2010 Honda Accord Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Engine
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1012%
• 25k–50k
  1517%
• 50k–75k
  1416%
• 75k–100k
  2630%
• 100k–150k
  1619%
• 150k+
  56%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

While backing out of my garage, my daughter observed flames coming out from the front center of the hood. I then put the car into park, and we got out of the car. I opened the hood, and observed smoke coming out of the alternator, and flames coming from the lower engine area. I then went into my garage to get my fire extinguisher, and put out the flames. I then phoned a towing service to transport my 2010 Honda Accord to the Mobil Station at 12 mile and Farmington Roads where I normally have my Honda serviced. I then telephoned my mechanic at the Mobil station to let him know that the two truck would deliver my car to him shortly. My mechanic then recommended replacing the alternator and started, which I agreed to. The next repair was to replace the engine wiring in my Honda Accord, which did not repair the vehicle. …

The contact's son owns a 2010 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The contact became aware that there was no oil on the dipstick. There were no warning lights illuminated. While driving, there was an abnormal friction noise detected. The contact added oil. The contact called the local dealer and was informed to take the vehicle to the dealer every 500 miles to be inspected. The vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the pistons needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.

The contact owns a 2010 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, an abnormal sound was coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with oil consumption failure and that the piston rings need to be replaced. The oil was replaced however, the failure recurred. The contact mentioned NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V004000 (Electrical System) as a possible solution to the failure however, the Vin was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,357.

The contact owns a 2010 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine harness coupler had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

This past week I experienced a catastrophic malfunction with the vehicle, while driving it appeared to short circuit and shut down. It would not allow me to drive in any gear whatsoever. Upon taking it to a mechanic at Jiffy Lube he stated the incident is identical and experienced the same issues that Honda and the Dept of Transportation deemed a recall that could have ended in severe injury or death. That issue and recall being (see below) Powertrain:Auto Transmission Control Module (TCM,PCM). You see the mechanic at Jiffy Lube referred me to this recall due to his analysis and diagnosis being the same. Whom stated that the vin doesn't state a recall, but it being the exact same model, make, engine, year, and coupled with the fact that it has TCM and PCM catastrophic damage, I was subjected to and encountered. …

The contact owns a 2010 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked, and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact replaced the spark plugs and became aware that the parts were covered in oil. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while restarting the vehicle there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired after the most recent failure. The contact used a scanner and retrieved a code for a misfire in the engine. The contact replaced the spark plugs after each issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

When driving at a normal speed, like 55mph, I'll still be pushing on the gas pedal and it will drop down to 15mph on its own, then stall. It's happened several times. I was sitting at a traffic light, went to turn left, pushed on the gas pedal, started to go, then just died. Someone told me they had a car like mine, and it does the same thing, another friend said his 2012 four door accord just had it happen to his when he was turning left, he pushed on the gas and it started to go, then died, he was hit and it totaled his car. He said it would happen to him all the time, but couldn't afford a new car. Someone told him that it's the eco system, that it happens all the time with the Honda accords. If this is true, Honda needs to recall them, there's a lot of them still on the roads.

I own a 2010 Honda Accord. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerks, and fails to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal on the hwy. The check engine warning light VSA is on. In 2022, I had Honda replace the engine, However, just after the warrenty expired, I started to experince the same issues. The vehicle has been sitting since 2023, and so I have it in the shop now (2026). He has replaced the spark plugs but there is misfire code for cylindars 1 and 2. The mechanic states that it's an engine issue. The vehicle was had been diagnosed and repaired on multple occassions. A scanner has been used mutiple times to retrieved a code for a misfire in the engine. Replaced the engine, time and chain, spark plugs, catalac converter, ignition coil. Mileage is 165,000

I have a 2010 Accord coupe I notice ac/heat vent problems and a leak in the coolant inside the passenger floor/console area. So I researched it and saw this Manufacturer Communication ID: 10120775 says: In this service bulletin, Honda alerted dealerships that the driver's side vent may produce a lower level of heat than what is coming from the front passenger's vent. The most common cause is that the car's heater core is partially clogged. When this happens, it can cause the heater's performance to fail. The company instructed dealerships that encounter this problem to flush the heater core to resolve it. No recall has been issued, but dealerships should know how to handle this problem. I will reach out to Honda dealerships in my area to see what happens.

The contact owns a 2010 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle started to shake and failed to operate as needed. The contact was able to navigate the vehicle off the roadway. The vehicle was towed to a relative's residence where the vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic that the piston rings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure but no further assistance was provided. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Engine complaints in other Accord years