Home · 2012 Honda Accord Fhev · Complaints

What 379 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Honda Accord Fhev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (379)Crash / fire / injury (64)Seats (64)Airbags (58)Steering (51)Engine (44)Brakes (37)Electrical system (31)Transmission & drivetrain (30)Speed control (26)Body & structure (22)Suspension (22)

44 of 379 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Mar 1, 2025SteeringEngine

1) When starting the car ( cold ) it makes a rattling sound that goes away after a few seconds and does not make this sound again until the car cools off 2) sometimes when driving the steering wheel shakes during acceleration

NHTSA ODI 11645751

Oct 2, 2023Electrical systemEngine

Car has frequent issues with starting and power loss inside and outside the car. This is my second time having a issue with my car not starting that did not have to do with the battery or alternator. I have 135xxx miles and keep up with maintenance so this is frustrating and expensive, happening months apart. The first time I had to have a new starter put in. The car also looses brightness on the dash board and in the headlights. The car stalls while starting since Ive had it.

NHTSA ODI 11547645

Jan 2, 2023AirbagsEngineFuel systemCrash

2012 Accord exl - Engine Seizure! I had the air-bag recall done about 5 years ago. None of the air-bags deployed when the 2012 exl hit a telephone pole at 20 mph and broke the telephone pole in half. I finally found out about the class action lawsuit for the excessive oil consumption yesterday (1 Qt per 1,000 miles), 2 years after the engine seizure. I spoke with Honda headquarters (1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, ca 90501) today for an hour and a half. mostly on hold waiting for [XXX] to get her stupervisor [XXX] to come to the phone. Honda Seemed to think my 2012 v6 exl is not part of the lot of cars they were supposed to fix in the excessive oil consumption class action lawsuit. If you have any advice on how I could recover any funds spent on my engine repair or if there is any recourse I could take with the airbags not deploying when I had the recall done 5 years ago at my local Honda dealer. Thanks [XXX] PS.. Cherokee Auto in North Atlanta Georgia has the car for sale with the faulty airbags… CarMax repossessed it, sold it for more than I owed them, wrote off $6500 as bad debt, and still say I owe them 750 and staying on my credit report. Pls help! TF INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11499716

Jul 8, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngine

My 2012 Honda Accord is using oil in between my 3000 mile oil changes and it should not be using that much, in between changes I put 1.5 quarts of oil in the engine. I have read that some Hondas are having this problem I only have 125000 miles on my car and take really good care of my vehicles the inside still looks new. Also the air conditioner isn’t blowing cold enough air. I purchased it in May of 2014 I love my car, my mechanic says it’s the rings in the engine, I don’t drive car erratically. Hope you can help get my car fixed correctly, My Machanic noticed this the last couple of oil changes

NHTSA ODI 11472902

May 6, 2022Engine

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated while in a drive-through with the vehicle in idle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the piston rings had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under an extended warranty associated to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,640.

NHTSA ODI 11463641

Mar 10, 2022SteeringElectrical systemEngine

Twice in the past couple of months my car has turned off while in drive and I lost power steering/braking. Both times were luckily in my apartment parking lot. They occured about 10-15 seconds after backing out and putting it in drive. The second time I almost slid into a car driving by since I wasn't able to brake.

NHTSA ODI 11456010

Sep 11, 2021AirbagsBody & structureEngine

I don't have a air bag due to someone stealing the whole air bag

NHTSA ODI 11432594

Aug 27, 2021Engine

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the engine was misfiring in cylinder number 1. The contact stated that the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed at a local mechanic and was repaired but continued to experience failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

NHTSA ODI 11430720

May 12, 2021Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED UNDRIVEABLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000.

NHTSA ODI 11416283

Mar 25, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngine

THIS VEHICLE CONSUMES SO MUCH OIL TO THE POINT THAT THERE IS NOT HARDLY ANY OIL WHEN THE OIL CHANGE IS DUE

NHTSA ODI 11404877

Jan 11, 2021Engine

ENGINE SEIZURE

NHTSA ODI 11387439

Dec 22, 2020Engine

I AM EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE OUTLINED IN HONDA TSB 09-010, AT COLD START-UP, THE ENGINE RATTLES LOUDLY FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. NOTICE ISSUE AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE 95,000 MILES. WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE DEALERSHIP CHECK THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE IN THE COLD FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. PLUS VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT. NOW THAT EXTENDED WARRENTY HAS EXPIRED, WONDERING IF THIS A RECURRING ISSUE, WOULD A RECALL FORCE HONDA TO RESOLVE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11384499

Sep 22, 2020Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST LIGHTS CAME ON FIRST WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. THE OBD CODES WERE SCANNED AND THE CODE P0341 WAS READ. THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND THE P0341 CODES WERE CLEARED. THE SECOND TIME THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE OBD CODES WERE SCANNED AGAIN AND THE CODE P1009 WAS READ MEANING THE VTC ACTUATOR IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH ALL 2008-2012 ACCORDS AND THERE HAS BEEN SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED REGARDING THE PROBLEM. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ABOUT THE ISSUE. IF THERE IS NOT ALREADY, THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ISSUED.

