2018 Honda Accord
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,882 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 25 Accord model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 35 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 39 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
Seat belts, front, buckle assemblyMar 9, 2023
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.
An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are NDA, QDB, BDC, MDD, LD9. TDF, FDG, ODH, YDI, ZDE.
Campaign 23V158000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, body control module, softwareDec 10, 2020
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.
Various system malfunctions such as inoperative windshield wipers, defroster, rearview camera, or exterior lighting can increase the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the BCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 22, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is X95.
Campaign 20V771000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpMay 28, 2020
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.
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 22, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Campaign 20V314000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraSep 13, 2018
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."
If the rearview camera display does not show what is behind the vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the display audio unit software, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K2G and V2F.
Campaign 18V629000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
581 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 21, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to exceed 35 MPH. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a blown head gasket. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The dealer was in the process of contacting the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer had not yet been directly notified of the failure by the contact. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 21, 2026
A lot of warning sides are on the dash , has been coming on every since the mileage hit 100k
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 21, 2026
turbo and the head gasket
Engine, Aug 20, 2026
In June of 2026 I was merging onto a busy high way trying to accelerate on while in the middle of the high way my car completely starts decelerating while next to two semis and not being able to do anything as I finally get to the side of the high way I turn my car off and back on all of my lights started coming on and appearing on my dash while this was all happening I start the car again and it is doing the same thing not accelerating and while trying it is jerking this could have killed me or others due to my faulty head gasket Honda wants me to pay $4,000 to replace this head gasket I am a college student with no money and still having to pay my car payment I have a 2018 Honda accord 1.5L turbo engine and still have not been able to drive my care due to this I have a 118,00 miles and it started acting weird before I even hit 100k miles this is not okay this could have harmed others due to these faulty issues I see it is a wide spread concern and something needs to be change and I was also denied the goodwill act due to this I start school next week 45 min away and can’t even go to my class for nursing I’m disappointed in Honda this was supposed to be a long term car
Engine, Aug 19, 2026
Engine making noise when start, took to dealer, it was diagnose with head gasket gone. All services done from dealer since purchased and now dealer is saying gasket replacement.
Engine, Aug 18, 2026
The head gasket is leaking coolant into cylinder #2. The car has misfired and has not been operable. The problem has been confirmed and diagnosed through the dealer. there were no prior warning lights to the issue until the car completely became inoperable from one day to the next.
Engine, Aug 18, 2026
The car suddenly stopped speeding up on the highway, and the check engine light began to flash. There were no warning signs before this occurred. I was driving with my kids when I had to think and move quickly off the highway because there were other cars behind us. The car would only roll because it wouldn’t speed up. Yesterday, on August 17, the car was towed to a Honda dealership, where they ran some tests. They found out that the car has a blown head gasket.
Engine, Aug 16, 2026
All warning lights came on whilst driving. Scheduled a diagnostic at the dealership. Dealership confirmed the head gasket had blown due to the design flaw of the coolant pathway between cylinder #2 and #3. This is a common problem with this engine. Vehicle is out of warranty. Now faced with a big repair bill.
Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 14, 2026
The head gasket is failing and causing the engine to overheat and misfire. Its a repeating issue I see online and have taken it to a certified Honda mechanic multiple times. The first diagnosis stated that the biggest issue was the fuel injections. Now this second diagnosis shows the head gasket. It poses a great danger especially in highways, as it causes the car to decelerate on its own and rattles as if it's losing power. It will overheat when it is idling. The check engine light turned on a week after purchasing the car from a local dealership, and the dashboard lights were wiped from the system prior to buying the car a year ago. Now I'm looking at over 7k in repairment costs while still financing a car I believed was reliable.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 14, 2026
2 weeks ago. All of my warnings and lights for my car came on. We undid my battery, charged it and did it again. The lights went away and about 3 days ago they came back on. Now my car is overheating and the system is reading wrong.
