KnownCarProblems2008 Honda Accord Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,520 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Honda Accord, most often about the brakes (34% of complaints, typically around 22,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Accord model year since 2000 and has 8 recalls.
Most common 2008 Honda Accord problems
Brakes
520 complaints · 34%Half of these problems showed up before 22,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.
You have many complaints about premature wear out of 2008 Honda Accord rear brakes . Here is one more . My rear brakes are completely worn out after 8 mos and 25000 miles of highway driving . Front brakes are fine . Dealer and regional rep say nothing is wrong and say this is normal . I was even told that highway…
2008 rear brake pads gone at 21,500 miles, mostly highway driving. I called the dealer where I bought the car from and was told that 1. It's not covered under warranty and 2. Honda put smaller pads. I owned 6 new cars never had this problem, very disappointing with Honda and if they don't fix this problem I'll never…
Air bags
379 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window.
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the passenger air bags deployed while she was closing the front passenger door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnosis. The dealer stated that the air bag senor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted…
In march 2012 I took the car to a Honda dealer because the SRS light was on. I was told I needed a battery and that should make the light go off. I got a battery about six months later and the light stayed on. I took my car back to the dealer in july 2013 and they said the SRS module is out and would need to be…
Engine
251 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 79,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Driving on the highway, felt a slight hesitation and then check engine light came on. Immediately exited and when I came to a stop, the car was idling very rough. Did research and it's very evident that this is a known issue by Honda because several people have complained that cylinder #3 spark plug is so damaged that…
Noticed vehicle using excessive oil. Needed 3.25 quarts within 4,000 miles. Engine noise on cold start up. Honda dealership confirmed and said a computer update is required to resolve oil consumption and a defective vtc actuator, timing chain, and tensioner with updated parts are required to resolve engine noise.…
Lights
113 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
2008 Honda Accord headlight dims while driving down the road every minute or less. Other cars think you are flashing them with high beams. This problem occurs when the headlight are on with the AC on at the same time.
Car idles high and eratic since a new alternator was put on due to light(in and out) flickering along with fan and radio cutting out when A/C unit is used and cooling fans kick on and off.since then car idles high, surges went fron tacking 1100 cold to 1500. Went from warm idle at 600 and is now 8-900rpms.lights still…
Electrical
104 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 29,000 miles. Parts named most often: alternator/generator/regulator, ignition, instrument panel, starter assembly.
I bought my Honda Accord ex just last year, and I started having problems with my rear brakes. It began with a metal scraping noise from the rear wheel well. There is an abnormal number of complaints online regarding 2008 Honda Accord's premature brake wear. It would be the best thingo for an investigator to look at…
Tl contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the electrical components of the vehicle failed. The battery was replaced and the electrical system was reset. The navigation system appeared quickly and asked for a code to operate. The contact was never asked for a code before and was unaware of any…
Transmission
70 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, it would not shift into gear. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but they have not diagnosed the failure. Nhtsa recall campaign…
Driver traveling speed limit on interstate 40 outside kingman, az. Driver drifted off the road, over corrected, and struck a wooden post at the end of guardrail, causing car to leave the roadway. The air bags did not deploy, leading insurance investigators concerned. Insurance adjustors felt the car could be fixed…
Service Brakes, Electric
58 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 21,000 miles.
I own a 2008 Honda Accord exl-v6. The brakes on this car are unsafe and have failed repeated with premature wear on both front and rear brakes. I reported the issue to Honda national hq when my car had only 20,000 miles, was given a case number, and nothing was done except to apologize for my inconvenience. Now less…
Premature brake wear on 2008 Honda Accord/mileage at time of repair in september 2010 was 21,138 miles. Car was in service since 12/08/09.
Other or unspecified
48 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles.
Door lock, rear passenger side, automatically unlocks when I lock the doors. This has happened before on the driver side, rear door and was replaced due to recall.
