2012 Honda Accord Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that upon cold starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal rattling noise detected. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking oil. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the solenoid switch, VTC activator, and gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined the solenoid, VTC solenoid, and gasket needed to be replaced. The parts were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the "check oil" warning light was illuminated. The contact slowed the vehicle down and drove it to the dealer. The contact stated that when she pulled into the parking lot, she heard a loud popping sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact had the vehicle towed to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had sustained internal damage and required a major overhaul. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated while in a drive-through with the vehicle in idle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the piston rings had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under an extended warranty associated to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,640.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED UNDRIVEABLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000.
ENGINE SEIZURE
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the engine was misfiring in cylinder number 1. The contact stated that the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed at a local mechanic and was repaired but continued to experience failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.
I AM EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE OUTLINED IN HONDA TSB 09-010, AT COLD START-UP, THE ENGINE RATTLES LOUDLY FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. NOTICE ISSUE AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE 95,000 MILES. WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE DEALERSHIP CHECK THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE IN THE COLD FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. PLUS VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT. NOW THAT EXTENDED WARRENTY HAS EXPIRED, WONDERING IF THIS A RECURRING ISSUE, WOULD A RECALL FORCE HONDA TO RESOLVE ISSUE.
UPON START OF I HEARD A RATTLE AND IT STOPPED AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS. I GOT ONLINE AND SEE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MY HONDA THE VTC ACTUATOR GOES OUT FREQUENTLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CALLED BURNS HONDA (325 NJ-73, MARLTON, NJ 08053, 1-888-667-2937) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
VTC ACUATOR IS FAULTY. FOR 2 YEARS NOW I'VE HAD A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I START THE CAR AND NO CAR SHOP HAS BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG UP UNTIL YESTERDAY I FOUND OUT IT'S THE VTC ACTUATOR THAT'S MAKING THE GRINDING SOUND AND IT'S BEEN DRAINING MY OIL. I CALL AMERICA HONDA TO SEE IF IT HAS A RECALL FOR THIS FAULTY PART AND ALL I AM TOLD IS THAT IF I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 3 YEARS OR UNDER 35 THOUSAND MILES THEN IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHICH THE CAR IS 2012. SO THE $700 THAT ALL SHOPS WANT TO FIX THIS PART IS BEING PUT ALL ON THE OWNER WITH NO WARNING THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN. THIS HAS HAD A LAWSUIT BEFORE FOR THE EXCESSIVE OIL BEING LOST BUT NOT FOR THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WHICH IS THE VTC ACTUATOR. HONDA NEEDS TO RECALL ALL OF THE CARS THAT THEY HAVE SOLD WITH THE FAULTY VTC ACUATORS AND PAY FOR THIS MISTAKE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS. WHEN MY ENGINE DIES IT WILL BE ON HONDA FOR NOT PROPERLY MAKING AND SELLING THESE FAULTY CARS.
THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL ACTUATOR MAKES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED IN THE MORNING FOR THE FIRST TIME. THAT IS THE ONLY TIME IT RATTLES; THE FIRST START OF THE DAY. THE MECHANIC SAYS IF THE ACTUATOR FAILS THE CAR WILL STOP WHEREVER IT IS. IF I'M IN TRAFFIC IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT; I LIVE IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA WHERE TRAFFIC IS USUALLY HEAVY WHICH COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY HONDA IS REPAIRING THE VTC ACTUATOR ON SOME HONDA ACCORDS, BUT MY VIN IS NOT ON THE FIX LIST, SO HONDA RECOGNIZES IT IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM, AND IT IS WIDE SPREAD ENOUGH THAT THEY ARE REPAIRING SOME HONDA ACCORDS WITH THE RIGHT VIN. THE INTERNET IS FILLED WITH HONDA ACCORD OWNER COMPLAINTS SO I KNOW THE PROBLEM IS HIGH IN NUMBERS. THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL, STATE OF CALIFORNIA REFERRED ME TO YOUR AGENCY AND ENCOURAGED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM DUE TO AN ENGINEERING MISSTEP IN PLANNING AND PRODUCTION. FURTHER I THINK IT POSES A SAFETY ISSUE FOR HONDA ACCORD OWNERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IF THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS AS THE AUTO TECHNICIANS SAY IT WILL. I THINK HONDA RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM, BUT ARE ADDRESSING IT IN A PIECE-MEAL FASHION RATHER THAN ISSUING A RECALL. I HOPE YOU CAN GIVE ME AND OTHER HONDA ACCORD OWNERS SOME RELIEF. THANK YOU
ENGINE GRINDS DURING COLD STARTUP. ENGINE NOISE PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER DURING DRIVING AND IDLING. HONDA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND FINALLY ISSUED A FIX BUT MY CAR IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD THAT THEY'VE ADVERTISED. I FEEL CHEATED BECAUSE HONDA SEEMS TO HAVE WAITED UNTIL ENOUGH CARS WERE OUT OF WARRANTY BEFORE ISSUING A COSTLY FIX THAT THEY'VE KNOWN OF FOR CLOSE TO A DECADE.
