2008 Honda Accord: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2008 Honda Accord: 8 recalls, 1520 owner complaints and up to 25 mpg combined.
Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #11V395000 · 2011 · 1,512,107 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: Honda will notify owners and dealers will update the automatic transmission control module software free of charge. The safety recall began on August 27, 2011.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V056000 · 2016 · 341,444 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control units, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in fall 2016. Interim notifications have been mailed to owners on March 15, 2016, and a second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V346000 · 2016 · 2,719,386 vehicles
What's wrong: 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,…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V030000 · 2017 · 977,708 vehicles
What's wrong: 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,…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V545000 · 2017 · 3,257 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V268000 · 2018 · 1,335 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An incorrectly installed air bag May deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V378000 · 2019 · 19,138 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V502000 · 2019 · 9,555 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Equipment Equipment recall #09E063000 · 2009 · 3,700 vehicles
What's wrong: The accessory was designed specifically for model year 2008-2010 Honda accord 4-door vehicles. It is possible for the nose mask material to interfere with part of the hood latch. If the hood has not been completely closed and the nose mask interferes with the secondary hood latch mechanism the hood May pop open while the vehicle being driven.
Why it matters: This May result in reduced driver visibility that could increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda is asking owners to please remove the nose mask immediately and call any authorized Honda dealer to make an appointment to return the nose mask and have it replaced free of charge. The safety recall began on March 2009.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 13 mention a fire, 67 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (hydraulic) (451): the most common themes are noise or vibration (129), brake failure / soft pedal (29).
- Airbags (379): the most common themes are warning light on (48), fails to deploy (35).
- Engine (210): the most common themes are noise or vibration (93), excess oil use (58), warning light on (38).
- Exterior lights (113): the most common themes are electrical failure (12), warning light on (4), noise or vibration (4).
The 2008 Honda Accord has 1520 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 37 Accord model years for complaints (2.3× the average Accord year). Complaints peaked in 2009 (313 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 27,046 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (524 complaints, 9 recalls), 2009 (725 complaints, 10 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 25 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 31 | 24 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 29 | 22 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2008 Honda Accord.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2008 Honda Accord have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Honda Accord, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2008 Honda Accord problems?
Owners have filed 1520 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (hydraulic) (451), airbags (379), engine (210).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Honda Accord get?
EPA ratings run up to 25 mpg combined (2.4 L, Manual 5-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2008 Honda Accord repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.