Honda Accord Best and Worst Years (2005–2025)
NHTSA data flags 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019 as the Honda Accord years to avoid, with 2018 topping the list at a complaint index of 100. The best years, with the fewest reported problems, are 2021-2024, plus Good ratings for 2017, 2020, and 2025.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2008Avoid 2009Avoid 2013Avoid 2014Avoid 2018Avoid 2019Best 2021Best 2022Best 2023Best 2024
- Model years
- 21
- 2005–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 12,970
- Recall campaigns
- 49
- Crashes reported
- 797
- Fires reported
- 117
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
Accord Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Honda Accord problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Caution | 60 | 656 | 92 | 11 | 15 | Airbags | 23 | — |
| 2006 | Caution | 25 | 430 | 52 | 8 | 12 | Airbags | 23 | — |
| 2007 | Caution | 65 | 524 | 88 | 15 | 9 | Airbags | 23 | — |
| 2008 | Avoid | 95 | 1,520 | 62 | 13 | 8 | Brakes | 24 | — |
| 2009 | Avoid | 85 | 725 | 47 | 5 | 10 | Brakes | 24 | — |
| 2010 | Caution | 70 | 580 | 37 | 6 | 12 | Engine | 25 | — |
| 2011 | Caution | 5 | 296 | 33 | 3 | 9 | Airbags | 26 | 5★ |
| 2012 | Caution | 35 | 373 | 46 | 4 | 8 | Structure & Body | 26 | 5★ |
| 2013 | Avoid | 90 | 1,421 | 67 | 9 | 5 | Steering | 26 | 5★ |
| 2014 | Avoid | 80 | 981 | 52 | 9 | 4 | Electrical System | 27 | 5★ |
| 2015 | Caution | 55 | 601 | 37 | 7 | 5 | Electrical System | 26 | 5★ |
| 2016 | Caution | 50 | 604 | 32 | 5 | 4 | Electrical System | 26 | 5★ |
| 2017 | Good | 45 | 535 | 38 | 9 | 3 | Electrical System | 25.5 | 5★ |
| 2018 | Avoid | 100 | 1,881 | 35 | 4 | 6 | Engine | 28.5 | 5★ |
| 2019 | Avoid | 75 | 689 | 25 | 2 | 6 | Engine | 28.5 | 5★ |
| 2020 | Good | 40 | 362 | 14 | 2 | 5 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 28.5 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Best | 15 | 232 | 14 | 1 | 4 | Electrical System | 32 | 5★ |
| 2022 | Best | 20 | 249 | 5 | 0 | 4 | Electrical System | 32 | 5★ |
| 2023 | Best | 0 | 85 | 7 | 2 | 5 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 32 | — |
| 2024 | Best | 10 | 141 | 9 | 2 | 3 | Steering | 32 | — |
| 2025 | Good | 30 | 85 | 5 | 0 | 0 | Steering | 32 | — |
Accord years to avoid: what went wrong
2018 Honda Accord Index 100 · 1,881 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2018 Accord has the highest complaint index of any year, 100, and ranks worst overall with 1,881 complaints. Engine problems lead at 35%, with a median failure mileage of 35,000 miles. Fuel System issues follow at 25% with a much higher median mileage of 85,477. Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints make up 19%, including reports of lane-keeping systems steering into obstacles. This year has 6 recall campaigns, including fuel pump and seat belt buckle recalls.
2018 engine problems →2018 fuel system problems →2018 collision avoidance & cameras problems →
2008 Honda Accord Index 95 · 1,520 complaints · 8 recalls
The 2008 Accord has a complaint index of 95 and ranks second-worst overall, with 1,520 complaints logged. Brakes are the top issue, making up 38% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 22,000 miles. Airbags follow at 25% of complaints, with owners reporting non-deployment in crashes and higher median mileage near 80,000 miles. Engine complaints account for 18%. NHTSA has issued 8 recall campaigns for this model year, several tied to airbag inflator replacement.
2008 brakes problems →2008 airbags problems →2008 engine problems →
2013 Honda Accord Index 90 · 1,421 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2013 Accord has a complaint index of 90, ranking third-worst, with 1,421 total complaints. Steering leads at 35% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 50,000 miles; owners described loss of steering control while driving. Electrical System issues follow at 30%, also at a 50,000-mile median. Engine complaints make up 16%. This year has 5 recall campaigns, including a 2025 driveshaft recall and a fuel pump module recall shared with several other Honda models.
2013 steering problems →2013 electrical system problems →2013 engine problems →
2009 Honda Accord Index 85 · 725 complaints · 10 recalls
The 2009 Accord carries a complaint index of 85 and ranks fourth-worst. Brakes lead the complaint categories at 33% with a median failure mileage of 20,085 miles, followed by engine problems at 21% and airbags at 20%, where owners described non-deployment during collisions. Electrical System complaints make up 9% of reports. This year has 10 recall campaigns, including multiple airbag inflator actions.
2009 brakes problems →2009 engine problems →2009 airbags problems →
2014 Honda Accord Index 80 · 981 complaints · 4 recalls
The 2014 Accord posts a complaint index of 80 and ranks fifth-worst. Electrical System complaints dominate at 40% of the total, with a median failure mileage of 50,000 miles. Engine problems follow at 22%, brakes at 15%, and steering at 14%. Owners described sudden acceleration and unintended braking or lurching events. This year has 4 recall campaigns, including a battery sensor water-intrusion recall and the shared fuel pump module recall.
2014 electrical system problems →2014 engine problems →2014 brakes problems →
2019 Honda Accord Index 75 · 689 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2019 Accord has a complaint index of 75, ranking sixth-worst, with 689 complaints. Engine issues lead at 30%, with a median failure mileage of 72,227.5 miles, followed by Fuel System problems at 27% and Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints at 23%, including unexpected automatic braking events. Electrical System complaints make up 17%. This year shares 6 recall campaigns with other years, including the fuel pump module and seat belt buckle recalls.
2019 engine problems →2019 fuel system problems →2019 collision avoidance & cameras problems →
Most common Honda Accord problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Electrical System2,813 (22%)
- Engine2,735 (21%)
- Brakes2,138 (16%)
- Airbags1,621 (12%)
- Other1,576 (12%)
- Steering1,292 (10%)
- Fuel System1,122 (9%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,013 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain925 (7%)
- Structure & Body809 (6%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the worst Honda Accord years to avoid?
- NHTSA complaint and recall data point to 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019 as the Accord years with the most reported problems. The 2018 model year has the highest complaint index at 100 and ranks worst overall out of 21 model years covered.
- What are the best Honda Accord years?
- The 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 model years rate Best based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, with complaint indexes ranging from 0 to 20. The 2017, 2020, and 2025 model years rate Good.
- Why is the 2008 Honda Accord rated Avoid?
- The 2008 Accord has a complaint index of 95 and ranks second-worst of all years, driven mainly by brake complaints (38% of its total) with a median failure mileage of 22,000 miles, plus airbag non-deployment reports.
- Does the 2013 Honda Accord have any recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2013 Accord, including a 2025 driveshaft assembly recall for CVT-equipped 4-cylinder models and a fuel pump module recall shared across multiple Honda models.
- Is the 2018 Honda Accord reliable?
- Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 Accord has the highest complaint index of any model year, 100, with 1,881 total complaints, most involving the engine, fuel system, and camera-based safety features.