2008 Honda Accord Exterior lighting Problems

Unknown

NHTSA ID

11583822

Incident

Apr 18, 2024

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ON A TRIP AND I DIDN'T REALIZE IT, BUT PEOPLE KEPT FLASHING US AND I DID NOT HAVE MY LIGHTS ON. WHEN WE PULLED OVER, MY HUSBAND COULD NOT GET OUT OF HIS SIDE OF THE DOOR. IT WOULD NOT OPEN. WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY, ON A COLD RAINY DAY AND VISIBILITY WAS BAD, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE LIGHTS, OR DEFROSTER WORK PROPERLY PUT US IN A HAZARDOUS POSITION. LATER I FOUND OUT AS I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WAS THAT OUR FUSE BOX WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, AND THE LIGHTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE ONLY AND THE DOOR AND THE DEFROSTER WERE NOT WORKING. IT COST ME $951.09 TO GET THIS REPAIRED ON MY 2008 HONDA ACCORD. I THINK WHEN PEOPLE GET IN A CAR, AND DRIVE IT ESPECIALLY IN HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS, EVERYTHING SHOULD WORK PROPERLY. I DID SEE ON SEVERAL SITES THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, OR WAS CONTACTED BY MY DEALER. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE $951.09 OH, AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE OTHER HONDA OWNERS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT COULD POSSIBLY PREVENT AN ACCIDENT, SOMEONE IN DIRE SITUATION THAT AFFECTS THEIR SAFETY. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A RAINY DAY, AND THE DEFROSTER COULD NOT CLEAR THE WINDOWS, WE COULD NOT PUT THE HEATER ON, COULD NOT ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN, COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE THE LOCK WOULD NOT COME UP. REGARDS, AMY LOWERY

NHTSA ID

11386702

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

Mileage

147,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ANY SPEED THE HEADLIGHTS DIM EVERY 10 TO 15 SECONDS. HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED BY A PROFESSIONAL AND BOTH WAS GOOD. SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THE EXACT SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11344201

Incident

Aug 9, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

'TAKEDA RECALL' I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HONDA BUENA PARK IN BUENA PARK, CA FOR THIS RECALL, AND I'M JUST FINDING OUT THAT THE RECALL IS STILL ACTIVE.

NHTSA ID

11056702

Incident

Apr 16, 2016

TAKATA RECALL, EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, VTC ACTUATOR LOUD GRINDING ON START UP COLD OR WARM!!!!! HONDA WOULD NOT FIX BECAUSE I WAS 15,000 MILES OVER THEIR GRACE PERIOD. I ASKED FOR GOOD WILL AND A BIG COMPANY THAT HONDA IS SURE WON'T GO BANKRUPT FIXING MY CAR.... BUT THE GIRL I TALKED TO WAS SOME WHAT RUDE TO ME AND JUST ASKED IF I WANTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BEAU PHONE NUMBER. THEIR NEEDS TO BE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VTC ACTUATOR, BECAUSE SOONER OR LATER I WILL HAVE ENGINE FAILURE AND HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE READ 90% OF THE 2008 4 CYLINDER ACCORDS HAVE THE PROBLEM AND SOME OF THE NEWER MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AND I HAVE HEARD THEY WILL REPLACE THE PART, AND SOON AFTER IT DOES IT AGAIN!!!! DEFECTIVE PART!!!! I HOPE I CAN GET SOME HELP, BECAUSE HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND I CANT AFFORD A NEW ENGINE WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN GOES AND EVERYTHING WITH IT!!!! THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11014811

