NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Honda Accord. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
When driving straight the steering will take control and jerk to one side without warning. Fowler Honda in Norman, Ok has admitted to knowing of a problem with the steering column related to other incidents but because there is no service codes firing, they will not pay to have the default fixed. This is a major safety concern!!
The power steering has failed, and just happened all of a sudden. No warning light appears on the dashboard. I can drive it as of right now, but depending on the situation (which changes by the moment) it steers extremely hard or extremely loosely. It's very unstable, and I feel I'd be taking a huge risk if driven on the highway, which is why I'm only taking local trips close to my home, at relatively slow speeds. My local Honda dealership (Leith Honda, Raleigh, NC) has diagnosed the issue as a failed rack power steering assembly (part # 53601-T2F-A94), and wants to charge me a small fortune to have it repaired. I view this first and foremost as a safety-related concern
I’ve been to many auto shops including the Honda dealer and they all say my vehicle needs to have the fuel pump replaced. I’ve replaced it more than 5 times. My car stalls and will not accelerate the way it should and is a safety hazard. I am unable to drive the vehicle but it’s the only car I have. I’ve heard similar stories from family members that have the same vehicle. Fortunately they were able to purchase a newer vehicle. Not my case though. There were no warning lights prior to this. My car wouldn’t turn on one day so we changed the battery then it wouldn’t drive and then it started to stall and if driven it won’t accelerate the way it should. My car has been like this since 2022. I’ve called the dealership and they won’t look into it. There is an open recall for the coupe version of my car but they say my car isn’t on the list.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over. The contact stated that the engine intermittently turned over and then the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic however, the cause of the failure could not be determined due to no warning lights being illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
The electric power steering rack is binding up and making the car veer towards the right. It is not an alignment issue was check by Honda dealership. It’s a EPS , need replacement to correct. It’s a Honda Accord 2013 and I’m seeing it’s under review due to lots of complaints . The part to fix this issue is also 8-12 months to get . I need my car, and hoping this issue is recalled soon!
The vehicle randomly won't start. Then after a few minutes with no intervention will start normally. The battery is new and fully charged. Mileage: 83k.
Their is an issue when trying to start the vehicle. When the ignition button is pressed, the engine does not start. Instead, their is a grinding and whirring sound. I believe this is coming from the starter. It takes 3-4 attempts to start the car. Their are numerous complaints on many forums about this issue.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the power steering malfunctioned, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. Additionally, the power steering warning light remained illuminated with the "check charger system" message displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Factory specification states engine capacity for engine oil is 4.4 quarts, but after replacing the oil 3 times in the 10 months I have owned the car, I have noticed the actual capacity is 5.2 quarts. At 4.4 quarts, dip stick indicates oil at below lowest mark, at 5.2 quarts, it shows right at upper mark. I have google search this fact and there are many other owners or mechanics that have stated this fact. This has caused VTC actuator to be deficient of oil lubricant and rattle loudly and eventually fail. Over all oil deficiency will cause engine to fail prematurely.
My car just started clicking when trying to crank it. Had it tested everything is good but continues to click multiple times before turning over
When driving, the car's steering will jerk sporadically. It is also incredibly hard to turn the wheel. The inspection by the Honda Dealer has proven that it is the power steering rack is faulty. Something has gone wrong and it is making the car dangerous to drive. My safety is at risk because if the car jerks suddenly, I will crash either into a structure or another vehicle likely resulting in death at high speeds. There is no warning light at all. This seems related to the formal safety probe open in May 2021 for 2013-2015 Honda Accords. I have been doing research and a LOT of people are posting about it online.
Eletric power steering was bad making it impossible to drive. Had it replaced at auto shop for 2 091 dllars. Honda dealer diagnosed it as power steering rack, independent auto shop said same, transmission warning light came on but was cleared by independent auto shop.
I was backing out of my driveway on to my street when I felt something off with the steering. The steering wheel was very very hard to turn and kept pulling to the right on its own. I managed to get the car in front my house and had the car towed to a honda repair shop. Honda diagnosed a power steering unit failure without any dtc code. I was very lucky I wasn't driving in traffic since I had no control.
hello I'm wondering why this is not a concern for a safety recall. VSA Module. the VSA module systems seems to be a problem from 2012 all the way to 2017 model Hondas. this module effects powersteering. ABS. tire pressure and traction control. it seems that this is a global problem and their are countrys that have done a recall on this VSA Module. on Honda accord sedans.
