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:
5 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,405 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 2 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #157

Apr 012015

Accord

  • miles

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

The engine burns oil to an excessive degree. I have to add approximately 2+ quarts of oil every 3000 thousand miles.

- Kent, WA, USA

problem #156

Dec 192015

Accord

  • miles
Vtc actuator failure. I get a grinding sound when starting my car. Almost every 2008 Honda Accord is experiencing this problem. Honda is aware and they have not recalled this issue.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #155

Mar 082018

Accord

  • 110,000 miles
Takata recall- transmission will mot go into reverse after alternator failure

- Stoughton, MA, USA

problem #154

Mar 012018

Accord

  • 180,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the engine. The dealer (cape girardeau Honda, 385 siemers dr, cape girardeau, mo 63701, (573) 334-6919) was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

- Cape Girardeau, MO, USA

problem #153

Aug 232017

Accord

  • miles
2008 Honda Accord. Consumer writes in regards to engine trouble. The consumer stated the actuator was the cause of the engine failure. The dealership and manufacturer failed to properly notify the consumer or remedy the failure.

- Long Valley, NJ, USA

problem #152

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 #151

Nov 192009

Accord

  • 123,459 miles

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

Nose mask recall JW9

- Covington, LA, USA

problem #150

Jun 012017

Accord

  • 235,000 miles
2008 Honda Accord ex-L V6. Engine failure. Heading home and car cut off. Pulled over and called my mechanic for a tow to his shop. His diagnosis was engine failure and he stated a new engine is the only fix. My mechanic runs a small shop in a small town and he tells it like it is. He recommended selling the car for scrap rather than investing in the new engine. I was upset. This is a nice car and is quite clean. But during my five years of ownership I have added oil every week to keep it topped off. Spark plugs fouled often enough to carry extras in the trunk along with a ratchet and socket. When they fouled I would pull over, change them and go on my way. I still own the car. But it is has too many miles and is too old for inclusion into the class action settlement. This isn't right and it's the first and last Honda I will ever own.

- Eatonton, GA, USA

problem #149

Sep 202017

Accord

  • 144,000 miles
'takata recall' I had gotten into an collision involving a deer on 10/26/2016. I was going approximately 60 mph when I struck this roughly 110 pound deer. The impact was on my front bumper on the passenger side of my car. When I took it to get repaired I had no other choice but to go with my insurance's geico express facility since all the shops were full from hail damage vehicles. In the estimate and on the repair order I received from geico and amm collision. My vehicle never had the work done to the structure untill 2 months ago. It stated that there were 3 structural components that were worked on. The right rail assembly 4 hours or repair time 60810ta5A00zz (where front and rear panels connect, heavy buckle), the left inner panel 3.6 hours repair time 04695ta0A00zz(rolled with putter panel, includes time for brackets at the top of frame), and the right front panel (crushed, cost effective to replace)60659ta5A50zz. My vehicle was in the shop for only 2 business days but some how put 41 hours worth of labor into my car. I had gotten into another hit and run on 9/20/17 where my side airbags didn't deploy. I took it back to amm collision where geico tried to total out my vehicle, falsify paperwork by taking off componants(transmission), undervalue then retain my vehicle. When I dropped my vehicle off back with amm collision I had taken pictures of patches of rust on structure componants and broken tack welds. Still today I have broken welds in my car. But the major concern was geico and amm collision trying to hide the fact that they didn't do the repairs to my frame for a whole year. And when I requested the photos of the repairs and measurements from the body alignment machine from the shop, I had the police called on me and I have a felony criminal trespassing warning at amm collision for asking for paperwork that they cannot provide.

- Universal City, TX, USA

problem #148

Oct 232017

Accord

  • 105,000 miles
Engine oil consumption issue. The engine oil is burning way too fast and the engine makes a grinding noise. I took it to the dealer for several years and now that it is out of warranty they are saying its a oil consumption issue.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #147

Jul 012013

Accord

  • 1,000 miles

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

Engine oil over consumption with in 2000 miles. Cracking sound also

- Sterling, VA, USA

problem #146

Aug 252017

Accord

  • 135,000 miles
I had my car for a year since 8/13/2016 now my car is knocking ticking and when I accelerate it's loud in the morning I got all my oil changes transmission flush and engine flush I need help what's going on I went to get a diagnostics test yesterday (8/25/17) now my engine light is blinking on my dashboard plus the TPMS light and also vsa indicator with the triangle with the exclamation mark in it I turned the car on this morning drove it to the store it cut off on me help it only let me go up to 25 mph

