2013 Honda Accord Problems, Recalls & Reliability

1,892 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Honda Accord, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 71/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Steering leads the reports, typically around 50,000 miles.

Avoid this year if you can. The 2013 Honda Accord sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1990–1993, 2011, 2020–2022.

1,892Complaints
71/100Trouble index
5Recalls
46,046Typical trouble mileage

Avoid

Where 2013 sits among all Accord years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Steering 498 complaints (26%) · typically ~50,000 miles
“The EPS has failed. The steering wheel automatically turns to the left on its own which almost caused an accident and it is difficult to turn the steering wheel”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Accord
Electrical 432 complaints (23%) · typically ~51,000 miles
“Starter failure, starter just clicks. I have the same starter problem as all the other compliants for a 2013 honda accord.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Accord
Engine 186 complaints (10%) · typically ~45,000 miles
“Early failure of starter. The starter failed within 5 years of purchase (new car) with very low mileage 46k miles. I could not start my engine on multiple occasions.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Accord
Other 162 complaints (9%) · typically ~55,000 miles
“Car developed problems starting. All lights, radio, etc would turn on but the starter will not start the vehicle. It began slowly and got increasingly worse with time. Problem got even worse after the recalled battery sensor was replaced.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Accord
Brakes & stability 115 complaints (6%) · typically ~52,557 miles
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Accord
Transmission & drivetrain 110 complaints (6%) · typically ~35,000 miles
“Antilock brake system module failure/solenoid causing multiple engine light failure and transmission”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Accord

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 1,042 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 46,046 miles. Half of those reports fall between 20,000 and 75,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (5)

POWER TRAIN 25V422000 2025

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Honda Accord vehicles equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and a continuously-variable transmission. The affected vehicles were originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of…

Fix: 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…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 23V858000 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda…

Fix: 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…

POWER TRAIN 20V769000 2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Accord vehicles equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and a continuously-variable transmission that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois,…

Fix: 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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17V418000 2017

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Honda Accord vehicles. The case for the battery sensor, part of the battery management system, may allow water to get in, potentially causing an electrical short.

Fix: 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…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 13V297000 2013

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2013 Accord vehicles that are Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) II rated that were manufactured January 15, 2013, through April 5, 2013. The fuel tank neck may be out of specification causing…

Fix: 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…

Federal defect investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture EA21002 opened 2021 · still open
Loss of Direction Control EA21001 opened 2021, closed 2023
Loss of Direction Control DP20005 opened 2020, closed 2021
Electrical overstress EA19001 opened 2019, closed 2024

Led to recall campaign 20V024.

Electric Power Steering Failure PE14033 opened 2014, closed 2015

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2012peak 178 in 20212026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2013 Honda Accord reliable?

The 2013 Honda Accord drew 1,892 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 71/100, scored against the model's worst year (2003).

What are the most common 2013 Honda Accord problems?

The top reported problems for the 2013 Honda Accord are steering (498 complaints), electrical (432), and engine (186).

At what mileage do 2013 Honda Accord problems show up?

Owners most often report 2013 Honda Accord problems around 46,046 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 20,000 and 75,000 miles.

Does the 2013 Honda Accord have recalls?

5 recall campaigns apply to the 2013 Honda Accord. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.