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

Wastegate actuator is no longer working and turbo on vehicle is no longer working as needed. My car currently has every warning light on the dashboard and fails to provide all advanced driver assistance systems that come with my vehicle making it unsafe. The problem has been addressed by Honda dealership service themselves as my code came back that it is a turbocharger wastegate sensor issue. Car has not been inspected by a manufacturer, police, insurance. All warning lights went off on car over two years ago from 2026.

NHTSA ODI 11721635

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

It appears to be either the fuel pump or fuel injectors, at certain times of acceleration the car stops accelerating, the engine light blinks, I have to shut the car off and restart it. It seems like if I slow my car down then try to accelerate, like going through a roundabout or sitting in stop and go traffic really seems to set the problem off. I took it to a Honda dealership a couple years ago and they informed me it was fuel injectors but they were not in stock, they assured me the car was fine to drive, I called a couple times to ask if they had gotten the part, they sternly told me they would call me, anyways they never called me and it still happens, there is a recall out for other 2018 Honda Accords that seem to have a similar problem. All my lights are constantly on due to this problem, none of the features on my car work. Sometimes if I reset my battery the lights are fine for a while but the problem still persists. If I "Rev" my car up and gas it pretty hard when I immediately start driving it seems to help.

NHTSA ODI 11721578

The high-pressure fuel pump on my 2018 Honda Accord failed even though the vehicle had previously been repaired under a recall for the same issue. While driving, multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, including the check engine light and other system warnings. The vehicle began running rough and lost power, creating a dangerous driving condition, especially in traffic. This is the second occurrence of fuel system failure despite the recall repair being completed. The recurrence of this issue raises serious safety concerns, as sudden power loss or engine malfunction while driving increases the risk of an accident. The vehicle is currently not safe to drive due to the risk of stalling or loss of power. The problem appears to be related to the high-pressure fuel pump system that was previously addressed under recall.

NHTSA ODI 11721597

I was driving on the interstate and suddenly I could no longer accelerate, my engine light started blinking and I had to pull over to a gas station as my car would not go above 25-30mph. I turned it off and back on and it work so I took it home. I took it to Honda’s the next day and after diagnosis they said that my head gasket was damaged causing coolant leaking into my engine cylinder and warping of the engine. They recommended an engine replacement. I never had any warning indications on my dashboard until then. I filed a case with American Honda to assist with repairs and it has been over two weeks without resolution. I no longer felt safe continuing to drive my car and I traded my car in for safety.

NHTSA ODI 11721294

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

My vehicle announced to me it has a Supplemental Restraint System Problem. See your dealer.

NHTSA ODI 11720083

I wanted to report that this vehicle, according to Carfax, had 169,236 miles on August 15, 2025, and 9/4/25, and 85,326 miles on January 24, 2026. That's only 4 months! The odometer was tampered with, and this seller knew it was altered because it went through 5 different sellers in those 4 months. I don't know if their reports are true or false, which is why I'm writing to see if you can help me.

NHTSA ODI 11720297

Engine Head gasket failure even after regular proper maintenance

NHTSA ODI 11719601

I had to have $6400.00 worth of repairs (2018 Honda Accord Sport ) due to stalling & engine light came on and then it wouldn't go-due to the head gasket not being recalled and since they had the engine out, i also had to have other repairs they said were necessary plus car rental on top of that...I had only made my 2 car pymts when this happened!

NHTSA ODI 11717785

Car initiated emergency auto break while traveling on the freeway at high speed (70 plus mph) in Phoenix, AZ for no reasons. There were no objects or cars within 500 feet, however I was approaching an overpass. This occurred multiple times on the freeway and on local roads. Reported to Honda, no fix.

NHTSA ODI 11717528

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

My dashboard lite up like a Christmas tree. I took my car to Honda dealership. They put it on the diagnostic machine. A blown head gasket, Honda quoted me a repair price of $4400.

