Is the 2013 Honda Accord a bad year?
1,427 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Accord years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2013 Honda Accord are in line with other Accord years. Steering and electrical system stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Accord owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 50,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 499 (35%) | 28k–84k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 417 (29%) | 30k–78k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 186 (13%) | 11k–60k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 118 (8%) | 7k–107k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 110 (8%) | 3k–59k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 51 (4%) | 20k–81k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 45 (3%) | 8k–70k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Stability control | 31 (2%) | 27k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 22 (2%) | 7k–65k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Exterior lighting | 15 (1%) | 0k–59k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 14 (1%) | 8k–73k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Speed control | 51 (4%) | 1k–26k miles · mostly behind | — |
| SeatsSTANDS OUT | 47 (3%) | 0k–14k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 37 (3%) | 1k–32k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 50,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,427 complaints: 67 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 42 report an injury · 45 say the car was towed.
44 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
2013 Accord sport is starting to have a starting problem. Sometimes engine does not turn over when first turning the key.
Check engine light keeps going on since the car hit exactly 60,000 miles. Code said it is related to the fuel system.
In general I like my Accord 2013; however, I have been noticing hesitation and/or abrupt downshift of gear when I drive below 25 miles.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 50,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Honda Accord: 5
The affected vehicles were originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia… 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.
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The drive shafts were assembled with a lubricant that may have degraded the drive shafts' protective coating, making it more susceptible to damage from road salt or other contaminants, and potentially cause it to break. 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.
The case for the battery sensor, part of the battery management system, may allow water to get in, potentially causing an electrical short. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
The fuel tank neck may be out of specification causing the fuel pump to not properly seal to the fuel tank. An insufficent seal may led to a fuel leak which increases the risk of a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 94
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Honda Accord. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The engine will not start and sets DTC P2101 (electronic throttle control system [ETCS] malfunction)
Every Service Bulletin requires you to take an HDS snap shot and use the job aid or Tech2Tech to confirm the judder/shudder is coming from the torque converter
Servicenews article - Does the engine rattle at startup for about 1 to 3 seconds
Tech line summary article - Do you have a vehicle in your shop for any or all of these issues
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Loss of Direction Control
Loss of Direction Control
Electrical overstress
Electric Power Steering Failure
Neighbouring years
2012 Accord: 374 complaints, keep it · 2014 Accord: 981 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda Accord year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Accord years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Honda Accord a bad year?
1,427 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Accord years. At 50,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Honda Accord?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (499), electrical system (417), engine (186), brakes (118), transmission and drivetrain (110).
How many recalls does the 2013 Honda Accord have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 25V-422), Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 20V-769), Electrical system (NHTSA 17V-418) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.