Incident

Apr 30, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL, WE BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR OVER 16,000 AT GORMLEYS AUTOMOTIVE. AFTER GETTING IT HOME THERE WERE CERTAIN REPAIRS THAT WE NEEDED ASAP. THE CAR WAS DEFINITELY IN A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT AS WE COULD SEE WHEN THE PAINT CHIPPED THAT THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL HONDA WHITE UNDERNEATH. THE CAR HAS 3 RECALLS. LIGHTS COME ON THAT DO NOT MAKE SENSE AND EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T RECEIVE A MANUAL, I LOOKED THINGS UP ON THE INTERNET. THE ENGINE BELT RUMBLES, THE SUSPENSION IS WAY OFF, THE LEATHER SEATS AND SIDEARMS HAVE RIPPED BECAUSE THEY WERE REPLACED BY CHEAP PARTS. THE CAR LOAN IS FOR 331.00 MONTHLY AND STILL IS OWED A SIGINIFICANT AMOUNT ON. STEWARD FINANCIAL HARASSES WITH PHONE CALLS IF YOU ARE AN HR LATE ON A PAYMENT. UNACCEPTABLE. I AM DISABLED AND CAN BARELY MAKE ENDS MEET. I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR A CAR THAT RUNS LIKE A HOOPDEE WHEN ITS SUPPOSED TO RUN LIKE A HONDA. TURNING IT DOES NOT GRAB THE ROAD, STATIONARY THE ENGINE RUMBLES. I AM A FEMALE SO I DO NOT KNOW TO MUCH ABOUT CARS. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE ON A CAR WITH SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT OWED ON IT.

NHTSA ID

10927432

Incident

Nov 22, 2016

PERSON PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I STRUCK HER WITH FRONT AND EDGE OF BUMPER. THE SIDE CURTAIN DEPLOYED, BUT NOT THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG. I WENT FORWARD AND WAS HIT IN THE CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS WAS ON A 4 LANE STREET LEADING OUT OF TOWN THE SPEED WAS 35 MPH

NHTSA ID

10820761

Incident

Jan 13, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

2008 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE , ENGINE, ELECTRICAL, AIR BAG LIGHT, SEAT BELT, LIGHT PROBLEMS AND RADIO PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PISTONS WERE REPLACED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN MISFIRING SINCE JULY 2014. THE COILS, SPARK PLUGS AND FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10680196

Incident

Nov 2, 2015

WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS IN NORMAL POSITION DIM TO POINT OF NOT BEING SAFE TO SEE AND THEN THEY FLICKER TO BEING NORMAL LOW BEAMS AGAIN. THIS PROCESS OCCURS AT SPEEDS FROM 0-70 AND OCCURS 2-3 TIMES A MINUTE. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE ON. PLEASE PRESSURE HONDA TO FIX THIS VERY WELL KNOWN AND IGNORED PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. WHAT DOES IT TAKE? FORUMS ALL OVER INTERNET WITH SAME COMPLAINS. NOT ISOLATED EVENTS !!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10659597

Incident

Sep 15, 2014

Mileage

102,000 mi

LIGHTS DIM (AND ENTIRE DASH MOMENTARILY LOSSES POWER) FREQUENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607940

Incident

Jun 10, 2014

Mileage

88,000 mi

HEAD LAMPS DIM AND FLICKER EVERY FEW MINUTES WHILE DRIVING. I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECH AND L! TECH SO I UNDER STAND THE CAUSE. HONDA USES A VOLTAGE SENSING DEVISE TO TURN OFF THE CHARGING SYSTEM TO LOWER THE ENGINE LOAD SOMETIMES AND INCREASE GAS MILEAGE. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE HEAD LAMPS ON THE ALTERNATOR CAN ONLY BE TURNED OFF BRIEFLY BEFORE THE VOLTAGE FALLS TOO LOW AND THE CHARGING SYSTEM MUST TURN BACK ON. THIS LEADS TO A CONSTANT FLICKERING OF ALL THE LAMPS AND SOMETIMES CONFUSION TO OTHER DRIVERS WHO THINK YOU FLASHED YOUR LIGHTS AT THEM SO THEY CAN TURN LEFT IN FRONT OF YOU WHEN REALLY YOU DID NOT. I THINK ALL THESE CARS NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED TO KEEP THE ALTERNATOR TURNED ON WHEN THE HEAD LAMPS ARE ON, A SIMPLE FIX THAT WOULD MAKE THEM MUCH SAFER.

