2005 Honda Accord Problems

What owners report

Complaints about the 2005 Honda Accord are spread across several systems rather than one dominant fault. Recalls and service bulletins for front airbag inflators generate many owner reports, but the sample also shows a steady share of automatic transmission, instrument-light and electrical, unintended-acceleration/stalling, and brake complaints, most filed between roughly 50,000 and 150,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light stays on / airbags fail to deploy

   • 196 complaints (30%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 8.9 yrs old (133 state mileage)
   • 53 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $892 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2005–2025

   Owners describe the airbag or SRS warning light coming on and staying lit, sometimes only intermittently, and report that dealers could not find a fault or could not turn the light off. Several complaints describe airbags not deploying in a collision, or a side airbag deploying without inflation, and some describe a driver-side airbag deploying with no impact. Several owners mention the Takata inflator recalls and say they were told their vehicle was not covered or that Honda would not honor the recall after a deployment. Reported across a wide mileage range from near-new to over 200,000 miles, with many between roughly 70,000 and 140,000 miles.

   Recall 19V501000Recall 19V499000Recall 19V182000Recall 18V268000Recall 16V178000Recall 15V370000Recall 15V320000Recall 14V700000Recall 14V353000Recall 07V001000Recall 04V5510005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the VIN and have a dealer run open recall status for the driver and passenger inflators; check that the airbag light comes on and goes out at startup. A scan tool read of the SRS codes can show stored faults even when the light is off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife was traveling on the highway when she lost control and the car did a 180. She came to rest against a cement barrier and the drivers side curtain airbag was deployed but did not inflate. I contacted american Honda care and wilde Honda in madison wi. 4 times and they refused to inspect the car or acknowledge any damages or fault.”

   NHTSA complaint #10681878, filed 2015-02, 125,000 miles

   “While driving home on interstate 93 in heavy traffic I noticed a small object in the road that I had thought I avoided, but in a instant the passenger side and seat air bag deployed. The car filled with a smoky substance, causing visibility to be limited, my wife and I were startled but ok, we first thought we had been in an accident. We pulled over and checked the car and found no damage. The car is 2005 new Honda Accord hybrid brand new with only 500 miles on it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10114375, filed 2005-03, 500 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission slipping, harsh shifts or failure

   • 136 complaints (21%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (119 state mileage)
   • 25 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,200 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2023

   Owners of V6 automatic cars describe delayed or harsh shifting, slipping, RPM flare with no forward motion, and in some cases complete transmission failure at highway speed, sometimes with a burning smell. Complaints also mention the car rolling backward while the shifter was in Park, and the shifter sliding past Drive into D3. Repairs described include rebuilds or replacement transmissions and torque converter work, and several owners say Honda declined assistance due to vehicle age or mileage. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 160,000 miles, with several failures in the 70,000 to 105,000 mile range.

   Recall 11V395000

   What to check: Test drive from cold and at highway speed, watching for delayed or clunky shifts and RPM flare; check the transmission fluid color and smell and ask whether the secondary shaft bearing recall repair was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving on highway 101 in california the powertrain (automatic transmission) on our 6 cylinder Honda failed at highway speeds. When we got to an exit, the car could not power up an exit ramp. The car even rolled backwards even when the transmission was put in park. Prior to this problem we had no advance warning or inkling of any transmission difficulties. During this incident the warning light on the dash did not turn on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10509667, filed 2013-04, 102,465 miles

   “Drive light started flashing while on the freeway at the speed of 60 MPH. Took it to the Honda dealership for maintenance and I informed them of the flashing drive light. Later advised me after the intermediate maintenance is done that the transmission needs to be replaced that will cost me $5,000 (on sale for $4100) plus the intermediate maintenance of $313.00. The car has 137 k miles. Is this vehicle part of any transmission recall at this mileage or is it part of the engine' s wear and tear? Please advise. Thank you.”

   NHTSA complaint #10732697, filed 2015-07, 136,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Instrument cluster, radio and lighting electrical faults

   • 87 complaints (13%)
   • median 68,500 mi at 7.2 yrs old (70 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2023

   Complaints describe dashboard and radio backlighting failing so gauges or controls cannot be read, lights that flicker or dim intermittently, and radio units that cut out or make noise. Some owners report no-start conditions, immobilizer or ignition switch trouble, and a battery drain from daytime running lights that stay on. Costs for replacement audio and panel parts are a frequent theme. Spread from low mileage up to about 170,000 miles, with many reports between roughly 30,000 and 100,000 miles.