The EPS (Electric Powering Steering) light comes on and I lose all steering control. The steering wheel becomes impossible to turn. This is very UNSAFE AABD CONCERNING. The first time this happened I had me vehicle towed to Honda and they didn’t fix the issue. Days later the steering wheel locked up and the EPS light came on..she could’ve been seriously hurt or killed!
The steering wheel locked up twice while driving in one week. It was very difficult to steer and make turns. The worming light illuminated both times. Had to stop and restart the ignition. Felt unsafe because could get into an accident due to the hard steering. The problem was not reproduced or inspected yet.
Upon start up, the steering wheel was not easy to steer. There were little vibration back and forth. The steering warning light was also illuminated on the dash. The incident did not occur while driving and was apparent immediately on start up. Consumer states that the vehicle has yet to be repaired but turning the vehicle off and letting it sit for a short while temporarily helps the issue.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the vehicle was pulling to the left while driving, making it difficult to maneuver the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or covered for repair. The contact stated that the rack and pinion had caused of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Got couple of error codes car became undriveable as steering wheel became really heavy and required force to move it paid $1500 to mechanic to fix this issue
Power steering failure, complete power steering rack replacement by Honda Dealership. Symptoms identical to Honda Warranty Extension 5Z2, Service Bulletin #15-056. Dealer confirmed no damage to power steering rack. Vehicle did not throw DCT 53-01 or 53-012 so Honda and Dealer refused to repair under warranty extension, forcing customer to pay out of pocket. This is the subject of an ongoing NHTSA investigation which began May 2021. The consumer stated that the issue occurred all the time and varying in seriousness. Once repaired, the issue did not occur.
The contact owns a 2014 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving approximately at 55 MPH, the power steering failed and the steering wheel veered to the left independently. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and safely came to a stop. The contact stated that when she placed the vehicle into park and turned off the engine, the steering wheel again turned to the left with no driver input. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact later drove the vehicle to a dealer who diagnosed and determined that the vehicle needed to have the steering rack and pinion assembly replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Driving on highway and steering wheel went stiff. Difficult to turn/move steering wheel
VSA modulator seems to be a defective part in many Hondas and Honda is not doing anything about it. It is a safety issue the should be taken care by Honda. My car has only 100K miles and is needing this repair that is going to cost me over $2000! Not fair for a consumer.
Woke up and went to drive my car and noticed that my sharply pulls to the left if my hand is not occupying the wheel. So i took it to one shop and they said it was my alignment and after they did my vehicles alignemnt i got my car back and the sudden jerk persisted so now i know the issue has more to do with the power steering. I then took my car to another shop and this shop actually told me they arent capable of doing the repair becasue they said it was an issue with something involving something digital and that I could only take the car to get fixed by Honda and it costing upwards of $1500. This issue is very hazardous to myself and others due to the fact that if my hand isnt on the steeing wheel at all times my car would do an almost perfect 90 degree hard turn to the left and so i have been avoiding taking it on major highways and being very caustious whenever I take it on the road. I was brought to fill out this report because i read many other people are having the same issue as me with the same year and make of my car and noticed that there was an active investigation into what the cause may be. As far as I could tell I saw no warnings about this issue prior to it happening and it came on very suddenly for no apparent reason.
The electronic push start button doesn't work all the time. On most occasions, I have to press the push button 10-15 times before it engages. Have read many complaints online regarding the same issue, especially for 2013 models.
Car started not being able to accelerate and shortly after the several warning lights came on and a message says that the FCW system had failed. When these warning lights turn on, the stability and performance of the car is affected. I have read several posts from Honda owners having the same issues. Honda has not taken responsibility to address the problem. The components affected are due to defective VSA modulator that costs over $1500 and it not easily available.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated while his wife was driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the electric power steering warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the residence. The contact stated his son was a mechanic and after using a code reader, he became aware of multiple error codes. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,715.
