Problems · by component

2008 Honda Accord engine and engine cooling problems

41 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Honda Accord cite engine and engine cooling, 3% of all 1,521 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
41
3% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“DEFECT IN ENGINE WITH VTC ACUATOR. AT COLD START THE ENGINE RATTLES LOUDLY FOR ABOUT 2-5 SECONDS. HONDA CLAIMS THERE IS STILL NO FIX FOR PROBLEM. SEE HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 09-010.I FEEL VEHICLE WILL BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE IF THERE IS AN ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2015Engine and engine coolingODI 10765691
“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. GOT CAR SERVICED AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE. CAME BACK ON. MECHANIC COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT BUT FOUND VDAP CODE. OVER $1000 IN REPAIRS AND CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING BACK ON. NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHY THE VDAP CODE KEEPS REAPPEARING AND CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN REAPPEARING FOR ONE AND HALF YEARS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2014Engine and engine coolingODI 10621013
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE HOWEVER, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER AND STALL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 7, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10457626
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ALSO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10457414
“I PURCHASED MY CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED HONDA ACCORD 2008 4CY FROM FISCHER HONDA WITH CLOSE 52,000 MILES. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CAR'S OIL EMPTIES OUT BEFORE I AM DUE FOR MY REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THE CAR BEGINS TO MAKE STRANGE NOISES. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO TWO DEALERS AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS EXACTLY GOING ON. ONE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I PROBABLY PUT BAD GASOLINE IN MY CAR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF HONDA ACCORD 2008 OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE AND HONDA IS NOT REALLY DOING ANYTHING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST ON MY CAR. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10457159
“I BOUGHT A NEW 2008 HONDA ACCORD EXL-6 VEHICLE. I HAVE 72,000 MILES ON IT, MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. I'VE HAD MY REAR BRAKES REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER TRIED TO TELL ME 30,000 IS AVERAGE FOR BRAKES. ALSO HAD ALL MY SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. # 3 WENT BAD AND THEY SUGGESTED I REPLACE ALL OF THEM. AGAIN, TELLING ME 70,000 MILES IS AVERAGE FOR SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT. I WAS CHARGED FULL PRICE FOR ALL WORK DONE, I'VE EVEN PAID FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT DIDN'T COVER THE SPARK PLUGS EITHER. I WOULDN'T EVEN TAKE MY CAR TO THE HONDA DEALER BUT SINCE I FOOLISHLY PAID FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, I'M AFRAID THAT WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID IF ANY OTHER MECHANIC TOUCHES MY CAR FOR ANY REASON. FIRST AND LAST HONDA I WILL EVER PURCHASE. I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYWAY I CAN FIND OUT IF I'M ENTITLED TO A REFUND FOR BRAKES & SPARK PLUGS. JUST SPENT ALMOST $600 HAVING THE TWO REPLACED. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2012Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine coolingODI 10455409

Showing 6 of 41 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.