Honda Accord Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Honda Accord model year (1998–2026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Honda Accord Years to Avoid
4 recalls · 1515 complaints
32 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 1591
11 recalls · 1173 complaints
78 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Problem score: 1362
4 recalls · 898 complaints
56 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
Problem score: 1022
Best Honda Accord Years to Buy
1 recall · 4 complaints
Main area: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Problem score: 7
1 recall · 76 complaints
Main area: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Problem score: 127
1 recall · 188 complaints
Main area: STEERING
Problem score: 203
Found the right year? Verify that specific Accord with a free VIN report.
Honda Accord — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4 | — | — | 7 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 1 | 76 | 24 | — | 127 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 1 | 188 | 6 | — | 203 | Good |
| 2023 | 3 | 191 | 3 | — | 206 | Good |
| 2022 | 2 | 231 | 9 | — | 255 | Good |
| 2021 | 3 | 205 | 11 | — | 236 | Good |
| 2020 | 3 | 275 | 5 | 2 | 304 | Good |
| 2019 | 2 | 618 | 15 | — | 654 | Caution |
| 2018 | 4 | 1515 | 32 | — | 1591 | Avoid |
| 2017 | 3 | 401 | 20 | 2 | 460 | Good |
| 2016 | 3 | 400 | 22 | — | 453 | Good |
| 2015 | 2 | 444 | 28 | — | 506 | Good |
| 2014 | 1 | 766 | 62 | — | 893 | Caution |
| 2013 | 4 | 898 | 56 | — | 1022 | Caution |
| 2012 | 5 | 220 | 33 | — | 301 | Good |
| 2011 | 5 | 196 | 13 | — | 237 | Good |
| 2010 | 6 | 346 | 21 | 2 | 416 | Good |
| 2009 | 7 | 417 | 24 | 1 | 491 | Good |
| 2008 | 5 | 905 | 45 | 1 | 1015 | Caution |
| 2007 | 4 | 315 | 54 | — | 435 | Good |
| 2006 | 8 | 263 | 27 | 6 | 371 | Good |
| 2005 | 13 | 462 | 54 | — | 609 | Caution |
| 2004 | 12 | 652 | 60 | 3 | 823 | Caution |
| 2003 | 11 | 1173 | 78 | — | 1362 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 6 | 626 | 66 | 6 | 806 | Caution |
| 2001 | 6 | 582 | 92 | 4 | 804 | Caution |
| 2000 | 4 | 726 | 43 | 2 | 834 | Caution |
| 1999 | 4 | 664 | 32 | — | 740 | Caution |
| 1998 | 6 | 730 | 59 | 2 | 876 | Caution |
All 29 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Honda Accord Shopping Guide by Era
2018–Present
Best: 2026Recent Accord models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. The 2026 stands out with just 7 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
2013–2017
Best: 2016Mid-decade Accord units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2016 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder Accord models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year Accord should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2018 Honda Accord if possible. It has 4 recalls, 1515 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 1591 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year Accord to buy?+
The 2026 Honda Accord is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 7. It has only 1 recall and 4 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which Accord has the fewest problems?+
The 2026, 2025, 2024 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Honda Accord Research
Check a Specific Honda Accord VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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