NHTSA ID

10567176

Incident

Dec 1, 2013

Mileage

35,000 mi

2008 HONDA ACCORD PURCHASED NEW AT GARY FORCE HONDA BOWLING GREEN KY. FIRST ISSUE: COLD START RATTLE, DEALER REPLACED ATC ACTUATOR, PROBLEM CORRECTED. HAVE REPLACED BRAKES ON THE CAR 4 TIMES. MOST RECENTLY REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO AND NOW WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WORSE THAN A ROAD WAGON. AT 70,000 MILES OIL LIGHT CAME ON, CHECKED OIL AND NONE WAS ON THE STICK. ADDED OIL, TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED VTC ACTUATOR BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. COMPLAINED AGAIN AND THEY PERFORMED OIL CONSUMPTION ANALYSIS ONLY TO TELL ME IT WAS USING LESS THAN ONE QUART PER ONE THOUSAND MILES AND THAT WAS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD. A FEW MONTHS LATER I BECAME MORE IRRITATED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND COMPLAINED AGAIN. THEY PERFORMED ANOTHER OIL CONSUMPTION ANALYSIS TO TELL ME IT WAS USING MORE THAN IT WAS PREVIOUSLY BUT LESS THAN ONE QUART PER 1000 MILES AND WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS 100000 MILES ON IT AND YES, THE WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED AND IT'S USING ONE QUART PER 1200 MILES. I WROTE HONDA OF AMERICA A LETTER AND COMPLAINED. THEY CALLED BUT OTHER THAN KIND WORDS, THEY DID NOTHING. OH AND HAVE I MENTIONED THE HEAD LIGHTS.... THEY BLINK WHEN THE HEAT OR AIR IS ON. I MUST NOT FORGET THAT THE LEATHER ON BOTH THE ARM REST AND CONSOLE HAS BUBBLED UP BUT NO SIGNS OF WEAR OR DAMAGE AROUND THE BUBBLES. AND LET ME NOT FORGET THE MOST RECENT ISSUE: NOW OFTEN TIMES WHILE SETTING COMPLETELY STILL AT A STOP LIGHT AND/OR GOING DOWN THE ROAD I HEAR A CLICKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I AM NOT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I HEAR THIS NOISE. IT JUST STARTS CLICKING, KIND OF LIKE AN ELECTRONIC CLICK COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. OH WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK HONDA MADE WHEN IT BUILT THE 2008 ACCORD. PAID 30,000 FOR IT AND I'M SADLY DISAPPOINTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525415

Incident

Jun 16, 2010

Mileage

42,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OFTEN (EVERY 20-30 SECONDS) WHEN USING AIR CONDITIONING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10460612

Incident

Dec 31, 2007

Mileage

25 mi

OVER THE COURSE OF 3000 MILES I HAD TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL 5 QUARTS OF OIL AND WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS DIM INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449434

Incident

Feb 10, 2012

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OUT COMPLETELY OR DIM SEVERELY WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR THE CONDENSER FOR THE AC/DEFROST KICKS ON. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE DUE TO THE ELECTRIC LOAD DETECTOR. ALTHOUGH HONDA HAD SAID THIS MIGHT BE NORMAL I FIND THAT WHILE DRIVING MY 4 YR. OLD SON AROUND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED INTO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10438565

Incident

Nov 18, 2011

Mileage

26,500 mi

SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AND CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO DIM AND FLUCTUATE ERRATICALLY. THE SOUND IN THE STEREO ALSO GETS LOWER OFTEN TIMES AND I WONDER IF THIS TIES INTO THE HEADLIGHTS PROBLEM. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS A DISTRACTION AND CAUSES ME TO CHECK MY INSTRUMENT PANEL AND I REALLY EXPECT A VEHICLE TO OPERATE PROPERLY AFTER SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY ON IT. *KB

NHTSA ID

10437654

Incident

Nov 3, 2008

AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS DIM REPEATEDLY WHILE THE CAR IS AT A STOP. WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OR BLINK EVERY 15-25 SECONDS WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONING IS OPERATING. THIS COULD APPEAR AS IF I AM FLASHING OTHER DRIVERS AND CAN BE CONSTRUED AS AN AGGRESSIVE ACT. I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW. HOWEVER HONDA RELEASED A STATEMENT ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT THIS FLICKER OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS NORMAL AND WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY TO INCREASE FUEL EFFICIENCY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10423851

