2021 Honda Accord · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 28owner reports
- 65,000median miles
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Sep 19, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
87 of the 234 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 28 of those describe phantom braking.
Tick what matches of 28 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
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 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
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
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 Accordâs 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. Hondaâs 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 28 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
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 56 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 30 reports