Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on a highway, an abnormal burning odor leaked through the air vents into the interior cabin. The contact stated that his girlfriend was sitting in the front passenger seat during the failure. The contact managed to pull over to the shoulder of the road after a fire appeared from under the driver's side of the hood. The contact attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher, but was unsuccessful. The local fire department arrived on scene to extinguish the fire. The source of the fire was undetermined. A police report was filed. The contact fractured the fire extinguisher emergency glass with his hand and was injured. The contact did not seek medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a local independent tow lot, where it remains for further investigation. …
The contact owned a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and turned off in the driveway, she was informed that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact stated that she noticed flames coming out from underneath the hood. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle burned significantly and was propelling burning particles. The fire department advised the contact to exit the residence and to stay in the backyard for safety. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. The contact was unsure whether the police arrived at the scene and whether a police report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle had melted. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The dealer was not notified of the failure. …
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale on Facebook Marketplace. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 130,000. While cleaning the vehicle, the contact located a receipt that showed the mileage at 233,553. The seller blocked the contact's phone calls. The Police Department was contacted, but no assistance was provided. It was later discovered that the Carfax Report indicated that the mileage was 290,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 109,363 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 203,684.
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.
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Honda Accord. While the vehicle was parked, it caught fire. The contact also stated that there was an abnormal odor in the vehicle. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. A police report was not filed. The fire department was not notified. The vehicle was deemed destroyed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 11V395000 (power train) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,965. The VIN was not provided.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. While driving 32 MPH, another vehicle struck the contact's vehicle on the front driver's side. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck and knee injuries, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the electronic control unit fractured, which caused the air bag to engage later. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,929.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, it caught on fire. No one was injured during the fire. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle had not been inspected however the fire department in their report could not determine what cause of the fire because the vehicle was severely damaged. The failure mileage was 560,000.
My husband and I were on a trip and I didn't realize it, but people kept flashing us and I did not have my lights on. When we pulled over, my husband could not get out of his side of the door. It would not open. We were on the freeway, on a cold rainy day and visibility was bad, and not being able to have lights, or defroster work properly put us in a hazardous position. Later I found out as I took it to a mechanic was that our fuse box was not working correctly, and the lights on the right side only and the door and the defroster were not working. It cost me $951.09 to get this repaired on my 2008 Honda Accord. I think when people get in a car, and drive it especially in hazardous conditions, everything should work properly. I did see on several sites there was a recall on this, but I never received a recall letter, or was contacted by my dealer. …
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 accords 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!!!! …
Electrical complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2008 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 104 complaints about the electrical system of the 2008 Honda Accord, 7% of the model year's 1,520 complaints. The component named most often is alternator/generator/regulator (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Honda Accord electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2008 Honda Accord, though it has 8 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 2008 Honda Accord electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles, and 45% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 5 fires and 4 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.