NHTSA ODI 11360522

Dec 30, 2019Engine

UPON START OF I HEARD A RATTLE AND IT STOPPED AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS. I GOT ONLINE AND SEE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MY HONDA THE VTC ACTUATOR GOES OUT FREQUENTLY.

NHTSA ODI 11292197

May 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION HAS STUTTERING/JERKING AT LOW SPEEDS IN 1ST OR 2ND GEAR DAILY.

NHTSA ODI 11209464

May 6, 2019SteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngineCrash

THE TIMING BETWEEN SHIFTS ON THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTS ARE GOOD SOMETIMES AND WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS ON IT MAKES NOISES AND CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE LATENCY IN GEAR SHIFTS, THE FRONT WHEEL HUB COVERS FALL OFF CAUSING THE TIRE TO ROLL OVER THE PLASTIC AND RIP IT OFF THE BODY , THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS DEFINITELY COMPROMISED BECAUSE THE CAR OVERHEATS TOO FAST ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER, THE DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD GET CAUGHT UP IN AND AROUND THE ENGINE AND AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM FROM THE WHEEL COVERS BEING FAULTY THE PARKING BREAK DOESN'T WORK WELL AND IT'S BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR ALSO THE TIE RODS WEAR OUT SO FAST CAUSING MAJOR PROBLEMS WHILE ON HIGHWAY SHAKING AND VIBRATING THE CAR AND STEERING WHEEL, ALSO THE CAR BURNS OIL SO FAST THAT YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE OIL AND FILTER AT MAX 3000 MILES, BEING THAT THE NEWER MODELS ARE HAVING TIMING BELT RECALLS IN JUNE 2019 THIS LEADS ME TO QUESTION WHY MY MODEL WOULDN'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUES IF NOT WORSE

NHTSA ODI 11205928

Mar 29, 2019Speed controlEngineFuel systemCrashFire4 injuries1 death

DRIVING MY HONDA ON A COLD NIGHT AT 20 DEGREE, I HIT MY BRAKES AND THE CAR ACCELRATED AT A EXTREME HIGH SPEED, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND CRASHED TOTALLING MY VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI 11192434

Feb 4, 2019AirbagsBody & structureEngineCrash2 injuries

'TAKATA RECALL'. I HAVE TAKEN MEASURES FOR THE SAFETY RECALLS, ADHERING TO REQUIRED DATES PROVIDED BY NHTSA OF THIS VEHICLE, ONE BEING THE AIR BAGS RECALLS. I WAS INVOLVED IN A RECENT CAR WRECK (JANUARY 12TH, 2019)AT WHICH THE DRIVER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED FROM STEERING WHEEL. THE OPPOSING PASSENGER RAN A RED LIGHT AT A STREET/INTERSECTION PERPENDICULAR TO THE STREET I WAS TRAVELING ON. I T-BONED HER 2010 HONDA ACCORD IN THE REAR PANEL, DRIVER'S SIDE. I WAS TRAVELING AT SPEED LIMIT, APPROX 42 MPH AND SHE WAS TRAVELING AT EXCESSIVE SPEED BUT I AM UNAWARE OF HER SPEED LIMIT. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED IN A STRAIGHT PATH BUT COMPLETELY TOTALED THE FRONT END AND DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT PANEL, FRAME, ETC. AS FOR MY MY INJURY, I FELT BURNT ON BOTH WRISTS AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, BUT DUE TO SHOCK OF ACCIDENT I DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. OVER A COURSE OF 4-5 DAYS MY LEFT WRIST SHOWED SIGNIFICANT BURNS AND ONLY NOW, 23 DAYS LATER, HAS THE LEFT WRIST BURN BEGUN TO HEAL BUT WILL MOST DEFINITELY LEAVE AN OBVIOUS SCAR.

