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 2014 Honda Accord seats are uncomfortable. Uncomfortable seats has been a significant complaint with the Accord since the 2008 model year.

8.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$610
Average Mileage:
36,150 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace alternator (4 reports)
  2. dealer's diagnostic showed a dead battery (1 reports)
2014 Honda Accord electrical problems

electrical problem

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2014 Honda Accord Owner Comments

problem #5

Jun 292019

Accord LX 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 48,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Same 2014 Honda. Never again... Honda has really gone down in quality. Barely 49,000 miles, and main components have started to fail.

This time it's the alternator, which also killed the battery. It reads 12.6 volts at idle, which is way too low (should be 13.6~14.

Anyways, I'm getting an after-market one to avoid "Honda Quality" - how ironic.

Update from Jun 29, 2019: The only alternators below 500 are used ones or from small brands. I will have to pay out big time for a name brand aftermarket alternator.

- Cy C., Chino Hills, US

problem #4

Oct 302018

Accord 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,000 miles

I hate a Honda. One problem after the next. We should be reimbursed.

- Christina M., Norfolk, US

problem #3

Apr 192018

Accord LX 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,944 miles

Over the last year the Hand-free Link intermittently stops working and I have to power the engine on and off in order for it to reconnect. About 3 weeks ago it appeared sluggish when starting it up. I turned it off and it started up again without a problem. Today I go out and the alarm won't work, so I use the key to enter the car. The car won't turn over, no key chiming, however, the dash indicator lights come on when I try and start the car. No engine cranking sounds at all. AAA comes, jumps the battery, runs a battery diagnostic and says that the alternator is bad. HOW can an alternator go bad on a car with less that 25K miles? I have a dealer appointment in the am and will probably have to call AAA for a jump in order to take for service. The car is still under warranty so they had better not try and charge me for this.

Update from Apr 22, 2018: AAA's diagnosis of a bad alternator was wrong. It was indeed the battery.

- barbiz, Inglewood, US

problem #2

Dec 292017

Accord LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles

Pretty normal driving conditions, took a drive up to Pacific Grove for the Holidays. Day three in pacific grove my car won't start in a street parking spot. Got it jumped by Triple A, left it running for a while, turned it off, instantly wouldn't start. Take it to Honda, Honda's closed for the Holidays. Take it to Midas, they say my alternator is shot. I'm pissed, I just had my starter fixed a few months ago. So they do the work, put in a new alternator, they call me, the car's not ready. Why? The electrical system apparently broke the new alternator, so they need to get a second one. They find the open recall on it, a recall Honda's LA service center could take care of cause they were too busy, and suggest I get that fixed before trying to do the alternator repair. I had to get back to LA for work, so I had to get a rental car, come back up, it was a whole thing. Ended up getting it all fixed, cost $1200 for the repair, a lot of extra time, and a car rental.

I called Honda to complain, their position was this is in no way related to the recall, they cant help, they wont help. Great. Not sure what else I can do.

Update from Jan 29, 2018: I earlier had a problem with the starter, and thought I'd just post it here for completeness: For about a week, my car won't start quite right. I have to try to start once or twice before it'll actually start. Not sure why, doesn't seem to be a big deal.

I take my car to Honda on a Friday for an electrical connection recall that I got, and before the service was done, I asked, any chance this electrical connection has to do with the car starting wonky? They say no, no way. Ok, great. A couple hours go by, they call me, "your car wont start." I'm like, yeah you have to try it a couple times now, it's weird. They invite me to come down to try, and son of a gun, it really wont start. It's 4:30 in the afternoon, so I can't take my car to my regular mechanic that I actually trust, so I tell them, ok I guess figure it out. They come back, your starter is busted, you need a new one, it's gonna cost over $1000. I protest, this doesn't have anything to do with the recall, seems like it's in the same family. They say no. I let it go, they do the fix, my car works, whatever.

- Stephen P., Los Angeles, US

problem #1

Apr 042017

Accord Sport 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,800 miles

Factory Honda battery under warranty was replaced by the dealer 18 months after the vehicle purchased.

Then a year later at 37,500 mile the alternator failed and stopped charging right after the car warranty expired. I took the replacement battery to AutoZone and they told me that it had a bad cell in it & very likely the bad battery caused the alternator to operate in a constant charging state causing the alternator to fail prematurely.

- irving10807, Royal Palm Beach, US

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