While sitting in the car the interior sun visor mounting unexpectedly came loose and the visor suddenly dropped. Had this happened while the vehicle was under way this could have caused an accident. I understand that this was a problem on some toyota vehicles and several other Honda owners have experienced similar…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Honda Accord recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began august 12, 2019. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are f5f and q5e.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 acura tsx, 2011-2014 tsx sport wagon, 2010-2013 zdx, 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2011 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic and civic hybrid, 2008-2010 civic gx ngv, 2012-2015 crosstour, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2009-2013 fit, 2014 fit EV, 2010-2014 insight, and 2009-2015 pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began july 5, 2019. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are m4o, p4r, t4q, and w4p.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 acura tsx, 2011-2013 tsx sport wagon, and 2010-2012 zdx and 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2011 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic, civic hybrid and civic ngv, 2012-2014 crosstour, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2009-2013 fit, 2010-2013 insight, and 2009-2015 pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began june 22, 2018. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are k1p, and m1o.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 honda accord and pilot, 2010 accord crosstour, 2001-2011 civic, 2002-2011 cr-v, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 element, 2007 and 2009-2013 fit, 2010-2012 insight, 2002-2004 odyssey, and 2012 ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began october 30, 2017. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are o07, y0a, n06, g05, m04, y01, and o09.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 accord, 2010-2012 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2009-2012 fit and pilot, 2010-2012 insight, and 2009-2012 acura tsx vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are ke1 and ke2.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 acura tsx, 2011-2012 acura tsx wagon, 2010-2012 acura zdx, 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2012 honda accord crosstour and honda insight, 2009-2012 honda fit, 2009-2012 pilot, 2007-2011 honda cr-v, 2012 honda fcx clarity and 2006-2011 honda civic, civic hybrid, civic ngv vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, if not included in "zone a" above, honda is recalling certain 2009 acura tsx, honda fit and pilot, 2008-2009 honda accord, 2006-2009 civic, civic hybrid and civic ngv, and 2007-2009 honda cr-v vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, i
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began march 2017. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is ka4, ka5, ka6, and ka7.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 acura tsx, 2011 tsx wagon, 2010-2011 acura zdx, 2008-2011 honda accord, 2010-2011 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic, civic hybrid, and civic gx, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2010-2011 fcx clarity and insight, and 2009-2011 fit, and pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless already included in "zone a" above, honda is recalling certain model year 2008 honda accord, 2006-2008 civic, civic hybrid and civic gx, and 2007-2008 cr-v vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, neb
Air bags
Risk: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control units, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in fall 2016. Interim notifications have been mailed to owners on march 15, 2016, and a second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is jw9. Note: this recall supersedes recall 15v665.
Full defect summary
American honda motor company, inc. (honda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 accord vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Risk: This could result in a short circuit causing the engine to stall. Additionally, broken pieces of the outer race or ball bearing from the secondary shaft may become lodged in the parking pawl resulting in the vehicle rolling after the driver has placed the gear selector in the park position. Engine stall and unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash or personal injury to persons within the path of a rolling vehicle.
Fix: Honda will notify owners and dealers will update the automatic transmission control module software free of charge. The safety recall began on august 27, 2011. Owners may contact honda automobile customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Full defect summary
Honda is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 accord, 2007-2010 cr-v, and 2005-2008 element passenger cars manufactured from july 1, 2004, through september 3, 2010. The outer race of the secondary shaft bearing may be broken during certain driving styles. A broken outer race may cause abnormal noise, the malfunction indicator light to turn on, and allow contact between the transmission idle gear and an electronic sensor housing within the transmission.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Srs control module failure
Summary
As discussed further below, and by letter dated january 22, 2016, honda is recalling certain model year (my) 2008 through 2010 honda accords to replace a defective air bag/SRS control module that can result in the supplemental restraint system (SRS) becoming fully inoperative (disabled).see NHTSA safety recall 16v056 at safercar.gov for further details.honda's response to an agency information request letter indicated that the SRS module was manufactured by tier-one supplier continental and contained a power supply asic manufactured by tier-two supplier atmel. The original asic was susceptible to a moisture ingress issue due to inadequate asic passivation layer.water ingress could result in
Inadvertent side air bag deployment
Summary
Honda is conducting a safety recall of approximately 303,900 model year 2008-2009 honda accord sedans to address inadvertent deployment of the side air bags (see NHTSA recall 15v-665 for more information).it should be noted that almost all of the recalled vehicles are the 2008 accords (built from start of model year 2008 production to june 25, 2008) as only about 500 early-built 2009 accords (built from june 24 to june 30, 2008) are included in the recall.the office of defects investigation (odi) has identified 351 reported incidents of inadvertent side air bag deployments in the 2008 accord sedans.this investigation found there is risk of serious injury to vehicle occupants or users who are
Inadvertent side air bag deployment
Summary
Odi has identified 293 incidents of alleged inadvertent deployment of the side air bags in model year (my) 2008 honda accord 4-door vehicles.this total represents all incidents reported to both odi and honda including those from honda's warranty system (note: the total shown above eliminates all duplicative reports to odi and honda).this investigation has revealed that when the driver or front passenger door is shut, the driver-side or passenger-side side curtain air bag can deploy, and in some cases, the side seat-mounted torso air bag can deploy as well.fourteen people allegedly suffered injuries caused by the deploying air bags.in june 2008, near the end of my 2008 accord 4-door productio
Questions about the 2008 Honda Accord
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Honda Accord?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (520 complaints, typically around 22,000 miles); air bags (379 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); engine (251 complaints, typically around 79,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Honda Accord have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 27, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Honda Accord?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Accord model year since 2000, with 1,520 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.