CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2013-2014 Honda Accord is showing signs of an electrical problem with the starter failing soon after the 36K mile warranty expires. It's compounded by reports that the OEM battery doesn't have sufficient amps to start the V6 reliably after a year or two.
For now we are rating this problem with the "Beware" seal because it's occurring so soon after the 36K mile warranty expires. The upshot is when your Accord won't start, that's never good, but especially bad when it's just a few years old.
Also once again, owners are complaining that the 2013 Honda Accord seats are uncomfortable. Uncomfortable seats has been a significant complaint with the Accord since the 2008 model year.
7.2
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$840
Average Mileage:
47,750 miles
Total Complaints:
44 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (25 reports)
replace starter (14 reports)
new battery (2 reports)
repair starter (1 reports)
replaced battery (1 reports)
replaced starter which had a dead zone (1 reports)
We recently purchased this car from a used car dealer who had purchased if from Honda on a lease return. The car had 35,000 miles when we purchased it less than 6 months ago....I contacted my local mechanic who I have trusted my car repairs to for the past 14 years. He diagnosed the problem and I have an appointment on 6/15/2017 to have the starter replaced with a rebuilt starter from his supplier in San Francisco. I have NEVER had any car in the past 50 years I have been driving need a new starter or a new battery and this has had both. The used car dealer, Bob's Fine Cars in Eureka, CA replaced the battery just prior to my purchase.
This certainly ought to be a NHTSA ordered recall on this problem. Honda needs to own up to the problem. This is the FIRST and most likely the LAST Honda I will buy. My 2008 Camry has well over 100k on it and is still on the original starter! If this is all the better Honda can do, then I will be buying Toyota next time!
I am the original owner of a 2013 Honda Accord LX. At about 37 months (October 2016) after purchase, with only 14K miles on the car, I started having an intermittent starting problem. I would turn the key, the dash lights would come on, there would be 1 click from the engine compartment but the engine did not crank and would not start. At 1st it would happen about once per month and always started on the 2nd try. The problem slowly became more frequent until by April 2017 it was happening almost every time I tried to start the car. I had the battery replaced by the dealer in March 2017 but this didn't make a difference. The problem did not generate any error codes. I took my car to the dealer last week when the problem was occurring on almost every start attempt and the dealer was able to confirm that it was a bad starter which I had them replace. The new starter cost me $800 and my car is only 3.6 years old and only had 17K miles at the time of the replacement. I contacted Honda Corporate asking for some financial consideration but they said no.
I have a 2013 Honda Accord Sport. The issue I will be describing has occurred on several occasions and I have brought it into multiple Honda dealers to try and get fixed.
The issue with the engine cranking and then instantly dying. When this occurs specific lights are lit on my dash: ABS light, oil, engine, steering, and the tire sensor is blinking.
I've had the starter checked (and replaced), the alternator checked, the fuel pump, and the Idle Air Valve. Everything seems good mechanically.
One Honda technician said other Honda Accord owners have come in the same issue. The earliest I remember this problem happening is around 25K miles.
The weather is not an issue. I'm in SoCal and each time it has happened the weather was mild in the high 60s to low 80s.
The best solution that the dealership has come up with is to reinstall the software. That seems to work for a few months to a year, and then it happens again. So frustrating.
Any other suggestions out there from people who experienced the same issue?
Update from May 11, 2017: PS. The engine stays off for some time...and each time so far...maybe after a few tries or a few hours, the car just starts up again. Very frustrating.
My 2013 Honda Accord won't start when I turn the key in the ignition until after about three or four tries. I replaced the battery back in September or October because I was told that was the problem. But after two or three months, I have another problem with the car not starting. I notice that there are several other people on this site that are experiencing the same problem as I am. Surely, this has got to be cause for a recall.
