--- title: "2013-2017 Honda Accord Problems and Years to Avoid" description: "5 documented problems with the 2013-2017 Honda Accord, with symptoms, affected years, and typical repair costs. 4 carry a recall or TSB number." url: "https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/common-problems" updated: "2026-08-20" --- # 2013-2017 Honda Accord Common Problems and Years to Avoid 5 documented problems with the 2013-2017 Honda Accord, with symptoms, affected years, and typical repair costs. 4 carry a recall or TSB number. **Quick answer**: We have 5 documented problems on record for the 2013-2017 Honda Accord, none of them rated serious and 4 carry a recall or service bulletin. ## 2013-2017 Honda Accord recalls and service bulletins | Recall / TSB | Issue | Severity | | --- | --- | --- | | Honda TSB 16-061 / A17-017 / A17-018 | CVT torque-converter judder / shudder | moderate | | Honda TSB A16-002; class actions filed 2017 (no NHTSA recall) | Starter grinds at startup / early starter failure | moderate | | Honda TSB A18-010 and related bulletins | VTC actuator rattle at cold start | minor | | Honda TSB A15-056 (warranty extension) | Electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor, warranty extension | moderate | Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the vehicle's age, mileage, or how many owners it has had. Check your VIN against the NHTSA database to see what is still outstanding. ## CVT torque-converter judder / shudder (moderate) CVT-equipped 2.4L cars can shudder or judder under light throttle at roughly 20-60 mph as the torque-converter lock-up clutch engages, usually from degraded fluid or lock-up control logic. Honda's fix is a software update plus an HCF-2 fluid change, with torque converter replacement if judder persists (TSB 16-061, superseded by A17-017/A17-018). Fresh HCF-2 fluid every 25-30k is cheap insurance. Most affected: 2013-2015 (most reports). Typical cost: $120-$250 (software + fluid); $1,500-$3,000 if the torque converter or valve body is replaced out of warranty. Recall/TSB: Honda TSB 16-061 / A17-017 / A17-018. ## Starter grinds at startup / early starter failure (moderate) Starters on 2013-2015 Accords can grind at start-up due to inadequate clearance between the starter gear and the torque-converter ring gear, and outright starter failures well before 100k mi drew multiple class-action suits. Honda issued TSB A16-002 for the grinding; failed units are replaced with an updated starter. Intermittent no-crank with a good battery is the classic symptom. Most affected: 2013-2015. Typical cost: $450-$800 parts and labor out of warranty. Recall/TSB: Honda TSB A16-002; class actions filed 2017 (no NHTSA recall). ## VTC actuator rattle at cold start (minor) A 1-3 second grinding rattle at cold start on the 2.4L is the K24's well-known VTC (variable timing control) actuator lock-pin not holding. It is annoying more than destructive, but Honda revised the actuator and covered many replacements under TSBs. Fix is a new actuator. Labor-heavy because the timing chain must come off. Most affected: 2013-2017 (2.4L). Typical cost: $600-$1,100 out of warranty. Recall/TSB: Honda TSB A18-010 and related bulletins. ## Electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor, warranty extension (moderate) A manufacturing defect in the EPS torque sensor can trigger the EPS warning light and loss of power assist (steering still works, just heavy). Honda extended the torque-sensor warranty to 13 years with no mileage limit on affected 2013-2015 cars and notified owners in late 2018. If the EPS light is on, have a dealer check coverage before paying for a rack. Most affected: 2013-2015. Typical cost: Free under the warranty extension; $1,100-$1,800 for a rack/column repair otherwise. Recall/TSB: Honda TSB A15-056 (warranty extension). ## Hybrid: dead 12V auxiliary battery strands the car (minor) The small trunk-area 12V battery on Accord Hybrids commonly dies around the 4-5 year mark, and the car will not 'READY' even though the high-voltage pack is fine, symptoms look like total electrical failure. Jump-starting at the under-hood jump terminal wakes it up; the cure is a new AGM battery of the same size. Keep the 12V tested after year three. Most affected: 2014-2015, 2017 (hybrid). Typical cost: $180-$320. Problems listed here are compiled from NHTSA complaints, recalls, technical service bulletins, and widely documented owner reports for the 2013-2017 Honda Accord. Not every vehicle will experience these issues. ## Which Honda Accord model years does this cover? These problems and recalls specifications apply to every Honda Accord built from 2013 through 2017, the 9th generation, mid-size sedan and coupe. Nothing in this specification changes between those model years. - [2013 Accord](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013) - [2014 Accord](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2014) - [2015 Accord](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2015) - [2016 Accord](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2016) - [2017 