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.

9.1

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$120
Average Mileage:
38,150 miles
Total Complaints:
37 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (26 reports)
  2. optional seat design available?? (10 reports)
  3. remove lumbar support (1 reports)
2008 Honda Accord accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2008 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #17

Dec 102008

Accord EX 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100 miles

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

I discovered early on that the front seats caused me and my wife back pain and the head rests stuck out in such a way that was creating neck pain. I finally just turned the head rest around for me and my wife and got two small couch type pillows and put them in the ergonomic hole at the bottom of the backrest. It seems to solve the problem with the pains. It seems that since everybody has gotten on board with ergonomics that seats have become very much a problem with me. I did much better with the old bench seats.

- Mitchell S., Frazier Park, CA, US

problem #16

Jan 142012

Accord EX-L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,282 miles

It seems to be the lumbar support in the seat combined with the fact that the headrest points too far forward. I can't get comfortable no matter what I try. Just horrible.

- Mike R., Windsor, Ontario, canada

problem #15

Sep 192011

Accord EX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

I just purchased a used 2008 Honda Accord and was extremely excited! After 2 weeks of driving I came home to notice my back feeling very stiff. The seat is stiff and the lumbar is terrible. When on the minimal setting and makes driving extremely uncomfortable after about 20 minutes. I bought this car specifically for long drives and road trips and now am left with a gorgeous well-made car that I am not comfortable in!!

The dealer looked at it and said it was normal and they couldn't fix it.

- John W., San Jose, CA, US

problem #14

Oct 052011

Accord EX-L 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,603 miles

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

I just purchased a used 2008 Honda Accord and was extremely excited! After 1 day (albeit 400km) of driving I came home to notice my back feeling very stiff. My friend had complained about the discomfort of the passenger seat when I showed him the car.

The lumbar support is overly stiff even when on the minimal setting and makes driving extremely uncomfortable after about 20 minutes. I bought this car specifically for long drives and road trips and now am left with a gorgeous well-made car that I am not comfortable in!!

This is extremely frustrating as I love everything else about the car.

- Daniel C., King City, ON, canada

problem #13

Feb 142011

Accord EX 3-5 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,500 miles

I bought the care Honda Accord 2008, after 2 days the pain started to shoot all over my body, I thought first something wrong with the suspension or power steering, but then I realized it is the front seat that almost paralyzed me from the neck down, the numbness of my legs and sever pain in my neck and shoulder.

I went to hospitals and made x rays on my neck and went to Honda world Westminster when I got the car to return it but no way. I am surprised why there is no class action lawsuit against Honda for that horrible defect which is a health hazard and everybody specially middle aged people are suffering from.

- Bashir A., Bellflower, CA, US

problem #12

Aug 102010

Accord EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,500 miles

Here it goes AGAIN.....

First the rear brakes went out at 10k, then the front brakes at 11k, then rest of car starts falling apart....went through hell getting everything somewhat fixed, complaining to dealerships and to Honda. Now, the damn driver seat lumbar support is not working. WTF??!!! What the hell is wrong w/ this car?? Who made this car?? I'm sick and tired of dealing with this ever since I bought the car new last year. I am going to start looking to trade this piece of in!!!

Never gonna buy Honda again! NEVER!!

- hatehonda, Los Angeles, CA, US

problem #11

Oct 012007

Accord EX-L 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4 miles

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

I own an accord exl 2008 2.4 cyl, I noticed since I purchased the car that the front seat is very uncomfortable. I started experiencing a serious lower back pain 5 months ago, the same time since I started in a new job, it takes me almost one hour in the mornings driving to my job, the same distance late in the afternoon back home. It ended up in a slipped disc in my lower back, I am dealing right now if I am going to take a surgery or not.

As I see there is a lot of people experiencing this problem, have Honda done something to resolve this? is it possible a change of front seats? My vehicle is still under warranty. Please let me know what my options are?

Thanks,

Yasel

- yaselp, Miami, FL, US

problem #10

Jan 012008

Accord EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles

After driving my 2008 Accord for 20 minutes ... my right leg is killing me. No seat position helps. The seat appears too hard.

