2018 Honda Accord Powertrain (other) 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

My fiancé was driving my 2018 Honda Accord when the vehicle suddenly jolted violently while accelerating up a bridge. Immediately afterward, multiple warning lights, including the check engine light, came on and the vehicle lost all power. Thankfully, she was able to coast down the bridge and pull into an empty parking lot. This was extremely dangerous because the vehicle lost power while being driven and could have caused a serious accident. After turning the vehicle off and restarting it, the car appeared to operate normally. Because the issue was intermittent, I initially suspected the battery. I had the battery tested multiple times, but it was fine. Since the problem continued, I took the vehicle to a Honda dealership. They diagnosed a blown head gasket and estimated the repair would cost approximately $6,000. The vehicle is only worth about $6,000, making the repair financially unreasonable. Apparently this is a known/common issue with 2018 Honda Accords. I requested Honda goodwill assistance, but Honda declined. I then took the vehicle to a second independent repair shop for another opinion. They advised that the head gasket needed for the vehicle was on back order and therefore could not provide a repair estimate. The fact that this replacement component is currently on back order is concerning and raises further questions about how frequently this repair is being needed. If Honda cannot keep enough replacement parts in stock to service affected vehicles, it further suggests that this may be a widespread issue that deserves additional investigation. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request and has been inspected by both a Honda dealership and an independent repair shop. I am extremely concerned that a vehicle can suddenly lose all power while being driven and that a repair for a known/common issue costs nearly the entire value of the car. I believe this issue warrants further investigation by Honda and consideration of a recall or assistance.

NHTSA ID

11755610

Incident

Apr 1, 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

Head gasket failure, coolant leaking into cylinder 1 and 3. Car stuttering when try to accelerate and has trouble getting up to speed on highway. Coolant mixing with oil, rear main seal leak. It is available for inspection currently at dealership where it was diagnosed. My safety was jeopardized because I barely can accelerate on the highway causing cars to tail gate me and potentially crash into the back of me. The issue has been confirmed by Honda service department as a faulty head gasket. There were no warnings signs, no overheating nor any smoke indications of a faulty failing head gasket only stuttering at low spreads and not being able to accelerate. The problem first appeared a day or so before I brung it to Honda for a diagnosis. These are well none litigated issues with these head gaskets and are safety concerns that they’re failing to address.

NHTSA ID

11748951

Incident

Jul 3, 2026

Dashboard displayed multiple messages and icons/warnings. Steering wheel locked, acceleration was low, barely any power to drive. Engine running rough condition. OBD2 scanner P0302 and P0303 detected. Engine misfire. Honda Dealership diagnosis car. Main concerns include a head gasket blown or crack. Coolant leaking into cylinder 2 and 3. Tie rod cracked. Pressure test low. The vehicle has no prior history of cylinder head removal or head gasket replacement. Vehicle has been properly maintained through consistent oil changes.

NHTSA ID

11745174

Incident

Jun 6, 2026

All of my dash lights are on.

NHTSA ID

11741402

Incident

Jan 2, 2023

Blown head gasket after multiple spark plug replacements for misfires.

NHTSA ID

11738602

Incident

May 17, 2026

While driving at highway speeds, the vehicle experienced a sudden jerking and a catastrophic loss of motive power (Limp Mode). Simultaneously, multiple safety systems failed, including the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Control, and Road Departure Mitigation. The vehicle became a road hazard in active traffic. A certified Honda dealership technician inspected the vehicle and confirmed a premature head gasket failure with coolant intrusion into cylinders 2 and 3. The engine is non-drivable and the vehicle is at 84,000 miles. Despite the documented nature of this design defect and its current litigation, American Honda Motor Co. has denied any assistance. The vehicle also has an open safety recall (24-009) for a fuel pump failure which presents identical safety symptoms.

