2009 Honda ACCORD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
722 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
32,944 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 516 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 156 of 722 complaints (21.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 251 | 34.8% |
| Steering behavior | 41 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 2.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 156 |
| Air Bags | 140 |
| Engine | 111 |
| Service Brakes | 51 |
| Electrical System | 37 |
| Unknown Or Other | 35 |
| Power Train | 31 |
| Steering | 29 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 156; Air Bags: 140; Engine: 111; Service Brakes: 51; Electrical System: 37; Unknown Or Other: 35; Power Train: 31; Steering: 29
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 210 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 100 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 70 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 48 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 64 |
| 150,000 and above | 24 |
Under 25,000: 210; 25,000 to 49,999: 100; 50,000 to 74,999: 70; 75,000 to 99,999: 48; 100,000 to 149,999: 64; 150,000 and above: 24
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (210). 206 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 93 |
| 2010 | 122 |
| 2011 | 53 |
| 2012 | 48 |
| 2013 | 51 |
| 2014 | 46 |
| 2015 | 41 |
| 2016 | 78 |
| 2017 | 64 |
| 2018 | 36 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2008: 4; 2009: 93; 2010: 122; 2011: 53; 2012: 48; 2013: 51; 2014: 46; 2015: 41; 2016: 78; 2017: 64; 2018: 36; 2019: 24; 2020: 14; 2021: 8; 2022: 11; 2023: 9; 2024: 7; 2025: 9; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 251 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10256274 · 2009-01-25 (January 25, 2009)
I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK FOR REPAIR THREE TIMES FOR SQUEAKING BRAKES. ON THE FOURTH TRIP THE DEALER REFUSED FURTHER REPAIR UNTIL NOTICE FROM HONDA. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10263019 · 2009-03-25 (March 25, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR REMEDY THE FAILURE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER WOULD FREEZE INSIDE THE WHEEL RIMS IN WET, FREEZING CONDITIONS. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ROTORS TO RUST AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM NOT TO PERFORM AT ITS FULL POTENTIAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THE VIN …
Owner-reported narrative. 938 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265984 · 2009-04-19 (April 19, 2009)
BRAND NEW 2009 HONDA ACCORD EX-L/ W NAV 4CYL ENGINE. AFTER 1 DAY OF OWNERSHIP THE CAR HAS A TERRIBLE SHUDDER IN THE STEERING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAID GIVE IT A 1000 MILES AND WE WILL SEE IF IT GOES AWAY! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265984 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315137 · 2010-03-01 (March 1, 2010)
IN JULY OF 2009 I PURCHASED A 2009 HONDA ACCORD EX-L SEDAN. FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN ADJUSTING THE POWER DRIVER SEAT, THE MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT FORWARD AND BACKWARD WAS ROUGH (I.E. WOBBLY). I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY REPLACED THE SEAT RAILS, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS THOUGH NOT AS SEVERE. ADDITIONALLY THE ELECTRICAL CONTROLS FOR THE HEATED FRONT SEATS WERE NOT CONNECTED PROPERLY (ACTUALLY NOT CONNECTED AT ALL) AND CONSEQUENTLY THEY DID NOT WORK UNTIL THE DEALERSHIP CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429503 · 2011-10-11 (October 11, 2011)
A NOISE HAS DEVELOPED IN OUR 2009 HONDA ACCORD IN THE DASH, WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE "A" PILLAR AIR BAGS ARE LOCATED. THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO A LOCAL DEALER ON 3 SEPERATE OCCASIONS. THEY CONTINUE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BY INSTALLING SOME TYPE OF PADDING IN THE DASH. AFTER EACH REPAIR, THE NOISE RETURNS AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES. I HAVE ASKED THEM ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO REMOVE THE DASH/AIR BAGS AND INSPECT THE EFFECTED AREAS. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE HONDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE INDIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340385 · 2010-06-28 (June 28, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON RESTARTING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND VSA SERVICE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS REGISTERED A MISFIRE. THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL YET THE DEALER COU…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10341305 · 2010-07-03 (July 3, 2010)
I HAVE A 2009 HONDA ACCORD THAT HAS STALLED TWICE IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE I WAS DECELERATING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER BOTH TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261273 · 2009-03-09 (March 9, 2009)
TRANSMISSION FAILED ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265316 · 2009-04-14 (April 14, 2009)
I INITIALLY REPORTED A PROBLEM ON MY CAR ON THE 28TH OF JANUARY AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR AT HONDA OF SERRAMONTE FOR MAKING A CRANKING THUMP NOISE WHEN MAKING A REVERSE TO ACCELERATION. THE NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY CONSISTENT AND IT OCCURS DURING A GEAR SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO ACCELERATION. BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF HMC AT TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA AND THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY BOTH CLAIM THIS NOISE IS NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. I SAY THIS IS NOT, AS THE NOISE IS THE FIRST TIME I HEAR SINCE IN MY ADULT DRIVING …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515500 · 2013-06-06 (June 6, 2013)
MY 2009 HONDA ACCORD HAS A GRINDING NOISE THAT OCCURS WHEN THE IGNITION IS ACTIVATED FROM A COLD START. THE NOISE LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO SECONDS AND SOUNDS LIKE THE TIMING BELT SYSTEM IS RATCHETING INTO PLACE. THIS ONLY OCCURS ON A COLD START, MEANING THE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN RUNNING FOR 4 OR MORE HOURS. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR. AN INTERNET SEARCH LOCATED HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 09-010 DATED 08/17/10 AND THEN UPDATED ON 10/21/11. THE SAFETY BULLETIN DESCRIBES THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING CONTROL (VTC) ACTUATOR AS BEING, "DEF…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10524049 · 2013-07-09 (July 9, 2013)
MY 2009 HONDA ACCORD HAS A GRINDING NOISE THAT OCCURS WHEN THE IGNITION IS ACTIVATED FROM A COLD START. THE NOISE LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO SECONDS AND SOUNDS LIKE THE TIMING BELT SYSTEM IS RATCHETING INTO PLACE. THIS ONLY OCCURS ON A COLD START, MEANING THE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN RUNNING FOR 4 OR MORE HOURS. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR. AN INTERNET SEARCH LOCATED HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 09-010 DATED 08/17/10 AND THEN UPDATED ON 10/21/11. THE SAFETY BULLETIN DESCRIBES THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING CONTROL (VTC) ACTUATOR AS BEING, "DEFECTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524049 at NHTSA ↗