2016 Honda Accord
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 607 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 25 Accord model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 32 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 29 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerMay 21, 2026
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.
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Campaign 26V332000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpDec 18, 2023
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.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Campaign 23V858000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, other, delivery, fuel pumpJan 29, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.
Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.
Campaign 19V060000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, 12v/24v/48v batteryJun 29, 2017
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Honda Accord vehicles. The case for the battery sensor, part of the battery management system, may allow water to get in, potentially causing an electrical short.
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensor, free of charge. Dealers will perform an interim remedy of applying adhesive to the case to prevent water intrusion. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support Center at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KG0.
Campaign 17V418000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
607 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Oct 18, 2025
The vehicle has recently developed a loud and painful static noise through the speakers, which occurs intermittently and unpredictably, even when the radio and audio system are turned off. This issue has now become so severe that it is unsafe to drive the car. The static bursts are extremely loud, startling, and physically painful, creating a serious distraction hazard while driving. I am deeply concerned that this constitutes a safety defect in the vehicle’s electrical/audio system, not a routine maintenance issue. The vehicle has approximately 70,476 miles, and a full history of regular maintenance. Yesterday, (10/17/2025), I took my vehicle to the dealer for diagnosis. While the issue was not initially present, it began again within minutes of leaving the service department, prompting me to return immediately so the technician could hear it. The dealership completed a diagnostic assessment (cost: $217) and determined that the OEM radio head unit has failed and must be replaced. The service advisor further explained that: - The defective audio unit cannot be safely disconnected or its fuse removed because doing so would affect the braking system. - The replacement part is on national backorder with no estimated availability date. - The repair would cost $1,211.80, which I am being asked to pay out of pocket despite this being a factory component failure. - No loaner vehicle is available, leaving me without safe transportation. Since leaving the dealership, the issue has continued repeatedly. The vehicle remains unsafe to operate under these conditions. Through my research, I have learned that this is a widely reported problem among 2016–2017 Honda Accord owners. There are numerous documented complaints on owner forums (including DriveAccord.net) and on CarComplaints.com describing identical symptoms, loud static or “white noise” from the speakers, occurring even when the radio is off, often linked to failure of the infotainment head unit or amplifier.
Service brakes, Oct 12, 2025
ABS/VSA module the lights are on the dashboard. Steering wheel light, brake,ABS and tracksion light…They come on and sometimes go off for a little bit. Then back on
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 3, 2025
When driving the 2016 honda accord ex-l, after driven for around 10-20 minutes, a static starts playing on the speaker starting small and gets progessively louder (even when the audio system is turned off, if audio system is on and volume is adjusted, it gets even worse) until you cannot hear anything else other than the loud static. You cannot hear anything said in the car by your fellow passengers, kids get scared with the loud noise. The only thing that works is a restart of the engine which can only be done by pulling over to a shoulder or another unsafe area of the road putting everyone in the car and other nearby cars at dangerous risk. The static noise is so loud, it completely takes over all of your driver senses and you'll be like a deer staring into headlights unable to do anything. In a recent incident, we (family including kid) were going in the left-most lane of a CA freeway when this started and in the ensuing 2 minutes I had to move over 3 lanes into the number 1 lane and stop at an unsafe curb near an exit in the evening and restart the car and go back home. This is traumatic everytime it happens and we have to plan for it. There are several people with the same issue complaining on social media (reddit/youtube) and they have evidence for the same in video format. 500+ posts and going [XXX] . Upon calling my usual service center, they did mention they saw similar problem recently, but it is not part of a recall and quoted me 250$ for diganosis and upwards of 1900$ for replacing the audio unit. My audio unit worked fine for 10 years, and I do no think this is an individual issue but a widespread one that triggers in this specific model of the vehicle. There were no warnings prior to this, started appearing around [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Electrical system, Sep 30, 2025
Deafening static was coming from all the speakers in the car. I turned the radio/navigation system off and there was still static coming from the speakers. This happens after the car is warmed up and it is not drivable.
Service brakes, Sep 26, 2025
The ABS is malfunctioning. It comes in and off. When the warning lights are on the Abs system is not working. It pops off which means it is working at that time.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 22, 2025
interference; and importantly, that the problem occurs only when the outside temperature is excessively hot. Due to the specific conditions required to trigger the interference, the static noise is impossible to replicate on command, rendering troubleshooting efforts prohibitively costly and unlikely to bear fruit. For reference, there are videos of the problem online with search terms "Honda Accord static noise".
Exterior lighting, Sep 17, 2025
The LED strip on my headlights overheated and failed, they are no longer operating. I am unable to use this safety feature on my car.