Incident

Sep 6, 2011

2008 HONDA ACCORD HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN AC IS ON WHEN FAN CYCLES, OCCURS EVERY 15-20 SECONDS. THIS IS A MAJOR DISTRACTION. DRIVERS IN FRONT OF ME THINK I AM FLASHING MY LIGHTS AT THEM. TOOK MY CAR TO HONDA AND THEY STATED THIS IS "NORMAL". THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A PROBLEM. HONDA NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10400893

Incident

Apr 11, 2011

Mileage

33,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN FAN SWITCH IS ON. FLICKER HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 20 SECONDS WITH A/C ON AND LESS WITH HEAT. DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10392946

Incident

Mar 18, 2011

Mileage

40,500 mi

LIGHTS DIM ALL THE TIME DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HONDA SAYS NO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10371860

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

WE LEASED A NEW 2008 HONDA ACCORD AND AFTER A FEW WEEKS NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED. THIS WAS VERY ANNOYING AND WHEN WE ASKED THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER ABOUT IT THEY GAVE US A DOCUMENT THAT STATES THAT IT'S NORMAL. WE DIDN'T LIKE THAT ANSWER BUT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO. 2 YEARS LATER AND STILL CONSTANTLY HAVING THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AT NIGHT MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND SAID THEY DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE NORMAL FLICKER. NOW MY WIFE WON'T DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT THINKING THIS IS GONG TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND THE DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10354772

Incident

Aug 30, 2010

Mileage

35,800 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BEING USED, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER FROM HIGH TO A LOWER LEVEL INTENSITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WAS DESIGNED IN THAT WAY AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING TO THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

NHTSA ID

10326842

Incident

Oct 8, 2009

Mileage

25,000 mi

I HAVE A 2008 HONDA ACCORD. ITS HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND ARE VERY DIM. THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR ME. I CANNOT SEE VERY FAR AHEAD OF MY CAR AND IT LOOKS AS IF I AM FLASHING MY LIGHTS AT OTHERS. ALSO MY TAIL LIGHTS FLICKERS WHICH GIVE THE IMPRESSION I AM BRAKING. *TW

NHTSA ID

10307222

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

27,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2008 ACCORD EX-L WITH THE 4 CYLINDER ENGINE IN JUNE OF 2008. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE FLICKER OR DIM AT NIGHT AS AC OR OTHER FANS CYCLE ON & OFF. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING FOR ME & MUST BE FOR THE OTHER DRIVERS THAT MEET ME ON THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL LOAD DETECTOR (ELD) SYSTEM. THEY ARE NOT ABLE OR NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFELY HAZARD. I WONDER WHETHER IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE A CAR THAT DIMS ITS HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CANNOT BE RESOLVED, AND WHY HONDA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR PROBLEM. SHOULD HONDA BE ALLOWED TO DECIDE THE DIMMING PROBLEM IS NORMAL? THE OTHER NIGHT ON THE WAY HOME I HAD SOMEONE PULL OFF THE ROAD TO LET ME PASS, I CAN ONLY ASSUME IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY DIMMING LIGHTS. THESE LIGHTS ARE NOT SAFE AND HONDA NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10306859

Incident

Jun 7, 2008

I HAVE A 2008 HONDA ACCORD EX THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS DIM CONSIDERABLY WHEN THE YOU HAVE THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITION ON. I HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL FOR HONDA'S. THE PROBLEM IS DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN YOU SEE THIS OCCUR AND THINK SOMETHING WRONG ELECTRICALLY AND YOU ARE DISTRACTED. IT'S SO NOTICEABLE THAT I HAVE HAD CARS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BLINK THEIR LIGHTS AT ME. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS DISTRACTION WHEN DRIVING. IS THERE ANY THING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297884

Incident

Dec 7, 2008

Mileage

55 mi