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

My vehicle is losing power while traveling on the road. All of the system lights are flashing and the gas mileage is ridiculous. It sputters uncontrollably and just stalls out and drops speed really quick. I’m really concerned for my well being. I’ve spent so much money trying to fix these issues and I don’t think it’s fair to me or any other Honda owner to have to be held responsible for something that is clearly a manufacturing issue. Although there was not a crash during this incident, it’s very dangerous and I’m terrified to drive my car but I have no other transportation right now.

NHTSA ODI 11696889

3 weeks after having this vehicle, the car started running hot and experiencing all types of jerking problems. I started to do my research on why suddenly the car was running hot, jerking, and other things. I noticed a thread line expressing the EXACT same issues that I was experiencing which were from bad head gaskets. I took my vehicle to the dealership to have this issue checked and verify. I also had an independent mechanic shop evaluate the vehicle as well. Both results were the same. This is a design flaw on the manufacture behalf and I reached out to the Honda Corporate only to be denied assistance with fixing the known issue because it was “out of the date” range for their goodwill claim. This vehicle will run hot and you will have to pull over on the side of the road to allow engine to cool in order for it to operate.

NHTSA ODI 11696716

While accelerating car jerks at times. At time car will go in limp mode I’ll have to safely try to get to side of road turn car off. Restart and continue driving. I’ve changed spark plugs, coil packs, turbo, fuel injectors, fuel pump and battery. I continue to put money into my car and nothing helps.

NHTSA ODI 11696694

Car had 80 thousand no heating or oil problems has been maintained through Honda. Recall on fuel pump replaced. Car starts rough, took it in a diagnostic was done revealing a possible leak near 3 cylinder possibly head gasket. Code P0304 came up with all break light codes reading. No oil leak. No over heating. Honda indicates blown head gasket.

NHTSA ODI 11695931

Lost coolant and engine over heated. Inspected by shop and determined that the coolant is leaking into the engine due to head gasket issue. This could cause extreme engineer overheating and cause fire in engine. based on available information from other owners of the accord 1.5T 2018, this is common issue.

NHTSA ODI 11695378

Mechanic shop verified blown head gasket. Vehicle never overheated and was diagnosed after vehicle began to feel like it was misfiring. Mechanic used scope and found coolant leaking into head.

NHTSA ODI 11695347

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving approximately 50-55 MPH, the vehicle was jerking before shutting off. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact was able to move over safely. The vehicle was restarted and continued to drive. The ABS, steering, battery, engine, and Lane Departure warning lights were flashing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Shelor Motor Mile (270 Jarrett Dr SE, Christiansburg, VA 24073), who confirmed that the fuel pump had not been serviced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11694914

My 2018 Honda Accord Sport has experienced repeated engine and turbocharger problems related to a likely head gasket failure. For nearly two years, I had to replace the spark plugs every six months without ever getting a check-engine light. When I brought the vehicle to Hardin Honda in Anaheim, the dealer ran a test and said the head gasket was fine at that time. However, the issues continued, and eventually, the head gasket and turbocharger both failed. I can't spent about $4,000 in repairs, and I lost significant time without my vehicle, which affected my ability to work. Additional Details: Honda replaced my fuel pump twice. The first failure caused my engine to go into limp mode on the freeway, which was extremely dangerous and also damaged the turbocharger. Honda replaced the engine computer (ECU) only six months after I purchased the car. When I contacted Honda corporate, they admitted to being aware of this issue but said they would only offer reimbursement if a recall was issued in the future. Safety Concern: The sudden loss of power at highway speeds is a serious safety hazard. This issue appears to be widespread among owners of the 1.5L turbo engines, and many drivers are reporting similar head gasket and turbocharger failures. Requested Action: I am requesting a formal investigation into the 1.5L turbo engine design and related head gasket and turbocharger failures in 2018 Honda Accords. These problems pose a clear safety risk and result in high out-of-pocket repair costs for owners.

