Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2008 Honda Accord — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2010 to Dec 2015
The most reported issue is service brakes, hydraulic problems (424 complaints). 61 complaints involved crashes. 13 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (9)
NHTSA Campaign: 18V268000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V502000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V378000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
NHTSA Campaign: 17V545000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
Risk: In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are O07, Y0A, N06, G05, M04, Y01, and O09.
NHTSA Campaign: 17V030000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Fit and Pilot, 2008-2009 Honda Accord, 2006-2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, and 2007-2009 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KE1 and KE2.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V056000
Component: AIR BAGS
American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Accord vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Risk: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control units, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in Fall 2016. Interim notifications have been mailed to owners on March 15, 2016, and a second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JW9. Note: This recall supersedes Recall 15V665.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V346000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless already included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic GX, and 2007-2008 CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is KA4, KA5, KA6, and KA7.
NHTSA Campaign: 11V395000
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 ACCORD, 2007-2010 CR-V, AND 2005-2008 ELEMENT PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2004, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3, 2010. THE OUTER RACE OF THE SECONDARY SHAFT BEARING MAY BE BROKEN DURING CERTAIN DRIVING STYLES. A BROKEN OUTER RACE MAY CAUSE ABNORMAL NOISE, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO TURN ON, AND ALLOW CONTACT BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION IDLE GEAR AND AN ELECTRONIC SENSOR HOUSING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. ADDITIONALLY, BROKEN PIECES OF THE OUTER RACE OR BALL BEARING FROM THE SECONDARY SHAFT MAY BECOME LODGED IN THE PARKING PAWL RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AFTER THE DRIVER HAS PLACED THE GEAR SELECTOR IN THE PARK POSITION. ENGINE STALL AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO PERSONS WITHIN THE PATH OF A ROLLING VEHICLE.
Fix: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AUTOMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA Campaign: 09E063000
Component: EQUIPMENT
HONDA IS RECALLING AFTERMARKET FULL NOSE MASKS, PART NUMBER 08P35-TA0-100 AND 08P35-TA6-100 MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 9, 2007 THROUGH DECEMBER 11, 2007. THE ACCESSORY WAS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 HONDA ACCORD 4-DOOR VEHICLES. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE NOSE MASK MATERIAL TO INTERFERE WITH PART OF THE HOOD LATCH. IF THE HOOD HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETELY CLOSED AND THE NOSE MASK INTERFERES WITH THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MECHANISM THE HOOD MAY POP OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN.
Risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY THAT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: HONDA IS ASKING OWNERS TO PLEASE REMOVE THE NOSE MASK IMMEDIATELY AND CALL ANY AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RETURN THE NOSE MASK AND HAVE IT REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 1515)
Engine →4 issues
Your 2008 Honda Accord caught fire in the engine compartment shortly after you parked it in your driveway. You noticed an abnormal smoke odor and saw sparks coming from under the hood before the fire spread from the engine area toward the dashboard. The fire department had to extinguish the flames, and the vehicle was deemed a total loss by your insurance company. This issue may require a complete engine and electrical system inspection to identify what caused the sparks and fire.
Parts you may need:
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Your engine makes a grinding noise when you start it in cold weather. This is caused by a failure in the Variable Timing Control (VTC) system, which is a known issue affecting 2008 Honda Accords. The repair will likely involve replacing or servicing the VTC actuator and related components.
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Your car makes a loud rattling noise when you start it in the cold, and recently this noise has been taking longer to go away. This is a common issue with older engines that may indicate worn internal components or a problem with the timing chain.
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Your engine makes a rattling noise when you start it in cold weather. This issue has been reported by many owners of 2008 Honda Accord sedans. The noise typically occurs during cold starts and may indicate a problem with internal engine components that need inspection and repair by a Honda dealer.
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Air Bags →3 issues
Your car's driver-side front airbag impact sensor isn't sending a signal that can be detected by diagnostic scanning equipment. This means the airbag system may not deploy properly in a frontal collision. The issue will likely require inspection and replacement of the faulty impact sensor.
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Your car has a recalled airbag issue that Honda says needs to be fixed. The dealership can complete the repair in a few hours, but they won't provide a loaner vehicle while the work is done—you'd need to rent one at your own expense or arrange other transportation. Since this is a safety recall, you shouldn't have to pay out-of-pocket costs for repairs or lose income due to the repair appointment.
