CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2012 Honda Accord has a solid reputation (so far), with one very significant flaw: 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 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,108 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.

2012 Honda Accord electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #24

Oct 182022

Accord

  • miles

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

Check Engine Light Due to Low Engine Oil Level, Radio/Climate Control Display May Go Dark, major issue is "No Start" Due to Ignition Switch Failure and fuses keep blowing so many issues and problems

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #23

Oct 022023

Accord

  • miles
Car has frequent issues with starting and power loss inside and outside the car. This is my second time having a issue with my car not starting that did not have to do with the battery or alternator. I have 135xxx miles and keep up with maintenance so this is frustrating and expensive, happening months apart. The first time I had to have a new starter put in. The car also looses brightness on the dash board and in the headlights. The car stalls while starting since Ive had it.

- Hamden, CT, USA

problem #22

Jan 012023

Accord

  • miles
The trunk release mechanisms of my Honda Accord EXL coupe failed, both manual cable and electrical trunk release. My trunk does NOT open and when I need to access my spare tire in the trunk - I will NOT be able to. A real danger since I live in Canyon Country and often phone reception is poor. The only Honda Model that does NOT have any external nor internal emergency trunk release option. There is no "Valet" button, no decklid access, no external hidden key lock nothing that can release my trunk so I can gain access to my spare tire. Federal Law 49CFR571.401 mandates an emergency internal trunk release. In this Honda Model the ONLY way to get into the trunk from inside is by unlocking and pulling down back seats to access the trunk. BUT the ONLY way to unlock back seats is by pulling a cable that unlocks them which is INSIDE THE TRUNK! So the safety design flaws in the Honda Accord EXL coupe are: there is no emergency access to release the trunk to gain access to the spare tire AND there is no emergency way to unlock back seats to gain access to the trunk since the only way to unlock back seats is IN THE TRUNK. A Mechanical Engineer needed to dismantled the seats to get into the trunk and he tried to release the truck with the Emergency Trunk Release but it is obvious that the latch has failed. if there was ever a person stuck in the trunk that person would NOT be able to free themselves. I do have a video showing the Emergency Trunk Release not working if you like to see it but i can not upload it. I lost my job during the Pandemic and my house has major damage from the massive amount of rain Los Angeles received. I am unable to afford to have a Honda Dealership tell me what I already have on video showing that the Emergency Trunk Release has FAILED and I am in potential danger every time I drive. I asked Honda to fix trunk release latch and expressed the dangerous Coupe Design Flaws but they will not fix the safety problem unless Honda Dealership gets involved.

- Topanga, CA, USA

problem #21

Jul 272020

Accord

  • miles

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

I-??m not sure exactly when everything started but it-??s been a 2ish years. The lights on my steering wheel started blinking randomly. Then the cruise control stopped working. Then the lights went out entirely. Now the horn only works occasionally. It slowly got worse over time.

- Salisbury, NC, USA

problem #20

Feb 172022

Accord

  • miles
Twice in the past couple of months my car has turned off while in drive and I lost power steering/braking. Both times were luckily in my apartment parking lot. They occured about 10-15 seconds after backing out and putting it in drive. The second time I almost slid into a car driving by since I wasn't able to brake.

- Grand Forks, ND, USA

problem #19

Oct 122019

Accord

  • 83,000 miles
Driver window will not go up. Looking online there's an entire thread of Honda owners regarding this same issue!! your windows are malfunctioning and I have only had this car for 18 months!! most motors in windows last!! not sure why Honda hasn't had a recall on this issue!!

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #18

Sep 182019

Accord

  • 166,840 miles

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

Front passenger door randomly will not open, even though door lock appears to be in the unlocked position- while vehicle is parked.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #17

Jan 212018

Accord

  • 36,000 miles
We found our car in the garage with all the windows wide open including the moon roof window. The red circle alarm was flashing. I started the car and the alarm went out. Then all was fine. What could cause that" and could it happen while driving"

- Sun Prairie, WI, USA

problem #16

Jun 152017

Accord

  • 53,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. While driving 30 mph, the power steering seized, the brakes locked and failed to respond, and the vehicle stalled. Also, the instrument cluster indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (nardy Honda smithtown, 559 middle county rd, St james, NY 11780), but the vehicle was unable to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer (atlantic Honda, 1375 sunrise highway, bayshore, NY 11706) where it was diagnosed that the battery and alternator needed to be repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 53,000.

- East North Port, NY, USA

problem #15

May 192017

Accord

  • 47,500 miles
Rodent chewed through soy covered evap vent shut valve wire, ABS and vsa sensor wires. Car was parked in garage and warning lights came on next time car was driven.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #14

Apr 012016

Accord

  • 50,000 miles

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

Two rear doors will not unlock when useing the switches on the driver side door. And rear doors will not unlock when using the remote on the key ring. The door motors sound like they are dying. All of this happens when the car is in the off mode engine not running and in park.

- Phillipsburg, NJ, USA

problem #13

Jan 232017

Accord

  • 58,937 miles
Rats chewed and damaged electrical wiring. Entire wiring harness had to be replaced at my cost. Cost was approximately $2000. Problem first manifested when driving. Transmission shifting became sluggish and soon after the engine and transmission light ("flashing D") occurred.

