2009 Honda Accord Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2009 Honda Accord ranks 4th worst of 21 model years with a Complaint Index of 85 and an Avoid verdict. Brakes account for 33% of its 725 complaints, followed by engine (21%) and airbags (20%), with 10 recalls on file, mostly airbag related.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 85/100
- #4 of 21 Accord years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 725
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 10
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 47
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 50
- Top issue
- Brakes
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 30 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 50 / 2
Top 2009 Honda Accord problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes241 (33%)
- Engine155 (21%)
- Airbags143 (20%)
- Electrical System63 (9%)
- Structure & Body53 (7%)
- Other47 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain36 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires34 (5%)
- Steering30 (4%)
- Fuel System14 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Brakes fail to stop the car and pedal reportedly sticks to the floor, in one case leading to a collision after leaving a driveway.
- Airbags reportedly fail to deploy in front and rear-end crashes, including a case where the driver hit a tree and suffered a head injury.
- Owners report frontal airbags deploying but inflating poorly, leaving occupants injured after moderate-speed collisions.
- Seat belts reportedly failed to restrain occupants during a low-speed intersection crash while airbags also did not deploy.
- A headlight reportedly began smoking and caught fire while the vehicle was parked, destroying the vehicle.
- The accelerator reportedly stuck while backing out of a driveway, causing unintended acceleration.
2009 Honda Accord recalls
10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V502000Jun 27, 2019Airbags9,555 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
- NHTSA 19V378000May 16, 2019Airbags19,138 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
- NHTSA 19V182000Mar 6, 2019Airbags1,101,534 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
2009 Honda Accord fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 30 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,700
- 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.
2009 compared with other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Honda Accord reliable?
- Compared with other Accord model years, 2009 ranks poorly. It has a Complaint Index of 85, the 4th highest among 21 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict.
- What are the main problems with the 2009 Honda Accord?
- NHTSA complaints show brakes as the top problem area at 33% of complaints, followed by engine issues at 21% and airbag issues at 20%. Brake complaints had a median failure mileage of 20,085 miles.
- Does the 2009 Honda Accord have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2009 Accord, and nearly all involve airbag inflators or airbag module assemblies. None are listed as do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2009 Accord compare to other years?
- The 2009 Accord's Complaint Index of 85 is worse than most other years, though 2008, 2013, and 2018 rank higher with indexes of 95, 90, and 100 respectively. Years like 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 carry Best verdicts with much lower indexes.
- Were people hurt by 2009 Accord airbag problems?
- NHTSA complaint data for this year shows 143 airbag-related complaints, 29 crashes, 1 fire, and a median failure mileage of 90,000 miles tied to the airbag problem area.