The check engine light came on. I took it to the dealership where I bought it. They instructed me to go to an authorized Honda repair facility. I took it in July 17, 2025 for a check engine light. The auto repair dealership said the head gasket was no good. So they repaired it my extended warranty paid for the cost. Then the repair facility did an unauthorized second disassembly without my permission So they repaired it my extended warranty paid for the cost. Then the repair facility did an unauthorized second disassembly without my permission then I was expected to pay for the engine repair. There was coolant leaking into the engine which caused the engine block to be warped. Pistons rings cylinder was completely messed up.
2018 Honda Accord: engine overheating
92 of the 1,900 complaints about the 2018 Honda Accord describe engine overheating.
- owner complaints
- 92
- of this car's complaints
- 5%
- typical repair cost reported
- $5,000
- typical mileage
- 92,000
- recalls
- 0
Engine overheating by model year
What owners say
My 2018 Honda Accord EX-L with the 2.0L turbocharged engine (K20C4) and 10-speed automatic has had a cylinder head gasket failure at approximately 111,000 miles. The vehicle has been maintained consistently. Starting in early October 2026, the vehicle began shaking violently under acceleration while the engine was cold, including when accelerating at highway speed and climbing hills. The shaking lasted for roughly the first 15 minutes of every drive. No check engine light or diagnostic trouble codes appeared. In mid-October 2026, a Honda dealership diagnosed coolant leaking past the cylinder head gasket into the combustion chamber and quoted approximately $5,000 for the repair. Replacement parts are on backorder with no estimated arrival date. Violent shaking during highway acceleration is a safety concern, and continued coolant leakage into the cylinders can cause further engine damage. In August 2026, American Honda extended head gasket warranty coverage to 10 years or 150,000 miles on 2018–2022 Accord 1.5T and hybrid models for the same condition: coolant entering the combustion chamber and causing misfires. The 2.0L turbo engine was excluded. A pending class action (Alcantara et al. v. American Honda, consolidated with Bissell v. American Honda, S.D. Cal.) alleges head gasket failure in Honda's 1.5L and 2.0L turbocharged engines. I ask that the federal safety agency investigate head gasket failures in 2018–2022 Accords with the 2.0L turbo engine, and whether this engine should be included in Honda's remedy.
Car was overheating while driving. Received warning signs on the dash to pull over and turn car off immediately. Which I did. Very dangerous to do, especially with my three year old on a 90° summer day. I felt fear for my life while waiting on the side of a busy road during rush hour for the engine to cool and figure out what to do. Here the head gasket blew. A defect in the engine that Honda knows about. As a matter of fact, they have lawsuits for this exact occurrence.
I own a 2018 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T that has been consistently maintained through authorized Honda dealerships. On July 30, 2026, at 135,968 miles, I took my vehicle to Nalley Honda for a Blind Spot Information System warning and maintenance. The dealership performed a multi-point inspection and documented the spark plugs, cooling-system hoses, and fluid leaks as PASSING. I authorized approximately $1,231 in repairs and maintenance. Only days and approximately 202 miles later, multiple warning lights appeared. I returned to the same dealership. At 136,170 miles, Honda documented DTC P0302 (Cylinder #2 Misfire). The injectors passed an air-fuel test. The technician then noted pressure releasing from the cooling system despite low coolant temperature. A head-gasket leak test was performed and FAILED. Honda diagnosed a blown cylinder head gasket and recommended approximately $4,906 in repairs, including spark plugs that had passed inspection only days earlier. I am concerned about the sudden failure of a major engine component in a well-maintained vehicle, particularly so soon after a Honda dealership inspection. I have learned that other Honda Accord 2.0T owners have reported premature head-gasket failures. A failed head gasket can result in misfires, coolant loss, overheating, reduced engine performance, and potential engine damage while driving. I am requesting that the federal safety agency review this complaint along with similar complaints involving Honda Accord 2.0T head-gasket failures to determine whether a defect trend exists and whether an investigation is warranted.
Car went into limp mode and was struggling to accelerate, went and got it diagnosed and was notified that my spark plugs needed to be replaced. Car began running fine but a few months went by and the issue came back. I was told I needed my spark plugs changed again. After the third time, I went and had my car diagnosed again and was told I needed a battery for the car because it was drained. Then I got the Turbo replaced and still the issue remains. All lights on the dashboard are on, car overheats and goes into limp mode, sometimes not accelerating over 20 MPH. My car went into limp mode on the highway, this scared me, so I haven't drove it since. Ive seen countless comments of users with the same make and model, experiencing the same issue. Its sad that Honda, known to be a trustworthy and reliable brand for years would do their customers like this, especially considering the state of the economy at the moment.
