CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2008 Honda Accord has several serious defects: poor brakes, excessive oil consumption, & uncomfortable seats.

BRAKES: There was a class action lawsuit against Honda in 2010 for premature & excessive brake wear. See our page on Honda's brake problems for more info.

OIL CONSUMPTION: Honda issued a TSB about this in late 2011, claiming it could be fixed through a software update to the VCM (variable cylinder management). There are class action lawsuits pending. See our page about the Accord oil consumption.

UNCOMFORTABLE SEATS: Owners have consistently reported uncomfortable seats with the entire 8th generation (2008-2012) of Honda Accords. Complaints range from back pain to leg circulation problems due to bad lumbar support, cushioning, & seat angle. Complaints aren't limited to only a certain body type -- the seat comfort problems are from a wide spectrum of owner height & weight. The common theme we hear is "we never noticed this during the test drive." Unfortunately for unwary buyers, the seat pain is noticeable after 15-20 minutes.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,528 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Honda Accord engine problems

engine problem

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2008 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #32

Jan 172022

Accord

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am having issues with my transmission. My gears get stuck between 2nd and 3rd gear while driving. It loses power and I have to switch to Neutral and put it back in Drive in order for it to become unstuck. I have taken it to Honda, and they told me it was the computer, and several other things. They replaced $2000 worth of parts and the problem still happens. I took it back to Honda and they told me I needed a new transmission after they took $2000 from me. This initially started approximately 5 months ago when my engine light came on.

- Lithia Springs, GA, USA

problem #31

Dec 022020

Accord

  • 188,000 miles
Transmission shifts hard on acceleration, causing hard jerks. When braking rpms is still high and engine is high. It is truly an unsafe situation. It seems the car doesn't know what gear to be in. And when you turn it does the same.

- Forest, MS, USA

problem #30

Nov 132020

Accord

  • 180,000 miles
Wild emotion hard shifting hesitation and high rpms shifts around 456 rpmit doesn't seem to do this when the car is running cold versus after it's been on a trip and engine is warmer. On cold start the vehicle not in motion makes a loud noise not sure how to describe

- Mckinleyville, CA, USA

problem #29

Oct 122020

Accord

  • 184,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This 2008 Honda Accord constantly misses mostly from cylinder 1 and sometimes just spits oil out of the tailpipe.the misses happen at idle, and almost 100% when attempting to pass making it extremely unsafe. It has had many sensors replace, its timing belt replaced, all coils, and sparkplugs many times. The mechanic says the spark plugs are laser irridium and should last 100,000 miles but are lucky to last 10,000 miles. I am not sure what documents to include but am just getting this complaint started. I have the Accord at the mechanic today but it has been multiple repairs prior to this.

- Azle, TX, USA

problem #28

Jan 232019

Accord

  • 45 miles
My car is pulling codes 339, 303, and 302. Misfiring and from time to time the check engine light flashes and won't go above 30mph. Click link below for the information about a recall for all 2008 Honda Accord engines. ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/Honda-service-bulletin-09-050/

- Bossier City, LA, USA

problem #27

Dec 222018

Accord

  • 55,400 miles
Speed secer is bad and the air bad need to be replace or check out light keep coming onit been in the shop every two week there something wrong

- Rock Island, IL, USA

problem #26

Aug 012018

Accord

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

V tec actuator makes griding noise when start a car for 2 TO3 seconds

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #25

Dec 212017

Accord

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. While attempting to start the vehicle, the instrument panel warning indicators illuminated, including the check engine indicator. While driving, the speed would not increase past 20 mph. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Martinez, GA, USA

problem #24

Nov 022016

Accord 4-cyl

  • 103,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle speed decreased independently. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. The vehicle was towed to two different independent mechanics where they diagnosed for a new battery, and rebuilt ECU however, the remedy failed. The vehicle was towed to dealer (bell Honda, 701 w bell rd, phoenix, AZ, 85023) where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module software failed, causing the counter shaft bearing to hit against the speed sensor and all three parts need to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure under the case number: 6198619, where they informed the contact that the vehicle was serviced under the NHTSA campaign number: 11V395000 (power train) as of September 26th of 2012, however the remedy failed. The manufacturer stated depending on what information the contact found out that they would escalate the case to a case manager, no further assistance was offered. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000...updated 09/05/17

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #23

Dec 192016

Accord

  • 51,000 miles
Turned into a parking space in a parking lot, in motion at slow parking lot speeds, when burst of unintended acceleration occurred. Pushed down on the brakes, but the brakes did not end up stopping the car or even slowing down the sudden acceleration. This made me then go to turn the car off with the keys, but not before the car already had went beyond the parking space bumper and into the wall. A wall window was broken and the front of my car was ruined. Air bags did not deploy. Insurance did not check the car for error codes and filed off the situation as a total loss, paying off the rest I owed on the car with the deductible.

- Port Saint Lucie, FL, USA

problem #22

Nov 202016

Accord 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When operating the vehicle, I can't excede 30 M.P.H. on level terrain. Maybe 15 M.P.H. going up hills with 4 way flashers activated. Accelerating with gas pedal has no effect. Dashboard vcs light is on and engine symbol. Problem is intermittent and if vehicle is operating correctly, service technician can't find any faults. This condition is frightful this problem exists under normal driving conditions over city streets and expressways. I've observed that when engine is idling, depressing the accelerator will maximize the R.P.M. to only 3,000 several times, I've turned the engine off and restarted with operation normal but dashboard engine symbol indicated.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #21

Jan 032016

Accord

  • 105,400 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the vehicle revved and the rpms increased, while the vehicle was in the park position. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate properly when the accelerator pedal was depressed and moved at a very slow pace. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,400.

