What ownership is like, what breaks at what mileage, what the repairs cost, and what to check before you buy one.
← All Honda Accord generations
NHTSA complaints per catalog listing run from 2.31 for 2021 to 6.67 for 2018, against a generation median of 2.87. 2018 is 2.3 times that median (2,013 complaints across 302 listings) and passes the complaint test. It fails the ad test: 1 of 212 enriched ads (0.5%) mentions a problem, below the 2.0% median (only 2018-2020 have enriched ads). So our rule flags no year. The top NHTSA areas for 2018 and 2019 are the engine, forward collision avoidance and the gasoline fuel system.
| Miles | Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not verified | 1.5T oil dilution (fuel in the oil), 2018-2020 | $300 for a dealer service in one owner thread (AccordXClub). Honda's software update (TSB 18-086) for 2018-2019 is the fix named by VehicleBar. | CoverageX calls 2018 the worst year for 1.5T dilution and says it was mostly resolved from 2021. CarComplaints counts 11 gasoline-in-oil complaints on the 2018. GarageHub says 2018 cars without the update are the highest risk. Apex Tech Nation links fuel-diluted oil to a cold-start rattle from the VTC actuator. Ask whether the update was done. |
| Not verified | A/C condenser leaks (2018-2019) | Not verified - no source priced a repair | GarageHub lists pinhole leaks in the condenser on 2018-2019 cars and cites a TSB (as stated by the source). Apex Tech Nation says this weakness is shared with the CR-V and Civic. Run the A/C on a hot day and check for cooling. |
| any | Unexpected automatic emergency braking (NHTSA investigation, 2018-2019) | Not applicable; no repair priced | In February 2022 NHTSA opened a probe into 2018-2019 Accords and 2017-2019 CR-Vs after 278 complaints; in April 2024 it was upgraded to nearly 3 million vehicles (Consumer Reports, Car and Driver). Our data shows forward collision avoidance among the top complaint areas for 2018-2022. Ask the seller if it has ever braked by itself. |
| any | Recalls: body control module software (20V771000), back-up camera (18V629000), seat belt buckle (23V158000), fuel pump (20V314000, 21V215000), rear seat belt retractor (21V900000), occupant sensor (24V064000) | Free at a Honda dealer when open | 20V771000 covers a software error in 2018-2020 sedans and hybrids. 18V629000: back-up camera display on certain 2018 cars. 23V158000: front buckle on 2018-2019 cars. 21V900000: rear retractor on 2021 cars. Confirm each by VIN. |
No year in this generation was flagged. A year is flagged by our rule only when all three hold: (1) its NHTSA complaints per catalog listing is at least 2.0x the median for its generation, (2) the share of ads that mention a problem is above the generation median, and (3) we track at least 30 listings for that year. The cutoff was fixed before we looked. Ad mentions are not failures, and a flag is a reason to inspect harder, not a verdict on any one car.
| Year | Complaints | Top components | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2,013 | Engine, Forward Collision Avoidance, Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 2019 | 792 | Engine, Forward Collision Avoidance, Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 2020 | 407 | Forward Collision Avoidance, Engine, Air Bags | |
| 2021 | 294 | Forward Collision Avoidance, Unknown Or Other, Electrical System | |
| 2022 | 316 | Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Forward Collision Avoidance |
source: NHTSA complaints database (api.nhtsa.gov). Complaints are owner reports, not confirmed failures.
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We don't tell you to skip a year; we flag by a fixed rule (see 'How we flag years'), and no Accord year trips it. The near-miss is 2023: 3.18 NHTSA complaints per catalog listing (232 across 73 listings) against a Gen 11 median of 1.16, which is 2.7 times, and 3 of 49 enriched ads (6.1%) mention a problem against a 1.0% median. All three of those mentions are the 'rust' flaw, so it fails our rust-excluded check, and 73 listings is a small first-year sample. Other close calls: 2003 has 13.79 complaints per listing (2,013 across 146), 4.4 times the Gen 7 median of 3.15, but 11.8% of its ads mention a problem against a 15.7% median. 2008 has 5.85 (1,521 across 260), 3.8 times the Gen 8 median, with 6.6% of ads against 7.5%. 2018 has 6.67 (2,013 across 302), 2.3 times its median, with 0.5% of ads against 2.0%. Lists that name 2003-2005, 2008-2009, 2013 and 2018 are pointing at real complaint clusters; our rule asks for the ads to agree too.
CarComplaints averages $2,990 at about 110,000 miles across 207 complaints on the 2004. Dealer quotes in owner threads were $4,100 (2005 V6) and $4,350 (2003), the latter cut to $2,350 after a goodwill appeal to American Honda. CoverageX gives $3,500-$6,500 for a replacement automatic and $2,300-$6,000 for a rebuild; one owner paid $1,700 for a used unit through a service contract. The mileage window is not settled: one 2005 EX-V6 failed at 168,000 miles.
VCM is Honda's cylinder deactivation on the V6. HondaRide says it causes oil consumption, fouled spark plugs and failed active motor mounts; CarMechan describes uneven cylinder wall wear on the 8th-generation V6. CarComplaints counts 32 fouled-spark-plug complaints on the 2008, average repair $180 at about 59,550 miles. CoverageX links VCM oil burning to 2008-2017 V6 Accords. We found no verified price for a VCM-related engine replacement.
The 2018-2020 1.5L turbo. CoverageX calls 2018 the worst and says it was mostly resolved from 2021. Honda's software update TSB 18-086 covers 2018-2019 (VehicleBar); one owner paid $300 for the dealer service (AccordXClub). CarComplaints lists 11 gasoline-in-oil complaints on the 2018. Ask whether the update was done.
RepairPal gives $591-$963 for a 2013 Accord; Samarins gives $360-$620 for 2013-2017. CarComplaints averages $620 at about 54,600 miles across 117 starter failure complaints on the 2013. HondaProblems describes starter grinding on 2013-2015 cars at around 50,000 miles.
We did not rank years by recall count, because one recall often covers many years. The ones to check by VIN: the Takata air bag inflator recalls on 2001-2012 cars, the 2003-2007 V6 power steering hose recall (12V222000), the 2005-2010 secondary shaft bearing recall (11V395000), the 2023-2025 Accord Hybrid software recall (25V785000), and the fuel pump recalls spanning 2013-2024. Free at a Honda dealer when open; run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.