NHTSA ODI 11716763

The cylinder head gasket on this vehicle has failed, causing engine coolant to leak into the combustion chambers (coolant intrusion). This has resulted in a recurring and dangerous loss of motive power that has put my safety and the safety of other motorists at risk on multiple occasions. Specifically, the vehicle has repeatedly entered "Limp Mode" while in active traffic, causing a sudden, drastic loss of acceleration that left me unable to maintain the flow of traffic or safely maneuver. This component failure is available for inspection upon request. The problem has been officially confirmed by Holman Honda of Fort Lauderdale, where technicians diagnosed the blown head gasket and confirmed the presence of coolant in the cylinders. The manufacturer's authorized dealership has inspected the vehicle and provided a formal repair estimate. Prior to the multiple "Limp Mode" failures, the vehicle exhibited clear warning symptoms starting in late 2025, including violent engine stuttering and a "shimmering" vibration during cold starts. Additionally, a distinct "gurgling" or bubbling sound was audible behind the dashboard, indicating combustion gases displacing coolant. During the actual failure events, the dashboard displayed a "Christmas Tree" effect of warning lamps, including "Emissions System Problem," "Brake System," and "Power Steering System" alerts, which disabled critical safety and driver-assist features while the vehicle was in motion. This persistent design defect has created a high risk for rear-end collisions and total engine seizure.

NHTSA ODI 11715808

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

Head gasket failure. Dealership did inspect vehicle and said this is a common issue. No warning prior to headgasket issue.

NHTSA ODI 11715425

Sacramento ca , Car stopped in the middle of the highway couldn’t accelerate, won’t let me advance past 20 mph gas fuel was changed earlier in 2025 but I’m sure it’s the fuel injectors

NHTSA ODI 11714983

My supplemental restraint system problem keeps appearing on my dash at random times, sometimes will go away then sometimes will stay for over a year. I have heard this is ongoing and Honda has not issued a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11714762

After I took my car in for a fuel pump recall, it caused one of my injectors to be bad which will be 3000 dollars fix out of my pocket. this happened a few months after I took my car to the dealership, and it was doing fine before taken to the dealership for the recall. there are many other owners who reported they experienced the same thing, with all the dash lights came on but couldn’t find the exact cause until they replace their fuel injectors. First, all the alarms appeared, even the engine light was on but they would all go away after a few days. It had been on and off randomly for the past 4 months. the car is still driving fine but the alarms will pop up and stay for a few weeks to a month. It would randomly not letting me accelerate and slow me down, which if i was driving on the highway all the way in the left with traffic, that would cause a traffic jam and eventually an accident with other drivers.

NHTSA ODI 11714766

The first time was at 93,000 miles where my car started to surge and went into limp mode but once I shut the car off and turned it back on everything went away and the car was fine. It did happen a couple more times, but as soon as I would shut the car off and turn it back on the code was cleared and by the time I got it to a mechanic there was no known code.This last time was at 220,000 miles I was just entering the freeway and once on the freeway, my car started to power surge really bad jolting me back-and-forth back-and-forth. This did not let me continue to finish reaching my highway rate of speed with cars coming up fast behind me nearly hitting me. Car continued to surge, and then went into limp mode and I had to pull over on the side of the freeway. I brought my car into Honda of San Bruno, California. They informed me after inspection that I had a cylinder three misfire due to a bad head gasket. They are receiving 3 to 4 of these a day and is a huge problem. I later found out that there’s a class action lawsuit for this head gasket failure that put me in danger and now has my car sitting in front of my house unable to drive.

NHTSA ODI 11714675

Serval warning lights come on in my vehicle I’ve have seen this happen in other models of this car and nothing has fixed it. Car drives fine.

NHTSA ODI 11714306

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

Headgasket seems to be forming a leak. Checked coolant today, zero leaks on coolant system but coolant was extremely low. It is sad to see that Honda has become so unreliable.

NHTSA ODI 11714076