2018 Honda Accord Engine Problems

I am reporting a safety concern involving my 2018 Honda Accord. I purchased my vehicle used in January 2024 at approximately 90,000 miles and have kept up with the recommended maintenance during my ownership. At approximately 120,000 miles, a Honda dealership diagnosed head-gasket failure with coolant intrusion involving cylinders 3 and 4. Before diagnosis, the vehicle experienced rising engine temperature while idling, coolant loss, jerking during acceleration, numerous warning lights, and severely reduced acceleration. The problem progressed to loss of power and stalling while driving and slowing/stopping, requiring me to place the vehicle in Park and restart the engine to continue driving. The vehicle also developed unstable RPMs and engine surging while in Park. Honda performed a cooling-system pressure test and borescope inspection and confirmed coolant intrusion. Head-gasket replacement cost approximately $5,000. I contacted American Honda (Case #16533411), but goodwill assistance was denied because the vehicle is outside warranty and Honda stated it had no Honda-dealership service history. I am reporting this because the head-gasket failure resulted in loss of propulsion and stalling while operating the vehicle, creating a serious safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11756560

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

In July 2026, our 2018 Honda Accord required a head gasket replacement. Prior to the diagnosis, the vehicle began experiencing rough starts and engine misfires. While driving, the car suddenly lost power and would not accelerate beyond approximately 10 mph. After returning home and restarting the vehicle, its performance temporarily returned to normal; however, the engine continued to idle roughly. We had the vehicle scanned, and the diagnostic result indicated a misfire in Cylinder 3. The vehicle was taken to our local Honda dealership, where we were informed the head gasket failed and needed to be replaced. Given that the vehicle has fewer than 140,000 miles, we do not believe such a major engine repair should be necessary. Over the past 25 years we have owned multiple Honda vehicles, including Accords, Civics and CR-Vs well over 200,000 miles with our current 2008 Honda CR-V having more than 344,000 miles. None of these vehicles have ever experienced a head gasket failure or similar engine issue. We have never had such a significant costly repair, over $6,000. We are extremely disappointed that our 2018 Accord required such a significant repair at relatively low mileage. We have also learned of allegations in ongoing litigation Bissell v American Honda Motor Co, involving similar head gasket issues affecting Honda vehicles. Based on our experience and the number of reported complaints, we believe Honda should issue a recall, provide warranty coverage or reimburse affected owners for repair costs whichever benefits the customer. We respectfully request that Honda review our case and consider reimbursement or goodwill assistance for this unexpected and expensive repair.

NHTSA ID

11756291

Incident

Jun 25, 2026

While driving, my vehicle began shaking/rough running and the check-engine light came on. Multiple warning lights and system warnings appeared on the dashboard, including the brake system, steering, traction control, and TPMS warnings. The vehicle experienced noticeable shaking and reduced/abnormal performance. I am concerned that this may be a safety-related defect because multiple vehicle systems are being affected.

NHTSA ID

11756096

Incident

Aug 10, 2026

At 92,156 miles, my 2018 Honda Accord Touring (1.5L Turbo) suffered a catastrophic structural head gasket failure that caused dangerous engine instability while driving. The failure first manifested with a sudden eruption of multiple warning lights across the dashboard while the vehicle was in motion. Following a subsequent startup after a doctor's appointment, the vehicle began shaking violently due to immediate engine misfires. Driving a vehicle that is actively shaking and suffering from cylinder misfires in live traffic creates an unpredictable stall risk and an immediate safety hazard to myself and surrounding motorists. A certified technician at Ourisman Honda of Woodbridge pressurized the cooling system and physically confirmed that engine coolant is actively leaking directly onto the engine cylinder walls (Cylinders 1 and 2) due to a structural head gasket failure. This is a severe design defect that causes unexpected powertrain disruption on public roads.

NHTSA ID

11755320

Incident

Jul 19, 2026

Major safety issue will lead to loss power and visual hazard for cars on road. 2018 accord 1.5 has a coolant leak in cylinder 2 and three via scope verified , shop said it needs a headgasket. It had misfire codes on scanner and shakes when start up. This will be potentially big issue if motor blows up on free way from overheating. Honda corporation won’t do a replacement for the good faith because the car has not been to “Honda” for service.

