2009 Honda Accord: sudden loss of power

Filed Jun 18, 2025 · Engine · CT

Component/System: Engine – piston ring failure; oil control issue related to VCM system. Available for inspection: Yes. My 2009 Honda Accord EX-L V6 (J35Z2 engine with VCM) has developed repeated misfires due to oil entering the combustion chamber, consistent with Honda TSB 13-078. It began around 96,000 miles with cylinder #3 fouling. At 121,000 miles, cylinder #2 also misfired. A Honda dealer confirmed the issue as piston ring failure, and oil loss was measured at ~1.5 quarts per 1,000 miles. The issue causes sudden power loss, rough running, and hesitation, especially during highway driving or acceleration. This creates a serious risk of rear-end collisions or inability to safely merge. The misfire occurs without warning; no warning lamps were active beforehand. Brandfon Honda confirmed the diagnosis in May 2025. Honda acknowledges the defect in TSBs and prior class action litigation (Soto v. Honda), but refuses to assist because my car is outside the 8-year extended warranty window—even though I was never notified of that warranty. I’ve maintained the car carefully and reported the issue to Honda through multiple channels. This is a known defect affecting many 2008–2012 Accords. It compromises driveability, increases oil consumption, and creates safety concerns due to unpredictable engine performance. I’m submitting this to ensure it is recorded as part of a broader pattern that may warrant further investigation.

Filed Nov 10, 2023 · Transmission · NY

While making a right turn from a stop sign on a side road and upward incline the vehicle lost power to the wheels and was unable to complete the turn onto a main road. Loss of ability to move the vehicle ( appeared to be in neutral ) posed a risk since there could have been traffic on the main road that could have caused an accident. The car could also have slid back to damage another car at the back. There was no accident in this case. Vehicle was towed to an independent service center - it was determined that the right side front axle shaft had broken-snapped "in the middle".

Filed Aug 17, 2021 · Engine, Fuel system · UT

1st the check engine light continues to come on, when it does it makes loud noise and seems to either speed up like idling to fast or loss of power, continues the normal maintained, already replaced the head gaskets and belts it burns through so much oil when we do test on car they say catalytic convertor and then it will stop and work and some thing over and over again, I have 157000 on my car the leather in the car it is forming hard spots on seats front and back I don't have other passengers its like the seats are superglued . I have heard Honda is aware of these problems and with this amt of complaints why is not Honda heard accountable, in park city a fire started due to faulty catalytic convertor I don't want that to happen to me

Filed Jul 14, 2017 · Transmission · 109,000 miles · AL

The vtc actuator on my honda accord has been making a rattling sound during an engine cold startup for over a year now. After calling the customer service line they stated that it was not under a recall and that this problem would not cause any damage or reliability issues. However, the sound has been getting worse and the other day, while driving, my wife lost all power in the middle of the road; this is an extremely unsafe situation. After taking it to the service department at the dealership they said the problem is associated with the vtc actuator and we will need to replace this actuator with a redesigned actuator at a cost of $1600(including suggested part changes while the work is being done). The cost is not important to me, it is the safety aspect of the situation that's troublesome. If a redesigned actuator exists shouldn't customers at least be aware of this and the implications of not changing this part?

Filed Nov 25, 2014 · 56,432 miles · TX

Vehicle suddendly lost all power. This exact same power loss has occurred four to five times since I own the vehicle. I bought the vehicle brand new from a gillman honda dealership in houston, texas in late december 2009. The first time that this happened was a few months after I bought the vehicle. Afterwards, I took the vehicle to the gillman dealership that I purchased the vehicle and discussed the issue with a service manger. I also complained about a noise that the vehicle was making. I was told then that there was no such problem similar to what I described reported, I left after getting an oil change. Since the first incident, the same power lost has occurred to me 3 to 4 more times. The last time was on sunday, november 23, 2014 while I was at a chevron gas station. This time it happened when I tried to start the vehicle after finishing pumping gasoline to the gas tank and finished with the payment. I had to get someone to push the car away from pump station and tried to get help from people who came to the gas station to fill their vehicles with gasoline. My wife eventually came to the gas station with a jump cable and I was able to jump start the vehicle then. Afterwards, I drove the vehicle to an o'reilly auto part store and proceeded to purchase a new battery. However, before I let the store clerk replace my car's battery, I asked him to run a test on the car's battery, and the result indicated that the battery is still in good condition. This reminded me of the exact same situation when I lost complete power to the vehicle, and had to jump start it about 6 - 8 months earlier. I also drove myself to another o'reilly auto part store and the same scenario played out. These experiences told me that something is not normal. Some form of short-circuitry must happen that caused my car to lose its power.

Filed Jul 17, 2013 · Brakes, Engine · 9,500 miles · TN

Vehicle has been consuming oil since purchased with 9,500 miles. Oil consumption has contributed to fouled spark plugs. Fouled spark plugs triggered "cylinder #3 misfire" code and extremely poor performance at highway speeds. Two different occasions the car experienced different cylinder misfire issues. Honda dealer performed engine computer software updates on two different occasions that did not remedy the oil consumption issue. No warning lights to indicate that the engine was 3 quarts low on oil. If the consumer is not aware that the vehicle is using oil, there is potential for the engine to seize causing costly repairs or to lose power in a dangerous situation. Dealer is now performing honda oil consumption test. According to honda, consuming 1 quart of oil in 1,000 miles is normal and acceptable. This burned oil is being released into the environment as evidenced by the black carbon on the tail pipes. It is hard to believe that a leading car manufacturer would deem oil consumption in a brand new vehicle as normal or acceptable. This is the first vehicle out of 12 that I have ever owned that consumed oil. Even vehicles with over 200,000 miles did not consume oil. I purchased a honda so that I did not have to worry about reliability or break downs for many years. Now I have to worry with checking the oil every week as to not get low or run out. Same vehicle has also had premature rear brake pad wear and had to be replaced at 60,000 miles. Complaint has been filed with american honda. Class action lawsuits have been filed against honda over the premature rear brake pad wear and the oil consumption issues.