2020 Honda Accord engine problems
79 of the 401 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Honda Accord name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 81 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 database0 of the 79 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2020: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 24 · 2026: 26
Half of the 21 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 11,000 and 86,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
401 complaints in all about the 2020 Honda Accord, 26 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 failed catastrophically. White smoke out of the exhaust at 145,000 miles. Dealer checked out the car and they initially though it was a head gasket failure. After taking the engine head off, it turns out it was a 'structural defect' (verbatim words from the mechanic), which was a divot in the engine block.
Five times the past year, while driving on the freeway, the first incident I cannot remember, but I do know that the other four incidents were on a slight incline. The car acted as if it wasn’t getting enough gas and slowed down and was shaking. Giving gas would not help, and it kept slowing down.
My car is a hybrid. At times, a Very loud humming noise is produced, due to glitch in software with the ANC. Noise starts and stops suddenly, intermittently, without warning, and is a safety hazard. Noise can build to be extremely loud and jarring, and can last for several minutes.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated while entering a parking lot at 10 MPH, he started to hear an abnormal noise. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact continued driving the vehicle but shortly after the drive shaft fractured. The vehicle was not drivable.
While travelling at highway speeds, rainy weather, the engine completely shut down. Engine light illuminated. Did not want to pull over on shoulder so glided to exit ramp. Turned vehicle off and then restarted with no issues. Drove approximately 150 miles to nearest Honda dealer.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications81 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 P0087 P0300 P0304 P0301 P0420 P0299 P0302
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2020 Honda Accord names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2020 Honda Accord
Source: the same files- automatic emergency braking problems 150 complaints
- fuel system problems 66 complaints
- brake problems 62 complaints
- electrical problems 62 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2020 Honda Accord?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 79 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (20% of everything owners filed about it), and 81 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 2020 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 2020 Honda Accord?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 40,000 miles; half of them between 11,000 and 86,000. 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.