Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2010 & 2013 Accord V6s, Pilots & Odysseys with a complaint of the steering wheel vibration and pulsation/vibration in the front brake when braking. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Honda Accord brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Honda Accord have filed 49 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 46,000 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
49
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Accord | 217 |
| 2010 Accord | 115 |
| 2011 Accord | 9 |
| 2012 Accord | 23 |
| 2013 Accord (this page) | 49 |
| 2014 Accord | 54 |
| 2015 Accord | 21 |
| 2016 Accord | 15 |
| 2017 Accord | 17 |
6crashes
4injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 49 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes 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.
HONDA: THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, POWER ON, BUT IN ACCESSORY; NEVER USE CONVENTIONAL WHEEL & TIRE ASSEMBLIES ON PAX VEHICLES; MIL ON AFTER THROTTLE BODY CLEANING OR REPLACEMENT; S/M FIX BRAKE SYSTEM BLEEDING, DIALOGUE FOR DVD SURROUND SOUND FROM FRONT SPEAKERS ONLY. VARIOUS MODELS AND MODEL YEARS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A SCRAPING OR SQUEALING SOUND FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. THE DISC BRAKE PAD RETAINING CLIP MAY HAVE SHIFTED AND IS TOUCHING THE ROTOR.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two broad categories of brake failure on the 2013 Honda Accord. The first involves the ABS/VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) modulator, which appears on roughly half the complaints. Owners describe warning lights illuminating—ABS, VSA, FCW (Forward Collision Warning), steering, traction control, and tire pressure lights appearing intermittently or all at once. The modulator fails across a wide mileage range: some failures occur under 10,000 miles, others at 95,000 or higher. Once failed, the ABS system stops functioning, leaving owners with basic braking only. A few owners report brake pedal becoming unresponsive, locking up, or dropping to the floor during normal driving. One owner at 79,000 miles experienced a complete brake failure in a parking lot, colliding with two vehicles and a wall, sustaining injury. Dealerships consistently quote $1,400–$3,000 to replace the modulator, with some citing improper solder connections or thin wiring inside the unit. The second category involves mechanical brake wear: excessive pad and rotor wear—some owners replacing pads/rotors multiple times under 80,000 miles—and caliper seizure on both front and rear axles. Owners also report brake squeal, grinding, and vibration that persist despite multiple dealer visits and rotor resurfacing. Several owners state dealerships acknowledge the ABS modulator issue is widespread but provide no recall or permanent fix.
Same Honda Accord brakes reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
ABS/VSA Modulator Failure
Electronic control module (part 57110-T2FA-1 or similar) malfunctions, disabling anti-lock braking and vehicle stability systems. Owners report internal wiring defects (thin gauge or poor solder connections) as the likely cause. Once failed, the ABS system ceases to function, leaving only base braking available.
When: Occurs across wide mileage range: as early as 7,500 miles to 120,000+ miles. No clear pattern by age or use.
Symptoms owners cite: ABS, VSA, and traction control warning lights illuminate (often multiple lights at once); Forward Collision Warning system fails; Lane Departure Warning system fails; Brake system warning light on; Lights come on intermittently or persistently; Loss of ABS braking function (base brakes may still work)
Codes mentioned: 57110-T2FA-1, 57110-T2F-A1
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quotes range $1,400–$3,000 for complete modular replacement including parts, labor, brake fluid bleed, and system reconnection. Independent shops report inability to diagnose due to complexity. One owner reported VSA modulator replacement already done once at 11/5/2014; same part failed again in 2021.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued. Dealerships acknowledge the problem is known and widespread among 2013–2017 Honda Accords but offer no TSB or warranty program. Multiple owners report manufacturer or dealer reps stating issue should warrant a recall but insisting owner pay for repair anyway.
Brake Pedal Unresponsiveness or Hard Failure
Complete or partial loss of brake function during normal driving, including pedal dropping to floor or failing to respond to input. Brake system may suddenly lock up or lose all responsiveness, creating imminent crash risk.
