VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Honda Accord1998–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Honda Accord
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Honda Accord Years to Avoid
4 recalls · 1595 complaints
32 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
10 recalls · 1173 complaints
78 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5 recalls · 909 complaints
56 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 11 past investigations into the Accord became recalls.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 28, 2026.
Honda Accord — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 13 | — | — | 50 | 30 | 43 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 2 | 102 | 24 | — | 50 | 45 | 48 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 3 | 198 | 6 | — | 46 | 58 | 50 | Good |
| 2023 | 4 | 201 | 13 | — | 45 | 68 | 53 | Good |
| 2022 | 2 | 255 | 11 | — | 42 | 75 | 54 | Good |
| 2021 | 2 | 235 | 13 | — | 43 | 78 | 55 | Good |
| 2020 | 3 | 290 | 5 | 2 | 40 | 77 | 53 | Good |
| 2019 | 5 | 659 | 15 | — | 25 | 73 | 42 | Caution |
| 2018 | 4 | 1595 | 32 | — | 25 | 67 | 40 | Avoid |
| 2017 | 2 | 407 | 20 | 2 | 31 | 60 | 41 | Good |
| 2016 | 3 | 415 | 22 | — | 31 | 53 | 39 | Good |
| 2015 | 4 | 448 | 28 | — | 28 | 46 | 34 | Good |
| 2014 | 3 | 779 | 62 | — | 25 | 40 | 30 | Caution |
| 2013 | 5 | 909 | 56 | — | 25 | 35 | 29 | Caution |
| 2012 | 5 | 220 | 33 | — | 41 | 31 | 38 | Good |
| 2011 | 6 | 196 | 13 | — | 45 | 28 | 39 | Good |
| 2010 | 9 | 346 | 21 | 2 | 33 | 28 | 31 | Good |
| 2009 | 7 | 421 | 25 | 1 | 29 | 28 | 29 | Good |
| 2008 | 6 | 906 | 45 | 1 | 25 | 28 | 26 | Caution |
| 2007 | 5 | 315 | 54 | — | 33 | 28 | 31 | Good |
| 2006 | 7 | 267 | 27 | 6 | 37 | 28 | 34 | Good |
| 2005 | 12 | 462 | 54 | — | 25 | 28 | 26 | Caution |
| 2004 | 10 | 653 | 61 | 4 | 25 | 28 | 26 | Caution |
| 2003 | 10 | 1173 | 78 | — | 25 | 28 | 26 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 7 | 626 | 66 | 6 | 25 | 28 | 26 | Caution |
| 2001 | 8 | 583 | 92 | 4 | 25 | 28 | 26 | Caution |
| 2000 | 11 | 726 | 43 | 2 | 25 | 28 | 26 | Caution |
| 1999 | 8 | 664 | 32 | — | 25 | 28 | 26 | Caution |
| 1998 | 9 | 730 | 59 | 2 | 25 | 28 | 26 | Caution |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Honda Accord Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Accord compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 55).
2013–2017
Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2017 (Buyer Score 41).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Accord to buy?+
The 2021 Honda Accord scores highest on our Buyer Score (55/100) — combining a reliability score of 43/100 with a value score of 78/100. It has 2 recalls and 235 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Accord years have the most problems?+
The 2018, 2003, 2013 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2018 Accord leads with 4 recalls and 1595 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Accord problems?+
The most frequently reported Honda Accord issues involve: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.