NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Honda Accord. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
This car needs CV AXLE ASSEMBLY REPLACED as published under 'honda news' attached as i am in one one the 22 states that uses road salt. Honda dealer claims to have no knowledge of this , I need you to escalate please. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I have bought three Hondas and leased one, I still have a 2012 Sedan and 18 months ago the car stopped in the middle of the road, thankfully no one hit us. The axle was broken and had to be repaired. Today [XXX] the car just stopped driving in a horrible round about [XXX] . The police and fire men, thank God helped to push the car out of the way into a parking lot. Talk about stress, the round abouts are a horror show, with more accidents than ever and a car just STOPS driving. Well now we are being told the axle is broken. What in [XXX] is wrong, I looked on-line and many people have made complaints about broken axels on their Honda's. You have to do something, someone could have gotten killed and I would like a call back. [XXX] [XXX] . [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Purchased a car from JKJ Auto on 01/17/2026 for $5000 + tax. Car was sold "as-is" with no dealer warranty. Vehile was only driven for 12 days before the car caught fire while my son was driving to school. He was trapped inside until a person ran over to help him out of the car. Police came to the scene and towed the vehicle. It was later examined by DSM Auto Repair who deduced that the battery was defective and overheated. This caused all other electrical cables to ignite along with the rest of the car. There were no warning lamps, messages or audio alerts. My son first noticed when there was white smoke coming from the hood as the car shut off, followed shortly by flames.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 64,163. It was later discovered, upon checking the Carfax report that the mileage was 200,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Accord. While attempting to sell the vehicle, a potential buyer showed the contact a vehicle history report; the report showed that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was purchased by the contact through a private sale on Facebook Marketplace. Additionally, the contact discovered a crash report in the glove box. The contact was not made aware of any prior accidents on the vehicle prior to sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 135,000, and the report discovered that the mileage was 248,870.
While driving to work and out of nowhere i began to smell a burning smell thought it was engine. I had AC on so I turned it off and that’s when I noticed that my center console was on fire. Was driving on freeway so took the first exit and immediately pulled over tried to put out fire but couldn’t. Luckily a couple from the car in front of me that was waiting for light came to help and put fire out. Have no idea what the cause of the fire was. Definitely a scary situation and safety issue.
The VSA/ABS module has failed. It is available for inspection. My safety and the safety of others are being put at risk due to the fact that the brakes may lock up or give out with this faulty module. Yes the problem has been confirmed by my local Honda dealer. The vehicle had only been inspected by the Honda dealer. The lights that appeared on the dash are, ABS, brake and traction control. There has already been a recall on this exact issue for my exact trim. I believe my car should be included in the recall due to the fact that I only hadn't 105k miles and hadn't had EVERY service done that was ever recommended. I keep my car in excellent condition. This should not be happening. Thank you
car cut off
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop, the driver heard an abnormal sound, and the vehicle suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. The contact stated that the driveshaft had separated from the vehicle and had fallen on the road. The vehicle was towed to Ron's Automotive Center Inc, where it was diagnosed that the driveshaft had failed and damaged the oil pan. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall. The failure mileage was approximately 193,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while attempting to trade in the vehicle at a local dealer, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was purchased through a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 127,699 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 129,994.
Transmission is fluttering going into 2nd to 3rd gear.
ABS Module has failed and brake, ABS and traction control lights remain on; causing braking issue. This component has failed in many vehicles of this type per mechanic and should be recalled. There is very little mileage on the vehicle around 50K. A safety recall is apparent as if injury occurs Honda is liable, as an elderly person owns the vehicle. Vehicle does not stop as it should and will not receive an inspection sticker. This should not be on the consumer given the amount of low mileage.
ABS, Traction Control and Brake lights on. Diagnosed by 2 mechanics told ABS module is bad, which affects braking and is hazardous. Also told this should not be happening with so little mileage on vehicle 50K. There needs to be a recall for this issue!!!!
My ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE & TPMS LIGHTS have been ON for the past few months. My tire air pressure is fine. The dealer claims I need to replace the VSA MODULE at the cost est @ $1900. After my personal investigation, I have learned Honda has had numerous customer complaints of these same issues on 2012-2013 Honda Accords.
AIR BAGS FAILED. IT IS AVAILABLE. LUKILY I'M SAFE. I DON'NT KNOW. NO ONE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, EXCEPT THE POLICE AT THE INCIDENT LOCATION. NO WARNING LAMPS OBSERVED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT.
It is no reason why my car got stolen. My car has a Anti theft system in it and it was not triggered when it was stolen. I had to file a police report and the police are out looking for my vehicle right now. I went to a nail salon I come back out my car is gone. Its no reason why the alarm did not go off. Honda Accords and other Hondas are being stolen and it is ridiculous. Times are hard it is expensive to maintain there has to be something yall can do to stop these thieves from stealing peoples cars.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to move or respond. The vehicle was restarted but the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was inspected by the contact’s neighbor who is a mechanic, and the contact was informed that the driveshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage 120,000.
I have attempted to notify multiple people numerous times that I no longer own the VIN attached and yet I continue to receive recall notices. A simple check of any standard vehicle history report will show where the vehicle was last known to have been serviced. Please discontinue sending these notices to me.
Car has frequent issues with starting and power loss inside and outside the car. This is my second time having a issue with my car not starting that did not have to do with the battery or alternator. I have 135xxx miles and keep up with maintenance so this is frustrating and expensive, happening months apart. The first time I had to have a new starter put in. The car also looses brightness on the dash board and in the headlights. The car stalls while starting since Ive had it.
Sudden loss of steering control causing vehicle to veer from the intended path of travel.
Problem: When the ABS computer system (ABS) fails, the balance between front and rear brakes becomes abnormal even for a vehicle without ABS, it becomes rear biased. Making it unsafe to stop quickly. (90% of the brake force is to the rear). The cost of this part is too expensive for most people to replace and this means that most will drive the car as is without replacing the ABS module. What I expect: I expect that the balance of brake force, is that of a vehicle without ABS (60-70% front).
At around 7:25am this morning I was driving to work in traffic and I was needing to stop, but my brakes were not working properly. They went all the way to the floor, no pressure, and I rear ended another person going 35mph. My entire front-end of my vehicle is totalled and my airbags did not even deploy. After the wreck I pumped my breaks to try to move it off the freeway and the breaks started to work again. This is a serious problem because had I been going any faster and even had my other family in the car we all could have been seriously injured or died!!
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at a very slow speed, there was a loud sound coming from the front passenger’s side before the vehicle abruptly stopped driving forward. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the front passenger’s side axle had fractured. The mechanic also discovered that the driver’s side axle was also unsafe. The driver’s and passenger’s side front axles were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000.
Was driving down the highway and the sunroof glass exploded for no apparent reason.
The Driver's side seat belt does not latch. The problem started 3 months ago. We contacted Honda Dealer and was told it is not part of the Honda Seat Belt Recall as the recall relates to Honda models 2018-2020. However please note it is the SAME EXACT PROBLEM with the seat belt in my car. I have been using the PASSENGER SIDE LATCH to buckle the seatbelt. I contacted Honda Corporation and was told to have the car inspected by local Honda Dealer and provide them with a Inspection report. Honda corporation is not willing to fix the seatbelt issue. I am informing your agency so you can take appropriate action and include the older models of Honda with the same seat belt problem as the current recall on Honda before someone get injured due to the fact they are using passenger seat belt latch. Also we are unable to use the passenger seat. Please give this matter urgent attention as it is a BIG SAFETY issue.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while attempting to use the remote key fob to unlock the trunk, the trunk failed to release. The contact then stated that she attempted to manually unlatch the trunk, but the latch failed to release from the cable. The contact stated that the vehicle was inspected by had an independent mechanical engineer that was able to fold the seating, but the trunk release failed to open. The contact stated that she was concerned for her safety during an emergency. An undisclosed dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 178,000.
