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.

8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$540
Average Mileage:
47,800 miles
Total Complaints:
43 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (19 reports)
  2. replace starter (14 reports)
  3. replace battery (4 reports)
  4. replaced battery (3 reports)
  5. great dealer (1 reports)
  6. replace alternator, battery (1 reports)
2014 Honda Accord electrical problems

electrical problem

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2014 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #23

Sep 192017

Accord Sport

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,020 miles

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

Bought this Honda Accord Sport brand new in 2014. Began having problems with it just three years later..right after warranty ended. First it started not turning on once every two tries of turning the key. The ignition would just click and everything else seemed to work, but the engine would not turn over. Then it became a couple of times within days every now and then. Then it progressively got worse as the weeks passed. About one month later it became turning the key ten or more times to try to get it to start, but it wouldn't do it every single time, which I thought was weird and probably why it took me so long to get it checked. We switched the battery because it needed to get replaced, which might be yet another issue with Honda. Keep in mind that this car was still under 27,000 miles. The final time before I had no choice but to take it in to the dealer, it refused to start. My husband finally got it to work and we took it straight to the dealer. They told us it was the starter. I had already looked up this issue online and found several complaints about it. From what I read, some people had been told it was the battery, others the alternator, and others miscellaneous issues. It seems none of those "fixes" actually fixed the problem for these people. So I was pretty skeptical that replacing the starter would fix this issue. It's been about a week and so far it's been working well, but I've read a previous complaint here where after getting the starter replaced the owner began having problems again after six months. I'm hoping that will not be my case, so I will keep my fingers crossed. My warranty had just expired, but because I was covered for mechanical breakdown through my auto insurance, I only ended up paying the deductible for getting the starter replaced ($250) as opposed to paying the almost $900 full cost. I hope Honda considers recalling vehicles on this issue because it seems it's happening to a lot of Honda Accord owners. I used to own a 2003 Honda Civic before this Accord and it lasted me over 10 years with no major issues. I definitely never had this problem with my old reliable. Honda needs to stand behind it's brand and continue making quality vehicles for it's customers.

- Sonia G., San Antonio, US

problem #22

Jun 012017

Accord EX-L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,000 miles

I have a 2014 Honda Accord EX-L coupe V6 Auto, when I go to start the car via push button, it makes a static sound and won't start. Then it won't make any sound, the brake pedal moves on its own down as if being pressed after I release it while pushing the start button. Read there's a recall on the battery sensor, I have an appointment coming up this week. I asked the Honda dealership what it could possibly be and she said possibly a bad starter. I read online people having same issues. They change the starter and they continue to have the same problem. Others say it's the battery in the key fob, I have a new battery in that. The car battery is 100% so I know its not the actual battery. I'm very disappointed with Honda right now. This is my 9th Honda and I have only had one issue out of all the Honda's I owned. The other issue was a 2003 Honda Accord V6 automatic, in which the transmission went out right before my warranty ended so Honda replaced the tranny no problem.

- John D., Cincinnati, US

problem #21

May 012017

Accord EXL 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 39,000 miles

My 2014 Honda Accord EX-L was not starting. Sometimes it would and sometimes not. The dealer said it was the starter and would be $650 to replace. I questioned him why it would be happening on a car less then 3 years old and he said it was fairly common and does 3 or 4 a month.

I had the work done and wrote a letter to American Honda to express to explain what happened and my disappointment. They never contacted me...but after several phone calls because customer service never could get a hold of the rep who was handling my case (even though the notes said she tried several times to contact me....big lie) she told me that it was my problem because the car had 39,000 miles and was out of warranty. I've seen many people having the exact same problem and Honda knows they have a problem but refuse to acknowledge or address it.

So now it's 5 months later and the car has left me stranded again. It will not start. I'm done with Honda, They used to make a quality vehicle but now just living off the reputation. They are crap!

