7.9

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$620
Average Mileage:
54,100 miles
Total Complaints:
116 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replaced the starter (63 reports)
  2. not sure (21 reports)
  3. dealer replaced the starter (15 reports)
  4. replace starter (12 reports)
  5. dealer replaced the starter which fixed the problem (2 reports)
  6. replace starter, flexplate, rotate torque converter (2 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Honda dealer.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #36

Oct 012016

Accord LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,000 miles

The car would never start on the first turn of the key ,issue started from October 2016 , initially was thinking of a bad battery , but even after a battery change the starting issue continued to exist, would never start on the first turn of the key and got it confirmed with the dealer today.

This 2013 Honda Accord LX now has 26000 miles only its going to cost $850(diagnostics 149.99+tax already paid to confirm - ~3.5% of the OTD price I got) for replacing at the dealer. Not sure on the quality tests conducted to prevent failures at this minimum mileage use. Currently looking for replacement at a fair price.

- Nagharajan R., East Brunswick, NJ, US

problem #35

Dec 292016

Accord EX-L 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,775 miles

2013 Honda Accord EX-L. Purchased as a Honda certified used vehicle (lease return) in August 2015 with 29,000 miles (now has 53,700 miles).

Starting in Fall 2016, we began having the same intermittent starter problems described on this site. Many days, the car started fine. Other days, when pressing the Start button, the power came on but the starter refused to engage. Then, after anywhere from two to ten attempts, it would eventually start. A Google search of "2013 Honda Accord start problems" yielded the 35 complaints on this site and six Youtube videos, with descriptions mirroring our exact experience.

After one particularly frustrating morning of pressing the Start button 10+ times and not ever starting, we had the Accord towed to our local Honda dealer, where it also would not start. We tried to convey to the service tech, without success, the information I found that suggested a possible starter problem with 2013 Accords. Instead, they told us that replacing the battery fixed the problem.

Of course, when I picked the car up, it started fine. But, over the next month, the Accord failed to start on 11 of 26 days. So, I again brought the car back to the Honda service department, where it started normally. I found it insulting that they tried to convince me that the problem was user error - because I left the lights on, didn't have the fob close enough to the ignition, etc. After more than a year of ownership, I know how to start my own damn car!!! The first service tech didn't seem interested when I explained the history and that the intermittent no start seemed to be a common problem with the 2013 Honda Accord (although I did later get the attention of a second service tech who was willing to follow through on a google search and then saw the same set of complaints and youtube videos).

I knew if they kept the car long enough, they would see the problem. After holding the car, the dealer saw the non-start problem first hand on the second day and (surprise! surprise!) eventually concluded the problem was a bad starter. Total bill ended up being $150 for the battery (first visit), and $975 for the starter replacement (second visit). Unfortunately, our Honda extended warranty expired at 48,000 miles, so this repair bill was all on us. We are not happy Honda owners. One reason to buy this car was because of Honda's reputation for dependability and reliability. This whole experience has left me with a bad impression of what Honda has become. A three year old car should not have this type of failure! Given the large number of 2013 Honda Accord owners with this same complaint, Honda needs to do the right thing and admit they have a problem.

- Walt T., Aurora, OR, US

problem #34

Nov 012016

Accord LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

Never going to get Honda Again. Starter Broken at 30k Miles. This is ridiculous.

- art007, Minneapolis, MN, US

problem #33

May 112016

Accord EX-L 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

Starting to think my 2013 Accord EX-L is a piece of sh*t. Starter problem is happening more often. Sometimes takes me 3-4 attempts to start. Starter spins, sounds like a grind. Maybe not engaging all the way to flywheel. I've heard this noise before with older cars when starter engages but flywheel is seized. Obviously the flywheel is not seized in my case because the car eventually starts .... so far. Many people seem to have complained about this exact same problem with the same model and year Honda. I am not looking forward to replacing a $500 starter and include additional $$ for labor.

- Joel M., Lakehurst, NJ, US

problem #32

Dec 042016

Accord EXL 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,041 miles

I have quote for a new starter ,The one from Honda is $483 and $122 an hour to put it in so we are looking at over $800! This is outrageous! I got a quote from Autozone for $275 plus $50 core . The $50 which would be returned to me once I give them the starter. For what to refurbish it. Seriously $122 hour no wonder all these dealerships make so much money, I was told not to put an after market part in by my dealership. So they can make more money. My son told me to buy American I think I will

- Mary N., Shorewood, IL, US

problem #31

Nov 012016

Accord EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

My 2013 Honda Accord EX will not start again. It has been having issues like this for about 3 months and I have ignored for the most part because after 3 or 4 attempts it would start perfectly. Then I changed the battery just to be safe and it seemed to work a little better. Now it wont start at all however the lights radio and everything else works. I called Honda and they said it was not a recall because they have not had many complaints from consumers. WHAT! Based on the internet this is a very know issue. Wonder how many complaints they have to have before they issue a recall. My warranty expired last month. Too bad for me. I hate the velcro carpet too Honda! My 5th Honda in my lifetime and this one by far is so cheapened it is ridiculous. It it was not a gift from my husband I would have never driven off the lot with it.

