2008 HONDA ACCORD Complaints and Recall Information
The 2008 HONDA ACCORD has 8 complaints and 8 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report problems with the air bag system, including repeated issues with the air bag warning light turning on even after dealer repairs. Other common complaints involve braking system wear, transmission noise, odometer discrepancies, and a vehicle fire incident.
Common Issues
- Air bag warning light. Air bag warning light remains on after dealer repairs and is frequently mentioned alongside automatic emergency brake and lane-keeping assistance warnings.
- Odometer discrepancy. Mileage fraud discovered during vehicle registration revealed odometer rollback from 203,684 to 109,363 miles.
- Transmission noise and failure. Grinding noise on cold starts linked to VTC failure is reported, noting a known issue for this model year.
- Recall service denial. Dealer refused to perform recall service without verifying the VIN, stating recalls apply only to vehicles sold new with specific equipment.
- Vehicle fire. Fire originated from under the hood during highway driving accompanied by a burning odor inside the cabin, resulting in total vehicle loss and minor injury to the occupant using the fire extinguisher.
- Brake wear. Owners report brakes wearing out quickly with multiple replacements needed before 57,000 miles.
The vehicle has 8 recalls that address several safety systems including powertrain control, air bag inflators, and air bag control units. Most recalls focus on defective or improperly installed air bag inflators that present a risk of rupture and injury. The powertrain recall involves transmission bearing failure that can cause the engine to stall or vehicle rollback.
Recalls
- Transmission control module. (NHTSA 11V395000) Affected 1,512,107 vehicles. The secondary shaft bearing may break causing abnormal noise, engine stall, or vehicle rollback. Dealers will update the transmission control software free of charge.
- Passenger air bag inflator. (NHTSA 19V502000) 9,555 vehicles affected. Certain inflators may explode due to propellant degradation, risking serious injury or death. Dealers will replace inflators at no cost.
- Passenger air bag inflator installation. (NHTSA 19V378000) 19,138 vehicles affected. Incorrect installation may prevent proper air bag deployment, increasing injury risk. Dealers will inspect and replace as needed free of charge.
- Air bag control units. (NHTSA 16V056000) 341,444 vehicles affected. Control units may corrode and fail, potentially preventing air bag deployment. Honda will replace the units free of charge.
- Passenger air bag installation. (NHTSA 18V268000) 1,335 vehicles affected. Improper installation of passenger air bags may cause malfunction during a crash. Dealers will inspect and replace when necessary.
- Passenger air bag inflator in certain regions. (NHTSA 16V346000) Over 2.7 million vehicles affected. Long-term exposure to humidity can cause inflator rupture. Replacement inflators will be installed free of charge.
- Passenger air bag inflator. (NHTSA 17V030000) 977,708 vehicles affected. Inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation. Replacement free of charge after notifications.
- Improperly installed replacement inflators. (NHTSA 17V545000) 3,257 vehicles affected. Some replacement passenger inflators installed incorrectly may deploy improperly during a crash. Dealers will replace the air bag module assembly free of charge.
Owners dealing with repeated repairs, safety defects, or unresolved recall issues on the 2008 Honda Accord may have rights under their state’s lemon law. Consulting with an attorney experienced in consumer protection and lemon law claims may provide guidance on these matters.
2008 HONDA ACCORD Summary
2008
Model Year
8
Total Complaints
8
Total Recalls
5583930
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2008 HONDA ACCORD
19138 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
2008 HONDA ACCORD
9555 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2008 HONDA ACCORD
1335 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
2008 HONDA ACCORD
3257 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
Risk: In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
2008 HONDA ACCORD
977708 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Fit and Pilot, 2008-2009 Honda Accord, 2006-2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, and 2007-2009 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2008 HONDA ACCORD
341444 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS
American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Accord vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Risk: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
2008 HONDA ACCORD
2719386 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless already included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic GX, and 2007-2008 CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2008 HONDA ACCORD
1512107 vehicles affected
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 ACCORD, 2007-2010 CR-V, AND 2005-2008 ELEMENT PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2004, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3, 2010. THE OUTER RACE OF THE SECONDARY SHAFT BEARING MAY BE BROKEN DURING CERTAIN DRIVING STYLES. A BROKEN OUTER RACE MAY CAUSE ABNORMAL NOISE, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO TURN ON, AND ALLOW CONTACT BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION IDLE GEAR AND AN ELECTRONIC SENSOR HOUSING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. ADDITIONALLY, BROKEN PIECES OF THE OUTER RACE OR BALL BEARING FROM THE SECONDARY SHAFT MAY BECOME LODGED IN THE PARKING PAWL RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AFTER THE DRIVER HAS PLACED THE GEAR SELECTOR IN THE PARK POSITION. ENGINE STALL AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO PERSONS WITHIN THE PATH OF A ROLLING VEHICLE.
Complaints
2008 HONDA ACCORD
ID: 2128566SERVICE BRAKES
Brakes are too small and where out very quickly. I've had 3 sets of breaks done and my car only has 57000 miles.
2008 HONDA ACCORD
ID: 2124368ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owned a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on a highway, an abnormal burning odor leaked through the air vents into the interior cabin. The contact stated that his girlfriend was sitting in the front passenger seat during the failure. The contact managed to pull over to the shoulder of the road after a fire appeared from under the driver's side of the hood. The contact attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher, but was unsuccessful. The local fire department arrived on scene to extinguish the fire. The source of the fire was undetermined. A police report was filed. The contact fractured the fire extinguisher emergency glass with his hand and was injured. The contact did not seek medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a local independent tow lot, where it remains for further investigation. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
2008 HONDA ACCORD
ID: 2117880UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On August 6, 2025, I scheduled an appointment at Ball Honda, located at 2135 National City Blvd, National City, CA 91950 (Tel: 619-259-5865), for a recall service on my 2008 Honda Accord, Since I was unable to attend, I sent my son to take the car in, However, the Honda representative refused to perform the service, stating, "The recall was for vehicles purchased new, and they came with a nose mask," without checking the VIN or verifying whether my vehicle was actually affected by the recall.
2008 HONDA ACCORD
ID: 2099178ENGINE
VTC failure, grinding on cold start up. There is a known issue with this in my year model, 2008 Honda accord.
2008 HONDA ACCORD
ID: 2086570ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 109,363 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 203,684.
2008 HONDA ACCORD
ID: 2072747WHEELS
The air bag was fixed by honda dealer free but now it shows the red light.automatic emerlgency brake light lane keeping assistance
2008 HONDA ACCORD
ID: 2072746SUSPENSION
The air bag was fixed by honda dealer free but now it shows the red light.automatic emerlgency brake light lane keeping assistance
2008 HONDA ACCORD
ID: 2072745AIR BAGS
The air bag was fixed by honda dealer free but now it shows the red light.automatic emerlgency brake light lane keeping assistance