2018 Honda Accord: brakes engage by themselves (phantom braking)

Filed Aug 23, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · GA · crash

Issue 1: Faulty Collision Mitigation Braking System & Subsequent Crash Incident Details: In July of 2025, my vehicle’s automatic braking warning lights randomly activated and triggered an unprompted, emergency stop on [XXX]—despite having no vehicles ahead of me. This sudden malfunction directly caused a rear-end collision on the interstate. Documentation: A formal crash report was filed with the Georgia State Patrol. Ongoing Risk: The false automatic braking warnings continue to trigger randomly, creating an extreme safety hazard for myself and surrounding traffic. Issue 2: Premature Turbocharger Failure & Cracked Head Gasket Diagnostic Timeline: Immediately upon picking up the car from a body shop repair, every warning light on the dashboard illuminated erratically. After Ed Voyles Honda in Marietta claimed nothing was wrong, the body shop replaced a potentially loose battery cable. The issue persisted, and Shottenkirk Honda in Cartersville ultimately diagnosed a total turbocharger failure in March 2026. Out-of-Pocket Cost: Honda denied any goodwill coverage despite the widespread, documented failure of these 1.5L engines across 2018–2023 models. I paid $1,700 out of pocket to replace the turbocharger. Escalating Failures: Shortly after the turbo replacement, the head gasket cover cracked—another notorious, widely recognized defect inherent to this specific engine setup. At only seven years old, this vehicle has proven to be unreliable, dangerous, and financially burdensome. The known defects in the 1.5L powertrain warrant a widespread recall. Given my long-standing loyalty and the severe nature of these defects, I request a full reimbursement of the $1,700 turbocharger repair costs and an immediate investigation into the phantom braking issue. I expect a prompt reply outlining how Honda intends to resolve these safety issues. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 19, 2026 · Driver assistance · FL

I keep having issues where my car thinks I’m changing lanes and alerts me, when I’m not, and auto-corrects my steering which has led me to actually veer into another lane and fighting the car essentially while driving. I turn the feature off and somehow it just keeps happening. Same with the sensor that auto brakes - there won’t be anything that the car should be braking for and I’ll get the flashing BRAKE text come up on dash and beeping before it completely brakes on its own. These issues and features have been more worrisome and scary than helpful. There are multiple instances

Filed Apr 11, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · IL

I have bought this car new in 2018, The issue that I’m having is that ..I’ll be driving on the highway or local my car will brake on its own without any hazards in front of it . It’s very dangerous it almost caused me an accident on the highway .

Filed Mar 24, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · VA

I own a 2018 Honda Accord equipped with Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS). The vehicle has experienced multiple instances of false collision warnings and phantom braking. The issue occasionally occurs when approaching overhead interstate signs. In most cases, the system flashes brake warnings briefly and then clears. However, on one occasion during rainy conditions a few years ago, the vehicle unexpectedly applied the brakes at highway speed with no obstacle present. The vehicle has undergone multiple camera calibrations (this may have also included the radar), but the problem persists. This creates a serious safety hazard, particularly at highway speeds where sudden braking could result in a rear-end collision. The issue appears to be related to false object detection by the ADAS system, potentially involving radar or sensor misinterpretation.

Filed Mar 18, 2026 · Driver assistance · 100,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. No warning light was illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Aug 7, 2025 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · HI

Fuel pump recall. Put in an order with Honda dealer January 2024 for the pump. On February 2025 asked if they submitted the order back in January 2024? They said it was. Now it's August 2025 (20 months since) and waiting. the federal safety agency says if they failed to fix in a timely manner to make a report online. Is 20 months long enough? Driving with a safety recall. Second making a complaint with the 10 speed auto transmission 2nd to 3rd hard shift and 4th to 3rd hard shift. Putting stress on other components can break mounts, the transmission, axles, ect. could also launch the car into the car in front of you, in heavy (slow bumper to bumper) traffic. Wasted my own money and time draining and filling 5 quarts of honda 2.0 transmission fluid. (Also replaced the trans filter behind the warmer housing) Did not fix the issue. Contacted American Honda and they said It's out of warranty and I need to pay for diagnostic and repairs. (I just bought the car in 2023 at 45k miles. Previous owner must of felt it and should of did something while under warranty.) Honda know this issue from the beginning and hiding the issue to save money. Check the Accord forums online. It's most of us if not all the 18-20 10 speed models. Vehicle is 2018 Accord 2.0 10 speed 50k miles. Plus the normal Phantom braking and lane departure which will automatically steer you off the road, so you have to fight the steering wheel.