- Tina F., Grapevine, TX, US

problem #30

Oct 012016

Accord EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,500 miles

About a month ago my 2013 Honda began intermittently not doing anything when turning the key (right after 37000 miles of course). No grind, no click, just nothing. It began getting worse and worse and finally last week after trying for over an hour, I gave up and had to leave my car at work. After it sat for a day I tried again and it started after three times. I drove it straight to the dealer. The service rep knew it was a faulty solenoid in the starter as soon as I described it to him (those were his words). That's a pretty solid indicator that this is a common problem.

It was an $850 repair for a part that really shouldn't fail at all--especially three years into owning it. I've had good luck with Honda's and they usually have a good rep for standing behind their products. I'm really disappointed that they haven't done a recall on this since it's an obvious issue with this model.

- Jason S., Thompsons Station, TN, US

problem #29

Nov 012016

Accord ES V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles

Car is not reliable to start. There's no way it needs a new battery or starter.

- Ken M., Chicago, IL, US

problem #28

Sep 012016

Accord Sport

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,000 miles

Car starter went dead right after I hit the 36,000 mile mark! Warranty initially said they will not cover it as the car was 1 month out of warranty but eventually they covered it @ 100% coverage given proximity to warranty expiration. It seems like a common problem with a Honda Accord 2013 model

- Ahmed T., Cleveland, OH, US

problem #27

Aug 242016

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

A bad starter at three years old and 62,000 miles...Honda should issue a recall!!!!

- hurli18, Goshen, NY, US

problem #26

Oct 052016

Accord Sport 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,250 miles

Similar to other posts I've read here, my car was having intermittent issues starting. I'd turn the key and nothing. I'd turn it a second time and presto, car would start. This would happen every now and again. Not every time and not frequent enough that I really thought it was an issue.

I initially thought battery, but when I went to get the my oil changed, the service dept mentioned nothing about my battery voltage (something they typically check as an inspection point).

Finally, after driving to a friend's house, my 2013 Honda Accord Sport would not start. Battery power was fine...radio worked, lights, etc. Tried jumping (wanted to rule out all variables) and jumping the car did nothing.

Had to get it towed to Honda dealership. $550.00 for starter and 1.5 hours labor to change. Total first quote was $800.00. My car is 38 months old and has approx. 40,000 miles on it...out of standard 36mo/36,000 mile warranty and a starter is NOT considered powertrain warranty.

Tow charge and repair will be close to $900.00 friggin dollars. Ridiculous. Also, FYI...there are NO aftermarket 2013 Honda accord starters available on the market today. There are RE-manufactured ones available thru your typical O'Reilly, Autozone, etc. Reman cost is approx. $250.00 with the core (old starter returned).

Ugh. Super disappointed. A starter going out anything shy of 100k miles is a defect/poor quality starter. Shame on Honda. I'm curious if 2014 and 2015 accords use the same starter or a different one. If different, I would assume that Honda knows there is a poor quality starter out there.

- bmizac, Greensboro, NC, US

problem #25

Aug 012016

Accord EX 2.4L 4

  • CVT transmission
  • 49,000 miles

This is an intermittent problem that seems to be getting worse. I don't expect that the starter motor itself is the issue as it starts normally most of the time. I suspect a flywheel clearance or some such defect that may be difficult or complicated to repair. In any case the dealer says replacing the starter for $$$ is the only solution. Honda should take some responsibility.

Update from Nov 30, 2016: The Honda dealer took no responsibility as the warranty was over. I had the starter replaced by a local non-dealer Honda mechanic for $650.

- stalzer, Wellesley Hills, MA, US

problem #24

Dec 012015

Accord EXL V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 35,000 miles

At least once a day when I get in my car to start it, it makes an awful grinding noise and doesn't crank. After trying several times it will start. The battery in my key has been replaced, new battery, new starter, torque converter shimmed, transmission has been serviced and its still doing the same thing. No one can seem to find the problem. It's really aggravating. As soon as its fixed, this Honda is gone.