Steering is pulling to the left, mechanic inspected tires, suspension, and rack and pinion. No visible damage. Mechanic ran codes-no codes were displayed. Vehicle has EPS. Contacted dealer requested inspection and was given an appointment in 8 days. I believe other 2013 Honda Accords have experienced this problem. I am widowed so I have no options for alternate drivier, I will continue to drive until dealership can inspect. Not happy that the dealership could not look at this issue sooner, it is not like I need an oil change. The consumer stated that there were no further issues after repair.
Steering wheel spins to the left, I had it evaluated and it was a electrical problem with the steering wheel.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the steering wheel jerked aggressively causing him to lose his grip on the steering. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the rack and pinion were replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.
The paint is peeling on my 2013 Honda Accord. This seems to be an ongoing issue with the white orchid paint.
ABS Control Module failure at 174712 Diagnosed and replaced by licensed independent service center. Cost $450.00 Power Steering failure at 188,000. Still with independent service center. Estimated repair cost $900.00 Earlier engine replacement required as well with no warning, proper maintenance
While driving power steering goes out and car pulls to the side causing vehicle to go into other lane! Shutting off car and restarting temporarily fixes issue. Time between incidents ranges from 2 weeks to a month. First incident was 6 weeks ago and it has happened several times since (tonight being the third).
There is a steering problem. The wheel turns to the right on its own while driving. Vehicle was looked at by Honda Toms River, NJ on June 8, 2022. They recommended steering rack replacement. Car was driven back home to PA and we are awaiting direction from Honda.
I was driving and went to take a turn at a top sign and the wheel was turning itself to the right. It did the same after turning and going straight. The wheel was moving itself turning the car right when I was driving
As I was traveling in I-64 about a mile from the Brentwood offramp my steering became almost impossible to control. I continued with the flow of traffics for another 1/4 of mile and then was able to move my car to the interior lane with a lot of resistance. During this 1/4 mile my steering remained locked. I regained the ability to steer after that 1/4 mile, but it was Like in the days of without power steering. Then I was able to exit and stop my car. The light on the dash came on and after Resting it went off and my car returned to regular operation. The same thing happened 6 months ago on the freeway in California. That situation was almost identical.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that in May 2022, the vehicle experienced drive shaft failure. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with drive shaft failure. The contact was informed of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was informed that the drive shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was provided a discount for the repair. The contact later received the recall notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V422000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was contacted regarding the reimbursement of the cost of the repair. The contact was denied reimbursement for the cost of the repair. The contact was requested to provide financial institution documents indicating the withdrawal of the cash used to pay the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was unknown.
As i was driving i felt my steering wheel jerk violently to the right with no warning, as i continued to drive my steering wheel than jerked towards the right again on its own before locking up. I was not able to turn my wheel which was not only extremely dangerous but also very scary. I was luckily passing by a Honda dealership and they confirmed to me that my electric power steering was the reason behind the incident that occured. What is disturbing is that the day before i went to priority honda in chesapeake virginia and they changed my oil and supposedly checked the fluids etc on my car. They provided me with a report that stated my brake fluid was good. The other honda told me i had no brake fluid……….. they marked my power steering fluid as good… i have no power steering. I am considering my options right now and have not ruled out legal action. This was a very scary situation. The icing on top is the fact they spelled my name incorrectly as well as the wrong address…
Steering wheel turns itself to the left abruptly without warning.
Recieved a “FCW SYSTEM FAILED” on dash along with check engine light, power steering, LDW, FCW lights, brake system lights. Car wouldn’t turn off and trunk wouldn’t open. It has been seen by an independent service center.
My vehicle trunk randomly unlatches and opens. The trunk does both while driving and when parked. The key fob button to open the trunk is not pressed or in range during these incidents. This is a safety concern in that if can block my rearward view. It is also an inconvenience since it can lead to theft of contents and the car.
While driving down the highway, the car tried to rapidly turn to the right. I pulled into a parking lot and turned the steering wheel completely to the left. It then turned itself all the way to the right very quickly. It could be driven by forcefully holding onto the steering wheel and applying pressure to keep it from turning. The car would do a 90 degree turn without touching the steering wheel. Tires and alignment are fine. Vehicle is currently at the dealership being worked on.
