RoadVitals

2012 Honda Accord

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
372
+1 complaint in 30 days
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
8
Latest Jun 27, 2019
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
50
44 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 372 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Honda Accord, most frequently naming the interior & seats, airbags and engine categories. 8 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 50 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

8 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jun 27, 2019
9,555 units potentially affected
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number F5F, Q5EView on NHTSA.gov

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

May 16, 2019
19,138 units potentially affected
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
The risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number M4O, P4R, T4Q, W4PView on NHTSA.gov

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Sep 27, 2018
1,355,406 units potentially affected
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number M2J, S2KView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EQ12002ClosedInvestigation

Autoliv Air Bag Propellant Mixture

Opened Feb 14, 2012
Closed May 8, 2012

The summary for this investigation, labeled EQ12-002 Autoliv Closing Resume, can be found attached separately to this resume.This EQ is closed.

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH and turning left onto a secondary road, the vehicle abruptly stopped in the middle of the road. The vehicle was pushed off to the shoulder of the road with help from other motorists who had stopped to aid. The vehicle was later towed to the local mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the front passenger’s side CV axle was fractured from corrosion. The CV axle and the rear brakes and rotors were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V769000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11752147
Incident
Apr 17, 2026
Mileage
100,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 19, 2026

The suspected failed component is on 3-4 General Altimax GT45 tires. After approximately 15,000 miles of use and regular tire rotations every 5,000 miles, a steering wheel vibration developed immediately following a tire rotation. Multiple tire balances and a road-force balance did not identify a problem or correct the condition. Multiple, independent mechanics advised that the vibration may be caused by an internal tire belt defect, such as a shifted belt or belt separation. After the tires were rotated again, the vibration changed in character and became worse, further suggesting that the condition is related to a tire rather than the vehicle's suspension or alignment. The tires are still available for inspection upon request. The vehicle develops a noticeable steering wheel vibration at highway speeds between approximately 60 and 70 mph. The vibration affects steering feel and driver confidence while operating the vehicle at normal highway speeds. If caused by an internal tire defect, there is concern that the condition could worsen and potentially affect vehicle control or lead to tire failure. Yes, the problem has been reproduced. The vibration has been repeatedly reproduced during normal driving and has been evaluated by multiple independent service centers. The tires were rebalanced multiple times, including road-force balancing, without resolving the vibration. Multiple mechanics advised that the condition appears consistent with a possible internal tire belt defect. After an additional tire rotation, the vibration changed and became more severe, which mechanics indicated is consistent with a tire-related problem moving to a different position on the vehicle. The tires have been inspected by 4 independent service centers and tire technicians. The manufacturer, Continental/General Tire, has not physically inspected the tires. No inspection was performed by police or insurance representatives. No warning lamps or vehicle messages were displayed.

NHTSA ID
11745320
Incident
Jun 1, 2026
Electrical
Filed May 19, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase the vehicle mileage wa47,000,p=and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 238, 629. A Carfax report was obtained with the same mileage. The contact sent a message and left a voice mail message but there was no response. The contact received an unusual high quote from the insurance company. The contact's son sent a text to the seller but they did not respond. There was no other agency contacted.

NHTSA ID
11738830
Incident
Apr 13, 2026
Mileage
238,639 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 17, 2026

This car needs CV AXLE ASSEMBLY REPLACED as published under 'honda news' attached as i am in one one the 22 states that uses road salt. Honda dealer claims to have no knowledge of this , I need you to escalate please. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11724923
Incident
Mar 12, 2026
Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 10, 2026

I have bought three Hondas and leased one, I still have a 2012 Sedan and 18 months ago the car stopped in the middle of the road, thankfully no one hit us. The axle was broken and had to be repaired. Today [XXX] the car just stopped driving in a horrible round about [XXX] . The police and fire men, thank God helped to push the car out of the way into a parking lot. Talk about stress, the round abouts are a horror show, with more accidents than ever and a car just STOPS driving. Well now we are being told the axle is broken. What in [XXX] is wrong, I looked on-line and many people have made complaints about broken axels on their Honda's. You have to do something, someone could have gotten killed and I would like a call back. [XXX] [XXX] . [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11716999
Incident
Feb 10, 2026
Electrical
Filed Feb 5, 2026
Fire reported