2012 Accord exl - Engine Seizure! I had the air-bag recall done about 5 years ago. None of the air-bags deployed when the 2012 exl hit a telephone pole at 20 mph and broke the telephone pole in half. I finally found out about the class action lawsuit for the excessive oil consumption yesterday (1 Qt per 1,000 miles), 2 years after the engine seizure. I spoke with Honda headquarters (1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, ca 90501) today for an hour and a half. mostly on hold waiting for [XXX] to get her stupervisor [XXX] to come to the phone. Honda Seemed to think my 2012 v6 exl is not part of the lot of cars they were supposed to fix in the excessive oil consumption class action lawsuit. If you have any advice on how I could recover any funds spent on my engine repair or if there is any recourse I could take with the airbags not deploying when I had the recall done 5 years ago at my local Honda dealer. Thanks [XXX] PS.. Cherokee Auto in North Atlanta Georgia has the car for sale with the faulty airbags… CarMax repossessed it, sold it for more than I owed them, wrote off $6500 as bad debt, and still say I owe them 750 and staying on my credit report. Pls help! TF INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The trunk release mechanisms of my Honda Accord EXL coupe failed, both manual cable and electrical trunk release. My trunk does NOT open and when I need to access my spare tire in the trunk - I will NOT be able to. A real danger since I live in Canyon Country and often phone reception is poor. The only Honda Model that does NOT have any external nor internal emergency trunk release option. There is no "Valet" button, no decklid access, no external hidden key lock nothing that can release my trunk so I can gain access to my spare tire. Federal Law 49CFR571.401 mandates an emergency internal trunk release. In this Honda Model the ONLY way to get into the trunk from inside is by unlocking and pulling down back seats to access the trunk. BUT the ONLY way to unlock back seats is by pulling a cable that unlocks them which is INSIDE THE TRUNK! So the safety design flaws in the Honda Accord EXL coupe are: there is no emergency access to release the trunk to gain access to the spare tire AND there is no emergency way to unlock back seats to gain access to the trunk since the only way to unlock back seats is IN THE TRUNK. A Mechanical Engineer needed to dismantled the seats to get into the trunk and he tried to release the truck with the Emergency Trunk Release but it is obvious that the latch has failed. if there was ever a person stuck in the trunk that person would NOT be able to free themselves. I do have a video showing the Emergency Trunk Release not working if you like to see it but i can not upload it. I lost my job during the Pandemic and my house has major damage from the massive amount of rain Los Angeles received. I am unable to afford to have a Honda Dealership tell me what I already have on video showing that the Emergency Trunk Release has FAILED and I am in potential danger every time I drive. I asked Honda to fix trunk release latch and expressed the dangerous Coupe Design Flaws but they will not fix the safety problem unless Honda Dealership gets involved.
Sun visor snapped. It does not stay in place. It blocks my frontal view when I am driving which is very unsafe. I have looked online and multiple drivers with Hondas complaining of the same issue. I have tried multiple DIY’s to make it stay up and nothing works
Check Engine Light Due to Low Engine Oil Level, Radio/Climate Control Display May Go Dark, major issue is "No Start" Due to Ignition Switch Failure and fuses keep blowing so many issues and problems
While stopped at a red light, I stepped on brake and without warning, the car accelerated uncontrollably, at a high speed. It crashed into a parked vehicle and was a total loss. i had my 17 mos. old granddaughter in a rear facing carseat, in the rear passenger side. Luckily, the Upa Baby carseat protected her and she was not hurt, nor was anyone else. Airbags did not deploy. Now i have to get a new car which is very costly, using the little I will get from insurance payout. The car was well maintained with less than 50,000 miles without any other prior incidents. I do see that other motorists have had similar experiences with this make and model. It should be investigated further, in order to avoid serious injuries to others.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated while in a drive-through with the vehicle in idle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the piston rings had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under an extended warranty associated to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,640.