I am reporting a suspected head gasket/engine defect involving my 2018 Honda Accord Sport. My vehicle experienced multiple engine-related problems before ultimately requiring head gasket replacement and cylinder head repair. On July 27, 2024, at approximately 161,480 miles, the turbocharger was replaced. In September 2025, at 207,539 miles, my vehicle was serviced at Joe Morgan Honda, an authorized Honda dealership. During that visit, the Honda technician documented that the cooling system fluid level was low and that no external leaks were found. The technician documented that they suspected the head gasket was causing internal coolant loss over time. I was instructed to monitor the vehicle and was provided an estimate of approximately $4,400 plus tax for head gasket replacement. I specifically asked the Honda service advisor whether the head gasket could be repaired at that time or whether anything could be done to prevent the suspected problem from progressing. I was told there was nothing that could be done at that point other than monitor the vehicle. Within weeks, multiple warning lights illuminated on my dashboard and the vehicle began experiencing significant drivability problems, including hesitation, misfiring, and loss of acceleration. The loss of acceleration was particularly concerning because the vehicle did not respond or accelerate normally while being driven. I took the vehicle to Integrity Automotive on September 25, 2025, at 208,583 miles. The engine was checked, and the ignition coils and spark plugs were replaced. Despite those repairs, the vehicle ultimately required major engine repairs on November 8, 2025, at 210,230 miles. The cylinder head gasket was replaced and the cylinder head was serviced/repaired. The fuel injectors, spark plugs, and serpentine belt were also replaced, and the cooling system and drivability/performance were checked. Only approximately 2,691 miles elapsed between the Honda dealership documenting the suspected i
2 weeks ago. All of my warnings and lights for my car came on. We undid my battery, charged it and did it again. The lights went away and about 3 days ago they came back on. Now my car is overheating and the system is reading wrong.
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.
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.
Major safety issue will lead to loss power and visual hazard for cars on road. 2018 accord 1.5 has a coolant leak in cylinder 2 and three via scope verified , shop said it needs a headgasket. It had misfire codes on scanner and shakes when start up. This will be potentially big issue if motor blows up on free way from overheating. Honda corporation won’t do a replacement for the good faith because the car has not been to “Honda” for service.
I own a 208 Honda Accord Sport 1.5L Turbo that I purchased new. At approximately 69,000 miles, the vehicle experienced a cylinder head gasket failure, allowing coolant to enter the engine. The vehicle was diagnosed by Honda dealership, which recommended replacing the cylinder head gasket, cylinder head bolts and spark plug at an estimated cost $6,500. Prior to this failure, the vehicle began overheating and warning indicators appeared. The failure resulted in the vehicle becoming unsafe to operate because continued driving could have caused severe engine damage or an unexpected loss of power. The vehicle has been maintained throughout my ownership and I have retained maintenance records. I was also informed by Honda dealership that they have seen multiple 2018 Honda accords 1.5L turbo vehicles come in with the same head gasket issue. Based in my experience, I believe this may represent a recurring defect affecting this model.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the engine temperature rose, and the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off the vehicle, and allowed the engine to cool down before restarting the vehicle, and the vehicle returned to normal operation. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Balise Honda of West Warwick (509 Quaker Ln, West Warwick, RI 02893); where it was diagnosed with a blown head gasket, which was caused by coolant leaking into the cylinders. The contact was informed that the head gasket, fuel injectors, and several other unknown parts needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown the federal safety agency Campaign; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may
- Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may
- Dealer Message
- Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient sealant adhesion on...
- Dealer Message
- Dealer Message
- Dealer Message
- Dealer Message
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2018 Honda Accord overheating
Is engine overheating a common problem on the 2018 Honda Accord?
92 of 1,900 owner complaints about the 2018 Honda Accord (5%) mention engine overheating. The model year with the most reports is 2018.
How much does it cost to fix engine overheating on the 2018 Honda Accord?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $5,000 (median of 18 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 132Loss of power 130Won't shift 95Jerking 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
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