NHTSA ID

11736007

Incident

Apr 19, 2026

All lights on head dash are on , all components are not working properly or effected because of this. (Engine light brake light abs light tire light traction control light , sensors out all) while driving vechile reduces power does not operate randomly , have to pull over shut the car off and turn it back on. Has high vibrations lot of shaking, stauling. I have had it looked at with multiple shops and dealer . Everybody is playing a guessing game and can not pin point what exactly it is . Was told it was spark plugs and coils, alternator , fuel injectors. ALL have been repaired, and still have all lights on dash and still facing every problem listed after repairs. Been inspected by manufacturer. Say not been resolved was told if it wasn’t what was already fixed they don’t know and that this is very common right now . It first APRIL 2026 (3) times. May 2 times 2026

NHTSA ID

11735520

Incident

May 2, 2026

I experienced repeated stalling, loss of drive power while on the highway, limp mode, and all dashboard warning lights over several years. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Honda dealership multiple times and specifically asked whether these symptoms were related to the known fuel pump recall. Each time I was told the recall was not the cause. I was also told recall parts were unavailable or delayed. Based on dealership misdiagnoses, I paid out of pocket for multiple repairs including spark plugs and ignition coils which they claimed were the reason for my car acting up, that did not resolve the issue. Among other repairs I did on my own like replace the battery twice and what not. I have since received Honda’s official recall notice confirming that a faulty fuel pump causes the exact symptoms I reported. My vehicle is now completely inoperable it does not start and cannot be driven or transported. I have filed two claims with Honda Corporate, both denied based on mileage. I believe the vehicle’s failure is a direct result of Honda’s failure to address the recall in a timely manner and the dealership’s repeated misdiagnosis.

NHTSA ID

11732960

Incident

Sep 1, 2023

Rough downshifting and upshifting in low gears. Will slam into gears 2-3 often seems as though at slower speeds and cause driver and passengers to lurch forward. Will cause very rough acceleration at times and causes a danger in traffic given the speed becomes unpredictable. Transmission does not know what gear to be in. The ATF type 2.0 fluid change following dealer procedure after complaint has done nothing to change this lurching. This is putting me and other drivers at risk because I cannot control my speed when transmission is slamming in between gears. No warning lamps, undetected by cars TCU.

NHTSA ID

11732533

Incident

Sep 3, 2020

Apparently, my car has a leaking head gasket. It was confirmed by the Honda Dealership. While driving it will go in limp mode and will no longer accelerate. I have to pull off to the side of the road, turn the car off, and back on just to get to where I'm going. It is causing my car to stutter really bad and we're constantly having to put coolant in it. This is a safety issue and will cost about $7000 to get fixed. The most recent time it did it, I was at a stop sign and starting to go to turn and my car just would no longer accelerate.

NHTSA ID

11731653

Incident

Apr 15, 2025

Transmission started bucking at 50k miles, the problem has gotten substantially worse at 60k miles. Rough downshifting and upshifting in low gears. Will slam into gears 2-3 often and cause driver and passengers to lurch forward. Will cause very rough acceleration at times and causes a danger in traffic given the speed becomes unpredictable. Transmission does not know what gear to be in even after ATF type 2.0 fluid change following dealer procedure. This is putting me and other drivers at risk because I cannot control my speed when transmission is slamming in between gears. No warning lamps, undetected by cars TCU.

NHTSA ID

11725218

Incident

Mar 18, 2026

Head gasket failed at 58k miles without overheating per assessment at honda dealership. Safety was affected by going into limp mode instantly turning left onto 55 mph 4 lane road, no warning lights prior going into limp mode. Brief misfire occurred prior to incident, (did not know at time because it did not seem significant and no warning light). Dealer reports multiple 2018 honda accord 1.5L head gasket and fuel injector failures. Unknown if manufacture would inspect. In addition fuel injector has completely failed and requires replacement per honda dealership assessment, this occurred after dealership repaired head gasket. Waiting for final repair invoice, can and will provide upon request

NHTSA ID

11724958

Incident

Mar 10, 2026

My turbo and fuel injectors went out at the same time. It has been fixed, so I don't think it can be inspected My safety was put at risk. The car randomly went into limp mode on the interstate at high speeds and suddenly came to almost a complete stop Yes, it was inspected by a mechanic, everyone with a 2018 honda accords are having this issue Yes, it was inspected by a mechanic. No warning lamps or anything, just a blinking check engine light that appeared for the first time ever.

