Honda Accord years to avoid: 2003, 2018 and 2008 by NHTSA complaints

At a glance

• Most complaints

  2,013

  Model year: 2003

  complaints to NHTSA [31]

• Most complaints

  158

  Model year: 2003

  complaints reporting a crash [31]

• Most complaints

  19

  Model year: 2003

  complaints reporting a fire [31]

• Most complaints

  716

  Model year: 2018

  complaints filed since Oct. 29, 2024 [31]

• Most complaints

  125

  Model year: 2003

  complaints reporting an injury [31]

• Most complaints

  3

  Model year: 20062004

  complaints reporting a death [31]

• Fewest complaints

  88

  Model year: 2023

  complaints to NHTSA [31]

• Fewest complaints

  6

  Model year: 2022

  complaints reporting a crash [31]

• Fewest complaints

  0

  Model year: 2022

  complaints reporting a fire [31]

• Fewest complaints

  4

  Model year: 2002

  complaints filed since Oct. 29, 2024 [31]

• Fewest complaints

  4

  Model year: 2024

  complaints reporting an injury [31]

• Most recall campaigns

  15

  Model year: 2005

  vehicle recall campaigns [31]

The highest value in each column is marked in amber. Raw counts, not adjusted for sales.

Accord complaints, injuries and recent filings, 2001 to 2024

Our years-to-avoid verdict names the top three model years by raw complaint count, ties included; these are owner reports that NHTSA has not verified, not adjusted for sales or age.

The table gives each model year's complaints, vehicle recall campaigns, and complaints reporting a crash, a fire, an injury or a death, from NHTSA's public API on Oct. 29, 2026. It also counts complaints filed on or after Oct. 29, 2024, 24 months before our query.

Across the 24 model years, by our count, NHTSA's records hold 18,005 Accord complaints, and 2,469 were filed in that window. The 2003 also leads the 2001-2024 years in complaints reporting a crash (158), a fire (19) and an injury (125). Among 2001-2024 models, the 2004 and 2006 have the most complaints reporting a death, three each.

Recent filings make up 0.4 percent of the 2003's complaints, 37.7 percent of the 2018's and 76.2 percent of the 2022's.

A recall campaign counts in every model year NHTSA lists it for, and only vehicle (V) campaigns count. NHTSA also lists 12 equipment (E) campaigns for the 2001, such as replacement headlamps sold for certain passenger vehicles; we list those separately, not as Accord recalls.

Some campaigns that add to a year's count are small: 26V-054 lists 32 vehicles in the whole campaign, which also covers the 2023 Accord Hybrid and three 2024 models. Recall 06V-270, counted for the 2006, says Honda will send owners a postcard with NHTSA's correct safety hotline contact information for the owner's manual.

The counts leave out the Accord Hybrid, Accord FHEV, Accord Plug In Hybrid, Accord Crosstour and Crosstour, which NHTSA files under their own model names. For 2023 and 2024, NHTSA files Accord complaints under the name Accord Sedan, so those rows use it; recalls for those years stay under Accord.

NHTSA's records list every 2001-2010 Accord as Not Rated overall, and give no reason. From 2013 on, every year earns 5 stars overall; for 2011 and 2012, the four-door earns 5 stars and the two-door is Not Rated overall.

2001 to 2007: air bag inflator recalls come first

Recall 15V-320 covers certain 2001-2007 Accords with a dual-stage driver air bag inflator. NHTSA's record says moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability, could over time cause that inflator to rupture. NHTSA's campaign record lists 6,281,043 Honda and Acura vehicles, and Honda's Feb. 10, 2023, report gives 6,281,056. Dealers replace the driver inflator free of charge, and the recall began July 1, 2015.

Recall 15V-370 covers certain 2003-2007 four-door Accords with the four-cylinder engine, built Feb. 21, 2002, to Aug. 28, 2007. Their passenger air bag inflator may take in moisture and, over time, rupture when it deploys. It lists 3,498,481 Honda and Acura vehicles in all.

Later campaigns replace inflators fitted in earlier repairs or as service parts. They include 19V-182 (driver side, 2001-2007 and 2009 Accords), 19V-499 (driver side, 2001-2007) and 19V-501 (passenger side, 2003-2007). NHTSA's 19V-182 record says the inflators it replaces came with a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or as a service part of the same type.