NHTSA ODI 11694992

Head casket issue caused the engine to go bad .. every light on dash board is on

NHTSA ODI 11694808

Head gasket problem. Coolant leaking into cylinder #2, head gasket needs replacing. The car is currently at a Honda dealership & they inspected/ confirmed that this was the issue. They expressed this was a common issue with this car. The first signs of issues happened while driving uphill on the freeway, the car started to “jump” when trying to accelerate. A couple of minutes later, the car would not accelerate while driving & the check engine light turned on. The second time, this happened much quicker. In a span of a couple of seconds, the car “jumped” while driving on the freeway again, and slowed down and would not accelerate, but various lights on the dash turned on this time. This is obviously very dangerous as a car suddenly decelerating while driving can cause the driver and others on the road to crash. There were no warning lights on prior to the first incident.

NHTSA ODI 11694347

I have a 2018 Honda accord 1.5t I have always done oil changes and maintenance accordingly. My car went into limp mode over the summer. I brought it to my dealership who said the head gasket was bad and it was going to cost over 5,000$ to fix. This is a known problem on these cars as I have gathered information all over the internet. Honda refuses to do the right thing and have a recall. I do not have the money to replace the head gasket at the hefty dealership level. I have been waiting over 3 months in an attempt of a DIY replacement. The company I have been ordering with has had many issues and I am still without a vehicle. The vehicle only has 138,000 miles

NHTSA ODI 11694354

The fuel injectors became faulty at about 90,000 miles, a mechanic could not identify the issue until about 110,000 miles. A blow head gasket followed.

NHTSA ODI 11694249

100k miles on our Honda when there showed Misfire in cylinder 3 kept coming up. Changed the coils and spark plugs. The car lost power on the freeway almost resulting in a collision. Had the car towed to Honda dealership where they quoted us 4800$ for a head gasket. Honda knows what they’ve done. I will never in my life buy another Honda.

NHTSA ODI 11694339

I have changed turbo, coil packs, fuel injectors, spark plugs, battery, fuel pump and my vehicle still give misfire in cylinder 3. Honda knows it’s a turbo and head gasket issue and will NOT do a recall on this for the vehicles. HORRIBLE company. Will never buy another Honda

NHTSA ODI 11693764

While driving, my 2018 Honda Accord suddenly lost power and went into limp mode with no prior overheating or warning signs. The acceleration dropped instantly, and the vehicle nearly caused an accident as it seized up in traffic. Diagnostic scan showed a P0303 cylinder 3 misfire, which is consistent with head gasket failure. The issue has been widely reported among other Honda Accord owners with the same engine, and it appears to be a recurring defect. This failure is dangerous because the car can lose power abruptly at highway speeds or during normal driving, putting drivers and passengers at risk of collisions. The vehicle was properly maintained and had no prior indication of internal damage or overheating. The head gasket failure is sudden and mechanical, not caused by user neglect. It needs to be investigated as a manufacturer defect before it leads to serious accidents or injuries.

NHTSA ODI 11693827

Car has been giving me issues with the check light engine. They changed spark plugs and the head gasket and still giving me issues.

NHTSA ODI 11693542

Head gasket for the second time

NHTSA ODI 11693619

Bad fuel injectors reported by diagnostic testing done by Honda dealership after recall was completed on fuel pump. All warning lights on dashboard lite up and multiple warnings from car. This is a known issue with these specific Honda engines. Very costly repairs that if not completed can cause other engine issues.

NHTSA ODI 11692722

I lost power to the vehicle in the middle of the road as I was accelerating uphill approaching a stop light getting ready to get on the on ramp to the highway. All the dashboard lights came on and the check engine light was flashing. I had to let my car idle it's way to the side of the road. I took my car to a Honda dealership. Diagnosis showed cylinder 3 misfire, coolant leaking into cylinder 3 indicating a blown head gasket. A couple of weeks before the loss of power to the vehicle, my car was sputtering and jerking when accelerating. It would get really bad when accelerating uphill.

