2012 Honda ACCORD

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Honda ACCORD has 506 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is seats/restraints problems (14% of all complaints), specifically: the driver's seat is so uncomfortable that i feel it is a safety concern. driver fatigue and distraction. the seating material is too hard, the lumbar is too prominent and misplaced (too high) because the bottom seat cushion is too low in the back, and can't be adjusted upward. the head rest is s. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 58 crash reports 46 injuries

506

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

72 complaints

14%

• THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS SO UNCOMFORTABLE THAT I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. DRIVER FATIGUE AND DISTRACTION. THE SEATING MATERIAL IS TOO HARD, THE LUMBAR IS TOO PROMINENT AND MISPLACED (TOO HIGH) BECAUSE THE BOTTOM SEAT CUSHION IS TOO LOW IN THE BACK, AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED UPWARD. THE HEAD REST IS S
• CANNOT DRIVE VEHICLE MORE THEN 10 MILES WITHOUT EXTREME BACK PAINS. *TR
• I JUST BOUGHT A 2012 ACCORD SE AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS BEYOND UNCOMFORTABLE--IT'S CAUSING BOTH BACK PAIN AND NUMBNESS DOWN MY RIGHT LEG. I DON'T HAVE ANY BACK PROBLEMS AND FEAR IT WILL CAUSE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS. I'VE PUT 400 MILES ON THIS CAR. I HATE TO BE IN THIS POSITION BUT I'M LEANING TOWARD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS SO UNCOMFORTABLE THAT I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. DRIVER FATIGUE AND DISTRACTION. THE SEATING MATERIAL IS TOO HARD, THE LUMBAR IS TOO PROMINENT AND MISPLACED (TOO HIGH) BECAUSE THE BOTTOM SEAT CUSHION IS TOO LOW IN THE BACK, AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED UPWARD. THE HEAD REST IS S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

56 complaints

11%

• A DRIVER PULLED OUT INFRONT OF ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THE DRIVER AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JS
• I WAS DRIVING DOWN MARKET STREET IN YOUNGSTOWN WHEN I WAS ALMOST OBSTRUCTED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, I SWERVED AND WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT 40MPH AND SHE WAS GOING 25MPH. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SIDE AIR BAGS, MY BACK AND NECK HURT AS WELL AS MY PASSENGER. AMERICAN HO
• VAN IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SHORT IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS IN 2012 HONDA ACCORD. THE FRONT END OF HONDA ACCORD IS HEAVILY DAMAGED AND REQUIRED TOWING FROM THE SCENE DUE TO DAMAGE. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON HOWEVER, MY FACE IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING FACIAL DAMAGE INCLUDING FACIAL DAMAGE. THE DR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 27 crashes

“A DRIVER PULLED OUT INFRONT OF ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THE DRIVER AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

52 complaints

10%

• INCIDENT DATE: 12/05/2011, 5:45PM WEATHER/ROAD CONDITION: GOOD, NO RAIN/SNOW, NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN SUMMARY: ACCORD 2012 LX HAD A SUDDEN ENGINE REV FOR ABOUT A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND WENT BACK TO NORMAL WITHOUT DRIVER INTERVENTION. MINOR GAS PEDAL VIBRATION NOTICED FOR FIRST 500 MILES DURING B
• CAR WAS STOPPED ENGINE KEEP RUNNING FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES. *TR
• STOPPED FOR GAS ENGINE KEEP RUNNING AT HIGH LEVEL OF RPMS WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES STOPPED THE CAR BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND TURNING ENGINE OFF THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPEN IN ONE DAY. IN MY OTHER COMPLAIN REGARDING HONDA I SAID APRIL INSTEAD OF MAY. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“INCIDENT DATE: 12/05/2011, 5:45PM WEATHER/ROAD CONDITION: GOOD, NO RAIN/SNOW, NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN SUMMARY: ACCORD 2012 LX HAD A SUDDEN ENGINE REV FOR ABOUT A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND WENT BACK TO NORMAL WITHOUT DRIVER INTERVENTION. MINOR GAS PEDAL VIBRATION NOTICED FOR FIRST 500 MILES DURING B”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

51 complaints

10%

• I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW 2012 HONDA ACCORD SE MODEL WITH VIN [XXX] ON JANUARY 19TH 2012. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM RIVERSIDE HONDA THROUGH FOOTHILL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION. EVER SINCE, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NOTHING BUT NIGHTMARES. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED MANUFACTURER'S BREAK IN PERIOD FOR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN BALANCED THE FRONT TIRES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TH
• I AM INTO MY FIRST YEAR OF LEASING THIS NEW VEHICLE. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES. IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE DEALER/SHOP THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A "DEFINITE SHIMMY" SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ( 60-65 ). THEY HAVE DONE ALL THE NECESSARY STEPS TO REPAIR THIS PRO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW 2012 HONDA ACCORD SE MODEL WITH VIN [XXX] ON JANUARY 19TH 2012. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM RIVERSIDE HONDA THROUGH FOOTHILL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION. EVER SINCE, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NOTHING BUT NIGHTMARES. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED MANUFACTURER'S BREAK IN PERIOD FOR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

39 complaints

• CAR WAS STOPPED ENGINE KEEP RUNNING FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES. *TR
• STOPPED FOR GAS ENGINE KEEP RUNNING AT HIGH LEVEL OF RPMS WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES STOPPED THE CAR BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND TURNING ENGINE OFF THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPEN IN ONE DAY. IN MY OTHER COMPLAIN REGARDING HONDA I SAID APRIL INSTEAD OF MAY. *TR
• MY BRAKES CONSTANTLY MAKE AN ANNOYING CLICKING SHOULD IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I MADE THE PURCHASE I WAS WAITING FOR ONE HOUR AND A HALF ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY DID NOT DO A FULL INSPECTION AND EVERYTHING IS NORMAL THE CLICKING SOUND IS NORMAL. I AM VERY UN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“CAR WAS STOPPED ENGINE KEEP RUNNING FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 506 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS SO UNCOMFORTABLE THAT I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. DRIVER FATIGUE AND DISTRACTION. THE SEATING MATERIAL IS TOO HARD, THE LUMBAR IS TOO PROMINENT AND MISPLACED (TOO HIGH) BECAUSE THE BOTTOM SEAT CUSHION IS TOO LOW IN THE BACK, AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED UPWARD. THE HEAD REST IS S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: A DRIVER PULLED OUT INFRONT OF ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THE DRIVER AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: INCIDENT DATE: 12/05/2011, 5:45PM WEATHER/ROAD CONDITION: GOOD, NO RAIN/SNOW, NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN SUMMARY: ACCORD 2012 LX HAD A SUDDEN ENGINE REV FOR ABOUT A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND WENT BACK TO NORMAL WITHOUT DRIVER INTERVENTION. MINOR GAS PEDAL VIBRATION NOTICED FOR FIRST 500 MILES DURING B
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW 2012 HONDA ACCORD SE MODEL WITH VIN [XXX] ON JANUARY 19TH 2012. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM RIVERSIDE HONDA THROUGH FOOTHILL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION. EVER SINCE, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NOTHING BUT NIGHTMARES. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED MANUFACTURER'S BREAK IN PERIOD FOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)