My husband and I purchased a new 2013 Honda Accord V6 because of all the great reports. Shortly before our oil change and filter service was due on August 16, 2016 at 57168 miles, I had several times that the car would not start when I pushed in brake and pushed the start button. This happen maybe two times before service was done. I mentioned to the technician and they checked and could not find anything wrong. At my next visit on December 8, 2016, the problem was getting worse. At this time it was happening a couple of times a week. Again, they could not get it to not start. They said it might be that I need a new starter and if that was the case it would only get worse. Now in March 2013, it happens almost every day. I have not been left stranded yet but I am very disappointed with this Honda.
This is the last and only Honda (2013 Accord LX) I will buy. They are supposed to be reliable. I'm not so sure anymore. Six or so months (with 33,000 miles on the car) after the warranty ran out, the battery had to be replaced. Now, I'm going to have to replace the starter. You turn the key on to start and you hear nothing. No clicks (such as from the starter solenoid), but all the dash lights come on. Then, when you try to crank it for the second or third time, it cranks. Holmes Honda (Shreveport, LA) says that it will take $800. to replace the starter. I bought one off Ebay for $79. (used). This weekend I'm going to replace the starter. I hope that it helps. When I first got the car (new), the back seat wouldn't go down after pulling the latch in the trunk. I took it back to have it fixed. It worked awhile, but now I have the same problem. Is this reliable? I don't think so!
When you try to crank the 2013 Honda Accord, it may or may not crank. Normally on the second try, it cranks. It only has about 32,000 miles on it. Out of warranty. I thought Hondas were supposedly super reliable.
For the past few months the push button start has been intermittent. Sometimes it will start right away, sometimes all I get is a click, and sometimes nothing. Often have to push it several times before the car will finally start. The battery in the key fob is new, the car battery has been checked at the dealer and passed. The dealer is not sure what the problem is. Said it could be the starter but not sure. Of course the car is just out of warranty now and to replace the starter will be around 7or 8 hundred dollars. That is bad enough but if that is not the problem, then what? This car is really starting to piss me off. I even e mailed Jason the Honda Pro -as seen on you tube -- he responded by saying he never heard of this problem. I told him there are lots of videos on you tube complaining about this same issue. Never heard anymore from him. If anyone knows for sure what the problem is would sure like to hear from them.
7:45 AM, temperature outside of 22 degrees and the car will not start. Never had any problem before. Online search indicates this is common problem with the push button starter. Love the push button, but not worth a loss in reliability. Jump start and the car was fine...until the next frigid day two weeks later. Making appointment with dealer and fortunately still under warranty.
I’ve owned 9 Honda’s. I have the same complaint I see all over the internet. The problem, my 2013 (Accord EXL-NAV, 2.4L CVT) when I press the start button the engine does not start, all the lights come on (out of warranty), replaced the battery and it worked fine for 8 months. Dealer told me I need a new starter! was pissed $800. The reason I buy Honda is not to have costly expenses like this. Not ready to spend $800 on a new starter. When I press the starter several times it starts. I also replaced the battery in the key fob I do realize the key fob does not need a battery in it to start the car. Do the right thing Honda, take care of loyal customers.
No solution yet. First time in years I’m considering fixing this Honda and switching to a Ford, several people I work with love their Ford.
I purchased my car in October 2015 with 30,000 miles on it which, in Honda World, is basically a brand new car. A year later, in Nov 2016, I'm having issues with the starter. I turn the key and nothing happens. Sometimes it starts on the first try and sometimes, it can take up to 5 or 6 times to try get it to start. This should NOT happen at 41,000 miles on a HONDA! I've had Hondas all my life and I have never experienced anything like this before. I called the dealer and they informed me that they've SEEN this in the 2013 Honda Accords. Well, if they've SEEN this--this should be a recall. The man informed me that because i was over 36,000 miles, they would not fix it at no charge. I check on line and I see that I am not the only one. This angers me. I'm still paying for the car and now Honda wants approximately 700 dollars to fix???? I understand brakes, oil changes and tires--regular maintenance--but a new starter at 41,000 miles????? A little ridiculous to me. I've been shopping around to get a new starter so far the most inexpensive quote was $400. I'm a single mom with two children and a reliable car is a MUST in my life so it looks like I will have to fork over the money and it's Christmastime too. This could not have happened at a worse time. This should be a recall!!!
