Honda Accord Reliability Report

Reliability by the numbers

RepairPal Reliability Rating

4.5 out of 5.0

RepairPal rank among midsize cars

1st out of 24

RepairPal average annual repair cost

$400

J.D. Power 2025 Quality & Reliability score

80 out of 100

J.D. Power 2025 overall consumer rating (prior-year data, redesign)

82 out of 100

iSeeCars chance of reaching 250,000+ miles (2025 Longest-Lasting Cars study)

8.8% (3.4x the 2.6% car average; ranks 9th among longest-lasting passenger cars)

J.D. Power Quality & Reliability — 2018 Accord (10th generation launch year)

76 out of 100

J.D. Power Quality & Reliability — 2023 Accord (11th generation launch year; prior-year data applied to redesign)

80 out of 100

J.D. Power Quality & Reliability — 2025 Accord (prior-year data applied to redesign)

80 out of 100

Common Honda Accord Problems

• Automatic transmission failure / slipping and jerking (V6 5-speed autos, 7th-gen era, ~2003-2007). Symptoms include a flashing 'D4' light, hard or erratic shifts, and outright failure; this is the Accord's single worst documented category and the reason CarComplaints rates the 2003 as the worst model year overall.

  High

  Typical onset: 95k-110k mi · Repair cost: $2,400-$2,900 (rebuild/replace, per CarComplaints averages)

• Premature rear brake pad wear, plus warped front rotors (8th-gen, ~2008-2010). Owners reported rear pads wearing out in roughly 15,000-20,000 miles; this was the subject of a Honda class-action settlement that gave preliminary approval in 2010 covering 2008-2010 Accords (and 2009-2010 Acura TSX).

  Medium

  Typical onset: 15k-20k mi (recurring) · Repair cost: $230-$500 per axle service

• Warped front brake rotors causing steering-wheel/pedal vibration when braking (broad span of model years; 562 RepairPal reports, the single most-reported Accord problem).

  Low

  Typical onset: 40k-80k mi · Repair cost: $300-$600

• 1.5L turbo (1.5T) engine oil dilution / fuel mixing with oil on 2018+ Accords driven mostly short trips in cold climates; owners report the oil level rising above the dipstick FULL mark and a fuel smell. Honda issued software updates and, in some cases, replaced fuel injectors. A maintenance nuisance for most, but neglected severe cases have been reported to cause engine damage.

  Low

  Typical onset: 10k-40k mi · Repair cost: $0-$300 (software update / injector replacement / more frequent oil changes)

• Ignition switch failure causing intermittent no-start (older generations). One of the most-reported issues across the Honda lineup, with the Accord a leading contributor (Honda-wide 'no start due to ignition switch failure' totals 900+ reports on RepairPal).

  Medium

  Typical onset: 70k-120k mi · Repair cost: $190-$270

Best & Worst Model Years

CarComplaints rates the 2003 Accord as the worst model year overall, driven by transmission failures (avg ~$2,700 to fix around 98,000 miles), while the 2008 has the highest raw complaint volume (about 2,500 complaints), dominated by premature brake wear. Reliability improves sharply from the 9th generation (2013+) onward; the 2013-2017 2.4L four-cylinder and the 2018+ 2.0T are widely regarded as the most trouble-free choices. Among newer cars, the 1.5T's cold-weather oil-dilution reports are the main thing to verify on a test drive and service history.

Honda Accord Reliability by Generation

Major Honda Accord Recalls

• Fuel pump impeller may deform and render the fuel pump inoperative, causing engine no-star

  2,484,588

  Fuel pump impeller may deform and render the fuel pump inoperative, causing engine no-start or stall while driving (2018-2020 Accord and 2017-2020 Accord Hybrid among 23 affected models; expansion of 20V-314/21V-215).

  NHTSA 23V858000 →

• Front passenger seat weight sensor circuit board capacitor can crack and short, causing im

  750,114

  Front passenger seat weight sensor circuit board capacitor can crack and short, causing improper passenger airbag deployment (2020-2022 Accord and 2020-2021 Accord Hybrid among affected models).

  NHTSA 24V064000 →

• High-pressure fuel pump can crack and leak fuel, increasing fire risk

  720,810

  High-pressure fuel pump can crack and leak fuel, increasing fire risk (2023-2024 Accord and Accord Hybrid among affected models).

