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.
My husband has a Honda, friends have Hondas. No one has ever heard this noise in theirs. Over 50 different people riding in my car have and ask "what is that?". My first Honda. Bought used 2008 Honda lx 2.4L August 6, 2014. They had AC and radio on when I test drove-didn't hear noise until next day when I cut both off.
You start car up, sometimes hear grinding noise, sometime not- told I was not releasing key switch soon enough. Put car in drive you hear the whining annoying "airplane take-off mode" noise and it continues through all the gear changes and forever until you cut car off! The whole time you drive it you sound like an airplane getting ready to taxi down the runway. You let off the gas and coast down the hill you hear it a little less but still there. You press on the gas and it's louder again. Complained to salesperson (I know), to dealership each month. Took it in twice. First time test drove it without me and said they didn't hear anything. Second time I insisted on being in the car he said "oh I hear it--that's normal gear change- no transmission problem. Some cars are more noisy than others. You could change the transmission and you are still going to hear it." Transmission fluid was OK, he checked, and said..
Help me!! If I had wanted an airplane I would have bought one. If I had read all I'm reading now I would never have bought a 2008. Thought I was OK in getting a car fax report--wrong! Now I'm stuck paying a loan on social security money.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My husband has a Honda, friends have Hondas. No one has ever heard this noise in theirs. Over 50 different people riding in my car have and ask "what is that?". My first Honda. Bought used 2008 Honda lx 2.4L August 6, 2014. They had AC and radio on when I test drove-didn't hear noise until next day when I cut both off.
You start car up, sometimes hear grinding noise, sometime not- told I was not releasing key switch soon enough. Put car in drive you hear the whining annoying "airplane take-off mode" noise and it continues through all the gear changes and forever until you cut car off! The whole time you drive it you sound like an airplane getting ready to taxi down the runway. You let off the gas and coast down the hill you hear it a little less but still there. You press on the gas and it's louder again. Complained to salesperson (I know), to dealership each month. Took it in twice. First time test drove it without me and said they didn't hear anything. Second time I insisted on being in the car he said "oh I hear it--that's normal gear change- no transmission problem. Some cars are more noisy than others. You could change the transmission and you are still going to hear it." Transmission fluid was OK, he checked, and said..
Help me!! If I had wanted an airplane I would have bought one. If I had read all I'm reading now I would never have bought a 2008. Thought I was OK in getting a car fax report--wrong! Now I'm stuck paying a loan on social security money.
- Linda G., Hanover, VA, US