ABS,Traction Control, Brake Light steady stay on. Have taken vehicle to numerous mechanics. ISSUES can NEVER BE RESOLVED. Lights will stay on no matter what. I HAVE TO CHANGE THE BRAKES LIKE EVERY 4-6 months. Alignment also has to keep getting done. I don't know if that's because the issue with whatever is causing the braking issues haven't been resolved. Also the oil has to be changed like every 4,000 miles. . I also was driving down the road one day and heard this LOUD bang almost like a gunshot and out of the blue the trunk torque rods and the clips broke spontaneously.
Twice in the past couple of months my car has turned off while in drive and I lost power steering/braking. Both times were luckily in my apartment parking lot. They occured about 10-15 seconds after backing out and putting it in drive. The second time I almost slid into a car driving by since I wasn't able to brake.
My 2012 Honda Accord is using oil in between my 3000 mile oil changes and it should not be using that much, in between changes I put 1.5 quarts of oil in the engine. I have read that some Hondas are having this problem I only have 125000 miles on my car and take really good care of my vehicles the inside still looks new. Also the air conditioner isn’t blowing cold enough air. I purchased it in May of 2014 I love my car, my mechanic says it’s the rings in the engine, I don’t drive car erratically. Hope you can help get my car fixed correctly, My Machanic noticed this the last couple of oil changes
I just saw the new Honda Civic recall for wheels falling off and it reminded me to report this. On January 6, 2022 I was driving down I-29 from Grand Forks to Fargo and about 60 miles into my trip I thought I had a flat tire. I pulled over at the next exit and found I was missing 3 lug bolts and nuts, 1 lug nut with the bolt still attached, and my wheel was hanging on by just 1 lug bolt + nut. It looked like 3 or the bolts sheared off while I was driving. There was absolutely no prior warning or indication before this happened. I was doing about 75 mph and, from what I remember, it was about -20f outside. I had my car towed to a local mechanic, Tuffy Tire and Auto Servicr, and they fixed it. If my tire fell off at 75 mph I almost certainly would’ve ended up hitting another car or going into the ditch. The problem hasn’t been reproduced by a local dealer, but the Tuffy Tire and Auto Care in Fargo, ND should still have records/invoice about my service. My Honda accord has been inspected by Rydell Honda in Grand Forks, ND and they should have records of my lug nuts coming loose because I brought it in multiple times and I think they had to order a part for it. Another time, I think in late 2022 or 2023, I had my tires rotated at Rydell Honda in Grand Forks, ND and I drove about 90 miles and my lug nuts came loose on one wheel. I had to pull over and tighten them, but there was damage to the wheel. I believe Rydell Honda has records about this incident as well.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, but the vehicle would not start. The contact self-diagnosed the vehicle with a code reader which showed that the MAP sensor needed to be cleaned. The contact cleaned the MAP and mass airflow sensor, however, the failure recurred. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the fuel pump relay in the driver's side cabin was in a stuck position. The contact replaced the main PGM-FI (Programmed Fuel Injector) fuel pump relay. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 07V097000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 19,377.
I bought my Honda 2012 as a used vehicle about 1 1/2 ago. I have had the tires replaced all the way around almost twice. I have had it in the shop multiple times for a vibration and noise that starts at about 60 mph and seems to lessen when I get to around 75 mph. I also have had to get the tires aligned multiple times, once within 2 weeks time and the steering seems to get looser and looser. Still been unable to figure out why this is happening by my mechanic.
2012 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO A LOANER VEHICLE WHILE HAVING THE SAFETY RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the engine was misfiring in cylinder number 1. The contact stated that the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed at a local mechanic and was repaired but continued to experience failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and called an independent mechanic to describe the warning message on the vehicle. The independent mechanic informed her that she could continue to drive the vehicle to her residence. The following day the contact took the vehicle to the independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ABS module needed to be replaced however, the replacement part was on backorder. The contact then took the vehicle to the local dealer who inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the ABS module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,071.