NHTSA ID

11724864

Incident

Mar 3, 2026

After recent service from local honda dealership vehicle started to drive sluggish. Had all fluids changed and the coolant flushed when serviced at the dealership. The vehicle now displays several different alerts upon start up "Emissions systems failure" Brake system failure" Hill Assist failure" Power Steering failure". Vehicle was returned to dealership and it was determined the head gaskets need to be replaced due to coolant leaking. This vehicle has been maintained consistently with documentation and shouldn't have this type of failure with only 100k miles. Repairs are $4800 and this should definitely be investigated because this is common in Honda Accord model years 2018-2022.

NHTSA ID

11724260

Incident

Mar 12, 2026

A 2018 Honda Accord 1.5T developed an engine misfire, coolant loss, and reduced acceleration shortly after purchase from a dealership on 01/07/2026 (around 156,000 miles / $15,000). On 01/23/2026, during a Honda dealer inspection at about 157,255 miles, the technician noted misfires on startup, found the coolant overflow reservoir empty, pressure-tested the system, and confirmed coolant leaking into cylinders 3 and 4 from the head gasket. The dealer recommended head gasket replacement plus spark plugs, drive belt, and valve adjustment. I was told that continued driving could worsen the condition, leading to overheating and further engine damage. After that diagnosis, the vehicle’s drivability worsened, and it became unsafe to rely on due to misfires and loss of acceleration, especially on the highway. The selling dealership refused to assist, claiming the defect was not present at the time of sale; Honda America acknowledged the head gasket concern but denied a goodwill claim, citing the high cost of the issue and lack of NHTSA enforcement on this issue. An independent repair shop then provided a second inspection/estimate consistent with the same head-gasket repair scope. The vehicle and repair records are available for inspection. No crash or injury occurred, but the defect caused a sudden loss of power and overheating while driving; I was stuck on the highway on two occasions with my hazard lights on after acceleration completely halted. Warning symptoms (the engine light) only appeared when the car suddenly stopped accelerating. Two days after an around-$5,000 headgasket repair, drivability problems and multiple dashboard warnings appeared, including turbo-related concerns; this concern is ongoing.

NHTSA ID

11724001

Incident

Jan 21, 2026

I own a 2018 Honda Accord and have been experiencing an ongoing issue where multiple warning lights appear on the dashboard at the same time. The lights include several safety and system warnings, making it look like many different systems in the vehicle are malfunctioning simultaneously. I have taken the vehicle to be serviced and attempted to fix the issues that were identified. However, even after repairs were made, the dashboard warning lights continue to stay on or return shortly after. It has become frustrating because the vehicle continues to show problems even when something has already been repaired. This situation makes it difficult to know whether there is a real safety issue occurring with the car or if the warning system itself is malfunctioning. Having so many warning lights on at once also creates concern about the reliability and safety of the vehicle, especially since several of the warnings relate to important systems such as braking, driver assistance features, and engine performance. After researching the issue, I discovered that many other owners of the 2018 Honda Accord have reported experiencing the same problem with multiple dashboard warnings appearing at once. Because this appears to be a widespread issue, I am submitting this complaint so it can be documented and investigated further. I believe there may be an underlying defect causing these repeated warning lights despite repairs being made.

NHTSA ID

11723376

Incident

Mar 1, 2022

All dash lights are on and the Honda dealership told me I have a blown head gasket, need a turbo replacement & fuel pump in which I wasn’t able to drive the car for 7 months at 112,276 miles..This seems like a known issue for this make and model vehicle after 100,000 miles

NHTSA ID

11721898

Incident

Mar 18, 2025

On February 26, 2025 I was driving my 2018 Honda Accord Sport (118,000 miles) with a 1.5t engine on a 55mph 2 lane roadway at approximately 55mph with 4-5 cars behind me when the engine suddenly went into "limp" mode and quickly decelerated to approximately 25 mph. I could see the cars behind me suddenly brake to avoid hitting me. I pull off on the shoulder, turned my car off and restarted. The car then drove normally to home. I took the car to the Honda dealer who diagnosed a blown head gasket. The sudden deceleration was caused by a misfire due to coolant entering the combustion chamber during the combustion cycle. The sudden deceleration almost caused an accident. When this happens the Accord does not warn the drivers behind with brake lights or flashers. I had the head gasket replaced at a cost of $4000+ The dealer's mechanic believes the cause is improper head bolt torque specs at the factory. Honda is aware of the a head gasket problem with the 2018-2020 Accord 1.5t engine, see Honda's NHTSA filings attached offering visa cards to mechanics who report head gasket failures, yet refuses to recall the engine or pay for replacing the head gasket unless under warranty. This is my 4th Accord (1985, 1986, 2007, 2018). I have never had any engine problems with my other three Accords. Honda needs to recall this engine and correct the head gasket problem so as to avoid unannounced, uncontrolled, and unintended deceleration at highway speeds due to going into limp mode (70-75 mph on interstates down to 25 mph) that can cause following cars to crash into the Accord. I purchased the car with 22,000 miles on the odometer and performed regular maintenance since I purchased it. See comments beginning on page 2: https://www.driveaccord.net/threads/blown-head-gasket-any-recall.559243/?post_id=6844792#post-6844792

NHTSA ID

11721764

Incident

Feb 26, 2025

My Honda is shifting harsh going into 5th gear and sometimes reverse is not available. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership and they are telling me I need a new transmission to the tune of $9,600. It only has 64,000 miles and the warranty recently expired. I took the car to another mechanic and he told me the same thing. There is no way that the transmission should go out at such low miles. Honda needs to step up and take care of this problem. There are many complaints about this issue but nothing is being done. I have the 7 year/100,00 mile warrany but the car is a 2018. This was the first year of the 10-speed transmission and many people are having problems. This needs to be addressed.

NHTSA ID

11721645

Incident

Feb 7, 2026

I have a blown head gasket which is a common problem with this vehicle. I have 85k miles. The car started to blow out smoke from the tailpipe which is very heavy.

NHTSA ID

11720794

Incident

Feb 20, 2026

The car can't start because of the recall

NHTSA ID

11717378

Incident

Feb 11, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that one of the tires was punctured by a nail, and after the tire was replaced, the check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Zone, where it was diagnosed, and determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #2. The vehicle was then taken to a certified mechanic who replaced the cylinder, engine, ignition coil, and spark plug. After the vehicle was repaired, it was returned to Auto Zone to be diagnosed again. The contact was informed that there was a misfire in cylinder #2. The vehicle was returned to the mechanic, and it was confirmed that the spark plug in cylinder #2 was new. The contact continued driving the vehicle; however, a month later, several warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #2. The dealer recommended replacing the fuel injectors and that an alignment of the radar was needed, and there was a failure with the transmission fluid, the CVT, and a software failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was previously included in a recall for the failure; however, the recall repair was already performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11717179

Incident

Sep 11, 2025

I purchased this 2018 Honda Accord Sport brand new from the dealership, relying on Honda’s longstanding reputation for reliability and longevity. At approximately 120,000 miles, the vehicle suffered a blown head gasket during normal driving conditions. The vehicle has been properly maintained according to Honda’s recommended schedule. I have already opened a claim with Honda corporate regarding this issue and am currently awaiting their response. Despite proper maintenance, this catastrophic engine failure occurred, suggesting a design or manufacturing defect rather than misuse. This issue presents both a safety concern and a substantial financial burden, as I am a single mother of four who depends on this vehicle for daily transportation. Based on reports from other owners, this appears to be a widespread defect affecting 10th-generation Honda Accords with the 1.5L turbo engine, which I respectfully request NHTSA investigate.

NHTSA ID

11715419

Incident

Jan 28, 2026