2015 Honda Accord Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe intermittent no-start conditions, where the engine clicks or does not crank on the first try and may start only after several attempts. Many also describe the starter being replaced, sometimes at low mileage. Steering complaints — momentary loss of power assist, the wheel jerking or locking, and a pull to one side — form the second large group, followed by engine concerns such as oil consumption, rattles at startup and head gasket trouble.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Intermittent no-start / starter click

   • 163 complaints (27%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (109 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $750 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe turning the key or pressing the start button and hearing only a click, or nothing at all, while the dash lights come on normally; the car often starts after several attempts and then behaves normally for a while. Several say a new battery did not help and that a mechanic or dealer diagnosed the starter as the cause, with quoted replacement costs commonly described as several hundred dollars. Some report the problem appearing repeatedly over weeks or months and leaving them unable to start the car away from home. Some mention the issue occurring only in Park and starting in Neutral instead. Mostly reported between roughly 38,000 and 80,000 miles, with a few at lower and higher mileage; complaints span all seasons.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the starter and battery have been replaced and when, and try several cold starts during a test drive. Note whether the car cranks reliably from Park and Neutral.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car has trouble starting. Won't turn over. Just clicks when you turn the key. The car was off and not in motion. It happens several times a day no matter where I'm parked. At first it started happening occasionally. Now it happens every time I start the car. I had a mechanic check it out and can't find out what's wrong but recommended a new starter.”

   NHTSA complaint #11326653, filed 2020-05, 60,765 miles

   “Brought the car used from dealer and after 6 months I tried to start the car and only head a click noise. The car was parked, clutch pressed to the floor and gear shift in neutral. This only happens spontaneously, I took the car back to the dealer and they kept the car for a few days and said the they couldn't reproduce the problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11310313, filed 2020-02, 80,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering assist loss, wheel jerk or pull

   • 71 complaints (12%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,150 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the steering wheel suddenly becoming stiff or unresponsive, the wheel jerking or pulling hard to one side, or the wheel moving on its own for a few seconds before returning to normal. Several incidents happened at road speed or while reversing out of a driveway or parking space, and some owners report the vehicle leaving the road or striking a fence or guardrail. Where dealers were involved, complaints mention a torque sensor or electric power steering assist diagnosis, and in some cases the problem returned after repair; other owners say the dealer found nothing wrong. Reported across a wide range, from about 29,000 to 130,000 miles, often during low-speed maneuvering or steady highway driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car at low speed in a lot and on the highway, and ask whether any steering sensor, cable reel or power steering repair has been done. Ask for service records if the wheel has ever felt stiff or pulled on its own.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Lost steering while driving on highway at 75 MPH and car started swerving both left and right crossing both lanes. Car veered off of a bridge embankment with no control of steering the whole time. The power steering and stability control warning lights came on during the event. This happened to my 22 year old daughter on april 21, 2021. No other cars involved in the accident and no injury to my daughter thank goodness.”

   NHTSA complaint #11416007, filed 2021-05, 98,500 miles

   “I was leaving my house after reversing and putting it in drive and it pulled to the hard left. I couldn't control the car it ran into the fence on my property. The fence stopped it before it went onto a busy road. I tool it to steling mcall Honda and they said nothing is wrong with the car. It did it again a few weeks later pulled to the left and I couldn't control it. That time I didn't have a accident I was able top turn the car off.. I'm scared to drive the car. Something is very wrong with the steering on this car.”

   NHTSA complaint #11415988, filed 2021-05, 39,999 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Stalling and sudden high idle while braking

   • 106 complaints (18%)
   • median 39,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (69 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the engine racing to high rpm while the brake is applied at very low speed, such as in a drive-through or parking lot, with the car creeping forward despite firm braking; shutting the engine off stopped it. Other complaints describe the engine stalling while reversing slowly or losing power at speed, with warning lights coming on and the car restarting normally afterwards. In some cases dealers could not reproduce the problem. Reported between about 17,000 and 130,000 miles, mostly during low-speed parking-lot or driveway maneuvers.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, try creeping at walking pace with the brake applied and check for a rising idle or surge, and ask whether any throttle body cleaning, software update or stall diagnosis has been recorded.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When vehicle is operating it will stall and turn off completely. All car will turn off and all the lights on the dash would flicker. It stalled on me when I was driving on the freeway. My car stopped as I was going 65 MPH, cars behind be swerved as my car came to a complete stop on the freeway. The vehicle also does not start when trying to turn on. All of the lights on the dash will just flicker. I've changed the battery two times. I've got my car diagnose at auto zone and a fuel pump code came up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11363196, filed 2020-10, 54,000 miles

   “I was about to park my 2015 Honda Accord lx in a parking spot in parking lot in front of a shopping centre. The car was cruising at 2-3 miles per hour at this time. There was a sudden and rapid acceleration which was highly disproportionate to the slow speed while I was entering the parking spot. I applied the brakes but it didn't help stop or slow down the vehicle. The car moved forward with the same rapid acceleration in the empty parking spot in front and started moving towards the next parking row in front. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11331361, filed 2020-06, 81,700 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine oil consumption and startup rattle

   • 32 complaints (5%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the car using oil at a high rate between changes with no visible leak, in one case finding the level at the bottom of the dipstick with no warning light. Others describe a short rattle or ticking from the engine at cold startup that lasts a couple of seconds, and separate complaints describe a blown head gasket or an engine that stalled and needed replacement. Service bulletins describe the startup rattle as a cam chain tensioner or VTC actuator issue. Oil use and rattles are reported from about 50,000 miles upward, with some at 88,000 to 164,000 miles.

   Recall 15V1210006 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell on the dipstick, and listen for a brief rattle right after a cold start. Ask whether the timing chain tensioner or VTC actuator has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car has been burning oil at an excessive rate. There are no leaks and I get the oil changed every three months regardless of milage. Today I checked my oil and it was empty. There was no indication light and the more I search online for solutions, it seems this is a common problem with this vehicle. I feel Honda should fix the defect.”

   NHTSA complaint #11373500, filed 2020-11, 88,500 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Honda Accord. The contact’s son stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and failed to exceed 50 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #2, causing engine failure, and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11706790, filed 2025-12, 164,040 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection should include several cold starts and a check of the starting system, plus a low-speed and highway steering check. Ask for service records covering starter, battery, steering sensor and engine oil-related work, and confirm any open recalls by campaign number have been completed.

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.