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2018 Honda Accord Fhev

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

1,812 owner complaints · 6 recalls · data verified July 28, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Buy-rated alternatives from this era

Other 20162020 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict, worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2018 Honda Accord Fhev.

2016
Ford Explorer Police Intercept
Buy100/100
2016
Toyota RAV4 Hv
Buy99/100
2019
GMC Sierra Denali
Buy99/100

Why caution?

6 recall campaigns (4 safety-critical). Confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.

Engine problems dominate (28% of complaints, typically reported near 83k miles).

Score breakdown, by factor

Full methodology →

#546 of 578Among the 2018 models with a matured record, the 2018 Honda Accord Fhev ranks #546, scoring higher than 5% of them. See the 2018 ranking →

Complaint volume51
Severity59
Recall load53
Trend45

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20172026 YTD

How it crashes

NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.

5/5 overall

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2018 Honda Accord 4 DR FWD

Front crash
Side crash
Rollover

Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 9%

Stability control: StandardForward collision warning: StandardLane departure warning: Standard

2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.

NHTSA crash-test photo, 2018 Honda Accord 4 DR FWD

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2018 Honda Accord Fhev, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miEngine~83k mi · 513 reportsFuel system~70k mi · 458 reportsDriver assistance~51k mi · 326 reportsElectrical system~50k mi · 276 reportsBrakes~18k mi · 251 reports

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.

Engine

28%

513 complaints · typically near 83k mi · 366 in the last 2 years

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 gener…

Read the engine complaints →

Fuel system

25%

458 complaints · typically near 70k mi · 248 in the last 2 years

Had in tank fuel pump replaced as recall stated. After 1 year went bad again. Honda refused to cover the repair. My car stalled on the interstate in traffic running ar…

Read the fuel system complaints →

Driver assistance

18%

326 complaints · typically near 51k mi · 88 in the last 2 years

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH with the cruise control engaged, the brakes suddenly applied without application.…

Read the driver assistance complaints →

Electrical system

15%

276 complaints · typically near 50k mi · 88 in the last 2 years

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 aft…

Read the electrical system complaints →

Check it against this car’s mileage

Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.

miles

We can place 5 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.

Read all 1,812 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 54 crash/fire/injury reports →

Recalls (6)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Air Bags · 26V332000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

Fuel System, Gasoline · 23V858000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Seat Belts · 23V158000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.

Risk: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are NDA, QDB, BDC, MDD, LD9. TDF, FDG, ODH, YDI, ZDE.

Electrical System · 20V771000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, and 2019-2020 Insight vehicles. A software error may cause intermittent or continuous disruptions in communication between the Body Control Module (BCM) and other components. This may result in malfunctions of various systems such as the windshield wipers and defroster, rearview camera, exterior lights, audible warning of a stopped vehicle, and power window operation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems" and number 111, "Rear Visibility" as well as FMVSS numbers 104, 108, 114, 118, and 305.

Risk: Various system malfunctions such as inoperative windshield wipers, defroster, rearview camera, or exterior lighting can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the BCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 22, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is X95.

Fuel System, Gasoline · 20V314000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 22, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Back Over Prevention · 18V629000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Accord and 2019 Honda Insight vehicles. In certain scenarios, the back-up camera center display may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Risk: If the rearview camera display does not show what is behind the vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the display audio unit software, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K2G and V2F.

Questions to ask the seller

Questions worth asking the seller of this Honda before you buy, drawn from its public record:

  1. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 Honda Accord Fhev. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
  2. Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 83k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  3. Owners of this model report fuel system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 70k miles). Has this car shown any fuel system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  4. Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
  5. How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
  6. Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2018 Honda ACCORD FHEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2018? See how every Accord Fhev model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2018 Honda Accord Fhev against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

See what owners are saying about other cars →

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2018 Honda Accord Fhev as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.