- Chino Hills, CA, USA

problem #12

May 152016

Accord

  • miles
Both drivers side and passenger side front door locks no longer work.

- Valrico, FL, USA

problem #11

Oct 052016

Accord

  • 80,000 miles
Tire inflation meter are too expensive for simple flat repairs. Consumer rip off caused but government regulations required tires to have pressure sensor and warning lights. Each tire has an expensive $80 sensor that easily leaks or gets bumped by mechanics. It cost me $200 to stop the leaks and warning lights. On first look, sounds like a nice idea but in practice companies are ripping us off doing simple nail fixes. The mechanics weaking, purposely loosen the value and say it is our car's computer problem. Please do not required cars to have these monitors. Thanks for listening. Sounds like the lobbyist are creating money grabs. Regards john

- Bolingbrook, IL, USA

problem #10

Jun 062015

Accord

  • 42,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. While parked, the vehicle was unable to start and an abnormal buzzing sound emitted from the ignition switch. The contact stated the vehicle was able to start on the second attempt. The failure recurred intermittently. The dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,000.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #9

Jun 202015

Accord

  • 34,963 miles
All four of my door locking actuators have all "failed." The car randomly locks and unlocks on the highway and even though Honda has had a class action lawsuit over these door actuators for the CRV they are not replacing the Honda Accord ones (they will for a small fee of $1500).

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #8

Jan 162015

Accord 6-cyl

  • 31,000 miles
Car accelerates then suddenly stops acceleration even though gas pedal is increasing. Suddenly the car accelerates at pedal position causing a sudden jurk motion forward due to sudden over compensated acceleration. Occurs sporadically. Caution must be taken when behind other cars or crossing into median on 4 lane highways. Pause may last as long as 4 seconds which is a long time with on-coming traffic while crossing road. Also could result in rear in collision from cars in rear due to sudden pause in acceleration and rear car accelerating smoothly at normal pace. Rear car would not expect you to suddenly stop accelerationsuch as at red light.suspect it is accelerator position sensor causing the problem but has not been determined at this time since I can't afford to make car payment and repair at same time. Will have looked into when money is avallable for diagnostic and repair of problem. There is no doubt this is not normal since I also own a 2010 model Honda Accord and never had such problem. This is a 2012 model and suprised since Honda makes good automobiles. Purchased used in January of 2015 from towsend BMW in tuscaloosa, al. Electrical coverage expired Nov. Of 2014. Will have to pay out-of-pocket for repair. BMW dealership would not cover problem after sale. Will have to take to dealership for repair or some other reputable auto repair shop.car fax showed no accident reports.

- Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

problem #7

Mar 012014

Accord 4-cyl

  • 22,000 miles
Twice in the last few months my car's engine would not turn over when I turned the key to the start position. It only made a buzzing sound. I returned the key to the resting position and tried again. Both times it started. I took it to the Honda dealer to have it serviced. The technician told me this was normal. (no. It's normal for a car to start when you turn the key.) he gave me a copy of a Honda "service news article" dated "October 2001" entitled "starter relay buzzes." It reads, "if you turn the ignition switch very slowly to start the engine, all Honda models except passport have this little quirk: The starter relay buzzes. If your customer complains about it, don't spend your time trying to fix it; there's really nothing wrong. Just tell your customer to turn the ignition switch a little faster, and the relay won't buzz."

- Greencastle, PA, USA

problem #6

Jan 302014

Accord

  • 26,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire while parked with the engine turned off. The contact was able to extinguish the fire and noticed that the fire destroyed the driver's side door panel and extended to the instrument panel. A fire report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the fire and offered no assistance. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 26,000.

- Lake City, FL, USA

problem #5

Jun 172013

Accord 4-cyl

  • 19,500 miles
I have found that at night, the headlight sensor overcompensates when detecting headlight beams cast by the opposing lanes of traffic. The sensor then forces the headlight sensor to immediately turn off our vehicle's headlights, leaving the driving shrouded in complete darkness. When driving at 70 or more miles an hour on a highway, these momentary seconds of darkness are all that are needed to cause a fatal mistake or a dead driver. I report at least four separate incidents in the last 14 months alone: During February 2013, while driving under icy conditions at night in potomac, my vehicle passed opposing traffic vehicle and the headlight sensor activated. After losing frontal visibility, my vehicle lost complete control and began to spin on the icy road, almost getting us killed. In August 2012, while driving on a Texas highway at high speeds, a large truck cargo full of crates and boxes began to topple onto the road side in front of my vehicle. The headlight sensor had, as before, activated, resulting in practically no front visibility. Seeing almost nothing, I dodged though the falling carton boxes at a 70 mph speed, almost getting killed and wetting my pants with urine. On a recent trip to the eastern shore of Maryland, while on the chesapeake bay bridge at night. The headlights malfunctioned. She attempted to keep the vehicle inside the outer traffic lane but was narrowly clipped by a wide, large truck on the other lane of traffic, denting the front side of the vehicle and damaging one of the side mirrors. This near-miss however, could have easily resulted in the death of two members of my family. This supposed safety feature of the vehicle is in fact quite dangerous, potentially fatal. I no longer feel safe driving my Honda Accord, nor do I feel safe allowing any of the members of my family drive this vehicle.

- Gaithersburg, MD, USA

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