2012 Honda ACCORD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
373 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
25,284 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 271 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seats is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 373 complaints (17.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 66 | 17.7% |
| Steering behavior | 56 | 15.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 3.8% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 1.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seats | 64 |
| Air Bags | 56 |
| Steering | 50 |
| Engine | 43 |
| Service Brakes | 36 |
| Electrical System | 27 |
| Unknown Or Other | 27 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 26 |
Seats: 64; Air Bags: 56; Steering: 50; Engine: 43; Service Brakes: 36; Electrical System: 27; Unknown Or Other: 27; Vehicle Speed Control: 26
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 134 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 40 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 38 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 26 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 134; 25,000 to 49,999: 40; 50,000 to 74,999: 38; 75,000 to 99,999: 26; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 12
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (134). 102 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 72 |
| 2013 | 43 |
| 2014 | 21 |
| 2015 | 43 |
| 2016 | 32 |
| 2017 | 31 |
| 2018 | 27 |
| 2019 | 28 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 8 |
2011: 5; 2012: 72; 2013: 43; 2014: 21; 2015: 43; 2016: 32; 2017: 31; 2018: 27; 2019: 28; 2020: 11; 2021: 14; 2022: 7; 2023: 13; 2024: 10; 2025: 8; 2026: 8
Pattern summary
Seats leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 66 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 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 10457890 · 2012-05-09 (May 9, 2012)
CAR WAS STOPPED ENGINE KEEP RUNNING FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 601 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457896 · 2012-05-09 (May 9, 2012)
STOPPED FOR GAS ENGINE KEEP RUNNING AT HIGH LEVEL OF RPMS WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES STOPPED THE CAR BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND TURNING ENGINE OFF THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPEN IN ONE DAY. IN MY OTHER COMPLAIN REGARDING HONDA I SAID APRIL INSTEAD OF MAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10444522 · 2012-01-19 (January 19, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER IN TRAFFIC, MY 2012 HONDA ACCORD COUPE REAR ENDED ANOTHER HONDA ACCORD, I WAS GOING UNDER 20 MPH AND MY HEAD HIT MY STEERING WHEEL DUE TO SEAT BELT FAILURE. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457579 · 2012-05-05 (May 5, 2012)
I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW 2012 HONDA ACCORD SE MODEL WITH VIN [XXX] ON JANUARY 19TH 2012. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM RIVERSIDE HONDA THROUGH FOOTHILL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION. EVER SINCE, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NOTHING BUT NIGHTMARES. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED MANUFACTURER'S BREAK IN PERIOD FORMAT STEP BY STEP. THREE DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASED, I DROVE THE VEHICLE ON THE FWY AND NOTICED A WEIR, UNCOMMON AND RATHER DISTURBING SHIMMY ON THE STEERING WHEEL BETWEEN 65 TO 75 MPH. MY VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND UNFIT TO BE DRIVEN ON FREEWAYS. I NEE…
Owner-reported narrative. 739 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472610 · 2012-08-27 (August 27, 2012)
I NOTICED NOISE, WHEEL VIBRATIONS AND STEERING PROBLEMS. THE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT I HAD A BAD WHEEL BEARING ON THE LEFT SIDE AND REPLACED IT. AFTER I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK FROM THE SHOP, I NOTICED THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT, WHEEL VIBRATIONS, LOOSE STEERING WHEEL AND MAKING NOISE. THE CAR DID NOT SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS PROPERLY AND FLUCTUATED BETWEEN RPMS RANDOMLY (EVEN WHEN AT IDLE). I TOOK IT BACK TO THE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS TIME THEY RESET THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR AND PERFORMED IDLE RELEARN PROCEDURE; ADJUSTED THE TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,276 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10504134 · 2013-03-22 (March 22, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IN PARK AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10519629 · 2013-06-13 (June 13, 2013)
THE FIRST TIME MY CAR STALLED I WAS IN THE HIGH WAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND MY CAR STOPPED WORKING, ALL THE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY RADIO TURNED OFF AND MY CLOCK RESET IT SELF. THE SECOND TIME IT WAS THE SAME DAY WHILE I WAS EXITING ON THE HIGHWAY, IN ADDITION I PUT PRESS THE ACCELERATE IT WOULD NOT RESPONSE. IN ADDITION WHEN I WOULD PRESS THE BRAKES THE MUSIC WOULD GO DOWN AT TIMES. I TOOK IT TO HONDA THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, WHEN THE CAR WAS RETURN TO ME I FOUND SOMEONE EZ-PASS AND A CUP OF SODA IN THE CAR. THE CAR STALL…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10519629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460317 · 2012-06-01 (June 1, 2012)
ABS LIGHTS ON PURCHASE AFTER 5 MONTHS. I PURCHASE MY CAR ON 12/30/11. ON 30/5/12 I SAW THE LIGHTS ON, I DROPPED MY CAR FOR 1 DAY AT BOARDWALK HONDA SERVICE. NEXT DAY, WHEN I WENT TO TAKE MY CAR THE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT RODENTS HAD EATEN THE WIRING. THE PLACE WHERE I PARK MY CAR, THERE WERE THREE OTHER CARS ALSO PARKED EVERYDAY. THEY NEVER HAVE SUCH KIND OF PROBLEM. I THINK BECAUSE OF THEIR CAR IS OLD AND MY CAR IS NEW SO RODENTS LIKE TO EAT NEW WIRES NOT A OLD WIRES. THE MANGER TOLD ME THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS AND IT WILL BE MORE THAN $10…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10690267 · 2015-02-24 (February 24, 2015)
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 SMOO…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10690267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511099 · 2013-05-15 (May 15, 2013)
2012 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO GAS TANK RATTLE NOISE COMPLAINT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE WAS MORE PROMINENT WHEN THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE, WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE DEALER FOUND THE GAS TANK WAS RUBBING ON THE BODY. THEY LOWERED THE GAS TANK, PLACED INSULATION IN IT AND ADJUSTED THE STRAPS. UPDATED 05/22/13 UPDATED 05/29/13
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10511099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11120588 · 2018-08-17 (August 17, 2018)
I HAVE OWNED MY 2012 ACCORD LX-P MODEL SINCE 2013 THROUGH PURCHASE AFTER AN EXPIRED LEASE. IT IS A DEALER "CERTIFIED" VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM I HAVE RECENTLY ENCOUNTERED IS THE STRONG SMELL OF GAS TANK FUMES AFTER A FILL AND ALSO AFTER A LONG TRIP. THE ODOR HAS BECOME STRONGER IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR WHILE THE SMELL STILL LINGERS AT THE GAS CAP/FILL TUBE/ WHEEL WELL AREA. THE 2013 MODEL HAS THE SAME CONDITION AND IS NOTED AS A RECALL. MY MODEL WAS MANUFACTURED IN JUNE 2012. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THE PART AND OR MANUFACTURING PROCEDURE IS RELE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11120588 at NHTSA ↗