Recall 17V-220 covers replacement passenger modules on certain 2003 four-cylinder Accord coupes. NHTSA lists nine vehicle campaigns whose summary or component names an air bag inflator for the 2003, against three for the 2001. Among 2001-2007 models, air bags are the most-listed complaint component on the 2001 (411 complaints), 2005 (209), 2006 (130) and 2007 (160).

Before those recalls, NHTSA's RQ09-004 looked at rupturing driver's air bag inflators on 2001-2002 Accords, from Nov. 2, 2009, to May 6, 2010. Its closing resume says the inflator may rupture and send metal fragments through the air bag, which could strike and then injure or kill an occupant. Honda's earliest driver inflator recalls named in NHTSA's RQ09-004 file, 08V-593 and 09V-259, have no record in NHTSA's recalls API or recalls flat file, so our counts leave them out. NHTSA's record for 15V-320 says it fully supersedes both, along with four other recalls.

NHTSA's campaign records for these Accords do not set the park-it (do not drive) flag. That field is not a statement that the car is safe to drive, and we could not confirm from NHTSA whether these cars appear on its do-not-drive list. Two NHTSA inflator investigations covering 2001-2007 Accords list no closing date. EA15-001, on air bag inflator rupture, opened Feb. 24, 2015. EA21-002, on desiccated air bag inflator rupture, opened Sept. 17, 2021, and also lists the 2013 Accord.

2003 and 2004: transmission complaints and a recall for certain V6 cars

Of the 2003's 2,013 complaints, 926 list the power train, and 848 have descriptions that mention the transmission. In 635, the description puts transmission near a word such as fail, slip, replace or rebuild, or reads new transmission; a match shows the words used, not a confirmed defect. The 2004 has 348 power train complaints and 310 complaints whose description mentions the transmission.

These reports are old: of the 2003's 848 complaints mentioning the transmission, 291 were filed before 2010, 557 in 2010 or later and one since Oct. 29, 2024.

Recall 04V-176 covers certain 2003-2004 Accord V6 cars, listed by VIN range in Honda's June 29, 2004, filing. NHTSA's record says certain operating conditions on some vehicles can build up heat between the transmission's second gears, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage. NHTSA's record says gear failure could lock up the transmission and cause a crash. In its June 29, 2004, filing, Honda put the share of the vehicles that filing covers with the defect at less than 0.3 percent.

The campaign lists 1,099,796 Honda and Acura vehicles in all; Honda's recall number for the Accord is P38. On cars with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer revises the oil cooler return line to send more lubrication to the second gear. Above 15,000 miles, the dealer inspects the gears for discoloration from overheating, replaces the transmission if it finds any, and otherwise revises the line.

Honda bulletin 21-054, dated May 28, 2021, was a class action notice, the Third Clutch Transmission Settlement in Case v. American Honda, covering 2003-2004 Accord V6 models. Class members were eligible for one of two options: out-of-pocket parts costs for a full transmission replacement, or a $25 credit voucher. The voucher was for Honda parts or accessories for that car only, not labor, and valid for one year.

NHTSA lists Honda's automatic transmission warranty extension bulletin 02-062 for the 2001 Accord, not the 2003 or 2004. For the 2004, NHTSA lists Honda product update 04-020, on an out-of-specification automatic transmission case, in a notice dated Sept. 10, 2004, that supersedes an April 23, 2004, version.

Federal rules require large automakers' online VIN lookups to include, at a minimum, recalls whose owner notification began within the previous 15 calendar years. NHTSA's 04V-176 record says Accord owners would start receiving letters June 28, 2004, and Honda's June 29, 2004, filing estimated mailing would begin July 26, 2004. So a maker's VIN lookup need not show 04V-176; ask the seller for the repair order instead.

2008 to 2012: brake and oil-burning complaints, two warranty extensions

The 2008 has 1,521 complaints, third among 2001-2024 Accords. Of those, 573 list a service brakes component and 316 have descriptions that mention rotors or brake pads; the 2009 has 235 and 115. Hydraulic service brakes are the 2008's most-listed component, in 451 complaints.

Complaints whose descriptions mention oil consumption or burning oil number 74 on the 2008, 65 on the 2009 and 53 on the 2010, then four on the 2011 and five on the 2012.

Honda bulletin 12-087 extended the warranty on the piston rings and pistons of eligible 2008-2011 Accord four-cylinder (L4) models to 8 years from the original date of purchase or 125,000 miles, whichever came first. The bulletin ties eligibility to each car's VIN status.

