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2018 Honda Accord: sudden loss of power

130 of the 1,900 complaints about the 2018 Honda Accord describe sudden loss of power.

owner complaints
130
of this car's complaints
7%
typical repair cost reported
$5,200
typical mileage
57,000
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 48 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Sudden loss of power by model year

What owners say

Filed Oct 22, 2026 · Engine · MA

Noticed that the engine temperature was slightly higher normal (went to 5 bars when always at 4) I checked and the fan was running properly and had coolant in the overflow tank. I took it to the Honda dealer, and they found that the head gasket failed and the fluid inside the radiator leaked into the cylinders. My 2018 Honda has the 2.0T engine with 126,875 miles. Honda acknowledges this design flaw on their 1.5T and 2.0 non-turbo engines but wouldn't cover my 2.0T. This 2.0T from my research is about 80-100 units of the 1,115,384 accords sold in the US 2018-2022 10th gen. The 2.0T has the same design flaw as the other two engines but Honda wont cover them. Moreover, I asked for 50% good will coverage from Honda and was flat out told no after waiting for 4 weeks to get this decision on a known mechanical engine flaw that could be a safety issue, Eg. fire or loss of power on a highway that can get someone hurt or killed.

Filed Oct 1, 2026 · Driver assistance · NC

The car ACC turns orange, you can’t control your speed, the car starts to slow down like it’s losing power. I got a new battery. Still will cut off during drive and you can’t accelerate. This could cause a major accident. I was turning into a parking lot and lost power. Had to cut the engine off, and hurry up and restart it just to get out the way.

Filed Sep 22, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · TN

My car keeps losing power suddenly! Sometimes it has even started to stall while driving. Also the electrical menu has tons of errors and isn't working. There are several recalls on Honda Accords for the fuel pump and the vehicle assistance module but my vin doesn't show up.

Filed Sep 14, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · CT

I am reporting a recurring safety and mechanical issue with my 2018 Honda Accord 1.5T, which currently has approximately 128,900 miles. My vehicle has been experiencing shaking/rough operation and multiple warning lights while driving. Diagnostic scans have shown P0301 – Cylinder 1 Misfire and U0401-68. The ignition coils were replaced with original/OEM parts in an attempt to correct the issue. After the repair, the warning lights went away temporarily, but within several days the same warning lights and symptoms returned, and the vehicle again showed the P0301 cylinder 1 misfire code. I am concerned because the vehicle continues to shake and operate abnormally despite the repair. I have learned that Honda has addressed cylinder-head-gasket concerns involving certain 1.5L turbocharged Accord vehicles, which may cause engine misfires. However, I have not had my vehicle diagnosed with a defective head gasket, so I am not claiming that this is definitely the cause of my vehicle's problem. When I checked my VIN through the federal safety agency, it showed 0 unrepaired recalls. I am submitting this complaint so that the federal safety agency has a record of the recurring problem and can determine whether my vehicle's condition may be related to a broader safety defect affecting 2018 Honda Accord 1.5T vehicles. I am concerned about the possibility of the continued misfire causing loss of engine performance, loss of power, stalling, or otherwise making the vehicle unsafe to operate if the underlying problem worsens. I have photographs of the diagnostic scans documenting the codes and records showing the previous repair.

Filed Sep 5, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · FL

Vehicle dashboard lights up with multiple warnings, power loss/limp mode in traffic and while driving. Dealership said it’s a very common problem but Honda refuses to make a recall. Technician says it is most likely caused by faulty fuel pump which is already recall that caused damage to the injectors.

