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 2012 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Purchased a car from JKJ Auto on 01/17/2026 for $5000 + tax. Car was sold "as-is" with no dealer warranty. Vehile was only driven for 12 days before the car caught fire while my son was driving to school. He was trapped inside until a person ran over to help him out of the car. Police came to the scene and towed the vehicle. It was later examined by DSM Auto Repair who deduced that the battery was defective and overheated. This caused all other electrical cables to ignite along with the rest of the car. There were no warning lamps, messages or audio alerts. My son first noticed when there was white smoke coming from the hood as the car shut off, followed shortly by flames.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase the vehicle mileage wa47,000,p=and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 238, 629. A Carfax report was obtained with the same mileage. The contact sent a message and left a voice mail message but there was no response. The contact received an unusual high quote from the insurance company. The contact's son sent a text to the seller but they did not respond. There was no other agency contacted.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Accord. While attempting to sell the vehicle, a potential buyer showed the contact a vehicle history report; the report showed that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was purchased by the contact through a private sale on Facebook Marketplace. Additionally, the contact discovered a crash report in the glove box. The contact was not made aware of any prior accidents on the vehicle prior to sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 135,000, and the report discovered that the mileage was 248,870.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while attempting to trade in the vehicle at a local dealer, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was purchased through a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 127,699 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 129,994.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 64,163. It was later discovered, upon checking the Carfax report that the mileage was 200,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Honda Accord. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 124,414, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 170,762.
ABS Module has failed and brake, ABS and traction control lights remain on; causing braking issue. This component has failed in many vehicles of this type per mechanic and should be recalled. There is very little mileage on the vehicle around 50K. A safety recall is apparent as if injury occurs Honda is liable, as an elderly person owns the vehicle. Vehicle does not stop as it should and will not receive an inspection sticker. This should not be on the consumer given the amount of low mileage.
Car has frequent issues with starting and power loss inside and outside the car. This is my second time having a issue with my car not starting that did not have to do with the battery or alternator. I have 135xxx miles and keep up with maintenance so this is frustrating and expensive, happening months apart. The first time I had to have a new starter put in. The car also looses brightness on the dash board and in the headlights. The car stalls while starting since Ive had it.
Twice in the past couple of months my car has turned off while in drive and I lost power steering/braking. Both times were luckily in my apartment parking lot. They occured about 10-15 seconds after backing out and putting it in drive. The second time I almost slid into a car driving by since I wasn't able to brake.
I'm not sure exactly when everything started but it's been a 2ish years. The lights on my steering wheel started blinking randomly. Then the cruise control stopped working. Then the lights went out entirely. Now the horn only works occasionally. It slowly got worse over time.
Electrical complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2012 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the electrical system of the 2012 Honda Accord, 9% of the model year's 373 complaints. The component named most often is instrument panel › speedometer/odometer (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Honda Accord electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2012 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 2012 Honda Accord electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 1 injury 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.