Electrical system, Sep 9, 2025
I purchased this car in winter, summertime comes around and it’s very hot in the car. I turn my car on and it connects to my phone. Ear piercing static comes through the radio. I’ve tried to buy sunshades, sit with my air on to cool the car down, and also pull over, turn the car off and on. It does not stop still. My car usually stops 20 minutes into driving. Then will start again. It is very scary and has startled me while driving. This is distracting and these cars are too expensive for this issue to not be resolved. I don’t even like to drive my car because even when it is not blaring hot, it still does it. I can’t go through a drive thru or roll my windows down or even listen to music in this car! It is unbearable and ridiculous that this is not resolved. I have not gotten quoted on a price to fix it but I’ve done some research and have seen people pay $700-$1000 to get it fixed. I wish I would’ve done more research on issues because I would have never bought this car. Please look into this and everyone else’s complaints and start a recall! I can’t even hear myself think while driving let alone hear anything else around me!!
Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Sep 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the messages "Adaptive Cruise Control Failure", "Lane Keep Assist Failure", and "Forward Collision Avoidance Failure" were displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the infotainment system made an abnormal, loud, startling, and static sound intermittently while driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 196,000.
Engine, Sep 8, 2025
Valve cover leaking at 35000 miles. Gasket faulty.
Other or unspecified, Sep 6, 2025
The stereo randomly starts making very loud popping and static noise so loud it sets off the sound warning on my watch. Even with the stereo off it still does. You can’t stop it and you can’t hear anything around you. Very unsafe.
Other or unspecified, Aug 30, 2025
I left work on an unusually hot day, and several minutes into my trip, a deafening static noise began emanating from the dashboard area. I was frantically hitting all the radio and air buttons while driving, but I could not stop the noise, so I pulled over on the side of the road. The noise stopped after I turned off the car. I inspected the battery connections and the grounding cable, but found no obvious culprit. The noise resumed when I began driving again, but did not happen the next morning. The deafening static was unpredictable and unresolvable over the next few weeks, and it was so loud at times that my noise canceling headphones did not prevent pain in my ears. It happened on intermittent occasions, in all instances while I was driving on busy roads or interstates, and several times leaving me and my child stranded in unsafe conditions while waiting on help. I finally discovered through forum chats and online videos that this is a common occurrence with my specific car; that the source of the problem is a known faulty amp that overheats and causes interference; and importantly, that the problem occurs only when the outside temperature is excessively hot. Due to the specific conditions required to trigger the interference, the static noise is impossible to replicate on command, rendering troubleshooting efforts prohibitively costly and unlikely to bear fruit. For reference, there are videos of the problem online with search terms "Honda Accord static noise".
Electrical system, Aug 28, 2025
The Infotainment system crashes when using Apple Carplay. This is troublesome because the navigation seizes and does not give you any information to where you're going. The screen turns dark until you either restart the car or unplug and replug the phone which is DANGEROUS to do while driving the car. However when I use Apple Carplay on my wife's 2017 CR-V, same phone same car manufacturer, different model and year but there are no infortainment system crashes. Clearly this points to the software operating system running the infortainment system, on forums people reference that version is too old and crashes. Please help; driving this car as is, becomes dangerous and risky. Please apply pressure to Honda to fix this problem before someone dies. I'm the original owner of this car.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 27, 2025
I am writing to bring urgent attention to a significant and concerning issue affecting the 2016 Honda Accord, specifically the audio head unit, which is causing severe static noise through the vehicle's speakers. This issue poses a serious safety risk to drivers, passengers, and others on the road, and I believe it warrants immediate action, including a formal recall. The static noise occurs regardless of whether the audio system is on or off. This interference compromises the ability to clearly hear essential sounds while driving, including emergency vehicle sirens, honking, and other important auditory cues that are vital for safe driving. The loud, distracting static significantly reduces the ability to focus on the road and may cause delayed responses to critical situations, including traffic accidents, pedestrian crossings, and other road hazards. Safety concerns include but are not limited to the following: inability to hear emergency alerts such as sirens and horns which could result in delayed or incorrect reactions when an ambulance, fire truck, or police vehicle is approaching, potentially leading to dangerous situations where first responders are unable to get through traffic quickly or safely, distracted driving, reducing ability to focus on the driving task, and ability to hear other critical sounds, such as tire issues (like a flat or blowout), or the sound of other cars around you, and can medically affect hearing of drivers. Given the severity of these issues, I urge an investigation to this matter thoroughly and issue a recall for the affected 2016 Honda Accord models and other year models that are affected. This would ensure the safety of drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Addressing this problem promptly will not only safeguard lives but also demonstrate a commitment to consumer safety and quality. I appreciate your attention to this urgent matter and trust that the necessary steps will be taken to resolve it as soon as possible.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 24, 2025
Error code P0087
Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 22, 2025
I have been having issues with my Honda Accord with the electrical system. Over the past couple of years I have had to take my car to get serviced for the battery, alternator and other electrical issues. Several times I had to take my car to get checked because the ABS, power steering, traction control and brake lights intermittently light up at the same time. I was told it was a battery issue but now years later I am being told it is the VSA modulator. I am frustrated because the Honda dealership i have taken it to has failed to identify this issue when it has been repeatedly occurring and now that my warranty is expired now it is being explained that I have to fix this out of my pocket.
