Research · Midsize Cars · 2 NHTSA variants

2013 Honda AccordRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 1,438 owner complaints for the 2013 Honda Accord. Most complaints involve steering (506) and electrical system (420). The EPA rates it 21–30 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
21–30mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest Jun 2025
Owner complaints
1,438
Top: steering
Fuel cost / yr
$2,150est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Power train: driveshaft

Free remedy

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.

Power trainReported Jun 20, 2025NHTSA 25V422000

Fuel system

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Dec 19, 2023NHTSA 23V858000

Power train: driveshaft

Free remedy

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.

Power trainReported Dec 10, 2020NHTSA 20V769000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

1,438 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2012 – Oct 2026
  1. Steering506
  2. Electrical system420
  3. Engine179
  4. Service brakes111
  5. Power train111
  6. Vehicle speed control51
  7. Air bags51
  8. Seats47
  9. Forward collision avoidance46

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Accord model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996478
1997467
19981,215
19991,144
20001,193
2001932
20021,062
20032,013
20041,018
2005686
2006433
2007524
20081,521
2009727
2010581
2011296
2012381
20131,438
2014984
2015602
2016613
2017540
20181,897
2019698
2020368
2021246
2022262
202388
2024153
202599
202614
Crashes reported
67
Fires reported
9
Injuries reported
59
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Steering

506 reports21 crashes1 fire
“Honda of Nanuet declined to fix the recall issue on my 2013 honda accord sport. a recall in regards to "A corroded drive shaft could break under high torque applications" They did not notify me of the issue until after the expiration date of the time standard for the recall notice. I took the vehicle into the service center to fix the recall. They stated they would not work on the vehicle unless they were authorized to fix a different part that they claimed needed to be removed to access the drive shaft. That fixing the different part would cost approximately $1500 and that they would not address the recall issue unless i paid the estimated amount on the different part. I have since contacted Honda My Garage to get the issue resolved as i received another notice to recall the part. they have not responded to me in regards to fixing the recall. Instead I have only received a letter from honda of nanuet to buy my car. THey are avoiding fixing the recall.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2026Steering, Unknown or otherODI 11764815

Electrical system

420 reports9 crashes6 fires
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that a mileage discrepancy was discovered after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle's mileage was 120,000. It was later discovered upon checking Carfax, that the mileage was 209,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2026Electrical systemODI 11771405

Engine

179 reports5 crashes2 fires
“DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 81-20 INTERNAL CIRCUIT FAILURE. CLEARED DTC. ROAD TEST VEHICLE, 81-20 DTC RETURN REPLACE VSA MODULATOR W/BRAKE FLUSH, STARTER MOTOR INTERMITTENTLY SEIZING UP, FRONT ENGINE MOUNT LEAKING, BOTH FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS LEAKING GREASE, VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING. HIGH MILEAGE AND NO HISTORY. RECOMMEND VALVE ADJUSTMENT, SPARKPLUGS AND VALVE COVER GASKET, RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT WORN, VTC ACTUATOR FAULTY, RATTLE NOISE AT START UP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 10, 2026Suspension, Electrical system, EngineODI 11749462
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.5L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Automatic (AV-S7) · Manual 6-spd · Automatic 6-spd · Automatic (S6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Accord
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
263530$2,150300
Accord
Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
263429$2,200307
Accord
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
243427$2,400327
Accord
Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
213325$2,550353
Accord
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
213124$2,700365
Accord
Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182821$3,050414
  • Accord
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    26 city · 35 hwy · $2,150/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Accord
    Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    26 city · 34 hwy · $2,200/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • Accord
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    24 city · 34 hwy · $2,400/yr
    27
    mpg comb.
  • Accord
    Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    21 city · 33 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Accord
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    21 city · 31 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Accord
    Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    18 city · 28 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Honda Accord 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.9%
Overall
5 / 5
Honda Accord 2 DR FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 7523Vehicle 7522
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2013 Accord questions

How many recalls does the 2013 Honda Accord have?

6 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2013 Honda Accord problems?

Owners filed 1,438 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are steering (506), electrical system (420), engine (179). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2013 Honda Accord get?

The EPA rates the 2013 Honda Accord at 21–30 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

How safe is the 2013 Honda Accord?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2013 Honda Accord 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026