Honda Accord years to avoid
The Honda Accord years to avoid are 2018, 2003, 2013, 2008, 2000, 1998, 2014, 1999, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2019, 2005, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2007, 2006, 2020, 2022, 2021 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 1978 is the cleanest year on record.
31,667
Total complaints
98
Recall campaigns
1976–2026
Years covered
22
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
Accord years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | High complaints + open investigation | 2,803 | |
| 2003 | High complaints + open investigation | 2,384 | |
| 2013 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,882 | |
| 2008 | High complaint rate | 1,854 | |
| 2000 | High complaint rate | 1,506 | |
| 1998 | High complaint rate | 1,429 | |
| 2014 | High complaint rate | 1,428 | |
| 1999 | High complaint rate | 1,345 | |
| 2004 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,307 | |
| 2002 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,267 | |
| 2001 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,160 | |
| 2019 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,027 | |
| 2005 | High complaints + open investigation | 880 | |
| 2009 | High complaint rate | 858 | |
| 2015 | High complaint rate | 815 | |
| 2016 | High complaint rate | 812 | |
| 2017 | High complaint rate | 754 | |
| 2007 | Open safety investigation | 700 | |
| 2006 | Open safety investigation | 541 | |
| 2020 | Open safety investigation | 533 | |
| 2022 | Open safety investigation | 339 | |
| 2021 | Open safety investigation | 314 |
Every Accord year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 105 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 200 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 139 | 5 | |
| 2022avoid | 339 | 4 | |
| 2021avoid | 314 | 4 | |
| 2020avoid | 533 | 5 | |
| 2019avoid | 1,027 | 6 | |
| 2018avoid | 2,803 | 6 | |
| 2017avoid | 754 | 3 | |
| 2016avoid | 812 | 4 | |
| 2015avoid | 815 | 5 | |
| 2014avoid | 1,428 | 4 | |
| 2013avoid | 1,882 | 5 | |
| 2012 | 506 | 8 | |
| 2011 | 357 | 9 | |
| 2010 | 703 | 13 | |
| 2009avoid | 858 | 11 | |
| 2008avoid | 1,854 | 9 | |
| 2007avoid | 700 | 10 | |
| 2006avoid | 541 | 17 | |
| 2005avoid | 880 | 24 | |
| 2004avoid | 1,307 | 22 | |
| 2003avoid | 2,384 | 24 | |
| 2002avoid | 1,267 | 16 | |
| 2001avoid | 1,160 | 19 | |
| 2000avoid | 1,506 | 21 | |
| 1999avoid | 1,345 | 17 | |
| 1998avoid | 1,429 | 19 | |
| 1997 | 546 | 15 | |
| 1996 | 579 | 13 | |
| 1995 | 673 | 14 | |
| 1994 | 476 | 13 | |
| 1993 | 222 | 11 | |
| 1992 | 249 | 12 | |
| 1991 | 242 | 13 | |
| 1990 | 229 | 12 | |
| 1989 | 114 | 1 | |
| 1988 | 102 | 2 | |
| 1987 | 131 | 3 | |
| 1986 | 63 | 2 | |
| 1985 | 19 | 1 | |
| 1984 | 25 | 2 | |
| 1983 | 7 | 1 | |
| 1982 | 26 | 2 | |
| 1981 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1979 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1978 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1977 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1976 | 0 | 1 |
Common questions
What are the worst Honda Accord years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Accord years to avoid are 2018, 2003, 2013, 2008, 2000, 1998, 2014, 1999, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2019, 2005, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2007, 2006, 2020, 2022, 2021. The cleanest year on record is 1978.
What is the best year for the Honda Accord?
By complaint volume, 1978 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Accord years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Honda Accord have?
Across all model years, the Accord has 98 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 31,667 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 28, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.