2013 Honda Accord

Photo: Benespit / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

2013 Honda Accord: common problems and reliability

· 9th generation

One of the weaker Accord years.

1,423 owner complaints, most about steering. 5 recalls.

Should I buy a 2013 Accord?

The 2013 Honda Accord has 1423 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are steering and electrical system. Owners most often flag valve cover gasket oil seepage on 4-cylinder models: multiple owners report this as a common issue between 95,000 and 200,000 miles, with oem gaskets recommended over aftermarket.

Safety record for the 2013 model year

1,423
Owner complaints
5
Recalls
67
Crash reports
9
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2013 Honda Accord vehicles (US, public record).

The Year Score compares this year with other Accord years only. How we score it

Is 2013 a good year for the Accord?

Across the 31 Accord model years we track, complaint volume runs from 228 (2023) to 2,883 (2014). With 1,423 complaints, the 2013 Accord sits above the model's median of 862.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

steering
499
electrical system
416
engine
179
service brakes
117
power train
109

Recalls affecting the 2013 Accord

electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery

Campaign 17V418000

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.

fuel system, gasoline

Campaign 13V297000

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 the fuel pump to not properly seal to the fuel tank.

power train:driveline:driveshaft

Campaign 20V769000

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, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. 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.

fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

Campaign 23V858000

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 CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Show 1 more recall

power train:driveline:driveshaft

Campaign 25V422000

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 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, and Wisconsin. The driveshaft may corrode and break, due to damage from road salt or other contaminants.

What owners report on the 9th generation Accord

Owners generally regard the 9th generation Accord as a reliable, well-built car that can last well beyond 200,000 miles with proper maintenance.

  • Very frequentValve cover gasket oil seepage on 4-cylinder models

    Multiple owners report this as a common issue between 95,000 and 200,000 miles, with OEM gaskets recommended over aftermarket.

  • RecurrentVSA/ABS modulator failure

    Owners report internal failure of the ABS/VSA unit on 2013-2017 models, with replacement costs around $2,800 for the part alone. Some owners report successful repairs via module rebuild services.

  • RecurrentTiming belt overdue on high-mileage V6 models

    Multiple owners warn that neglected timing belts on V6 models are a serious risk, with the service due at 100,000 miles or 8 years.

  • RecurrentV6 automatic transmission failure at high mileage

    Several owners report V6 transmissions failing around 140,000 miles, often attributed to neglected fluid changes, though other owners dispute this and call the 6-speed automatic stout.

  • RecurrentHybrid battery degradation

    Owners report hybrid batteries degrading noticeably between 100,000 and 150,000 miles, with replacement costs being a major concern.

Owner insights for the 9th generation Accord. Read the full 9th generation owner report.

Typical used price

Used Accord listings typically run $13,648–$24,003.

Other Accord model years

Compare every Accord year side by side to see how 2013 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Accord against its rivals

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