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Your driver's side airbag is subject to a recall but hasn't been replaced yet. You haven't experienced any problems so far, and your dashboard warning lights aren't illuminated. The dealer is scheduled to inspect and confirm the issue on 2/18/2023. The fix will involve having the dealer replace your driver's side airbag as part of the recall service.
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Unknown Or Other →3 issues
Your car caught fire near the passenger front wheel while parked in front of your home. The fire department was unable to determine the cause before the fire consumed the vehicle. Despite the car's age (13 years) and regular maintenance, this represents a serious fire risk that could have endangered your home and safety. Diagnosing the fire cause would likely require inspection of electrical wiring, fuel system components, and engine bay for signs of malfunction or damage.
Parts you may need:
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Your car has three unaddressed safety recalls that were identified at the DMV. These recalls involve the airbag system (SRS), a nose mask component, and a secondary shaft issue on your 2008 Honda Accord. You should contact a Honda dealership to have these recalls serviced at no cost to ensure your vehicle meets safety standards.
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You took your 2008 Honda Accord to a Honda dealership for a recall service, but the dealer refused to perform the work. The dealer claimed the recall only applied to new vehicles that came with a nose mask, without checking your car's VIN or verifying whether your specific vehicle was actually covered by the recall. This may leave you unable to get recall service completed at that location.
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Electrical System →2 issues
While driving on the highway, you smelled a burning odor coming through the air vents, and then fire appeared from under the hood on the driver's side. You pulled over and tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, but it didn't work—the fire department had to extinguish it. The source of the fire was never determined, and your vehicle was declared a total loss. The electrical system may have had a short circuit or wiring issue that caused the fire.
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You discovered a major mileage discrepancy with your 2008 Honda Accord after purchase. The odometer showed 109,363 miles when you bought it, but when you went to register it, the actual mileage was found to be 203,684 miles — a difference of over 94,000 miles. This suggests the odometer may have been tampered with or rolled back before the sale. You may need to work with your state's motor vehicle department and consider legal action against the seller.
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Service Brakes →2 issues
Your brake pads are wearing out much faster than expected. You've had to replace them three times despite the car only having 57,000 miles, suggesting the brakes may be undersized for your driving conditions or vehicle weight. A mechanic can inspect your braking system to determine if there's an underlying issue causing premature wear, such as caliper problems, misalignment, or defective components.
Parts you may need:
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Your ABS and traction control warning lights may come on due to a faulty ABS module, even though your brakes may still work. This is a widespread issue on 2008-2009 Honda Accords where the circuit board inside the module uses incorrect wiring that can fail even from something like an automated car wash. Honda dealerships charge around $2,500 to replace the module, and this is considered a safety concern since reliable braking is essential. The fix would involve replacing the ABS module with a properly engineered one.
Parts you may need:
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Seat Belts,service Brakes →1 issue
Your seat belt appears to be defective. You should have a technician inspect the seat belt system to identify what's wrong and determine whether it needs adjustment, repair, or replacement to ensure it functions properly in a crash.
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Electrical System,engine →1 issue
Your parked and turned-off Accord caught fire under the hood while sitting in your driveway, with flames and burning particles shooting out. The fire spread significantly, melting the front end of the vehicle, and required the fire department to extinguish it. The vehicle was a total loss. This involved both electrical and engine components, though the exact cause would require investigation by a mechanic or fire investigator.
Parts you may need:
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Suspension,air Bags,wheels →1 issue
After Honda fixed your airbag under warranty, the airbag warning light came back on. You're also seeing warning lights for automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance systems. The dealer may need to diagnose the airbag system again to find out why the warning light returned after the repair.
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Service Brakes,engine →1 issue
Your ABS (anti-lock brake) system has been acting unusual for several months. Additionally, your engine is showing a P3497 diagnostic code that has triggered your check engine light to come on. Getting both the ABS system and engine code diagnosed by a mechanic is recommended to identify the underlying issues.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train,exterior Lighting,unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your car is experiencing an issue involving the powertrain (engine/transmission), exterior lighting, or another component, but the specific problem wasn't clearly identified in the report. Without more details about what you're noticing, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly what needs attention. You should have a mechanic diagnose the issue to determine what repair might be needed.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train,air Bags,fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
The owner reported issues involving the powertrain, airbags, and fuel system, but did not provide specific details about what is actually malfunctioning. Without more information about the symptoms or problems experienced, it's unclear what repair may be needed.
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