Filed Aug 23, 2026 · Engine · LA

Car losing power on the interstate and side roads Replaced spark plugs, replaced coil packs replaced fuel injectors after dealers diagnostic testing $2500 for those issues Vehicle still misfiring took in to another dealer head gasket need replacement $5200 quote

Filed Aug 18, 2026 · DE

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle's head gasket has been identified as needing replacement. The Honda dealership inspected the vehicle on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, and confirmed that a new head gasket is needed. The vehicle and the failed component should be available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The ongoing malfunction caused numerous warning lights and messages to appear on the dashboard over approximately the past two months. Because the vehicle was displaying multiple warnings and experiencing an apparent engine-related issue, I was concerned about the vehicle's reliability and safety while driving. An engine malfunction could potentially cause the vehicle to lose power or become inoperable unexpectedly, which could put me and others on the road at risk. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The problem was inspected and confirmed by a Honda dealership on August 12, 2026. I was informed that the vehicle needs a new head gasket. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? Yes. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Honda dealership. To my knowledge, it has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes. For approximately two months prior to taking the vehicle to the dealership, multiple warning lights and messages began appearing on the dashboard. The warnings continued to appear and became increasingly concerning, which ultimately led me to take the vehicle to the Honda dealership on August 12, 2026, where I was informed that the head gasket needs to be replaced.

Filed Aug 16, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · CA

While driving, the vehicle suddenly jerks or “jumps,” followed immediately by a noticeable loss of power. Shortly after this occurs, the multi-information display shows a series of warnings that include: Collision Mitigation Braking System Problem – See Your Dealer Adaptive Cruise Control System Problem – See Your Dealer Road Departure Mitigation System Problem – See Your Dealer Auto High-Beam Problem – Manual Controls Available – See Your Dealer Brake System warning light A “Systems Initializing… Continue Driving” message also appears. I have photographic documentation of these dashboard messages. This sequence creates a significant safety concern. The sudden jerk and power loss can occur while the vehicle is in motion, and the subsequent disabling of the Honda Sensing systems (Collision Mitigation Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Road Departure Mitigation) leaves the vehicle without those critical driver-assistance features. Because this involves sudden power loss and the disabling of safety systems, I consider the issue urgent and ask that it be prioritized.

Filed Aug 14, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · KS

The head gasket is failing and causing the engine to overheat and misfire. Its a repeating issue I see online and have taken it to a certified Honda mechanic multiple times. The first diagnosis stated that the biggest issue was the fuel injections. Now this second diagnosis shows the head gasket. It poses a great danger especially in highways, as it causes the car to decelerate on its own and rattles as if it's losing power. It will overheat when it is idling. The check engine light turned on a week after purchasing the car from a local dealership, and the dashboard lights were wiped from the system prior to buying the car a year ago. Now I'm looking at over 7k in repairment costs while still financing a car I believed was reliable.

Filed Aug 12, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · NC

I am reporting a safety concern involving my 2018 Honda Accord. I purchased my vehicle used in January 2024 at approximately 90,000 miles and have kept up with the recommended maintenance during my ownership. At approximately 120,000 miles, a Honda dealership diagnosed head-gasket failure with coolant intrusion involving cylinders 3 and 4. Before diagnosis, the vehicle experienced rising engine temperature while idling, coolant loss, jerking during acceleration, numerous warning lights, and severely reduced acceleration. The problem progressed to loss of power and stalling while driving and slowing/stopping, requiring me to place the vehicle in Park and restart the engine to continue driving. The vehicle also developed unstable RPMs and engine surging while in Park. Honda performed a cooling-system pressure test and borescope inspection and confirmed coolant intrusion. Head-gasket replacement cost approximately $5,000. I contacted American Honda (Case #16533411), but goodwill assistance was denied because the vehicle is outside warranty and Honda stated it had no Honda-dealership service history. I am reporting this because the head-gasket failure resulted in loss of propulsion and stalling while operating the vehicle, creating a serious safety concern.

