Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2012 Honda Accord — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2013 to Dec 2019
The most reported issue is seats problems (62 complaints). 47 complaints involved crashes. 4 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (8)
NHTSA Campaign: 18V661000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles 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. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles 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 air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher 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 November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.
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: 18V042000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of 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, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Accord Crosstour, Fit and Pilot, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V, and 2010 Acura ZDX and Honda Insight vehicles ever registered in the states of 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." Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of 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 or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher 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 February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are B0K and L0J.
NHTSA Campaign: 12V030000
Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ACCORD AND CROSSTOUR VEHICLES. THE DRIVER-SIDE OR PASSENGER-SIDE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG INFLATOR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: HONDA WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG AS NEEDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 24, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 376)
Electrical System →4 issues
Your car's battery was defective and overheated, which caused the electrical wiring to catch fire while being driven. Your son noticed white smoke from under the hood before the car shut off and flames appeared, with no warning lights or alerts beforehand. The fire spread throughout the vehicle. The repair would require a complete electrical system inspection and battery replacement, along with assessment of all wiring damage.
Parts you may need:
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You purchased a 2012 Honda Accord from a dealer that showed 64,163 miles at the time of sale, but a Carfax report later revealed the actual mileage was 200,000 miles. This is odometer fraud, meaning the mileage was illegally altered before you bought the vehicle. You should contact the dealer and consider legal action or reporting this to your state's attorney general and NHTSA.
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You purchased a 2012 Honda Accord through a private sale, but discovered later that the odometer reading was fraudulent. A vehicle history report showed the actual mileage was 248,870 miles, not the 135,000 miles displayed when you bought it. You also found a crash report in the glove box that you were never told about before the sale. This is a case of odometer fraud and undisclosed accident history.
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You purchased a 2012 Honda Accord through a private sale that showed 127,699 miles at the time of purchase. When you went to trade it in at a dealer, the odometer reading was found to be 129,994 miles—a discrepancy of over 2,000 miles that suggests the odometer may have been tampered with or rolled back. This is a case of potential odometer fraud. You may want to consult with your local consumer protection agency or an attorney about your options.
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Wheels →2 issues
Your 2012 Accord's axle has broken twice in 18 months, causing the car to suddenly stop while driving — once on a road and once in a roundabout. Both times you had to be helped to safety, creating dangerous situations in traffic. The axle will need to be replaced or repaired to restore normal driving.
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While driving at 75 mph on the highway in cold weather (-20°F), your wheel nearly fell off when 3 lug bolts sheared off and 1 lug nut came loose, leaving your wheel hanging by only 1 bolt. This happened without any warning signs. On a separate occasion after a tire rotation, your lug nuts loosened again on the highway, causing wheel damage. A dealer inspection hasn't reproduced the problem, but local shops have records of these incidents.
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Unknown Or Other →2 issues
You noticed a burning smell while driving on the freeway with the air conditioning on. When you turned off the AC, you discovered your center console was on fire. You pulled over and attempted to extinguish it yourself, but were unable to do so until bystanders assisted. The cause of the fire in the center console is unknown.
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Your car was stolen while parked, and the anti-theft alarm system did not activate or alert you to the theft. You've filed a police report and are concerned that Honda vehicles, including Accords, may be vulnerable to theft due to potential issues with the anti-theft system's effectiveness. Addressing this would likely involve investigating the alarm system's sensors and triggers, or upgrading to a more robust anti-theft or GPS tracking solution.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train →2 issues
Your car's engine shut off unexpectedly while you were driving. This is a powertrain issue that needs immediate attention, as it could leave you stranded or create a safety hazard if it happens in traffic.
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Your transmission hesitates or vibrates when shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear. This fluttering sensation suggests the transmission isn't engaging smoothly during that specific shift. A transmission fluid check or service may be needed to resolve the issue.
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Engine And Engine Cooling,power Train →1 issue
While your daughter was driving and coming to a stop, she heard an abnormal sound and the car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. The driveshaft had separated and fallen off the vehicle, also damaging the oil pan. The repair involved replacing the failed driveshaft and repairing the damaged oil pan.
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Service Brakes →1 issue
Your car's VSA/ABS brake module has failed, which could cause your brakes to lock up or stop working properly—a serious safety issue that's been confirmed by your Honda dealer. Your dashboard is showing ABS, brake, and traction control warning lights. Your car has a recalled module that should be covered, even though your vehicle has 105k miles and you haven't completed every recommended service.
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Electrical System,service Brakes →1 issue
Your car's ABS (anti-lock braking) module has failed, causing the brake, ABS, and traction control warning lights to stay on. Your vehicle may not stop as it should, which is a serious safety concern. The mechanic reports this is a known issue on similar vehicles. Fixing this will likely require replacing the ABS module.
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Air Bags →1 issue
Your airbags failed to deploy during a crash. You were fortunately not seriously injured. There were no warning lights on your dashboard before the crash that would have indicated a problem with the airbag system. The vehicle was only inspected by police at the crash scene. Diagnosing this issue will require a professional airbag system inspection and diagnostic scan to determine why the system failed.
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Steering,electrical System,service Brakes →1 issue
Your ABS (anti-lock braking), traction control, and brake warning lights are all on at the same time. Two mechanics have diagnosed a faulty ABS module, which can affect how your brakes work and poses a safety risk. This shouldn't be happening on a vehicle with only 50,000 miles.
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Steering,service Brakes →1 issue
Your ABS and traction control warning lights stay on constantly, and your brake warning light won't turn off even after visiting multiple mechanics. You're having to replace your brake pads every 4-6 months instead of the normal interval, and your car keeps going out of alignment requiring repeated adjustments. Additionally, your oil needs changing every 4,000 miles, and you experienced a sudden loud noise while driving when the trunk torque rods and clips broke without warning.
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Engine And Engine Cooling →1 issue
When you start your cold engine, you hear abnormal rattling sounds and the check engine light comes on. Your engine is also leaking oil. A mechanic diagnosed that your VTC (variable timing control) solenoid, oil solenoid switch, and engine gasket need replacement. Even after these parts were replaced, the rattling noise and problem returned. The fix will involve replacing the VTC solenoid, solenoid switch, and engine gaskets, and possibly investigating why the problem recurred after the initial repair.
Parts you may need:
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Steering,electrical System,exterior Lighting →1 issue
Your car's check engine light may turn on due to low engine oil level. Your radio and climate control display may go dark or stop responding. The most serious issue is that your car won't start because the ignition switch has failed, and fuses keep blowing repeatedly. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the ignition switch and diagnosing the electrical circuit that's causing the fuses to fail.
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Suspension,unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your CV axle assembly may need replacement due to corrosion from road salt in your region, according to Honda service information. Your dealer claims they're unaware of this issue, and you're requesting escalation of this concern.
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Steering,engine →1 issue
Your car makes a rattling sound when you start it in cold conditions, but the noise disappears after a few seconds and doesn't return until the engine cools down again. Additionally, you sometimes notice your steering wheel shaking when you accelerate while driving.
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