AI Damage2016 Honda Accord: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Honda Accord filed 610 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and exterior lighting. The maker issued 137 service bulletins for this year. We found 4 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 610
- involving a crash
- 32
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 137
- YouTube repair videos
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 21% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 7% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 6% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 5% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 5% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 199 complaints (33% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 29.
- Exterior lighting: 128 complaints (21% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Engine: 44 complaints (7% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 12.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 39 complaints (6% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 33 complaints (5% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- CVTnamed in 4 complaints
- manual, 6-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 610 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 199 | 1 | 29 |
| Exterior lighting | 128 | 2 | 2 |
| Engine | 44 | 2 | 12 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 39 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 33 | 4 | 1 |
| Steering | 31 | 3 | 1 |
| Visibility | 30 | 0 | 8 |
| Powertrain | 29 | 1 | 19 |
| Vehicle speed control | 23 | 11 | 0 |
| Structure | 20 | 4 | 12 |
| Wheels | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 16 | 6 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 13 | 1 | 26 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
During the crash, the seatbelt system failed in a way that caused severe force to my body rather than restraining me properly. The seatbelt detached and violently pulled my body, resulting in significant injuries.
I pulled the fuse for the radio thinking that was the problem, but the sound returned, still blasting static from the speakers and now my side cameras and blind spot warnings do not work. This is not just an annoying problem, it is a serious safety issue.
7 year old child sitting behind father when vehicle was hit from behind causing intrusion into the vehicle pushing the rear seat area forward; from the impact, driver's seatback yielded/failed significantly into the child's rear seating position area causing permanent catastrophic brain injuries to the child.
Prior to this incident, both a aaa repair shop and a honda dealership examined the vehicle after the owner complained about two previous sudden acceleration incidents. The aaa shop drove the vehicle, found nothing wrong, and towed the car to a honda dealership.
Dropped my car off for oil change and routine maintenance. Millennium honda service crashed my car and caused obvious damage to the front end of my car . Plastic undercarriage pieces are flying off as I am driving . Dealership is neglecting to accept responsibility and fix my repairs, which they obvious caused .
I couldn't control steering or brakes and hit a fire hydrant at the end. I asked the insurance company to contact honda for details know the different control units and reading but they didn't want to go that route.
When the engine is cold there is a sudden acceleration when the vehicle is in reverse or forward and in motion normally in a parking lot or backing out of my garage.
I got in a car accident and one of the straps popped out. It was always snug and wiggled before. Please investigate this product for a recall. Luckily one strap still held on. Witnesses said she wasn't buckled properly but I always check to see if the base wiggles.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 84 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 4% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Accord has 419 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 610, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Recall Information update
Service Bulletin NSS300 #2
- Fog Light Lenses look melted or discoloredf?- All models with fog lights affected vehicles
- Honda Job Aid - Tech Line Calling Guidelines Affected vehicles General Info
- MIL Comes on with DTC P0335 AND/OR P0339
- Wind Noise from the Driver's or Front Passenger's window - Supersedes 15-087 dated Declember 4, 2015 to…
Wind Noise from the Driver's or Front Passenger's window - Supersedes 15-087 dated Declember 4, 2015 to revise the information highlighted in yellow
- Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator Collection - This bulletin has been cancelled because the collection is…
- Today, February 26, 2016, American Honda Motor Co., Inc
is announcing a Product Update for certain Accord, Civic, CR-Z, Fit, and Insight model years 2014-2016 vehicles for sale in the state of Hawaii to amend Monroney labels that were printed without bumper impact…
- BACKGROUND On the Monroney label, the bumper compliance statement is missing
Do an iN VIN status inquiry to make sure the vehicle is shown as eligible. Vehicles affected by this campaign may be in your new vehicle inventory. Repair these vehicles before they are sold. No action is needed on…
- American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2015-2016 Accords with a customer complaint of front…
American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2015-2016 Accords with a customer complaint of front suspension noise. The noise can be described as popping, squeaking, clunking, or creaking. To fully understand the…
- Background American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2014-2016 Accords & CR-Vs with evidence of fuel…
Background American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2014-2016 Accords & CR-Vs with evidence of fuel leak from the fuel tank to the fuel pump connection. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2017 Accord sedans with a customer complaint of the rear view camera inop. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2017 Accord sedans with a customer complaint of the rear view camera inop. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you…
NHTSA lists 137 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Honda Accord?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, exterior lighting, engine. Total complaints: 610. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: infotainment or screen glitches (16%), warning lights, check engine (10%), headlights and tail lights (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Honda Accord?
NHTSA lists 137 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Honda Accord from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.