If you are considering buying a used Honda Accord, there are several major reliability issues worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 3 known faults for this model, 1 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Generation 1 of 22 known faults · 6 owner reports · 11 good notes
Honda Accord 7th generation (2003 to 2008) problems
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Cast iron exhaust manifold cracks due to thermal stress, leaking deadly exhaust fumes into the cabin
Rough guide
£400-800
Typical symptoms
strong smell of exhaust fumes inside the car
ticking or hissing noise from engine bay when cold
black soot around the turbo/heat shield
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.2 i-CTDi (N22A)
Typical mileage:
80000-140000 miles
1 more owner report backs this up
April 2011A 2005 Accord, six years old, had a cracked exhaust manifold, with no warranty replacement offered.
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Engine/EmissionsLow severity📝 Editorial
Variable Timing Control (VTC) actuator locking pin spring wears out, causing a loud grinding rattle on cold start
Rough guide
£400-800
Typical symptoms
loud 1-2 second grinding/rattling noise immediately upon cold start
noise completely vanishes once oil pressure builds
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.0 & 2.4 Petrol (K20/K24)
Typical mileage:
80000-150000 miles
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What owners report on the 7th generation
6 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Engine · September 2017A 2004 Honda Accord Tourer 2.2i CDTi experienced erratic tickover when hot, sometimes stalling and illuminating the engine management light.
Engine · June 2017A 2005 Honda Accord 2.2 i-CTDi required five exhaust gas recirculation valves over three years, with the last replacement costing £800 at 197,000 miles.
Engine · August 2016A 2005 Accord Tourer 2.2iCDTI reached 200,000 miles reliably, but then started smoking, with replacement injectors costing over £1,000.
Electrics · July 2015The VSA warning light illuminated on the dashboard of a 2006 Accord, with a dealer quoting over two thousand pounds for replacement.
Electrics · April 2014A 2007 i-VTEC EX+ estate with 78,000 miles had battery drain due to a shorting fuse board caused by water ingress.
Electrics · January 2013The 45 Amp battery in petrol models was prone to losing charge, with some having a lifespan as short as 18 months.
What owners like about the 7th generation
11 notes
The Accord achieved a four-star performance in NCAP crash safety tests, demonstrating good occupant protection.
This model was the most reliable car in the 2001 Fleet News Survey, covering 620,000 fleet vehicles.
Honda generally had the eighth-lowest average warranty repair costs in the 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability Index.
The Accord received an exemplary rating for fewest breakdowns, problems, and faults in the 2003 Which? survey.
The Accord ranked 25th out of 137 cars in the 2003 Top Gear survey, indicating good overall performance.
The Accord Tourer was reported to be a pleasant car to drive, offering a good overall experience.
The 2.4 Executive automatic variant was considered the best option in the Accord Tourer range.
The Accord Tourer achieved a four-star NCAP crash safety rating, indicating good protection.
A high-spec Accord Tourer, bought in 2006, achieved 190,000 miles with outstanding reliability and reasonable servicing costs.
A diesel Accord showed very minor oil consumption of 500ml per 12,000 miles and achieved over 50mpg with premium diesel.
The Accord ranked sixth in the 2007 UK J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey, achieving an 84.6% score.
Generation 2 of 21 known fault · 9 owner reports · 13 good notes
Honda Accord 8th generation (2008 to 2015) problems
Transmission/ClutchMedium severity📝 Editorial
Premature failure of the Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF) and clutch assembly, causing slipping under heavy load
Rough guide
£800-1200
Typical symptoms
revs rising without speed increasing in 4th/5th/6th gear
heavy clutch pedal
vibration or rattling at idle (DMF failing)
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.6 & 2.2 i-DTEC / i-CTDi Manuals
Typical mileage:
60000-100000 miles
1 more owner report backs this up
February 2013Clutch slip occurred on 2.2 i-DTEC diesels, with failures reported as early as 10,000 to 30,000 miles, despite a normal life of 80,000 to 120,000 miles.
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What owners report on the 8th generation
9 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Brakes · April 2019A 2009 Honda Accord at 92,000 miles showed intermittent ABS, TSA, and VSA warning lights, an MoT failure, with a £2,250 modulator replacement cost.
Electrics · January 2019A 2009 Honda Accord experienced failure of central locking, electric windows, and mirrors, diagnosed as a faulty Body Control Module requiring dealer programming.
Exhaust · August 2017A 2008 Honda Accord 2.2iDTEC required forced DPF regeneration by the dealer every six months.
Exhaust · March 2017A Honda Accord 2.2iDTEC experienced constant problems with its Diesel Particulate Filter.
Exhaust · July 2015A 40-month-old 2013 Accord 2.2iDTEC had DPF light issues every 750 miles and a misfire, leading to a buy-back offer.
