YearToAvoid

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid has a Complaint Index of 69, ranking 5th worst out of 14 model years, with a Caution verdict. Engine problems lead complaints at 26%, alongside 4 recalls covering airbags, fuel system, seat belts, and camera software.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
69/100
#5 of 14 Accord Hybrid years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
115
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
3
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2015
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
47
47 city / 47 hwy
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Top 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unexpected acceleration or failure to stop when braking near driveways or parking lots, sometimes ending in collisions.
  • Some report the front crash mitigation and lane departure system failing or causing sudden deceleration while driving at highway speed.
  • Windshields reportedly show a shattered-glass-like distortion when facing low sun, obstructing the passenger side view.
  • Owners report a low-frequency buzzing noise coming from the trunk area near the lithium battery hours after the car is parked.
  • Steering reportedly feels uneven or sticks around the 12 o'clock position, described as unsafe on highways or in wet conditions.
  • Several owners report wheels or tires failing suddenly on the highway with a loud bang, sometimes damaging the rim without hitting anything.
2018 Honda Accord Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per quarter122018 Q22019 Q22020 Q22021 Q22022 Q42024 Q12025 Q12026 Q1
115 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q1 (12).

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)0255075100’05’07’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016No verdict810—
2017Good3845248
2018Caution69115447
2019Caution6294548
2020Caution5439548

All Honda Accord Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid reliable?
It ranks 5th worst among 14 model years of the Accord Hybrid, with a Complaint Index of 69 and a Caution verdict. Engine complaints make up 26% of reports, the largest share.
What problems does the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid have?
NHTSA complaints most often cite the engine (26%), fuel system (20%), and electrical system (17%). The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 7,319.5 miles.
Does the 2018 Accord Hybrid have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2018 Accord Hybrid, covering airbags, the fuel pump module, front seat belt buckles, and a body control module software error affecting collision avoidance features.
How does the 2018 Accord Hybrid compare to other years?
It performs worse than years like 2015 (Complaint Index 15, Best) and 2017 (Complaint Index 38, Good), but better than 2023 (Complaint Index 100, Avoid) and other later Avoid-rated years.
What is the top problem area for the 2018 Accord Hybrid?
Engine issues are the top problem area, accounting for 26% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 11,000 miles and 3 crashes reported.

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.