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
2 recalls · 1595 complaints
32 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 1665
11 recalls · 1173 complaints
78 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Problem score: 1362
2 recalls · 909 complaints
56 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
Problem score: 1027
Best Honda Accord Years to Buy
2 recalls · 13 complaints
Main area: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Problem score: 19
3 recalls · 102 complaints
Main area: STEERING
Problem score: 159
6 recalls · 198 complaints
Main area: STEERING
Problem score: 228
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 | 2 | 13 | — | — | 19 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 3 | 102 | 24 | — | 159 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 6 | 198 | 6 | — | 228 | Good |
| 2023 | 7 | 201 | 13 | — | 248 | Good |
| 2022 | 2 | 255 | 11 | — | 283 | Good |
| 2021 | 2 | 235 | 13 | — | 267 | Good |
| 2020 | 1 | 290 | 5 | 2 | 313 | Good |
| 2019 | 2 | 659 | 15 | — | 695 | Caution |
| 2018 | 2 | 1595 | 32 | — | 1665 | Avoid |
| 2017 | 2 | 407 | 20 | 2 | 463 | Good |
| 2016 | 3 | 415 | 22 | — | 468 | Good |
| 2015 | 1 | 448 | 28 | — | 507 | Good |
| 2014 | 0 | 779 | 62 | — | 903 | Caution |
| 2013 | 2 | 909 | 56 | — | 1027 | Caution |
| 2012 | 6 | 220 | 33 | — | 304 | Good |
| 2011 | 5 | 196 | 13 | — | 237 | Good |
| 2010 | 9 | 346 | 21 | 2 | 425 | Good |
| 2009 | 8 | 421 | 25 | 1 | 500 | Good |
| 2008 | 7 | 906 | 45 | 1 | 1022 | Caution |
| 2007 | 5 | 315 | 54 | — | 438 | Good |
| 2006 | 7 | 267 | 27 | 6 | 372 | Good |
| 2005 | 10 | 462 | 54 | — | 600 | Caution |
| 2004 | 8 | 653 | 61 | 4 | 819 | Caution |
| 2003 | 11 | 1173 | 78 | — | 1362 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 10 | 626 | 66 | 6 | 818 | Caution |
| 2001 | 12 | 583 | 92 | 4 | 823 | Caution |
| 2000 | 13 | 726 | 43 | 2 | 861 | Caution |
| 1999 | 11 | 664 | 32 | — | 761 | Caution |
| 1998 | 11 | 730 | 59 | 2 | 891 | 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 19 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
2013–2017
Best: 2017Mid-decade Accord units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2017 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 2 recalls, 1595 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 1665 — 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 19. It has only 2 recalls and 13 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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