NHTSA ID

11755091

Incident

Jul 19, 2026

My vehicle started stalling and shaking right before all of the warning lights on my dashboard came on and the safety features stopped working (brake assist, brake hold etc). After checking, the spark plugs were all burnt out so I changed it along with the coil pack and this remedied the issue temporarily until it happened again a few weeks later. This time, I was on the highway going at around 55mph when the car suddenly started stalling and the speed dropped to 10mph. Luckily, I was in the right lane and had no cars behind me because it would've caused an accident. I pulled over to the side of the highway, shut the car off for 15 minutes and then took the nearest exit with my hazard lights on, going at around 10 mph. I took my car to the dealership and they stated that I need a new head gasket which will cost me from $5,000 to $9,000. After doing research, there are hundreds of other Honda's which are experiencing this same issue. Currently, the condition is worsening as the car is shaking abruptly and I am not able to drive over 30mph. I also experienced a burning smell.

NHTSA ID

11754920

Incident

Jun 18, 2026

I own a 208 Honda Accord Sport 1.5L Turbo that I purchased new. At approximately 69,000 miles, the vehicle experienced a cylinder head gasket failure, allowing coolant to enter the engine. The vehicle was diagnosed by Honda dealership, which recommended replacing the cylinder head gasket, cylinder head bolts and spark plug at an estimated cost $6,500. Prior to this failure, the vehicle began overheating and warning indicators appeared. The failure resulted in the vehicle becoming unsafe to operate because continued driving could have caused severe engine damage or an unexpected loss of power. The vehicle has been maintained throughout my ownership and I have retained maintenance records. I was also informed by Honda dealership that they have seen multiple 2018 Honda accords 1.5L turbo vehicles come in with the same head gasket issue. Based in my experience, I believe this may represent a recurring defect affecting this model.

NHTSA ID

11754287

Incident

Jun 10, 2026

Since 11/2026 I have had issues with this car. 11/2025 mis-fire on cylinder 2 replaced turbo and spark plugs due to all dash lights on and would not accelerate over 10mph. 6/2026 all dash lights lit up again and would not accelerate over 1-20 mph misfire on cylinders 1 and 3 codes P0301 and 0303. Replaced coils, spark plugs and found fuel leaking out of injectors. Replaced injectors. 07/2026 all dash lights lit up again and would not accelerate over 10-20 mph. Found leak in the cylinder head gasket, replaced head gasket which had to go to a machine shop to machine the head.

NHTSA ID

11754272

Incident

Nov 14, 2025

At roughly 83,000 miles, my 2018 Honda Accord 1.5Lt experienced a major engine failure caused by a blown head gasket. At the time of the failure, I was driving on a major road. While accelerating, the vehicle had "bucked" forward, which triggered the engine light to flash at which time the vehicle had no longer responded to me pushing on the gas pedal. This caused a major safety issue as I then had to get off of the road to avoid collisions with other vehicles. I immediately brought the car to a Honda dealership, who confirmed that the head gasket needed to be replaced. There were no prior indications that the vehicle had any issues.

NHTSA ID

11753578

Incident

Jun 26, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the engine temperature rose, and the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off the vehicle, and allowed the engine to cool down before restarting the vehicle, and the vehicle returned to normal operation. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Balise Honda of West Warwick (509 Quaker Ln, West Warwick, RI 02893); where it was diagnosed with a blown head gasket, which was caused by coolant leaking into the cylinders. The contact was informed that the head gasket, fuel injectors, and several other unknown parts needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown NHTSA Campaign; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.

NHTSA ID

11753528

Incident

Apr 29, 2026

Mileage

166,000 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine and TPMS warning lights illuminated. The message that the vehicle should not be driven was displayed. The lane assist feature was inoperable. The contact disconnected the battery, and the warning light disappeared. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ID

11753272

Incident

Jul 17, 2026

Mileage

55,000 mi

At approximately 44,000 miles, multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard of my 2018 Honda Accord (1.5L turbocharged engine), including brake system, electric power steering, and driver-assistance/collision-mitigation warnings, accompanied by a rough start and an engine misfire. I took the vehicle to an authorized Honda dealer, which performed a diagnostic scan and a borescope inspection. The dealer confirmed engine coolant leaking internally into cylinder 3, a confirmed cylinder 3 misfire (code P0303), and a low coolant reservoir, and advised that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The diagnostic scan also returned fault codes across multiple safety systems, including ABS/VSA stability control, electric power steering, the electric brake booster (low-voltage power circuit fault), and the driver-assistance/collision-mitigation system. This is a head gasket failure allowing coolant to enter the cylinders — a failure mode widely reported on this engine — and it occurred at low mileage, creating a risk of engine misfire, stalling, and loss of power. No crash, fire, or injury has occurred. The dealer's repair order documenting these findings is available on request. I have reported this to the Honda corporate, and they are not responding and stalling the delivery or any update on the case. It has been 3 weeks, and it is causing prolonged inconvience and safety issue to me and my family

