2019 Honda Accord · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 90owner reports
- 18,263median miles
- 7involved a crash
Newest report Sep 9, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
243 of the 691 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 90 of those describe phantom braking.
Tick what matches of 90 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 (10 reports) and the software (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2019 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.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,000 and 30,000 miles, from the 28 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2019 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.
What owners wrote
“While driving at 70 mph on freeway, driver experienced a sudden loss of power/rapid deceleration with no throttle response and no acceleration. Vehicle drivetrain seemed to be disengaged. TCM Gauge control error indicated on dash, also indicated on dash: ACC Adaptive cruise control system problem, collision mitigation breaking system problem, road departure mitigation system problem.”
Filed Apr 4, 2023
“The automatic braking system malfunctioned and started to brake for no reason, with no car in front and/or no other safety risk. Luckily there was no car behind me which most likely would have resulted in a rear end collision; which put myself and other at risk. The warning lamp on my dash was flashing brake as the vehicle was braking. I am afraid to drive the car due to safety concerns.”
Filed Sep 2, 2022
“I was driving on part of the highway when the car suddenly braked on its own. Cruise control was not on. I was not close to any other vehicles in front of me. I was not close to any structures in front of me.”
Filed Jun 14, 2022
“Car braked for no reason. There was no car in front of me that would require AEB to activate. Donât know reason why.”
Filed Mar 2, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 7 of 90 reports involved a crash and 5 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 stalls or loses power while driving 104 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 99 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 91 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 89 reports
- Fuel pump failure 65 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 55 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 44 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 43 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 37 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 33 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 33 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 31 reports