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Honda Accord engine failure problems

257 of the 24,243 owner complaints about the Honda Accord describe engine failure, most of them for the 2018 model year.

owner complaints
257
worst model year
2018
typical repair cost reported
$4,000
typical mileage
79,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

Often reported together

Check engine light 37Stalling 31Misfire 27Loss of power 27Steering lock-up 26Overheating 26Oil consumption 19Fuel pump 13

Trouble codes mentioned

P0303 3P0087 2P2651 1P0304 1P0301 1P0300 1P0299 1P023D 1P0113 1P0100 1

What owners say

Filed Oct 7, 2026 · Transmission · AL

I attempted to contact McConnell Honda in montgomery alabama; which is now Cannon Honda Montgomery about my 2006 Honda accord v6. To my understanding there was a recall for the power steering feed hose. I don't recall being contacted when the recall was issued. My last attempts to get my car scheduled was October 2, 2026 and October 3,2026. Now the pump has seized and broken my drive belt. I need assistance with getting clarification about the time frame of issued recalls being fixed by dealership /Honda certified shop. The failure of pump now caused another issue. My car now is inoperable.

Filed Sep 11, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NC

1>Engine failure: Around the time vehicle reached 148,000 miles on it, it blew a head gasket on cylinder 2. Coolant was in the cylinders. The vehicle would not accelerate and was misfiring. 2> Safety was affected as this occured on interstate 40 and caused the vehicle to slow to an unsafe speed. 3>Problem was confirmed by Morganton Honda- Morganton NC. 4> Check engine light.

Filed Aug 22, 2026 · Engine · MO

Turbo has gone out and it's several thousand dollars to get fixed and will eventually affect the overall lifespan and performance of the engine if not repaired in a timely enough fashion. There is no recall for this specific issues even though thousands of Honda Accord owners are dealing with the same failure/repair and there are no offers of goodwill assistance from the dealership or manufacturer. The dealership assured that engine failure is inevitable without a turbo replacement and they can't determine the extent of the damage that's already been done to the engine since the turbo showed signs of failure.

Filed Aug 4, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · 72,281 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power and went into LIMP Mode, and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the failure was initially misdiagnosed. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer a second time, and the dealer discovered that the battery and fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was later diagnosed, and it was determined that a gasket had failed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 72,281.

Filed Jul 30, 2026 · Steering · 79,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2024 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the electronic power steering seized, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The contact depressed the brake pedal and stopped the vehicle. The vehicle failed to return to normal operation. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic power steering module had malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

Filed Jul 29, 2026 · Engine · CT

At roughly 83,000 miles, my 2018 Honda Accord 1.5Lt experienced a major engine failure caused by a blown head gasket. At the time of the failure, I was driving on a major road. While accelerating, the vehicle had "bucked" forward, which triggered the engine light to flash at which time the vehicle had no longer responded to me pushing on the gas pedal. This caused a major safety issue as I then had to get off of the road to avoid collisions with other vehicles. I immediately brought the car to a Honda dealership, who confirmed that the head gasket needed to be replaced. There were no prior indications that the vehicle had any issues.

Filed Jul 7, 2026 · Steering · 10,500 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2025 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH on a highway, the steering wheel seized, resulting in a loss of steering control. The contact was able to pull the vehicle onto the shoulder and then drove off the highway to a gas station, where the vehicle was towed. The contact stated that the power steering warning light, the brake warning light, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering rack had failed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no response was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 10,500.

Filed Jun 29, 2026 · Engine · CA

Two premature blown head gaskets and warped cylinder heads, the first at 95,000 miles, while driving on the freeway the car started to shake and all warnings lights came on, luckily I was not far from the dealership and took it right in. The second at 137,000 miles. The first repair was done at Honda of Concord dealership and was covered under the extended warranty. Warranty has since expired and the issue has happened again. This time Honda is recommending that I replace the engine, while denying my request for a goodwill repair. The dealership quoted me $10,000 for repair, and my car is maybe worth only $13,000. Honda knows that there's a design flaw with the 1.5L engines, but won't take any accountability for it.

Filed Jun 26, 2026 · Engine · NY

I own a 2018 Honda Accord. While driving 30 MPH the vehicle experienced head gasket failure/engine failure-trouble. The vehicle lost automotive power and decelerated to 5 MPH. I was able to drive safely. The engine light was illuminated as well as all dashboard lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic immediately, where it was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinders #2 a computer code malfunction, and then taken to dealer immediately from there. Dealer ran and found same code. found a blown head gasket. (Charging me a diagnostic code for same reading.) The vehicle was repaired privately as dealer wanted more than $1000. more to do the work. The manufacturer was contacted and assisted with the cost of the repair. The manufacturer confirmed there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle. I am out $4524.66 in repairs due to an issue that Honda is aware of and had done nothing to rectify.

Filed Jun 24, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · CA

Vehicle: 2019 Honda Accord Sport 1.5L VIN: [XXX] Mileage: Approximately 122,497 My vehicle experienced a cylinder head gasket failure accompanied by coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, injector-related issues, fuel trim failures, and cylinder misfires as diagnosed by an authorized Honda dealership. Prior to diagnosis, the vehicle experienced engine performance concerns associated with the misfire condition. The dealership documented historical misfire events and coolant intrusion into the combustion chambers. I am submitting this complaint because I am concerned that injector-related issues, engine misfires, coolant intrusion, and cylinder head gasket failures may represent a recurring condition affecting similarly equipped vehicles. Engine misfires and coolant intrusion can potentially result in reduced engine performance, loss of power, unexpected vehicle behavior, or engine failure while the vehicle is being operated. I request that the federal safety agency review this issue and determine whether a broader investigation is warranted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: engineReported March 2, 2015 · 137 vehicles affected
What is wrong
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Accord L4 vehicles manufactured July 29, 2014, to July 31, 2014, 2015 Accord L4 vehicles manufactured August 14, 2014, to January 30, 2015, and 2015 CR-V vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to February 6, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been assembled with improperly torqued connecting rod bolts, which can cause the engine to lose power or leak oil.
Risk
Loss of engine power may result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine leaks oil in the proximity of hot engine or exhaust components, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine short block, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's number for this recall is JP2 (for Accord models) and JP3 (for CR-V models).

Recall number 15V121000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: engineReported August 28, 2002 · 17,551 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain minivans, sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles equipped with v6 engines, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned and could cause the timing belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head. Eventually the belt could be damaged and fail.
Risk
If the timing belt breaks, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the water pump and if it is one of the defective pumps, the water pump and timing belt will be replaced. Owner notification began august 30, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009 or acura at 1‑800‑382‑2238.

Recall number 02V226000 · Recall details

Questions about the Honda Accord engine failure

Which Honda Accord years have engine failure problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2018 (50 complaints), 2008 (22 complaints) and 2013 (21 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix engine failure on the Honda Accord?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $4,000 (median of 38 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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