NHTSA ID

11753271

Incident

Jun 23, 2026

My 2018 Honda Accord EX's transmission failed after just 88,000 miles. I have owned 3 Hondas and I never had this experience. All bought a Honda World in Westminster, California. I did some research and spoke to a private transmission service company, Leon's Transmissions, and they told me that in 2018, Honda replaced the old transmission they were using with a CVT transmission. They said that clients who bought Honda Accords in 2018 have had the transmission fail on them between 80,000 - 100,000 miles. They also said that HONDA knew that the CVT in 2018 was a bad transmission but instead of alerting clients, they "chose" to work on improving the CVT transmission for future vehicles. I have taken in my Honda regularly for service which is about 3 times a year. I just had it serviced on May 29, 2026 with an oil and lube, a new air and cabin filter, and brakes. TWO MONTHS later, July 7, 2026 I discovered a "shimmy, grunting" sound when I started it. NO WARNING lamps, messages on my dashboard. I took it into my dealership that I have used since 2002. They told me the transmission had failed, that the warranty was only up to 60,000 miles and that to replace it would cost me $9000.00 dollars. NO DISCOUNTS, NO LOYALTY help, nothing. I am a retired senior and I cannot afford this cost. My dealership said that the car is NOT safe to drive, but to take it to CARMAX and see if I can get anything for the car. What nerve. I believe I should be given some compensation or a new transmission for this gross negligence on Honda. I took in my car for regular service, did not put too many miles on the car in the last 8 years (just 88,000) and feel that they should have CHECKED the transmission each time I serviced the car or alerted me via a recall about the transmission early on.

NHTSA ID

11752820

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

I bought this car used and I've only had it two months and the head gasket has blown. I didn't know the 10th generation had bad gaskets and turbos i found that out after I purchased the car. Literally everyone i know now that had one the gasket or turbo went out. Not only that it was a recall on my fuel pump no one told me about until I added it to my insurance and they told me. Yes Honda dealership fixed it for free now it needs to be a recall on these turbos and head gaskets. It's not fair. I wouldn't recommend Honda to no one now and they say Honda last a lifetime. Thats not true quit making the 10th generation and take it off the market.

NHTSA ID

11752530

Incident

Jul 23, 2026

At approximately 159,000 miles, my vehicle exhibited multiple dashboard warning lights simultaneously including ABS, VSA, EPS, TPMS, brake, ACC, CMBS, and RDM warnings along with engine misfire codes. Borescope inspection confirmed coolant intrusion into cylinder 1. Cylinders 2, 3, and 4 were dry. Diagnosis confirmed head gasket failure consistent with the known design defect in the 1.5L turbocharged i-VTEC engine related to inadequate head bolt clamping force versus boost pressure. This failure is the subject of active class action litigation (Bissell v. American Honda Motor Co., Case 3:24-cv-02286-AJB-MMP). Vehicle requires full head gasket replacement at my own expense estimated at $900+. No recall has been issued despite widespread reports of identical failures across 2018-2022 Honda Accord 1.5T vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11752497

Incident

Jul 7, 2026

Blown head gasket at ~94k miles. Cost over $7k to replace with a used engine and Honda offered zero reimbursement assistance. This is a major problem on the 10th generation engines.

NHTSA ID

11752415

Incident

Mar 30, 2026

My Accord reported multiple warnings at engine start up (check engine light, warnings about cruise control, etc.), and the engine ran rougher than normal. I immediately drove to a Honda dealer for service. The Honda dealer, Checkered Flag Honda of Norfolk, Virginia, diagnosed a blown head gasket in cylinder 2, which allowed all coolant to drain into the engine. They also indicated that fuel injectors and spark plugs were compromised and required replacement. The vehicle has approximately 75,000 miles, has received regular maintenance, and was operated in normal driving conditions.