Power train, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 12, 2026
I am reporting a safety concern involving my 2018 Honda Accord. I purchased my vehicle used in January 2024 at approximately 90,000 miles and have kept up with the recommended maintenance during my ownership. At approximately 120,000 miles, a Honda dealership diagnosed head-gasket failure with coolant intrusion involving cylinders 3 and 4. Before diagnosis, the vehicle experienced rising engine temperature while idling, coolant loss, jerking during acceleration, numerous warning lights, and severely reduced acceleration. The problem progressed to loss of power and stalling while driving and slowing/stopping, requiring me to place the vehicle in Park and restart the engine to continue driving. The vehicle also developed unstable RPMs and engine surging while in Park. Honda performed a cooling-system pressure test and borescope inspection and confirmed coolant intrusion. Head-gasket replacement cost approximately $5,000. I contacted American Honda (Case #16533411), but goodwill assistance was denied because the vehicle is outside warranty and Honda stated it had no Honda-dealership service history. I am reporting this because the head-gasket failure resulted in loss of propulsion and stalling while operating the vehicle, creating a serious safety concern.
Engine, Aug 11, 2026
In July 2026, our 2018 Honda Accord required a head gasket replacement. Prior to the diagnosis, the vehicle began experiencing rough starts and engine misfires. While driving, the car suddenly lost power and would not accelerate beyond approximately 10 mph. After returning home and restarting the vehicle, its performance temporarily returned to normal; however, the engine continued to idle roughly. We had the vehicle scanned, and the diagnostic result indicated a misfire in Cylinder 3. The vehicle was taken to our local Honda dealership, where we were informed the head gasket failed and needed to be replaced. Given that the vehicle has fewer than 140,000 miles, we do not believe such a major engine repair should be necessary. Over the past 25 years we have owned multiple Honda vehicles, including Accords, Civics and CR-Vs well over 200,000 miles with our current 2008 Honda CR-V having more than 344,000 miles. None of these vehicles have ever experienced a head gasket failure or similar engine issue. We have never had such a significant costly repair, over $6,000. We are extremely disappointed that our 2018 Accord required such a significant repair at relatively low mileage. We have also learned of allegations in ongoing litigation Bissell v American Honda Motor Co, involving similar head gasket issues affecting Honda vehicles. Based on our experience and the number of reported complaints, we believe Honda should issue a recall, provide warranty coverage or reimburse affected owners for repair costs whichever benefits the customer. We respectfully request that Honda review our case and consider reimbursement or goodwill assistance for this unexpected and expensive repair.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 10, 2026
While driving, my vehicle began shaking/rough running and the check-engine light came on. Multiple warning lights and system warnings appeared on the dashboard, including the brake system, steering, traction control, and TPMS warnings. The vehicle experienced noticeable shaking and reduced/abnormal performance. I am concerned that this may be a safety-related defect because multiple vehicle systems are being affected.
Engine, Aug 6, 2026
At 92,156 miles, my 2018 Honda Accord Touring (1.5L Turbo) suffered a catastrophic structural head gasket failure that caused dangerous engine instability while driving. The failure first manifested with a sudden eruption of multiple warning lights across the dashboard while the vehicle was in motion. Following a subsequent startup after a doctor's appointment, the vehicle began shaking violently due to immediate engine misfires. Driving a vehicle that is actively shaking and suffering from cylinder misfires in live traffic creates an unpredictable stall risk and an immediate safety hazard to myself and surrounding motorists. A certified technician at Ourisman Honda of Woodbridge pressurized the cooling system and physically confirmed that engine coolant is actively leaking directly onto the engine cylinder walls (Cylinders 1 and 2) due to a structural head gasket failure. This is a severe design defect that causes unexpected powertrain disruption on public roads.
Engine, Aug 5, 2026
Major safety issue will lead to loss power and visual hazard for cars on road. 2018 accord 1.5 has a coolant leak in cylinder 2 and three via scope verified , shop said it needs a headgasket. It had misfire codes on scanner and shakes when start up. This will be potentially big issue if motor blows up on free way from overheating. Honda corporation won’t do a replacement for the good faith because the car has not been to “Honda” for service.
