Owner complaints
344NHTSA recordsUSED VEHICLE RESEARCH
2020 Honda Accord
Is This A Good Car? organizes available NHTSA-derived research for the 2020 Honda Accord. This page includes owner complaint records, safety recall campaigns, manufacturer communications, defect investigations, and information about the completeness of the available evidence.
DATA CONFIDENCE: ModerateHonda Accord2020 · VERIFIED IMAGE PENDING
Recall campaigns
5Year, make and model lookupManufacturer communications
248Matched NHTSA recordsInvestigations
1Matched NHTSA recordsEVIDENCE AVAILABILITY — NOT VEHICLE RELIABILITY
DATA CONFIDENCE
ModerateData Confidence measures how much usable evidence CarIQ has for this vehicle. It does not measure how reliable the vehicle is.
Why this rating?
- Owner complaint data
- Available
- Manufacturer communications
- Available
- Recall data
- Available
- Investigation data
- Available
- Production denominator
- Unavailable
- Complaint component completeness
- 100%
- Mileage completeness
- 0%
- Incident-date completeness
- 100%
DESCRIPTIVE ANALYTICS
DATA INSIGHTS
Derived from official NHTSA source records. These statistics are descriptive and are not a reliability score.
- Complaint records analyzed
- 344 NHTSA complaints
- Most reported component
- Forward Collision Avoidance 28% of categorized complaint records
- Top-three component concentration
- 56% Records mentioning at least one top-three component
- Median reported incident mileage
- Not available from current source 0 valid mileage observations
- Recall campaigns
- 5 NHTSA recalls
- Most recent recall report
- May 21, 2026 NHTSA recalls
- Manufacturer communications
- 248 NHTSA manufacturer communications
- Most documented component
- Electrical System 27% of categorized communications
- Top-three communication concentration
- 52% Share of categorized manufacturer communications
SOURCE COMPLETENESS
DATA QUALITY
- Complaint records analyzed
- 344
- Component classification available
- 100%
- Incident date available
- 100%
- Mileage available
- 0%
- Structured outcome fields available
- 100%
Completeness describes fields present in the retrieved complaint records. It is not a data-quality grade or a vehicle assessment.
Learn about CarIQ methodologyPRODUCTION-ADJUSTED DESCRIPTIVE METRIC
NORMALIZED COMPLAINT CONTEXT
Production-normalized complaint data is not currently available for this vehicle.
This metric compares the number of NHTSA owner complaint records retrieved by CarIQ with NHTSA-reported production volume for the corresponding vehicle population.
It is not a vehicle failure rate. Complaint reporting behavior, vehicle age, time on the road, production definitions, and other factors can affect the result.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Early Warning Reporting, Light Vehicle Production Data. Read the methodology.
OFFICIAL NHTSA OWNER COMPLAINT DATA
OWNER-REPORTED COMPLAINTS
COMPONENT CATEGORIES
A complaint may list more than one component and therefore contribute to multiple categories. Percentages show the share of categorized complaint records that mention each component—not the percentage of vehicles affected. Category percentages may overlap.
INCIDENT REPORTS BY YEAR
Grouped from complaint records with a valid incident date.
RECENT OWNER COMPLAINTS
Forward Collision Avoidance
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11754325Read complaint narrative
I was driving on Route 42 today at around 3:45 and my brake light flashed across my dashboard like I needed to step on my break because there was something in front of me but there was nothing in front of me. This has been going on for over a year now I have reported it multiple times and I'm just trying to see if you guys are going to fix it or inspect it I've cleaned off my radar also to make sure that wasn't the problem and it still does it
Electrical System · Unknown or Other
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11753766Read complaint narrative
1) The infotainment system/8-inch LCD touch screen that controls the system settings is exhibiting ghost/phantom touches and is faulty since July 7th 2026. I tried to self-diagnose it but could not fix it. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection provided I get a loaner car to drive that day. 2) These random touches are constant and are very distracting and when a driver is distracted, it could lead to accidents and more catastrophically, death of one or multiple people due to a crash. I have tried hard to not get distracted but it sure isn't helping. 3) No, it has not been confirmed by a dealer as they want to charge me 200 USD to diagnose an issue for something I have hard evidence on. I have video evidence of it happening when I was driving to ensure this is not a fake report. Multiple people on the internet have reported the same failure mode so this cannot be a one-time or first occurrence. 4) No one has inspected it except me and a few friends as I do not want to pay to diagnose a safety issue on my car. 5) No warning, no messages, no symptoms. Just randomly started to happen on July 7th 2026. This freaked us out as we driving in the night around 11PM on a freeway and the sudden distraction jolted us. 6) I have added a video link, but please note that it expires in 2 days.