About a month ago my 2013 Honda began just clicking on when pushing the start button and after several tries it would finally start. This was right after the warranty expired. It gradually kept getting worse and worse, so today I took it to the dealership. The service rep said yes the solenoid in the starter is out, he knew without even looking at it which makes me believe this is very common problem. I believe this item needs to be a recall, today I attempted to file a BBB and was not able to because BBB only allows complaints for 2012 and older.
As with others on your site with this issue, it started out as just sometimes not starting but usually always cranked on at least the 3rd try. This past Sunday the starter completely locked up. This car is less than 4 years old and less than 60K miles. It should not be having a broken starter this soon. My 2006 Accord did have a starter and switch replaced but that was at 145K miles. Thankfully I bought the extended warranty on this vehicle due to the amount of electrical bells and whistles it had. Never would have thought I would have had to use it for a starter. Based on what I am seeing on the Net, there obviously is an issue and Honda needs to address it. Called Honda Customer Service number and vented my frustrations about the issue. I have had more major issues with this Accord than my previous 3 combined.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY COULD FIND THER PROBLEM. IT IS A PAIN TO CONTINUE TO BRING YOUR CAR BACK IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN YOU GET ON THE HONDA WEBSITE YOU CAN SEE WHERE HONDA ACCORD TOURING CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL
Occasionally when first turning the key in the ignition the car does not start. It always starts on the second try. I have changed the battery and taken it to several places and no one can give me a definite explanation. Since its an intermittent problem it is sometimes hard for the mechanics to duplicate the issue, which is very frustrating. I have also contacted Honda, and been told they have not heard of this problem and it should not be a starter issue since the car only has 60,000 miles. I drive a Honda Accord Sport 2013 and upon researching it seems many 2013 owners are having similar problems. Honda really needs to address this issue and do a recall for the problem
41000 miles and failed starter. Not at all up to any car maker standards. Told by dealer they have seen this. Think they have seen more than a few. They knew what was wrong in two minutes. Push button start did not work on first try occasionally. Then became more often and required 3 to 4 tries. Then became almost all of the time. Frustrating to have such a major repair so early in car's life.
I went to pick my kid up from school yesterday and parked while I waited. I was listening to the radio and had the hazard lights on. After he came out I tried starting the car and nothing happened. The car would not start. At first I thought it was the battery but all the accessories worked. All the dash lights, radio, dome lights worked. I tried a few times to crank the car but it won't start. The car made no sounds at all with the exception of a faint clicking.
I had the car towed to my mechanic and he immediately jumped the battery and the car started. He replaced the battery and realized that the new battery wasn't charging. So he kept the car to diagnose the problem further. I haven't heard from him today so, I'm not sure what's wrong with the car. I suspect the alternator.
I've had several cars over the years, some of them were not very good, yet I have never been stranded on the side of the road until now. I have friends, neighbors and relatives that own Hondas with 100K + miles on their odometers and not one of them has ever had this happen. My car is three years old with approx. 41K miles. This should not happen to any car especially a Honda.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
We recently purchased this car from a used car dealer who had purchased if from Honda on a lease return. The car had 35,000 miles when we purchased it less than 6 months ago....I contacted my local mechanic who I have trusted my car repairs to for the past 14 years. He diagnosed the problem and I have an appointment on 6/15/2017 to have the starter replaced with a rebuilt starter from his supplier in San Francisco. I have NEVER had any car in the past 50 years I have been driving need a new starter or a new battery and this has had both. The used car dealer, Bob's Fine Cars in Eureka, CA replaced the battery just prior to my purchase.
This certainly ought to be a NHTSA ordered recall on this problem. Honda needs to own up to the problem. This is the FIRST and most likely the LAST Honda I will buy. My 2008 Camry has well over 100k on it and is still on the original starter! If this is all the better Honda can do, then I will be buying Toyota next time!
- Chuck C., Mckinleyville, CA, US