Diagsheet

2021 Honda Accord · symptom sheet

Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)

  • 26owner reports
  • 65,000median miles
  • 4involved a crash

Newest report Apr 15, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

84 of the 226 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 26 of those describe phantom braking.

Tick what matches of 26 reports

8
12
5
7
1

What got replaced

Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.

Recalls and investigations

No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2021 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into collision avoidance on the Accord

EA24-002opened Apr 15, 2024
Collision avoidance · model years 2018 to 2022

Inadvertent automatic emergency braking. Open.

NHTSA summary
On February 21, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE22003) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, in model year 2017-2019 Honda CR-V and 2018-2019 Honda Accord vehicles. The reports allege that activation of the AEB system occurs while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that they were aware of a total of X,XXX reports that may relate to the alleged defect. Honda provided analysis of the alleged defect and alleges that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of the CMBS and its limitations. However, many consumer complaints allege that Honda dealerships were unable to reproduce the condition or state that they were informed that this is considered normal CMBS operation. To date, ODI has received a total of 1,294 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of CMBS in 2017-2022 Honda CR-V and 2018-2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A total of 31 complaints alleged a crash and 50 alleged an injury. The Total column in the Failure Report Summary removes duplicate reports and shows the total number of reports with unique VINs from all Manufacturer, ODI, and EWR data sources. In some cases, there were multiple reports associated with a particular vehicle in which recurring failures were alleged. In total, there were X,XXX reports
PE22-003opened Feb 21, 2022
Collision avoidance · model years 2018 to 2019

Inadvertent automatic emergency braking. Closed apr 18, 2024.

NHTSA summary
On February 21, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE22003) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, in model year 2017-2019 Honda CR-V and 2018-2019 Honda Accord vehicles. The reports allege that activation of the AEB system occurs while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that they were aware of a total of X,XXX reports that may relate to the alleged defect. Honda provided analysis of the alleged defect and alleges that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of the CMBS and its limitations. However, many consumer complaints allege that Honda dealerships were unable to reproduce the condition or state that they were informed that this is considered normal CMBS operation. To date, ODI has received a total of 1,081 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of CMBS in the subject vehicles. A total of 24 complaints alleged a crash and 42 alleged an injury. The Total column in the Failure Report Summary removes duplicate reports and shows the total number of reports with unique VINs from all Manufacturer, ODI, and EWR data sources. In some cases, there were multiple reports associated with a particular vehicle in which recurring failures were alleged. In total, there were X,XXX reports, 84 injury incidents and 40 crash
DP10-004opened Nov 18, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · model years 2005 to 2007

Braking performance. Closed dec 14, 2011.

NHTSA summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition requesting that it open an investigation and recall MY 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles for a possible safety defect related to braking performance.The petitioner in a defect petition letter and in a complaint filed with ODI under Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) 10329383 alleging ineffective braking performance of the Honda Accord Hybrid vehicle while driving over rumble strips along side of the highway and simultaneously attempting to the brake.The petitioner alleges this began a chain of events, where the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably, the passenger attempted to stop the vehicle by pulling the parking brake and eventually the vehicle crossing over into traffic flowing in the opposite direction.The result was a crash fatally injuring the passenger and severely injuring the petitioner and two occupants of another vehicle. During the defect petition review, ODI analyzed complaints involving similarly equipped Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles and first and second generation Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles, reviewed data provided to ODI by Honda in response to an information request letter and performed testing of braking performance of a 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicle at NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center in East Liberty, Ohio.Based on this review, ODI does not believe additional investigation is likely to result in a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists.Therefore, in view of th
DP01-002opened Mar 1, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · model years 1995

Abs. Closed aug 6, 2001.

NHTSA summary
PE93-083opened Sep 27, 1993
Speed control · model years 1990

Stalling. Closed jan 31, 1994.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available
EA89-005opened Nov 16, 1988
Speed control · model years 1986 to 1987

Fuel system venting. Closed nov 30, 1989.

NHTSA summary
===
PE88-062opened Jun 21, 1988
Speed control · model years 1986 to 1987

Fuel system venting. Closed nov 16, 1988.

