2013 Honda Accord cruise control problems
severe 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Owners have filed 31 cruise control 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.
Among the 18 model years of Honda Accord in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
The narratives describe two broad failure patterns in 2013 Accords: sudden acceleration and throttle response problems.
Sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) is the most severe complaint. Nine owners report the vehicle accelerated without warning—some while parked and shifting into gear, others during low-speed maneuvering in parking lots and driveways. Three incidents caused multi-vehicle collisions with injuries; several produced crashes into buildings, poles, and obstacles. Owners consistently state brakes became unresponsive during these events. Speed varied from parking-lot creep to highway velocity. A dealer service manager told one owner the hesitation issue is characteristic of 2012–2013 Accords.
Acceleration hesitation and lag appear frequently. Owners report the engine falters when pressing the accelerator, particularly after turns or from stops, creating a momentary dead spot before surging forward. One owner's neighbor-mechanic identified diagnostic code P0087 (fuel pressure drop). A dealer service representative told another owner this behavior has no fix.
Adaptive cruise control malfunctions occur at highway speeds, with the system braking hard when detecting vehicles in adjacent lanes or even truck shadows, creating rear-end collision risk. Owners disabled the feature due to safety concerns.
Forward collision warning system failures include inability to calibrate after multiple dealer visits and false warning lights on the dashboard.
Cruise control non-deactivation and throttle stiction (stuck pedal) round out the complaints. Dealers unable to replicate most failures and manufacturers have offered no recalls or service bulletins specific to these issues.
Same Honda Accord cruise control reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA)
Vehicle accelerates at high speed without driver input, often with brake pedal ineffective. Occurs in parking lots, driveways, at low speeds during normal maneuvering, and at highway speeds. Multiple owners report complete loss of vehicle control.
When: Varies from early ownership (50–6,500 miles) through higher mileage (95,000 miles); incidents range from initial purchase to years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates suddenly and uncontrollably; Brake pedal becomes unresponsive or ineffective during acceleration event; No warning or prior indication before acceleration occurs; Occurs while vehicle is parked, moving at low speeds, or at highway speeds; Shifting into gear triggers acceleration in some cases; Alternating throttle control loss (accelerator pedal stuck or unresponsive)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to replicate or diagnose the failure in most cases; no repairs completed despite multiple dealer visits and manufacturer contact. At least one case involved collision damage repairs but not diagnosis of SUA root cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted by multiple owners; one case (narrative #17) resulted in American Honda inspection concluding nothing was wrong. No recalls or TSBs mentioned for SUA. Multiple cases note manufacturer was contacted but no resolution offered.
Acceleration Hesitation or Lag
Engine falters, hesitates, or momentarily loses power when accelerating, particularly after cornering or from a stop. Vehicle may surge forward after delay or feel as though it will stall.
When: Some cases early in ownership (2,500 miles), others intermittent throughout vehicle life; notably after turns or from complete stops
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed or no response when pressing accelerator at traffic lights or in traffic; Engine falters or feels as though it will stall but does not; Vehicle jerks or surges forward after hesitation; Hesitation worse after cornering and acceleration attempts; Feels like engine momentarily dies or runs out of fuel; Transmission hunting for gear then suddenly engaging
Codes mentioned: P0087 (fuel rail/system pressure drop)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealers unable to duplicate problem or find fault. One owner's neighbor (mechanic) identified P0087 code indicating fuel pressure drop. One owner replaced high-pressure fuel pump without resolving associated warning lights.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer service rep (narrative #13) told owner this is a 'characteristic of the vehicle' with no fix available. One case (narrative #2) mentions Honda opened a case file. NHTSA Recall 23V-858 mentioned in narrative #7 for fuel pressure issue, but owner's VIN was not included.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Malfunction
ACC system brakes hard or disengages without a vehicle in front, or brakes unexpectedly when detecting vehicles in adjacent lanes. System applies brakes creating sudden deceleration hazard.
When: Occurs during highway driving at elevated speeds (65–75 mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Hard braking applied without a vehicle ahead; System detects vehicles in adjacent lanes and incorrectly applies brakes; Sudden deceleration from cruise speed creates rear-end collision risk; Caught occupants off-guard, causing surprise and potential safety hazard; System responds to truck shadows or objects in other lanes
Repairs/costs cited: Owners disabled ACC feature for safety; no dealer repairs documented. One owner (narrative #6) notes option to use traditional cruise control instead.
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) System Failure
FCW system malfunctions, does not work properly, or produces false warnings. Includes inability to calibrate correctly and failure to serve as advertised safety feature.
When: Defective since new vehicle purchase (narrative #11); intermittent warnings during highway driving (narrative #4)
Symptoms owners cite: System does not detect obstacles properly; False warning lights and system failure messages on dash; FCW Light and 'FCW System Failure' notification appear on dashboard; System does not calibrate after multiple dealer visits; No functional value as a safety feature
Repairs/costs cited: Returned to dealer at least 3 times for calibration and adjustments without resolution (narrative #11). Mechanic diagnostic performed in narrative #4 identified high-pressure fuel pump replacement and recommended Honda dealer recalibration, which was attempted but lights remained on.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer told owner (narrative #11) that American Honda has furnished no information on how to resolve the issue and is awaiting guidance. Narrative #4 owner scheduled dealer recalibration appointment.
Cruise Control Non-Deactivation with Brake Failure
Cruise control locks in and will not deactivate when brakes are applied. Vehicle continues at set speed through red light and crashes into other vehicles.
When: At 15,000 miles on vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control activated at 55 mph will not deactivate; Vehicle does not slow or stop when brakes applied; Vehicle proceeds through red light uncontrolled
Repairs/costs cited: Cause of failure not determined
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was not notified
Throttle Pedal Stiction (Stuck Accelerator)
Accelerator pedal becomes physically stuck, causing uncontrolled acceleration. Owner able to stop failure by pulling pedal by hand.
When: At 82,000 miles; occurs intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal becomes stuck and vehicle continues to accelerate; Recurs intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired; owner self-corrected by pulling on accelerator pedal manually
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was not notified
Engine Stall and Failure to Accelerate
Engine stalls while driving or at stops; vehicle fails to accelerate on demand. Affects drivability and creates hazard when merging or exiting.
When: Intermittent throughout vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning; Vehicle fails to accelerate when needed; Check engine light, electric power steering light, low fuel light illuminate; Vehicle requires restart to resume operation
Codes mentioned: P0087 (fuel rail/system pressure drop)
Repairs/costs cited: Neighbor mechanic used diagnostic tool and identified P0087 code. Owner reports seeing active recall NHTSA 23V-858 for fuel pressure issue but VIN not included in recall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner reports vehicle regularly serviced at Honda dealer since purchase. Recall 23V-858 exists but owner's VIN not included.
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2013 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 31 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 6,500 and 63,000 miles, with the median around 15,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,500; a quarter make it past 63,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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.