NHTSA ODI 11692754

I own a 2018 Honda Accord with approximately 131,000 miles. The vehicle suffered a blown head gasket that my mechanic identified as originating from a known design or manufacturing defect in Honda’s 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. They diagnosed the problem before they had my vehicle in their possession because they have already seen this so many times in other 2018 Honda Accords. The engine began showing symptoms such as coolant loss, rough idle, "Christmas tree" engine lights, and an overheating warning light. There was no sign of external coolant leakage. A professional inspection confirmed head-gasket failure. I have maintained the vehicle according to Honda’s recommended service schedule and have documentation for all maintenance. I contacted my local Honda dealership and Honda’s customer service department seeking goodwill or warranty assistance. Despite multiple attempts and escalation to a “warranty specialist,” Honda denied coverage and refused to contribute to repairs. The repair estimate exceeds $5,700, which is unacceptable for a vehicle with regular maintenance and a known pattern of premature engine failures. Online owner forums and public databases show many other reports of the same issue. I believe this defect poses a safety concern, as overheating or sudden engine failure can occur while driving, creating risk of loss of power, stalling, or fire. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the widespread head-gasket and engine failures on late-model Honda vehicles equipped with this engine to determine whether a recall or manufacturer accountability action is warranted.

NHTSA ODI 11692528

I own a 2018 Honda Accord EX-L equipped with the 1.5-liter turbo engine. Over time, the vehicle began showing symptoms of coolant loss without any visible leaks, a sweet odor under the hood, and intermittent white smoke from the exhaust after startup. The engine would sometimes idle roughly and hesitate under acceleration. No external leaks were found by my mechanic. I later learned that these symptoms are consistent with a possible head-gasket or coolant-intrusion issue affecting this engine type. The problem poses a potential safety risk because coolant can enter the combustion chambers, leading to engine misfire, loss of power, or complete engine failure while driving. The issue has not yet been formally recalled, but I have seen multiple complaints and reports of similar failures in 2018–2022 Accords, Civics, and CR-Vs with the same 1.5-liter turbo engine. A warning light (“check engine”) appeared intermittently, and the temperature gauge fluctuated during normal driving. The problem has been inspected by an independent repair shop, but Honda has not provided a permanent repair or warranty coverage. The issue appears to be consistent with the allegations in recent class action filings regarding head-gasket and coolant-leak defects in Honda 1.5T engines.

NHTSA ODI 11692246

While driving the car, the oil light came on and the engine died. Losing vehicle power while driving poses a very serious safety risk. After taking it to a Honda dealership, the mechanic diagnosed the following issue: "head gasket has failed causing coolant to leak into Cylinder 3".

NHTSA ODI 11691775

Head gasket leak after replacing recalled fuel pump. Took my car in for safety recall on fuel pump, just 24 hrs later every check engine light came on and my vehicle slowed to a stop (car went into limp mode). This happened on a busy street with vehicles flying by. I had my vehicle towed to Lancaster Honday (CA) where they did my safety recall the day before, they confirmed the head gasket leak. I had my vehicle diagnostics done at a different place as well and they confirmed the bad news, but also said this should not be happening to a new car with 66,000 miles. They advised I call corporate Honda and have them do a goodwill repair where the pay the repair since it is out of its 60,000 miles warranty. I had zero symptoms of this happening before it actually happened. I regularly had maintenance done on my car. I am very dissatisfied and disappointed that Honda just declined my goodwill repair after a month of waiting on them to “review the case”. I couldn’t be more sad and more screwed at this time. $5000 is not something I have right now to take care of something I shouldn’t have to. This is only happening to 1.5 liter Hondas in my certain year range. I wanted a 2.0 originally, but the dealership did not have any at the time so I am needing help. I will reach out to the ongoing pending lemon law case in CA to join the base and try to get my car fixed and have Honda do the right thing! I am not happy!

NHTSA ODI 11691689

Bad head gasket. Coolant leaking into cylinders

NHTSA ODI 11691334

Driving on highway, check engine light went on and car lost all power would not go over 5 mph scared for my life as I was almost hit by other vehicles traveling at hi rates of speed . I managed to get the car to the shoulder. I turned the car off and restarted, and the car went back to operating normal. Car was checked by a friend who is a mechanic, and he told me there were codes for misfires after checking all the issues that could cause that type of problem he informed me that a pressure test on the coolant system revealed a blown head gasket which allowed coolant to leak in the cylinders causing miss fires due to the anti freeze extinguishing the spark of the spark plugs. I researched this matter and it's see to be a very common problem with many hondas with the 1.5 engine

NHTSA ODI 11691150