2008 Honda Accord Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 105about this part
- Share
- 7%of 1,521 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 29,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 105 complaints about the electrical system of the 2008 Honda Accord, 7% of the 1,521 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 29,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 5 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“This started around april 1st of 2011. Everytime I start the car in the morning, I get a grinding noise that last less then two seconds. I think the starter is going out. This should not happen when the car is only 4yrs old. There should be a emergency recall on the starters. The car was doing find when this problem started happening.”
NHTSA complaint #10425414, filed 2011-09, 38,000 miles“Headlights flicker out completely or dim severely when coming to a stop or the condenser for the AC/defrost kicks on. I have researched this and it appears to be an issue due to the electric load detector. Although Honda had said this might be normal I find that while driving my 4 yr. Old son around it is a safety concern and would like to have the problem looked into.”
NHTSA complaint #10438565, filed 2011-12, 26,500 miles“My husband and I were on a trip and I didn't realize it, but people kept flashing us and I did not have my lights on. When we pulled over, my husband could not get out of his side of the door. It would not open. We were on the freeway, on a cold rainy day and visibility was bad, and not being able to have lights, or defroster work properly put us in a hazardous position. Later I found out as I took it to a mechanic was that our fuse box was not working correctly, and the lights on the right side only and the door and the defroster were not working. …”
NHTSA complaint #11386702, filed 2021-01, 147,000 miles“I started my car up in the morning and warmed it up for about 15 minutes then as I go to put it in reverse the battery light came on I then put my car in park and turned it off then I turned it back on and the battery light was still on I decided to just go because I have to be at work in an hour as I am driving down I five the radio stopped working like the side of the vehicle started flickering and my headlights turned off and I was now driving down I-5 in the dark. Fortunately I made it to my location parked my car and it completely died. …”
NHTSA complaint #11287717, filed 2019-12, 115,000 miles“I purchased a 2008 Honda Accord and the lights continuously flicker whenever I use the AC or heating. The flickering is so prevalent that I'm afraid that others drivers may think I'm flashing my lights at them. This is a physical safety issue as I'm afraid of road rage as well as the fear that the car will ultimately stop functioning due to the amount of power that appears to be being used when the flickering happens.”
NHTSA complaint #10363784, filed 2010-11, 35,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10237953Jun 13, 2023Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS receiver Capacity resulting in rollover of the internal chip memory; the rollover…
- 10206992Jan 25, 2022ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover"…
- 10142434Jun 13, 2018Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al.v. American Honda Motor Co…
- 10136433May 4, 2018Service bulletin - The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align which can lead to spark plug fouling. This can set DTCs P0301 No. 1 cylinder misfire detected, P0302…
- 10128887Feb 3, 2018Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al.v. American Honda Motor Co…
- 10108865Jun 13, 2017Service bulletin - American Honda is extending the warranty on the SRS unit to 15 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limit for a certain issue where the SRS…
- 10088006Mar 18, 2016"dealer message - american honda previously announced safety recalls for some 2008 and 2009 accord sedan vehicles to reflash and/or replace the srs control units to reduce the…
- 10087901Mar 16, 2016Service bulletin - an internal component in the srs unit may be susceptible to corrosion, potentially resulting in the srs unit failing. If the srs unit fails, the srs indicator…
- 10087885Mar 16, 2016Service bulletin - the srs threshold setting for the side impact sensor is such that with the vehicle ignition on, if there is a strong, non-vehicular collision impact to the…
- 10099306Sep 5, 2015"service bulletin - american honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, soto et al.v. American honda motor co…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 7% |
| 2025 | 11 | 11% |
| 2024 | 26 | 17% |
| 2023 | 23 | 26% |
| 2022 | 107 | 41% |
| 2021 | 68 | 28% |
| 2020 | 55 | 15% |
| 2019 | 109 | 16% |
| 2018 | 296 | 16% |
| 2017 | 155 | 29% |
| 2016 | 201 | 33% |
| 2015 | 237 | 39% |
| 2014 | 378 | 38% |
| 2013 | 417 | 29% |
| 2012 | 32 | 9% |
| 2011 | 18 | 6% |
| 2010 | 34 | 6% |
| 2009 | 44 | 6% |
| 2008 | 105 | 7% |
| 2007 | 60 | 11% |
| 2006 | 42 | 10% |
| 2005 | 96 | 15% |
| 2004 | 146 | 14% |
| 2003 | 142 | 7% |
| 2002 | 69 | 7% |
| 2001 | 78 | 8% |
| 2000 | 171 | 14% |
| 1999 | 388 | 34% |
| 1998 | 308 | 26% |
| 1997 | 96 | 21% |
| 1996 | 40 | 8% |
| 1995 | 43 | 8% |
| 1994 | 32 | 9% |
| 1993 | 28 | 15% |
| 1992 | 26 | 13% |
| 1991 | 17 | 8% |
| 1990 | 26 | 14% |
| 1989 | 6 | 7% |
| 1988 | 4 | 5% |
| 1987 | 4 | 4% |
| 1986 | 3 | 6% |
| 1984 | 2 | 9% |
| 1983 | 1 | 14% |
| 1982 | 2 | 20% |
| 1981 | 1 | 14% |
Other parts of the 2008 Honda Accord
577 complaintsAir bags
379 complaintsEngine
210 complaintsExterior lighting
113 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
70 complaintsOther or unknown
51 complaintsEngine cooling
41 complaintsEquipment
37 complaintsSeats
34 complaintsSteering
33 complaintsVehicle speed control
33 complaintsBody and structure
31 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Honda Accord
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology