RoadVitals

2012 Honda Accord Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints 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.
15
Latest Feb 3, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 372 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Honda Accord submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceVisibility
Filed Feb 3, 2021

TURNED VEHICLE ON IN MY DRIVEWAY WHERE I LIVE. WARMING UP THE ENGINE (GETTING READY TO GO TO STORE) AND I PUT ON FRONT AND REAR DEFROSTER (WAS COLD OUT). AND BACK WINDSHIELD MADE A LOUD NOISE AND JUST CRASHED INSIDE, GLASS SHATTERED INSIDE CAR. I USUALLY HAVE SOMEONE WITH ME SO I AM GRATEFUL I DID NOT. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY. WE JUST HAD SNOW FALL (WHICH IS SUPER NORMAL HERE AND IT WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED SO NOT SURE WHY THE WINDOW IMPLODED INSIDE THE CAR). YOU CAN SEE IN PHOTO. MY HUSBAND CLEANED OFF THE CAR FOR ME. I USED A BRUSH IT WAS JUST A FEW FLAKES. I USED THE CAR 2 DAYS EARLIER AND CLEANED IT ALSO. IT HAD BEEN CLEANED. THERE WAS SOME RESIDUAL SNOW ON TOP AND ON THE TRUNK BUT NOTHING THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS.

NHTSA ID
11394521
Incident
Feb 3, 2021
Visibility
Filed Sep 25, 2019

MY WINDSHIELD IS FULL OF SPECKS, WHICH IS CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH DRIVING, IF THE SUN HITS THE FRONT WINDOW ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDOW. THIS IS MY 3RD HONDA AND I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE , ONE CAR I HAD FOR 15 YEARS NO WINDSHIELD PROBLEM WITH IT . IT HAPPENS WHEN THE SUN HITS THE WINDOW, BUT ALSO ON A CLOUDY DAY. ITS VERY VISIBLE AND DIFFICULT TO SEE CLEARLY DRIVING OR JUST SITTING LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW.

NHTSA ID
11257973
Incident
Mar 1, 2019
Mileage
78,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 29, 2018

IN 2016 WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED MY 2012 HONDA ACCORD, I NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDOW VISIBILITY WAS (SLIGHTLY) DISTORTED AROUND THE DEFROSTER LINES. AT THAT TIME I WAS DOWNSIZING FROM A HONDA ODYSSEY, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST MY EYES PLAYING TRICKS WITH ME BECAUSE I WAS USED TO A LARGER REAR WINDOW WHERE THE DEFROSTER LINES WERE NOT SO CLOSE TOGETHER. THIS DISTORTION GRADUALLY GOT WORSE, AND AS OF JULY 2018, THE DISTORTION HAS COVERED THE ENTIRE WINDOW. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING WITHIN THE GLASS ITSELF SEPARATING AND CAUSING RIPPLES. THE WINDOW STILL HAS THE HONDA STAMP ON THE GLASS, SO ITS FACTORY TINTED AND INSTALLED, THIS ISN'T AN AFTERMARKET WINDOW AND IT.

NHTSA ID
11132236
Incident
Jul 28, 2016
Mileage
75,697 mi
SteeringVisibility
Filed Jun 5, 2017

HARD TO STEAL AT FIRST . SPEED OF WINDSHIELD WIPER CHANGES AT WILL WHILE IN USE.

NHTSA ID
10993231
Incident
May 7, 2017
Mileage
78,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 21, 2016

ALL THE GLASS ON THE CAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE WINDSHIELD SUFFERS FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS A STREAKY FINISH TO THE GLASS THAT WHEN WET AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S DAMP AND DARK OUTSIDE DANGEROUSLY OBSCURE THE VISION FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. MANY TYPES OF GLASS CLEANER HAVE BEEN TRIED WITHOUT SUCCESS AND HONDA ONLY SUGGESTED USING GLASS CLEANERS. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE GLASS ITSELF AND NO AMOUNT OF CLEANING WILL GET RID OF THIS. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION PARTICULARLY DRIVING IN THE WINTER AFTER SUNSET. IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR FROM NEW. THE TWO DOOR MIRRORS ARE ALSO AFFECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10917829
Incident
Oct 1, 2012
Mileage
500 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 12, 2015