I don't have a air bag due to someone stealing the whole air bag
Have a 2012 Accord. Dealer said axle was rusted and is attempting to replace it (dealer is not doing a good job and I'm having them redo under warranty.) There was no incident as of now. Reporting because their 2013-2015 models are presently under recall for rusting in a similar part of the vehicle (the "dynamic damper" part of the CVT / axle assembly if I've understood correctly). Honda claims the rust on the 2012 is "ordinary wear and tear" but I don't buy that. Dealer tried to take pictures to send to Honda America, who wouldn't cover repair.
The driver's airbag failed to deploy until after the driver struck the wheel and suffered a severe mouth injury. Specifically a tooth was broken on the steering wheel and the tooth displaced down to the root. Consumer wanted to add rusted gasoline tank straps. They have rested out, broken and gasoline tank is hanging halfway down.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the "check oil" warning light was illuminated. The contact slowed the vehicle down and drove it to the dealer. The contact stated that when she pulled into the parking lot, she heard a loud popping sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact had the vehicle towed to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had sustained internal damage and required a major overhaul. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED UNDRIVEABLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000.
WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE CAR STRUGGLES TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE AND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR UNEVEN SURFACE THE CAR STEERING WILL LOOSE CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING A HONDA ACCORD STRAIGHT AHEAD IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE, THE DRIVER SUDDENLY HEARD A "BOOM" NOISE, AND THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AT WHAT THE DRIVER SAYS FELT LIKE DOUBLE THE SPEED THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY GOING. THE DRIVER SAYS HE HAD NO WAY TO CONTROL THE CAR AS IT MOVED FORWARD AND STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT BEFORE VEERING LEFT AND CROSSING OVER ALL 4 LANES, INCLUDING A MEDIAN, AND CRASHING INTO A DITCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER COMPLAINED OF CHEST PAINS AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. AT FIRST, WHILE STILL AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT, PRIOR TO BEING TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, THE DRIVER ASSUMED HE HAD BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE OF THE "BOOM" NOISE AND SUDDENLY BEING PUSHED FORWARD, WHICH IS WHAT HE TOLD THE POLICE. HOWEVER, AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL AND HAVING PROCESSED WHAT HAD OCCURRED, IT IS BELIEVED THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED AND ACCELERATED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. IT IS A MIRACLE NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A VERY TRAGIC STORY INSTEAD OF A MIRACLE. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING SUBMITTED IN HOPES THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
TURNED VEHICLE ON IN MY DRIVEWAY WHERE I LIVE. WARMING UP THE ENGINE (GETTING READY TO GO TO STORE) AND I PUT ON FRONT AND REAR DEFROSTER (WAS COLD OUT). AND BACK WINDSHIELD MADE A LOUD NOISE AND JUST CRASHED INSIDE, GLASS SHATTERED INSIDE CAR. I USUALLY HAVE SOMEONE WITH ME SO I AM GRATEFUL I DID NOT. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY. WE JUST HAD SNOW FALL (WHICH IS SUPER NORMAL HERE AND IT WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED SO NOT SURE WHY THE WINDOW IMPLODED INSIDE THE CAR). YOU CAN SEE IN PHOTO. MY HUSBAND CLEANED OFF THE CAR FOR ME. I USED A BRUSH IT WAS JUST A FEW FLAKES. I USED THE CAR 2 DAYS EARLIER AND CLEANED IT ALSO. IT HAD BEEN CLEANED. THERE WAS SOME RESIDUAL SNOW ON TOP AND ON THE TRUNK BUT NOTHING THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS.
1) When starting the car ( cold ) it makes a rattling sound that goes away after a few seconds and does not make this sound again until the car cools off 2) sometimes when driving the steering wheel shakes during acceleration
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026