Owners report head gasket failures that cause rough running, shaking on cold starts, coolant loss and the car slowing to a stop. Some say the repair was costly and not covered by Honda.

How common

44 of the 300 complaints we read (15%), roughly 275 of all 1,876 on file

Safety

Can affect control: 22 of 44 reports

Before you buy: Ask whether the head gasket has been replaced and check for coolant loss or rough running on a cold start.

• Vehicle stalled while driving with several warning lights on and would not restart immediately, then stalled again later; dealer found the head gasket needed replacement. · filed Sep 2026
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  The contact's sister-in-law owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the vehicle stalled with several warning lights illuminated. The driver pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle failed to restart immediately. The vehicle was restarted after a while. The driver continued driving, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the cylinder head gasket, gasket kit, and coolant needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11762778

• Car suddenly stopped accelerating on the highway with the check engine light flashing, forcing the driver to pull off; dealer found a blown head gasket. · filed Aug 2026
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  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.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11757654

• Head gasket reportedly failing, causing the engine to overheat and misfire, with the car decelerating on its own and rattling on the highway. · filed Aug 2026
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  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.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11757068

The collision mitigation braking system slams on the brakes or flashes crash warnings with nothing ahead, sometimes triggered by shadows or glare, nearly causing rear-end collisions. One owner says the brakes then stayed locked for several seconds.

How common

42 of the 300 complaints we read (14%), roughly 263 of all 1,876 on file

Safety

Can affect control: 40 of 42 reports; 2 reports mention a crash

• Car suddenly braked hard to a stop with no obstacle present, nearly causing a rear-end collision; adaptive cruise control also shuts off after about 15 minutes of use. · filed Mar 2026
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  While driving in a busy area with pedestrians and other vehicles, my car hard braked out of nowhere to a complete stop for no reason. I was nearly rear ended. The adaptive cruise control shuts off completely after 15 minutes in use. Says to take it to the nearest dealership. Turning off and restarting the car gets rid of the notification.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11724476

• Forward collision system reportedly brakes hard for shadows or glare with no real obstacle, causing near-collisions at highway speed even after a part was replaced. · filed Dec 2025
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  Upwards of a dozen times my Honda Accord will suddenly brake as it believes I am about to have a collision whereas it is typically a shadow. This happens when going under bridges or overpasses, or depending on the glare from the sun. This has happened several times on the highway causing multiple near collisions at high speeds. This is extremely dangerous and requires an adjustment or recall. I have had this part stolen and replaced through a Honda approved repair shop yet the issue persists.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11707669

• Brakes engage suddenly with no obstacle ahead, sometimes hard enough to cause whiplash, and the problem is getting worse; the dealer has not followed up after being told. · filed Aug 2025
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  UNKNOWN. I will be driving and automatically it will lock the brakes and nobody will be in front of me. I tried turning it off but somehow it still ends up on. This has been doing it now for some but it’s getting worse and worse. Before it would just blink on the dash “ BRAKE” but wouldn’t apply the brakes but recently it has been applying the brakes and going from 45mph to 60mph it has done it and giving bad whiplash. Now it’s starting to scare me because someone is going to end up rear - ending me and cause an accident. I tried talking to a dealership about it but they said they will look into it and never hear anything about it. I really am starting to be worried Everytime I drive my car that something bad is going to happen. This needs to be fixed and diagnosed

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11682873

Owners report the car stalling, failing to start or hesitating, which they link to the fuel pump recall; some waited months for parts.

How common

25 of the 300 complaints we read (8%), roughly 156 of all 1,876 on file

Safety

Can affect control: 16 of 25 reports; 1 report mentions a crash

Related recalls

Owners mention 23V858000, 23V158000. Check the VIN for it.