The bulletin says deposits may form on the oil control rings under certain specific circumstances, raising oil consumption, when all the conditions it lists occur together on a regular and prolonged basis. It calls that combination rare and lists a low oil level on the dipstick, and an oil warning light that may come on in rare high oil consumption situations, as symptoms.

Bulletin 13-078 extended the powertrain warranty for misfire repairs (trouble codes P0301 through P0304) on 2008-2012 Accord V6 automatics, eligible by VIN. The extension ran 8 years with unlimited mileage from the original date of purchase. It followed the settlement of a class action, Soto v. American Honda, and says piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align, fouling spark plugs. Both bulletins exclude any car ever declared a total loss or sold for salvage by a financial institution or insurer, or with a branded or similar title.

The transmission recall 11V-395 covers certain 2005-2010 Accords whose secondary shaft bearing outer race may break during certain driving styles. NHTSA's record says a broken outer race may let the transmission idle gear touch an electronic sensor housing, and the resulting short circuit could stall the engine. Broken bearing pieces may lodge in the parking pawl so the car rolls after it is put in park, raising crash risk. Honda's filing ties the bearing change to 4-cylinder Accords. Dealers update the transmission control module (TCM) software; the campaign lists 1,512,107 Accord, CR-V and Element vehicles.

Recall 16V-056 covers certain 2008-2010 Accords whose air bag control units may corrode and fail. Inflator recalls 16V-346 (2008-2011) and 17V-030 (2008-2012) reach certain Accords sold or registered in the states each record lists. NHTSA says the 16V-346 and 17V-030 inflators may rupture after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature cycling.

Passenger inflator recalls 18V-042 (2009-2012) and 18V-661 (2010-2012) also reach certain Accords in the states each record lists.

2013 to 2017: steering, starters and the first Accord CVT

Honda's Accord timeline says the 2013 paired a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with the Accord's first continuously variable transmission (CVT). The 2013 has 1,427 complaints, and steering is its most-listed component, in 499. Complaints whose descriptions mention power steering or steering assist number 331 on the 2013, 114 on the 2014 and 43 on the 2015.

Complaints listing the power train number 110 on the 2013 (16 filed since Oct. 29, 2024), 65 on the 2014 (eight recent) and 40 on the 2015 (six recent).

Honda bulletin 15-056 extended the warranty on electric power steering torque sensors of certain 2013-2014 Accords, eligible by VIN, to 13 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limit. It applies only to cars that set trouble code 53-01 or 53-02. NHTSA's PE14-033, on electric power steering failure in the 2013 Accord, opened Nov. 4, 2014, and closed Oct. 6, 2015.

Another NHTSA investigation, EA21-001, looked at 2013-2015 Accords that may veer or jerk out of their path with no input from the driver. Honda told NHTSA it believed a loose magnet in the electric power steering caused the unwanted steering input. NHTSA closed EA21-001 on Aug. 25, 2023, citing a declining complaint trend and supplier fixes to the magnet's adhesive; closing it is not a finding that no defect exists.

Recall 20V-769 covers certain 2013-2015 Accords with the four-cylinder engine and CVT originally sold or ever registered in the states its record lists, from Connecticut to Wisconsin. A lubricant may have degraded the drive shafts' protective coating, leaving them open to road salt damage that could break them. Recall 25V-422, which expands it, covers certain 2013 Accords with the same engine, transmission and states. Recall 20V-769 lists 235,034 Accords, and 25V-422 lists 72,256.

Complaints whose descriptions mention the starter number 203 on the 2013, 197 on the 2014 and 110 on the 2015, and our count covers every engine. Honda's starter bulletin, 16-002, is narrower: it covers 2013-2016 Accord V6 models with an automatic transmission only, whose starter grinds or spins at startup. Dealers replace the starter and rotate the torque converter one bolt hole, and the bulletin says the normal warranty applies.

Complaints mentioning oil consumption or burning oil rise again to 26 on the 2013 and 35 on the 2014. Honda bulletin 17-089 covers 2013-2014 Accord four-cylinder (L4) engines, except the Hybrid, whose oil control rings may clog with carbon deposits. Unlike 12-087, it is not a warranty extension: it says the normal warranty applies.

Recall 17V-418 covers certain 2013-2016 Accords whose battery sensor case may let water in and cause an electrical short; it lists 1,148,550 vehicles.

Recall 19V-060 covers certain 2015-2017 Accords with the 3.5-liter V6, whose fuel pump may lose performance as particulates in fuel stick to its internal parts.

