What 340 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Honda Accord Plug In Hybrid

While driving, my vehicle experienced a sudden engine malfunction consistent with a failed head gasket. The engine began misfiring, shaking, and losing power, and the check engine light began flashing. The vehicle became unsafe to operate. The failed component is the engine head gasket, and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The sudden loss of engine performance created a serious safety concern. I was driving on a public roadway when the engine began misfiring and losing power, making it difficult to safely maintain speed and operate the vehicle. A sudden loss of power while driving increases the risk of being rear-ended or becoming involved in a collision, particularly in traffic, while merging, or at highway speeds. The vehicle was inspected and diagnosed by an authorized Honda dealership, which confirmed the head gasket failure. I also spoke with independent mechanics who were immediately familiar with this type of failure on Honda's 1.5L turbocharged engines. Although Honda diagnosed the problem, my request for goodwill assistance was denied because the vehicle was outside the warranty period. The vehicle has been inspected by Honda and is available for further inspection if requested. It has not been inspected by law enforcement or my insurance company because no accident occurred. As the condition progressed, the engine developed a rough idle and intermittent misfires. Eventually, the check engine light began flashing, and the engine began shaking and losing power while I was driving. These warning signs escalated into a condition that I believe presented a significant safety risk. I am submitting this complaint because an engine that suddenly loses power while being driven poses a serious safety hazard to both the driver and others on the road. I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate whether this represents a recurring safety-related issue affecting Honda vehicles equipped with the 1.5L turbocharged engine.

NHTSA ODI 11751444

High pressure fuel pump failed at 100,000 miles cause the vehicle to lose power.

NHTSA ODI 11750969

Fuel injector began failing resulting in a loss of engine power.

NHTSA ODI 11750972

Blown Head Gasket. This caused major cost in repairs and going without a vehicle, This was a known failure issue with Honda 2020 Accord Sport. I have requested a "goodwill claim" with my nearest Honda dealer and not have gotten a phone call nor email. I have all my repair documents and a well maintenance log on my vehicle. With this being a known issue, it should be covered in the lifetime warranty that I received from the dealership when purchased but it excluded seals and gaskets on my paperwork.

NHTSA ODI 11750771

I am the original owner of a 2020 Honda Accord 1.5 Turbo. The vehicle has developed a check engine light, rough engine operation with misfires, and reduced fuel economy at Mileage: 72,207. The vehicle was diagnosed at Honda of Reseda with failed fuel injectors. American Honda reviewed the matter under Case #16435337 and offered a one-time goodwill accommodation that would require an out-of-pocket payment of $1,058.58 plus applicable fees and taxes. I respectfully declined the offer because fuel injector failures causing these exact symptoms appear to be a known and recurring issue on many 2018–2022 Honda Accord 1.5 Turbo models, often occurring at relatively low mileage. Honda has issued technical communications regarding injector-related diagnostic trouble codes (such as P030x and P0172) on these vehicles. I am filing this complaint to document the defect and request a thorough investigation so that a proper recall or comprehensive remedy can be implemented for all affected owners.

NHTSA ODI 11750572

All of the warning lights on my dashboard are on causing the car to loose power while driving. According to the dealership and other Honda owners they have this same issue. Why is my car not showing any recalls when clearly this is a manufacturing issue with a lot of Hondas. Dealership is telling me at least $3000 to repair

NHTSA ODI 11749903

All of the lights on my dash board is on

NHTSA ODI 11747287

UNKNOWN. I’ve had an issue with all of the lights on my dash coming on for a few days to a week & going off for a couple days then coming back on. I’ve seen numerous of people with the same issue, spend thousands of dollars after a diagnostic text at a Honda dealership and still experiencing the same issue with no solution.

NHTSA ODI 11746974

The car has had the code p0045 turbocharger. Honda was supposed to had repaired it but then the next week it had the same code and problem and they had it for 5 days. I got it back and less than 48 hours the same code came on.

NHTSA ODI 11746950

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the failure was a recurring failure. The local dealer was aware of the failure and diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11744964

The plastic cover on the bottom is to low to the ground. Multiple times over the years it’s been torn or stuck on parking space separators or when I have to get my car towed it falls down. By this point half of it is gone and all the things under the car are exposed. Right now I barely have any plastic left. I pulled into a parking spot and it caught after it had been repairs and clipped back up there and almost ripped the whole bumper off. That part is too low or not built properly to even allow someone to park in a parking space properly. It’s very dangerous for multiple reasons. The way this was built is not even functional in real life

NHTSA ODI 11743700

2018 - 2022 models of the Honda Accord Sport are known to have a issue with the Head Gasket overheating and cracking causing cylinder miss fires and engine issue. Honda has refused to acknowledge the issue as a recall and my car recently suffered the same issue.

