Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
At approximately [redacted]. Pacific, I was traveling southbound in the fastrak lane of the [redacted] departing from Pleasant Hill, California headed to Pleasanton, California. As I began to accelerate, the engine began to sputter. Immediately, the check engine light flashed on, then the dashboard reported a number of issues ranging from brake failure, TPMS failure, power assisted steering failure, vehicle stability assist failure and a number of other issues that I have never encountered since purchasing the vehicle. The sudden deceleration almost resulted in other cars impacting my car as this occurred during the morning commute. I was able to safely navigate off of the freeway. I was on speakerphone with Honda when this occurred. Had I not acted swiftly, a potential high speed rear end collision was likely to have occurred. I immediately took the car to Concord Honda. …
Over the past several years, there have been multiple instances where I or my wife are driving on the highway and the engine light comes on or starts flashing, and I am unable to go faster than 50 miles an hour, and the engine itself feels to be underpowered. We have taken it to the dealership for repair at least five times over the past five years and in each case they have attempted to do a repair and said the issue has been resolved, but the issue continue. At at least one of those visits, they have diagnosed the issue as an engine misfire issue. …
The 2018 Honda Accord Hybrids suffer from a critical electrical design flaw which has left me stranded in dangerous positions on the roadside multiple times. In a normal gasoline powered vehicle, when the ignition is on, the engine is running and the alternator is generating current to charge the battery and keep it in good health. However, with Honda's Hybrid system, even with the ignition on the engine does not engage and as a result it does not keep the battery at a healthy charge. Honda could easily detect high current draw on the 12v electrical system (like a tire inflator e.g.) and start the gasoline motor when needed, but they have chosen not to do so letting the vehicle's battery drain to a dangerously low level which has other adverse effects on the car's safety systems. LKAS and TPMS systems have reported erroneous messages when this condition occurs. …
Car has been throwing check engine light codes for different things for the past three years. First, the spark plugs needed to be replaced, then the electric coolant pump. After each repair, the check engine light came back on as soon as 4 days after but as late as a month after. Most recently, while driving on the highway the car check engine light came on and began flashing and the vehicle would not accelerate past 20mph. I took the closest exit and parked the car and had it towed to the closest Honda dealer where they informed me that there is an active recall and they are waiting for a call to see what they can do to help but that there is a head gasket issue as well as a fuel pump code. Previously when the check engine light came on and it took it to get checked I was told there was no code holding in the system.
If the car is not driven for about 5 days, it will not start. I told this to the local Honda dealer and he says I am not alone. All modern Accords do this because the computer performs a self-check every 2-3 hours and this drains the battery. If the car is not driven every couple of days this can compound and take the battery level down below the minimum needed to start the vehicle. I have been stuck twice because of this. I have had to buy a portable jump start thing and keep it in my car for when this happens. He said Honda knows about the problem but he has heard of no solution.
While driving on a bridge at under 20 mph, the vehicle's head gasket failed, causing the engine to overheat and coolant to leak from within the engine. The vehicle threw diagnostic trouble code P2601 and immediately entered "limp mode," severely cutting engine power and vehicle speed. Because this happened on a bridge with no shoulder to safely pull over, the sudden loss of power created a serious safety hazard - the vehicle could not maintain a safe speed or keep pace with surrounding traffic, increasing the risk of being struck by other vehicles. The vehicle was taken to a Tampa Honda (11000 N Florida Ave), where the failure was confirmed to be a blown head gasket that allowed coolant to leak into the engine cylinders. The head gasket and related components were replaced at a cost of approximately $5,000 to restore the vehicle to safe operating condition. …
I purchased a new 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid on June 30, 2018 from Honda of kirkland for my daughter. On Monday, February 25, 2019, when she was driving back from class on a road at 35 MPH, the collision mitigation system brake warning flashed then braked immediately, stopping the car in traffic. No obstacles or cars were in front of her. Fortunately, the cars behind her were far enough away that they were able to stop. In addition, she tried to get out of the way of traffic by pressing the accelerator, but the car would not respond for several moments after the automatic braking occurred. She also told me that the brake warning had been coming on often when nothing was in front of her. In addition, the lane departure feature has been malfunctioning, trying to pull her to the left lane into oncoming traffic when driving on curving roads. …
I was slowly pulling into my garage to park. When I pressed on the parking break, the car revved to full speed, slammed into garage and would not respond to the brakes, or any attempt to turn off the ignition or to control the car, including failure of the automatic emergency braking, forward collision or parking collision to function, even though they were all turned on. When "park" was depressed, with the engine still revving at a high speed, the car flew full speed into reverse into the driveway, spun in a circle then flew through the driveway elevated concrete divider, through the neighbors fence and was stopped by a large boulder under the driver's side of the vehicle. The engine was smoking and revving and did not immediately stop. The driver's side air bag had deployed and the door was jammed. I crawled out of the passenger side. …
The 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid's active noise canceling (anc) system is flawed. The car howls, roars and can even produce a loud boom at certain conditions (ie. Light acceleration, engine rpms ~2250, colder temps (<50degf), starting @ 30+MPH but worst is @ ~52mph). I took the car into my local Honda dealer who confirmed the problem. However, after they checked the internal car microphones were OK (per a Honda service bulletin test, ...so Honda America knows there is a problem), they stopped work and told me Honda corporate won't let them replace the anc, because apparently the technician's audio recording of the problem in my car wasn't sufficiently adequate. Note: I find this problem is repeatedly discussed on the various 2018-20 Honda Accord Hybrid forums with many frustrated owners. Like many on the forums, I asked (and paid for) the Honda technician to disconnect the anc. …
Bought 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid new July 2018. Initial tank of gas mpg 56! Ever since mpg in 30s. Gas engine runs car 90% of time! EV motor rarely comes on! Essentially not a Hybrid! Gauge for high voltage battery always at (3) out of (10) bars - never fully charges! Owner's manual says low lithium ion battery charge can shorten life of lithium batteries! Honda dealer service department where purchased says, "we don't know much about the hybrids."!!! He says "winter gas" lowers the gas mileage"! I said its a Hybrid, 'winter gas' doesn't affect the electric motor! Honda dealer says again that they don't know much about Honda hybrids! 1. Is my new 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid high voltage lithium battery dead or dying already? 2. Why doesn't the EV motor come on? Isn't it supposed to be a Hybrid? 3. Why doesn't Honda instruct dealer service departments on how hybrids work? 3. …
NHTSA investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Electrical complaints in other Accord Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid, 17% of the model year's 116 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 5,000 miles, and 80% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.