2018 to 2022: head gasket warranty extensions, braking reports and fuel pumps

Honda's timeline says the 2018 Accord brought the model's first turbocharged engines, a 1.5-liter and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The 2018 has 1,897 complaints, and 716 were filed since Oct. 29, 2024, the most of any 2001-2024 model year. Its complaints most often list the engine (559), forward collision avoidance (343) and the fuel/propulsion system (309). Among its complaints filed since Oct. 29, 2024, the engine leads with 390.

Complaints whose descriptions mention a head gasket number 369 on the 2018, and 317 of those were filed since Oct. 29, 2024. The 2019 has 105 such complaints, the 2020 has 29, the 2021 has 23 and the 2022 has 14.

Honda service bulletin 26-003 (Version 3, Sept. 25, 2026) extends the cylinder head gasket warranty on 2018-2022 Accords with a CVT, all trims, eligible by VIN. Bulletin 26-004 (Version 3, same date) covers 2018-2020 manual-transmission Accords of all trims, by VIN. Honda's Aug. 26, 2026, dealer message lists both bulletins for the Accord 1.5T, the 1.5-liter turbo. Both extend gasket coverage for this condition to 10 years from the original date of purchase or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. The extension applies even to cars declared a total loss or given a branded title.

The bulletins say that under certain conditions, head gasket effectiveness may be reduced, which may cause overheating, coolant loss and/or misfire. In some cases, trouble codes P0300 through P0304 may also be stored. Dealers replace the gasket if coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber, and the cylinder head or short block if an inspection finds warpage. As of Oct. 29, 2026, the newest Honda bulletins we saved, dated Sept. 25, say owners of affected vehicles will be sent a notification of the campaign.

Complaints listing forward collision avoidance fall from 343 on the 2018 to 154, 103, 62 and 61 on the 2019 through 2022. Of the 2018's 343, 89 were filed since Oct. 29, 2024. NHTSA opened preliminary evaluation PE22-003 on Feb. 21, 2022, into inadvertent automatic emergency braking on 2018-2019 Accords and 2017-2019 CR-Vs. Its opening resume counted 278 complaints, 107 of them on the Accord. NHTSA closed PE22-003 on April 18, 2024, and opened engineering analysis EA24-002 on April 15, 2024, covering 2018-2022 Accords. As of Oct. 29, 2026, NHTSA's record for EA24-002 lists no closing date.

NHTSA's July 18, 2024, letter to Honda defines its subject vehicles as 2017-2022 CR-Vs and 2018-2022 Accords equipped with the subject system, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS). Its count covers CR-Vs and Accords combined: "This office has received 1,397 reports of inadvertent activation of CMBS with no imminent collision hazard present resulting in a sudden decrease in speed." See our Honda CR-V years-to-avoid guide.

Our pattern for fuel in the oil, oil dilution or a rising oil level matches 18 complaints on the 2018, one on the 2019 and three on the 2020, counting every engine. Six of the 2018's 18 were filed since Oct. 29, 2024, and the pattern matches none on the 2021 or 2022. None of the Honda communications NHTSA lists for 2018-2022 Accords mentions oil dilution or fuel in the oil in its summary.

Recall 20V-314 covers certain 2018-2019 Accords whose low-pressure fuel pump may fail; Honda's report limits it to pumps with impellers produced during specific periods. It lists 135,995 vehicles across Honda and Acura models. Recall 21V-215 expands it to certain 2019-2020 Accords, with the same impeller limit and 624,552 vehicles in all. Honda's report lists 91,596 2019 Accords and one 2020 Accord.

Recall 23V-858, an expansion of both, covers certain 2013-2023 Accords whose fuel pump may fail; owner letters were mailed Sept. 6, 2024. It lists 2,490,460 vehicles in all.

Recall 26V-332 covers certain 2016-2022 Accords whose front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit. Honda's report says that in a crash, the front passenger frontal and knee air bags may deploy despite an occupant, such as a child, for whom deployment should be suppressed, increasing the risk of injury. It expands 24V-064, and Honda's report lists 98,892 vehicles in the whole campaign, 6,766 of them 2016-2022 Accords. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026.

Recall 18V-629 covers certain 2018 Accords whose back-up camera display may not work properly in certain scenarios. On the 2018, 31 complaints list back over prevention.

