Car Yearsto Avoid

2012 Honda Accord Problems

What owners have reported about the 2012 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 2012 Honda Accord a good year?

It's about average for this model. Owners have filed 373 complaints with NHTSA, the 11th most of 18 Accord model years. The most reported problems involve the seats, airbags and engine.

373 complaints 8 recalls, 3 can stall 11th worst of 18 Accord years

Top 2012 Honda Accord problems

1

Seat problems

64 complaints (17%) name the seats, most often the head restraint.

Complaints 64 · Usually at 0–20,000 miles

2

Airbag problems

56 complaints (15%) name the airbags.

Complaints 56 · Usually at 37,000–98,000 miles · Recall 19V502000, 19V378000, 18V661000, 18V268000, 18V042000, 17V545000, 17V030000, 12V030000

3

Engine problems

52 complaints (14%) name the engine.

Complaints 52 · Usually at 22,000–84,000 miles

4

Steering problems

51 complaints (14%) name the steering, most often the rack and pinion.

Complaints 51 · Usually at 8,000–55,000 miles

Which parts fail most

Share of complaints that name each system. One complaint can name several.

Seats 17%
Airbags 15%
Engine 14%
Steering 14%
Brakes 11%
Electrical 9%
Transmission 7%
Unknown or Other 7%
Acceleration 7%
Suspension 6%

Mileage when it failed

Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (245 of 373). The amber line is the middle value, about 33,000 miles.

When problems were reported

Complaints by the year the problem happened.

2012 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 2019

Inflator module

Can stall

The 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 2019

Inflator module

S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles 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. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles 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 air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher 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 M2J and S2K.

Recall 18V661000 · Sep 2018

Inflator module

Can stall

The 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 2018

Inflator module

S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Accord Crosstour, Fit and Pilot, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V, and 2010 Acura ZDX and Honda Insight vehicles ever registered in the states of 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." Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of 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 or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher 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 B0K and L0J.

Recall 18V042000 · Jan 2018

Inflator module

Can stall

One 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 2017

Inflator 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 2017

Side / window

The driver-side or passenger-side side curtain airbag inflator may not have been manufactured according to correct specifications. In the event of a crash, the side curtain airbag may fail to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Honda will replace the driver's side or passenger's side side curtain airbag as needed free of charge.

Recall 12V030000 · Feb 2012
Check your VIN for open recalls

Get an email when your 2012 Honda Accord gets a new recall

We check NHTSA every month. If a new recall or safety investigation covers the 2012 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.

Common questions

Is the 2012 Honda Accord a reliable year?

It's about average for this model. Owners have filed 373 complaints with NHTSA, the 11th most of 18 Accord model years. The most reported problems involve the seats, airbags and engine.

What are the most common 2012 Honda Accord problems?

Owners most often report problems with the seats, airbags, engine and steering. 64 complaints (17%) name the seats, most often the head restraint.

At what mileage do 2012 Honda Accord seats problems start?

Reported mileage ranged widely, but most complaints fell between about 0–20,000 miles, with a middle value near 2,000 miles.

How many recalls does the 2012 Honda Accord have?

8. Inflator module (19V502000); Inflator module (19V378000); Inflator module (18V661000). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.

Should I buy a used 2012 Honda Accord?

Ask for service records covering the seats, 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.