2020 Honda Accord
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Forward collision avoidance is the leading concern among 362 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 25 Accord model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 14 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 11 people were injured and 1 person died.
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
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerFeb 1, 2024
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Campaign 24V064000 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, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpMar 25, 2021
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.
Campaign 21V215000 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
Representative owner complaints: engine
74 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Sep 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle was jerking abnormally. The Brake System, TPMS, Power Steering, and Check Engine warning lights were illuminated. The message “Reduce Speed” was displayed with an audible beeping alert. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,309.
Engine, Sep 17, 2026
The 2020 Honda accord sport 1.5l has a problem with the turbo and fuel injectors going out. I am only at 113,000 miles and should not have this problem. It had come to my attention that this is a known problem with the 2018-2021 Hondas and should have a recall. My car is whining and loosing power going up hills. Please add a recall for this problem.
Steering, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 25, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the messages "Emissions System Failure," "Electric Power Steering Failure," "Hill Start Assistant Failure," "Collision Mitigation," "Collision Road Departure," "TPMS Failure," "Brake System Failure”, “Brake Performance Reduced", "Vehicle Stability Assistance Failure," "Adaptive Cruise Control Failure", "Road Departure Mitigation Failure," and "Brake Hold System Failure" were displayed. The contact stated that the check engine, TPMS, brake system, traction control, and power steering warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the head gasket and turbocharger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 16, 2026
I was driving on the hwy going about 75 mph which is the posted speed when all of a sudden my car went into limp mode almost causing a 18 wheeler to run over top of my car with me and my child in it no warning or anything and the car would only go about 20 miles per hour after of that and now all the lights are on in the dash only have a 115000 miles on the car at this time very unsafe and gonna cause someone to get killed because of something falling on this car
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 10, 2026
The car has a blown head gasket at 72k miles the odometer. This seems to be a major problem with 2018-2022 honda accords with the 1.5 turbo engine. it also has a bad fuel pump.
Electrical system, Engine, Lane departure, Jul 24, 2026
Took my car to Honda they stated my head gaskets and turbo charger was bad .. every shop that i talked to about the problem had stated that they have been getting a alot of my models coming in with the same issue
Engine, Jul 20, 2026
While driving, my vehicle experienced a sudden engine malfunction consistent with a failed head gasket. The engine began misfiring, shaking, and losing power, and the check engine light began flashing. The vehicle became unsafe to operate. The failed component is the engine head gasket, and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The sudden loss of engine performance created a serious safety concern. I was driving on a public roadway when the engine began misfiring and losing power, making it difficult to safely maintain speed and operate the vehicle. A sudden loss of power while driving increases the risk of being rear-ended or becoming involved in a collision, particularly in traffic, while merging, or at highway speeds. The vehicle was inspected and diagnosed by an authorized Honda dealership, which confirmed the head gasket failure. I also spoke with independent mechanics who were immediately familiar with this type of failure on Honda's 1.5L turbocharged engines. Although Honda diagnosed the problem, my request for goodwill assistance was denied because the vehicle was outside the warranty period. The vehicle has been inspected by Honda and is available for further inspection if requested. It has not been inspected by law enforcement or my insurance company because no accident occurred. As the condition progressed, the engine developed a rough idle and intermittent misfires. Eventually, the check engine light began flashing, and the engine began shaking and losing power while I was driving. These warning signs escalated into a condition that I believe presented a significant safety risk. I am submitting this complaint because an engine that suddenly loses power while being driven poses a serious safety hazard to both the driver and others on the road. I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate whether this represents a recurring safety-related issue affecting Honda vehicles equipped with the 1.5L turbocharged engine.
Engine, Jul 16, 2026
Blown Head Gasket. This caused major cost in repairs and going without a vehicle, This was a known failure issue with Honda 2020 Accord Sport. I have requested a "goodwill claim" with my nearest Honda dealer and not have gotten a phone call nor email. I have all my repair documents and a well maintenance log on my vehicle. With this being a known issue, it should be covered in the lifetime warranty that I received from the dealership when purchased but it excluded seals and gaskets on my paperwork.
Engine, Jun 18, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the failure was a recurring failure. The local dealer was aware of the failure and diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Engine, Jun 6, 2026
2018 - 2022 models of the Honda Accord Sport are known to have a issue with the Head Gasket overheating and cracking causing cylinder miss fires and engine issue. Honda has refused to acknowledge the issue as a recall and my car recently suffered the same issue.
Engine, May 31, 2026
I turned my car on and about 10 warning lights came on the car- drove it straight to the dealer where they told me the head gasket was leaking into cylinder 3 gave me an estimate of over 5k. Every mechanic I have called has told me how unusual it is for a car not very old and not over heating to have a blown gasket head. I was looking online and have seen how common the blown gasket head was on Honda accord models 1.5 from 2018-2022. There is nothing in the car no over heating no damage though could have cause it to leak unless it wasn’t properly installed which seeing how common it is might be the case. And how unusual it is according to many mechanics. The car has 115000 miles but has never had an issue and I wasn’t driving or anything when the warning lights came on
Engine, May 29, 2026
I am writing to formally report a severe safety incident caused by a sudden head gasket failure in my vehicle. While driving on a busy highway, the car abruptly entered "limp mode" and stopped accelerating altogether, putting my family’s safety at immediate risk. Simultaneously, all dashboard warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Honda dealership, where technicians confirmed that the sole mechanical issue is a failed head gasket. The vehicle is currently available for inspection.