NHTSA summary
SUMMARY: THE FOUR OWNER COMPLAINTS INVOLVE FIVE VEHICLES, THREE ACCORDS AND TWO LEGENDS. A SEARCH OF ODI RECORDS PERTAINING TO HONDA SAFETY RECALLS AND DEALER SERVICE BULLETINS REVEALED NO INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS SUBJECT.===
DP88-008opened Jan 13, 1988
Speed control · model years 1986

Accord sudden accel-see dp87-026. Closed mar 30, 1988.

NHTSA summary
ACCORD SUDDEN ACCEL-SEE DP87-026
DP87-026opened Jul 13, 1987
Speed control · model years 1984

Sudden acceleration. Closed jul 21, 1987.

NHTSA summary
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
PE86-066opened Jul 28, 1986
Speed control · model years 1984 to 1986

Sudden acceleration. Closed nov 3, 1986.

NHTSA summary
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INFORMATION FROM HONDA RELEVANTTO THIS PE WAS PROVIDED BY LETTER DATED 8 SEPTEMBER AND A PRESENTATION TONHTSA ON 2 OCTOBER.HONDA HAS ISSUED NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS OROTHER NOTIFICATIONS TO DEALERS RELATING TO FUEL FLOW AND DELIVERY, THROTTLECONTROL, OR ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS THAT MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED SUDDENACCELERATION.THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A CARBURETOR DESIGNWHICH, ACCORDING TO HONDA'S EVALUATION, WILL NOT PERMIT ENGINE RPM TOEXCEED A FAST IDLE CONDITION OF 2000 RPM WITHOUT DRIVER ACTUATION OF THETHROTTLE. TEST DATA WERE PROVIDED TO SHOW THAT AN ENGINE SPEED OF 2000 RPMWITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION WOULD, WHEN SHIFTED INTODRIVE, YIELD A VEHICLE SPEED OF 8 MPH AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS.OTHER TEST DATA WERE PROVIDED TO SUPPORT HONDA'S POSITION THAT FAILEDENGINE MOUNTS WOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE TO SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATION ASALLEGED IN THIS PE.ANALYSIS:THE FOLLOWING ARE CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT OBSERVATIONS AND/ORANALYTICAL ASSESSMENTS OF THE FACTS IN THIS PE FILE: OTHE ALLEGED INCIDENTS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE FROM OTHER PE/EA FILESIN THAT THEY TEND TO EMPHASIZE OCCURRENCE OF THE PHENOMENON WHENTHE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO ANOTHER GEAR. OA HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE REPORTED OCCURRENCES ALSO INVOLVEACCIDENTS,BUT THE RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF INJURY ACCIDENTSSUGGESTS THAT MOST ARE LOW SPEED COLLISIONS. OHONDA HAS NOT IDENTIFIED, AND ODI'S ANALYSES HAVE NOT DISCOVERED,A TREND OF MECHANICAL

When it happens

Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.

522
723
424
725
326

What owners wrote

“Automatic breaking engaged with foot already pressing down brake pedal as traffic ahead was slowing. The automatic braking was overkill that the traffic that was slowing down ahead of me was now pulling away.”

Filed Jan 31, 2025

“My honda Accord’s automatic braking system suddenly engaged this morning for no reason. The driver of the car following me had to slam on his breaks to avoid rear-ending me. If the other driver had not stopped, we would both have been injured. Honda’s emergency braking system is dangerous. There should be a way to disable it permanently.”

Filed May 30, 2024

“While driving on an open road with no cars around, the emergency braking suddenly engaged causing the car to come to an almost complete stop by itself.”

Filed Mar 8, 2024

“A vehicle in front of me made a quick slow down. The automatic braking engaged, the driver behind me did not react in time and struck the back of my car. Resulting in totaling of the vehicle. The automatic braking would not stop engaging, if it would have dis-engaged I could of pulled forward a few feet and the driver behind me would of missed me.”

Filed Oct 17, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 4 of 26 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.

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