What 1,812 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Accord Plug In Hybrid

Vehicle will sometimes automatically emergency brake with nothing in front of it

NHTSA ODI 11696213

The issue first appeared during my initial test drive before purchase in 2019. The salesman stated it was a low-battery issue from the car sitting on the lot. Since then, the same problem has recurred multiple times. The vehicle displays multiple warning lights — “Electric Powertrain Fault,” Check Engine, EPS, and VSA — with reduced power, jerky acceleration, and temporary loss of throttle response. This poses a safety risk when merging or crossing intersections. Vehicle: 2018 Honda Accord Sport 1.5T, approximately 52,000 miles. Diagnostic codes retrieved include U0401-68 (ECM/Electric Powertrain Communication Failure), U0416-68 (VSA/EPS System Malfunction), and P0302 (Cylinder #2 Misfire). These faults have occurred despite replacement of spark plugs, ignition coils, and fuel injectors (all OEM Honda parts). Dealerships have not been able to permanently correct the issue. The problem appears related to the ECM or communication network between the powertrain and stability systems. The sudden loss of power and unpredictable throttle response during normal driving creates a serious safety hazard.

NHTSA ODI 11695045

When it is cold outside my ACC light comes on and when I started my car the other day it read Emissons Service Problem Avoid Heavy Acceleration and High Speed. That was just 1 among 7 other service warning that popped up.

NHTSA ODI 11687247

I was driving on a four-lane highway using adaptive cruise control, gaining on a vehicle ahead. When the cruise control picked up the vehicle, I accelerated slightly, used left turn signal and began changing lanes, the warning for collision mitigation came on and the cruise control disengaged. Continued driving home and the warning continued, and cruise control would not function. Next time used the car the warning light was off, and system functioned properly.

NHTSA ODI 11684187

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) This has been ongoing since i had the car and have taken to dear ship several times and they say it to happen, so they get the messages and the messages are there. I look it on google and there have several complaints about this issue and i have Honda and they are very rude about it, I have even call here and the young pay no mine what soever told me to call Honda I need mt=y problem resolve please, I am scared to drive my out state , I am [XXX] and live in North Carolina and these people cannot drive. I have pictures which I sent as attachments. Somebody Please help me. My Payments' are 655.00 a month and need to fill safe driving this vehicle INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11683486

My car be braking and nothing be in front of me.It detects something in front of me when nothing be there.

NHTSA ODI 11683045

UNKNOWN. I will be driving and automatically it will lock the brakes and nobody will be in front of me. I tried turning it off but somehow it still ends up on. This has been doing it now for some but it’s getting worse and worse. Before it would just blink on the dash “ BRAKE” but wouldn’t apply the brakes but recently it has been applying the brakes and going from 45mph to 60mph it has done it and giving bad whiplash. Now it’s starting to scare me because someone is going to end up rear - ending me and cause an accident. I tried talking to a dealership about it but they said they will look into it and never hear anything about it. I really am starting to be worried Everytime I drive my car that something bad is going to happen. This needs to be fixed and diagnosed

NHTSA ODI 11682873

If car is idling for over 1 minute, all lights on dash come on. When all lights on, car wont wont go over mph, car will randomly sputter in highway when going over 1rpm and will stall randomly. Reported on reddit by multiple people and when I went in to get it diagnosed it was the fuel injector issue

NHTSA ODI 11679914

On August 7, 2025, the automatic braking system alerted with the sign break and then proceeded to stop the car when there was no object or vehicle in front of me. This would have been extremely dangerous. If there was someone behind me this is not the first time this has occurred it has happened several times.

NHTSA ODI 11679254

Fuel pump recall. Put in an order with Honda dealer January 2024 for the pump. On February 2025 asked if they submitted the order back in January 2024? They said it was. Now it's August 2025 (20 months since) and waiting. NHTSA says if they failed to fix in a timely manner to make a report online. Is 20 months long enough? Driving with a safety recall. Second making a complaint with the 10 speed auto transmission 2nd to 3rd hard shift and 4th to 3rd hard shift. Putting stress on other components can break mounts, the transmission, axles, ect. could also launch the car into the car in front of you, in heavy (slow bumper to bumper) traffic. Wasted my own money and time draining and filling 5 quarts of honda 2.0 transmission fluid. (Also replaced the trans filter behind the warmer housing) Did not fix the issue. Contacted American Honda and they said It's out of warranty and I need to pay for diagnostic and repairs. (I just bought the car in 2023 at 45k miles. Previous owner must of felt it and should of did something while under warranty.) Honda know this issue from the beginning and hiding the issue to save money. Check the Accord forums online. It's most of us if not all the 18-20 10 speed models. Vehicle is 2018 Accord 2.0 10 speed 50k miles. Plus the normal Phantom braking and lane departure which will automatically steer you off the road, so you have to fight the steering wheel.

