CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2008 Honda Accord has several serious defects: poor brakes, excessive oil consumption, & uncomfortable seats.
BRAKES: There was a class action lawsuit against Honda in 2010 for premature & excessive brake wear. See our page on Honda's brake problems for more info.
OIL CONSUMPTION: Honda issued a TSB about this in late 2011, claiming it could be fixed through a software update to the VCM (variable cylinder management). There are class action lawsuits pending. See our page about the Accord oil consumption.
UNCOMFORTABLE SEATS: Owners have consistently reported uncomfortable seats with the entire 8th generation (2008-2012) of Honda Accords. Complaints range from back pain to leg circulation problems due to bad lumbar support, cushioning, & seat angle. Complaints aren't limited to only a certain body type -- the seat comfort problems are from a wide spectrum of owner height & weight. The common theme we hear is "we never noticed this during the test drive." Unfortunately for unwary buyers, the seat pain is noticeable after 15-20 minutes.
7.6
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$230
Average Mileage:
26,150 miles
Total Complaints:
1094 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replaced brakes (567 reports)
have 2008 Honda brake system recalled (278 reports)
not sure (85 reports)
replaced brakes and rotors (44 reports)
repaired under warranty - sort of.. (25 reports)
replacing rear OEM pads with ceramic pads (23 reports)
YouTube: Honda Accord rear brake pad change - Great 6-minute clip explains how to replace the rear brake pads yourself on any 8th generation (2008+) Honda Accord. Looks really easy.
Honda Accord Premature Brake Wear Repair Guide - Shows you how to resolve the premature brake wear problems on 2008-2010 Honda Accords. Easy DIY repair involving swapping/re-greasing upper & lower caliper pins along with changing to ceramic brake pads - all for about $26.Did mine, works great!!
Had to replace rear pads after only 60000 Km's. Front are only half worn? Not sure what to say but Honda parts are taking a step backwards with their parts. Cost me $240.00.
I recently went to the dealer for the software updates for the transmission and VTEC/fuel injection. They did a free 49 pt. inspection and told me my rear brake pads needed to be replaced. I have owned 5 other Honda's since 1988 and I have never replaced rear brake pads before replacing the fronts and I have never had to replace any brake pads at 35K miles. After reading on this website and others, I have done well to get 35K miles out of these pads. I will be calling the dealer back and calling to complain to American Honda and also complaining to the NHTSB to try and get them to recall this problem. I can't believe a Car Co. would ignore a problem like this. Honda will lose me as a customer if they don't resolve this problem.
70,000 miles and have replaced rear brakes 3 times!!!!! I bought a Honda thinking reliability and quality, I will never buy Honda again! The customer service I have received from Honda is unacceptable. They do not want to take responsibility and the service guys at Honda tried to tell me this is normal wear for brakes, lying and they know it!
This is truly unusual. On my rear brakes, the inner pads are completely worn out, but the outer pad is fine at 21.3k mi. To change these pads, I also had to buy a special tool to compress the caliper cylinder.
This is a real pain, and I never, ever replaced rear pads before the front, and never with such low mileage. I hope the new ceramic pads last longer!
Update from Sep 3, 2014: I've had to do this twice already, second time at ~45,000 Mi. Each time I replaced the pads with premium ceramic pads. That doesn't seem to lengthen their lives much, and I have yet to need to replace the (much larger) front pads.
This is my first Honda, and my last Honda. Got rear brakes replaced 3 times (twice for $545, once for $150) then Honda sent me a check for $300 or so for the two times I paid full cost for pads and rotors. Many other problems with this car. Worse than any American car I owned.
- ctcars,
Cromwell, CT, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
THIS IS MY SECOND HONDA THAT I PURCHASED FROM HONDA FIRST IT WAS JACOBS TWIN FOR MY 2000 HONDA THEN THEY CHANGED OWNERS A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES I THEN PURCHASED A 2ND HONDA UNDER THE NAME OF MCGRATH~IF IT WASN'T FOR SOMEONE TOTALING MY 2000 HONDA I MIGHT STILL HAVE THAT I HAVE BEEN LAID OFF DURING THIS DAMN RECESSION AND NOW I'M HAVING TO DEAL WITH MY BRAKES HAVING ISSUES EVERY 20K MILES MY HONDA HAS BEEN REPOED BY THE GRACE OF GOD MY FAMILY CAME UP WITH MONEY FOR ME TO RETRIEVE THIS VEHICLE AND THAT IS A WHOLE NOTHER STORY ON HOW I WAS TREATED WITH THAT NO CONSIDERATION ON ME BEING OUT OF WORK AND TRYING TO PAY SOMETHING TO THEM~BUT GOD HAS THE LAST WORD WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND THAT IS WHAT HONDA FAIL TO REALIZE I HAVE NO MONEY TO GET BRAKES DONE AGAIN THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF THE FIRST TIME LIKE TOYOTA~I WILL NEVER BUY FOREIGN AGAIN THANKS TO HONDA I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE DAY ONE AND WITH HONDA AS A WHOLE~I'M DEALING WITH MY OWN DISABILITY AND TAKING CARE OF MY DAD WHO HAS JUST UNDERGONE CHEMO AND RADIATION. HONDA IS LUCKY THAT GOD HAS MY BACK BECAUSE IF IT WAS UP TO ME~ THEY WOULD NOT BE AROUND AND I WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY BE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY FOR MY ACTIONS~I HAVE NO RECOURSE ONCE THIS LEMON IS PAID OFF IN A YEAR IN A HALF~BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT'S IT~ ALL THE TIRES NEED REPLACEMENT @ 30K AND WITH ME NOT WORKING AND NOT DRIVING LIKE I DID WITH MY 2000 HONDA THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE~~PLEASE HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
The brakes started making weird noises very early on, guessing 30k or so. This seems good compared to some others on this site. Had the brakes checked at every oil change after this point but told me they were ok. Grinding noises at 50k, replaced the rear pads. Sounds like I can expect to do this often.... Not Happy!
