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

Today I was driving my Honda (Accord 2020) about 30 to 40 miles an hour and suddenly the car decided to brake for i guess a fraction of a second. It is hard to describe but literally felt that someone slam on the brakes. I also got the brake alarm and the sign on the dashboard "BRAKE" (orange sign). I was taken by surprise, even my wife asked me, what was I doing?. It was only a moment, but it was totally unexpected, lucky for me, there was no one in front or behind me. If you have questions please contact me at [XXX] or [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11466477

The vehicle automatically turned on the forward collision mitigation system when there was nothing to avoid. Vehicle went from 55mph to 20mph in about 2 seconds. Fortunately there was no vehicle approaching from behind. I had no control over trying to override the braking system. Had vehicle checked at Honda dealership & was informed there was nothing they could do other than make a note of the issue.

NHTSA ODI 11464517

CMS - collision mitigation system stops working completely. 2 warning lamps on dash. Cruise control completely inoperative. Vehicle was initially inspected by dealer on 11/19/21with DTC U0401-92 - Temporary stop of integrated driver support system (rejected control request), also found U0416-68 VSA system malfunction. This issue happens every 1-3 thousand miles. Also with the CMS/braking system, it will alert "brake" on dash and brake hard if encountering repetitive shadows from objects that are cast onto the road. My safety and others safety were compromised due to hard braking and cars behind me that then had to brake, nearly rear-ending my car.

NHTSA ODI 11462990

Driving on a two lane highway suburban area - 40 miles per hour in a 40 mph speed limit. No cars in front of me for at lease 1/2 mile - totally blank and clear road. A pick up truck behind me. Very little traffic. Suddenly without warning and knowing my foot is on the accelerator, the car brakes to a complete stop with no foot on the brake pedal! Complete random braking for no reason. Luckily the vehicle behind me was far enough and not too close which allowed him to swerve and avoid colliding into me. He passed me and probably thought I was crazy. I called Honda and they told me to bring it in which I did. They performed many tests in all areas and advised they could not locate anything wrong. I know there is an ongoing investigation with Honda Accords and dangerous random breaking, thus the reason for this incident to be documented. The general manager of the dealership was in touch with me and advised he would be doing some research. I could easily have been killed if not for quick thinking of the vehicle behind me, and also luckily no car in front of me. What do you advise? This is extremely disconcerting to know it could happen again.

NHTSA ODI 11462766

If I have the lane keeping assistance on and go through an intersection the car beeps BREAK!!

NHTSA ODI 11460825

Several times my car has slammed the brakes on its own when I have not touched the brakes and also when there is no car in front of me for it to detect the need to brake. The most recent time on 4/8 on the freeway.

NHTSA ODI 11460268

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the tire pressure warning light and brake system warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the driver assists cruise control system, emergency brakes system, collision prevention system, and electrical steering assist all failed at the same time. The contact stated that the safety assist features became disabled but returned after the vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the failure occurred more frequently. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.

NHTSA ODI 11459494

I was driving at a slow speed (10-15mph) when my brakes automatically engaged. After the car stopped I began to accelerate and the brakes engaged again. There wasn’t any reason for the brakes to engage.

NHTSA ODI 11458550

On 3/24/22 while driving on the freeway at 65mph my car stopped suddenly. The ABS alert appeared on the dashboard and it made me swerve my car, also in the afternoon when getting off the freeway the ABS system alert appeared and my car braked suddenly there was no car or person in front of me at that time either it stopped so hard the car behind me had to swerve.

NHTSA ODI 11458246

I experienced phantom breaking while driving to work on 03/02/2022. I was driving on the right most lane before entering into north bound 101 highway when my 2020 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T abruptly stopped, there was no car or object in front of the car, and luckily there was no car behind me, otherwise I would have been hit and injured. A few days later, I brought the car to Capitol Honda dealer for checkout, but dealer could not find any problem. I have not driven my Honda Accord much during the past two years as I mostly work from home due to Covid-19 and my car has only 2800 miles when this incident happened. Since this is the 1st time I encountered phantom breaking, I would like to report the incident as I am concerned that it might happen again in the future.

NHTSA ODI 11455416

Multiple times while driving the emergency braking has engaged briefly. At first I thought it was detecting something in the road or a vehicle to the side of my car. That is not the case. It will apply this brake no matter what is in front of or around me. I have not noticed it doing it on secondary roads but it does it on highways and the interstate. This has created an unsafe situation many times.

NHTSA ODI 11453813

Five times over two years, the collision mitigation system has activated while the car was in motion but no object was in front of the car. Three minor activations, meaning a brief yellow glow on the dash, have occurred. Two more significant activations have also occurred with a yellow rectangle on the dash with the word BRAKE visible. The most serious activation was at highway speeds. I was concerned that the car was going to automatically brake on the highway. I have returned this two year old car to the dealership multiple times for evaluation and have found little motivation on the part of the dealership to deal with this problem and other more minor problems the car is demonstrating. I consider the above complaint to be potentially life-threatening. I will not drive in this car unless the collision mitigation is turned off.

NHTSA ODI 11452209

With seemingly no impediments ahead of it our 2020 Honda Accord will suddenly brake forcefully when changing lanes or exiting the freeway. it is not constant, but it is scary since there is no reason to brake at this point. this could cause us to be rear-ended the thing this system is supposed to keep us from doing. the dealer says unless it occurs when they drive it, unless, unless. The 'advisor' said he had heard of a few examples. they are all over the internet. What is being done to address this issue? oh, and he mentioned that we could always turn it off. we bought this car because being in our sixties and reflexes not necessarily being what they once were we wanted to avoid hitting someone from behind. this has happened on dozens of occasions. the listed date was the last.

NHTSA ODI 11451537

Both my wife and I have multiple dates and time experienced issues of CMBS Collision Mitigation Braking System, we would be driving with no traffic near us or with in hundreds of feet in front of us that the system would flash "brake" on the dash and then start slowing the vehicle down. Also the Front and rear brakes pads and rotor have been replaced under 6000 miles on the vehicle

NHTSA ODI 11419619

THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ~40MPH ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY UNDER CLEAR WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME BUT I DID RECEIVE A FEW HONKS AND A COUPLE OF FINGER SALUTES. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY DEALERSHIP AND STILL HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM - 4 HOURS AND COUNTING.

NHTSA ODI 11407256

CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING PROPERLY WITH THE SPEED AND CAR BRAKE BY HIMSELF ITS LIKE DETECT SOMETHING BUT IS NOTHING IN FRONT

NHTSA ODI 11405976

THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON FOR THE BREAKING SYSTEM ROAD DEPARTURE MITIGATION SYSTEM PROBLEM SEE YOUR DEALER, COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM PROBLEM SEE YOUR DEALER ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM PROBLEM SEE YOUR DEALER. WITH THE ACC AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ON AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 2516 MILES ON IT. THIS DOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL SAFE AT ALL TO DRIVE. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AS THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS KIND? IS THERE A FIX NOW!!

NHTSA ODI 11391159

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE LANE DEPARTURE FEATURE ACTIVATED, FORCING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CENTER IN BETWEEN THE LANES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER AN OBJECT OR ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS NEARBY, THE FORWARD COLLISION AUTOMATIC BRAKING ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCGRATH HONDA (2020 N RANDALL RD, ELGIN, IL 60123) TO BE DIAGNOSED AND TEST DRIVEN HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK 5 ADDITIONAL TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR MORE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,200.

NHTSA ODI 11355338