When: Reported at various mileages: 7,520 miles (brand new), 1,200 miles, 79,000 miles. One incident occurred early morning at low speed in private driveway; another on highway at 60 mph.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal has no response when pressed; Brake pedal drops to floorboard during braking; Brakes lock up completely when light pressure applied; Brakes fail intermittently during normal driving; Brakes lock and unlock repeatedly despite pedal input
Repairs/costs cited: Owner at 79,000 miles experienced loss of brakes in parking lot, resulting in collision with two vehicles and a vending machine; vehicle deemed total loss. Dealership at 1,200 miles could not diagnose the cause despite attempting duplication. Owner at 7,520 miles experienced two separate brake failures within same trip, hitting garage door.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented in narratives. One case filed with manufacturer; no resolution reported.
Excessive Brake Pad and Rotor Wear
Front and rear brake pads wear much faster than expected, often requiring replacement multiple times under normal mileage. Rotors also wear excessively, become gouged, or require resurfacing. Wear pattern suggests possible caliper drag or defective ABS system cycling.
When: First replacement around 35,000 miles; pattern continues. One owner replaced pads and rotors three times (front) by 79,000 miles; another at 55,000 miles had front rotor replacement, then rear caliper seizure at 70,245 miles, then rear driver caliper seizure and front replacement again at 79,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pads worn completely in 6,000–15,000 miles of normal driving; Rotors gouged or severely scored; Grinding noise during braking; Wobbling sensation when braking; Excessive brake dust
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report multiple pad and rotor replacements over vehicle life. One owner had four brake service events by 79,000 miles. Cost per service not always specified, but routine replacements at independent shops and dealerships.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned. Dealerships have not identified root cause or offered preventive solutions.
Brake Caliper Seizure
Front and rear brake calipers freeze in place, causing severe rotor damage and loss of braking function on one or more wheels. One owner reported calipers freezing after routine preventive brake maintenance.
When: Reported at 70,245 miles (rear passenger), then 79,000 miles (rear driver, same owner). Another case at 125,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Metal-on-metal squealing or scraping noise; Loud whistling sound from brakes (in reverse); Severely gouged rotors; Frozen caliper piston
Repairs/costs cited: Calipers and rotors require full replacement. One owner at 125,000 miles had both calipers and rotors replaced at Honda dealership in Slidell, LA; received loaner vehicle during repair. Another owner (same driver) had rear passenger caliper replaced at 70,245 miles, then rear driver caliper seized at 79,000 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One case forwarded to manufacturer; no further response documented.
Brake Squeal and Noise
Persistent squealing or screeching noise during braking, often described as sounding like metal rubbing together or wear sensors. Noise continues despite multiple dealer visits and repair attempts per service bulletins.
When: Reported on vehicles under 1 year old through older examples. One owner brought vehicle to dealer 5 times for same issue.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud squealing or screeching during braking at any speed; Metal-on-metal grinding sound; Whistling in reverse while braking; Noise persists after rotor resurfacing and pad replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Honda service bulletin issued for some cases; solution involves brake pad retention spring replacement or rotor resurfacing. One owner visited dealer 5 times but problem worsened each time. Dealership stated no permanent repair yet available. Another owner reported dealer inspecting and diagnosing loose brake pads due to faulty retention clips.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued service bulletins for brake squeal in some cases (TSB reference noted). Dealers acknowledge awareness of the problem but repair parts were sometimes on backorder.
Intermittent ABS Activation and Brake Jerking
ABS system triggers erratically during normal braking, causing the vehicle to jerk or pulsate just before coming to a complete stop. Brakes may also apply suddenly without driver input at low speeds.
When: Reported in stop-and-go driving and low-speed maneuvering.
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking sensation before car comes to complete stop; Brakes apply automatically at idle/low speeds without pedal input; Rough riding in stop-and-go traffic; ABS pulsing/modulation felt in brake pedal
Repairs/costs cited: One owner at dealership told VSA modulator faulty; quoted $1,400 parts and $510 labor. Jerking noted as disappearing when manually shifting to neutral before braking.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Synthesized from 49 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes 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 brakes problem on the 2013 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 49 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 6,700 and 95,000 miles, with the median around 46,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,700; a quarter make it past 95,000. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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.