2020 Honda Accord · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 53owner reports
- 14,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
143 of the 362 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 53 of those describe phantom braking. Only brake wear is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 53 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 (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2020 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 3,200 and 35,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice 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 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
“I was driving on route 42 at 11:52 PM and my brake light illuminated on my dashboard indicating me to hit the brake so I stepped on the break so my car wouldn't brake itself. There was nothing directly in front of me for that like to come on but it did. The highway was dry there was a little bit of cars on the highway but in front of me”
Filed Aug 26, 2026
“Driving on a clear road on a clear day with no car in front of me, the brake warning flashed and then the car braked on its own. There was NO reason for the warning or for the car to brake on its own. Automatic breaking isnât even a feature on this car.”
Filed Nov 3, 2025
“Three times in one day the emergency braking system has gone on automatically for no apparent reason. We were not at risk but are concerned we will be put at risk. There was no warning. We have not taken it in but will do so asap”
Filed Nov 25, 2022
“when I am driving, there is no car in front of my car. Brake warning flash and randomly slam on the brakes without the I touching the brake pedal.”
Filed Aug 2, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 53 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 57 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