What 1,812 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Accord Fhev

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 ODI 11749726

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 ODI 11748951

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 ODI 11745174

All of my dash lights are on.

NHTSA ODI 11741402

Blown head gasket after multiple spark plug replacements for misfires.

NHTSA ODI 11738602

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 ODI 11736007

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 ODI 11735520

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 ODI 11732960

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 ODI 11732533

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 ODI 11731653

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 ODI 11725218

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 ODI 11724864

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 ODI 11724958

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 ODI 11724260

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 ODI 11724001

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 ODI 11723376

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 ODI 11721898

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 ODI 11721645

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 ODI 11721764

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 ODI 11720794

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 ODI 11717179

The car can't start because of the recall

NHTSA ODI 11717378

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 ODI 11715419

Transmission keeps malfunctioning from 1-2 and 2-3 gear shifts. Mainly prominent on the 2-3 gear shift having issues. Severe transmission jerk and sometimes slams into the next gear. This has been happening since I bought the car at 52k miles and it is currently at 62k miles. It can be available for inspection upon request. It also jerks on downshift. The transmission fluid has been drained and filled with Honda genuine atf 2.0 but the issue still persists after the service. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer. It has put my safety at risk because in low speed traffic my speed is unpredictable and I am worried of hitting a car in front of me. It is also an issue for vehicles behind me as well because the vehicle cannot find the gear and doesn't accelerate properly. When it slams into the next gear it seems to be a severe safety hazard for me and my passengers.

NHTSA ODI 11714074

The vehicle experienced a catastrophic engine malfunction resulting in a no-start condition. The vehicle is currently inoperable and is available for inspection upon request. The engine failure caused the vehicle to lose power and become unreliable, creating a risk of breakdown while driving, which could have resulted in being stranded in traffic or an unsafe location and posed a risk to my personal safety and the safety of others. Yes. An independent repair facility confirmed the vehicle would not start and diagnosed the engine as failed. The vehicle was subsequently towed to another facility, where the condition was again documented. The vehicle has been inspected by independent repair facilities. The extended warranty company, Route 66, reviewed the claim and denied coverage based on their assessment. No inspection by the manufacturer or law enforcement has occurred. Prior to the failure, the vehicle exhibited warning indicators and operational issues, including overheating symptoms. These issues worsened over time and ultimately resulted in complete engine failure and a no-start condition.

NHTSA ODI 11713797