Bodywork · July 2015Honda is replacing rusty sunroofs on 2009 Accord models free of charge and reimbursing owners who contributed to repairs.
Bodywork · December 2013The sunroof on a 3.5-year-old 2008 2.4EXi Accord developed rust, but was replaced without charge by the dealer.
Exhaust · July 2013A 2009/59 2.2 i-DTEC Accord with 63,500 miles experienced a Diesel Particulate Filter failure.
Exhaust · January 2013The first report of Diesel Particulate Filter problems with the 2.2 i-DTEC engine was noted.
What owners like about the 8th generation
13 notes
The 1985 Accord was a well-regarded four-door saloon and three-door Aerodeck hatchback model.
The saloon version of the Accord measured 14 feet 7 inches long by 5 feet 6 inches wide, weighing between 980kg and 1,185kg.
The Aerodeck hatchback was 14 feet 4 inches long and 5 feet 7 inches wide, with a weight from 1,075kg to 1,135kg.
Engine options included a 100bhp 1.8, 106bhp 2.0, 122bhp 2.0i, and a 137bhp 2.0i 16 valve, with manual or automatic gearboxes.
A 14-foot 4-inch coupe was available with 114bhp 2.0 or 148bhp 2.0i 16v engines, proving reliable even after 16 years.
The Accord achieved the highest combined safety score in its class during Euro NCAP crash tests, with strong protection ratings.
The Accord is a sound motorway cruiser, offering strong engines and a compliant ride quality for comfortable journeys.
High quality construction and premium materials throughout the cabin give the Accord a classy, well-made feel.
Willing engines provide the Accord with a zesty edge, enhancing the everyday driving experience compared to rivals.
The Accord topped the 'Which?' 2009 new car reliability survey, demonstrating excellent dependability.
The Honda Accord was the top car for customer satisfaction in the Upper Medium Car Sector in the 2010 JD Power Survey.
The Accord achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP rating for passenger protection, 4 stars for child, and a high 3 stars for pedestrian protection.
An excellent 5-speed automatic gearbox was available with the 2.2 i-DTEC from January 2009, featuring paddle shifters.
Other years0 known faults · 7 good notes
Other Honda Accord years: owner reports
What owners like
7 notes
The American-built coupe, launched in summer 1998, offered a 145 bhp four-cylinder engine with manual or automatic, or a 197 bhp V6 automatic.
The coupe measured 15 feet 8 inches long by 5 feet 10 inches wide, with the V6 model weighing 1,470kg.
The Accord Coupe featured understated good looks, contributing to its overall appeal.
This model was sold with a comprehensive three-year warranty, providing peace of mind for owners.
The Accord Coupe provided a full five-seater cabin, equipped with three three-point rear seatbelts for safety.
The Accord ranked 15th out of 100 models for reliability in the 2002 Auto Express survey.
Honda was joint second in the 2002 'Which?' reliability survey for cars from 2000 to 2002, and also for 1997 to 1999 models.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 6 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Honda Accord advert and we check it in seconds.
Honda Accord service intervals: cambelt, chain and gearbox oil
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used Accord. These are the figures UK specialists work to.
Timing chainChain
2.0 VTEC, 2.4 VTEC, K20, K24
No fixed replacement interval
Honda K-series engines use a timing chain. The VTC actuator gear is known to rattle on cold startup but the chain itself is very robust.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: June 2026
Honda Accord buying questions
Is a used Honda Accord reliable?
The Honda Accord has 3 known faults in our database across 2 generations, 1 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (cast iron exhaust manifold cracks due to thermal stress) and gearbox (premature failure of the Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF) and clutch assembly). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
What are the most common Honda Accord problems?
Three stand out. Engine: cast iron exhaust manifold cracks due to thermal stress, leaking deadly exhaust fumes into the cabin (typically 80000 to 140000 miles). Gearbox: premature failure of the Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF) and clutch assembly (typically 60000 to 100000 miles). Engine: variable Timing Control (VTC) actuator locking pin spring wears out (typically 80000 to 150000 miles). The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
Which Honda Accord years should I avoid?
No Honda Accord year is a write-off, but the 7th generation (2003 to 2008) carries the most serious faults: engine. The 8th generation (2008 to 2015) has none rated high severity. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Honda Accord?
Ask the seller about the engine and gearbox faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for strong smell of exhaust fumes inside the car, revs rising without speed increasing in 4th/5th/6th gear and loud 1-2 second grinding/rattling noise immediately upon cold start. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 3 known faults before you travel. Check a Honda Accord advert →
What is the real MPG of a Honda Accord?
Owners report 41.5 mpg on average across the Honda Accord engines with data, about 93% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 990 owner submissions. Honda Accord Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Honda Accord owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Honda Accord goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.