While vehicle was parked and turned off, the wiring underneath the passenger seat caught fire. The fire damaged the seat, wiring, flooring, and mats.
Honda Accord fire or smoke problems
207 of the 24,243 owner complaints about the Honda Accord describe fire, smoke or burning smell, most of them for the 2003 model year.
- owner complaints
- 207
- worst model year
- 2003
- typical repair cost reported
- $750
- typical mileage
- 69,000
Is there a fix? There are 8 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Stalling 8Oil consumption 7Engine failure 7Transmission failure 6Overheating 6Fuel pump 5Door locks 5Check engine light 5
What owners say
I wasn’t driving in my batteries started to smoke and smell burning bad!!
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, smoke started coming from underneath the front driver’s side seat. The contact looked down and became aware that the front driver’s side seat belt anchor had caught fire. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had been involved in a crash prior to the fire, and the front passenger’s side of the vehicle had crashed into rear left door of another vehicle. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was needed. The contact exited the vehicle and contacted the local Fire Department. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
My vehicle started stalling and shaking right before all of the warning lights on my dashboard came on and the safety features stopped working (brake assist, brake hold etc). After checking, the spark plugs were all burnt out so I changed it along with the coil pack and this remedied the issue temporarily until it happened again a few weeks later. This time, I was on the highway going at around 55mph when the car suddenly started stalling and the speed dropped to 10mph. Luckily, I was in the right lane and had no cars behind me because it would've caused an accident. I pulled over to the side of the highway, shut the car off for 15 minutes and then took the nearest exit with my hazard lights on, going at around 10 mph. I took my car to the dealership and they stated that I need a new head gasket which will cost me from $5,000 to $9,000. After doing research, there are hundreds of other Honda's which are experiencing this same issue. Currently, the condition is worsening as the car is shaking abruptly and I am not able to drive over 30mph. I also experienced a burning smell.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle, and a fuel odor was entering the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle immediately stopped. The contact activated the hazard lights until a tow truck was able to arrive on scene to tow the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the head gasket was blown and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was no longer operable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure. My family was out of town, when the fire occurred. However, the neighbors were home and their home also sustained some damage. My home was a total loss. On June 16, 2026 I received a call while out of town that my home was on fire and it was a total loss. Statements from the neighbors and fire marshal were that the garage was on fire and then spread to the rest of the home. The only thing in the garage that could have started the fire was my Hybrid vehicle.
My car had extended crank, shaking/jerking while driving, engine failed and cut off in traffic. Tried to restart extended crank, still shaking/jerking while driving, sparking in the engine and engine failed and cut off in traffic. I was terrified didn't know if the car was going to be on fire when I heard the spark in the engine on the highway. Not only did this failure of the part put myself in danger but others on the road in danger as well. Other drivers was trying to get around me without causing an accident especially when my car was shaking/jerking. I had my car towed to the Honda dealership service center. The technician called and told me my fuel pump had failed.
Purchased a car from JKJ Auto on 01/17/2026 for $5000 + tax. Car was sold "as-is" with no dealer warranty. Vehile was only driven for 12 days before the car caught fire while my son was driving to school. He was trapped inside until a person ran over to help him out of the car. Police came to the scene and towed the vehicle. It was later examined by DSM Auto Repair who deduced that the battery was defective and overheated. This caused all other electrical cables to ignite along with the rest of the car. There were no warning lamps, messages or audio alerts. My son first noticed when there was white smoke coming from the hood as the car shut off, followed shortly by flames.
The engine cylinder head developed a crack causing coolant leak, causing the coolant system to lose fluid. The leak originated from a hairline crack in the cylinder head, which has been confirmed by an independent, certified mechanic. The vehicle remained drivable initially, but a loss of coolant could lead to engine overheating, and catch on fire or smoke creating a potential safety hazard for the driver and others on the road. The vehicle was inspected at an authorized dealership at the direction of the manufacturer, which performed a teardown to diagnose the issue. After this inspection, additional engine components (timing chain and head gasket) were identified as damaged, though these failures were not present prior to the teardown. Other users facing similar leak issues were treated the same by dealership blaming other component issue and disregarding the visible crack. This defect appears to affect multiple vehicles of the same engine, as reported by other owners nationwide. Warning signs included coolant loss, which could escalate into a larger safety risk if not addressed. I have attached few user complains but if needed I can provide lot more user complaints around the nation as it is never ending.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the contact started the vehicle, and the vehicle shut off independently. The “Maintenance Required” message was displayed. The contact stated there was smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle, and several minutes later, the smoke dissipated. The contact stated that a technician from the Auto Care Department at Walmart inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the positive and negative battery terminals were burned and damaged, as well as a wire near the engine. The technician from Walmart used a diagnostic machine to diagnose the vehicle however, the result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 238,000.