Filed Aug 11, 2026 · Engine · MO

In July 2026, our 2018 Honda Accord required a head gasket replacement. Prior to the diagnosis, the vehicle began experiencing rough starts and engine misfires. While driving, the car suddenly lost power and would not accelerate beyond approximately 10 mph. After returning home and restarting the vehicle, its performance temporarily returned to normal; however, the engine continued to idle roughly. We had the vehicle scanned, and the diagnostic result indicated a misfire in Cylinder 3. The vehicle was taken to our local Honda dealership, where we were informed the head gasket failed and needed to be replaced. Given that the vehicle has fewer than 140,000 miles, we do not believe such a major engine repair should be necessary. Over the past 25 years we have owned multiple Honda vehicles, including Accords, Civics and CR-Vs well over 200,000 miles with our current 2008 Honda CR-V having more than 344,000 miles. None of these vehicles have ever experienced a head gasket failure or similar engine issue. We have never had such a significant costly repair, over $6,000. We are extremely disappointed that our 2018 Accord required such a significant repair at relatively low mileage. We have also learned of allegations in ongoing litigation Bissell v American Honda Motor Co, involving similar head gasket issues affecting Honda vehicles. Based on our experience and the number of reported complaints, we believe Honda should issue a recall, provide warranty coverage or reimburse affected owners for repair costs whichever benefits the customer. We respectfully request that Honda review our case and consider reimbursement or goodwill assistance for this unexpected and expensive repair.

Filed Aug 8, 2026 · Transmission · GA

My fiancé was driving my 2018 Honda Accord when the vehicle suddenly jolted violently while accelerating up a bridge. Immediately afterward, multiple warning lights, including the check engine light, came on and the vehicle lost all power. Thankfully, she was able to coast down the bridge and pull into an empty parking lot. This was extremely dangerous because the vehicle lost power while being driven and could have caused a serious accident. After turning the vehicle off and restarting it, the car appeared to operate normally. Because the issue was intermittent, I initially suspected the battery. I had the battery tested multiple times, but it was fine. Since the problem continued, I took the vehicle to a Honda dealership. They diagnosed a blown head gasket and estimated the repair would cost approximately $6,000. The vehicle is only worth about $6,000, making the repair financially unreasonable. Apparently this is a known/common issue with 2018 Honda Accords. I requested Honda goodwill assistance, but Honda declined. I then took the vehicle to a second independent repair shop for another opinion. They advised that the head gasket needed for the vehicle was on back order and therefore could not provide a repair estimate. The fact that this replacement component is currently on back order is concerning and raises further questions about how frequently this repair is being needed. If Honda cannot keep enough replacement parts in stock to service affected vehicles, it further suggests that this may be a widespread issue that deserves additional investigation. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request and has been inspected by both a Honda dealership and an independent repair shop. I am extremely concerned that a vehicle can suddenly lose all power while being driven and that a repair for a known/common issue costs nearly the entire value of the car. I believe this issue warrants further investigation by Honda and consideration of a recall or assistance.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the 2018 Honda Accord loss of power

Is sudden loss of power a common problem on the 2018 Honda Accord?

130 of 1,900 owner complaints about the 2018 Honda Accord (7%) mention sudden loss of power. The model year with the most reports is 2018.

How much does it cost to fix sudden loss of power on the 2018 Honda Accord?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $5,200 (median of 29 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Honda Accord?

There are 0 recalls and 48 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2018 Honda Accord

Check engine light 189Warning lights 170Collision warning 165Fuel pump 165Misfire 163Stalling 158Adaptive cruise 132Won't shift 95Overheating 92Jerking 73Lane assist 51Engine failure 50Backup camera 44Phantom braking 44Hesitation 31Headlights 22ABS 21Won't start 21Airbag light 20Door locks 18Screen failure 15Grinding brakes 14Shudder 13Fuel smell 12Knocking 11Sunroof shattered 11Wipers 11Harsh shifting 10Windshield crack 10Brake failure 9Fire or smoke 9Power steering loss 9Key fob 8Seat belt 8Sudden acceleration 6Transmission failure 6CVT failure 5

All model years of the Honda Accord

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