YearToAvoid

2020 Honda Accord Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#11 most-complained of 16 Accord years

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

The 2020 Honda Accord ranks 11th worst out of 16 model years with a complaint index of 33, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Accord years. It has 362 complaints, 5 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with the top problem area being Collision Avoidance & Cameras.

Complaints
362
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
14 / 2
Injuries / deaths
11 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28.5
24.5 city / 34.5 hwy

Top 2020 Honda Accord problems

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

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras104 (29%)
  2. Engine85 (23%)
  3. Fuel System62 (17%)
  4. Brakes60 (17%)
  5. Electrical System53 (15%)
  6. Other43 (12%)
  7. Airbags35 (10%)
  8. Steering22 (6%)
  9. Lane Departure17 (5%)
  10. Structure & Body16 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report unexpected airbag deployment while driving at highway speeds without any collision occurring beforehand.
  • Some describe the forward collision and braking systems failing to activate during a crash, including the Body Control Module and Vehicle Stability Assist not engaging.
  • Several owners report the power steering pulling the car sideways into a curb or barrier, causing loss of control.
  • A few report electrical fires starting after the vehicle was parked, including one incident that required fire department response.
  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while parking at low speed that continued despite braking.
  • Dashboard warning messages such as tire pressure malfunction alerts appeared alongside sudden pulling of the vehicle toward traffic.
2020 Honda Accord complaints: complaints filed per quarter542020 Q12021 Q12022 Q12023 Q12024 Q12025 Q12026 Q1
534 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2020 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (54).

2020 Honda Accord recalls

5 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 24V064000Feb 1, 2024Airbags750,114 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.

    Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.

  3. 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.

See all 5 recalls for the 2020 Honda Accord →

2020 Honda Accord fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24.5 MPG
Highway
34.5 MPG
Combined
28.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,275
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.

2020 compared with other Accord years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Avoid1001,881628.5
2019Avoid80689628.5
2020Good33362528.5
2021Best7232432
2022Best20249432

All Honda Accord years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Honda Accord reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Accord has a complaint index of 33 and ranks 11th worst of 16 model years, giving it a "Good" verdict relative to other Accord years.
What problems does the 2020 Honda Accord have?
NHTSA data shows the top problem areas are Collision Avoidance & Cameras (104 complaints, 29% share), Engine (85 complaints, 23% share), and Fuel System (62 complaints, 17% share).
Does the 2020 Honda Accord have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2020 Accord, covering airbags, fuel system, and a collision avoidance software issue, with none classified as do-not-drive.
How does the 2020 Accord compare to other years?
The 2020 Accord's complaint index of 33 is much lower than the worst years, 2018 (100) and 2013 (93), both rated "Avoid," placing 2020 among the better years for this model.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Honda Accord?
EPA rates the 2020 Accord at 28.5 mpg combined (24.5 city / 34.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,275.

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.