- bnr, Martinsville, VA, US

problem #23

Aug 312016

Accord Sport V4

  • CVT transmission
  • 49,000 miles

My car was intermittently starting about 4 weeks ago. I replaced the battery thinking it was a bad battery and this seemed to fix the problem. I had a week of no problems but then the car wouldn't start and I was left stranded. I got the car to start the next day on the 15th try and drove it right to the dealership/service. They diagnosed it as a bad starter and agreed to put in a new one. They gave me a break and paid 80% of the cost. I paid the remaining $130 and was pleased to have it fixed in 2 hours at a reduced price. I hope to have no more problems moving forward.

- rcasey7, Flemington, NJ, US

problem #22

Aug 252016

Accord Sport 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles

This type of problem should still be under warranty!

- Kevin C., Jackson, MI, US

problem #21

Jul 012016

Accord Touring

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,311 miles

I came across this site after a Google search about the starter failure on 2013 Honda Accord. I had the similar issue where the car would click and instrument panel power would turn on but the engine wouldn't turn. At first it was a nuisance however the engine would start the 2nd try. Then it slowly started to get worst where engine wouldn't start even after pressing the button 2-3 times. One day it got really bad and didn't turn ON until after 10 tries. I took it to the dealership and they discovered my starter motor had gone bad. They replaced it for free under warranty and I haven't had any issues since.

- rammrrod, Toronto, ON, Canada

problem #20

Aug 112016

Accord EX-L 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles

My car began starting to just click once when trying to start. If I pressed or held the button it would eventually start after several times. I knew there was an issue. I called and scheduled an appointment but they were two weeks out. Before my two week appointment my car would not start. I had to get it towed to a dealer for replacement. It is less than 3 years old but has 46,000 miles. Since it is 10,000 miles over the warranty of 36,000 miles the Honda dealer charged me $620. They tried to charge me $750 but I had called previously and asked for a price for a starter replacement and was told $600. I let them know that and they said when they quoted me they looked it up wrong but will honor the misquote. What a joke. Such a scam. I shouldn't have to replace my starter motor in a 33 month old car with 46,000 miles. I have a Honda Accord 2008 EX that I have never had an issue with. This seems like Honda purchased poor starter motors and is making the customers pay for it. This should be a recall issue that Honda should pay for.

- wallacb2, Lehi, UT, US

problem #19

Jul 252016

Accord EX-L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

I had trouble starting my car. I would push the brake, then the start button, but the car would only turn on not start up. Having already been told that my battery was bad I spent $150 on a new battery. The next day, same issue. Did some research online and found out it could be multiple things: bad starter, bad battery/battery cables, bad brake sensor, bad neutral safety switch, bad charging system, issue with the key/key system. I brought my car back to the dealership and they tested "everything." They ran all the diagnosis tests and everything passed, no codes came back. They tested the starter and it passed. They tried replicating the problem but the car started fine every time. So they let it sit parked for the rest of the day until I came back at 5:00pm and when they went to pull it around for me, surprise surprise it wouldn't start. So having witnessed the issue first hand, the tech said it was a bad starter. He couldn't explain why the starter had gone out after only 3 years, he couldn't say that starters have improved in quality since then, and he couldn't give me any reassurance that the new starter will last any longer than the first one. I spent $701 on parts, labor, and tax. The new starter comes with a generous (sarcasm) 1 year/12,000 mile warranty. I am PISSED! I am a loyal Honda fan. This is my second Accord; I didn't even consider any other car when it was time for a new car. I convinced my mom and my cousin to buy Accords. Now here I am spending $700 to fix a freaking THREE year old car. I'm reading numerous complaints about other people's starters going out and the tech at the dealership said they replaced the starter in another 2013 Accord about 6 mos ago. I think Honda should at least reimburse me for part of the expense to fix my car and I will be contacting them directly.

- amberlc1979, Hammond, LA, US

problem #18

Jul 102016

Accord Sport 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,063 miles

Purchased my Honda 2013 Accord Sport largely on Honda's reputation of being trouble-free cars that don't break down. Well, surprise, surprise. At 46,000 miles the starter on my (semi) new Honda cratered. Besides being without a car for two days, it cost me about $750 to fix. Why did it break? "Dunno" was the answer I got. I'm hoping this isn't a warning of things to come.

- Andy P., College Place, WA, US

problem #17

Aug 032015

Accord V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

I have had to sit in my car for 8 minutes trying to turn my car off. The engine would turn off but the power on the dash would come back on. I have also had problems trying to turn the car off totally. Once I had to turn the car off and start it back up several times just to get the power to go off.

Update from Jun 13, 2016: I talked to the service department today and it was my starter. The cost to fix it would have been $6xx but I purchased the extended warranty so I only have to pay $100.00

- Quinzella E., Douglasville, GA, US

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