Engine, Aug 5, 2026
My vehicle started stalling and shaking right before all of the warning lights on my dashboard came on and the safety features stopped working (brake assist, brake hold etc). After checking, the spark plugs were all burnt out so I changed it along with the coil pack and this remedied the issue temporarily until it happened again a few weeks later. This time, I was on the highway going at around 55mph when the car suddenly started stalling and the speed dropped to 10mph. Luckily, I was in the right lane and had no cars behind me because it would've caused an accident. I pulled over to the side of the highway, shut the car off for 15 minutes and then took the nearest exit with my hazard lights on, going at around 10 mph. I took my car to the dealership and they stated that I need a new head gasket which will cost me from $5,000 to $9,000. After doing research, there are hundreds of other Honda's which are experiencing this same issue. Currently, the condition is worsening as the car is shaking abruptly and I am not able to drive over 30mph. I also experienced a burning smell.
Engine, Aug 2, 2026
I own a 208 Honda Accord Sport 1.5L Turbo that I purchased new. At approximately 69,000 miles, the vehicle experienced a cylinder head gasket failure, allowing coolant to enter the engine. The vehicle was diagnosed by Honda dealership, which recommended replacing the cylinder head gasket, cylinder head bolts and spark plug at an estimated cost $6,500. Prior to this failure, the vehicle began overheating and warning indicators appeared. The failure resulted in the vehicle becoming unsafe to operate because continued driving could have caused severe engine damage or an unexpected loss of power. The vehicle has been maintained throughout my ownership and I have retained maintenance records. I was also informed by Honda dealership that they have seen multiple 2018 Honda accords 1.5L turbo vehicles come in with the same head gasket issue. Based in my experience, I believe this may represent a recurring defect affecting this model.
Engine, Aug 2, 2026
Since 11/2026 I have had issues with this car. 11/2025 mis-fire on cylinder 2 replaced turbo and spark plugs due to all dash lights on and would not accelerate over 10mph. 6/2026 all dash lights lit up again and would not accelerate over 1-20 mph misfire on cylinders 1 and 3 codes P0301 and 0303. Replaced coils, spark plugs and found fuel leaking out of injectors. Replaced injectors. 07/2026 all dash lights lit up again and would not accelerate over 10-20 mph. Found leak in the cylinder head gasket, replaced head gasket which had to go to a machine shop to machine the head.
Engine, Jul 29, 2026
At roughly 83,000 miles, my 2018 Honda Accord 1.5Lt experienced a major engine failure caused by a blown head gasket. At the time of the failure, I was driving on a major road. While accelerating, the vehicle had "bucked" forward, which triggered the engine light to flash at which time the vehicle had no longer responded to me pushing on the gas pedal. This caused a major safety issue as I then had to get off of the road to avoid collisions with other vehicles. I immediately brought the car to a Honda dealership, who confirmed that the head gasket needed to be replaced. There were no prior indications that the vehicle had any issues.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the engine temperature rose, and the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off the vehicle, and allowed the engine to cool down before restarting the vehicle, and the vehicle returned to normal operation. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Balise Honda of West Warwick (509 Quaker Ln, West Warwick, RI 02893); where it was diagnosed with a blown head gasket, which was caused by coolant leaking into the cylinders. The contact was informed that the head gasket, fuel injectors, and several other unknown parts needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown NHTSA Campaign; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.
