The 2014 Honda Accord has over 700 complaints, three recalls, and two open investigations. But don’t give up on it just yet, because most of the major problems have been fixed.
Key Points
- The connecting rods on 137 vehicles including the 2014 Honda Accord were improperly torqued from the factory. Luckily, all vehicles identified with this issue have been fixed.
- The 2014 Accord is involved in two investigations. One is a multi-manufacturer investigation for defective airbag control units. The other is an Accord-specific investigation for unintended swerving.
- Although many drivers incorrectly blame the starter or battery, a faulty ignition switch is the most complained about issue with the 2014 Accord.
- Due to poor protection, the driveshafts found on Accords with Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVTs) are inclined to be broken down by the elements.
- A faulty battery sensor found on non-hybrid Accords allows moisture in. This can lead to a short, or worse a vehicle fire.
Road Salt Corrosion Can Lead to Driveshaft Failure in the 2014 Honda Accord
In December 2020, Honda recalled over 235,000 Accords made between 2013 and 2015. They found that the driveshaft can break due to the protective coating being deteriorated by road salt and other elements. When the driveshaft breaks, drivers notice they can no longer accelerate.
If the driveshaft fails while the vehicle is parked, it can roll away if it’s on a grade. Honda found that this only affects 2013-2015 MY Accords equipped with the four-cylinder engine and a CVT. To fix this issue, Honda inspects both driveshafts and replaces them if needed.
2014 Accord’s Defective Battery Sensor May Spark Vehicle Fire
In 2017, Honda issued a massive recall of over 1.1-million Accords. The automaker found that non-hybrid 2013-2016 Accords are prone to a battery sensor short. This sensor is mounted on top of the battery and allows moisture inside, which could lead to a short or more seriously, a fire. To fix this, Honda simply replaces the old sensor with a new water-tight one. The good news is that there are only 280 Accords still on the road with the problematic sensor.
Although Uncommon, Improperly Torqued Connecting Rod Bolts can Require Full Engine Replacement
In early 2015, Honda found that a few connecting rods were improperly installed. They found that four-cylinder 2014-2015 Accords and a few 2015 CR-Vs were at risk. In fact, they found that only 137 vehicles in total were affected. Basically, the connecting rod bolts weren’t properly torqued to spec in the factory and could come loose.
These loose bolts could in turn cause an engine knock which would make for permanent damage. The good news is every vehicle with the issue has been fixed. Furthermore, Honda repaired the issue and cut no corners with a full engine replacement.
Massive Multi-model Airbag Electrical Overstress Recall Affects 2014 Accord
An NHTSA investigation was launched in 2019 concerning airbag control units from ZF-TRW, the company that provides many manufacturers with their airbag units. This investigation concerns over 190 models from many manufacturers, including Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, and FCA. What happened is, the hardware used was inadequate to handle airbag deployment. The investigation is finding that in a crash, airbags can deploy late or not at all.
However, the investigation also found that it is not very common. They found that only 15 vehicles (not models) from the six manufacturers have had this issue. The investigation is still open, so a recall has yet to be issued.
2014 Honda Accord is Being Investigated for Unintended Veering
A very recent investigation was launched in May 2021 with a claim that the vehicle will veer with no input from the driver. As you can imagine, this is an extreme safety issue, so the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened a case. There have been 107 complaints of this issue and it ranges from 2013 to 2015 Accords.
Unfortunately, the investigation is too new to list causes, fixes, and what models, trims, and powertrains it specifically affects.
2014 Accord has Failed to Start for Some Drivers Due to Faulty Ignition Switch
Hands down, the most common complaint on the NHTSA for the 2014 Accord is about the ignition switch. Owners find that it takes several attempts to start their Accord.
However, most owners don’t realize it’s the ignition switch and often blame the starter or battery. Of the over 700 complaints listed on the NHTSA, this issue accounts for at least half of them.
The widespread problem seems to affect Accords of all different types. It doesn’t matter what engine, trim, or transmission it has. It also seems to happen at varying mileages, with many listed at under 100,000 miles. With a repair cost of about $200, the good news is that it’s a relatively inexpensive fix.
2014 Honda Accord: Lots of Problems with Lots of Fixes
We listed some scary recalls and investigations for the 2014 Accord, so there’s no way we can recommend it, right? Actually, we think the 2014 Accord can still be a great buy for several reasons.
First, the only recall to worry about is the battery sensor short, which is still a problem in a mere 280 Accords. Both of the other recalls have either been fixed or can be avoided by staying away from the CVT Accord.
Second, although the airbag issue is widespread, it’s fairly uncommon for one to actually be defective. We think that there will be a recall issued soon to fix it. Finally, with all of the recalls and investigations, most of the common problems should be fixed when you buy it used.
The only lingering problem with the 2014 Honda Accord is that pesky ignition switch. However, all vehicles have their common problems, and some vehicles have very costly issues. So, we think for an average repair cost of about $200, the ignition switch isn’t a bad one to have.
Photos: Honda