• High-pressure fuel pump failed again after an earlier recall repair, causing multiple warning lights, rough running, and loss of power while driving. · filed Mar 2026
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  The high-pressure fuel pump on my 2018 Honda Accord failed even though the vehicle had previously been repaired under a recall for the same issue. While driving, multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, including the check engine light and other system warnings. The vehicle began running rough and lost power, creating a dangerous driving condition, especially in traffic. This is the second occurrence of fuel system failure despite the recall repair being completed. The recurrence of this issue raises serious safety concerns, as sudden power loss or engine malfunction while driving increases the risk of an accident. The vehicle is currently not safe to drive due to the risk of stalling or loss of power. The problem appears to be related to the high-pressure fuel pump system that was previously addressed under recall.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11721597

• Fuel pump reportedly failed, causing loss of power while driving on multiple occasions; owner says the car was later dropped from the fuel pump recall list. · filed Nov 2025
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  My car lost power while driving on multiple occasions. My car was originally on the fuel pump recall list but the dealership did not have the part for 6+ months. When the part did come in I found out my car was no longer on the recall list. I had to have my fuel pump injectors replaced due to a faulty fuel pump.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11698991

• Fuel pump reportedly failed, causing the engine to stall and lose acceleration; owner says the dealer and manufacturer gave no help. · filed Sep 2025
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  The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that all the warning lights turned off, however the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while the contact's children were inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was unofficially diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The contact was advised to contact the dealer because there was a recall for the fuel pump. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed of a diagnostic fee to perform a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,500.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11685122

Collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control and road departure systems suddenly shut off or show error messages while driving, often clearing only after a restart. Owners link some failures to a blocked, dirty or exposed front sensor.

How common

19 of the 300 complaints we read (6%), roughly 119 of all 1,876 on file

Safety

Reduced safety margin: 17 of 19 reports

• Collision mitigation braking system warning is on and cruise control, steering wheel controls, and lane assist have stopped working. · filed Jul 2025
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  Well to start I had to replace my head gasket already last winter at 59K miles and for awhile now I had warning lights on my dash for CMBS system failure and cruise control/steering wheel controls don’t work besides the ones for music. No lane assist, none of those safety features work at all and haven’t for awhile

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11673120

• After tire service, the car's collision mitigation braking system seized the vehicle with rapid warning-light flashing and almost no power; dealer diagnostics repeatedly found no problem. · filed Jul 2024
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  COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM DEFECT On May 7, 2024, AAA tow-truck driver installed compact spare tire on right rear tire due to damaged tire. Drove 10 miles to tire store & orange-colored "Low Tire Pressures" dash board indicator light appeared. 4 new tires were installed. Drove 4 miles and parked car in restaurant parking lot. 1 hour later tried to start engine. Car immediately jumped in the air, all the orange-colored dashboard warning lights flashed in rapid non-stop cycle, downward slash (/) symbol appeared on "D" dashboard symbol, car had very small amount of engine power. THE CAR SEIZED AND WAS INOPERABLE. Called AAA tow truck & driver said he never saw a car so strangely disabled. Towed car to tire store. Upon confused inspection, manager said "It is your COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM (CMBS). We think we reset system. Your car is under warranty. Return car to Honda dealer." June 15 2024, LTP dashboard indicator appeared despite no visible tire problem. Reset tire pressure indicator using dash screen interface. June 19, LTP indicator reappeared and I reset tire pressure. June 24, drove car to Honda dealer & explained CMBS seizure and inoperable condition, reoccurring tire pressure indicator & rough ride. Provided written time line of CMBS problem. Upon diagnostics was informed no problem. No charged for diagnosis. June 28, LTP indicator appeared. Drove car to Honda dealer and provided another written time line of CMBS & LTP indicator problems. Mechanic test drove, found a wood sliver in left rear tire, patched tire. Charged $149, service coordinator would not provide receipt & explanation of service, due to cyber attack, but required me to sign form promising payment and he would not provide copy. July 5, flat left rear tire. AAA installed compact spare & I drove to Honda dealer, provided another time line CMBS, mechanic found screw in tire, patched tire. Charged $39.95. ANXIOUS CMBS WILL ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING & CAUSE ACC

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11601574

• Adaptive cruise control and the collision mitigation system both shut off unexpectedly with no accident or apparent cause. · filed Jun 2023
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  My acc went out along with my collision mitigation system and no accident just for no reason.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11528016

Owners report cylinder misfires, shaking, warning lights and power loss that dealers blame on fuel injectors. Replacing injectors, spark plugs or coils did not always fix it.