NHTSA ODI 11679136

Honda Accord 1.5 TURBO, Head Gasket Blown for the second time in 2 years. The problem has been reproduce by dealer and independent service center. The car shakes when you turn on the car, first indication. Then all warning lights show up on dash board.Emission system Problem, Brake system, Vehicle instability, Adapative cruise control, road departue.

NHTSA ODI 11678854

Head Gasket Blown on a 2018 Honda Accord 1.5 Turbo. Yes, yes warning lights have appeared.

NHTSA ODI 11678908

I had been driving down highway and all of a sudden my car put on brakes hard. Thank goodness no one was behind me. I had dealer turn off that feature so it wouldn't happen again. I still experience my brake light flashing when nothing in road to brake for but doesn't brake on its own. Issue having now is issues starting car and once it starts I recieved a collision mediations issue pop-up on display saying see dealer now. Cruise control issue, and on dash has traction control saying ignitionating continue driving. The braking issue started right after purchase in 2018. The starting issue started yesterday 7/25/2025.

NHTSA ODI 11676329

Parking brake suddenly engaged while in traffic car would not move. Car had to be towed brake pads were replaced but mechanic stated parking brake had defect that only the dealer can repair.

NHTSA ODI 11676185

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 started about a month ago.

NHTSA ODI 11675538

Driving down the road, no cars or obstacles in front of me. Out of nowhere the automatic emergency breaking came on. The car slammed on the breaks and very quickly came to a complete stop in the middle of the road. If there happened to be another car behind me they would have rear-ended me. There were no warnings prior to this happening.

NHTSA ODI 11674434

I was behind another vehicle with the adaptive cruise control on and been following the for some distance at a speed below the cruise control setting. Warning came on for the braking mitigation, cruise control disengaged, vehicle began coasting but did not brake. I continued home driving without any other changes, but warning stayed on. After arriving turned vehicle off and restarted, Warning did not come back on. I have not driven vehicle since. I checked and found other reports of similar problems and am filing this report. Will continue driving with extra caution and report any other occurrences.

NHTSA ODI 11674435

Emergency Braking System engaged for no apparent reason with no other vehicles on the road. Potential for rear-end collision. This was the first event. Personally inspected forward looking sensors / camera for blockage, none found. Did not notice any messages or warning during the event. Wasn't looking at the dash during the event.

NHTSA ODI 11674466

Well to start I had to replace my head gasket already last winter at 59K miles and for awhile now I had warning lights on my dash for CMBS system failure and cruise control/steering wheel controls don’t work besides the ones for music. No lane assist, none of those safety features work at all and haven’t for awhile

NHTSA ODI 11673120

Unknown

NHTSA ODI 11671400

Car goes in limp mode once the brake system lights come on. When the brake light system comes on, none of the functions for the automatic breaks or electrical portion of my vehicle works. The car will act as if it will not accelerate right before the codes start to appear on the car.

NHTSA ODI 11671069

Blown Head Gasket after taking my car in to Honda cars of Rock Hill SC, I had no issues, only took it to have the Fuel injector recall done, they did a diagnostic nothing came up, they did the fuel injector recall repair, and they asked if they could do the oil change i told them yes, a week later, my car lost power on interstate 77N in rock hill south carolina. I was going about 70 mph and it dropped from 70 to 20 mph in a matter of seconds, i had little time to get out the lane, i could have been killed or killed someone else i was terrified. Every known light on my 2018 honda accord came on, I have a video of the lights on my dashboard. I had it towed back to honda cars of rock hill on 5/30/2025 and was told I had a blown head gasket...I asked them how, they just put a fuel injector and nothing else was wrong with my car. they told me cost is $5500.00, i told them there as nothing wrong with my car prior to them doing the recall, Matt told me there was nothing i did, so i asked him what did they do to my car, I need them to replace my motor who knows what other damage happened my car had no issues.

NHTSA ODI 11668613

During interstate driving vehicle detected both road departure and engaged the emergency automated braking. The vehicle attempted to correct the "road departure" by steering the vehicle away from the perceived problem and engaged the brakes nearly causing a collision as it has done numerous times before. I have reported this to NHTSA and American Honda and await a repair of this dangerous issue. Honda has opened a case on this but have had 6 months and no response has been issued.

NHTSA ODI 11668188

This is about the 5th time this has happened to the car. All warning lights appeared spontaneously while driving. The lights would turn off if the car was turned off for a long period of time or is we disconnected battery for a long period of time. We have tried to research the problem and no one seems to know what the cause or permanent fix is.

NHTSA ODI 11666406

The vehicle was totally inoperable and suddenly came to stop was lucky that was driving in a local road where there was no vehicle, suddenly all different warning signs were coming on the dashboard and couldnt drive at all and vehicle was totally stalled. it was very dangerous situation luckliy i was just came off a very busy road otherwise coudl have been major incident. Currently the vehicle is at dealership nto sure what they will say but just wanted to report this as it is very dangerous situation

NHTSA ODI 11665556