Service bulletin - There is a noticeable wind noise at ear level from either the driver?s or the front passenger?s window. The wind noise is caused by a gap between the run channel and the inner sash or the run channel and the sash trim.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Honda Accord body problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Honda Accord have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 20,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Accord | 17 |
| 2010 Accord | 15 |
| 2011 Accord | 15 |
| 2012 Accord | 10 |
| 2013 Accord (this page) | 13 |
| 2014 Accord | 21 |
| 2015 Accord | 14 |
| 2016 Accord | 15 |
| 2017 Accord | 17 |
2crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 13 body complaints filed for the 2013 Honda Accord, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service bulletin - There is a noticeable wind noise at ear level from either the driver's or the front passenger's window. The wind noise is caused by a gap between the run channel and the inner sash or the run channel and the sash trim.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - There is a noticeable wind noise at ear level from either the driver's or the front passenger's window. The wind noise is caused by a gap between the run channel and the inner sash or the run channel and the sash trim.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"TECHLINE SUMMARY ARTICLE - DOES THE REAR WINDOW GLASS LOOK DISTORTED OR BLURRY, ESPECIALLY WHEN VIEWED THROUGH THE REARVIEW MIRROR? WERE CURRENTLY REVIEWING THIS ISSUE AND ARE LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION. THIS ISSUE ALSO AFFECTS SERVICE PARTS, SO DO NOT REPLACE THE REAR WINDOW GLASS UNTIL WE HAVE A SOLUTION AVAILABLE."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE BULLETIN - THERE IS A NOTICEABLE WIND NOISE AT EAR LEVEL FROM EITHER THE DRIVERS OR THE FRONT PASSENGERS WINDOW. THE WIND NOISE IS CAUSED BY A GAP BETWEEN THE RUN CHANNEL AND INNER SASH.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2013 Honda Accords report a pattern of body and structural defects. The most serious complaint involves spontaneous sunroof breakage while driving on the highway—one owner heard a loud explosion, glass shattered throughout the interior, and the owner sustained cuts. Honda disputed the claim and suggested rock impact, but the owner maintains there was no impact noise.
Trunk latch failures are recurrent: multiple owners report the trunk opening by itself while parked, discovered only when returning to the vehicle. One dealer inspection found no latch defect despite the ongoing issue.
Paint quality is a consistent problem. Owners report large areas of paint peeling away and exposing primer or bare metal, particularly around the rear window rain channel. Affected owners say their vehicles are well-maintained, and dealership contact has yielded no resolution.
Door-related failures include a driver's side door that won't stay open on an incline (at 1,640 miles, dealer found no defect), a rear passenger door that won't open from either side (at 46,000 miles), and a passenger door with water leaks and unsealed gaps causing wind noise at highway speeds.
One owner reported harsh braking vibration at highway speeds, and another noted AC condenser damage attributed to road debris requiring a $650 replacement.
Same Honda Accord body reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Sunroof spontaneous breakage
Sunroof glass has broken or shattered suddenly while driving without identifiable external impact. Owner heard loud explosion over head; glass fell throughout interior causing minor cuts to occupant. Owner disputes dealer claim of rock impact.
When: While driving on highway at speed
Symptoms owners cite: Loud explosion noise from sunroof area; Sunroof glass shattered into many pieces; Glass scattered throughout interior
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer denied spontaneous breakage; claimed rock impact caused damage
Trunk spontaneous opening
Trunk opens by itself while vehicle is parked. Multiple owners report discovering trunk cracked or fully open after parking. Dealer inspection found no latch defect.
When: While parked; occurs multiple times during ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Trunk opens while parked; Discovered when returning to vehicle; Recurrent issue
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection found no latch problem
Paint delamination and peeling
Paint flakes or peels away in large visible areas exposing primer and bare metal. Occurs on body panels and around rear window/rain channel. Affects multiple vehicles despite proper vehicle care.
When: Occurs during ownership; evident at 1,640+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Paint peeling in large visible areas; Primer exposed; Bare metal showing through; Peeling visible around rear window and rain channel
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners report no resolution despite contacting dealership and American Honda
Driver's side door fails to stay open on incline
Driver's side door will not remain open when vehicle is parked on an incline. Dealer inspection found no defect and stated vehicle working to specification.
When: At 1,640 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Door closes when parked on incline
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated vehicle working to specifications; no repair performed
Rear passenger door inoperable
Rear passenger door stuck closed and cannot be opened from inside or outside the vehicle.
When: At 46,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not open from inside or outside
Door seal leakage and wind noise
Passenger side door leaks water during highway driving. Wind noise audible indicating door not fully sealed.
When: During highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Water leak on passenger side door; Wind noise while driving; Door seal failure
Excessive vibration during braking
Significant vibration occurs when braking, particularly at highway speeds.
When: During highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive vibration during braking; Particularly pronounced on highway
AC condenser damage from road debris
AC condenser damaged requiring replacement. Dealer attributed damage to road debris.
Symptoms owners cite: AC no longer blowing cold air
Repairs/costs cited: $650 replacement cost
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The trunk has opened by itself several times. The last time was dec. 26. It is only when it is parked. I took it to the Honda dealer and they said nothing was wrong with the latch, and they couldn't find the problem.
Had body trouble with your 2013 Honda Accord?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2013 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 15,000 and 42,000 miles, with the median around 20,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,000; a quarter make it past 42,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Honda/Accord.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.