How common

16 of the 300 complaints we read (5%), roughly 100 of all 1,876 on file

Safety

Can affect control: 7 of 16 reports

• Car keeps throwing a cylinder 2 misfire even after replacing spark plugs and fuel injectors; owner suspects the ECM/PCM or a bad connection. · filed Apr 2026
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  Car keeps throwing cylinder 2 misfire, replaced all spark plugs, fuel indicators and still having issues. Think it’s the ecm/pcm is bad or there’s a bad connection.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11734435

• Engine shook and multiple warning lights came on from a cylinder misfire; the problem worsened even after replacing spark plugs, coil, and fuel injectors. · filed Apr 2026
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  At 144000 miles all vehicle lights came on and vehicle engine would shake and vibrate. Computer said misfire on cylinder three. Changed spark plugs and coil. Problem still persisted. Mechanic recommended replacing fuel injectors so i did. After injectors were replaced all the lights came back on and the car runs worse. I believe its a blown head gasket now and the mechanic is testing the head this week.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11732197

• Fuel injectors reportedly failed early, causing multiple dashboard warnings and cylinder misfires; owner says there should be a recall. · filed Dec 2025
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  At just under 60,000 miles, the check engine light came on with 10 warnings all at once when the car was started. When I took it to Honda they said that 2 of the cylinders are misfiring and the fuel injectors need to be replaced. These are failing far too early on this model of vehicle and it is likely due to the recalled fuel injector that they took years to replace due to inventory. There should be a recall for the fuel injectors.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11702477

Many dashboard warning lights for brakes, stability control, steering and driver assist come on at once without clear cause and keep returning. Resets and wiring harness repairs did not always fix it.

How common

15 of the 300 complaints we read (5%), roughly 94 of all 1,876 on file

Safety

Reduced safety margin: 7 of 15 reports

• Engine and tire-pressure warning lights came on with a message not to drive, and the lane assist feature stopped working; issue went away after disconnecting the battery. · filed Jul 2026
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  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.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11753272

• Several dashboard warning lights come on for no clear reason, though the car drives fine; owner says nothing has fixed it. · filed Jan 2026
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  Serval warning lights come on in my vehicle I’ve have seen this happen in other models of this car and nothing has fixed it. Car drives fine.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11714306

• Intermittent engine warning lights and error codes recurred despite dealer inspection and a tune-up; owner links symptoms to a known 1.5L turbo engine lawsuit. · filed Jan 2026
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  My 2018 Honda Accord Touring with a 1.5L turbocharged engine began experiencing intermittent warning lights and error messages starting around 28,000 miles. I reported these issues to a Honda dealership on some visits however in most cases, the warnings were appearing and disappearing prior to my visit. However the error continued to appeared since then. At approximately 55,000 miles, multiple warning lights and error codes reappeared consistently. I took the vehicle to a Honda dealership for diagnosis and was informed that the issue may involve internal engine damage and that a full engine teardown would be required to determine the cause, at an estimated cost of approximately $2,000, before any actual repair could be identified. Seeking a second opinion, I took the vehicle to a different service location and completed a full tune-up at 63,000 including all standard maintenance expected at that mileage. Less than one week after the tune-up, the same warning lights and error codes returned. I took my car back to the same place where I had the tune-up completed and the same error codes appeared indicating the issue was not related to routine maintenance. I began to research online some common issues with my car, I became aware of a class action lawsuit (Bissell v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc.) describing a known defect in Honda 1.5L turbocharged engines where coolant leaks internally near the cylinder head, causing engine misfires, efficiency warnings, and internal engine damage. The symptoms described in the lawsuit closely match the ongoing issues with my vehicle. The repeated warning lights and potential for engine failure raise safety concerns. The issue has been reproducible and unresolved despite inspection and maintenance.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11710034

The engine suddenly loses power, jerks or goes into limp mode, sometimes at highway speed, often with many warning lights on. Fuel injector and spark plug replacements did not always stop it.