NHTSA ODI 11174322

Dec 17, 2018Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CALLED BURNS HONDA (325 NJ-73, MARLTON, NJ 08053, 1-888-667-2937) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ODI 11161923

Dec 14, 2018Engine

VTC ACUATOR IS FAULTY. FOR 2 YEARS NOW I'VE HAD A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I START THE CAR AND NO CAR SHOP HAS BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG UP UNTIL YESTERDAY I FOUND OUT IT'S THE VTC ACTUATOR THAT'S MAKING THE GRINDING SOUND AND IT'S BEEN DRAINING MY OIL. I CALL AMERICA HONDA TO SEE IF IT HAS A RECALL FOR THIS FAULTY PART AND ALL I AM TOLD IS THAT IF I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 3 YEARS OR UNDER 35 THOUSAND MILES THEN IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHICH THE CAR IS 2012. SO THE $700 THAT ALL SHOPS WANT TO FIX THIS PART IS BEING PUT ALL ON THE OWNER WITH NO WARNING THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN. THIS HAS HAD A LAWSUIT BEFORE FOR THE EXCESSIVE OIL BEING LOST BUT NOT FOR THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WHICH IS THE VTC ACTUATOR. HONDA NEEDS TO RECALL ALL OF THE CARS THAT THEY HAVE SOLD WITH THE FAULTY VTC ACUATORS AND PAY FOR THIS MISTAKE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS. WHEN MY ENGINE DIES IT WILL BE ON HONDA FOR NOT PROPERLY MAKING AND SELLING THESE FAULTY CARS.

NHTSA ODI 11161447

Jun 5, 2018Engine

ENGINE GRINDS DURING COLD STARTUP. ENGINE NOISE PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER DURING DRIVING AND IDLING. HONDA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND FINALLY ISSUED A FIX BUT MY CAR IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD THAT THEY'VE ADVERTISED. I FEEL CHEATED BECAUSE HONDA SEEMS TO HAVE WAITED UNTIL ENOUGH CARS WERE OUT OF WARRANTY BEFORE ISSUING A COSTLY FIX THAT THEY'VE KNOWN OF FOR CLOSE TO A DECADE.

NHTSA ODI 11099961

May 31, 2018AirbagsSpeed controlEngineCrash

I WAS AT A STOP SIGN ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I COULDN'T STOP IT - BUT A TREE ABOUT 20 FEET AWAY DID. EVEN IF I HAD FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WOULD NOT HAVE GONE THAT FAST THAT QUICKLY. I HAVE READ OF OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. HONDA JUST SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11098960

Feb 12, 2018Engine

THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL ACTUATOR MAKES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED IN THE MORNING FOR THE FIRST TIME. THAT IS THE ONLY TIME IT RATTLES; THE FIRST START OF THE DAY. THE MECHANIC SAYS IF THE ACTUATOR FAILS THE CAR WILL STOP WHEREVER IT IS. IF I'M IN TRAFFIC IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT; I LIVE IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA WHERE TRAFFIC IS USUALLY HEAVY WHICH COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY HONDA IS REPAIRING THE VTC ACTUATOR ON SOME HONDA ACCORDS, BUT MY VIN IS NOT ON THE FIX LIST, SO HONDA RECOGNIZES IT IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM, AND IT IS WIDE SPREAD ENOUGH THAT THEY ARE REPAIRING SOME HONDA ACCORDS WITH THE RIGHT VIN. THE INTERNET IS FILLED WITH HONDA ACCORD OWNER COMPLAINTS SO I KNOW THE PROBLEM IS HIGH IN NUMBERS. THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL, STATE OF CALIFORNIA REFERRED ME TO YOUR AGENCY AND ENCOURAGED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM DUE TO AN ENGINEERING MISSTEP IN PLANNING AND PRODUCTION. FURTHER I THINK IT POSES A SAFETY ISSUE FOR HONDA ACCORD OWNERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IF THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS AS THE AUTO TECHNICIANS SAY IT WILL. I THINK HONDA RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM, BUT ARE ADDRESSING IT IN A PIECE-MEAL FASHION RATHER THAN ISSUING A RECALL. I HOPE YOU CAN GIVE ME AND OTHER HONDA ACCORD OWNERS SOME RELIEF. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11072415

Oct 27, 2017Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

WHILE DRIVING CAR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ENGINE RAN ROUGH NEXT THE TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON, WILL NOT TURN OFF. NOW AFTER CHECKING THE OIL ADDED LESS THAN A QAURT,STILL ROUGH MISFIRES.

NHTSA ODI 11040477

Sep 29, 2017Engine

THE CAR MAKES A RATTLING NOISE WHEN I START THE ENGINE. IT STOPS AFTER A FEW SECONDS.I CHECKED THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS GOOD.

NHTSA ODI 11030523

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Working with the data? Download all 379 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 28, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Honda Accord Fhev verdict →