2008 Honda Accord Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 113about this part
- Share
- 7%of 1,521 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 113 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2008 Honda Accord, 7% of the 1,521 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Person pulled out in front of me and I struck her with front and edge of bumper. The side curtain deployed, but not the steering wheel airbag. I went forward and was hit in the chest on the steering wheel. This was on a 4 lane street leading out of town the speed was 35 MPH”
NHTSA complaint #10820761, filed 2016-01, 80,000 miles“2008 Honda Accord headlights flicker when AC is on when fan cycles, occurs every 15-20 seconds. This is a major distraction. Drivers in front of me think I am flashing my lights at them. Took my car to Honda and they stated this is normal . This is not normal. I have owned numerous vehicles and have never experienced such a problem. Honda needs to fix this problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10400893, filed 2011-05, 33,000 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“Bought a brand new 2008 Honda Accord ex-l sedan. Headlights keep going dim when air conditioner kicks on. It is very annoying and other motor vehicles think I am flashing them. This occurs at least once every 2-3 minutes. I have read numerous complaints in chat forums regarding this issue that is affecting other drivers of the same year, make, and model.”
NHTSA complaint #10231243, filed 2008-06, 500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10211612Mar 17, 2016American Honda is extending the warranty on the SRS unit to 15 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limit for the SRS indicator being on with one of the…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 3 | 1% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 4 | 1% |
| 2019 | 11 | 2% |
| 2018 | 25 | 1% |
| 2017 | 21 | 4% |
| 2016 | 128 | 21% |
| 2015 | 8 | 1% |
| 2014 | 19 | 2% |
| 2013 | 15 | 1% |
| 2012 | 5 | 1% |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% |
| 2010 | 6 | 1% |
| 2009 | 22 | 3% |
| 2008 | 113 | 7% |
| 2007 | 10 | 2% |
| 2006 | 13 | 3% |
| 2005 | 18 | 3% |
| 2004 | 37 | 4% |
| 2003 | 30 | 2% |
| 2002 | 17 | 2% |
| 2001 | 12 | 1% |
| 2000 | 22 | 2% |
| 1999 | 17 | 2% |
| 1998 | 7 | 1% |
| 1997 | 3 | 1% |
| 1996 | 3 | 1% |
| 1995 | 6 | 1% |
| 1994 | 6 | 2% |
| 1993 | 2 | 1% |
| 1991 | 4 | 2% |
| 1990 | 3 | 2% |
| 1988 | 3 | 3% |
| 1987 | 6 | 5% |
| 1986 | 1 | 2% |
| 1985 | 1 | 8% |
| 1982 | 1 | 10% |
Other parts of the 2008 Honda Accord
577 complaintsAir bags
379 complaintsEngine
210 complaintsElectrical system
105 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 Nov 1, 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