How common

14 of the 300 complaints we read (5%), roughly 88 of all 1,876 on file

Safety

Can affect control: 14 of 14 reports

Related recalls

Owners mention 23V858000. Check the VIN for it.

• Vehicle keeps going into limp mode and loses power while driving after a long-delayed fuel pump recall and later fuel injector repairs; multiple warning lights illuminate at once. · filed May 2026
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  I own a 2018 Honda Accord with approximately 108,000 miles. My vehicle has experienced ongoing fuel system and drivability issues connected to the fuel pump recall. It took over two years for Honda to complete the recall repair due to delays and lack of available parts. During that time, my vehicle developed additional issues including failed fuel injectors that required replacement. Even after those repairs, the vehicle continues going into limp mode, causing loss of power and creating a serious safety concern while driving. When I brought the vehicle to Honda for diagnosis, I was charged approximately $180 just to scan the vehicle and then quoted nearly $4,000 in additional repairs. In addition, my vehicle experiences what many Honda owners refer to as the “Christmas lights” issue, where multiple warning lights suddenly illuminate across the dashboard at the same time. This appears to be a widespread complaint among owners of this model and is often associated with ongoing fuel system, electrical, or sensor-related problems. Honda vehicles are marketed as reliable, yet many owners of this model have reported similar problems related to the fuel system, injectors, limp mode, and dashboard warning light failures after the recall issues. I believe the prolonged delay in addressing the recall contributed to further damage to my vehicle. Honda should take responsibility for these known issues and provide assistance to affected customers.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11740478

• Car went into limp mode and would not drive over 20 mph; taken in several times but the dealer could not read any diagnostic codes or fix it. · filed Jul 2025
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  July 10th Honda went into limp mode as I accelerated would not drive over 20. Check engine light flashed on then off. Have taken car in several times no codes can be read. Believe it’s cylinder issues or fuel possible head gasket. All vehicle lights has displayed haven’t been able to get reads once car is turned off. Too many issues with no repair fix.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11673101

• Engine repeatedly goes into limp mode, including once on the highway that nearly caused an accident; replacing spark plugs, injector, and battery did not stop it. · filed May 2025
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  Engine keep going into limp every now and then and it’s pretty dangerous especially while driving on the highway. All the lights would come on the dashboard. On May 2 it almost cause an accident because it happened while I was driving on the freeway and I’ve changed spark plugs, injector my battery and it’s happening

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11660168

Owners report the engine stalling or shutting off without warning while driving, sometimes at highway speed and requiring a tow. Dealers often could not find the cause.

How common

8 of the 300 complaints we read (3%), roughly 50 of all 1,876 on file

Safety

Can affect control: 8 of 8 reports

Related recalls

Owners mention 18V629000, 20V314000. Check the VIN for it.

• Dashboard lights flashed and the car began decelerating on its own at highway speed, then the engine failed and required towing; owner says this is a known issue for the engine. · filed Jul 2026
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  While on the highway, going approximately 60-65mph, lights on my dashboard suddenly lit up and turned right back off as my car began to decelerate on its own. After I was able to get my car off to the side of the highway, I had to have it towed home as it was inoperable. I had it towed to my preferred auto shop and they discovered the engine had failed at only 84,000 miles. The total cost was approximately $8,600. After a bit of research, it seems this is a known issue for this engine model from Honda and nothing has come of it so far.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11748015

• Car suddenly shut down with a complete power failure while driving, requiring a tow. · filed Apr 2026
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  I was driving down a 45mph street when my car shut down, complete power failure. Dashboard lit up with all kinds of warnings. It had to be towed to the nearest shop.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11731436

• Engine briefly lost power twice while driving 70 mph on the highway, then developed a loud rattling noise; dealer says a replacement engine is needed but could not confirm the cause. · filed Jan 2025
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  At approx 10pm, vehicle was moving at a steady speed of 70mph on urban highway on New Year's Eve. Without any indication or warning, the car stalled/had loss of power for about 1-2 seconds and recovered and then about 1-2 minutes later stalled again and recovered. No dashboard lights ever came on. I thought maybe the clutch was failing again. I immediately got off the freeway to find a safe place to call for tow. As I drove to parking lot, my motor made a loud, uncoordinated, rattling noise which is towards the left side and near the engine cover. I thought it might be the serpentine tensioner because only the belt only had been replaced in May 2024. The rattle gets louder with high RPMs. After reviewing service records, oil change on 04/18/24 is the first mention of valve cover leak, and oil change 12/23/24 indicates possible rear main seal leak, residue around rear main cover which made me suspect gasket failure. The dealership denied the fault lies with tensioner or clutch and said the knocking sound is from the lower portion of the motor - possibly a faulty knock sensor - and the engine would not be disassembled to provide a more specific diagnosis. The dealership said a replacement engine is needed. No diagnostic codes or other specifics were provided. Dealership replaced fuel pump module per recall protocol. My and my grandchild's safety were jeopardized because my malfunctioning vehicle could have created a deadly traffic hazard among NYE celebrants who may have been driving distracted or with impaired cognitive function. In the past when my vehicle had stalled, it would lose power and I would have to coast off the freeway or to the side of the road. In those instances, my car created a traffic hazard & congestion for the vehicles behind me and toward the side that I was trying to exit.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11634013

Owners report clear coat and paint peeling, chipping or fading on the hood, roof and trunk, sometimes exposing rust; dealers blamed the environment.

How common

8 of the 300 complaints we read (3%), roughly 50 of all 1,876 on file

Safety

Not a safety issue

• Paint at the center of the roof is fading and chipping despite the owner hand washing the car. · filed Aug 2025
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  Paint at the center top of the vehicles roof is slowly starting to fade and chip away. I've always hand washed my car since I bought the vehicle in 2019. Noticed the paint at the top of the roof has been the only area where this is happening.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11680447

• Exterior paint is peeling and rust has begun to form on the body. · filed Jul 2023
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  The paint, obsidian blue pearl, is peeling and rust is starting to form.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11533924

• Paint on this three-year-old car is chipping; owner says the dealer denied a warranty claim and Honda has not responded to a follow-up case. · filed Oct 2021
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  Purchased a brand new 2018 Honda Accord I’ve only had it for 3 years and the paint is chipping. I’ve contacted the dealer where purchased and they stated it’s out of the 3 year 36,000 mile warranty and won’t do anything about it. Opened a case with American Honda motor Corp and still haven’t heard anything back from the regarding my vehicle paint issue.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11436823

The supplemental restraint system warning stays on or appears at random, in one case due to a faulty passenger seat weight sensor.

How common

6 of the 300 complaints we read (2%), roughly 38 of all 1,876 on file

Safety

Reduced safety margin: 5 of 6 reports

• Supplemental restraint system warning appears on the dashboard at random times, sometimes staying lit for over a year; owner says Honda has not issued a recall. · filed Feb 2026
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  My supplemental restraint system problem keeps appearing on my dash at random times, sometimes will go away then sometimes will stay for over a year. I have heard this is ongoing and Honda has not issued a recall.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11714762

• Owner reports a problem with the supplemental restraint (airbag) system. · filed Oct 2025
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  Supplemental restraint system problem

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11691868

• Supplemental Restraint System warning appeared three times in a week, clearing when the car is off; owner says the dealer wants a $215 diagnostic fee she cannot afford. · filed Jul 2025
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  07/30/25 - Over the course of 1 week, I have received three dashboard warnings "Supplemental Restraint System Problem. See Your Dealer" It goes away once car turns off. Honda of Katy states to bring in when alert still on dashboard (which will disappear when car turned off) but quoted will be required to sign a $215 diagnostic fee. No charge if it is just an error code. But $215 can be used toward repair. This is a SAFETY ISSUE and should be a SAFETY RECALL as owners should not need to pay for manufacturer DEFECTS. I can not afford to fix since still paying off the known issue of fuel injectors failing but not yet SAFETY RECALLED. Please help.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11677322