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
5 recalls · 1383 complaints
28 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 1454
21 recalls · 1169 complaints
78 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Problem score: 1388
8 recalls · 901 complaints
45 reported injuries
1 reported death
Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Problem score: 1020
Best Honda Accord Years to Buy
1 recall · 56 complaints
Main area: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Problem score: 65
1 recall · 159 complaints
Main area: STEERING
Problem score: 172
3 recalls · 176 complaints
Main area: SERVICE BRAKES
Problem score: 189
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 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 1 | 56 | 3 | — | 65 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 1 | 159 | 5 | — | 172 | Good |
| 2023 | 3 | 176 | 2 | — | 189 | Good |
| 2022 | 3 | 180 | 8 | — | 205 | Good |
| 2021 | 3 | 164 | 11 | — | 195 | Good |
| 2020 | 5 | 260 | 5 | 2 | 295 | Good |
| 2019 | 5 | 546 | 14 | — | 589 | Caution |
| 2018 | 5 | 1383 | 28 | — | 1454 | Avoid |
| 2017 | 2 | 389 | 20 | 2 | 445 | Good |
| 2016 | 2 | 379 | 22 | — | 429 | Good |
| 2015 | 5 | 434 | 25 | — | 499 | Good |
| 2014 | 4 | 761 | 62 | — | 897 | Caution |
| 2013 | 5 | 882 | 56 | — | 1009 | Avoid |
| 2012 | 6 | 217 | 33 | — | 301 | Good |
| 2011 | 6 | 196 | 13 | — | 240 | Good |
| 2010 | 11 | 346 | 21 | 2 | 431 | Good |
| 2009 | 9 | 416 | 24 | 1 | 496 | Good |
| 2008 | 8 | 901 | 45 | 1 | 1020 | Avoid |
| 2007 | 10 | 315 | 54 | — | 453 | Good |
| 2006 | 17 | 263 | 27 | 6 | 398 | Good |
| 2005 | 21 | 462 | 54 | — | 633 | Caution |
| 2004 | 19 | 651 | 60 | 3 | 843 | Caution |
| 2003 | 21 | 1169 | 78 | — | 1388 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 13 | 626 | 66 | 6 | 827 | Caution |
| 2001 | 15 | 582 | 92 | 4 | 831 | Caution |
| 2000 | 16 | 725 | 43 | 2 | 869 | Caution |
| 1999 | 15 | 664 | 32 | — | 773 | Caution |
| 1998 | 16 | 730 | 59 | 2 | 906 | 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 0 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 5 recalls, 1383 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 1454 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year Accord to buy?+
The 2025 Honda Accord is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 65. It has only 1 recall and 56 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which Accord has the fewest problems?+
The 2025, 2024, 2023 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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