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

I was driving on a road that the car has been on hundreds of times. Flat, straight, dry road with no other cars around. The car all of a sudden braked very hard and the "BRAKE" light started flashing and beeping for about 3-4 seconds and then went off and then the brake fully released. It was like hitting an invisible wall and fighting to maintain control of the car at the same time. It came out of nowhere and was so shocking. There was nothing around me and no reason for the AEB system to be used. I can't tell you if my foot was pressing on the gas or had lifted to maintain speed. I do know that my foot was on or lifted above the gas pedal and nowhere near the brake. I am shocked it didn't cause an accident but I am guessing that is because I held tight to the steering wheel and possibly because there were no other cars around. I have severe whiplash, a major headache, backache and am very scared driving the car should it happen again. I have not gone to receive medical treatment yet but it is highly likely that I will need it. I will be contacting the dealership as well to discuss.

NHTSA ODI 11596845

I've owned the car for over a year now, bought it for my daughter. 3 times the emergency braking system has gone off while driving for no reason. the last event happened while driving on a Hwy at 55 mph with no in front of her. The car slammed on the brakes, and the brake warning light went off, thankfully no one was behind her.

NHTSA ODI 11588497

On [XXX] I took my elderly mother to physical therapy and the car began to randomly brake although there were no vehicles in front of me. The braking light flashed and then car brakes on its own. A week later I was driving approximately 55 mph on a major highway and the car started braking again but without the warning light. Again, there were no cars anywhere around me. The next day I went to the Honda dealership in Covington, LA because I am very concerned this will happen again unexpectedly when there are cars around me and it will result in a bad accident injuring myself or others. I was told he can keep my car all day but he said they probably could not recreate the issue so its just a waste of time. He said nothing he can do about it. That's just how it is and maybe it was from a bug passing the sensor. I know have to remember to turn off the feature every time I drive because I am terrified that it will randomly brake again and it may cause a serious accident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11587924

Vehicle engaged emergency brake by itself. Also in regards to current fuel delivery recall, Honda has yet to fix my recall saying they have not come up with the parts yet. This is my only vehicle that I bough to commute to work of 150 miles a day. The car stalls on the highway becoming more often than not and is hard to start sometimes.

NHTSA ODI 11584863

This car brakes while we are driving while there is nothing in front. was reported to the dealer, they can not find the issue unless the carb does it, or I can turn off the program, but that is not a safe move.

NHTSA ODI 11584240

Open highway traveling 50+ mph, changing lanes from middle to right. Car's emergency brakes turned on and slowed me down abruptly for about 1 full second. Thankfully no on was behind me and no one was hurt. I have had this car for 6 months and this has happened 2 other times.

NHTSA ODI 11584003

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed with no other vehicles nearby, the Forward Collision Warning system activated briefly, applying the Automatic Emergency Braking. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The brake alert warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: EA24002 (Forward Collision Avoidance Warning). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.

NHTSA ODI 11583808

Collision mitigation message turned on, took it in to dealer and they said sensor was coming up as malfunction and not aligned so they aligned it. Although sensor was aligned emergency brake still brakes without an obstruction in front. It has happened on interstate highway at speed limit where speeds are at 75mph.

NHTSA ODI 11583900

The hand/emergency brakes activated without me doing it while driving and had stayed on ever since. I had my mechanic look into it and he mentioned may be due to a defective sensor and advised to have the dealer look into it for recalls. I saw that the NHTSA is actually reporting on a similar issue. The car still has good brakes (pads and rotor) however the issue continues as it will randomly activate the emergency brakes.

NHTSA ODI 11583920

CAR EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATES WITH NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME THIS HAS HAPPEND TO ME 3 TIMES TODAY IT SLOWED ME DOWN TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE INTERSTATE AND TOOK A FEW SECONDS TO DISENGAGE WITH CARS SWERVING AROUND ME TO AVOID COLLISION THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11583504

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Automatic Emergency Braking system engaged without any vehicle or person in front of my car. I was driving at about 40 mph and the brakes slammed on and then after a few seconds released How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? If a vehicle was directly behind me, they could have slammed into my car. No car was at the time this happened. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, I haven't taken it in yet. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not yet. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? The BRAKE light came on on the dashboard when it occurred.

NHTSA ODI 11582087

At least once a month with lane keep assist on, and a vehicle in the lane to my right, an emergency braking maneuver happens automatically. I have to disconnect the system

NHTSA ODI 11577042

Check engine, right mirror, door, alignment. My safety is not good, the car jerks and merging into another lane. Yes it has been inspected by insurance representative. It appeared when I was hit on 02/13/2024

NHTSA ODI 11576577

Hi, My Honda Accord Sport 2020 1.5T got 3 of 4 fuel injectors malfunctions and led to all warning lights turn on. I had to replace them (cost appro $1,900) at the Southpoint Honda dealership in Durham, North Carolina. They told me there is no recall for this model. Honda is bad. Many videos shown the same issue with mine on Youtube. Please help us. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11550729

Vehicle was being driven at 38 mph on a road with no other vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians or other obstructions in sight when the "BRAKE" warning flashed on the dashboard and the brakes were immediately engaged, causing a hard stop. Had there been a vehicle following, it is likely that a rear end collision would have occurred.

NHTSA ODI 11543664

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the Forward Collision Mitigation Braking System notification message displayed, and the brake pedal was depressed but the pedal remained on the floorboard. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated from 65 MPH to 15 MPH before abruptly stopping. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 11520997

As I was driving down the main road at 45 mph, no cars, animals or people anywhere around me, my 2020 Honda Accord Sport automatic braking system HARD BRAKED out of nowhere for no apparent reason! Thankfully there were no cars behind me or there would have been a crash!

NHTSA ODI 11520384

I was driving on the freeway when the car started to break on its own and also indicting to brake as if there was something in front of me too close. But there was no car in front of me or beside me. The car breaking on its own was a major safety hazard since I was on freeway and driving about 65 mph. If a car would have been right behind me I would have been rear ended. I did take car to the dealership and let them know what had happened. And they told me I would have to take car in for a diagnostic appointment and the problem would have to happen while tech is driving car so they could look into it. This has happened to me a total of 3 times.

NHTSA ODI 11500644

Automatic 45mph to zero breaking with no cars or objects in sight. Almost caused a rear end collision due to faulty and unnecessary automatic breaking.

NHTSA ODI 11497144

Three times in one day the emergency braking system has gone on automatically for no apparent reason. We were not at risk but are concerned we will be put at risk. There was no warning. We have not taken it in but will do so asap

NHTSA ODI 11494872

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated without warning. The contact stated that after several minutes the vehicle started to operate as needed. On another occasion, while driving 35 MPH, the brake assist activated independently causing the vehicle to brake suddenly. On another occasion, while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start-up after several attempts. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 62,000.

NHTSA ODI 11480959

when I am driving, there is no car in front of my car. Brake warning flash and randomly slam on the brakes without the I touching the brake pedal.

NHTSA ODI 11477247

This has happened more than one time.The first time it happened I was going down a 2 lane road no one in front or back of me and I was going 65 with my cruise set and the car slams on break and stays blink break on the dash. The second time it happened i was going down a 2 lane road at 45 no one around and it slams on breaks really hard and blinked break across the dash.

NHTSA ODI 11476923

Driving on the interstate going about 60mph with no one in front of me or behind me and the car brakes by itself. This is the fourth time this vehicle has randomly brake

NHTSA ODI 11471649

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and accelerating, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and abruptly stopped. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was experienced several times within a two-month period. The contact was able to continue driving the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. Neither the manufacturer nor the dealer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 14,000.

NHTSA ODI 11467333