Power Train · Fuel/propulsion System · Forward Collision Avoidance
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11753856Read complaint narrative
The car keeps giving me misfires
Electrical System · Engine · Lane Departure
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11752736Read complaint narrative
Took my car to Honda they stated my head gaskets and turbo charger was bad .. every shop that i talked to about the problem had stated that they have been getting a alot of my models coming in with the same issue
Engine
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11751444Read complaint narrative
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.
Fuel/propulsion System
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11750969Read complaint narrative
High pressure fuel pump failed at 100,000 miles cause the vehicle to lose power.
Fuel/propulsion System
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11750972Read complaint narrative
Fuel injector began failing resulting in a loss of engine power.
Engine
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11750771Read complaint narrative
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 complaints are reports submitted by vehicle owners and other consumers. Complaint counts do not represent the percentage of vehicles affected and do not by themselves establish that a safety defect exists.
A higher complaint count can partly reflect how many vehicles were sold, vehicle age, and other factors. CarIQ does not yet normalize complaint counts by vehicles sold.
Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This site is not endorsed by NHTSA.
OFFICIAL NHTSA MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION DATA
MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS
DOCUMENTED COMPONENTS
Shares use communications with an NHTSA component classification. One communication may identify multiple components.
RECENT MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control · Lane Departure: Warning · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
A26-091Service Bulletin - Honda has developed software updates to the Honda Sensing system to enhance driver experience by modifying the circumstances when the advanced driver assist system (ADAS) decelerates the vehicle or the extent of deceleration. The software covers Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM).
View NHTSA documentForward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
AEBM07242026901Dealer Message - Due to software programming issues of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), unexpected vehicle deceleration may occur.
View NHTSA documentForward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
A26-091 v1Service Bulletin - American Honda has identified a condition that may affect Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) operation. Due to software programming issues of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), unexpected vehicle deceleration may occur.
View NHTSA documentElectrical System
AAR12192025901Dealer Message - Some customers have reported a pop-up message on the audio unit display stating: “Please insert USB drive containing valid software license file and press OK button.” When this message appears, the audio unit becomes unresponsive. The rear-view camera remains functional.
View NHTSA documentElectrical System
APS&12192025902Dealer Message - Some customers have reported a pop-up message on the audio unit display stating: “Please insert USB drive containing valid software license file and press OK button.” When this message appears, the audio unit becomes unresponsive. The rear-view camera remains functional.
View NHTSA documentElectrical System
ATS30025Tech Line Summary - Customers who have purchased the Accessory CarPlay /Android Auto upgrade are complaining that a pop-up message appears on the audio unit display stating, “Please insert USB drive containing valid software license file, and press OK button”. When this message is displayed, the audio unit is not responsive to control inputs, however the rear-view camera remains fully functional.
View NHTSA documentEngine
A25-074Service Bulletin - Oil leak at timing chain tensioner inspection cover due to possible insufficient sealant adhesion on inspection cover.
View NHTSA documentStructure:body
A20030BService News - From our investigation, we've found the reason could be customers are trying to pull open the fuel fill door, not realizing it's been locked by the Walk Away Auto Lock feature. When activated, the Walk Away Auto Lock feature locks all the doors, including the fuel fill door, when your customer walks away from the vehicle with the key fob. Pulling on the fuel fill door while it's locked can break the clip.
View NHTSA documentStructure:body
A20030BService News - Honda has received reports of broken fuel fill door clips. From our investigation, Honda has found that the reason could be customers are trying to pull open the fuel fill door, not realizing it's been locked by the Walk Away Auto Lock feature. When activated, the Walk Away Auto Lock feature locks all the doors, including the fuel fill door, when your customer walks away from the vehicle with the key fob. Pulling on the fuel fill door while it's locked can break the clip. To fix this issue, the fuel fill door clip must be replaced.
View NHTSA documentEngine
ATI&12022024909Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2024 Accord 1.5Ls, 2021-2024 Civics 1.5Ls, 2023-2024 CR-Vs 1.5Ls, and 2017 Fits with customer complaint of Check Engine Light (CEL) on with DTC P0420 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold] stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
View NHTSA documentEngine
ATI&11052024902Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2024 Accord 1.5Ls, 2021-2024 Civics 1.5Ls, 2023-2024 CR-Vs 1.5Ls, and 2017 Fits with customer complaint of Check Engine Light (CEL) on with DTC P0420 [Catalyst System Effciency Below Threshold] stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
View NHTSA documentEngine
ATI&08152024902Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2022 Accord 1.5Ls (no 2.0L) & FHEVs, as well as 2017-2022 CR-V 1.5Ls (no 2.4L), & 2020-2022 CR-V FHEVs with a customer complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P030X (Cylinder Misfire Detected) stored. Customer may also experience engine running rough condition. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
View NHTSA documentManufacturer communications include service bulletins and other technical information submitted by manufacturers to NHTSA. The existence or number of communications does not establish how often a condition occurs or whether an individual vehicle will experience it.