NHTSA ODI 11742417

I turned my car on and about 10 warning lights came on the car- drove it straight to the dealer where they told me the head gasket was leaking into cylinder 3 gave me an estimate of over 5k. Every mechanic I have called has told me how unusual it is for a car not very old and not over heating to have a blown gasket head. I was looking online and have seen how common the blown gasket head was on Honda accord models 1.5 from 2018-2022. There is nothing in the car no over heating no damage though could have cause it to leak unless it wasn’t properly installed which seeing how common it is might be the case. And how unusual it is according to many mechanics. The car has 115000 miles but has never had an issue and I wasn’t driving or anything when the warning lights came on

NHTSA ODI 11741134

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that upon intermittent starts of the vehicle, several, various warning messages would appear on the instrument panel. Warning messages such as tire pressure monitor, brake system problem, brake hose system,etc would all appear on the instrument panel and would remain on the instrument panel until the system would be cleared by the dealer. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer on multiple occasions to address the failure; however, the dealer could not diagnose the failure. The vehicle was then taken to Honda Of Tomball(22727 Tomball Pkwy, Tomball, TX 77375) where they diagnosed the vehicle with a defective head gasket. The contact refuted the diagnostic and took the vehicle back to the original dealer where they agreed with the contact that there was not an issue with the head gasket. The contact stated that both the battery, coil pack and spark plugs were replaced; however, the failure would return within weeks after repair. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11740820

I am writing to formally report a severe safety incident caused by a sudden head gasket failure in my vehicle. While driving on a busy highway, the car abruptly entered "limp mode" and stopped accelerating altogether, putting my family’s safety at immediate risk. Simultaneously, all dashboard warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Honda dealership, where technicians confirmed that the sole mechanical issue is a failed head gasket. The vehicle is currently available for inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11740963

Engine began running rough and warning lights came on the dash indicating multiple issues and the engine light. Brought it to Honda and the tech diagnosed a head gasket failure. Honda recommended a head gasket repair. Car only has 137,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ODI 11740692

I take my car for updates (Recall) and now i am being told that the head gasket is blown and damaged the injectors The powertrain might pay for the blown head gasket but not the injectors (which were damaged due to the head gasket blowing) no coolant but the car never ran hot. Honda is trying to stick to me to pay out almost $7000.00 which is wrong when it went to them for a recall

NHTSA ODI 11739213

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle the engine was hesitant to start and while driving the flashing check engine light had illuminated and the vehicle did not accelerate past 40 MPH. The vehicle was slowly driven to the local dealer who diagnosed that the both the engine head gasket and water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11737745

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The suspected failed components involve the 1.5L engine system and head gasket on my 2020 Honda Accord. The vehicle experienced frequent overheating along with repeated check engine light activation. Multiple mechanics, including Heritage Honda Parkville, indicated that head gasket failure is a common issue with this engine type. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My safety was put at risk due to the vehicle frequently overheating while driving. An overheating engine can lead to sudden vehicle breakdown, engine failure, loss of power, or being stranded unexpectedly in traffic or unsafe locations. The recurring check engine light and unresolved engine concerns created uncertainty regarding the reliability and safe operation of the vehicle during daily commuting and long-distance travel. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The concern was initially discussed by technician [XXX] at Heritage Honda Parkville during my service visit on March 19, 2026. The technician advised that the “most common issue” with these engines along with my vehicle is head gasket failure. Additionally, multiple independent reputable mechanics later echoed the same concern, stating they have seen numerous Honda Accord vehicles with the 1.5L turbo engine require head gasket replacement and, in many cases, full engine replacement. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle was inspected by Heritage Honda Parkville service personnel and has also been evaluated by multiple independent mechanics. The issue has additionally been reported to American Honda Corporate under Case Number XXX. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11737342

All lights on dash are on. Problem with running hot, oil is milky looking misfires, vibration is terrible. Cuts off and will not go over 5 mph sometimes.

NHTSA ODI 11736045

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while an occupant was seated in the front passenger’s seat, the supplemental restraint system (SRS) warning light illuminated. The message "Please see Dealer” was displayed. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the emissions system warning light remained continuously illuminated, and the engine was idling roughly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a fuel pump failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, several systems malfunctioned and became inoperable, with unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number 20V771000 (Electrical System, Back Over Prevention, Visibility/Wiper, Visibility, Exterior Lighting). The vehicle was diagnosed with a body control module (BCM) failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11733579

Transmission Fuel pump Ac compressor

NHTSA ODI 11733453

Supplemental restraint system problem. See you dealer. Warning light.

NHTSA ODI 11729505

I own a 2020 Honda Accord EX-L with a 1.5T turbo engine. The problem happened on January 20, 2026, when my car had 66,988 miles. While my husband was driving it, the engine warning light came on, and the car suddenly lost power in the middle of the road. Fortunately, there was no car behind me at the time. Otherwise, he could have been in a serious accident. He was able to pull into a nearby parking lot. To avoid further damage, we had the car towed to a certified Honda dealership for diagnosis. The dealer told me that the fuel injectors had failed and needed to be replaced. The total repair cost was $1,851. The dealer checked my vehicle identification number (VIN) and told me there was no recall for my car, even though some vehicles of the same model and year do have recalls for similar issues. Because of this, I had to pay the full repair cost out of pocket. I kept the repair receipt. I later contacted Honda’s customer service to report the issue. However, the representative informed me that Honda could not provide assistance because my VIN was not included in the recall list.

NHTSA ODI 11729094

All of the warning lights and 8 warning messages are displayed on my dashboard. They display for a certain amount of time then they go off and return. A number of Youtube post suggest disconnecting the negative battery terminal for 5 minutes to reset the computer. This is a short term fix. I took the car to Honda for diagnostic test twice. First time I was told it was the turbo and would cost around $2,000. I took it to a different Honda dealership for a second opinion and after their diagnostic test I was told it was an issue in the steering wheel. I had the work completed for the steering wheel, but that was not the issue and the mechanic that completed the work on my steering wheel did a test ride in the vehicle and stated it's not the turbo, because the vehicle is driving normal. Not sure what to do next, but saw a post about reporting this issue to NHTSA.

NHTSA ODI 11728685