It is rare for the rear brakes to go out at @20K while the front brakes are almost new. BTW, it used 2007 pads, not 2008 (would not fit) on mine. Something is wrong with 2008 design, but then again, it is the first to roll out of the assembly line for this new body style. Expected problem(s), but Honda should cover all the cost. Now at @27K and it is starting to make noise again. Will have it checked soon.
Honda should be proactive with this type of complaint (if Honda still want to be on top of the pack.) The can learn something about the problem and make future improvement and/or going back with what worked well before instead of waiting for someone to file a law suite. The waiting game only costs more. It doesn't make sense.
They never told me that there was a problem with the brakes on the Accords and some other Honda vehicles that Honda and the dealer was aware of. I was contacted by an attorney re a class action lawsuit against Honda.
I met with dealer after I discovered, from the lawyer, that the replacement brakes used where the same type that had premature wear...they were not the new brakes Honda was releasing soon.
I had to ask to have the correct replacement brakes put on my car when they came in...it was not offered to me.
Rear brake pad problem again. Honda trying to blame on installer of previous pads. Why should I use Honda Dealer when they don't even bring to the attention of their loyal customer that there is a problem with the brakes causing unusual wear on rear brake pads. They just quote a price to replace and make me sign off because "they have warned me it is a safety issue". Boy that is a way to blackmail a customer into having the dealer replace at whatever cost they quote you....."scare tactic".....we aren't allowed to do that it in the real estate business.
I took more abuse from my husband for blaming it on my driving until he heard about class action suit. I turned this in and they sent me $125.00 towards my cost....not the end watch for my second complaint on brake pads June, 2011.
Dealer told me I need to replace my rear brakes because they have 2 mm left. This will cost at least $220 dollars and I am expecting to get a refund for this.
NUMBER 2!!! 2nd damn time I've had to replace the rear brakes. HAha Oh my goodness, This is amazing. I've never seen a company blatantly deny anything was wrong with their vehicle, more than Honda. At least Toyota, decided to fix millions of vehicles. I dont know what else to write besides I've had it with this car. I should sell the darn thing and buy a Camry haha because I know i wouldnt be having this stupid problem every 24K.
I was told at 16,000 miles that my rear brake pads were totally worn and it affected my rotors. I was told I needed to get this fixed asap. I was shown the brake pads that had no pad! I was shown the rotors that were worn. My longtime trusted mechanic and good friend of my brother replaced my rear brake pads and rotors at a great price.
Brakes on 2008 Honda Accord beginning to wear out before 19000 miles. Called Dealer, he told us Honda may or may not fix the problem, we'd have to pay for it, and try and get $ back from Honda!
I currently have 56K miles on this car and this is the 4th time I've had to replace the brake-pads. Honda fixed them once under warranty and once for free but now want to charge me. I've paid for the last two sets of brake pads. The last time was with Ceramic brake pads, but they are still squealing. Any suggestions and since I just found out about this class action law suit, any chance of Honda fixing the problem?
I have an 08 V6 Honda Accord. The rear brake pads went out at 15k miles. and again at 35k miles. The brake system should be recalled. Honda doesn't seem to care. If the rear brakes are not recalled, this is my last Honda and this is my 4th Honda Accord.
Rare break noise it has been occuring for a while. This situation is screaming for immidiate help. The technician at the dealer sais that is subject of Honda recall. After the rare breake has been service the noise is gone.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Had to replace rear pads after only 60000 Km's. Front are only half worn? Not sure what to say but Honda parts are taking a step backwards with their parts. Cost me $240.00.
- Dwight D., Saskatoon, SK, canada