   Recall 05V132000Recall 07V0970001 related service bulletin

   What to check: At night, turn on the headlights and confirm the cluster, radio and climate buttons all illuminate; check that the car starts reliably and that no warning lights flicker with the engine running.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my Honda Accord 2005 ex to work today from burke to ft belvoir, va, and 25 minutes into the drive, the car stalled on fairfax county in the passing lane. This has happened twice, each about 3 weeks apart. When the car stalls, the ignition immobilizer switch light immediately flashes. I have to stop the moving car, and restart it, which is extremely dangerous. I called Honda, and was told that there is not a recall for this symptom. The symptoms is similar to what is referenced on this website. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10266578, filed 2009-04, 47,800 miles

   “I have a 2005 Honda Accord hybrid with 300k yes she has alot of miles but has been a great car. But just this month I have has 2 issues arise. 1. My daytime running lights come on and will not go off, unless I unhook battery. We took the fuses out wich turned the lights off but still drains the battery for some reason. We have checked all the relays and fuses. Need help!!!! 2nd issue is a code coming up for the hybrid powertrain control module. My vehicle has lost power and is in limp mode. Please help me!!!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #11365582, filed 2020-10, 300,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration, stalling or loss of power

   • 136 complaints (21%)
   • median 76,500 mi at 7.5 yrs old (113 state mileage)
   • 35 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,700 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2005–2024

   Owners report the engine holding high RPM or continuing to accelerate after the accelerator is released, with brakes feeling ineffective until the car is shut off. Other complaints describe sudden stalling or loss of power at speed, some with the steering becoming stiff or locking, and one case where the engine stalled and the immobilizer light flashed. Dealers in several cases could not reproduce the problem. Reported from a few hundred miles to about 170,000 miles, with several incidents on highways and at speeds around 55 to 70 mph.

   Recall 07V097000Recall 05V132000

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body, accelerator pedal and fuel pump relay have been serviced, and test that idle returns promptly when the pedal is released. Have any stored powertrain codes read before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On several occasions my 05 Accord coupe will stay accelerated when brakes are pressed, in neutral, or releasing the accelerater. On several occasions I have pressed the brake only to not slow down. Thankfully I was on open highway. This has happened and continues to happen on city streets and highways. At low speeds and high.”

   NHTSA complaint #11323012, filed 2020-05, 170,000 miles

   “Even though I regularly maintain my car, my car stalls at random while driving and the steering also locks up. This is extremely dangerous - the malfunction could have killed me or potentially caused a serious accident. This incident happened while I was driving down a busy street road - there was no warning, and no indicator lights went off prior to this happening - the car just shut off (stalled) and the steering locked up! Luckily I was able to get to the side of the road. I will never feel safe in a Honda again. Updated 10/1/2014”

   NHTSA complaint #10579473, filed 2014-04, 147,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake vibration and poor stopping at speed

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the steering wheel vibrating and the car not stopping cleanly at highway speed despite repeated brake work, with some saying the dealer could not make the repair last. Other complaints mention the pedal going near the floor, hard engagement when shifting into Drive, and shaking that returns after new pads, rotors or bearings. Reported from very low mileage up to about 130,000 miles, with several early complaints under 50,000 miles.

   What to check: Drive at highway speed and brake firmly to check for pulsation or pull; inspect rotor condition and ask for brake service records, and check the pedal for firmness and travel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Bad brakes on 2005 Honda Accord, 4 cyl, bought new, from purchase. Took back to dealer several times. Dealer unable to make repairs that last. Accord now has 32,000 miles and bad brakes. Bad brakes: at highway speed, the brakes don't hold, vibrates steering wheel, car does not stop.”

   NHTSA complaint #10296038, filed 2009-12, 10 miles

   “Put car on parked car kept moving on parking stall . Also when turning car on push breaks and put on drive jumps hard and when pushing on breaks does not break on time have to push breaks to the floor”

   NHTSA complaint #11385717, filed 2020-12, 120,000 miles

Buying note. Confirm open airbag recall status and any completed inflator replacements before buying, since that work dominates this model year's history. Then budget for a close look at the automatic transmission and electrical condition on a test drive, as those are the areas owners most often describe paying to repair.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.