Honda Accord 2008–2012
8th generation (North America) · CP2/CP3 sedan, CS1/CS2 coupe
NHTSA data through 12 August 20264,281 complaints, 3,033 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 15,000 and 76,552 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 26 complaints (0.9%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 938
- 25%
- 15,000
- Median
- 32,000
- 75%
- 76,552
- 90%
- 120,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 484 | 16.0% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 112 | 3.7% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 135 | 4.5% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 244 | 8.0% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 258 | 8.5% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 196 | 6.5% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 147 | 4.8% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 108 | 3.6% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 82 | 2.7% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 77 | 2.5% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 70 | 2.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 84 | 2.8% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 99 | 3.3% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 79 | 2.6% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 69 | 2.3% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 68 | 2.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 76 | 2.5% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 57 | 1.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 60 | 2.0% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 52 | 1.7% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 65 | 2.1% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 42 | 1.4% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 29 | 1.0% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 34 | 1.1% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 39 | 1.3% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 33 | 1.1% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 17 | 0.6% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 23 | 0.8% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 37 | 1.2% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 17 | 0.6% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 20 | 0.7% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 10 | 0.3% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 19 | 0.6% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 4 | 0.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 15 | 0.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 10 | 0.3% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 18 | 0.6% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 8 | 0.3% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 6 | 0.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 4 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 26 | 0.9% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 4,281 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008–2012 Honda Accord, and 3,033 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 15,000 and 76,552 miles. The median is 32,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (19.3% of complaints, typically around 79,000 miles), the hydraulic brake circuit (16.0% of complaints, typically around 21,000 miles), the engine (11.8% of complaints, typically around 82,000 miles).
14 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Airbag system79,000median 78,778 miles, middle half 47,000 to 108,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit21,000median 21,000 miles, middle half 16,000 to 26,000
- Engine82,000median 82,000 miles, middle half 55,000 to 113,000
- Electrical system48,000median 48,000 miles, middle half 5,000 to 98,000
- Brakes37,000median 36,570 miles, middle half 24,000 to 60,000
- Seats1,500median 1,500 miles, middle half 150 to 33,000
- Transmission and driveline62,000median 62,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 100,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 826 | 19.3% | 79,000 | 47,000–108,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 685 | 16.0% | 21,000 | 16,000–26,000 |
| Engine | 505 | 11.8% | 82,000 | 55,000–113,000 |
| Electrical system | 235 | 5.5% | 48,000 | 5,000–98,000 |
| Brakes | 210 | 4.9% | 37,000 | 24,000–60,000 |
| Seats | 207 | 4.8% | 1,500 | 150–33,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 198 | 4.6% | 62,000 | 20,000–100,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 160 | 3.7% | 67,000 | 30,000–117,000 |
| Steering | 157 | 3.7% | 31,000 | 5,000–62,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 148 | 3.5% | 827 | 174–10,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 32,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 19.3% of complaints (826 reports, 370 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 78,778 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 47,441 and 108,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 16.0% of complaints (685 reports, 610 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 21,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,560 and 26,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 11.8% of complaints (505 reports, 359 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 82,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 112,650 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 5.5% of complaints (235 reports, 179 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 48,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,000 and 98,000 miles.
The brakes account for 4.9% of complaints (210 reports, 164 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 36,570 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,844 and 60,000 miles.
Seats account for 4.8% of complaints (207 reports, 142 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 1,500 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 150 and 33,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2008 model year drew the most — 1,855 complaints — while 2011 drew the fewest at 358. The median year sits at 703.
That makes 2008 an outlier: roughly 2.6 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 14 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (11), the transmission and driveline (1), the electrical system (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 4,281 complaints filed against this generation, 319 reported a crash; 42 reported a fire; 315 reported an injury; 8 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.5% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 15,000 and 76,552 miles, with a median of 32,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the hydraulic brake circuit are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The hydraulic brake circuit in particular shows a median failure mileage of 21,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine 2008–2012 V6
J35 V6 Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) deactivates cylinders, allowing oil past the rings of the deactivated bank; results in excessive oil consumption, fouled/oil-soaked spark plugs, misfires and premature failure of the active engine mounts. Subject of a class-action settlement covering 2008-2012 V6 models.
Brakes 2008–2010
Rear brake pads wear out in roughly 15,000-20,000 miles because the electronic brake distribution calibration applies excessive force to the rear wheels; subject of a class-action settlement.
Airbags 2008–2009
Unexpected side-curtain airbag deployment traced to a software fault; roughly 300,000 Accords recalled.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1,855 | 1,374 |
| 2009 | 858 | 630 |
| 2010 | 703 | 454 |
| 2011 | 358 | 212 |
| 2012 | 507 | 363 |
Recalls (14)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 19V502000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 19V378000 | 2019-07-05 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 19V182000 | 2019-04-10 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 18V661000 | 2018-11-06 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 18V268000 | 2018-06-22 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 18V042000 | 2018-02-16 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 17V545000 | 2017-10-30 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 17V030000 | 2017-02-22 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 16V346000 | 2016-11-15 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 16V056000 | 2016-11-15 | Air Bags |
| 12V030000 | 2012-02-24 | Air Bags:side/Window |
| 11V395000 | 2011-08-27 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm) |
| 11V004000 | 2011-01-24 | Electrical System |
| 10V640000 | 2010-12-23 | Suspension |
What owners reported
The 2008 Honda Accord ex-l nav 4 cylinder suffers from poor headlight performance. While driving at night, the headlight intensity frequently fluctuates causing distraction and reducing nighttime visibility. *Tr my interpretation of the local Honda dealership diagnosis is provided below. Poor headlight…
2008 · Electrical system
On all 2008 Accord ex-l 4 cylinder models, the exterior lights (most noticeable on headlights) momentarily dim (flicker) whenever the a/c compressor cycles on. This seems to be caused by the current draw of the two engine cooling fans. According to Honda, this behavior is "normal" and is controlled by the eld…
2008 · Exterior lighting
2008 Honda Accord ex sedan - steering wheel shakes/vibrates at highway speeds (60-65 MPH). I fear that this creates a safety hazard since front wheels are continually shaking. The car has been to the dealer 3 times and the problem was not repaired. Currently car has 1,200 miles. The problem has been experienced…
2008 · Steering
2008 Honda Accord lxp 4 cyl. Auto purchased 9/23/2007. Product/ manufacturing/engineering defect in rear brakes - premature rear brake wear. Rear brakes require new pads at approximately 22,000 to 24,000 miles. Consumers are unknowingly driving cars under warranty with rear pads below safety level. Neither the…
2008 · Electronic brake control
Built from 3,033 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page