Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 1,869 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Accord, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 247 | 13% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 149 | 8% |
| Fuel system | 132 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 123 | 7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 97 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 95 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 79 | 4% |
| Engine | 73 | 4% |
| Power train | 40 | 2% |
| Structure | 39 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Unknown of actual issue. Experiencing persistent hard excessive jerking when accelerating. Extended warranty was placed for most Hondas due to head gasket issue but not for 2.0T
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The contact's sister-in-law owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the vehicle stalled with several warning lights illuminated. The driver pulled over to the side of the road, and th
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
Vehicle dashboard lights up with multiple warnings, power loss/limp mode in traffic and while driving. Dealership said it’s a very common problem but Honda refuses to make a recall. Technician says it is most likely caus
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
It started with multiple lights glowing on my dash. Then progressively the car felt sluggish and ultimately while driving to church in July the car cut off while I was making a turn. Some kind gentleman pushed my car hel
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Car was overheating while driving. Received warning signs on the dash to pull over and turn car off immediately. Which I did. Very dangerous to do, especially with my three year old on a 90 summer day. I felt fear for my
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I own a 2018 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T that has been consistently maintained through authorized Honda dealerships. On July 30, 2026, at 135,968 miles, I took my vehicle to Nalley Honda for a Blind Spot Information System w
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Car went into limp mode and was struggling to accelerate, went and got it diagnosed and was notified that my spark plugs needed to be replaced. Car began running fine but a few months went by and the issue came back. I w
NHTSA complaint: Power train
There is a hole in the engine block and it happed while I was driving, people could’ve been hurt on the road because of this mechanical failure. Vehicle has only been inspected by a private mechanic who found the problem
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 Honda Accord. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 22, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, and 2019-2020 Insight vehicles. A software error may cause intermittent or continuous disruptions in communication between the Body Control Module (BCM) and other components. This may result in malfunction
Risk: Various system malfunctions such as inoperative windshield wipers, defroster, rearview camera, or exterior lighting can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the BCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 22, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. H
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Accord and 2019 Honda Insight vehicles. In certain scenarios, the back-up camera center display may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)
Risk: If the rearview camera display does not show what is behind the vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the display audio unit software, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, p
Risk: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2023. Own
| Reliability | 68 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 88 | excellent |
| Performance | 53 | average |
| Efficiency | 52 | average |
| Safety | 100 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 1,869 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 247 of them (13%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 68/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2018 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 76/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.