation 1 PE14033
Defect investigation 1 EA19001
Defect investigation 1 DP20005
Defect investigation 1 EA21001
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Safety Recalls (5)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Electrical, Transmission / driveline, and Fuel system.

  1. Recall campaign 13V297000

    Safety recall 13V297000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    An insufficent seal may led to a fuel leak which increases the risk of a fire.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 17V418000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
    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. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support Center at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KG0.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 20V769000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    A broken drive shaft may cause a sudden loss of drive power. The vehicle could also roll away if the parking brake has not been applied before the vehicle has been exited. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
    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. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 23V858000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
    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. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 25V422000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    A broken driveshaft can result in a loss of drive power, or a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
    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. Honda's number for this recall is OM2. This recall expands previous recall number 20V769.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 1,417 complaints · page 1 of 57
2026-10-08Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11769786
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VSA Module failure There appears to be thousands of owners of Honda Accords 2013 that have this component fail. It appears that the country of Thailand was able to get Honda to do a recall on this part in their country. The repair cost is is greater than $4,000 (USD). Please research this issue and force Honda to recall this part.
2026-09-29Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 11767674
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I have received a warning on my dashboard "FCW SYSTEM FAILED" at 106,000 miles. It is available for inspection upon request. I am now at 108,000 miles and I am fearful of my safety when driving on the highway and especially during bad, rainy, snowy weather. This puts me and others on the road at high risk. This problem has been confirmed by Hall Honda in Virginia Beach VA. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police or insurance reps. Yes, a warning did appear on my dash after the battery and starter were replaced on this vehicle.
2026-09-21Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11765802
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was an independent dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 113,000. It was later discovered after checking the Carfax report that the mileage was 224,000.
2026-09-16Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11764815
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Honda of Nanuet declined to fix the recall issue on my 2013 honda accord sport. a recall in regards to "A corroded drive shaft could break under high torque applications" They did not notify me of the issue until after the expiration date of the time standard for the recall notice. I took the vehicle into the service center to fix the recall. They stated they would not work on the vehicle unless they were authorized to fix a different part that they claimed needed to be removed to access the drive shaft. That fixing the different part would cost approximately $1500 and that they would not address the recall issue unless i paid the estimated amount on the different part. I have since contacted Honda My Garage to get the issue resolved as i received another notice to recall the part. they have not responded to me in regards to fixing the recall. Instead I have only received a letter from honda of nanuet to buy my car. THey are avoiding fixing the recall.
2026-09-03Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11761942
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
2026-07-10Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11749462
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 81-20 INTERNAL CIRCUIT FAILURE. CLEARED DTC. ROAD TEST VEHICLE, 81-20 DTC RETURN REPLACE VSA MODULATOR W/BRAKE FLUSH, STARTER MOTOR INTERMITTENTLY SEIZING UP, FRONT ENGINE MOUNT LEAKING, BOTH FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS LEAKING GREASE, VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING. HIGH MILEAGE AND NO HISTORY. RECOMMEND VALVE ADJUSTMENT, SPARKPLUGS AND VALVE COVER GASKET, RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT WORN, VTC ACTUATOR FAULTY, RATTLE NOISE AT START UP.
2026-07-04Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 11748251
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Whenever in park or reverse the vehicle suddenly power cycles. The vehicle also power cycles when steering and locks the wheel. This can be fatal if it happens on the public road in the middle of traffic.
2026-07-01Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11747825
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Honda Accord 9th Gen ABS/VSA Issues - DTC Code 81-20 /32-11. TPMS/ABS/VSA/Brake/Power Steering lights are on. Dealer claim is an ABS module issue and need replacement.
2026-07-01Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11747796
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The first time it happened, the power steering of the car suddenly stopped working while driving on the highway. Now it happens randomly and usually start with a quick jerking motion of the steering wheel. I've looked into this and lot of Honda Accord owners had this issue before. I want to file a complains on this and see if the NHTSA can do anything to have Honda address/fix this issue for me. Thanks,
2026-06-21Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11745479
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Sudden and total loss of Electronic Power Steering (EPS) while driving. The EPS light came on and the steering wheel became too heavy to safely steer, creating an immediate crash hazard. The dealer found diagnostic trouble code 34-05.

Honda Accord Complaints and Recalls by Year

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2013 Honda Accord?

Owners named Steering most often — 446 of 1,417 reports (31%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2013 Honda Accord?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Electrical, Transmission / driveline, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2013 Honda Accord?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources