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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
123
159
122
127
192
181
349
337
304
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 123 |
| 2019 | 159 |
| 2020 | 122 |
| 2021 | 127 |
| 2022 | 192 |
| 2023 | 181 |
| 2024 | 349 |
| 2025 | 337 |
| 2026 | 304 |
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.
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.”
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…”
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…”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.