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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,403 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.
New car less than 1000 miles on it the headlights flicker about every 15/30 seconds with the ac on/off every night. Honda says nothing is wrong and won't do anything.
I have a 2008 Honda Accord ex-L. when driving with lights on both dim and bright lights flicker, like you are flashing them. It happens every 1 to 2 minutes especially when running the air conditioner. Dealer nor Honda has any solution. This is a distraction which could cause an accident.
2008 Honda Accord 4 cylinder headlights consistently dim and brighten with the A/C on. This is not a minor change in illumination. It looks like you are lowering or dimming your lights and then immediately brightening them. This causes a misconception by others of an intent to pass or to ask them to dim lights if they are coming toward me. Honda dealership is saying this is normal. I have never had a vehicle do this before. I have been driving for 35 years and owned numerous vehicles. This cannot be misconstrued as "average" cycling of the electrical system. The variation of the illumination and the occurrence rate is absurdly out of proportion.
I bought a brand new 2008 Honda Accord with a 4 cylinder engine. When the air conditioner kicks on and the headlights are on there is a noticeable and quick dimming almost flashing of the headlights and taillights. It is bright enough to seem as though I am flickering my head lights to the person in front of me on the highway and this is a serious safety hazard. I contacted Honda both the dealership and a regional representative and was told this is "normal" and "within specs". I am not alone with this problem as I have found many others with the same problem and they were all told the same from Honda representatives. I have owned over 50 cars in my lifetime and flickering lights, let alone on a brand new $27000 care should never be considered "normal." Thank you for your time and I appreciate any feedback you would be able to provide. Sincerely, john kalapodis
- Algonquin, IL, USA
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About every minute or so the lights on my 2008 Honda Accord dim as I am driving down the road. It looks like I am flashing my lights. This happens when the fan kicks in, A/C or defrost is on. It is very distracting.
Purchased a 2008 Honda Accord June 29,2008. Finally got a chance to drive the vehicle for a period of time with the headlight on last night and noticed that the headlights keep dimming momentarily as the A/C or fan cycles about every 20-30 seconds. Two issues that I have is that Honda is aware of the issues as every 2008 Accord does the same thing. It is rather noticeable and very distracting not only to the driver but no doubt to other drivers that think I may be flashing my lights at them.
On all 2008 Accord ex-L 4 cylinder models, the exterior lights (most noticeable on headlights) momentarily dim (flicker) whenever the A/C compressor cycles on. This seems to be caused by the current draw of the two engine cooling fans. According to Honda, this behavior is "normal" and is controlled by the eld (electronic load detector). In my opinion, this continual and noticeable change in headlight intensity is extremely distracting to me (as the driver). I have no idea how these flickers might be interpreted by oncoming traffic. I have owned many cars in the last 35 years and none has ever exhibited this extremely annoying and potentially dangerous characteristic.
Just bought my 08 Accord LX sedan 4 cyl 2 months ago, after 2 days, I noticed that the headlights start flickering every 20 - 30 sec aprox. I went to the "classic Honda" dealer 2 times, they said "its normal". this is a safety issue, because it is distracting. Also, other drivers think that I am flashing my lights at them.
2008 Honda Accord 4 cylinder ex-L w/navigation: While driving at night headlights flicker when the air conditioner is on. This occurs about every 15 seconds. The headlights become very dim and provide poor visibility and may also appear to other drivers that you are signaling them. It is a big distraction and makes the vehicle a safety hazard to drive at night while the air conditioner is engaged. The manufacturer does not readily offer a solution for this defect.
I own a Honda Accord 2008 ex sedan with the 190hp V4 engine. The headlamps and tail lamps go dim when I accelerate the car and then decelerate -- not only annoying it happens so often that my night vision is disrupted -- the headlamps are marginal to begin with especially in wet conditions as they wash out.
My 2008 Honda Accord ex-L lights flicker or dim at night when all equip. Or ac is on very distracting for me must be for the other drivers that meet me on the road have been to dealer twice for this problem and they say it is normal I have an 2007 Accord that dose not have this problem also have a 2003 Acura tls that does not or have I ever had this problem in the 50 years I have been owning cars. What to do next??
Bought a brand new 2008 Honda Accord ex-L sedan. Headlights keep going dim when air conditioner kicks on. It is very annoying and other motor vehicles think I am flashing them. This occurs at least once every 2-3 minutes. I have read numerous complaints in chat forums regarding this issue that is affecting other drivers of the same year, make, and model.
2008 Honda Accord 4 cylinder ex sedan. I just purchased the car new on 06/14/2008. When driving it for the first time at night, I noticed the headlamps dim and then return to full brightness in sync with the air conditioner compressor clutch engaging. The dimming occurs every 20 to 30 seconds when the air conditioner is on. It is very distracting and not typical of any of my previous cars. Dealer does not have a solution to this problem.
I just bought a 2008 Honda Accord 4cyl. The headlamps dim on and off every 20 seconds or so.it seems to dim when A/C compressor comes on. Honda websites said this is "normal"?
I bought a 2008 Honda Accord approximately four weeks ago, when driving the car (with A/C on) the exterior lights flicker approximately every 15-30 minutes. The dealership has not provided a solution. Lights flickering is an unsafe and unacceptable condition. Other drivers do not know the flickering lights are not an act of aggression, nor is it safe for driver's to be exposed to continuous flickering lights. There are extensive postings on the internet regarding this problem. I would implore this Agency to protect the safety of the public by researching this highly documented safety issue and requiring Honda to fix this faulty design.
2008 Honda Accord ex-L navi 4 cylinder. While driving at night with climate control on, as the A/C compressor cycles on, the headlights and all other lights dim noticeably. Honda dealer has stated this is "normal" for Honda, although my previous 2007 Accord ex-L 4 cylinder did not exhibit this "feature". it is a safety issue and a defect with the automobile. Other drivers notice this "dimming" and assume you are flashing your headlights at them.
Headlights dim as air conditioning compressor cycles off and on. I have owned over 30 cars in my lifetime and this is the first time I have seen this. Apparently Honda claims this is "normal". it is distracting to the driver and to oncoming cars. I have the 2008 LX-P model - 4 cylinder.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Tunnel Hill, GA, USA