2008 Honda Accord Problems
What owners have reported about the 2008 Honda Accord, which problems come up most, at what mileage, and which recalls to check.
From NHTSA owner complaints and recalls. Updated Oct 17, 2026.
Is the 2008 Honda Accord a good year?
It's one of the worst years for the Accord. Owners have filed 1,520 complaints with NHTSA, the 2nd most of 18 Accord model years. The most reported problems involve the brakes, airbags and engine.
1,520 complaints 9 recalls, 1 crash risk 2nd worst of 18 Accord years
Top 2008 Honda Accord problems
Brake problems
573 complaints (38%) name the brakes, most often the pads and caliper.
Airbag problems
379 complaints (25%) name the airbags, most often the side / window.
Engine problems
251 complaints (17%) name the engine, most often the engine and cooling system.
Lighting problems
113 complaints (7%) name the lights, most often the headlights.
Which parts fail most
Share of complaints that name each system. One complaint can name several.
Mileage when it failed
Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (1,097 of 1,520). The amber line is the middle value, about 28,000 miles.
When problems were reported
Complaints by the year the problem happened.
2008 Honda Accord recalls
Inflator module
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. 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. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
Recall 19V502000 · Jun 2019Inflator module
Can stallThe front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. 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. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
Recall 19V378000 · May 2019Inflator module
Can stallThe front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. 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. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
Recall 18V268000 · Apr 2018Inflator module
Can stallOne dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators. 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. Honda's numbers for this recall are O07, Y0A, N06, G05, M04, Y01, and O09.
Recall 17V545000 · Aug 2017Inflator module
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, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. 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. Honda's numbers for this recall are KE1 and KE2.
Recall 17V030000 · Jan 2017Inflator module
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, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. 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. Honda's numbers for this recall is KA4, KA5, KA6, and KA7.
Recall 16V346000 · May 2016Air bags may fail to deploy in crash
Crash riskThe air bag control units can corrode and fail. If that happens, the air bags may not inflate in a crash, which raises the risk of injury to occupants.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and a dealer will replace the air bag control unit free of charge once parts are available, expected Fall 2016.
Recall 16V056000 · Feb 2016Control module (TCM / PCM / TECM)
Can stallThe 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. 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.
Recall 11V395000 · Aug 2011Equipment
The accessory was designed specifically for model year 2008-2010 honda accord 4-door vehicles. It is possible for the nose mask material to interfere with part of the hood latch. If the hood has not been completely closed and the nose mask interferes with the secondary hood latch mechanism the hood may pop open while the vehicle being driven. This may result in reduced driver visibility that could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda is asking owners to please remove the nose mask immediately and call any authorized honda dealer to make an appointment to return the nose mask and have it replaced free of charge.
Recall 09E063000 · Nov 2009Get an email when your 2008 Honda Accord gets a new recall
We check NHTSA every month. If a new recall or safety investigation covers the 2008 Honda Accord, you'll hear about it the same week.
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Accord years to avoid
Total NHTSA complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so their totals will keep climbing. See the full comparison.
2008 Honda Accord problems by system
Common questions
Is the 2008 Honda Accord a reliable year?
It's one of the worst years for the Accord. Owners have filed 1,520 complaints with NHTSA, the 2nd most of 18 Accord model years. The most reported problems involve the brakes, airbags and engine.
What are the most common 2008 Honda Accord problems?
Owners most often report problems with the brakes, airbags, engine and lights. 573 complaints (38%) name the brakes, most often the pads and caliper.
At what mileage do 2008 Honda Accord brakes problems start?
Reported mileage ranged widely, but most complaints fell between about 17,000–28,000 miles, with a middle value near 22,000 miles.
How many recalls does the 2008 Honda Accord have?
9. Inflator module (19V502000); Inflator module (19V378000); Inflator module (18V268000). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.
Should I buy a used 2008 Honda Accord?
Ask for service records covering the brakes, confirm the recall work was done, and compare with the 2023, 2025 and 2024 models, which have the fewest complaints.
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Counts include each complaint once per model year.