Accord](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2017) ## What changed during the 2013-2017 Honda Accord | Years | What changed | | --- | --- | | 2013 | Generation launch; Earth Dreams engines, CVT replaces the old 5AT on 4-cylinders | | 2014 | Accord Hybrid (196 hp i-MMD) and Accord Plug-In launch; Plug-In sold in limited states for 2014 only | | 2016-2017 | Facelift: new fascias, Honda Sensing widely available, Sport/Touring move to 19-in wheels, electronic parking brake, LED headlights on upper trims. Hybrid skips 2016, returns for 2017 at 212 hp (built in Japan) | ## 2013-2017 Honda Accord problems and recalls: common questions ### What are the most common problems with the 2013-2017 Honda Accord? The recurring ones are: cvt torque-converter judder / shudder; starter grinds at startup / early starter failure; vtc actuator rattle at cold start; electric power steering (eps) torque sensor, warranty extension; hybrid: dead 12v auxiliary battery strands the car. Each is detailed above with symptoms, affected years, and typical cost. ### Are there recalls on the 2013-2017 Honda Accord? 4 of the issues listed carry a recall or technical service bulletin: Honda TSB 16-061 / A17-017 / A17-018 (cvt torque-converter judder / shudder), Honda TSB A16-002; class actions filed 2017 (no NHTSA recall) (starter grinds at startup / early starter failure), Honda TSB A18-010 and related bulletins (vtc actuator rattle at cold start), Honda TSB A15-056 (warranty extension) (electric power steering (eps) torque sensor, warranty extension). Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of age or mileage. Check your VIN on the NHTSA site to see what is outstanding. ### How much do 2013-2017 Honda Accord repairs typically cost? Typical figures for the issues above: cvt torque-converter judder / shudder, $120-$250 (software + fluid); $1,500-$3,000 if the torque converter or valve body is replaced out of warranty; starter grinds at startup / early starter failure, $450-$800 parts and labor out of warranty; vtc actuator rattle at cold start, $600-$1,100 out of warranty; electric power steering (eps) torque sensor, warranty extension, Free under the warranty extension; $1,100-$1,800 for a rack/column repair otherwise. ## Sources - [AutoZone fitment, 2015 Accord Group 51R battery](https://www.autozone.com/batteries-starting-and-charging/battery/honda/accord/2015) - [Goodyear fitment, 2013 Accord tire sizes by trim](https://www.goodyear.com/en-us/vehicles/Honda/Accord/2013) - [AMSOIL lookup, 2013 Accord 2.4L K24W1 oil capacity](https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2013/honda/accord/2-4l-4-cyl-engine-code-k24w1-k/) - [AMSOIL lookup, 2013 Accord 3.5L J35Y1 oil capacity](https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2013/honda/accord/3-5l-6-cyl-engine-code-j35y1-j/) - [CarComplaints, 2014 Accord TSB index (CVT judder A17-017, starter A16-002, VTC, EPS A15-056)](https://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Accord/2014/tsbs/) - [CarComplaints, Accord/Crosstour starter motor lawsuit (TSB A16-002)](https://m.carcomplaints.com/news/2017/honda-accord-crosstour-starter-motor-lawsuit.shtml) - [Honda parts catalog, 17220-5A2-A00 air filter (2.4L)](https://www.hondapartsnow.com/oem-honda-accord-air_filter.html) - [Honda parts, spark plug 12290-R71-L01 (NGK DILZKR7A11G)](https://www.hondapartsguys.com/oem-parts/honda-2008-2017-honda-spark-plug-dilzkr7a11g-ngk-12290r71l01) - [Oil filter cross-reference, Honda 15400-PLM-A02 equivalents](https://www.oilfilter-crossreference.com/convert/HONDA/15400-PLM-A02) ## Other Honda Accord generations - [2023-2025 Honda Accord problems and recalls](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2023-2025/common-problems) - [2018-2022 Honda Accord problems and recalls](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2018-2022/common-problems) Or [compare all generations](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/common-problems). ## More for the 2013-2017 Honda Accord - [Oil & filter](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/oil) - [Battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/battery) - [Tires & wheels](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/tires) - [Wiper blades](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/wipers) - [Air & cabin filters](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/filters) - [Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/bulbs) - [Brakes](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/brakes) - [Fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/fluids) - [Service schedule](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/service-schedule) - [Oil light reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/oil-reset) - [Key fob battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/key-fob-battery) - [Specs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/accord/2013-2017/specs) Specifications vary with engine option, production date, and market.