2012 Honda Accord Problems And Complaints

2012 Honda Accord User Complaints and Problems

Mechanical Complaints

• Engine problems- Economy engines from Honda are known to be robust generally, but given the fact that they are churning out thousands of these a day, occurrence of a few niggles are inadvertent. Some batches of the 2012 Honda Accord are known to exhibit problems such as starting issues, excessive vibrations, loss of power, and excessive knocking at high mileages. These issues have mostly been traced to piston ring issues (excessive oil consumption) or the VTC actuator failure. Though these issues are expensive to fix, the chances of occurrence are very low and the average failure mileage reported is over 125,000 miles.
• Transmission Problems- The 5-speed automatic that Honda employs in most of their cars including the 2012 Honda Accord, though mostly reliable, does tend to throw certain tantrums occasionally. Delayed shifts, jerky shifts, low-speed vibrations, and clunking noises are some of the most commonly reported issues. Since these issues are intermittent, no remedies have been brought about except for when there is a hardware fault.

 Electric System complaints

• AC problems- A faulty HVAC unit is one problem to watch out for on the 2012 Honda Accord and this can arise due to a single or combination of issues. The primary cause is usually traced to a blown fuse or AC relay. However, condenser fan, blower motor failure, refrigerant leak, blend door actuator, and control module issues (automatic) are also not that uncommon.

Structural problems

• Front end noise- Lower ball joint issue, worn-out suspension bushing, cracker CV joint boots, and wheel bearing noises are issues commonly reported on the 2012 Honda Accord. Although the issues are different, unusual front-end noises are indications of any of these issues and in time might lead to excessive steering vibrations as well. There are no common failure points or fixes here, as the issue might vary for users depending on the car’s use.
• Steering issues- Faults with the rack and pinion unit on the 2012 Honda Accord is not uncommon. Leaks, noise when turning and hard steering are some indications of steering gearbox/rack problems as reported by owners. If diagnosed, replacement of the steering rack would be required. The average failure mileage reported is around 70,000 miles.
• Front seat Comfort- Crippling front seat comfort is the most reported complaint on the2012 Honda Accord as per NHTSA reports. Though the exact reason is unknown, multiple owners complain about the inability to find a perfect position that physically tires the driver easily. The seat designs have been heavily criticized by owners and some even have reported an unidentified seat frame member pocking through the cushion constantly, affecting drivability.

Safety Complaints

• Airbag- Airbag issues are some of the most commonly reported problems on the 2012 Honda Accord. As a matter of fact, all the recalls that have been initiated on this car are related to some sort of issues with the SRS module and airbags. However, this is not an isolated or brand-specific complaint and comes as a part of a bigger Takata recall that has been going on with several manufacturers.

2012 Honda Accord Recalls

S. No	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1	27th June 2019	19V502000	The passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode.	The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal airbag 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, increasing the risk of serious injury in the event of a crash.	The dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2019.
2	16th May 2019	19V378000	Improperly installed passenger airbag inflator	The front passenger airbag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement, causing it to not perform as intended in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.	The dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal airbag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 5, 2019.
3	27th September 2018	18V661000	The passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode.	The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal airbag 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, increasing the risk of serious injury in the event of a crash.	The dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on November 6, 2018.
4	26th April 2018	18V268000	Improperly installed passenger airbag inflator	The front passenger airbag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement, causing it to not perform as intended in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.	The dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began on June 22, 2018.
5	9th January 2018	18V661000	The passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode.	The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal airbag 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, increasing the risk of serious injury in the event of a crash.	The dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2018.
6	31st August 2017	17V545000	Incorrectly installed replacement airbag	Vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal airbag inflators may have incorrectly installed the replacement airbag inflators, which causes them not to function as intended in the event of a crash and increase the risk of injury.	The dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2017.
7	10th January 2017	17V030000	Passenger frontal airbag inflator may rupture	The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal airbag 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, increasing the risk of serious injury in the event of a crash.	The 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.
8	1st February 2012	12V030000	Drive side or passenger side curtain airbag	The driver-side or passenger-side side curtain airbag inflator may not have been manufactured according to correct specifications, causing it to not work as intended and increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.	Honda will replace the driver's side or passenger's side curtain airbag as needed free of charge. The safety recall began on February 24, 2012.

Should you buy a used 2012 Honda Accord?

The answer to this question, as you would have realized by now, would be an absolute yes. Easily coming in around as our top 5 picks for almost every single year, the Honda Accord is a midsize sedan we would recommend eyes folded. The complaint number might seem a bit high, but we can vouch for the fact that it is just the insane sales figures doing their thing and there are no problems on this sedan that would compromise its usability, apart from the ongoing Takata airbag recall. However, we are not promising trouble-free ownership here, but if maintained well and right, the 2012 Honda Accord should offer the best user experience of any car currently available.