Electrical system, Tires, Engine, May 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that upon intermittent starts of the vehicle, several, various warning messages would appear on the instrument panel. Warning messages such as tire pressure monitor, brake system problem, brake hose system,etc would all appear on the instrument panel and would remain on the instrument panel until the system would be cleared by the dealer. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer on multiple occasions to address the failure; however, the dealer could not diagnose the failure. The vehicle was then taken to Honda Of Tomball(22727 Tomball Pkwy, Tomball, TX 77375) where they diagnosed the vehicle with a defective head gasket. The contact refuted the diagnostic and took the vehicle back to the original dealer where they agreed with the contact that there was not an issue with the head gasket. The contact stated that both the battery, coil pack and spark plugs were replaced; however, the failure would return within weeks after repair. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Engine, May 28, 2026
Engine began running rough and warning lights came on the dash indicating multiple issues and the engine light. Brought it to Honda and the tech diagnosed a head gasket failure. Honda recommended a head gasket repair. Car only has 137,000 miles on it.
Engine, May 21, 2026
I take my car for updates (Recall) and now i am being told that the head gasket is blown and damaged the injectors The powertrain might pay for the blown head gasket but not the injectors (which were damaged due to the head gasket blowing) no coolant but the car never ran hot. Honda is trying to stick to me to pay out almost $7000.00 which is wrong when it went to them for a recall
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, May 14, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle the engine was hesitant to start and while driving the flashing check engine light had illuminated and the vehicle did not accelerate past 40 MPH. The vehicle was slowly driven to the local dealer who diagnosed that the both the engine head gasket and water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Engine, May 12, 2026
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The suspected failed components involve the 1.5L engine system and head gasket on my 2020 Honda Accord. The vehicle experienced frequent overheating along with repeated check engine light activation. Multiple mechanics, including Heritage Honda Parkville, indicated that head gasket failure is a common issue with this engine type. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My safety was put at risk due to the vehicle frequently overheating while driving. An overheating engine can lead to sudden vehicle breakdown, engine failure, loss of power, or being stranded unexpectedly in traffic or unsafe locations. The recurring check engine light and unresolved engine concerns created uncertainty regarding the reliability and safe operation of the vehicle during daily commuting and long-distance travel. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The concern was initially discussed by technician [XXX] at Heritage Honda Parkville during my service visit on March 19, 2026. The technician advised that the “most common issue” with these engines along with my vehicle is head gasket failure. Additionally, multiple independent reputable mechanics later echoed the same concern, stating they have seen numerous Honda Accord vehicles with the 1.5L turbo engine require head gasket replacement and, in many cases, full engine replacement. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle was inspected by Heritage Honda Parkville service personnel and has also been evaluated by multiple independent mechanics. The issue has additionally been reported to American Honda Corporate under Case Number XXX. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 6, 2026
All lights on dash are on. Problem with running hot, oil is milky looking misfires, vibration is terrible. Cuts off and will not go over 5 mph sometimes.
Power train, Engine, Mar 10, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The turbo charger and the fuel pump How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Both instances I was driving and car automatically started to decelerate while I was on the busy interstate. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes by a dealer Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No but Honda has been notified because there is currently a recall out for these issues that includes my year of vehicle but not my vin. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes every system in the vehicle stated it was failing and engine light came on.
Engine, Mar 6, 2026
Car just started jerking and eventually stopped. I had it checked and was told the turbo was gone. Took it to Honda they said the head gaskets are blown. The car is 5 1/2 years old and it not one time ever ran hot. I’m not the only one with this issue. Honda needs to do something to fix this. Every car that goes to service has this issue something is definitely not right
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 23, 2026
All the lights on the dashboard went off when there was not any previously. With that issue the gas pedal was struggling to go over 20 mph, it was jolting when gas pedal is used.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 22, 2026
My car shut off on the road. I tried to accelerate but all my lights on the dashboard came on. I wasn’t able to accelerate more than 20mph. I was about to make it back home. Today I tried to take it out on a test drive, it’s drivable but I was not able to accelerate. Every time I pressed the gas, my car would stall. This is the 4th time it happened.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 16, 2026
Honda accords have a 1.5 L engine, which all have an issue with the head gaskets either overheating or mixing coolant into the cylinders. They’re all doing it eventually because there is a design flaw Honda doesn’t want to honor it and the car will just stop on you on the freeway because coolant touches the spark plugs. Honda is denying the issue when there’s a whole Facebook page and Internet, page of people saying the same thing they’re quoting and unreasonable amount to fix it almost the cost of the car. It is a very dangerous safety issue and eventually someone could die and needs to make a recall immediately before that happens. Most shops don’t even want to touch the car because it’s a safety issue. If we can get this past ASAP for anybody who has that car or anybody that’s gonna buy that car the safety for them in their family.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 13, 2026
I have constantly had to replace spark plugs within the last year — all lights are on dashboard. Finally took it and got a P0372 code, rough idling and misfiring, and stalling. Car once cut off on me while driving. Took it to the Honda dealership and it is indeed my fuel injectors and gasket. I have tried to get in touch about a possible recall but the Honda Manufacturer are failing to release a recall. With all lights on dashboard, NO features of the car can be used (cruise control, road departure, lane keep assist, collision mitigation, hill start assist, traction control, brake hold, and tpms) I’m looking forward to a recall coming as soon as possible. I have done my research and thousands of people are having the SAME issue, it is frustrating especially with the cost of work having to be done. Nobody should have to purchase a new car because of a defect of the manufacturer or too lazy to investigate the issue. HONDA Salesmen and mechanics all say the same thing about the 1.5L Sports model. Over 3,400 worth of work due to a problem I did not cause.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 6, 2026
ENGINE,Coolant system VEHICLE WAS CUTTING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING SHAKING AND JERKING