- tompetty, Valdosta, US

problem #20

Jul 112017

Accord EX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

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

I have had this 2014 since Oct. 2013. I had to change the battery in early 2016, What the hell is wrong with Honda??? Only about 2 and half years and I have to change the battery. Now, the freaking engine won't start. Every time, I try to start, all I hear is clicking. Hopefully, Honda will recall this since this problem happens on a lot of cars/

- Tim N., Lowell, US

problem #19

Aug 122017

Accord EXL 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 24,000 miles

I purchased my 2014 Honda Accord EXL 4 cylinder in December, 2013. Up until now, the car has been reliable. In early August, I left a local restaurant to start my car. It is a push button start version. Nothing happened. I tried several times and nothing. I called AAA and they dispatched a tow truck. Upon arrival, he asked me to "try one more time." I did and the car started. I drove to Smart Honda in Des Moines, IA. They checked the battery and said it was fine. It's only 1 year old. They started the car several times and suggested I probably just forgot to put my foot on the brake when I started the car! Absolutely not. I am not a moron. I have owned the car for 3.5 years and it has always started. Three weeks later, (today) I tried to start the car in my garage. Same problem. 1 click and it went into auxiliary mode. Tried over and over and over. No luck. I waited 2 hours and went out and tried again. The car started. I've researched this problem and I know it is the starter made by Mitsubishi. I will call the dealership AGAIN tomorrow to detail my problems. This car is not safe to drive. It can leave you stranded anywhere. Not sure how this will turnout, but will update once resolved.

Update from Sep 3, 2017: Left the car at the dealership for 3 days. They were kind enough to give me a loaner vehicle. Although they could not replicate the problem, I had an extended warranty, 7 years, 100,000 miles. It was difficult to get the starter replaced, but they basically ruled out anything else. I paid $100.00 deductible for the replacement starter. I am hoping this starter lasts longer than 24,000 miles, but I don't have much faith. I've had car back 2 days.

- David E., Urbandale, IA, US

problem #18

May 022017

Accord Sport

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

This has been an ongoing issue.... I get in my car, turn the key, I hear a click but the car does not start. This has been a huge pain!! I have been stranded at work late at night until I can get it to start. I called Honda, and they admit they have been seen a huge amount of vehicle the same year and model as mine with the same problem. I ask if there is a recall, of course one has yet to be issued. I ask how I could go about reporting a complaint to initiate a recall, he recommends I call Honda directly. I do as told, call Honda directly and after taking all my information and the problem info down, the gal asks me what do I want her to do for me? um, take note of the issue and look into the matter!!!! Honda needs to issue a recall ASAP!!!

- tacsa519, Stockton, US

problem #17

Apr 172017

Accord LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,000 miles

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

Honda 2014 LX, 24K Miles. Failed start, just click no sound in the engine. Thinking of failing starter (no engage or push). After 5x click, it will

surprise me with an engine start. Dealer told me Starter cost $1050 plus $150 diag test. Ouuchhh, pain in the ass with 2014 (24K Miles), no accident at all. HONDA try to look a recall on the Starter.

- el payaso, Everett, US

problem #16

Mar 102017

Accord EXL 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 13,500 miles

Car has 13,500 miles on it and will not hold charge for more than three days. Honda is really dropping the ball, when comes to standing behind their product, I contacted the dealership and told them exactly what I did to verify the problem, made an appointment and they did exactly what I had done as far as testing the the battery and charging system, The dealership then told me there is nothing they can do??? If vehicle sits more than three days, it will not start under its own power. I called Honda customer support and reported the issue and requested that they document what my call was about and why I will never again be purchasing a Honda product. Honda rep responded that vehicle needed to be driven more? What happens if vehicle sits in airport ramp for numerous days?? I do not care if a new battery is required or needs to be purchased, its just the fact that the dealership said their is nothing they can do, and then I see all the same complaints on these boards, Honda is really sucking these days and their quality has really gone to hell.

- Tim C., Saint George, UT, US

problem #15

Mar 122017

Accord EX-L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

Fairly new Honda Accord 2014. Bought it straight from the dealer as a new car. Just 3 years later it fails to start (appears to be during cold weather though), they told me that it is a starter problem and it is not covered under any warranty. Honda was probably producing good cars long time ago, but after they established themselves they don't seem to care about the quality of their cars anymore.

- Ashley S., Yonkers, US

problem #14

Aug 312016

Accord ELS 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,034 miles

My car is only two years old and this is the 2nd battery. If I leave the accessory mode on without the engine running for 10 minutes my battery dies. I am currently getting the 3rd battery installed on a 2 year old car.

- Heather C., Slidell, LA, US

problem #13

Dec 122016

Accord ELX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,500 miles

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

Bought new 2.5 years ago. Has 36,599 miles on the car. Car was in for routine 1B check up two weeks ago with no mention of any battery issues. Went to work, drove home, shut off car with no issues. Went to set the seat back (I'm petite so seat is close to steering wheel while driving) and no power to seats. The car would not start after that. Interior lights and indicator lights all work normal but car would not turn over. The battery connector was corroded through and it destroyed the harness so both cable and harness had to be replaced. Battery would not recharge so had to replace the battery. CAR IS 2014 WITH 36000 MILES...should not have to replace a defective battery. Because car is now 500 miles over the 36K warranty it is not covered at all.

