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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
74,392 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
2008 Honda Accord ex-L at cold start-up, engine rattles loudly for approximately 2 seconds. After investigation and consultation with Honda repair technicians, it appears the problem is with the vtc actuator and Honda has issued a tsb 090-010 to address this problem.
Honda recall. My car for some reason was covered under the power transmission recall even though my car is experiencing the same problem and codes other 2008 Honda Accord were the same year. My oil is going faster then I can put it in. It doesn't last a whole month. I have no oil leaks in my car at all what so ever. Its damaging my engine because I had no clue it was burning the oil that fast. It's not fair they only cover some 2008 Honda Accord. When they already were sued because if it.
The check engine light kept coming up with the maintenance light and the oil level kept dropping.I took it to autozone and I got these coded P3497 and P3400. I did a research myself and found out that there was a recall on this issue as stated in Honda's bulletin 11-033.the recall covers all Accord from 2008-2010 which mine is included. I called Accord to notify them about these but after they looked up the VIN, I was told my car wasn't included. Honda's bulletin says all 2008-2010 V6 Accord so why is my car exempted? please kindly look into these issue. Thank you.
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 40 mph, the contact noticed smoked underneath the hood without warning. The vehicle was pulled into a parking lot, where an independent mechanic lifted the hood, and stated that the alternator was smoking. The vehicle was towed to moss motors (337-235-9086, located at 1407 la 728-8, lafayette, la 70501) where the technician diagnosed and replaced the alternator. Prior to that failure, the same dealer replaced the steering pump and the starter in 2015 when the steering pump leaked and destroyed the starter. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and offered a forty percent discount towards the cost of the repairs. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
My car makes this rattling sound when I first start the car. I brought it into my Honda dealership to have it looked and they said it is a known issue related to other Honda Accord but Honda won't cover the cost to have it repaired. They gave me an estimate of $480 to have fixed. I've searched online and found that many Honda Accord owners have also faced this issue with the rattling sound. If it is a known defect and saftey issue, why hasn't Honda issued a recall to fix it?
- Providence, RI, USA
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Since last 5 years I noticed loud grinding noise at startup, only in the morning when I first start the engine. Noise does not happen on startups during the day and the engine runs fine. Just the annoying about 2 second long scratch noise at first start in the morning. But since last 2-3 weeks it has gone worst and get that noice even when I start driving and every time I slow down and start speed up again it get that noice like gear slipping or grinding noise until I reach to faster speed like above 30-35. Its happening every time now. On Honda's website it defines problem as "engine rattles at cold start-up" just difference for me is now its happening all the time when I am driving. And I was waiting for hope to get recall notification since it's happening to all 2008 Honda Accord customers. Here is the link of Honda website which has more information. Https://Honda.oemdtc.com/219/engine-rattles-at-cold-start-up-2008-2013-Honda which even says the 2008-2012 all Honda Accord models has this problem. So before I schedule an appointment to dealership I thought to take this step to mention about common problem of particular 2008 Honda Accord to NHTSA United States department of transportation hoping I will get some kind of help or solution.
Engine rattles loudly for 2 seconds upon cold start. Online searches reveal this is a known problem with the vtc actuator and a tsb has been issues (NHTSA #10087883). Mechanic says could result in catastrophic engine failure if not fixed. I feel that Honda should pay for this repair on my vehicle.
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle hesitated and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician noticed engine oil leaking onto the spark plugs. The technician stated that the spark plugs needed to be repaired. The vehicle was also taken to the dealer (meyer Honda, 1268 central park dr, O'fallon, il 62269, (618) 622-0588), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred every 30,000 miles. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 173,000.
I have had to replace the vtc actuator twice in the last 5 yrs and now need to replace it again. At cold start the car makes a rattling noise. Honda has a bulletin but say nothing about helping owners replace them since it is a known issue. Please help!!!
Vtc actuator failure. I get a grinding sound when starting my car. Almost every 2008 Honda Accord is experiencing this problem. Honda is aware and they have not recalled this issue.
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the engine. The dealer (cape girardeau Honda, 385 siemers dr, cape girardeau, mo 63701, (573) 334-6919) was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.
2008 Honda Accord. Consumer writes in regards to engine trouble. The consumer stated the actuator was the cause of the engine failure. The dealership and manufacturer failed to properly notify the consumer or remedy the failure.
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. While attempting to start the vehicle, the instrument panel warning indicators illuminated, including the check engine indicator. While driving, the speed would not increase past 20 mph. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 120,000.
2008 Honda Accord ex-L V6. Engine failure. Heading home and car cut off. Pulled over and called my mechanic for a tow to his shop. His diagnosis was engine failure and he stated a new engine is the only fix. My mechanic runs a small shop in a small town and he tells it like it is. He recommended selling the car for scrap rather than investing in the new engine. I was upset. This is a nice car and is quite clean. But during my five years of ownership I have added oil every week to keep it topped off. Spark plugs fouled often enough to carry extras in the trunk along with a ratchet and socket. When they fouled I would pull over, change them and go on my way. I still own the car. But it is has too many miles and is too old for inclusion into the class action settlement. This isn't right and it's the first and last Honda I will ever own.
'takata recall' I had gotten into an collision involving a deer on 10/26/2016. I was going approximately 60 mph when I struck this roughly 110 pound deer. The impact was on my front bumper on the passenger side of my car. When I took it to get repaired I had no other choice but to go with my insurance's geico express facility since all the shops were full from hail damage vehicles. In the estimate and on the repair order I received from geico and amm collision. My vehicle never had the work done to the structure untill 2 months ago. It stated that there were 3 structural components that were worked on. The right rail assembly 4 hours or repair time 60810ta5A00zz (where front and rear panels connect, heavy buckle), the left inner panel 3.6 hours repair time 04695ta0A00zz(rolled with putter panel, includes time for brackets at the top of frame), and the right front panel (crushed, cost effective to replace)60659ta5A50zz. My vehicle was in the shop for only 2 business days but some how put 41 hours worth of labor into my car. I had gotten into another hit and run on 9/20/17 where my side airbags didn't deploy. I took it back to amm collision where geico tried to total out my vehicle, falsify paperwork by taking off componants(transmission), undervalue then retain my vehicle. When I dropped my vehicle off back with amm collision I had taken pictures of patches of rust on structure componants and broken tack welds. Still today I have broken welds in my car. But the major concern was geico and amm collision trying to hide the fact that they didn't do the repairs to my frame for a whole year. And when I requested the photos of the repairs and measurements from the body alignment machine from the shop, I had the police called on me and I have a felony criminal trespassing warning at amm collision for asking for paperwork that they cannot provide.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- The Woodlands, TX, USA