YearToAvoid

2013 Honda Accord Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 424 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Honda Accord, 30% of all complaints for that year, with 9 crashes, 6 fires and 7 injuries reported. Honda recall 17V418000 covers a battery sensor case that can let in water and cause electrical failure.

Electrical System complaints
424
30% of 1,421
Crashes reported
9
Fires reported
6
Injuries reported
7
Median mileage
50,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe smoke or fire coming from under the hood near the fuse box or dash, sometimes while the vehicle is parked.
  • Some report sudden dash light activation paired with the engine racing, leading to unintended forward movement into objects.
  • Back-up camera and proximity warning chime reportedly failed to activate during reverse parking maneuvers, resulting in a crash.
  • Several complaints tie electrical system smoke or fire to the 17V418000 recall for the battery sensor case, noting the recall notice arrived after the incident.
  • Owners at a median of 50,000 miles report the electrical failures described above.

When 2013 Honda Accord electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 2, 2012, latest Sep 21, 2026.

2013 Honda Accord electrical system complaints: complaints filed per quarter262012 Q42014 Q32016 Q22018 Q12019 Q42021 Q32023 Q22025 Q1
424 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2017 Q4 (26).

Electrical System recalls for the 2013 Honda Accord

  1. NHTSA 17V418000Jun 29, 2017Electrical System1,148,550 vehicles

    Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Honda Accord vehicles. The case for the battery sensor, part of the battery management system, may allow water to get in, potentially causing an electrical short.

    Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensor, free of charge. Dealers will perform an interim remedy of applying adhesive to the case to prevent water intrusion. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support Center at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KG0.

Electrical System complaints by Accord model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201038 (7%)
  2. 201119 (6%)
  3. 201235 (9%)
  4. 2013424 (30%)
  5. 2014389 (40%)
  6. 2015242 (40%)
  7. 2016310 (51%)
  8. 2017171 (32%)
  9. 2018311 (17%)
  10. 2019115 (17%)
  11. 202053 (15%)
  12. 202162 (27%)
  13. 2022100 (40%)
  14. 202322 (26%)
  15. 202423 (16%)
  16. 202511 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical complaints does NHTSA have for the 2013 Honda Accord?
NHTSA lists 424 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Accord, which is 30% of the 1,421 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Honda Accord electrical system?
Yes. Recall 17V418000, reported June 29, 2017, covers 2013-2016 Accords where the battery sensor case may let in water and cause an electrical issue. Honda's remedy replaces the sensor free of charge, with an interim remedy offered as well.
At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2013 Accord is 50,000 miles.
Did the electrical issues cause any crashes or fires?
NHTSA data for this component and year shows 9 crashes, 6 fires, and 7 injuries reported among the 424 electrical complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.