The Honda Accord has been one of the best sellers of the brand and has been clocking a steady sales volume of over 300,000 units a year for more than a decade now. Also, the Accord ranks among the most reliable vehicles in its class too which has kept its demand steady. The 2013 Accord arrives as a completely redesigned iteration of the sedan but has seen much higher complaints as compared to the last year’s Accord. Then again, it’s acceptable for a redesigned mass-market car according to the trend. The 2013 Accord faces the maximum number of complaints against its electrical system and steering system which is followed by powertrain issues and other miscellaneous issues with the Accord. The recalls take care of a possible fuel tank leakage, an electrical short circuit, and a driveshaft failure due to corrosion issues. There are 5 investigations from the NHTSA which were started against the 2013 Accord for its power steering system failure, airbag control unit failure, and airbag inflator rupture issues. In its class, the Honda Accord goes head-to-head against the Mazda6, the Hyundai Sonata, and the Toyota Camry.
Honda Accord user complaints and problems
Engine problems
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Loss of power: Sudden power loss while driving has been reported by some owners of the 2013 Honda Accord. The engines of the affected vehicles lost power randomly while driving or picking up pace after slowing down, posing safety risks as well.
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Transmission not engaging and jerking while driving: One owner complains about the transmission not engaging issue. According to his report, the transmission of his vehicle refuses to engage right after starting the vehicle. Also, the issue occurs multiple times even after driving the vehicle for several miles. Apart from this, some owners report jerking from the transmission while driving. One complainant states that the jerking is a result of the unrefined CVT transmission.
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Power lag while accelerating: A few users have complained about power lag while accelerating. While driving, the owners faced laggy acceleration and it also resulted in near-collision scenarios too.
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Oil leak from gasket: There are some complaints regarding oil leaks against the 2013 Honda Accord. One owner experienced the oil leakage after owning the car for a brief period. The oil leaks generally occurred from the head gasket seal area and happened in relatively newer vehicles too.
Safety problems
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Airbag failure: Multiple reports mention failures of airbags on the 2013 Honda Accord. The reports mention that while the owners were involved in crashes, the airbags of the affected vehicles failed to deploy under any circumstances.
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Brake failure: Several models of the 2013 Accord has faced brake failures under various conditions. The reports mention that some of the failures occurred while parking with the brake pedal pressed completely. As a result, some of the affected vehicles crashed too.
Miscellaneous problems
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Power steering failure: Power steering failures have been one of the major issues with the 2013 Honda Accord according to the lodged complaints. All the owners report that the power steering assist on their vehicles failed completely and suddenly while driving. Moreover, it put the occupants of the vehicles at significant risk too due to sudden loss of control.
2013 Honda Accord recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|
1 |
July 8, 2013 |
13V297000 |
Possible Fuel Tank Leak |
An insufficient seal may lead to a fuel leak which increases the risk of a fire. |
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, nut, and O-ring gasket free of charge. The recall began in August 2013. |
|
2 |
June 29, 2017 |
17V418000 |
Battery Sensor May Short |
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire. |
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 on November 8, 2017. |
|
3 |
December 10, 2020 |
20V769000 |
Drive Shaft May Corrode and Fail |
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. |
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 on February 4, 2021. |
Should you buy a used Honda Accord?
The Honda Accord returns for the 2013 model year in an all-new iteration with significant upgrades. The sedan now has a roomier and more upscale cabin, improved performance and handling along with more refined powertrains. On the outside too, the sedan looks sleeker and more modern than the last generation model as well. However, amidst all the good parts, the reliability of the current model seems to have taken a toll since a lot of owners were affected by several issues with the vehicle’s powertrain, steering, and brakes. If you consider purchasing a used model, the previous generation Accord is recommended since it has a better reliability department.
