Honda Accord engine problems, 2016–2026
1,173 of the 5,524 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Honda Accord 2016–2026 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2018 (607), 2019 (220), 2020 (79). Filed under the same heading across these years: 10 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Honda Accord engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 10% | — | 7 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 3 | 3% | — | 12 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 20 | 9% | — | 19 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 42 | 19% | — | 27 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 38 | 12% | — | 42 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 49 | 17% | — | 58 TSBs | the year → |
| 2020 in depth | 79 | 20% | 40k | 81 TSBs | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 220 | 28% | 79k | 81 TSBs | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 607 | 30% | 70k | 75 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 68 | 12% | 39k | 13 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 | 46 | 8% | 37k | 23 TSBs | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2015: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 19 · 2019: 39 · 2020: 35 · 2021: 39 · 2022: 49 · 2023: 65 · 2024: 185 · 2025: 353 · 2026: 380
Across the model years, half of the 256 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 12,000 and 100,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. 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: ).
On January 22, 2025, I was driving at highway speed and suddenly my car seemed to lag in power. It slowed from about 60mph to 40mph and pressing on the gas did not do anything. The Check Engine light began flashing. I felt like it would continue to slow down and it was rush hour. I managed to safely exit the freeway and parked the car.
Engine light came on. First time this has happened. Took car immediately to Honda Dealer for inspection of engine light. Was informed that the car had a blown head gasket. Car only had 116000 miles. Car was taken to same dealer where purchased, and serviced constantly. Not once were we notified of any issue with the engine
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.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications10 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Sep 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).
- Sep 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).
- Sep 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).
- Sep 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).
- Sep 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).
- Aug 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.
- Jul 24, 2026
- Service Bulletin - To better manage engine temperatures, a PGM-FI update has been developed to optimize electric water pump operation.
- Jul 24, 2026
- Dealer Message - To help improve engine temperatures, a software update has been developed for the electric water pump to optimize its operation.
The 8 newest are listed; each model year’s page lists every one filed on that year. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Honda Accord
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Honda Accord problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Honda Accord years have the most engine complaints?
2018, 607; 2019, 220; 2020, 79. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2018 (30%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Honda Accord?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the Honda Accord?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 59,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 12,000 and 100,000. 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.