Some manufacturers may issue more detailed service documentation than others, so communication counts should not be used alone to compare vehicle reliability.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration manufacturer communicationsNATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS
- Open investigations
- 1
- Closed investigations
- 0
- Applicability match
- range
Engineering Analysis
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
- Status
- open
- Component
- Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking · Forward Collision Avoidance · Forward Collision Avoidance: Sensing System: Camera · Forward Collision Avoidance: Sensing System: Radar · Forward Collision Avoidance:software
- Opened
- Apr 15, 2024
- Closed
- Not available
Read NHTSA summary
On February 21, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE22003) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, in model year 2017-2019 Honda CR-V and 2018-2019 Honda Accord vehicles. The reports allege that activation of the AEB system occurs while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that they were aware of a total of X,XXX reports that may relate to the alleged defect. Honda provided analysis of the alleged defect and alleges that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of the CMBS and its limitations. However, many consumer complaints allege that Honda dealerships were unable to reproduce the condition or state that they were informed that this is considered normal CMBS operation. To date, ODI has received a total of 1,294 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of CMBS in 2017-2022 Honda CR-V and 2018-2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A total of 31 complaints alleged a crash and 50 alleged an injury. The Total column in the Failure Report Summary removes duplicate reports and shows the total number of reports with unique VINs from all Manufacturer, ODI, and EWR data sources. In some cases, there were multiple reports associated with a particular vehicle in which recurring failures were alleged. In total, there were X,XXX reports, 93 injury incidents and 47 crashes involving vehicles with unique VINs that may relate to the alleged defect. PE22-003 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the inadvertent AEB activations. The scope has been expanded to include assessment of model year 2020-2022 Honda CR-V and Accord vehicles. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
NHTSA investigations evaluate potential motor-vehicle safety defects. The existence of an investigation does not by itself establish that a safety defect exists, and the absence of an investigation does not establish that a vehicle is problem-free.
Open and closed describe NHTSA's process status, not a CarIQ reliability judgment.
View official NHTSA investigation data ↗DESCRIPTIVE SOURCE OVERLAP
CROSS-SOURCE VEHICLE DATA
CarIQ compares categories appearing across independent NHTSA datasets. Overlap can help identify areas with more available documentation, but it does not establish defect frequency or prove that an individual vehicle will experience a problem.
| Component | Owner complaints | Manufacturer communications | Recall campaigns | NHTSA investigations | Official sources containing records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 95 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 of 4 |
| Engine | 67 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Service Brakes | 55 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Electrical System | 50 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 47 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Unknown or Other | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Air Bags | 34 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Seats | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Structure | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
Displayed first by the number of source categories containing the component, then by owner complaint count, then alphabetically. This is a presentation rule, not a vehicle ranking. Complaint reports, manufacturer communications, recalls, and investigations describe different events and are never added into a combined total.
- complaint
- Available
- communication
- Available
- recall
- Available
- investigation
- Available
- production
- Unavailable
OFFICIAL NHTSA SAFETY RECALL DATA
SAFETY RECALLS
5 recall campaigns found
01AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERCampaign 26V332000May 21, 2026
Summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Safety Consequence
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
02AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERCampaign 24V064000February 1, 2024
Summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Safety Consequence
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
03FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPCampaign 23V858000December 18, 2023
Summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Safety Consequence
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
04FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPCampaign 21V215000March 25, 2021
Summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Safety Consequence
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-314.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARECampaign 20V771000December 10, 2020
Summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, and 2019-2020 Insight vehicles. A software error may cause intermittent or continuous disruptions in communication between the Body Control Module (BCM) and other components. This may result in malfunctions of various systems such as the windshield wipers and defroster, rearview camera, exterior lights, audible warning of a stopped vehicle, and power window operation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems" and number 111, "Rear Visibility" as well as FMVSS numbers 104, 108, 114, 118, and 305.
Safety Consequence
Various system malfunctions such as inoperative windshield wipers, defroster, rearview camera, or exterior lighting can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the BCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 22, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is X95.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Recall results shown here are based on year, make, and model. A specific vehicle may or may not be affected. Check the vehicle's VIN with NHTSA to confirm open recalls before purchasing. Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
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