- Hartford, CT, USA

problem #145

Apr 302015

Accord

  • 140,000 miles
Takata recall, excessive oil consumption, vtc actuator loud grinding on start up cold or warm!!!!! Honda would not fix because I was 15,000 miles over their grace period. I asked for good will and a big company that Honda is sure won't go bankrupt fixing my car.... but the girl I talked to was some what rude to me and just asked if I wanted the better business beau phone number. Their needs to be a class action law suit for the replacement of the vtc actuator, because sooner or later I will have engine failure and Honda knows about the problem. I have read 90% of the 2008 4 cylinder Accord have the problem and some of the newer models have the same problem. And I have heard they will replace the part, and soon after it does it again!!!! defective part!!!! I hope I can get some help, because Honda knows about the problem and I cant afford a new engine when the timing chain goes and everything with it!!!! thank you.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #144

Jul 272017

Accord

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. While driving at unknown speeds, there was an abnormal knocking noise. Additionally, the vehicle burned oil excessively. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (dublin Honda located at 6300 dublin blvd ca 94588) where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was irreparable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed and offered no assistance. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 180,000.

- Dublin, CA, USA

problem #143

Apr 012016

Accord

  • miles
Terrible gas milage and massive oil burning. Took it into O'hare Honda who replaced 2 oil pressure switches after they updated the vcm software. I also had oil consumption monitoring done and was told my car doesn't burn enough oil. It was monitored to burn 9/10ths a quart for every 1000 miles and was told it needed to burn at least a full quart for every 1000 miles for Honda to offer an engine replacement. For the last 2 to 3 years I have been adding 2-3 quarts every oil change and I used to get 4000-6000 miles per oil change when I bought the car certified pre-owned (cpo). While under warranty I made claims to Honda and they would tell me I am using the wrong oil. The dealer valley Honda when I bought the car specifically told me that I needed to put the same quality oil into the car as the previous owner and according to their records the vehicle was only serviced by them and the only oil to put in the car was full synthetic 0W20 and that is all it has ever had. Please note oil changes every 4K to 6K miles at 80 dollars each seemed good, but now it's every 2K to 3K miles at the same price not to include the additional quarts at 10 dollars each costing me an additional 20 to 30 dollars each oil change and I am averaging 13 to 17 miles per gallon city/highway combined a far cry from the original 19 to 29 miles per gallon previously achieved as promised. All services done to the vehicle include: Timing belt replaced, oil pressure switches replaced, fluid serviced and flushed; brakes, transmission, power steering, coolant system all of these were done on the same day, with a heavy bill of 1300 dollars. Timing was done because the engine oil consumption issue and because I was told the vehicle had over 100K miles and it was required. Currently I have 133K miles my 2008 Accord ex-L V6 navi.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #142

May 262017

Accord

  • 88,600 miles
Defective vtc actuaftor. Honda & dealer knew by 2011 that the part was defective and defectively designed, and should have recalled it. Now, in spite of being "out of warranty, " they should replace or reimburse. I did replace and am seeking reimbursement, so far denied.

- Canby, OR, USA

problem #141

May 262017

Accord

  • 88,000 miles
The vtc actuator needed to be replaced. The mechanic explained that it was not merely defective, but was a design defect, for which there had been recalls for other/later models years. I confirmed this with a google search. I was told that, were the part not replaced, the damage could be catastrophic. Cost - over $600. I complained to Honda of America, and sought reimbursement. They denied it, saying it was out of warranty. Car has about 88,000 miles and warranty was for 5 years and 30,000 miles. However, Honda of America representative said he would sue Honda if it were him. I should receive reimbursement, and there should be recall on this part.

- Canby, OR, USA

problem #140

Jan 012011

Accord

  • 50,000 miles
2008 Honda Accord issues, spark plugs, battery light, and traction light indicator turn on and engine pulsates and stutters, door lock actuator fail before 50K in both driver door and rear driver side. Brake rotors are worn down very easily and rear pad wear down faster than front with uneven wear.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #139

Dec 152016

Accord

  • 119,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. While driving 65 mph, the engine began to rev excessively and the vehicle jerked. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the cam shaft position sensor failed due to the timing chain being defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #138

Jun 012014

Accord

  • 120,000 miles
Excessive engine oil consumption for the past three years. This is a known issue.

- Olathe, KS, USA

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