Filed Jul 26, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · IN

I had been driving down highway and all of a sudden my car put on brakes hard. Thank goodness no one was behind me. I had dealer turn off that feature so it wouldn't happen again. I still experience my brake light flashing when nothing in road to brake for but doesn't brake on its own. Issue having now is issues starting car and once it starts I recieved a collision mediations issue pop-up on display saying see dealer now. Cruise control issue, and on dash has traction control saying ignitionating continue driving. The braking issue started right after purchase in 2018. The starting issue started yesterday 7/25/2025.

Filed Oct 3, 2024 · Driver assistance · NJ

Braking system engaged while driving, slamming on brakes for no reason within first 6 months of having purchased my 2018 Honda Accord EX. While driving the car on a normal highway with no cars in front of me, the car suddenly brakes and then the brake releases. The car came to a complete stop for no reason while driving around 55-60mph on the highway with no cars in front of me or to the sides. I couldn't get the brake pedal up off the floor of the car. After about 5 seconds, the brakes finally released, and I was able to drive again. Took car to Princeton, NJ Honda Service Department and they tried to readjust the front facing camera and the radar system. They said that it was misaligned or had been misaligned due to possible damage from a rock kicking up from road. Car was okay for about a week and then was slammed suddenly to hard brake in middle of road while driving again on highway, around 45mphs. Car was bought back to Honda dealership, and the service department solution to problem was to order a new front camera unit and replace the radar unit. New Camera Parts were on backorder, with over a 2 week wait for parts to deliver to dealership. Princeton Honda provided a loaner vehicle while awaiting parts and then repairs. Was without my new car for over 2 and half weeks. Have had no such issues with braking system since replacement and repair of a front camera and radar unit.

Filed Jul 29, 2024 · Driver assistance · CA

On this day at approximately 1:20 p.m. the weather was clear and dry and there was very light traffic with no cars nearby and no debris in the roadway. I was driving approximately 45 mph when my vehicle suddenly flashed and beeped the warning to brake and I felt the car brake hard as it swerved to the left entirely on it's own. I was able to take over the vehicle and thankfully there was no collision or injuries. This was the first time this has happened. My vehicle will be available for inspection upon request. If there had been heavy traffic at the time or had I been on the freeway, the outcome could have been very serious. I looked up what I experienced and there are verified accounts of "Phantom Braking" for 2018-2019 Honda Accords. I did not have the vehicle inspected. There were no warnings prior to the incident.

Filed Apr 18, 2024 · Driver assistance · MO

When the adaptive cruise control is engaged there are times that the vehicle will brake by itself when there is no vehicle in front of me. I drive 52 miles one way to work and then home daily. This happens at least once almost every time that it is used. As for the blind spot warning it randomly will go on and off saying an object is near especially when parked at red lights with none of the vehicles moving around me.

Filed Nov 2, 2023 · Driver assistance, Electrical · FL

Starting in Sept 2023, while pulling out of a park in a garage, my car started throwing numerous warning messages in the dashboard regarding emissions, ABS, Brake System, Power Steering, etc with the Check Engine Light staying steady. I took it to one Honda dealership who after 'diagnosing' claimed it was the fuel injectors needing to be replaced. The car wasn't jerking or sputtering so I took the car to another mechanic who also didn't believe it was the fuel injectors and felt it was electrical. Took the car to another Honda dealership and they claimed the same thing about injectors. After having a reputable mechanic do software updates that the original or 2nd Honda dealership NEVER checked for (it needed 4 updates, but one of them couldn't be done for LKAS). Most of the warnings went away due to the updates but the LKAS warning and collision warning remained. So I took the car to Safelite (they had replaced my windshield back in July and back then they were able to recalibrate the sensor) BUT this time (Oct 2023) not only were they not able to recalibrate the LKAS, they said the front camera was not communicating with the system and this was an electrical problem and I have to go back to the dealership. After reading NUMEROUS complaints and similar issues in regards to the LKAS, this multiple warnings AND the car ghost braking on its own every now and then months before this, I hope you all really look into this and do a recall or find a solution on this car. Now I am forced to go back to the Honda dealership and will have to threaten them to do their job this time and really look at the car and not just tell me it is needing fuel injectors replaced. The car drives, no jerking, no sputtering, but not having a front camera talking to the system and now the TPMS system keeps saying i have low tire pressure and won't let me calibrate even though my tires are at the optimal 32 level stated in the manual, I fear more issues are going to pop up soon.

Filed Oct 16, 2023 · Driver assistance · OH

Random braking. Freeways or side streets. Fast or slow. Usually it seems to happen in school zones. Nobody in front of me or to the side. Problem comes with braking by itself, is that I almost get rear-ended. People are always trying to push me faster than speed limit. I surprised it hasn't happened YET. Been doing it since new. Had at dealer to lookat it few times.It just got frustrating. They can't replicate. That's the problem. It's RANDOM. Almost got rear-ended today. That is why I'm writing this today 10/16/2023. Been needing to do it for awhile.