THE VEHICLE CONSUME TOO MUCH OIL. OIL CHANGED ON 10/22/2016 AND TODAY 10/26/2016 THE VEHICLE SHOWS 10% ALREADY CONSUMED. THE VEHICLE IS FOR PERSONAL USE, IS DRIVEN ABOUT 6 MILES A DAY.
MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 88,000 MILES AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS STARTING TO SCREAM. IS THERE A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THIS ITEM?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE ENGINE REVVED AND RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. THE ENGINE SEIZED FOR A MOMENT. AFTER APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,017.
I AM EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE OUTLINED IN HONDA TSB 09-010, AT COLD START-UP, THE ENGINE RATTLES LOUDLY FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER THAT WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. TOOK IT IN AND THE DEALER CHANGED OUT THE VTC CONTROLLER. 63,000 MILES. NOT COVERED DUE TO OUT OF WARRANTY (5 YEARS/60,000 MILES). I ASKED IF THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OR RECALL AND THE DEALER SAID NO. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THIS IS SUCH A WIDESPREAD KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ACCORD AND CRV, YET HONDA FAILS TO ISSUE A RECALL.
VTC ACTUATOR GRINDING NOISE - IN THE SPRING OF 2015 I STARTED TO NOTICE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED IN THE MORNING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HONDA OF BOWIE (BOWIE, MARYLAND) ON MAY 23, 2015, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE VTC ACTUATOR AND THAT HONDA HAD THE CONCERN UNDER INVESTIGATION, AND THAT HONDA WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THEY ALSO SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT ME WITH ANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS. IT HAS BEEN NEARLY YEAR SINCE I BROUGHT THE CAR IN, AND HONDA HAS NOT CONTACTED ME AND THE GRINDING NOISE NOW OCCURS NOT ONLY EVERY MORNING BUT NOW EVERY TIME THE CAR SITS FOR A COUPLE HOURS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE LONG TERM RELIABILITY OF THIS CAR AND ASSOCIATED FUTURE REPAIR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE.
OPERATING ON THE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE HAD A LOSS OF POWER. THIS LOSS OF POWER HAPPENED WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO FAST MOVING TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER AS THE MERGE BEGAN AND CAUSED VEHICLES OPERATING FROM BEHIND TO DRASTICALLY SLOW DOWN OR PULL INTO LEFT HAND LANE ALSO, WAS UNABLE TO SAFELY TRAVEL IN THE SLOW VEHICLE LANE BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER. EVIDENTLY, DEALERSHIP REPORTED SEVERAL CYLINDERS HAD OIL FOWLING ON THE SPARK PLUG. THE ENGINE WAS TAKEN APART AND CYLINDERS 1,3,5 RINGS WERE REPLACED.
THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. WHEN MAKING A SLOW SPEED TURN, TYPICALLY ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR BEING DEPRESSED. THIS OCCURS IF I HAVE TO LIFT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND REAPPLY PRESSURE, DUE TO TRAFFIC SLOWING AROUND TURNS OR OTHER DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT NECESSITATE LIFTING OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN STEPPING ON IT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED WHEN GOING STRAIGHT, ONLY ON TURNS. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE THIS HAS PROVEN TO BE UNNERVING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS THERE WERE VEHICLES APPROACHING AND THE BRIEF HESITATION CAUSED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY TURN WITH NO CHANCE OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE HITTING MY CAR TO A SITUATION WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR MY VEHICLE BEING STRUCK. WHEN THE FIRST FEW HESITATIONS OCCURRED I WAS ADVISED THAT IT COULD BE CAUSED BY THE DRIVE BY WIRE TECHNOLOGY. AS I REVIEW SOME OF THE FORMS I SEE NUMEROUS INSTANCES WHERE OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS MOMENTARY NON RESPONSE WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THIS IS NOT JUST AN ACCORD ISSUE AS OTHER HONDA MODEL OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. AT FIRST THIS WAS AN ANNOYANCE, BUT AS STATED IT HAS BECOME MORE OF A SAFETY CONCERN.
I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND BRAKING FOR A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAD TO APPLY A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES AS IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAD THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. BOTH TIMES, THIS ACCELERATION ATTEMPT WHEN I WAS BRAKING, DID NOT HAPPEN FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY DRIVE. I DID NOT NOTICE THE ENGINE REVVING OR SEE THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATED. I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREET WHERE THE POSTED PEED LIMIT IS 25 MPH AND I WAS DRIVING WITHING THE SPEED LIMIT.
I WAS DRIVING ON A DOWN HILL ROAD ( ABOUT 0.3 MILES), AND MY TRANSMISSION WAS EXACTLY ON "D". BECAUSE IT WAS A DOWN HILL ROAD, I RELEASED MY GAS PEDAL. HOWEVER, SUDDENLY MY ENGINE MADE SOME ACCELERATION SOUND, AND ON THE METER, IT SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE SPEED WAS INCREASING FROM 2000RPM TO 3000RPM. (PLEASE NOTICE THAT I WAS NOT FEEDING THE GAS AT THAT MOMENT BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING ON A DOWN HILL ROAD ). I IMMEDIATELY STEP ON THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. I NEED TO DRIVE ON THIS ROAD ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS KIND OF INCIDENT HAD NEVER HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY.
I AM EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE OUTLINED IN TSB 09-010, AT COLD START-UP, THE ENGINE RATTLES LOUDLY FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO CONTACT AMERICAN HONDA TO SEE IF I CAN GET GOODWILL TO GET THIS REPAIRED. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THIS IS SUCH A WIDESPREAD KNOWN ISSUE YET HONDA FAILS TO ISSUE A RECALL.
I TOOK MY 2012 HONDA ACCORD VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS A LEASED VEHICLE WITH 10 MONTHS LEFT ON THE LEASE AND IS STILL UNDER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME MY AC CONDENSER WAS BROKEN AND IT WAS $710 TO FIX AND IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THEY SAID IT WASN'T COVERED BECAUSE A ROCK FLEW UP AND HIT THE CONDENSER, WHICH DOES NOT MAKE IT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS A DESIGN/MANUFACTURE AND FUNDAMENTAL FLAW IN THE VEHICLE AS IF I GET THIS FIXED, IT COULD VERY WELL HAPPEN AGAIN TOMORROW WITH WHERE THE CONDENSER IS AND HAS LIMITED PROTECTION FROM THE ROAD AND DEBRIS FLYING INTO IT. I FEEL AS IF THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE VERBIAGE IN THE CONTRACT WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR THAT THERE IS SIGNIFICANT CHANCE THIS SITUATION COULD HAPPEN. MINIMALLY, THERE SHOULD BE A SMALL PROTECTIVE SHIELD TO PROTECT THE CONDENSER FROM THIS HAPPENING. AS A CONSUMER, I DON'T FEEL MY RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED AND FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO F IX THE CAR. AFTER A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF SIMILAR CASES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. I WAS HOPING TO HAVE THE US DOT LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER FOR PERHAPS A RECALL OR A PUT A NOTICE OUT FOR CONSUMERS. *TR
2012 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE MISFIRE THAT MAY DISABLE VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SUPPOSEDLY, A FEDERAL COURT AUTHORIZED A NOTICE REGARDING THE ENGINE MISFIRE PROBLEM. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, EVEN THOUGH HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, UNTIL HE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2012 Honda Accord has 24 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.