2019 Honda Accord Hybrid

On February 21, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE22003) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, in model year 2017-2019 Honda CR-V and 2018-2019 Honda Accord vehicles.  The reports allege that activation of the AEB system occurs while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that they were aware of a total of X,XXX reports that may relate to the alleged defect. Honda provided analysis of the alleged defect and alleges that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of the CMBS and its limitations.  However, many consumer complaints allege that Honda dealerships were unable to reproduce the condition or state that they were informed that this is considered normal CMBS operation. To date, ODI has received a total of 1,294 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of CMBS in 2017-2022 Honda CR-V and 2018-2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A total of 31 complaints alleged a crash and 50 alleged an injury.  The Total column in the Failure Report Summary removes duplicate reports and shows the total number of reports with unique VINs from all Manufacturer, ODI, and EWR data sources.  In some cases, there were multiple reports associated with a particular vehicle in which recurring failures were alleged.  In total, there were X,XXX reports, 93 injury incidents and 47 crashes involving vehicles with unique VINs that may relate to the alleged defect. PE22-003 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the inadvertent AEB activations. The scope has been expanded to include assessment of model year 2020-2022 Honda CR-V and Accord vehicles. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

Vehicle stalled and had a power system failure requiring driver to pull off to the side of a road that blocked traffic. The acceleration/drive function no longer worked. The vehicle displayed a POWER SYSTEM PROBLEM message on the dashboard and showed "DO NOT DRIVE". Vehicle was towed to HONDA dealership and they confirmed the fuel pump needs to be replaced. The vehicle had a replacement of the fuel pump in 2022 as part of a prior recall, but the same component is responsible for this situation four years later. Dealership is quoting $1,931 for repairs and Honda America is refusing to cover repair as they claim the 2022 replacement is not related to this incident. They will not confirm whether the parts supplier in 2022 were changed to account for the expanded recall that is part of an ongoing lawsuit settled in 2026 (to be determined when finalized).

NHTSA ID

11765917

Incident

Sep 20, 2026

The vehicle has a documented, severe manufacturing defect involving a cylinder head gasket leak under Honda Service Bulletin 26-006. A certified technician at Honda East Cincinnati confirmed the head gasket leak in writing on September 9, 2026. Prior to this, an independent facility pulled code P0302 (Cylinder 2 Misfire) and used a digital borescope to capture video proof of liquid coolant pooling inside Cylinder #2. Despite written documentation from both facilities confirming an active internal engine leak, American Honda Corporate and the dealership are refusing to honor the warranty extension. They are requiring me to continue driving an unstable vehicle until it actively throws a code on a proprietary dealership scanner. Forcing a consumer to drive a vehicle with a known, documented internal coolant leak risks sudden engine seizure, overheating, and catastrophic stalling on public highways, creating a severe and preventable crash hazard.

NHTSA ID

11763151

Incident

Sep 9, 2026

Head gasket blown on engine. Burned off coolant so no leaks detected and just showed high temperature to pull over and let engine cool. Could have cause engine fire and/or disabled vehicle while on road. Very expensive fix and dealers who were contacted said they’ve had multiple vehicles repaired for same issue. Online is widely reported problem with this make and model and among the different trim types all same problems

NHTSA ID

11745966

Incident

Nov 10, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed the vehilce intermediately misfired due to oil leak. No warning lights were illuminated The vehicle was taken to the local where it was diagnosed the head gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

NHTSA ID

11736267

Incident

Mar 12, 2026

Mileage

136,000 mi

Vehicle was being driven on the highway when suddenly engine hesitated and started stalling. Speed was reduced from around 65MPH down to the low 40s. Cars were stacking up behind and passing, causing potential hazardous conditions. Vehicle was taken to a mechanic shop and diagnosed with misfiring, after reading OBD II with many alerts coming on. Further diagnostics revealed cylinder head gasket was leaking coolant into engine, as shown by borescope images. This is a known problem on 2018-2020 Honda Accords with both 1.5T & 2.0 engines. The multiple alert messages started to come on a few weeks ago, but the engine hesitation and stalling just started this week. At first we suspected a 12V battery issue, but testing confirmed battery was at 12.8V with no issues.

NHTSA ID

11735893

Incident

May 5, 2026

head gasket failure with less than 80,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11726690

Incident

Mar 20, 2026

1. Component: The engine head gasket and the combustion system (specifically Cylinder 2). Specifics: A leak-down test confirmed a failure in Cylinder 2, leading to coolant intrusion. This was initially masked by a water pump code, but after the water pump was replaced and the code returned, a borescope confirmed "clean" pistons (steam-cleaned by coolant) and tap scarring. Availability: Yes, the vehicle and all diagnostic records are available for inspection. 2. Emergency Maneuvers: On multiple occasions, the car entered "Limp Mode" while driving 70–75 mph on the freeway. This caused a sudden, dangerous drop in speed, forcing me to maneuver through high-speed traffic to reach the median/suicide lane. Stranded: The vehicle overheated 5 times in one trip, leaving me vulnerable on the side of a busy freeway. 3. Yes. An independent shop confirmed the failure via a leak-down test, a borescope inspection, and physical analysis of the spark plugs. They confirmed that despite the computer throwing a water pump code, the mechanical failure is the head gasket. 4.Status: It has been inspected by an independent service center. I am now using their findings to pursue a lawsuit/claim against Honda for selling a vehicle with a pre-existing internal engine defect. 5. Timeline: Symptoms began in April 2024 (two months after purchase). Initial Signs: An "Emission System" warning light appeared. The diagnostic code indicated a water pump failure, which was replaced in April. Recurring Symptoms: In November, the car suffered multiple misfires and "Limp Mode." In March, the "Emission System" light and the same water pump code returned, but the shop confirmed the pump was functional and the true cause was the head gasket leak into the cylinders.

NHTSA ID

11723059

Incident

Apr 11, 2025

Description of Incident: 1. Component/System Failure: The engine cooling system and head gasket failed. A certified shop has confirmed coolant intrusion and a failed leak-down test on Cylinder 2. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety Risk: My safety and the safety of my family and other drivers were put at extreme risk. On March 1, 2026, the vehicle suffered a sudden loss of motive power while traveling at 70 MPH on the freeway. The car dropped to 15 MPH instantly, forcing me to maneuver across active lanes to a narrow shoulder with almost no space. I was nearly hit by high-speed traffic. This has occurred over 8 times since 2023. 3. Confirmation by Service Center: The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by an independent service center On Site Lube Auto & Tire. They utilized a borescope and leak-down test to verify the internal engine failure. 4. Inspections: The vehicle has been inspected by a certified independent technician. I am in the process of notifying the manufacturer (Honda) of these findings for their inspection and accountability. 5. Warning Lamps & Symptoms: Prior to the total power loss, the vehicle displayed engine temperature warnings and "check engine" lights. These symptoms first appeared approximately 8 months after purchase in 2023 and have progressively worsened, leading to the current engine failure. 6. Additional Notes: This failure is identical to issues cited in active class-action lawsuits regarding Honda's engine defects, affecting both standard and Hybrid models. I am communicating via written report/email for documentation and accessibility purposes.

NHTSA ID

11722489

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

Dealer Message - On August 21st, 2026, American Honda issued a Product Update for certain 2018-2022 Accord and Accord Hybrid models that received the accessory Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto upgrade. Refer to Service Bulletin 26-068 for additional information regarding the Product Update.

Owner Notification Letter - Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver experience by modifying the circumstances when the advanced driver assist system (ADAS) decelerates the vehicle or the extent of deceleration. The software covers Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM).

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.

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.

Service Bulletin - On certain 2018-2022 Accord and 2018-22 Accord Hybrid vehicles equipped with the Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto software upgrade, a programming issue within the Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto software may cause an invalid "License Authentication Error" message to appear on the display audio screen after approximately 1,500 ignition ON/OFF cycles.

Service Bulletin - Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver experience by modifying the circumstances when the advanced driver assist system (ADAS) decelerates the vehicle or the extent of deceleration. The software covers Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM).