2018 Honda Accord engine problems
607 of the 1,998 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Accord name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 75 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database7 of the 607 reports a crash · 3 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 15 · 2019: 19 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 15 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 29 · 2024: 106 · 2025: 194 · 2026: 198
Half of the 122 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 13,000 and 106,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,998 complaints in all about the 2018 Honda Accord, 198 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Honda Accord engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The engine head gasket failed due to design flows. I have to put coolants and oil on a daily basis to keep the car running to avoid overheating
Subject: Safety Complaint – Premature Head Gasket Failure in 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid (VIN: ) Dear NHTSA Representative, I am submitting this letter as a formal complaint regarding a serious and premature mechanical failure in my 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid (VIN: ).
About two weeks ago, I could have been killed on the New York State Thruway when my 2018 Honda Accord suddenly lost all power. One moment, I was driving normally—then, without warning, my check engine light came on, I had zero ability to accelerate and was forced to pull over as my car rapidly lost speed.
Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected) stored. Experience engine running rough. - There are multiple misfiring cylinders. available for inspection upon request.
Engine overheated and turns out we have a blown head gasket. The problem escalated quickly from and "your engine may be warm" messages to "Do not drive!" messages. We tried to stop and cool it off when that message happened.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications75 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- A26-006 Service bulletinSep 25, 2026
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire. In some cases, DTCs P0300 through P0304 may also be stored (DTCs are not required for repair).
- A26-004 Service bulletinSep 25, 2026
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire. In some cases, DTCs P0300 through P0304 may also be stored (DTCs are not required for repair).
- A26-003 Service bulletinSep 25, 2026
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, and/or misfire. In some cases, DTCs P0300 through P0304 may also be stored (DTCs are not required for repair).
- AEBM08262026901 OtherAug 26, 2026
- Dealer Message - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire, and/or DTCs P0300 through P0304 stored.
- A26-006 Service bulletinAug 26, 2026
- Service Bulletin - Under certain conditions, the cylinder head gasket effectiveness may be reduced which may cause vehicles to experience overheating, coolant loss, misfire and/or DTCs P0300 thru P0304 stored.
The 5 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0172 P0304 P0300 P0301 P0303 P0302 P0A80 P0299
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Honda Accord names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Honda Accord
Source: the same files- fuel system problems 495 complaints
- automatic emergency braking problems 458 complaints
- electrical problems 313 complaints
- brake problems 271 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2018 Honda Accord?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 607 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (30% of everything owners filed about it), and 75 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2018 Honda Accord?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 6 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2018 Honda Accord?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 70,000 miles; half of them between 13,000 and 106,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.