Related recalls
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Honda Accord vehicles. The case for the battery sensor, part of the battery management system, may allow water to get in, potentially causing an electrical short.
- Risk
- An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensor, free of charge. Dealers will perform an interim remedy of applying adhesive to the case to prevent water intrusion. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support Center at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's number for this recall is KG0.
Recall number 17V418000 · Recall details
Electrical system
- What is wrong
- Honda is recalling certain model year 2010 honda accord and cr-v vehicles. There is a potential failure with the engine wiring harness connector which may cause intermittent spark firing or the engine to stall.
- Risk
- An engine stall will increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealer will inspect and replace the ignition wiring harness connector free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before january 24, 2011. Owners may contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009.
Recall number 11V004000 · Recall details
Electrical system: ignition
- What is wrong
- Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 honda accord, civic two and four door, and model year 2003-2004 honda element vehicles. The interlock lever of the ignition switch may unexpectedly deform, which can allow the interlock function of a vehicle with an automatic transmission to be defeated.
- Risk
- Removal of the ignition key when the gear selector of a vehicle with an automatic transmission has not been shifted to the park position can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will remove the original interlock pin and lever within the ignition switch, and replace them with new, designed components. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 7, 2010. Owners may contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009.
Recall number 10V364000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, a loose terminal in the main fuse box may cause the fuel pump to lose power. If the fuel pump becomes inoperative, the engine may not start.
- Risk
- If the fuel pump loses power while driving the engine could stall without warning which could result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the entire fuse box free of charge. The recall began on april 13, 2005. Owners may contact honda at 800‑999‑1009 or acura at 1‑800‑382‑2238.
Recall number 05V132000 · Recall details
Electrical system: ignition: switch
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, the interlock operation of the ignition switch may not function properly, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the "off" position and remove the key without shifting the transmission to park.
- Risk
- If the driver does not shift to park before removing the key and fails to engage the parking brake, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will perform an inspection procedure that confirms interlock function. Vehicles will be updated with a redesigned interlock lever free of charge. The recall began on march 7, 2005. Owners may contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009 or acura at 1‑800‑382‑2238.
Recall number 05V025000 · Recall details
Electrical system: ignition: switch
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles and mini vans, the ignition switch may wear excessively and prevent proper interlock operation, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the "off" position and remove the key without shifting the transmission to "park."
- Risk
- If the vehicle operator does not shift to "park" before removing the key and fails to engage the parking brake, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will perform an inspection procedure that determines the amount of cylinder body wear. If significant wear is indicated, the dealer will replace the cylinder body, collar, and latch plate. If no signs of wear are indicated, dealers will replace the latch plate with a redesigned part. Owner notification began december 8, 2003. Owners should contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009 or acura at 1‑800‑382‑2238.
Recall number 03V423000 · Recall details
Electrical system: ignition: switch
- What is wrong
- On certain sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and sport utility vehicles, electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is started.
- Risk
- Worn contacts could cause the engine to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the ignition switch. Owner notification began june 14, 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 02V120000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: sedan, coupe and wagon passenger vehicles except the dx model and models with v6 engines. The factory installed air conditioner wire harness was improperly routed allowing some wires to rub against each other, eventually causing a short circuit.
- Risk
- The short circuit canpossibly cause the underhood wireing to overheat and smoke, causing a fire in the engine compartment. A short circuit can also result in a blown fuse or dead battery.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the vehicles for proper routing of these wires. Any harness improperly routed will be inspected for damage and the routing will be corrected. If any insulation is worn through and the copper wires are exposed, the harness will be replaced. Dealers will also install plastic tubing to protect the harness.
Recall number 98V231000 · Recall details
Questions about the Honda Accord fire or smoke
Which Honda Accord years have fire, smoke or burning smell problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2003 (21 complaints), 2004 (15 complaints) and 2006 (13 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix fire, smoke or burning smell on the Honda Accord?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $750 (median of 20 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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