Other or unspecified, Aug 21, 2025
My radio is throwing static. You can turn it off, turn the volume to 0, nothing helps. It only gets louder, and from my understanding this has happened too 100+ people. They have the same make/ model/ year as mine and they are all experiencing the same problem with no solution. I feel not only my safety, but other peoples safety are put at risk. This is a severe distraction from the road, that is something that would result in a wreck because of the sound. Lots of dealerships say the vehicles experiencing this problem need a whole entire head unit, or new radio. That’s $5,000, and more. It’s ridiculous that we are all experiencing the same problem and all having the same trouble and nothing is being done about the issue. With almost 100+ people having the same exact problem, there should have been a recall a long time ago. This is absolutely dangerous for drivers, children, and passengers of the vehicle. I ask that something be done about this immediately. I am afraid to drive my own car places because of this issue. It needs to be resolved asap. This is no longer a “us” problem. This issue has everything to do with the manufacturing of the vehicle.
Electrical system, Aug 21, 2025
My Honda radio has started making ear piercing sounds. Even if you turn the radio off it still emits high frequency very loud sounds. It is extremely distracting! It will not go away unless you find somewhere to pull over and turn the car off. It is now happening every time I turn the car on.
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Aug 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the air bag warning light turned on and off. Additionally, the brakes were squeaking while driving, and the radio and speakers were producing an abnormal static sound when turned on or off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Hugh White Honda Service, located at {1360 Auto Mall Dr, Columbus, OH 43228); and was diagnosed with an internal failure of the air bags. The dealer also stated that the ball joints were worn, and there was an unknown failure with the brakes. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Aug 9, 2025
ABS lights on, break lights on, steering light on with traction control on while driving, use a scanner and shows code 121-11 VSA solenoid malfunction, I fear of losing my brakes while driving. I have seen that’s a common issue in different forums, something to be worried about.
Tires, Aug 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Accord equipped with Sailun Tires. Tire line: Blackhawk All-Season. Tire Size: 235/40/R19 and DOT Number: [XXX] . The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's tire fractured. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the tire was fractured, and the outer rim had detached. The contact stated that the day before, the tire air pressure had to be refilled. The towing agent assisted the contact in replacing the fractured tire with the spare tire. The contact was informed that the front driver’s tire had dry rotted. The tire was a replacement tire. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 21T01800(Tires); however, tire size was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle mileage was unknown. The tire failure mileage was unknown. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Tires, Aug 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Accord equipped with Black Hawk, All Season Tires. Tire Size: 235 40 19 DOT Number: [XXX] . The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's tire fractured. The contact stated inspected the tire and noticed that the outside trim of the tired was fractured and falling apart. The tow truck came and replaced the fractured tire with the spare tire. The contact was informed that the front driver’s tire was dry-rotted. In addition, the contact stated that the day before, the contact had to refill the air pressure in the tire. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Jul 29, 2025
As soon as I turn on the car there is unbearably loud static and cracking noise coming from out of the car speakers even though the car audio system is turned off. I am not sure what or why the sound is coming by itself. I repeat, the car audio system is turned off and yet there is a constant loud non stop static and cracking noise coming from all of the speakers.
Electrical system, Jul 24, 2025
The vehicle head unit is emitting a loud static sound just minutes after the vehicle is turned on. Sound only stops when vehicle is turned off. I purchased this vehicle because of the stereo system and since this problem started I am not able to hear my music, either from Bluetooth FM radio any source. I drive uber to make a living and this prevents me from working because the noise is deafening causing pain to my passengers. I have looked online and it’s a lot of people complaining on this issue with no way out. When we visit Honda we have to pay the diagnostic fee for them to tell us the issue is the stereo and need to be changed for over $1000 which is unfair for them to charge us for a defective unit which is happening to their vehicles. I am putting this complaint in because someone should be able to hold them accountable for their clients especially spending $40,000+ for the upgraded version for the amazing head unit and now not being able to utilize the unit.
Electrical system, Jul 23, 2025
The speakers make sudden static noise randomly. Whether the radio is on/off or if the car is idle loud static will occur. It is extremely unpleasant and could cause a crash due to how loud and sudden and disorienting it is. Other service centers are unsure what is the cause. Have changed the radio, amp, alternator, and battery to no avail.