Tires, Engine, Lane departure, Jul 28, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine and TPMS warning lights illuminated. The message that the vehicle should not be driven was displayed. The lane assist feature was inoperable. The contact disconnected the battery, and the warning light disappeared. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 28, 2026
At approximately 44,000 miles, multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard of my 2018 Honda Accord (1.5L turbocharged engine), including brake system, electric power steering, and driver-assistance/collision-mitigation warnings, accompanied by a rough start and an engine misfire. I took the vehicle to an authorized Honda dealer, which performed a diagnostic scan and a borescope inspection. The dealer confirmed engine coolant leaking internally into cylinder 3, a confirmed cylinder 3 misfire (code P0303), and a low coolant reservoir, and advised that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The diagnostic scan also returned fault codes across multiple safety systems, including ABS/VSA stability control, electric power steering, the electric brake booster (low-voltage power circuit fault), and the driver-assistance/collision-mitigation system. This is a head gasket failure allowing coolant to enter the cylinders — a failure mode widely reported on this engine — and it occurred at low mileage, creating a risk of engine misfire, stalling, and loss of power. No crash, fire, or injury has occurred. The dealer's repair order documenting these findings is available on request. I have reported this to the Honda corporate, and they are not responding and stalling the delivery or any update on the case. It has been 3 weeks, and it is causing prolonged inconvience and safety issue to me and my family
Engine, Jul 25, 2026
My 2018 Honda Accord EX's transmission failed after just 88,000 miles. I have owned 3 Hondas and I never had this experience. All bought a Honda World in Westminster, California. I did some research and spoke to a private transmission service company, Leon's Transmissions, and they told me that in 2018, Honda replaced the old transmission they were using with a CVT transmission. They said that clients who bought Honda Accords in 2018 have had the transmission fail on them between 80,000 - 100,000 miles. They also said that HONDA knew that the CVT in 2018 was a bad transmission but instead of alerting clients, they "chose" to work on improving the CVT transmission for future vehicles. I have taken in my Honda regularly for service which is about 3 times a year. I just had it serviced on May 29, 2026 with an oil and lube, a new air and cabin filter, and brakes. TWO MONTHS later, July 7, 2026 I discovered a "shimmy, grunting" sound when I started it. NO WARNING lamps, messages on my dashboard. I took it into my dealership that I have used since 2002. They told me the transmission had failed, that the warranty was only up to 60,000 miles and that to replace it would cost me $9000.00 dollars. NO DISCOUNTS, NO LOYALTY help, nothing. I am a retired senior and I cannot afford this cost. My dealership said that the car is NOT safe to drive, but to take it to CARMAX and see if I can get anything for the car. What nerve. I believe I should be given some compensation or a new transmission for this gross negligence on Honda. I took in my car for regular service, did not put too many miles on the car in the last 8 years (just 88,000) and feel that they should have CHECKED the transmission each time I serviced the car or alerted me via a recall about the transmission early on.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 23, 2026
I bought this car used and I've only had it two months and the head gasket has blown. I didn't know the 10th generation had bad gaskets and turbos i found that out after I purchased the car. Literally everyone i know now that had one the gasket or turbo went out. Not only that it was a recall on my fuel pump no one told me about until I added it to my insurance and they told me. Yes Honda dealership fixed it for free now it needs to be a recall on these turbos and head gaskets. It's not fair. I wouldn't recommend Honda to no one now and they say Honda last a lifetime. Thats not true quit making the 10th generation and take it off the market.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 23, 2026
At approximately 159,000 miles, my vehicle exhibited multiple dashboard warning lights simultaneously including ABS, VSA, EPS, TPMS, brake, ACC, CMBS, and RDM warnings along with engine misfire codes. Borescope inspection confirmed coolant intrusion into cylinder 1. Cylinders 2, 3, and 4 were dry. Diagnosis confirmed head gasket failure consistent with the known design defect in the 1.5L turbocharged i-VTEC engine related to inadequate head bolt clamping force versus boost pressure. This failure is the subject of active class action litigation (Bissell v. American Honda Motor Co., Case 3:24-cv-02286-AJB-MMP). Vehicle requires full head gasket replacement at my own expense estimated at $900+. No recall has been issued despite widespread reports of identical failures across 2018-2022 Honda Accord 1.5T vehicles.