WINDOW TAB FAILURE. WHILE IN MOTION ON SURFACE STREETS DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. DRIVER LIGHTLY PUSHED ON WINDOW TO TRY TO JOSTLE THE WINDOW LOOSE. WINDOW THEN COLLAPSED INTO DOOR WELL. WINDOW WAS SUBSEQUENTLY STUCK IN THE DOOR WELL. DRIVER WAS EXPECTANTLY EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS AND UNABLE TO MANIPULATE WINDOW UP OR DOWN. VEHICLE IS 3 YEARS OLD WITH 59,044 MILES. HONDA AUTOMOTIVE SHOP IDENTIFIED THAT THE WINDOW CAME UNGLUED FROM THE TAGS HOLDING IT IN PLACE. HONDA SHOP IDENTIFIED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS ON A CAR THIS NEW, MAY BE COMMON FOR A 20-30 YEAR OLD CAR BUT NOT FOR A HONDA THIS NEW.

NHTSA ID
10789972
Incident
Nov 11, 2015
Mileage
59,044 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 5, 2015

PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WOULD NOT STAY UP IN PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10670030
Incident
Oct 20, 2014
Mileage
21,350 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 15, 2014

2012 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUN VISOR/ VANITY MIRROR BROKE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUN VISOR, WOULD NO LONGER STAY IN PLACE. SHE WAS ALSO INFORMED, THE SUN VISOR WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER, APPLIED HIS/HER BRAKES, WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE SUN VISOR CAME DOWN AND BLOCKED HER VIEW. AS A RESULT, SHE HIT AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD, WHICH CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO HER VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10644038
Incident
Jun 21, 2014
Visibility
Filed Feb 18, 2014

WINDSHIELD CRACKS FROM LEFT END CORNER OF DRIVER SIDE UNDER COLD WEATHER WITHOUT ANY FORCE FROM OUTSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564858
Incident
Feb 11, 2014
Mileage
13,990 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 16, 2013

MY SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE ON THE RAMP TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND, NO OVERPASSES WHEN I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND AND THEN WIND NOISE. NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED I PULLED OVER, LOOKED AROUND THE CAR AND WENT BACK INSIDE AND STARTED DRIVING BUT THE WIND NOISE GOT LOUDER AND WHEN I OPENED THE SLIDER A LITTLE, I SAW THAT THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED. I PULLED OVER AGAIN AND CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE CAR THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THAT A ROCK MUST OF HIT IT. I TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS NO CARS OR TRUCKS AROUND ME AND HE SAID THAT IT MUST OF FLEW UP FROM SOMEWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10535731
Incident
Aug 6, 2013
Mileage
21,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 12, 2013

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, THE GLASS IN MY SUNROOF BURST. THERE WAS A LOUD POP, AND THEN I COULD HEAR HIGHWAY NOISE. THERE WERE ABSOLUTELY NO CARS AROUND ME AND NOTHING ABOVE ME, AND I HAD NOT GONE UNDER AN OVERPASS. MOST OF THE SUNROOF GLASS WAS GONE, AND THE REMAINING GLASS AND SEAL HAD SUNKEN DOWN INTO THE CAR AND WAS IN A CONCAVE SHAPE LIKE IT HAD BURST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10534956
Incident
Aug 9, 2013
Mileage
17,665 mi
Driver assistanceEngineVisibility
Filed Jan 8, 2013

THAT WAS ON MONDAY 12/31/2012 WHILE TRAFFIC IN FREEWAY WAS VERY CLEAR. I SET CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MILE/HOUR BUT SUDDENLY THE CAR KEPT INCREASING FASTER MORE THAN 75 MILES. I WAS PANIC AND KEPT STEPPING BRAKE TO REDUCE SPEED. ABOUT ONE MINUTE, THE CAR WAS REDUCED AT SPEED OF 50 MILES/HOUR. I TESTED IT WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL. I DROVE STEADILY ABOUT 60 MILE/HOUR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THAT THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATED BY ITSELF AGAIN AND HIT 75 MILES/HOUR. I KEPT STEPPING BRAKE STEADILY TO REDUCE SPEED UNTIL IT KICKING INTO 50 MILE/HR. THIS CAR IS DEFINITELY DEFECTIVE CAR WITH NUMEROUS ISSUES. ITS DEFROST SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL THAT ALMOST KILLED ME ON SEPTEMBER 2012. AGAIN I BROUGHT IT TO DEALER ON 01/02/2013 FOR ACCELERATED ISSUE AND DEFROST SYSTEM BUT HONDA POWER DEALER STILL COULD NOT DETECT IT. I FILED COMPLAINT WITH FTC AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY/PROSECUTE UNIT TO REQUEST TO INVESTIGATE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I CONTACTED TO HONDA MOTOR TO REQUEST IT TO TAKE THIS CAR BACK AND TERMINATE MY LEASE BUT HONDA MOTOR REFUSED MY REQUEST BECAUSE HONDA MOTOR USED TEST RESULTS FROM POWER HONDA DEALER AND HONDA WORLD DEALER AS HONDA MOTOR 'S DECISION FOUND THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY DEFECTIVE WITH DEFROST SYSTEM AND ACCELERATE FOUND. HONDA MOTOR MADE THIS CAR AND FAILED TO DETECT ITS PROBLEMS THAT IS NO MATTER IT CAN DETECT THIS CAR PROBLEM OR NOT THAT HONDA HAS TO HOLD ACCOUNTABILITY TO LEASE IT TO ME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10491921
Incident
Dec 31, 2012
Mileage
2,450 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 7, 2012