The Zurich extended warranty does not cover anything (can you say worthless money spent on Zurich warranty?). I'm looking at close to or over $500.00 repair after two weeks of getting an A-OK from regular maintenance (no mention of battery issues or corroding at the time). I actually went from a 2000 Honda Accord which I owned for 11 years to a Camry for 3 years. I returned to Honda based on my previous experience but now having regrets about doing that. Quality seems to have diminished considerably since my first Honda ownership. May not ever own another one if this isn't resolved.

- Christine T., Lees Summit, MO, US

problem #12

Jan 092017

Accord EX-L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,651 miles

We took our 2014 Honda in because our car wouldn't start on Sunday. We jumped it on Sunday and let it run for quite a while. My husband had to go to work late, because he had to jump it again on Monday to get it to Honda. We were told that the battery needed a full charge and sometimes this happens when cars set. We used the car on Saturday. THE CAR DID NOT SET!! Honda refuses to replace the battery that is definitely faulty. They told us to bring it back if it does it again, never mind the inconvenience that this will present to us, because I know that it will happen again!! I am very disappointed in Honda's reluctance to fix this issue. I'm afraid that they are purposely putting us off, because the battery is only warrantied for 3 years!! This is a pretty bad battery if it can't even last for the two years that we have owned the car. One of the reasons that we chose Honda in the first place is because they have always stood by the workmanship of their cars and their cars are very reliable. I'm VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HONDA!!

- Cindy P., Kankakee, IL, US

problem #11

Dec 312016

Accord EX 2.4L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,724 miles

click to see larger images

engine won't turn over, won't start

This car is only 2 1/2 years old and I've already had to replace the battery. Makes me wonder if there was an issue with the battery to begin with or if the charging system is bad.

- Brad B., Hampstead, MD, US

problem #10

Oct 172016

Accord EX-L 4

  • CVT transmission
  • 63,380 miles

I bought this car brand new in March 2014.

Battery failure should be the last thing on my mind that will fail. But it was the first thing.

What prompted me was the difficulty of my car starting for about 2 months. It'll stutter a bit and groans like an old car before it fully starts. It sounds like a really cold engine (it wasn't Winter yet!) and then it'll rev up. Then my power windows wouldn't operate.

Dealership dealt with it because it's supposed to be covered under warranty for 3 years (I'm a little over 2.5 years at this point) with no mileage limitation. They were so certain that it's not a battery failure and that it's something very simple. Told us that if we do a battery check (voltage check or whatever), and it passes, we will have to pay for the test (well, SORRY for your inconvenience). We said go ahead, do it. Test came out to be a "total fail" <-- his exact words. He was surprised too and we saw the results and they were all at the 0 mark.

Thank goodness for the warranty right? NOT. Apparently the warranty covers 100% up to 2 years and apparently the last 1 year is 50% only. WTF! That means Honda KNEW it will screw up then and just made it sound better. So much for a brand new car with everything failing.

They replaced the battery for about $150 CAD. Just awful.

- Shirley G., Toronto, ON, Canada

problem #9

Nov 162016

Accord EX-L 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,957 miles

I purchased the Accord this year used and everything seemed to be working fine until I started noticing that when I push the ignition it would just click and not start at all until I continued to press the brake peddle and finally it would start. This concerned me that I would not be able to start my car when I was over 40 miles from home.

I had made an appointment with Honda dealer in my home town that they said they could see me in about a week from when I was asking to bring the car in. I was finally able to have my wife bring it in earlier and was told it was a bad starter and needed to be replaced. The service rep John didn't seem to be supersized that the starter needed to be replaced and said that it would cost $899.00 to replace it. I explained that I have had Toyota's, Infinity's, Nissan's etc and never have I had a starter motor go out in three years from the date it was sold and it has noting to do with buying it used. He said he understands and that he could extend a 10% off for the repair. I had them do the repair and called American in Torrance to express my disappointment in Honda that this should be recalled due to being defective. Of course the operator that took the call apologize for this and said it was out of warranty. I was given claim number to write to Honda to express my dissatisfaction about this.

My main concern is will this happen again in another three years and will I have to pay another repair bill.

This will be the last Accord I'll ever own and I will not tell others to by a Honda.

- Gary G., Simi Valley, CA, US

problem #8

Aug 012016

Accord EX 4.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

Letter I will send to Honda USA and my dealership I bought the car from. The car had 18,000 on it when I purchased it in Feb, 2015

August 12, 2016

Wild Honda and Honda USA,

Something needs to be done about Honda's defective STARTERS, Like a recall. I purchased my 2015 Honda EX from you guys last year. This was a certified car as well. I just had to have my car towed and it only has 50,000 miles on it ! ! I had to rent a car till this is fixed. Enclosed is a copy of many complaints with the SAME problem I am experiencing this is completely inexcusable. I bought a HONDA for their known reliability and 0 mechanical issues. This is my 5th and most expensive Honda and I barely got 1 year out of the car before I encountered a VERY expensive fix. (See car rental expense, see tow, see cost to fix the car.) I did not take it to a dealer because I knew they would rake me over the coals on expense. I did request my mechanic buy a HONDA starter, not some knock off brand. We shall see if this starter works. Maybe that was a mistake! I have been on line reading literally hundreds of THE SAME issues with Honda owners.

I am requesting compensation on this cost either from Wild Honda or from Honda USA. You guys are selling new cars with DEFECTIVE STARTERS in them. This must stop or you will have a class action law suit on your hands. Anyone reading this I encourage you to contact HONDA USA in California to report your starter problem they need to recall these &^%@#!!#%& things now.

I am requesting a call back from Honda USA on this issue.

Julie -Wisconsin

- Julie K., Mequon, WI, US

problem #7

May 182016

Accord LX 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 44,216 miles

The car progressively got worse until it wouldn't start. It started about 1000 miles ago. Turn the key it would click and not start. Battery test showed full charge. If you kept trying it would start eventually. Very disappointed with a car bought new that didn't make 3 years. Mileage was out of warranty. Honda denies any ongoing problem with the starters but a web search reveals a consistent problem with them. I won't buy another Honda for sure.

- Scott H., Richmond, KY, US

problem #6

May 252016

Accord EX L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,000 miles

My car will be two years this weekend. I bought my car in May of 2014. This morning as I was getting into my car on my way to work, my car would not start. All the lights would flash, but the engine would not turn over. I assumed it was the battery so I called AAA. When AAA got there, they told me it is typical to replace Honda Accord batteries in 2 years (not something I wanted to hear). As he checked the battery and tried to recharge it, he said my problem isn't my battery, but my alternator. According to his test, my alternator should be giving off 14.41V, but only producing 12.45V. He said even if I buy a new battery, my car will still stop if I do not replace the alternator. Seeing my car is only 2 years, it boggles my mind I am even having this issue. I called the dealership assuming my car would still be under warranty, but with my luck it wasn't. Warranty is only covered for the first 3 years or 36,000 miles,which ever comes first. I was over 3,000 miles, my car has roughly 39,000 miles on it. Anyway, the total cost of labor and purchasing an alternator is absurd. Labor is about $415 and alternator $465. The cost is not the worst part, the worst part is that I need to replace my alternator after 2 years. I just have a feeling this is some sort of defect, but the dealership seems to think otherwise. Is anyone else having this issue? This is so frustrating. I just hope after replacing this, I won't have anymore issues ... fingers crossed

- mcap88, La Mirada, CA, US

problem #5

Jan 302016

Accord EXL 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

This 2014 Honda bought as my travel car... getting ready to go to Fl for winter and would not start after sitting in under house garage for couple weeks..after being driven about 80 miles. Charged up, had battery checked two places and started but nervous because going to be 1k away from home.

Called a couple dealers quickly and they both indicated that there is a constant drain on battery due to all electronics and frequent problems as an example of people who leaving cars for extended time at airports...not reassuring. Still nervous had computer check on way to Fl and told ok...no other problems while gone but constant concern.

Today with very similar experience form last problem ...sitting for couple weeks after extended drive would not start again and now on charger. Not comforting since do a lot of travel and don't want to get caught with no jumpers or charger or way to get either.

- Ken B., Point Pleasant, WV, US

problem #4

Feb 082016

Accord Sport 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 43,000 miles

Very annoying because your car will not start on demand. Has a mind of it's own when it will turn over. At first I thought I needed to get jump started because my battery was dead, that was not the case. I even went to replace the battery but once it was tested, the battery was fine.

- Wayne L., Rancho Cordova, CA, US

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