Problems · NHTSA complaints

2018 Honda Accord problems

Owners filed 1,897 complaints about the 2018 Honda Accord with NHTSA between Oct 2017 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (559).

Complaints
1,897
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
35
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
39
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine559
  2. Forward collision avoidance343
  3. Fuel/propulsion system309
  4. Electrical system296
  5. Service brakes250
  6. Fuel system, gasoline165
  7. Power train139
  8. Vehicle speed control111
  9. Air bags60
  10. Steering60
  11. Lane departure57
  12. Structure57
  13. Back over prevention31
  14. Seat belts30

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20173
2018123
2019159
2020122
2021127
2022192
2023181
2024349
2025337
2026304

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

559 reports7 crashes3 fires
“Noticed that the engine temperature was slightly higher normal (went to 5 bars when always at 4) I checked and the fan was running properly and had coolant in the overflow tank. I took it to the Honda dealer, and they found that the head gasket failed and the fluid inside the radiator leaked into the cylinders. My 2018 Honda has the 2.0T engine with 126,875 miles. Honda acknowledges this design flaw on their 1.5T and 2.0 non-turbo engines but wouldn't cover my 2.0T. This 2.0T from my research is about 80-100 units of the 1,115,384 accords sold in the US 2018-2022 10th gen. The 2.0T has the same design flaw as the other two engines but Honda wont cover them. Moreover, I asked for 50% good will coverage from Honda and was flat out told no after waiting for 4 weeks to get this decision on a known mechanical engine flaw that could be a safety issue, Eg. fire or loss of power on a highway that can get someone hurt or killed.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2026EngineODI 11772912

Forward collision avoidance

343 reports7 crashes
“I am submitting a serious safety complaint regarding the placement and design of the electronic parking brake switch in my Honda Accord. The parking brake switch is located on the center console, directly in an area where a driver's hand naturally rests while driving. This creates an unnecessary risk of accidentally activating the parking brake. With a traditional gear selector, shifting into reverse requires two deliberate actions: pressing a release button and physically moving the shifter. These safeguards help prevent accidental operation. However, in the Honda Accord, the parking brake switch can be activated with a simple finger movement. A driver resting their hand on the center console could unintentionally operate this switch. Even if the vehicle has electronic safeguards, accidental activation while driving could cause unexpected braking, startle the driver, or create a dangerous situation. What makes this particularly concerning is that Honda uses a different placement in the Honda Odyssey, positioning the parking brake switch away from where a driver's hand naturally rests. This demonstrates that a safer, less exposed location is possible. The…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2026Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11773497

Fuel/propulsion system

309 reports4 crashes
“SUPPLEMENTAL DATA FOR ACTIVE ODI CASE #XXX. P1: SYSTEMIC SAFETY RECALL FALSIFICATION (NHTSA 23V-858) This submission supplements active ODI Case #XXX against Honda of Manhasset (Facility #XXX). On XXX, the facility certified Fuel Pump Safety Recall 23V-858 as fully completed to claim warranty credits. Vehicle dashcam recordings irrefutably prove the technician never opened the hood, never disconnected the 12V battery (mandatory safety step to release fuel pressure), and never stood in front of the car. When confronted on XXX with video evidence, advisor [XXX] manually altered the invoice to "Not Performed", falsely blaming a system error/lack of stock, despite parts records proving the recall kit arrived XXX. System admin then issued a corrective invoice "Reprint #1" stating "RECALL NOT PERFORM. PART NOT IN STOCK", dynamic-reopening the VIN nationally to evade corporate detection. This constitutes severe corporate fraud. P2: COMPRESSED ADAS SOFTWARE TOLERANCES AND PROCEDURAL OMISSION The secondary fraud involves an unneeded quote of $1,237.19 and illegal $233.55 diagnostic fee under false pretense of a "bent radar bracket". Independent engineering audit…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2026Fuel/propulsion system, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11772646

Electrical system

296 reports11 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“The car hesitates upon acceleration and when it “misses” enough it will flash the engine on the dashboard, and not allow any further acceleration, going into “limp mode”. All the safety controls error on the message center and dashboard warnings all come on, even though it’s only the acceleration/transmission that’s affected. Not sure if it’s fuel injectors or a computer issue, but it’s absolutely dangerous upon entering a highway and hoping to not have system failures, that result in limp mode. I’ve been carrying a 10 mm socket for disconnecting the battery and rebooting the system, when needed. It only helps for a short while.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2026Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11769767

Service brakes

250 reports6 crashes
“On August 29th 2026 at 1:28PM (13:28) 148,320 mi. on odometer During interstate driving and topping the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Interstate 275 Northbound (27.617863, -82.653639) the vehicle detected both road departure and engaged the emergency automated braking due to the shadow generated by the superstructure of the Skyway Bridge falling on the road surface. The vehicle attempted to correct the "road departure" by steering the vehicle away from the perceived problem and violently engaged the brakes nearly causing a collision as it has done numerous times before. In this particular event, it was an extraordinarily dangerous situation given the location that it occurred (190ft in the air on a walled in 2 lane interstate highway). I have reported this to NHTSA and American Honda on multiple previous occasions and await a repair or even an acknowledgement of this extremely dangerous issue. Honda has opened a case on this but have had 12+ months and no response has been issued.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2026Steering, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11760916

Fuel system, gasoline

165 reports2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle, and a fuel odor was entering the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle immediately stopped. The contact activated the hazard lights until a tow truck was able to arrive on scene to tow the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the head gasket was blown and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was no longer operable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2026Fuel system, gasolineODI 11752592
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

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