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN ORANGE COAST COLLEGE- COSTA MESA- CA PARKING LOT ABOUT 5PM- 9PM. I GOT OUT ABOUT 9PM AT NIGHT THAT WAS SUMMER TIME BUT IT WAS UNUSUALLY VERY FROGGY NIGHT. MY EXTERIOR WINDOWS CAR WERE FULLY COVERED WITH FROG AND WATER THAT WARMED UP MY CAR FOR 3 MINUTES AND PUSHED DEFROST BUTTON THAT TURNED YELLOW BUT I WAITED FOR 20 MINUTES FOR REAR WINDOW DEFROST FROG BUT THERE WAS NOTHING HAPPENED. I COULD NOT BACK UP BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY CAR ROWS BEHIND ME. I HAD TO OPEN ALL FOUR WINDOW CAR AND ASKED MALE STUDENT HELPED ME TO BACK UP. I DROVE MY CAR TO HOME WITH FOUR WINDOW COMPLETELY OPEN THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY I COULD LOOK AT TWO SIDE WINDOWS TO DRIVE MY CAR HOME AT THE DARK AND HEAVY FROGGY CONDITION. THAT TOOK ABOUT 35 MINUTES TO DRIVE HOME INSTEAD OF 15 MINUTES THAT I USED TO DRIVE FROM MY SCHOOL TO HOME. AFTER THAT INCIDENT I PARKED MY CAR OFTEN OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF INSIDE OF MY GARAGE TO TRY TO DETECT ABOUT THAT BASIC BUT VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. DEFROST FUNCTIONALITY AT MY CAR. THAT WAS FEB 20,2012 I TOOK MY CAR TO POWER HONDA SERVICE WHERE I LEASED THIS CAR FOR FIX IT BUT THIS DEALER FOUND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING FOUND WITH ITS DEFROST FUNCTIONALITY. LATER THAT I KEEP PARKING MY OUTSIDE TO TEST HOW EXACTLY MY CAR' DEFROST FUNCTIONALITY. THERE WERE SOME MORNING DUE FOR TESTING WATER CONDENSATION OBTAINED ON MY EXTERIOR WINDOW CAR THAT I HAVE FOUND THAT DEFROST FUNCTION AT MY CAR TOTALLY DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL EVEN AFTER PUSHING DEFROST BUTTON THAT TURN YELLOW ! BUT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THAT WAS HOW POWER HONDA TESTED MY ABOUT!!!! I CALLED BACK POWER HONDA ABOUT THIS ISSUE THAT THEY ASKED ME TO BRING BACK FOR RETEST AND I DID BRING IT BACK FOR TWO MORE TIME BUT ITS TEST CAME BACK THE SAME LIKE IT WAS BEFORE. THAT WAS OCT 25, 2012,I BROUGHT MY CAR TO DIFFERENT DEALER THAT WAS HONDA WORLD BUT IT CAME OUT ITS TEST WITH SAME RESULT AS POWER HONDA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10483654
Incident
Sep 12, 2012
Mileage
1,300 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 18, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER REPLACED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DUE TO A CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT THE DRIVER NOTICED ANOTHER CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD A FEW WEEKS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE IT REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 07/19/12*LJ UPDATED 07/23/12

NHTSA ID
10462072
Incident
May 20, 2012
Mileage
4,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jun 17, 2012

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR LITERALLY EXPLODED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10462013
Incident
Jun 12, 2012
Mileage
15,000 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .