YearToAvoid

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

64/100

#5 most-complained of 12 Accord Hybrid years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid has a Complaint Index of 64 and ranks 5th worst out of 12 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 115 complaints, 4 recalls, 3 crashes, and 1 fire, with Engine issues the top problem area at 26% of complaints.

Complaints
115
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
3 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
47
47 city / 47 hwy

Top 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine30 (26%)
  2. Other25 (22%)
  3. Fuel System23 (20%)
  4. Electrical System20 (17%)
  5. Brakes15 (13%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras15 (13%)
  7. Steering9 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (7%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain7 (6%)
  10. Structure & Body6 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden, unintended acceleration while slowly maneuvering into driveways or parking spots, sometimes ending in a crash into a fence, garage, or boulder.
  • Some drivers describe pressing the brake pedal without effect during these acceleration events, needing to pump the brakes repeatedly to regain control.
  • Several owners flagged a gasoline odor inside the cabin after refueling, with dealers unable to quickly locate the source in the fuel system.
  • Owners waiting on the fuel pump module recall (23V858000) report long delays because replacement parts were not available at dealers.
  • One owner described the steering wheel sticking at center and requiring excessive force to correct, followed by over-correction.
  • Another driver reported the engine sputtering during acceleration, followed by the check engine light and multiple dashboard warnings including brake and steering system alerts.
2018 Honda Accord Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per quarter212018 Q22019 Q22020 Q22021 Q22022 Q42024 Q12025 Q12026 Q1
165 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q1 (21).

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    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.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 23V858000Dec 18, 2023Fuel System2,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    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.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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.

  3. NHTSA 23V158000Mar 9, 2023Seat Belts448,613 vehicles

    Seat belts:front:buckle assembly

    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.

    Risk: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

    Remedy: 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.

See all 4 recalls for the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid →

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
47 MPG
Highway
47 MPG
Combined
47 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,400
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other Accord Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016No verdict010—
2017Good2745248
2018Caution64115447
2019Caution5594548
2020Good4539548

All Honda Accord Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2018 Accord Hybrid a Complaint Index of 64 and a Caution verdict, ranking 5th worst among 12 model years covered. Engine complaints make up the largest share at 26%.
What is the top problem area for the 2018 Accord Hybrid?
Engine complaints lead with 30 reports, 26% of the total, including 3 crashes and 1 fire, at a median mileage of 11,000 miles.
Does the 2018 Accord Hybrid have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2018 Accord Hybrid, covering airbags, the fuel system (fuel pump module), seat belts, and a collision-avoidance software error affecting the BCM.
How does the 2018 Accord Hybrid compare to other years?
Its Complaint Index of 64 is worse than 2014 (18), 2015 (9), 2017 (27), 2020 (45), and 2021 (36), but better than 2022 (82), 2023 (100), and 2024 (91), which are rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Accord Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2018 Accord Hybrid at 47 mpg combined (47 city/47 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,400.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.