2023 and 2024 Accords

The 2023 has 88 complaints and the 2024 has 153, with 64 and 141 of them filed since Oct. 29, 2024. NHTSA lists five vehicle recall campaigns for the 2023 and three for the 2024. Steering is the 2024's most-listed component, in 53 complaints, 51 of them filed since Oct. 29, 2024.

Recall 24V-763 covers certain 2023-2024 Accords whose high-pressure fuel pump may crack and leak fuel; it lists 720,810 Honda vehicles, and owner letters were mailed Feb. 20, 2025. Recall 23V-782 covers certain 2023-2024 Accords whose front seat belt pretensioners may be missing a rivet.

Honda service bulletin 26-005 (Version 3, Sept. 25, 2026) extends the same head gasket coverage to 2023-2026 Accords, all trims, eligible by VIN. Honda's dealer message lists separate head gasket bulletins for the Accord Hybrid: 26-006 for 2018-2022 and 26-007 for 2023-2026. Complaints whose descriptions mention a head gasket number one on the 2023 and two on the 2024.

The Accord Hybrid, which NHTSA files separately and these counts leave out, has 144 complaints for 2023 and 78 for 2024.

The chart below draws the Accord model years reached by the key recalls named in our checks, plus the EA24-002 braking investigation, as of Oct. 29, 2026.

Checks for the Accord you are looking at

• For open (unrepaired) recalls on this car, use NHTSA's lookup by VIN or Honda's. Our free recall check at /vin-check/ lists the recalls NHTSA lists for the car's make, model and year, not whether one is still open on this car. For older recalls such as 04V-176, see the 2003 and 2004 section. Most recalls and bulletins below cover certain cars, by VIN.
• Our advice on any 2001-2007 Accord: have every open recall done before you buy or drive it. Its inflator recalls include 15V-320 (certain 2001-2007 cars), 15V-370 (certain 2003-2007 four-door four-cylinder cars) and later campaigns, such as 19V-182, 19V-499 and 19V-501, that replace earlier remedy inflators.
• On a 2003 or 2004 V6 automatic, ask for any 04V-176 repair order; Honda's filing lists certain V6 cars by VIN range and numbers the Accord work P38.
• On any 2003 or 2004 automatic, ask for transmission repair or replacement records and have the inspection cover the transmission; 848 of the 2003's complaints mention it.
• On a 2005-2010 automatic, ask whether the 11V-395 transmission software update was done; Honda's filing ties the defect to 4-cylinder Accords.
• On a 2008 or 2009, have the rotors and pads inspected and ask for brake service records; 316 complaints on the 2008 and 115 on the 2009 mention rotors or brake pads.
• On a 2008-2011 four-cylinder, check the oil level on the dipstick and ask whether piston ring work was ever done under Honda bulletin 12-087.
• On a 2008-2012 V6 automatic, ask whether misfire repairs were done under bulletin 13-078.
• On a 2013-2015 four-cylinder CVT car from a state 20V-769 lists, ask whether it is in that recall and for driveshaft inspection records; on a 2013, ask about 25V-422 as well.
• On a 2013 or 2014, have codes 53-01 and 53-02 read and ask whether electric power steering torque sensor work was done under bulletin 15-056.
• On a 2018-2022 with a CVT or a 2018-2020 with a manual, watch for overheating, coolant loss and misfire, and have codes P0300-P0304 read. Ask whether head gasket work was done under Honda bulletin 26-003 or 26-004, or 26-006 on a 2018-2022 Accord Hybrid. Honda's dealer message lists 26-003 and 26-004 for the 1.5T, and a Honda dealer can check eligibility by VIN.
• On a 2018-2022, test-drive with CMBS on and ask the seller about any unrequested braking; NHTSA's EA24-002 investigation of these years lists no closing date.
• Ask whether the car is in fuel pump recall 23V-858 (certain 2013-2023 Accords), 20V-314 (certain 2018-2019), 21V-215 (certain 2019 and one 2020) or 24V-763 (certain 2023-2024); that is not every Accord fuel pump recall.
• On a 2016-2022, ask whether the car is in 26V-332 and whether its front passenger seat weight sensor was replaced.
• On a 2023 or 2024, ask whether head gasket work was done under bulletin 26-005, or 26-007 on an Accord Hybrid.
• If any recall is open, have it done before you buy or make it a condition of the sale. See our guide to checking a car for recalls.
• Before you buy, have an independent mechanic inspect the car; see our used-car inspection checklist.