UsedScore

2018 Honda Accord: Avoid

Owners filed 767 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Accord in its first five years on the road, about 257 for every 100,000 sold: 2.4× the rate of a typical Accord year. That's more than twice a typical year, across more than one problem area.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the brakes (28% of complaints, median 10,000 miles).

Complaint index
2.4×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Accord year
Rank
14th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
767
first five years; 257 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
6
campaigns
10th generation, 2018–2022 (first year of the generation; redesign years often run worse) · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2018 Honda Accord Sport

Photo: 2018 Honda Accord Sport · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Brakes28% · 214 complaints · median 10,000 miles
  2. Electrical19% · 143 complaints · median 8,000 miles
  3. Driver assistance20% · 154 complaints · median 25,000 miles
  4. Engine10% · 76 complaints · median 10,000 miles
  5. Speed control9% · 72 complaints · median 8,000 miles
  6. Powertrain6% · 47 complaints · median 11,000 miles
  7. Fuel and propulsion7% · 50 complaints · median 12,000 miles
  8. Body and structure6% · 47 complaints · median 9,000 miles
  9. Steering5% · 42 complaints · median 10,000 miles
  10. Air bags2% · 18 complaints · median 23,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Brakes

Owners describe the Accord's automatic braking system suddenly engaging on its own, sometimes at highway speed with no obstacle present, along with warning lights urging a dealer visit. Some also describe a stiff or uneven brake pedal feel, and many say dealers struggled to duplicate or permanently fix the problem.

Warning signs:
Owners report dashboard warnings like 'Collision Mitigation Braking System Problem, See your dealer,' loss of adaptive cruise control, sudden hard braking, and a brake pedal that feels stiff or has a 'step' before engaging.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not replicate or diagnose the issue, sometimes clearing codes or resetting the computer; some report the electric brake booster or master cylinder was replaced, occasionally without lasting resolution.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 25,000 miles, among 166 complaints that give it

“I was driving approx. 45 MPH down a busy street when the car stopped without warning and for no apparent reason.”

“The brakes suddenly apply themselves very hard causing the car to become a sitting target for cars coming from behind.”

Driver assistance

Many owners describe the Accord's driver-assistance features, especially automatic braking and the rearview camera, activating falsely, failing to work, or shutting off unexpectedly. Dealers frequently couldn't reproduce or permanently fix the issue, leaving some owners uncertain the systems will work reliably.

Warning signs:
Owners report dashboard warnings such as "Collision Mitigation Braking System Problem, See Dealer," brake or ACC lights illuminating, sudden deceleration, or a blank rearview camera image with no other vehicles nearby.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate the failure or find a fault, sometimes updated software or replaced sensors, cameras, or batteries, and in some cases the vehicle was left unrepaired.
Mileage:
most between 20,000 and 55,000 miles, among 66 complaints that give it

“Collision mitigation braking system problem see your dealer. It took a second for me to realize that my car was no longer slowing down.”

“the Forward Collision Avoidance braking system erroneously activated causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the middle of the road”

Electrical

Owners describe the Accord's driver-assist and electrical systems intermittently throwing warning lights, sometimes triggering unexpected braking, and other features like locks, wipers or the touchscreen going out temporarily. Dealers frequently reset or updated the systems but many owners say the problem returned or couldn't be duplicated.

Warning signs:
Owners describe dashboard warning lights for brakes, ACC, LKAS and RDM appearing suddenly, sometimes with the instrument cluster or infotainment screen going dark or rebooting, doors failing to lock/unlock, and the car braking hard with no obstacle present.
What shops did:
Dealers often reset the computer or reprogrammed/updated software, replaced batteries or sensors, but many owners report the shop could not duplicate the fault or find a permanent remedy.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 35,000 miles, among 102 complaints that give it

“Windshield wipers wouldn't work while driving in rain on highway.”

“Collision mitigation braking system goes out for no reason and shuts off automatic cruise control.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (6)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 26V332000May 202698,892 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V858000December 20232,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V158000March 2023448,613 vehicles

    Seat belts: front: buckle assembly

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.

    Risk: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 20V771000December 2020737,233 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera · Visibility/wiper · Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system · Visibility: power window devices and controls · Exterior lighting · Electrical system: body control module: software

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, and 2019-2020 Insight vehicles. A software error may cause intermittent or continuous disruptions in communication between the Body Control Module (BCM) and other components. This may result in malfunctions of various systems such as the windshield wipers and defroster, rearview camera, exterior lights, audible warning of a stopped vehicle, and power window operation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems" and number 111, "Rear Visibility" as well as FMVSS numbers 104, 108, 114, 118, and 305.

    Risk: Various system malfunctions such as inoperative windshield wipers, defroster, rearview camera, or exterior lighting can increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the BCM software, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 20V314000May 2020135,995 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V629000September 2018232,140 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera · Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Accord and 2019 Honda Insight vehicles. In certain scenarios, the back-up camera center display may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

    Risk: If the rearview camera display does not show what is behind the vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the display audio unit software, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Honda sent NHTSA 338 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2018 Accord. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • AAHS09162026902 · September 2026Dealer Message - On August 21st, 2026, American Honda issued a Product Update for certain 2018-2022 Accord and Accord Hybrid models that received the accessory Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto…
  • ONL6UV09092026 · September 2026Owner Notification Letter - Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver experience by modifying the circumstances when the advanced driver assist system (ADAS)…
  • AATS31549 · August 2026Tech Line Summary - Customers may report that the center display unit changes screens on its own, registers unintended inputs, or operates erratically without user interaction.
  • AEBM08212026901 · August 2026Dealer Message - Due to a software programming issue within the Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto system, an invalid "License Authentication Error" message may appear on the Display Audio screen…
  • A26-068 · August 2026On certain 2018-2022 Accord and 2018-22 Accord Hybrid vehicles equipped with the Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto software upgrade, a programming issue within the Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto…
  • A26-091 · July 2026Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver experience by modifying the circumstances when the advanced driver assist system (ADAS) decelerates the vehicle or…
  • AEBM07242026901 · July 2026Dealer Message - Due to software programming issues of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), unexpected vehicle deceleration may occur.
  • A26-091 v1 · July 2026American Honda has identified a condition that may affect Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) operation.

All 2018 Accord bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2018 Honda Accord reliable?
Owners filed 767 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Accord in its first five years on the road, about 257 for every 100,000 sold: 2.4× the rate of a typical Accord year. That's more than twice a typical year, across more than one problem area. Ratings compare Accord years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2018 Accord problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the brakes (28%), the electrical system (19%) and driver-assistance features and cameras (20%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2018 Honda Accord been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 Honda Accord, the most recent in May 2026 (air bags). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Honda. The 2018 Honda Accord on NHTSA.gov · How we rate