HONDA ACCORD Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 5,071 MOT tests from 258 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®. The figures below describe that VehicleScore® sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are not a claim that every HONDA ACCORD has the same fault.

HONDA ACCORD's have a slightly over average reliability rating of 573/999. The score was calculated from the average of every HONDA ACCORD that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the HONDA ACCORD.

HONDA ACCORD (example)

Check the reliability of your Honda Accord

Enter your registration to see the MOT history for this car.

Service history
Dealer & service records
MOT records
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Write-off check
Check for insurance write-offs
Finance check
Outstanding finance & theft checks

Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
Diesel	2011	601/999Good	84,997 miles	550 vehicles
Diesel	2010	564/999Above average	83,939 miles	978 vehicles
Petrol	2009	552/999Above average	92,754 miles	769 vehicles
Diesel	2007	517/999Above average	84,612 miles	1,338 vehicles
Diesel	2004	487/999Average	84,653 miles	1,620 vehicles
Petrol	2003	463/999Average	81,466 miles	2,137 vehicles
Petrol	2002	458/999Average	81,607 miles	2,146 vehicles
Petrol	2001	468/999Average	82,035 miles	3,123 vehicles
Petrol	2000	487/999Average	84,251 miles	4,908 vehicles
Petrol	1999	544/999Above average	96,171 miles	1,569 vehicles
Petrol	1998	592/999Above average	101,406 miles	922 vehicles
Petrol	1996	612/999Good	103,355 miles	750 vehicles
Petrol	1994	640/999Good	105,238 miles	553 vehicles
Petrol	1986	806/999Excellent	94,031 miles	551 vehicles
Petrol	1983	810/999Excellent	88,953 miles	601 vehicles

How reliable is the HONDA ACCORD?

Based on 5,071 MOT tests from 258 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

258

MOT tests

5,071

Pass rate

78.2%

Median mileage

117,944 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every HONDA ACCORD has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 518 out of 999.

Common HONDA ACCORD MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 842 advisory comments and 74 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 377 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (3.5.1G)

Oil leak

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 103 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Lamp and bulb faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 93 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a lamp or bulb other than a headlamp or indicator.

What to inspect

Switch on the side, brake, fog, and number-plate lamps.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT POSITION LAMP NOT WORKING (4.2.1 (A) (II))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 71 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: REAR BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Headlamp faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 64 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a headlamp that was not working, insecure, or aimed incorrectly.

What to inspect

Switch on dipped and main beam and look for a cloudy lens or a wrong aim.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE HEADLAMP AIM PROJECTED BEAM IMAGE IS OBVIOUSLY INCORRECT (4.1.2 (C))

Parking brake faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 40 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a parking brake that did not hold well enough or had a component defect.

What to inspect

Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Example MOT wording: PARKING BRAKE EFFICIENCY BELOW REQUIREMENTS (1.4.2 (A) (I))

Ball joint wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 36 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a worn or damaged ball joint. Track rod ends are counted with steering, not here.

What to inspect

Ask for the joint to be checked for play with the suspension loaded and unloaded.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT UPPER SUSPENSION ARM BALL JOINT EXCESSIVELY WORN (5.3.4 (A) (I))

HONDA ACCORD MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore® has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2013	6	76	82.9%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2012	18	251	80.1%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2011	10	144	86.1%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2010	21	356	78.9%	Tyre wear, Registration plate condition
2009	26	454	80.6%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2008	31	591	76.3%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2007	24	459	80.6%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2006	27	600	75.2%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2005	20	469	75.3%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2004	22	539	76.6%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2003	15	376	75.8%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2002	6	140	87.1%	Tyre wear, Indicator faults
2001	5	111	73.9%	Oil leak, Headlamp faults
2000	7	151	85.4%	Corrosion, Anti-roll bar issues
1999	5	104	78.8%	Tyre wear, Exhaust

What to check when buying a used HONDA ACCORD

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore® sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.
Lamp and bulb faults. Switch on the side, brake, fog, and number-plate lamps.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Headlamp faults. Switch on dipped and main beam and look for a cloudy lens or a wrong aim.
Parking brake faults. Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.
Ball joint wear. Ask for the joint to be checked for play with the suspension loaded and unloaded.

Buying a HONDA ACCORD?

Common problems tell you what can affect HONDA ACCORDs generally. VehicleScore® can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore® analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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