  NHTSA 24V763000 →

• Low-density fuel pump impeller can deform and cause engine no-start or stall while driving

  624,552

  Low-density fuel pump impeller can deform and cause engine no-start or stall while driving (2019-2020 Accord and 2019 Accord Hybrid among affected models; expansion of 20V-314).

  NHTSA 21V215000 →

• Front seat belt pretensioners assembled without the rivet securing the quick connector and

  303,770

  Front seat belt pretensioners assembled without the rivet securing the quick connector and wire plate, so they may not properly restrain occupants (2023-2024 Accord and HR-V).

  NHTSA 23V782000 →

• Fuel pump module with low-density impeller can fail, causing engine no-start or stall

  136,057

  Fuel pump module with low-density impeller can fail, causing engine no-start or stall (2018 Accord 10,152 units and 2019 Accord 1,075 units among affected models).

  NHTSA 20V314000 →

Recall data from NHTSA. Always check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Before You Buy

Avoid 2003-2007 V6 automatics unless the transmission has documented service/replacement; budget for frequent rear brake jobs on 2008-2010 cars; on any 1.5T verify oil level and oil-change history. The four-cylinder Accord is the safer long-term bet across every generation.

What owners report

Owner communities widely regard the Accord as one of the most durable midsize sedans, with many reporting 150k-300k miles on mostly routine maintenance and few major failures. The most recurring gripe centers on the 10th-gen (2018+) 1.5T turbo engine's oil/fuel dilution in cold climates and on short trips, plus scattered concerns about CVT longevity and infotainment quirks; owners generally consider the naturally-aspirated/hybrid and post-2020 turbo models the most trouble-free.

• r/accord — High Mileage 1.5t thread
• r/accord — Honda Accord 10th gen reliability
• BobIsTheOilGuy — Accord 1.5T Pro/Con (oil dilution discussion)

Honda Accord Reliability FAQ

Is the Honda Accord reliable?

The Honda Accord is one of the most reliable midsize cars on the road, earning a 4.5/5.0 from RepairPal and ranking 1st out of 24 midsize cars, with low repair frequency (about 0.26 shop visits per year) and only a 9% chance any given repair is a major one. The big caveats are concentrated in two eras: early-2000s V6 automatics (2003-2007) had genuinely failure-prone transmissions, and the 2008-2010 generation is notorious for fast-wearing rear brakes (the subject of a class-action settlement). A well-maintained 2013-or-newer four-cylinder routinely reaches 200,000-plus miles with modest, predictable upkeep.

What are the most reliable Honda Accord model years?

2013-2017 (9th gen) and 2018-2022 (10th gen), favoring the naturally-aspirated 2.4L / 2.0L four-cylinder trims. CarComplaints rates the 2003 Accord as the worst model year overall, driven by transmission failures (avg ~$2,700 to fix around 98,000 miles), while the 2008 has the highest raw complaint volume (about 2,500 complaints), dominated by premature brake wear. Reliability improves sharply from the 9th generation (2013+) onward; the 2013-2017 2.4L four-cylinder and the 2018+ 2.0T are widely regarded as the most trouble-free choices. Among newer cars, the 1.5T's cold-weather oil-dilution reports are the main thing to verify on a test drive and service history.

Which Honda Accord years should you avoid?

We'd approach these model years with extra caution: 2003-2007 (V6 automatic transmission failures) and 2008 (worst overall for premature brake wear and highest complaint volume).

How much does it cost to maintain a Honda Accord?

~$400/yr (RepairPal) — vs. $526 average for midsize cars and $652 across all vehicles. Ownership costs are excellent: RepairPal pegs the Accord at $400/year in unscheduled repairs, about 24% below the midsize-car average, with owners visiting the shop only about 0.26 times a year and just a 9% chance a repair is severe. Four-cylinder models are cheaper to maintain than V6s, and timing-chain (not belt) engines on modern Accords remove a major scheduled expense. Budgeting for brakes and routine fluids covers most years.

What are the most common Honda Accord problems?

The most frequently reported issues are: Automatic transmission failure / slipping and jerking; Premature rear brake pad wear, plus warped front rotors; Warped front brake rotors causing steering-wheel/pedal vibration when braking.