2018 Honda Accord · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 228owner reports
- 15,000median miles
- $1,700median quote
- 5involved a crash
Newest report Sep 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
607 of the 1,883 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 228 of those describe phantom braking.
Tick what matches of 228 reports
Phantom braking 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: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Phantom braking is a car that brakes hard on its own, often at highway speed, with nothing in the road ahead. About one owner in five mentions a near miss with the car behind.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the radar or camera sensor (45 reports), the software (9 reports) and the windshield (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2018 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into collision avoidance on the Accord
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking. Open.
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking. Closed apr 18, 2024.
Braking performance. Closed dec 14, 2011.
Abs. Closed aug 6, 2001.
Stalling. Closed jan 31, 1994.
Fuel system venting. Closed nov 30, 1989.
Fuel system venting. Closed nov 16, 1988.
Accord sudden accel-see dp87-026. Closed mar 30, 1988.
Sudden acceleration. Closed jul 21, 1987.
Sudden acceleration. Closed nov 3, 1986.
What owners paid
5 of the 228 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,700 to $3,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,000 and 29,000 miles, from the 93 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 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 has identified a condition that may affect Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) operation. Due to software programming issues of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), unexpected vehicle deceleration may occur.
Tech line summary article - We?re currently looking at an issue where the vehicle shudders or jerks and various indicators come on. What?s particularly noticeable is the CMBS indicator comes on with Collision Mitigation Braking System Problem.
What owners wrote
“Instrument cluster lights up with the following warnings: road departure mitigation,brake system,vehicle stability assist,ACC,collision mitigation,Emission system problem, electric power steering, hill assist,brake system hold. OBD2 codes are: PO301,PO301.Dealer diagnosed problem and solution as: replace Fuel Injectors.Car with 50,000 miles run fine. Idiot lights are out of control.”
Filed Mar 18, 2024 · 50,000 miles
“When driving in various scenarios on open road, the automatic emergency braking system will engage unexpectedly. No vehicles were within 1/4 mile or more in front of me. Has happened more than once.”
Filed Feb 25, 2022
“Possible glitch that sometimes causes the car randomly slam on brakes or slow down with out the driver touching the brake pedal.”
Filed Feb 25, 2022
“The automatic collision avoidance, braking system sometimes when it has brought to a near stop locks down. It happens when I am on cruise control and let the system slow me down. When this happens it won't bring me up to speed when the car in front of me pulls away. I have to give it some some gas to break free. It's happened several times over the last few months.”
Filed Feb 25, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 5 of 228 reports involved a crash and 8 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
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
- 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
- Battery dies or the car will not start 42 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