- Los Angelos, CA, USA

problem #20

Jan 022016

Accord

  • miles
Vsa brakeand ABS light comes on after engine has warmed up. Honda dealor has dtc 122-01 vsa selenoid valve malfunction cost for this defect in the vsa light per written estimate is $1639. This is a safety highway hazard. Contacted Honda corporation customer service case# 04375940 and know one has know knowledge of the safety concern and fail to fixed and pay for this saftey highway safety need. Refuses to have a supervisor contact me to discuss the class action powertrain covered til 6-2016 service bulletin 13-078. My car will not increase in speed stalls at 55 mph on high speed and speed limit on highway is 70 mph and can received a ticket for driving under speed limited that can cause a accident on the highways.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #19

Jan 092015

Accord 4-cyl

  • 68,000 miles
It happened twice, both times I had tried to come to a complete stop and the car would suddenly start to accelerator, wouldn't stop right away, this could become very dangerous.

- Methuen, MA, USA

problem #18

Dec 232014

Accord 4-cyl

  • 98,300 miles
On 12/22/2014, my 2008 Honda Accord LX (which has 98,300 miles on it) was towed into my local Honda dealer. The reason for my having it towed into my local dealer was due to the fact that my engine failed while driving on a residential street drive two miles from my home. There was absolutely no indication whatsoever that my engine would fail as the check engine light did not go on, there was no oil light illuminated, etc. Thus I was shocked when I was driving and tried to give the car some gas and the car did not accelerate ' thus I rolled to the side of the road and contacted a towing company. The service representative contacted me via phone and let me know that there was no compression in cylinder 2 and that I likely needed a new engine. The initial estimate would be $6,000 for a car with a blue book value of $6,500 (dealer trade in.) I have all service records and faithfully serviced my vehicle at the Honda dealership. The service rep also explained that I was low on oil and I reviewed my receipts to determine that I changed my oil 2600 miles earlier. I am hoping that Honda will provide goodwill to repair the vehicle as a 6 year old vehicle with 98000 miles on it should not need a new engine. Updated 3/10/16

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #17

Aug 242013

Accord

  • 70,000 miles
This was the second time my car accelerated for no reasons while I was driving. The first time I was only driving 35 miles an hour and no one was in front of me. The second time the car accelerated as I was stopping at a red light. I barely missed a car by one foot. Both times I went to the Honda dealership in sanford. Long story short...no one knows how to fix it. I am extremely upset over the idea that there are all car owners with these electronic systems that don't work. The second time my three year grandson was in the back seat. The dealership said the electronic system sent a message that designated that there was an acceleration or malfunction. Anyway I am sending this because I wanted my car fixed and because it is a paper trail if someone gets killed in this car. I will no longer own a Honda. This was my second Honda and until this I was very satisfied. I now have a car paid for that I cannot drive. I do want the public to be aware of this problem. [xxx] I don't have the VIN number. My car is parted outside the dealership in sanford, N.C. waiting for me to pick it back up. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Sanford, NC, USA

problem #16

Apr 022013

Accord

  • 12,000 miles
When accelerating to merge into highway traffic, car uncontrollably rapidly accelerates and revs up to 5000 rpms. Braking no matter how hard, nor pumping brakes did not stop car - may have prevented it from going faster, however; but revs remained high. Only way to regain control was to switch transmission to neutral and then back to drive. When problem first occurred, rapid pumping of brakes decelerated car and allowed to regain control; however, brake pumping did not work recently. Problem is intermittent and thus, dealer could not replicate even when complaint occurred during first year of ownership - and in fact, did not recur for more than 1 year after warranty expired.

- Hilo, HI, USA

problem #15

Jan 232013

Accord 4-cyl

  • 59,000 miles
Subject: Sudden unintended acceleration at about 9:25 pm, on Wednesday January 23, 2013 I was parked in the North parking lot of the vienna metro station, in fairfax, Virginia, awaiting arrival of my wife. I had parked in the first parking space, across from the waiting area in front of the metro station entrance. When I saw my wife emerge from the entrance of the metro station, I started my car and shifted to drive. The engine suddenly revved up and the car lunged forward, accelerating at high speed and out of control. I remember reacting by applying the brakes with all my might and engaging the hand brake without much effect.the car lunged forward about 100 feet and hit a concrete barrier which smashed the front and engine and totaled the vehicle. Luckily there were no other cars or pedestrians in the vicinity otherwise there would have been more severe consequences. When I regained consciousness, I had been transported to the fairfax hospital and had suffered severe trauma to the neck, throat, larynx and mouth area and was bleeding from a cut on the chin. Two days of intense examination at the hospital and several follow-up medical exams found no evidence of any physical or medical condition that could have possibly contributed to the accident. It must be noted that I did not receive any citation for the accident from the fairfax police.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #14

Dec 062012

Accord 6-cyl

  • 38,300 miles
Unintended acceleration. Driving slowly in a parking lot looking for a space, the car suddenly took off, accelerating, the engine racing, heard a clicking noise. Stepped hard on the brake, the engine stopped racing, the car stopped, but not before the car rammed some bushes, scratching the paint.

- Rye, NY, USA

problem #13

Aug 282012

Accord 4-cyl

  • 68,000 miles
The car did not want to move after it was put in gear. When the car did move it was very hesitant and would not pick up speed at first, then would gradually pick up speed. The car is back at the dealership and first they said it was transmission sensor, then said it was the computer, after replacing that the car begin a rough idle.

- Brunson, SC, USA

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