Purchased a car from JKJ Auto on 01/17/2026 for $5000 + tax. Car was sold "as-is" with no dealer warranty. Vehile was only driven for 12 days before the car caught fire while my son was driving to school. He was trapped inside until a person ran over to help him out of the car. Police came to the scene and towed the vehicle. It was later examined by DSM Auto Repair who deduced that the battery was defective and overheated. This caused all other electrical cables to ignite along with the rest of the car. There were no warning lamps, messages or audio alerts. My son first noticed when there was white smoke coming from the hood as the car shut off, followed shortly by flames.

NHTSA ID
11715998
Incident
Jan 29, 2026
Electrical
Filed Jan 7, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 64,163. It was later discovered, upon checking the Carfax report that the mileage was 200,000.

NHTSA ID
11709329
Incident
Jan 6, 2026
Mileage
200,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 12, 2025

I just saw the new Honda Civic recall for wheels falling off and it reminded me to report this. On January 6, 2022 I was driving down I-29 from Grand Forks to Fargo and about 60 miles into my trip I thought I had a flat tire. I pulled over at the next exit and found I was missing 3 lug bolts and nuts, 1 lug nut with the bolt still attached, and my wheel was hanging on by just 1 lug bolt + nut. It looked like 3 or the bolts sheared off while I was driving. There was absolutely no prior warning or indication before this happened. I was doing about 75 mph and, from what I remember, it was about -20f outside. I had my car towed to a local mechanic, Tuffy Tire and Auto Servicr, and they fixed it. If my tire fell off at 75 mph I almost certainly would’ve ended up hitting another car or going into the ditch. The problem hasn’t been reproduced by a local dealer, but the Tuffy Tire and Auto Care in Fargo, ND should still have records/invoice about my service. My Honda accord has been inspected by Rydell Honda in Grand Forks, ND and they should have records of my lug nuts coming loose because I brought it in multiple times and I think they had to order a part for it. Another time, I think in late 2022 or 2023, I had my tires rotated at Rydell Honda in Grand Forks, ND and I drove about 90 miles and my lug nuts came loose on one wheel. I had to pull over and tighten them, but there was damage to the wheel. I believe Rydell Honda has records about this incident as well.

NHTSA ID
11698886
Incident
Jan 6, 2022

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

A21120A

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS receiver Capacity resulting in rollover of the internal chip memory; the rollover occurred on January 1, 2022, at 12:00AM local time.

A21120A

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover" will occur on January 1, 2022, at 12:00AM local time. As a result, once specific triggers are met, the navigation date and time will be incorrect.

APP05122020

EQUIPMENT

Dealer Message - The May episode of Tech2Tech is now posted. We've got some valuable information for you, so check it out! This month we're featuring "Replacing That Leaky Front Rocker Arm Oil Control Valve."

A20-016

AIR BAGS

Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.

A20-023

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Service Bulletin - The front rocker arm oil control valve is leaking.

19-003-1

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator for 2010-12 Accord and Other Listed Years and Models (Expires September 30, 2028)

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Honda Accord by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026400
2025770047.2
20241353164.6
2023835170.2
20222214164.0
20212174166.2
20203455164.4
20196636266.2
20181,8336264.5
20175293058.9
20165944058.8
20155995261.7
20149754260.8
20131,4185563.2
2012Viewing3728164.1
20112969058.9
201057913158.7
200972011259.5
20081,5209359.4
200752410467.5
200643017464.5
200565624465.6
20041,01622465.3
20031,98724564.2
20021,05016767.4
2001920191068.0
20001,18321563.5
19991,13517561.4
19981,20019361.3
199746015055.3
199647213055.4
199554314265.0
199436913058.9
199318611058.8
199220612058.9
199121213159.8
199019212663.1
1989861156.3
1988882160.5
19871113363.2
1986542663.4
1985131256.5
1984222354.1
1983710
1982102050.0
1981701
1980201
1979211
1978010
1977010
1976010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.