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 2018 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
As I was driving myself and child on the interstate 65 mph the vehicle all of a sudden dropped speed and would not accelerate. I drifted the car off the interstate off ramp and pulled into a store parking lot. Luckily, we did not cause an accident or hit anything or anyone. All the lights on car's dashboard blinking some examples are EPS, VSA, Malfunction lamp, Breaking system, check engine light, etc. My car did not show that it was running hot, was not smoking, however would not accelerate. The car had a slight rattle, running bad, shaking slightly; all in all, not working appropriately. No earlier indication that something was wrong just came all of a sudden, no warning at all. Car was brought to Billy Navarre in Lake Charles, LA, where they concluded that head gasket was blown. I had to come out of pocket to fix the head gasket and all of the other problems that it caused. …
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle did not accelerate as intended. In addition, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact also stated that as the failure continued, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact was advised to have the transmission flushed. The transmission fluid was flushed; however, the failure reoccurred. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. …
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that in April of 2021 the vehicle was taken to a dealer for an unknown recall related to the BCM. Months later, the contact parked her vehicle in the driveway and walked around it to retrieve her trash can, when she turned around it was discovered that the vehicle was rolling causing the front to crash into her against the garage wall. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact sustained a pelvic bone injury and was transported to the hospital for medical treatment. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by a dealer. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started vibrating violently. The vehicle then lost motive power and was unable to accelerate above 10 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined there was a misfire in cylinder #3. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 77,000.
All of the lights in the dash came on . We took it to Honda , at first they said it was the coils and spark plugs. I had them replaced , the same thing happened again the computer read that it was misfiring on one of the cylinders . They kept it and ran several tests . They then tried to say that it the result of a bad oil change but we knew better. After about a month they said that it had over heated and blown the head gasket . I ended up having to use my warranty and pay a deductible.
I was on the highway with moderate traffic. My car would no longer accelerate due to a blown head gasket out of nowhere, I was on the far left lane and had to traverse over 5 lanes in moderate traffic while other drivers on the highway were going 60+ mph. This is a common issue among Honda Accords with the 1.5 engines.
All warning indicator lights came on and I took car to a Certified Auto Mechanic who said it was caused by the fuel pump problems surrounding Honda cars. Said it affected the fuel injectors (mis-fire) and I should take it to Honda dealer for fix. Honda dealer said this VIN of my 2018 Honda is not on the recall. I asked about being covered by the 5 year power train warranty and was told that this did not fall under that warranty. The auto mechanic said he would have to charge around $2000 to replace the fuel injector (1), but the others would probably go bad unless everything (Pump and injectors) were replaced. There over 500 complaints with NHTSA on this year model and over 200 of those are similar problems that match prior recalls for same model and year but different vin numbers. …
There has been a series of constant issues with this model and each issue has been brought to a certified Honda dealership and was supposedly "fixed" engine code P0300 (random/multiple cylinder misfire),P2651 B rocker arm Actuator system, P0087 Fuel Rail/system pressure, P0304,P0303 cylinder 3 and 4 misfire, engine temperature always above normal. These issues on multiple situations has put my safety and the safety of others at the highest risk. The motor vehicle due to these issues randomly would lose power to the point where stepping on the gas doesn't not accelerate the car, forcing me to stop in the middle of the highway having other vehicles stop suddenly and swerve around me with children in the vehicle. …
All warning systems triggered, repeatedly, over the past year. Honda dealership misdiagnosed as a fuel injector. Had fuel injector replaced, but same issue occurred and this time all warnings came on and vehicle lost power on highway with my baby daughter inside. So, after spending thousands attempting to resolve the issue, I towed again to Honda and it was correctly diagnosed as a failed head gasket requiring $5.5K to repair. Service advisor said he's seen "many of these" recently. Called around Tampa and all mechanics advise (consistent with numerous complaints online car communities) failed head gasket is a known and common safety issue (to the extent that parts are on backorder as a result of repairs). …
Christmas Tree dashboard with all lights on appeared a few weeks ago. Took car to auto shops twice. First time I was told coil 1 for cylinder 1 was misfiring, replaced with new coil. Lights did not go away, got my codes read again and was same error message of coil 1 misfire. In the past week car would not accelerate past 15mph after start up. I was immediately concerned it was a head gasket issue since that is a very known defect for my exact make and model of vehicle. Took into my Honda Dealership where I purchased my Accord brand new. Was just told Fuel injectors need to be replaced even though vehicle has been maintained properly. …
Transmission complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2018 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 138 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2018 Honda Accord, 7% of the model year's 1,892 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › lever and linkage › floor shift (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Honda Accord transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2018 Honda Accord, though it has 6 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 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 15,000 miles, and 60% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury 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.