NHTSA ID

11752305

Incident

Jul 22, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? I own a 2018 Honda Accord with approximately 132,000 miles. Shortly after my vehicle was serviced for the fuel pump recall, multiple warning lights and system failure messages appeared simultaneously. The affected systems include Road Departure Mitigation, Emission System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Auto High Beam, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Electric Power Steering, Vehicle Stability Assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Hill Start Assist, and the Air Bag System. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The failure of multiple safety and driver-assistance systems has created a significant safety risk. My vehicle is currently operating in limp mode, resulting in reduced performance and making it difficult to drive safely in traffic. The loss or malfunction of systems such as collision mitigation braking, power steering, vehicle stability assist, adaptive cruise control, and air bag monitoring increases the risk of an accident and could jeopardize the safety of both vehicle occupants and other motorists. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. I took the vehicle to a Honda dealership for diagnostic testing after the warning lights appeared. The dealer confirmed that multiple systems were reporting faults. I was advised that numerous components would need to be replaced at a substantial cost. Prior to the fuel pump recall service, I had not experienced any of these issues and the vehicle operated normally. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by a Honda dealership for diagnostic purposes. To my knowledge, it has not been inspected by Honda corporate, law enforcement, or insurance representatives. Were there any warning lamps, mes

NHTSA ID

11751805

Incident

Feb 6, 2026

When going 55 mph car started leaching back and forth aggressively followed by loss of engine power. Car decelerated to a max of 20 mph and would not accelerate past that. This caused the potential of getting rear ended in traffic. When I took it to the mechanic, they told me that my first cylinder was misfiring and that my fuel injector was the issue. A warning light only came on after the car decelerated to a low speed.

NHTSA ID

11751532

Incident

Jul 18, 2026

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? I purchased my 2018 Honda Accord in 2024, and in 2025, I experienced significant issues with the vehicle. During my visits to both Honda of Southaven and Honda of Tupelo, they indicated that the head gasket might be the problem, which is a known issue with this model. I believe the malfunction is related to this component, and I can confirm that it is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The issues with my vehicle have directly endangered my safety and the safety of my children. While driving, the car started jerking unexpectedly and then cut off entirely on the highway, which could have resulted in a severe accident. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, I have visited Honda of Southaven and Honda of Tupelo over three times reporting these problems. Both dealerships acknowledged the issue, with one dealership stating it was likely the head gasket, which they mentioned seeing frequently with Honda vehicles. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? I have not had an inspection by the manufacturer or police. However, I have had my vehicle inspected by two authorized Honda dealerships, where they diagnosed the problem. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes, before the failure, there were multiple warning lights on the dashboard, which indicated that something was wrong with the vehicle. These symptoms began appearing shortly after I purchased the car in 2024, and they escalated over time leading up to my visits to the dealerships in 2025.

NHTSA ID

11751072

Incident

Apr 1, 2025

I purchased the car in November 2025 from Carvana. By December, all the dashboard lights came on and no one can locate the problem. The car still runs but not to its optimum performance.

NHTSA ID

11750479

Incident

Dec 18, 2025

1. Head gasket and turbo system 2. I was driving on the highway at 55mph and the front end of the car started to shake so I pulled over to inspect the car as best I could. 3. The Honda dealer did a diagnostic for my AC $450 and $200 for the hazard lights. I was told my AC needed to be charged and then the prices to replace my head gasket, turbo and coolant flush for a total of 10k. 4. All of the warning light came on in the vehicle as I was driving and my AC started to blow warm air June 29, 2026.

NHTSA ID

11749924

Incident

Jun 29, 2026

Blown head gasket

NHTSA ID

11749896

Incident

May 1, 2026

My Engine is overheating, cannot drive the car at all. There is Coolant loss and leaking into the cylinder. It is Rough running and misfires: no matter when I start the Honda whether a fold start or not it is chunky and wants to give out. There is Loss of power which makes my car feel sluggish and is very dangerous as I’m driving myself, children and family on the freeways of St. Louis. I have never had any other issue and maintained the maintenance on the car. Honda dealership wants 6k to start fixing it. Could be more after they get into it.

NHTSA ID

11749861

Incident

May 29, 2026

I own a 2018 Honda Accord LX 1.5T. The vehicle has developed an intermittent hard-start condition after sitting overnight. The engine cranks for approximately 5–6 seconds before starting and runs very rough for the first 2–5 seconds before smoothing out. Warm restarts are normal. While driving, the vehicle hesitates and stumbles during acceleration, is slow to build RPM, and fuel economy has noticeably decreased. During one hard acceleration event, the vehicle lost power and the check engine light flashed. I also observed that if I turn the ignition on and allow the fuel pump to prime for several seconds before starting the engine, the vehicle starts noticeably quicker than if I start it immediately. This makes me concerned that the fuel system may not be maintaining proper fuel pressure after the vehicle sits. Because of the hard starting, hesitation, intermittent loss of power during acceleration, and the improvement after allowing the fuel pump to prime, I am submitting this complaint for investigation because these symptoms could create a safety risk when entering traffic or accelerating.

NHTSA ID

11749726

Incident

Jul 6, 2026