CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2009 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.

8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,200
Average Mileage:
70,150 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. new cam and followers (4 reports)
  2. not sure (4 reports)
2009 Honda Accord engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Honda Accord:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2009 Honda Accord Owner Comments

problem #8

Aug 182020

Accord EX 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 109,361 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Clicking noise, they wanted to replace the timing chain and I said dig deeper. They pulled the cover and found a porous hole in the lobe of the camshaft

- Matthias B., Edmonton (Int'l Aprt), AB, AB, Canada

problem #7

May 022017

Accord EX 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,662 miles

click to see larger images

engine making clacking noise engine making clacking noise

Clicking noise getting worse over couple weeks. Took into shop. 4 days later, told me it was probably VTC (Valve Timing Control) Actuator, and recommended injector and throttle body cleaning. I researched and read the Honda Bulletin SB-10041669-6712 and did not sound like the correct Diagnosis. Great bulletin though, comes with a sound file.

Told them to leave the VTC. Told them to service the valves for proper clearance. They called back 2 days later and told me that #1 cylinder exhaust rocker arm was worn. Told them to replace it. Called back 3 days later and once they had rotated the camshaft they found the exhaust lobe pitted and rocker arm worn on #4 cylinder. New total was $3100 Can ($2200 USD). Recommended timing chain and tensioner replacement also. Looking at cost of new engine instead.

Synthetic oil changes every 5000 km. Use to be Honda was dependable like Toyota. Those days are gone. We were looking at a Honda Pilot but if the engine is worn at 160,000 km and my Ford has 360,000 km and nothing more than batteries and brakes for maintenance. Makes one wonder....

- Matthias B., Edmonton (Int'l Aprt), AB, AB, Canada

problem #6

Oct 022014

Accord LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

Honda has been very aware of this issue but, doesn't know how to fix it, so they say we won't fix it. My car makes this awful noise every time I start my car. Now it even makes this noise periodically going down the road off and on. Honda needs to get on the ball, I used to be a fan of Honda's but now I will not buy another Honda after this one. They are trying to say it has something to do with the actuator, but don't know how to fix it, so they are told to do nothing about it, they know it's annoying but they told us to just deal with it, because they don't care how frustrated we are they are not fixing it.

- Beverly W., TEMPLE, TX, US

problem #5

Jun 152015

Accord LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Upon removal of valve cover for a routine valve adjustment, found abnormal wear and pitting of two exhaust lobes on the exhaust camshaft. The wear seen was not on all lobes therefore leading us to believe the camshaft hardening process failed. In addition, the intake camshaft appears perfectly normal with no signs of abnormal wear.

I have looked on several websites and have seen the same complaints as this one with the Honda.

I have written to Honda and called them. They told me this was not covered under the warranty because it was discovered at 103,000 miles. I told them this is not a warranty problem, it is a defect that must have occurred in the production of the car and since I have seen several complaints with the same problem I just assume their vendor supplied them with inferior parts.

- Hazel J., Alvin, TX, US

problem #4

Dec 022014

Accord EX-L 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,000 miles

Found out that my Accord has "spun" a rod bearing. I put it in quotes because it actually disintegrated. Thought it would be covered under my extended warranty that I bought with the car. Honda Care says no because my car had a massive oil leak and that I allowed the car to run a significant amount of time with a low level of oil. BULLSHIT!! I provide all the receipts for the oil change materials, they still deny my claim. The service manager at my local dealer says "Just because you bought the stuff, that doesn't mean that you actually changed it." Then I find out that there is a service bulletin covering the excessive oil consumption. I also find out that there was a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT over this same issue that Honda settled. But at this juncture, I don't have my car because it has a blown engine that I can't afford to pay to fix and Honda Care has denied my claim due to their bullshit excuses blaming me.

This, of course, is the condensed version. Anyone with any thoughts of how I can get my car fixed?

- Eric R., Newport, NC, US

problem #3

Feb 012012

Accord LX-P 2.4L 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

It does it all the time. Especially early mornings. I was told it was because of oil problem..

- sturkie, Columbia, SC - South Carolina, US

problem #2

Oct 142009

Accord LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,000 miles

Started as clicking noise when engine was cold, took it to the local dealer who told me it was normal engine noise. Drove the car another 500 miles noise was worse so I parked the car at the dealer the night before had my wife drop me at dealer so I could make sure they heard the noise I was complaining about. I had the service writer stand by the car ( with a mechanic ) started the car was told the same, " NORMAL ENGINE NOISE ". Drove the car another 5000 miles took it to dealer again this time with very subtle clicking noise, to my surprise was told " NORMAL ENGINE NOISE ". So thinking maybe they were right I kept driving the car a lot, made trips to California, Tenn, Ky, Mi and all places in between ( forgot to mention this is my sixth Honda ) without any major problems. Recently the noise had gotten worse so I decided to spend the money and get the valves set at the dealer. I dropped the car off and 3 hours later they called and told me valves could not be set because the cam was worn too much. I went to dealer and they told me it would cost me $1,423.00 dollars to have it fixed, they said they could not do anything under warranty because the car had 95,000 miles on it even though this noise was the same noise I had been complaining about since the car had 14,000 miles on it. I called the Honda consumer line and spoke to a nice guy that basically just took down the info and said someone would call to talk to me about my complaint. I won't say that the lady who called me was a b_ _ _h but she was really rude trying to talk over me every time I tried to explain why I thought it should be covered by Honda even though the car has 95,000 miles on it because I HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME NOISE WAY BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. She told me there was nothing that they would do not even split the cost with me. If anyone else has had this cam problem please post it, in the meantime no more Honda's for me after six cars and three atvs.

- Ronnie J., Rochester, IL, US

problem #1

Feb 102010

Accord 3.5v6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,000 miles

Are 2009 Honda accord has had many issues but just recently the entire engine locked up as we were going down the road on the way to work. We don't know why and all the dealer has told us is we think the rode broke just they think.. Will never buy Honda or recommend to anyone it was a fully loaded Honda accord with the 3.5V6 and is just over a year old.

- Joel P., New Kensington, PA, US

Not what you are looking for?