Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2015 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission failed to shift gear as needed. Additionally, the contact stated that while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 23,088. The VIN was not available.
Driving at Interstate speeds, I had the engine suddenly **THUNK** and lose power. I limped it to the side of the road to get out of traffic. I went to investigate and the vehicle would not even idle. It just shut off After having it towed back to local service company, looked at, and the dealership I bought it at to look at, I am told the main bearing failed on the connecting rod. The thunks I hear is the rod spinning in there, shearing off metal shavings that are now all over inside the engine bay. Honda has a TSB out for the car, for this exact issue, but my VIN number somehow doesn't fit in their window. Component that failed - Main bearing on the Connecting Rod Safety of myself and others - Gave out while driving highway speeds, which caused the car to lose power to keep it at highway speeds. …
My car has been reliable other than standard maintenance; oil changes, brake pad changes, etc. On Friday, April 12 2024, I was driving down the highway at 60-70 mph when the engine felt like it lost power for half a second and I saw the RPMs rev up and then drop down when this "skipping" occurred. It happened several times and made me feel very unsafe in a high speed situation if I suddenly lost all engine power. I drove straight to my mechanic - they did not experience the skipping at low speeds on a test drive, but they recommended a transmission fluid flush. On draining the fluid, they said it was clean but had more metallic debris than would be expected for a usual transmission service. I drove the car over the weekend and the same engine loss of power was evident, but happened infrequently. …
I can always feel that the transmission is not responsive. Every now and then when I back up or the car moves into the first gear after I put it in the drive mode it takes awhile before it really moves. It staggers and stalls before the acceleration finally kicks in. The scariest incident was when I needed to accelerate onto the highway on the entry ramp and the car was stalling and refusing to increase torque and speed even though the acceleration pedal was all the way floored. It almost caused a major crash from the rear. Every Honda dealer I go to cannot seem to replicate the issue I keep experiencing and dismiss my account as if it is in my head. I wish someone addresses this important warning urgently before there is a catastrophic car incident involving our lives. Looking forward to a prompt resolution to a recurring issue. …
I Was driving my vehicle on, standing on the Expressway heading east. The roads were snow and sleek. Out of nowhere. My vehicle start to lose power. And suddenly stopped. I was stuck in the middle of the highway, very scared and feared for my life and I feared for the other peoples lives and their vehicles and hoping no collision occurs. Luckily. I was able to avoid the collision. And a tow truck came to tow my car to the Honda dealership. I had a recall for the drive shaft. A corroded drive shaft broke on which the vehicle was unmovable. My vehicle also roll away when I shifted to parked and I had to set the parking brake. This almost cost me the risk of a crash or injury without prior warning. And the Honda dealership did not correct the problem. I had to tow The vehicle To my mechanic shop and the next following day my mechanic expected that my drive shaft was not good. …
The transmission on my 2015 Honda Accord failed and I was stranded on the side of the road. The engine started to accelerate on its own and soon after the gas peddle was not working and I was forced to pull over. My safety was put at risk because I had to pull over on the highway late at night and was stranded. The transmission failed and the issue code is P1890. I found details on this known issue here: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2016/MC-10084981-2280.pdf There is no recall but it is a known issue, and I believe it is dangerous for Honda to allow these cars to remain on the road without new transmissions. According to the link I posted before, the only fix is a new transmission. I believe this should be issued as a recall so other Accord owners (2014-2016 years) do not face the same problem as I did. This problem was fix in 2017. …
Faulty starter which went and was replaced at least twice by previous owner. Upon 2nd replacement of starter by me, the car still would not run. It was determined by my mechanic that this was a bigger issue and probably the torque converter had been ruined by the starter as the wheel was missing and had broken teeth due to impact of the starter. Honda dealership/maintenance confirmed this and the torque converter and starter needed to be replaced. This cost me $4500, not to mention the previous starters and labor. Honda confirmed after market starters cause damage to the torque wheel/converter. Many mechanics use aftermarket parts, as they are more affordable for the consumer. Honda should have specific notes on this, as to not cause damage to the vehicle. Honda would not cover the costs, as they said my car was no longer under warranty at 155,000 miles. …
The contact owns a 2015 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle intermittently stalled, and the contact stated that after waiting several minutes for the engine to cool down, the vehicle returned to normal operation; however, the vehicle was shuddering. No warning light was illuminated; however, the "VSC System Failure" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the throttle control system needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic made the contact aware of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 20V769000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Door locks will stop working randomly. Some doors will not lock or unlock. I took to metro honda once to get it fixed and again it is happening. The driver side back door never locks or unlocks. The other back door started doing the same this past week. And the passenger door wouldn't lock or unlock but since taking it to metro it has worked. This will start happening randomly. Also, i have been having problems with the starter. I got it replaced one a couple months ago from a mechanic and again it will not turn on on the first try.
Initially it started as ignition starter issues, now there seems to be what may be concluded as transmission issues. After doing research i see Hondas history of bad transmissions. Extremely low acceleration causes dangerous lane switching or merging with traffic, also the fear of it stalling and no longer working as I drive.
Related recalls
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Accord vehicles equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and a continuously-variable transmission that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shafts, replacing both the left and right drive shafts, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2021.
Transmission complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2015 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2015 Honda Accord, 7% of the model year's 601 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2015 Honda Accord transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-769 (driveshaft, Dec 10, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2015 Honda Accord transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 29,000 miles, and 46% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.