2018 Honda Accord · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 42owner reports
- 28,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 1, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
296 of the 1,883 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 42 of those describe dead battery.
Tick what matches of 42 reports
Dead battery on other Accord years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These owners walk out to a car that's dead. Some find it drained after sitting only a day or two, some need a jump start every week, and some have had the battery replaced more than once without the problem going away. A good number describe the dealer testing the battery, calling it fine, and sending them home.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (40 reports) and the alternator (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the electrical system covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
A software error may cause intermittent or continuous disruptions in communication between the Body Control Module (BCM) and other components.
All 6 recalls on the 2018 Honda Accord, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Accord
Ignition shift interlock. Closed oct 14, 2010, led to recall 10V-364.
Ignition park-shift interlock. Closed jan 5, 2009, led to recall 10V-364.
Ignition-park interlock. Closed feb 2, 2005, led to recall 05V-025.
Ignition-park interlock. Closed jan 13, 2005.
Ignition-park interlock. Closed dec 17, 2003, led to recall 03V-423.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 8,085 and 45,000 miles, from the 13 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Honda Accord that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2022 Accords with customer complaint of Charging System Problem (battery icon) or Auto Engine Idle Stop Problem Lamp coming on the Multi-Information Display (MID).
American Honda Motor Co, Inc. (AHM) has been collecting batteries from certain models under certain conditions. If you have replaced an OEM battery on a qualified vehicle, please follow the procedure below.
Servicenews article - We?re currently looking at an issue that when plugging an iPhone into the USB port, Apple CarPlay won?t start and the messsage Unable to start Apple CarPlay.
What owners wrote
“2 weeks ago. All of my warnings and lights for my car came on. We undid my battery, charged it and did it again. The lights went away and about 3 days ago they came back on. Now my car is overheating and the system is reading wrong.”
Filed Aug 14, 2026
“Door locks alternate not locking/unlocking with either the door buttons or key fob buttons (battery is good). Available for inspection. Vehicle has not been inspected. No warnings prior. This has happened on and off for about 2 years and now seems like itâs 24/7 a thing with multiple doors at a time now.”
Filed Nov 9, 2025
“While accelerating car jerks at times. At time car will go in limp mode Iâll have to safely try to get to side of road turn car off. Restart and continue driving. Iâve changed spark plugs, coil packs, turbo, fuel injectors, fuel pump and battery. I continue to put money into my car and nothing helps.”
Filed Oct 30, 2025
“This is about the 5th time this has happened to the car. All warning lights appeared spontaneously while driving. The lights would turn off if the car was turned off for a long period of time or is we disconnected battery for a long period of time. We have tried to research the problem and no one seems to know what the cause or permanent fix is.”
Filed Jun 11, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 42 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 349 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 282 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 255 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 250 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 228 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 167 reports
- Fuel pump failure 155 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 124 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 109 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 103 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 101 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 92 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 60 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 55 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 41 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 36 reports
- Paint peels or body rusts 28 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 26 reports