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Honda · NHTSA safety record

2016 Honda Accord

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 607 safety complaints about the 2016 Honda Accord with the US government. Of those, 32 describe a crash, 5 mention a fire, 29 people were injured and no death is recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 198 complaints, 33% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 36,250 miles, the median across the 290 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers October 2015 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

607 complaints on file

607

Complaints

32

Describe a crash

5

Mention fire

29

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints rose 38% year on year: 87 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 63 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 198 · 33%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 128 · 21%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 126 · 21%
ENGINE 44 · 7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 39 · 6%
SERVICE BRAKES 30 · 5%
STEERING 30 · 5%
POWER TRAIN 29 · 5%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 27 · 4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 23 · 4%
STRUCTURE 20 · 3%
WHEELS 17 · 3%
0 81 162

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 607.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 88.

96 72 48 24
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2015 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2016 Honda ACCORD, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 2 DR FWD 4 DR FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 9.9% 9.9%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

4 on file

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

26V332000 · May 21, 2026

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
The risk
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 98,892 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

23V858000 · December 18, 2023

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 2,490,460 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

19V060000 · January 29, 2019

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.
The risk
Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 437,032 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

17V418000 · June 29, 2017

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Honda Accord vehicles. The case for the battery sensor, part of the battery management system, may allow water to get in, potentially causing an electrical short.
The risk
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensor, free of charge. Dealers will perform an interim remedy of applying adhesive to the case to prevent water intrusion. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support Center at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KG0.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 1,148,550 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SEATS

4 injured · crash · towed

7 year old child sitting behind father when vehicle was hit from behind causing intrusion into the vehicle pushing the rear seat area forward; from the impact, driver's seatback yielded/failed significantly into the child's rear seating position area causing permanent catastrophic brain injuries to the child. Vehicle is currently being stored and preserved for evidence at SAFE, 6775 Hollister Ave., Goleta, CA 93117. Inspections of the vehicle are anticipated in the future.

NHTSA complaint 11493958. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 injured · crash · towed · 12,000 miles

I WAS PARKING MY 2016 HONDA ACCORD IN A SHOPPING CENTER. AS I WAS SLOWLY INCHING FORWARD TO PARK, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN (WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR) AND WENT FORWARD SO FAST IT WENT OVER A RETAINING WALL THAT SEPARATED US FROM AN ADJOINING SHOPPING CENTER AND DROPPED ABOUT 4-5 FT DOWN INTO THAT ADJOINING PARKING LOT. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND CAUSED US INJURY. THE CAR IS MOST LIKELY TOTALED AT THIS POINT (WAITING TO FIND OUT FROM MY ADJUSTOR). THE ACCELERATION WAS SUDDEN AND EXTREME. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO HIT THE BRAKES. IT WAS A MATTER OF A SPLIT SECOND BEFORE WE WERE THROWN INTO THE OTHER PARKING LOT. (ATTACHING A PICTURE SO THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT MAKES SENSE)

NHTSA complaint 11047637, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 injured · crash · towed · 35,000 miles

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CAR SEEMED TO SPEED UP EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT PRESSING THE GAS. I STRUCK MY NEIGHBORS WALL ACROSS THE STREET, BUT NOT VERY HARD. AT THAT POINT I HEARD A ROAR. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME, BUT NOW I RECOGNIZE IT AS THE SOUND A CAR MAKE IF YOUR PRESSING THE GAS WITH THE CAR IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. I DECIDED TO PULL BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY TO ASSESSS THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT ROARED FORWARD. I PRESSED THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD BUT THE CAR COULD NOT BE STOPPED IT CRASHED INTO THE BRICK WALL OF MY GARAGE. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND I SUFFERED CUTS AND BRUISES. MY CAR WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint 11176012. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

2 injured · crash · towed · 50,000 miles

TRAVELLING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. CAR STARTED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT, STARTED TO TRY AND EASE BACK RIGHT INTO THE LANE AND CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL RIGHT AND OFF THE ROAD INTO THE WOODS ON THE SIDE OF INTERSTATE AND INTO TREES.

NHTSA complaint 11416564. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INFOTAINMENT HEAD UNIT / AUDIO AMPLIFIER. While driving my 2016 Honda Accord, the vehicle's infotainment head unit and factory audio amplifier suffered a sudden, catastrophic hardware failure. Without warning or driver input, the audio system emitted an explosive, deafening static screech at maximum volume (estimated at 85–90 decibels).This unexpected, extreme noise triggered an immediate startle response, nearly causing a loss of vehicle control on a busy road. The infotainment head unit completely locked up; the power button, volume knob, and steering wheel controls were entirely unresponsive. Anything can trigger this static response such as connecting to Bluetooth

NHTSA complaint 11767314, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
1-The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) / active collision avoidance system failed. Warning lights are actively displayed on the dashboard indicating that the SRS and collision mitigation systems are disabled/malfunctioning. The vehicle is parked and available for inspection upon request 2- Because the SRS / collision safety system is completely non-functional, the primary driver and passengers are operating a vehicle where airbags and active restraint systems may fail to deploy during a crash, presenting an immediate safety risk on public roads. 3-Yes. The safety defect was identified, but the selling dealership refused to provide assistance or perform the necessary repairs to resolve

NHTSA complaint 11767389, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The Daytime Running lights are only half effective/lit. Apparently, Honda extended the warranty, but notified owners by regular mail and I did not receive it. Now, they claim the extended warranty (ten years) has run out, but I had noticed about half the LED strip was not working for about 2 or three years now. Too bad Honda chose to mail regular notices and is now using that as cover for not replacing my lights.

NHTSA complaint 11767595. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STEREO SPEAKERS MAKE A LOUD STATIC UNCONCONTROLLABLE SOUND EVEN WHEN THE STEREO IS OFF. THE SOUND IS DEBILITATING, YOU CANNOT HEAR ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE SUCH AS EMERGENCY VEHICLES. THE STATIC SOUND GETS LOUDER AND LOUDER WHICH CAUSE AN OVERWHELMING FEELING AS YOU CANNOT CONTROL IT UNTIL YOU TURN THE VEHICLE OFF.

NHTSA complaint 11766054. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
My 2016 Honda Accord Touring has an intermittent failure of multiple Honda Sensing safety systems. The vehicle displays warnings for Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Keeping Assist System. When this occurs, these driver-assistance and collision-avoidance features become unavailable. This is a recurring problem. In August 2023, an authorized Honda dealer diagnosed substantially similar symptoms. The technician documented DTC P2583-87, described on the repair order as “lost comm with the wave radar.” The dealer removed the bumper, tested wiring between the radar and camera, checked radar power and ground, and diagnosed a

NHTSA complaint 11765627, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While driving the vehicle all of the speakers started making a very loud noise and vibrating the entire car. Radio controls wouldn't stop the noise and it was very difficult to focus on driving with the sound so loud. The only way to stop the noise was to pull over and turn car off. Radio controls had no impact. This doesn't happen all the time just randomly. The noise is so loud I'm concerned it could cause a safety concern if another member of my family is driving. I have seen many reports of this being a known issue with model of my car but dealer won't do anything. The ear popping noise occurs with no warning while driving, severely distracting the driver.

NHTSA complaint 11765225. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Honda Accord

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 85 0 —
2024 143 3 —
2023 86 5 —
2022 252 4 —
2021 234 4 —
2020 362 5 1
2019 691 6 —
2018 1,883 6 —
2017 536 3 2
2015 601 5 —
2014 981 4 —
2013 1,422 5 1
2012 373 8 1
2011 296 9 —
2010 580 12 2

Other 2016 Honda models

Every Honda on this site — 192 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst