2020 Honda Accord · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 57owner reports
- 19,000median miles
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Sep 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
57 of the 362 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2020 Accord.
Tick what matches of 57 reports
Brake wear 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: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the pads and rotors (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the brakes covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Accord
Braking performance. Closed dec 14, 2011.
Abs. Closed aug 6, 2001.
None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 6,000 and 67,000 miles, from the 23 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 6 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 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 2018-2021 Accords, 2019-2017 Civics, 2017-2021 CR-Vs, 2018-2021 Odysseys & 2018-2021 Pilots with a customer complaint of an unexpected CMBS operation or a brake application.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2017-2020 CR-Vs & 2018-2020 Odysseys with a customer complaint of an unexpected CMBS operation or a brake application.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords with a customer complaint of a grinding noise coming from the rear brakes.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords with a customer complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the brakecruise switch DTCs in active fault.
2 more on the 2020 Honda Accord page.
What owners wrote
“When driving my car it will phantom break when there is nothing in front of it going down the highway 5060 miles an hour and itâs done at numerous times. I have not been in an accident yet, but itâs something that keeps occurring on my car.”
Filed Jul 31, 2025 · 5,060 miles
“The ANC module malfunctions already at only 67000 miles and causes a humming noise which is very annoying when driving. The ebreak also malfunctions during cold weather conditions. I have had to restart the car due to the electronic parking break not working properly. In case of an emergency I might need it and it may malfunction.”
Filed Mar 18, 2024 · 67,000 miles
“2020 Honda Accord Sport 19,000 miles, driving slowly in neighborhood, automatic brake system engaged and slammed the car to a stop without cause. No obstacles no other vehicle. I have an apt for dealership to inspect. I discovered this has been reported by other owners when I researched online The consumer stated that they are no comfortable driving the car since Honda cannot identify the issue with the vehicle.”
Filed Jul 31, 2023 · 19,000 miles
“Loud, audible grinding noise when braking, usually in reverse. Sounds like metal on metal. Drove vehicle to dealer today, was told this is a common problem, Honda is aware. Awaiting recall, etc. Issue is very distracting, especially in a parking lot. Issue also occasionally happens when slowing to a stop at low speeds.”
Filed Mar 6, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 57 reports involved a crash and 2 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
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 53 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 35 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 34 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 33 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 32 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 31 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 28 reports