- Paul Reynolds R., Kingsport, TN, US

problem #9

Apr 232008

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

The driver seat lumbar inflates by itself. In general the seat is so uncomfortable that I now drive my husband's vehicle. It truly is a pain in my butt. It hurts my tailbone. He also hate driving the Accord for the same reason and will take his motorcycle. As soon as my lease is up.....that car is gone!!!!

- Melissa T., Easley, SC, US

problem #8

May 012008

Accord EX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

Front Leg room in Accords is not for anyone taller than 5'9". Honda has never figured out that some people are tall. But overall, the nature of the bucket design and the minimal leg room create a cramped, overly anchored seating space. Really lousy design.

- David A., Providence, RI, US

problem #7

May 032009

Accord LX-P 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles

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

I noticed my driver’s seat was torn on the right hand upper bolster. When I looked closer, I realized it ripped on the metal seat frame, and that the bar’s edge was unfinished metal that was sharp. For the last 18 months, my shoulder has been rubber against that unfinished edge until it cut through the padding and the seat cover. I complained to Honda and they first agreed to pay 25% replacement. When I told them that I’d look for other avenue to have the problem resolved, they came back and said I misunderstood, that they would pay 75% and that the cost for seat cover where only ½ as much as they expected.

This could be a very dangerous situation. If someone was to get into an accident, the force of the airbags could force your shoulder blade into that sharp steel seat frame doing a great deal of personal injury.

- Kendall C., Brazil, IN, US

problem #6

Jun 012008

Accord EXL V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15 miles

The seat has a strange U-shape...made for people with short legs and a big butt, I guess. The seat has adjustments to lean forward going diagonal, but my legs are long. And the back end of the seat caves in a bit, so there's little lumbar support, unless I adjust the "lumbar support" to come out further, but then the top of my back can not rest against the seat either. So now, If I'm driving long distances, I need to pull over and walk off the pinched nerves I get behind my knee, from the pressure of the front of the seat, and the ache I get in my back from lack of support. All over, a very uncomfortable experience.

- Rachel A., Jenkintown, PA, US

problem #5

Sep 022008

Accord EX-L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles

I love my Accord (my first), but after 10 minutes, the seat is so uncomfortable I want to get out. May have to trade it in for another brand. Does anyone know if an optional seat design is available?

- blang, Manchester, NH, US

problem #4

Sep 012008

Accord LXP 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,400 miles

This 2008 Honda Accord I"m driving is really bad for my back. I've tried everything I can think of to make the seat comfortable to drive in but to no avail. PLEASE, anyone who has had a similar problem I would like to hear what remedy was used to correct this very annoying problem.

- lulubell, East Hanover, NJ, US

problem #3

Jul 312008

Accord LX 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,100 miles

The seats in the Accord are awful for driving of any distance. I drive 1 hour to work 6 days a week and with in 10 minutes of driving, I'm ready to get out. I previously drove a 04 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel pick up truck and it was way more comfortable.

- Lisa O., Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #2

May 022008

Accord LX V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles

design of front seats not comfortable, back pain encounters after sitting for long time

- Sean D., Toronot, O NT, Canada

problem #1

Feb 232009

Accord LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,500 miles

i am glad to see that other people have had a beef with the drivers seat in this car. i bought the car brand new and should have returned it immediately because i noticed the seat right away after driving the car only a couple of days. well i didnt and now im stuck with a car that i can hardly drive. this car is not made for tall people either as i am about 6 ft 2in and with the seat all the way back my foot is always at an awful angle. the seat doesn't go back near far enough. i have tried every possible seat adjustment and it is impossible to get comfortable in these seats. it is really bad. how could a company like honda put seats like this in a car? what an absolute engineering disaster. i am wondering why i bought this car in the first place. other than the seats though there is honda quality throughout this car. i guess that's why i bought it. the seats have what is called an active head restraint system. if you feel a hard spot in your lower back, this is what is causing it. pulling the head rest forward will remove the hard spot a little. also the side bolsters are way too angled and hard and they are always pressing against my sides and i am not even a large man. passenger comfort should come before anything else, but honda has put safety above everything else. but if a car is so uncomfortable that you can't drive it safely means nothing.

- Don S., Spring, TX, US

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