Traveling down the interstate at 65-70 mph and the steering pulled very hard to the left and veered into the left lane decreases speed and had to counter steer to the right which keep me on the road. No warning or maintenance lights on. Dealership diagnosed with failed steering rack and a $3500 repair bill. 2013 Honda Accord EX L 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was pulling to the right. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered an open investigation under NHTSA Action Number: EA21001 which she linked to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
Power Steering failed while driving car causing me to nearly mow down a group of people waiting on curb for crosswalk.
Bought the car in 2013, and around 2015 it started having intermittent problems starting the car. After about 5-6 tries it would start normally and everything would be fine for couple of months. This went on all the way up to this year 2022. At least 6 different times of having my car inspected for this, they could not determine a cause. Come today, it won't start again, and after numerous times it won't start at all. After reading through many numerous owners having the same issues on Accord forums, Reddit and YouTube, the obvious cause is the starter is prone to failure. I am now trying to figure out a way to have my car towed to the dealer and dreading the cost of replacement for the starter including labor costs (when I've done everything pro-active to try to find the cause of this issue). I am sure I am not covered under any equipment warranty for this (but I sure was when I first reported this to them from 2015-2022.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated while starting the vehicle there was a grinding sound coming from the engine. The vehicle would not start immediately. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the failure with the starter switch. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure continued. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.
My car started pulling to the left, and no service lights appear on the dashboard, so I took it to the Honda dealership for an alignment. After inspection, the service consultant took me into the garage, and with my car on a lift, the mechanic turned the steering wheel all the way to the right and upon releasing it, the wheel turns all the way back to the left on its own (very quickly). He said the electronic power steering rack is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced, at a cost of $2,800. I ask if this would be covered under warranty, as it is a serious safety concern. He said it is not. I request a copy of the quote to review options, and I leave the dealership. An hour later the service consultant calls back to say only the electronic steering module needs to be replaced (and not the rack) so the total cost will now be $745 (including an alignment). Honda has recognized the problem, but will not cover under warranty unless diagnostic codes 53-01 or 53-02 appear, but neither code shows up in my vehicle. The car turns by itself to the left, which could potentially steer me into another lane (or oncoming traffic), and I believe this is a serious safety concern for everyone on the road.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle suddenly pulled to the right and the steering wheel could not be turned to the left. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted and an appointment to have the vehicle examined was scheduled. The manufacturer was not yet notified. The failure mileage was 100,292.
While driving around 65 mph on the freeway, the car suddenly became hard to steer. The electronic power steering seemed to fail, and multiple warning lights simultaneously appeared on the dashboard (Vehicle Stability Assist, Tire Pressure, Power Steering, Engine). I was in the middle of merging into another lane, and the wheel became jerky and less responsive. The car swerved, but I was able to regain control and pull over. I restarted the car a few times, but this did not resolve the issue. The next day, the power steering returned and the warning lights were no longer on. After driving locally for a few minutes (30+ mph), the power steering failed again, and the cluster of warning lights returned. The power steering continues to fail intermittently while driving, but will return seemingly randomly. I was able to bring the car to a certified Honda dealer, and my service advisor let me know the problem may be related to a known issue with the torque sensor, which had its warranty extended to 13 years in 2013 - 2014 Accords (TSB Warranty Extension 15-056). After inspecting my car, the error code DTC 85-01 was discovered (EPS - VSA malfunction), but it was not covered under the warranty extension (DTC 53-01 / 53-02). The service advisor determined "the problem is the gearbox internally not the outside sensors" and that the steering rack should be replaced at my expense (~$2500). I believe my safety and the safety of others was put at risk because this sudden loss of control could have led to a collision with a driver or pedestrian. This component is necessary to safely drive the car, and I believe the manufacturer is responsible for the premature failure of this component without warning. No warning lights were on prior to this incident, and there was no known history of symptoms/issues related to steering or other major components. No history of accidents. The car with faulty steering gearbox is available for inspection (2013 Honda Accord LX).